Kyoto, Gion, Gion Club——

Before anyone arrived, Nagakura Shinpachi’s loud and loud voice arrived first:

"The armor is here! Everyone, line up to get the armor!"

Nagakura Shinpachi, Shimada Kui and Nakajima Noboru each carried a large wooden box and ran into the Gion Club at speed.

Hearing three muffled sounds of "boom", "boom" and "boom", they put down the big wooden box on their shoulders in no particular order.

Open the box - it's filled with shiny pieces of armor.

Chain mail, hand armor, foot armor and forehead protector were all available, all of which had just been quietly taken from the Rensheng Township camp.

Everyone lined up in an orderly manner, received their armor, and dressed neatly one by one.

…

"Huh...huh...huh...huh...huh..."

The deputy captain of the 10th Division, Matsubara Tadashi, spread his legs, lowered his waist, and stood alone in an open space. He waved the large naginata in his hand like a windmill. While moving his muscles and bones, he took deep breaths repeatedly to adjust his emotions and suppress them. A racing heart.

Harada Sanosuke noticed Matsubara Tadashi's nervousness, walked over with a smile, and said:

"Matsuhara, don't be nervous!"

"This task is very easy! There is no need to use your brain! Just kill the enemy when you encounter it, it's that simple!"

"Let's chat and relax."

"Do you know where this scar on my stomach came from? When I was still a member of the Iyo Matsuyama Domain, a bastard called me a 'little official who doesn't even know the etiquette of seppuku'..."

Matsubara Tadashi suddenly showed a bitter face:

"Captain, I have heard this story thousands of times..."

…

Saitoichi: "..."

Nakazawa Sadashi: "..."

The captain and deputy captain of the third division sat face to face, sharpening the blade in silence.

At this moment, Nakazawa Sada suddenly asked Saitoichi who was opposite him:

"Mr. Saito, do you think tonight's battle will go smoothly?"

Faced with this question from Nakazawa Saduki, Saitoichi did not immediately answer it, but said lightly:

"Nakazawa, don't talk when you are sharpening the blade. If you don't pay attention when sharpening the knife, you can easily hurt yourself. Besides, I don't want to see your spittle on my knife."

"Sorry...I was abrupt."

Nakazawa Sada only thought that this conversation would end there.

Unexpectedly, Saito Kazuo went on to say:

"Zhongze, you think too much."

"Whether tonight's operation goes well or not - this is not something we should think about."

"We are swordsmen who wield swords to kill the enemy."

"In this case, the only thing we have to do is to listen to Mr. Tachibana's order and wave the sword without hesitation when we encounter the enemy."

"Everything other than that is beyond our scope of consideration."

Nakazawa Sada just looked at Saito Kazuo blankly.

In his mind, this was the first time he heard Saitoichi say so many words - it's a good thing that no one heard his thoughts, otherwise that person would have sighed: In terms of reticence, you Nakazawa Sada It's not much better. Where do you have the confidence to laugh at a hundred steps at fifty steps?

About 5 seconds later, Nakazawa Sada only slowly recovered from the surprise of "Saito Ichi can actually say so many words" and nodded solemnly:

"Well, you're right."

…

Serizawa Kamo and Niimi Nishiki were leaning against the corner, drinking cold water to relieve the heat and chatting incessantly.

"Serizawa, if you think about it carefully, the 'August 18th Coup' happened almost a year ago."

"This whole year, we have been doing nothing. We have no big battles to fight."

"I feel like my bones are almost rusting away."

"We can finally have a good fight this time."

As he said this, Xinjian Jin showed a look of emotion on his face.

After hearing this, Serizawa shrugged and sneered:

"Hmph! That's hard to say!"

As he spoke, he turned to look out the window at the sky that was gradually turning ink.

"It's getting darker and darker, but until now, the time and location of the meeting have not been confirmed."

"Whether we can catch all those bastards in one fell swoop is still a question."

"To put it bluntly, we may very well come up short tonight."

…

"I'm back!"

Toudou Heisuke, who was sweating profusely due to the heat, immediately took off the Sojuro turban used as a disguise on his head as soon as he returned to the club.

Genzaburo Inoue came up to meet him and asked:

"How's the situation outside?"

Todo Heisuke smiled bitterly and said:

"There are more and more pedestrians on the street. There are people everywhere. It is almost impossible to walk in some places."

Genzaburo Inoue looked helpless:

"After all, today is the day of the Yamaboko Parade. Everyone is going to watch the Yamaboko."

After hearing the words "Shanboko Patrol", Toudou Heisuke immediately grimaced:

"Those lunatics from Changshu actually plan to burn down Kyoto tonight... What a crime...!"

…

"Huh? Huh? Ah... strange, strange..."

Nakazawa Qin stretched her hands behind her back and tried hard to pull something - she couldn't fasten the button on the back of the chainmail armor.

His hands were groping behind him, and his whole body was about to twist into a twist.

Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded from behind him:

"Miss Nakazawa, let me help you."

Before he finished speaking, the director had already moved behind Nakazawa Qin and helped her put on her chainmail armor.

Because the height difference between the two is quite large (Souji is 1.55 meters and Nakazawa Qin is 1.73 meters), Souji had to stand on his toes slightly.

"Come on, Captain Okita?!"

Nakazawa Qin was shocked and said quickly:

"How can this be done? How can I ask you, captain, to help me put on my chain mail?"

After marrying Qing Teng, the general division was renamed "Tachibana Division".

However, the name "Okita Souji" is too loud.

Just like "Nioh Tachibana Aoden", "Tenken Okita Souji" has become the Shinsengumi's signature.

Compared to "Tachibana Division", both the enemy and ourselves are more accustomed to "Okita Souji".

Therefore, until now, most people still habitually refer to the General Secretary as "Captain Okita" and "Okita-kun".

The general manager didn't mind this.

In her opinion, whether "Tachibanaji" or "Okita Souji" refers to her, she welcomes it no matter which name is used to call her.

Faced with Nakazawa Qin's shyness, the director-general smiled:

"It's just a piece of cake. You don't have to be so formal. Okay, I'm already dressed."

While she was talking, she quickly helped him button the back of his chainmail.

"Captain Okita, thank you very much!"

Nakazawa Qin stood up straight, with a solemn look on his face, and bowed to the general manager in a formal manner to thank him.

The director-general smiled helplessly:

"I've said it all, don't be formal...Ah, Mr. Tachibana!"

At this time, the sharp-eyed Souji keenly noticed the tall figure hurriedly walking into the club - it was Aoto who had just arrived in Kyoto.
To be continued...