Chapter 489 - 170: Aoto Squad Assault! Chase in the Settlement!

Chapter 489: Chapter 170: Aoto Squad Assault! Chase in the Settlement!

Immediately, Aoto saw the hurriedly moving Fujimura at the top of the stairs.

"Mr. Tachibana, we’ve spotted the man with the bushy beard, just as the informant reported!"

...

...

As soon as Aoto and Fujimura quickly returned to the study one after the other, Saito and the others who were gathered by the window immediately approached Aoto.

"Has the man with the bushy beard already entered that pastry shop?" Aoto wasted no time and directly addressed the matter with a serious face.

Nagakura nodded: "We saw it very clearly! Just now, a samurai wearing a red kimono and black hakama, with a very thick bushy beard, entered that pastry shop!"

Aoto strode to the window, gazed deeply at that pastry shop in the distance through the transparent glass, and reached into his chest, pulling out a sleeve band.

Seeing the sleeve band in Aoto’s hand... Saito and the others understood what Aoto intended to do, and silently reached into their pockets, each pulling out their own sleeve band.

As if they had rehearsed in advance, the five men uniformly used the sleeve bands to tighten the wide sleeves of their kimonos.

"...Follow me," Aoto adjusted the two swords at his left waist, his deep voice neither mournful nor joyful.

Before unexpectedly encountering Elodie and the others on the street, Aoto and his group had already reconnoitered the architectural style of that pastry shop and the layout of the surrounding buildings.

This pastry shop only had two doors: the main front door and the rear door.

Given this feature of the shop having only two entrances, Aoto quickly made arrangements—he and Nagakura would attack from the front door, while Saito would lead Harada and Fujimura to guard the rear door.

In this small team, besides Aoto being the undisputed leader, the others didn’t have defined ranks.

However, although no explicit hierarchical division was made, everyone, including Aoto, tacitly acknowledged Saito as their "Deputy Captain," as Aoto’s "Lieutenant."

Nagakura and Harada, despite their brute strength, were simple and rough in action. Especially Harada, who basically didn’t understand Chinese characters, could utter foolish remarks like "Liu Bang and Liu Xuande once committed suicide by slashing their own necks by the Zhujiang River," diminishing his chances of being entrusted with significant responsibilities.

Fujimura, on the other hand, was inexperienced and still immature in demeanor, lacking prudence in conduct. Although he was capable both literarily and martially, he was still quite unseasoned.

Among Aoto’s subordinates, Saito was the only one capable of taking charge independently.

Saito, sternly expressionless and stoic, was astonishingly composed.

The saying—calm before a collapsing Mount Tai or unfazed by an excited deer nearby—was perfectly applicable to Saito.

Even Aoto, who had known Saito for the longest time, had hardly seen Saito’s expression or emotions lose control.

No matter the circumstance, he remained constant, calm, and composed.

Because Saito was so mature and steady, Aoto and the others often subconsciously forgot—Saito and Fujimura were peers, both just 16 years old, with Saito only a few months older than Fujimura, making him the second youngest in Aoto’s team.

Strictly speaking... Saito did not need to be so obedient to Aoto.

Because he was merely Aoto’s bodyguard, unlike Nagakura and Harada, who served as Aoto’s undercover informants.

"Absolute compliance with Aoto’s orders"—this was the duty of Nagakura and the other informants, but not for Saito.

His sole mission was simply to ensure Aoto’s safety.

Not having a direct superior-subordinate relationship with Aoto, he only needed to ensure Aoto’s personal security.

Anything beyond that was outside his concern.

However, for some reason... Saito continued to follow Aoto’s commands.

No matter what Aoto requested his assistance for, he almost always nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Whether it was to help handle some mundane affairs of the Magistrate’s Office or assist in capturing criminals or executing a mission... Saito never refused.

Aoto once asked Saito one day: why was he so compliant with Mr. Tachibana?

Saito simply responded casually: no particular reason, just felt like doing so.

Regardless of Saito’s calm demeanor or his formidable prowess, Nagakura and the others were very convinced of his capabilities, thus they were willing to rank below Saito, respecting Saito as their "Deputy Captain."

Having swiftly established a simple action plan of "splitting into two groups," Aoto and his team charged out of Elodie and the others’ home, forming a "single-file" formation, and then began to execute according to Aoto’s arrangements.

Of course, before leaving, Aoto didn’t forget to notify Anthony who was working in the bedroom, as well as Leroy who hadn’t managed to serve them tea, with a "we have to leave temporarily" greeting.

Aoto originally intended to greet Elodie as well but, considering Elodie was currently in class, and not wanting to disturb her learning, Aoto ultimately gave up on that thought.

Aoto and Nagakura remained outside of Elodie’s home.

Saito led Harada and Fujimura around to the back of the pastry shop.

Counting the time in his mind, estimating Saito and the others should be in position, Aoto gestured to Nagakura, signaling for him to follow, as they headed swiftly to the front door of the pastry shop.