Inside the banquet hall of Shogun Castle's Tenshu Pavilion.
The originally solemn atmosphere was suddenly broken by hurried footsteps.
A Shinsengumi officer in a standard black uniform, a sword hanging at his waist, strode in.
He dropped to one knee about ten meters from the seat of honor and lowered his head as he reported.
"Lord Shogun, we found two women claiming to be shrine maidens of Yellow Dragon Gate at a nightclub called 'Rip-Off Bar' in Kabukicho. They have been brought here and are waiting outside."
"A nightclub?"
Sakata Gintoki, who had been boredly picking his ear, heard that.
His trademark dead-fish eyes instantly flew open.
"Hey, hey. Shrine maidens at a nightclub?"
"Has faith-based service expanded into hostess work these days?"
"Are God's offerings really not enough anymore?"
Kagura, standing beside him, immediately put on a show of stroking her smooth chin.
With an air of knowing all about it, she chimed in with her distinctive Osaka accent.
"You don't get it, aru~"
"Men always have all sorts of wicked fantasies about women who look sacred and untouchable."
"Like nurses and teachers. As a shrine maiden, they must be able to make quite a bit of money."
The moment her words fell.
A childish, whimpering "awoo, awoo" suddenly came from beneath them.
"Hmm?"
Gintoki and Kagura looked down at the same time and saw a tiny snow-white, fluffy dog with a proud little bearing.
At some point, it had slipped over to Gintoki's feet and was pawing at his shoes.
It was now studying them curiously with its round black eyes.
"Whoa!"
Gintoki instinctively recoiled. "W-when did this thing show up?"
"Sadaharu? Is this a miniature Sadaharu?"
"So small!"
"So cute, aru!"
Kagura's eyes, however, lit up. She immediately crouched down and unceremoniously rubbed the little dog's fluffy