Daikoku appeared behind Good and respectfully reported the unexpected situation. "We've finished investigating. Half an hour ago, a group of ronin caused trouble in Hakumai City."
"Mm."
Good's gaze was calm.
"What were the losses?"
"Six shops were destroyed in total, over twenty people were injured, and more than a dozen young women were abducted by the ronin. The Oniwabanshu have already picked up their trail. They're fleeing toward Uwan."
"Find their hideout."
"Yes!"
Daikoku vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Good shook his head.
They had picked the day before the Fire Festival to cause trouble, and the Oniwabanshu had found their trail so easily. It was clearly a trap.
"Who's-Who, or Sasaki?"
Only those two would do something like this.
There was only one chance to qualify for the challenge, so competition was inevitable. Choosing to act on the final day was simply an attempt to leave him without enough time to recover from his injuries.
Unfortunately, they had picked the wrong opponent.
Good turned and walked inside, waving at Yamato, who was dismantling a sofa.
"Yamato, I'm heading to Uwan."
"Can I come too?"
Yamato immediately sprang up.
Being shogun was so boring, just like being imprisoned on Onigashima. If she didn't still have to endure it, she wouldn't have wanted the job at all.
Good smiled and shook his head.
"No need. I'm just going to catch a cat."
"A cat?"
Yamato flopped onto the sofa in disdain and gnawed on its wooden armrest.
She didn't like cats.
Deep in a forest in the heart of Uwan.
A sign read "Cat Shrine." This was Who's-Who's secret hideout.
Inside the shrine.
Who's-Who sat on a soft sofa with a bowl of sake in his hand and two catgirls lounging beside him, happily eating, drinking, and making merry.