In Yoshiwara, Kawaki stood by the window, watching the heavy snow fall outside. He let out a light chuckle as he released the other end of a rope tightly tied around Katsura.


    "Mmmph mmph!" Katsura, dressed as a courtesan, had his mouth sealed tightly with tape.


    Thud...


    Ignoring Katsura, who had fallen onto the street and lay there twitching occasionally, Kawaki closed the window, stretched lazily, and hummed a tune as he walked to his computer with light steps.


    "In weather like this, staying indoors to play games is the best..." Kawaki sat in front of his computer, turned it on, and rubbed his hands together, closing his eyes and exhaling a puff of white breath.


    "Alright! Let''s begin!" Kawaki opened his eyes with a look of determination and whispered to himself. He then carefully picked up a brand-new game controller he had begged Tsukuyo to buy.


    He gently stroked the new game controller, feeling its solid grip and perfect curves, and smiled warmly.


    "From now on, we''ll be partners fighting side by side. Please take care of me..."


    "If you don''t care, your old partner will freeze to death in the streets of Yoshiwara." Tsukuyo, who had arrived unnoticed, leaned against the doorframe of Kawaki''s room, one arm crossed and the other holding her cigarette holder. She coldly remarked.


    "What are you talking about? Zura won''t freeze to death that easily," Kawaki replied nonchalantly. "In fact, this weather might cool down his overheated brain. He should thank me."


    "The same goes for you."


    "I''ll kill you..."


    Before Kawaki could finish his sentence, two kunai stabbed into the back of his head. He rolled his eyes and fell forward, his head hitting the desk with a thud.


    "By the way, that person has been quite persistent lately," Tsukuyo continued as if nothing had happened. "Every day, he manages to sneak into Yoshiwara using various methods. We can''t underestimate him..."


    "How come your subordinates can''t recognize such obvious disguises?" Kawaki pulled out the kunai from the back of his head, got up, and grumbled, "It looks like the Hyakka are slacking off."


    "Dealing with such trivial matters isn''t in the Hyakka''s job description," Tsukuyo retorted coldly. "Their focus is only on guests causing trouble in Yoshiwara."


    "Alright, alright." Kawaki responded casually and picked up the game controller again.


    "Besides," Tsukuyo glanced at Kawaki, "He''s looking for you... He just wants to hear your thoughts on this country. You should know that."


    "Tsukuyo, you''re oversimplifying things. Zura''s got more devious plans than anyone." Kawaki clicked the mouse, speaking calmly. "And besides, I''ve already said enough for him to figure out how to truly change this country. Now, he just wants to hog the spotlight." R?a?No??bE?§


    "So what exactly should we do?" Tsukuyo asked, looking at Kawaki.


    "Tsukuyo, do you also want to be a revolutionary and change this country like that idiot?"


    "No, I''m just curious." Tsukuyo took a puff from her cigarette holder.


    "I see..."


    "Not putting down the sword and not being willing to let all the people put down their inner swords won''t change this country..." Tsukuyo muttered, "I don''t understand."


    "Why think about things you don''t understand?" Kawaki replied easily.


    "I just..." Tsukuyo glanced at Kawaki''s back as he sat cross-legged on the floor, thinking, [I just want to find the real you hidden in that fog...]@@@@


    "But it surprises me that you''re interested in this kind of thing, Tsukuyo," Kawaki said, squinting his eyes.


    "No, I''m not interested at all." Tsukuyo turned to leave.


    But Kawaki''s words stopped her in her tracks.


    "Let''s not talk about the national army..." Kawaki got up, removed the kunai, and looked at Tsukuyo with interest, "Question... if the country that always protected you was in danger, would you... pick up a kunai you''ve never picked up before?"


    "Of course." Tsukuyo answered without hesitation.


    "Then, if even the united resistance of all the people couldn''t fend off the war, there would be no solution."


    Kawaki turned back to his game, controlling the character on the screen.


    Tsukuyo frowned, deep in thought. Outside the window, Katsura stood silently on the roof, eyes closed, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. And Shige Shige, guided by Hinowa, arrived at Kawaki''s door.


    "Today... I suddenly remembered there''s something I need to do." Shige Shige politely thanked Hinowa, sitting in a wheelchair, "I''ll visit Kawaki-san another time."


    "Take care." Hinowa smiled warmly.


    ...


    "Do you have any other business?" Kawaki asked Tsukuyo without looking back, "If it''s just for this trivial matter, please leave my room and close the door."


    "Ah..." Tsukuyo replied faintly, "It''s not for this trivial matter. It''s something else."


    ...


    Elsewhere, Shige Shige, wrapped in a scarf, left Yoshiwara. He smiled apologetically at Matsudaira, who was smoking outside the gate, "Sorry to make you wait in a place like this, Katakuriko."


    "No problem," Matsudaira replied casually, "But you were quick. I was just about to go to my usual bar to wait for you."


    "Ah, I overheard something interesting, and couldn''t help but listen."


    "Interesting?" Matsudaira raised an eyebrow, "Indeed, that kind of talk can be stimulating for a man."


    Although Shige Shige knew Matsudaira misunderstood, he continued, "Katakuriko, about going skiing tomorrow..."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll have Kondo and the others take you." Matsudaira quickly responded.


    "No, I meant to say, forget about that. I suddenly realized there are many important things I must do, things that one lifetime might not be enough for."


    "What''s with you all of a sudden?" Matsudaira looked at Shige Shige in confusion, "Having a moment of clarity?"


    ...


    "What?! A trip for the Hyakka?!" Kawaki put down his game controller, staring at Tsukuyo in disbelief, "You''re joking, right? What''s that about?"


    "I can''t help it," Tsukuyo sighed, "It''s what all the Hyakka requested."


    As Tsukuyo finished, a group of Hyakka girls burst into Kawaki''s room from the door, windows, ceiling, bedroom door, cabinet, bathroom, and floor.


    "Kawaki-sama! We''re ready!" they shouted in unison, their faces solemn.


    "Were you all hiding in my room this whole time?" Kawaki asked deadpan.


    "We finally won a bet with the boss!" one Hyakka girl cheerfully hugged Kawaki''s arm, looking excited.


    By the way, this girl had just emerged from a panel on the floor under Kawaki''s seat.


    One chapter, still no internet.