Chapter 278: Chapter 119: "Don’t Underestimate Old Folks!" (Cock the Revolver)

Hosoi deftly flicked open the cover of the pocket watch, revealing the hour and minute hands forming a wide obtuse angle — the current time was precisely 11:30 PM.

"How is it already this late, yet no news has arrived..." Hosoi sighed, placing the pocket watch back inside his coat.

"If it remains this quiet, with no news coming in, it could be considered a good thing." Atsukawa smiled slightly beside him, "It would mean Edo can peacefully get through tonight."

Hosoi and Atsukawa, the current "Mayors" of Edo, were personally stationed at the "Temporary Headquarters" North Guard Station tonight, fully overseeing all the officials involved in this night’s grand operation.

The two of them endured over two fruitless hours at the North Guard Station... inevitably beginning to feel fatigued.

Suddenly, just as Hosoi had put his pocket watch away, an official rushed into the room, hurrying to Hosoi and Atsukawa.

"Lord Hosoi! Lord Atsukawa!"

"The Anti-foreigner Group indeed showed up at Ryogoku-dori!"

"The officials from the South Division’s ’Three Times’ bravely took the lead, confronting the appearing Anti-foreigner Group."

"All the culprits have now been captured!"

Hosoi and Atsukawa froze for a moment, then excitedly and in unison stood up.

"All the culprits who showed up at Ryogoku-dori have been captured?" Atsukawa restrained his excitement.

"Yes!" The official nodded vigorously, then began to report in detail how the South Division’s "Three Times" officers managed to net the members of the Anti-foreigner Group flooding the streets of Ryogoku-dori.

After attentively listening to the report, Atsukawa, his cheeks flushed with excitement, slapped his thigh: "Great! Well done! All today’s efforts have finally paid off!"

Though it was the South Division, Atsukawa’s subordinates, who inflicted a head-on blow to the Anti-foreigner Group and achieved great merit, Hosoi was equally pleased with the victory news.

If this terrifying organization, whose next move was unpredictable, could be eradicated soon, it would be hugely beneficial for both the South and North Guard Stations, responsible for maintaining Edo’s security.

Hosoi and Atsukawa were both elated by the victory news... however, the official delivering the report suddenly shifted the topic:

"But... a part of the South Division’s ’Three Times’ officials jointly reported: something strange about these captured culprits."

Hosoi and Atsukawa’s expressions instantly froze.

"Strange?" Atsukawa frowned at the official.

"Those captured culprits all claim they have nothing to do with the Anti-foreigner Group, that they belong to the Celestial Loyalty Faction."

"The Ce-Celestial Loyalty Faction...?" Intrigued, Hosoi repeated this unfamiliar term and exchanged looks with Atsukawa.

Celestial Loyalty Faction... Neither Hosoi nor Atsukawa had ever heard of it.

"Are those people lying about not being part of the Anti-foreigner Group to reduce their penalties later?" Atsukawa hesitantly asked. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The Anti-foreigner Group was a target the Magistrate’s Office had recently emphasized for severe crackdowns, so Atsukawa’s speculation wasn’t groundless.

It’s indeed possible they fabricated an organization name to lessen their punishment by denying being part of the Anti-foreigner Group.

"...It might be best to bring these captured culprits to the Magistrate’s Office as soon as possible." Hosoi said in a deep voice, "Once they’re brought back, we’ll slowly interrogate them to find out what’s really going on."

"Alright..." Atsukawa nodded, "That’s all we can do..."

Before Atsukawa could finish speaking —

"Lord Hosoi—! Lord Atsukawa—!"

From outside came a scream-like shout.

An official, face writ with terror, stumbled into the room.

Hosoi originally wanted to reprimand the official, to calm him down and stop making a fuss, but upon seeing the extraordinary terror on his face, Hosoi involuntarily felt a sense of unease and swallowed back his reprimanding words.

"What’s wrong?" Atsukawa took the lead in asking the official.

"Lord Hosoi, Lord Atsukawa! Something terrible has happened! Fire has broken out in West Mountain-cho, Yue-cho, Pan-cho! Fire has broken out in West Mountain-cho, Yue-cho, Pan-cho! Fire has broken out in West Mountain-cho, Yue-cho, Pan-cho—!"

The official repeated the message, each word heavy enough to seemingly leave a dent in the ground.

It was as if they were under some "Time Pause" spell... Hosoi and Atsukawa’s eyes widened like copper bells, frozen in place.

Not moving at all...

Or rather... they forgot they could move...

...

...

Sparks flew.

Scattered sakura petals accompanied the sparks, falling into the night sky.

In areas like Pan-cho in Edo, streaks of red fire not only brightened the dark night but also startled Edo citizens awake from their slumber.

"Hmm? Why is it so bright... Oh! Fire! Fire!"

"Fire! Quickly evacuate to open spaces!"

"Quick! Quickly call for the Town Fire Extinguisher!"

...

In Japan during the Edo Era, there was a common knowledge — in the Castle Town, if you see a fire anywhere, and it’s of the kind that can’t be doused with a few buckets of water... then don’t think about anything: just run!