Blind Loyalty...

Holding a few yellow flowers, Kawaki faced Katsuo, stopping in his tracks. "Really? Are you truly ready to start a war?"

"This is Kabukicho's affair; what does it have to do with you?" Katsuo frowned, clearly annoyed as he retorted.

"True, it has nothing to do with me," Kawaki shrugged, then narrowed his eyes and raised a finger, "But, you might not be aware, the day before yesterday, Kabukicho's so-called Three Devas unanimously elected me as the chairman to resolve disputes for your street. They said that when conflicts are irreconcilable, external forces can be used to stop them forcefully, just like a few days ago. Want to try it?"

"Big bro, he's telling the truth. The boss, Otose, and Saigou all agreed," one of Katsuo's underlings whispered into his ear.

"Hahaha, I was just joking." Katsuo quickly switched to a smile, rubbing his hands apologetically, "I was just teasing because the kids looked so cute. Actually, I'm planning to cooperate with their work. Cough, it's that ghost job at the crematorium, right? Don't worry, I'll fully cooperate!"

"If you're going to cooperate, then get going," Kagura said coldly, "If you don't stay put in the crematorium for a month, don't expect this incident to be over."

Katsuo's forehead vein bulged, but he managed to suppress his anger. "It's just a simple matter; I'll go right now!"

Watching Katsuo, who managed to keep a smile on his face even in rage and even waved goodbye to Kawaki and others before leaving, Shinpachi turned to Kawaki, "Kawaki-san, aren't we being too harsh?"

"Forget it? This incident, besides that girl, this foolish loyal guy who was also at fault," Kawaki replied softly. "He has been following that girl's orders from the start, which led to those thugs causing trouble in broad daylight. He always talks about doing anything for his boss and his daughter as if it's his duty and speaks of his righteousness, which is ridiculous. Both of you remember, no matter what kind of favor it is, never forget your basic sense of right and wrong. The kind of blind loyalty samurai have, forget about it."

"Blind loyalty?" Kagura looked puzzled at Kawaki.

"To put it simply, Shinpachi, imagine you're a wandering ronin saved by a businessman when you're about to starve. Moved, you loyally serve him, and he treats you well. But later, you discover he deals with illegal drugs that lead to many families being destroyed daily. What would you do?"

"I..." Shinpachi started to say something but then fell silent, contemplating before finally responding slowly, "I don't know... But if I were a samurai, perhaps even, then I would continue to serve that businessman..."

"Hey! That businessman is causing people to suffer every day!" Kagura argued, "Why would anyone still want to work for him?!"

"Kagura, that's what a samurai is," Kawaki answered quietly, "Blind loyalty, not just among samurai, it's quite prevalent even today. Remember, don't lose that basic sense of morality. I don't want you guys to turn into that kind of person. Fortunately, your leader is that naive guy, not a bad guy. But if he ever acts foolishly, I hope you can knock some sense into him instead of unthinkingly following along. Got it?"

"Got it! / Got it-aru!" Shinpachi and Kagura responded in unison.

"What would you do if you were Katsuo-san, Kawaki-san?" Shinpachi asked, curious.

Kawaki hummed lightly, then slightly smirked, glanced at Shinpachi, and walked away without another word.

"Kawaki..."

Shinpachi wanted to say more but was interrupted by Gintoki, who had just arrived.

"Don't bother asking further; if it were him, he probably would have acted when that boss first started going down that path," Gintoki said, picking his nose and staring with his listless eyes at Kawaki's departing figure, "He wouldn't go along with that kind of boss. He'd take over, uphold the promises made to others in his way, and keep protecting those promises. He's that kind of person. In a way, he's more dangerous than Takasugi..."

"What about you, Gin-san?" Shinpachi asked.

"Who knows..." Gintoki looked up at the clear sky and muttered quietly, "Luckily, my leader isn't a bad guy either."

"Leader? Gin-san has something like that?" Shinpachi asked, surprised.

"I thought I didn't have one for a long time, but maybe..." Gintoki left his sentence hanging.

"It must be me-aru!" Kagura proudly declared, "No matter how you look at it, I'm the leader of Yorozuya! From today onwards, you two are my underlings! Start calling me President-aru!"

"In that case, all the unpaid rent is yours to handle," Gintoki declared earnestly, "Please take care of it, President!"

"Never mind-aru. On second thought, there's no point in being president," Kagura quickly changed her mind. "Let Shinpachi do it."

"Then, please take care of it, new President!" Gintoki turned to Shinpachi, "All the unpaid rent is now your responsibility!"

"I don't want that kind of job!" Shinpachi quickly refused, "You've been the leader, so keep at it!"

As they watched Kawaki leave, Shinpachi felt he had gained insight into why Kawaki disliked samurai, "But speaking of it, it seems that I finally know a little bit about why Kawaki-san hates samurai. Blind loyalty..."

"Don't get me wrong, he doesn't hate samurai because of this." Gintoki curled his lips.

"Isn't it? By the way, does Gin-san know why Kawaki-san hates samurai?" Shinpachi asked again.

"Who knows..." Gintoki said as he walked away, turning to head home, "I've got some things to do. I'll be back late tonight."

"Hey!" both Shinpachi and Kagura shouted as they chased after him, both landing a kick that sent him flying.

Meanwhile, Kawaki had yet to reach Yoshiwara's gate when two members of Hyakka, who were already waiting at the entrance, rushed up to him.

"Kawaki-sama! It's bad!" one of the Hyakka ladies spoke anxiously.

"That vixen..." the other started, hesitating.

Suddenly realising what might have happened, Kawaki's eyes widened. He handed his flowers to a Hyakka and dashed toward Yoshiwara.

Two minutes later, Kawaki arrived at the location where the vixen was supposed to be confined but found it empty. Fortunately, there were no signs of a struggle.

"Kawaki-sama, the guards watching the vixen were drugged and fainted," a Hyakka lady explained, out of breath from running, "By the time they woke up, the vixen was gone."

"As long as there are no casualties..." Kawaki responded, "I promised Tsukki there wouldn't be any losses on our side."

"Maybe that vixen still has some followers we missed..."

"No, that's not it," Kawaki interrupted, "I know who it is, but it doesn't matter now. This time... let it be. Where's Tsukki?"

"She took others to search for the runaway vixen," the Hyakka lady replied.

"Tell them to come back; it's useless; they won't find her," Kawaki said casually, then turned to leave, waving his hand dismissively, "Never mind, I'll handle it myself. That guy is not the kind of person who will hold back."

At a dock in Edo, Tsukuyo and other Hyakka members arrived just in time to see Takasugi, calm and threatening as ever, standing at the bow of a ship. Behind him stood Matako, Bansai, and other Kiheitai members, and they found the tied vixen among them.

"Ha, I thought I might see him again, but it's just women," Takasugi sneered.

"Leave the vixen with us," Tsukuyo demanded, poised to throw her daggers.

"Forget it, Tsukki." Kawaki's voice came from behind, stopping her.

Relieved to hear Kawaki, Tsukuyo put away her weapons.

"You are really worthy of it. No matter where you go, there are a group of women who are devoted to you..." Takasugi mocked Kawaki.

"Ah, because unlike you, I happen to be surprisingly popular," Kawaki smiled, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Thanks to Mr Kawaki's help, the Kiheitai could capture this vixen without any effort," Bansai stepped forward, nodding slightly to Kawaki.

Boom! Ignoring Bansai, who was sent flying with a blast, turning his hair into a frazzled mess, Kawaki continued, "Takaji, I'll let it go this time. But if you dare show up on my turf again, I won't be so lenient."

"Address him as Lord Takasugi! Who's this Takaji?" Matako huffed.