"Grandpa, it's… enough," came the voice of Shige Shige from the direction of the Mimawarigumi members.

"Go, this is an order from the Shogun."

Looking at Shige Shige, who was standing firmly, protected by the Mimawarigumi, Rokuro Mukuro muttered, "Shogun..."

"You no longer need to serve anyone," Shige Shige continued softly, his gaze tender. "It's enough now. From now on, live by following your heart. Go wherever you want, see whoever you wish. The path you want to walk… this country will pave it for you."

"But..."

"Go. The two guards outside were already taken care of when I came in," Kawaki interrupted Mukuro. "I thought you'd leave earlier, but it dragged on until now. Don't worry about this place. If you're wondering why..."

Before he could finish, several dark guards and Naraku members who were charging at Kawaki suddenly stopped in unison. The next moment, they all collapsed, blood gushing from their chests.

"I'm super strong, you know~," Kawaki said, lifting his umbrella. He casually wiped the blood splattered on his face with his thumb, smiling with narrowed eyes. "To put it in simple words that you can easily understand..."

Before Kawaki could finish, Mukuro realised that he had suddenly disappeared from in front of him!

"This country…" Kawaki, now standing beside Dingding and casually draping an arm over his shoulder, continued, "If I tried seriously, I could take it down single-handedly without breaking a sweat. Don't you think so, silver-haired old man?"

"Protect Lord Dingding!" Oro finally reacted, raising his hand to order the Naraku members.

"Calm down, everyone," Kawaki smiled as he warned them. "I'm faster than you think. If this old man gets hurt... who knows what kind of regrettable thing might happen~"

Seeing Kawaki's calm demeanour, Oro raised his hand, stopping the dark guards and Naraku members from advancing.

"If that wig-wearing guy saw this now, he'd probably be jumping for joy," Kawaki laughed, shaking his head with some nostalgia. "I haven't done my old job in a while..."

"You traitor...!" Dingding spat, his teeth clenched, his eyes filled with hatred as he imagined killing Kawaki countless times in his mind.

"I told you, I'm not part of this country~," Kawaki shrugged indifferently. "I'm just one of those Tennin (aliens) you love to bow and scrape to. How about it? Does this scene remind you of the Tennin invasion back then? Feeling the urge to kneel down to me already?"

"The Tennin invasion... Opening the country was inevitable!"

"Huh?" Kawaki said in surprise. "I know that too. Did I say you made a mistake? Why would you think I disagree with what you did?"

"But you..."

"But, old man," Kawaki patted Dingding on the shoulder familiarly, "those samurai who resisted the invasion with their swords, fighting under the banner of 'Joi Patriots' to defend their country—were they wrong?"

"Is that even a question?! Of course, they were wrong!" Dingding replied without hesitation. "Those who knew nothing of politics not only called the shogunate traitors but even rebelled and resisted the Tennin, worsening our relations with them..."

"Stop, stop, old man." Kawaki interrupted. "I'm not asking about politics. I'm not asking about the consequences of angering the Tennin and dragging them into the Joi war, or even their interference in domestic affairs... What I'm asking is simple: was their desire to protect their country wrong? Even after being abandoned by their nation, slaughtered by their own betrayed comrades on the battlefield—were they wrong for never regretting it?"

"You're not even from this country. You have no right to judge its actions!" Dingding's tone grew impassioned. "No, even the citizens of this country have no right to judge it!"

"Hah, what a stubborn old man you are~" Kawaki scratched his head in frustration.

"Kawaki-san..." Shige Shige called out to him.

"Ah, I almost forgot." Kawaki suddenly remembered, looking at Rokuro Mukuro standing in the courtyard. "It's over now. The war is over for today. Your former superior says it's time for you to retire. Go ahead."

"Mukuro, today..."

Dingding was about to speak angrily, but he was entirely subdued by the sudden burst of killing intent from Kawaki, which vanished just as quickly.

"Don't be so stingy~" Kawaki smiled, "It's just an old man who doesn't matter anymore~"

"No!" Dingding roared. "This country is mine! Everyone must obey me!"

"To think your selfish desires outweigh your fear of death," Kawaki muttered. "This is the first time I've encountered someone like you. If that's the case..."

"Do you dare to kill me?" Dingding glared at Kawaki fearlessly. "If you kill me, this country won't let you go. Even the Tennin are here; heaven won't forgive you either. Is it worth it, all for a courtesan who's about to die?"

"You're quite the comedian, old man." Kawaki smiled. "Even a child would understand that doing all this for an old courtesan about to die is not worth it. But, old man..."

Kawaki's expression shifted as he coldly glanced at the gathered dark guards and Naraku members, who were too afraid to make a move. "You seem to have misunderstood something. For me, the things you mentioned don't hold a candle to that courtesan on the verge of death, because right now... I am their king. As for those things you mentioned, they have nothing to do with me. Do you understand?"

"You...!"

"Oh, and one last thing I forgot to mention..." Kawaki leaned in close to Dingding's ear and whispered, "I'm not scared of anything you've mentioned~ Want to see what this 'beast from the underworld' can do before your 'heaven' arrives? Aren't you curious how many people I can drag into hell? I sure am. If you're curious too, feel free to keep talking in that tone~ I don't mind at all~"

Dingding fell silent, possibly out of genuine fear.

"See that, old man?" Kawaki waved at Mukuro with a smile. "We've made up. He says you can retire now. We'll discuss your pension later. After all, it seems he didn't prepare anything besides a cheap seppuku dagger, right? Don't worry. I'll have a nice chat with him about it, according to the Edo labor laws."

"Go on, Grandpa," Shige Shige stepped forward from the group of Mimawarigumi soldiers, his gaze gentle as he spoke to Mukuro. "You're no longer bound here."

"Shogun..." Mukuro muttered as he looked at Shige Shige, then glanced at Kawaki, who was still smiling, and finally at Princess Tsunayoshi, who had been hiding under the floorboards and gave him an encouraging look. He made up his mind.

Turning around with his head held high, Mukuro wiped his clouded eyes and said with steady steps, "This path, paved by this country, is the smoothest, easiest, and most enjoyable I've ever walked in my life."

Watching Mukuro leave, Sasaki was about to say something, but after seeing Shige Shige's gentle gaze, he decided to remain silent.

Shige Shige sighed softly, "I hope there comes a day when everyone in this country can walk a path as free and unburdened as Grandpa..."

"Sorry to interrupt you at a time like this, Shogun," Sasaki turned to Shige Shige. "But if you want that wish to come true, you can't afford to be as naive as before."

"Indeed..." Shige Shige sighed softly, then glanced at Kawaki, who was now bantering with Dingding. "But it's difficult. You gain something, and in return, you lose something equally precious. Is this what growth truly is? How strange..."

"Uh..." Kawaki suddenly raised his hand and smiled, "Since we're all done fighting, why don't we just call it a day and disperse?"

"Shogun, when you made friends, did you ever consider whether they were idiots?" Sasaki asked Shige Shige.

"Hey, I just came here to collect an old debt," Kawaki continued, "but somehow, I ended up in a big fight. That's too much of a loss! And besides, I've already settled things with this old man. He agreed to let bygones be bygones if I gave him a few discount coupons to the Yoshiwara Ugly Women Club. Isn't that right, old man?"

Dingding remained silent, his face expressionless and his body still.

"Haha, the old man is just shy," Kawaki laughed, patting Dingding on the shoulder. "It's embarrassing to have your hobbies exposed like this. As men, we should all understand, right?"

"No, I don't quite understand," Shinjo raised her hand and replied. "I'm not a man."

"Don't worry about that. If you don't understand, just become a man," Kawaki said casually. "You already have a sword, right? Just add another one down there, and you'll be dual-wielding. You'll be super strong~."

Before Kawaki could finish, Shinjo drew her sword in a flash and attacked!

Shing!

"That was close!" Kawaki crossed his legs and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The hidden sword almost got me~ Whew, that was a close call~."

"Hey, you..." Shinjo, poised to strike again, glared at Kawaki.

"Already so eager after I said something like that?" Kawaki smiled, then glanced at the sword between Dingding's legs. "But I didn't expect you'd want to use an old man's sword. It looks like it'll break after just a few uses."

At this point, Dingding was barely holding back the excruciating pain from being pierced below, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Shinjo.

"Old man, this has nothing to do with me~" Kawaki shrugged with a sigh. "But out of compassion, I'll swap your Ugly Women Club coupons for a letter of introduction to the Shemale Club. I'm sure you'll find a new career there! With this dual-wielding young lady, you two will be the king and queen of shemales! Go conquer the grand path of shemales together!"

Dingding clenched his fists and trembled with rage, but it was unclear how much was due to pain and how much to anger.

"Are you determined to defy heaven?" Oro asked Kawaki calmly.

"No, I'm not interested," Kawaki shrugged. "Like I said, I'm just here to collect an old debt. You all dragged me into this mess. If you had let me take the person and leave from the start, none of this would've happened. And... stop talking about your 'heaven.' Your heaven isn't the same as mine. But if your heaven dares to cast its shadow over my domain, I'll drag it into hell. Got it?"

Hearing Kawaki's emotionless but threatening words, Oro showed no reaction and instead asked something that puzzled many present.

"Did Yoshida Shouyou teach you this?"

In an instant, Kawaki's pupils contracted.

"Shut your mouth," Kawaki glared coldly at Oro. "If I hear that name from you again, I'll kill you."

"As I thought, a beast is a beast. No matter how much time passes, nothing changes. You were like this ten years ago, and you're still the same now."

With that, Oro moved. In an instant, he charged at Kawaki, muttering softly as he did.

"Mission continues."

At the same time, dark guards and Naraku members rushed toward the Mimawarigumi and Shinsengumi, and Shinjo, without hesitation, drew her sword and charged at them.

Meanwhile, Kawaki calmly lifted his umbrella, placing its tip against the back of Dingding's head. "Does this old man's life mean nothing to you?"

"Oro!" Dingding shouted.

"Don't worry, Lord Dingding. If you're wondering why..."

Before Oro could finish his sentence, Kawaki's eyes suddenly widened, and he clutched his chest, coughing up a mouthful of black blood.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Boom!

No one knew what Oro had done, but after a single strike, Kawaki was left covered in sword wounds, his vital points pierced. He was sent flying across the courtyard, smashing through a wall, his body riddled with wounds and bleeding profusely.

As Kawaki coughed up more black blood, he smiled bitterly. "Poison... again? Just like ten years ago."

"Ten years ago, in the final battle," Oro calmly approached Kawaki. "To deal with the most fearsome monster, all the weapons were coated with a slow-acting poison. I didn't expect you to hold out for seven days, killing every last enemy before you collapsed..."

"So it was you back then..." Kawaki wiped the blood from his mouth and glanced up at Oro.

"People fear beasts, but the stronger the beast, the more likely it is to be arrogant," Oro continued. "Just like back then, when you, who stood against the Tennin and the shogunate forces, never expected to fall into such a trap. But failure is the will of heaven..."

"Heaven's will?" Kawaki scoffed. "What a detestable phrase."

"I'd advise you not to move," Oro warned. "This poison was specially crafted for a beast like you. It's colorless, tasteless, and undetectable by the body. Just one milligram is enough to kill an elephant. It will continue to destroy all your nerves and cells. Even a Yato's body can't withstand it. And besides that, I've pierced every vital point except your head. The fight is over, beast."

"Seriously," Kawaki muttered, shaking his head and then glancing up at the bright sun in the sky. "Today really isn't a good day to settle old debts. I should've stayed in and played video games."

"Oro, is it over?" Dingding had regained his calm demeanour.

"It will be soon, Shogun," Oro replied.

"Then before we finish, why don't you introduce me to your old acquaintance?"

"My lord, this is a survivor of the Kansei Purge," Oro replied coldly. "Back then, the samurai weren't completely wiped out. In the final stages of the war, when the samurai were surrendering and throwing away their swords, a group rose up, trying to rescue someone from the purge. They were known as the last samurai—traitors and sinners—Yoshida Shouyou. And the ones who picked up their swords to rescue him were his disciples."

"Shut... shut up," Kawaki muttered, his head lowered. "I already told you, if you say that name again, I'll kill you."

Ignoring Kawaki, Oro continued, "Lord, do you remember this name?"

"Yoshida... Shouyou?" Dingding propped his chin on his hand, speaking with a mocking tone. "Oh? Was there such a person? How could I remember the corpses of all the worms I've crushed underfoot? If they were great sinners, perhaps I'd remember. What did this man do?"

"I don't remember clearly either," Oro replied softly. "I only recall him as a teacher who taught children in the countryside."

"Is that all?"

"Don't say that, my lord," Oro shook his head. "Those who form factions without permission are seen as potential traitors and must be punished—just as you ordered."

"Indeed, it seems my judgment was correct." Dingding smirked, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Kawaki. "Yoshida Shouyou, teaching such rebellious disciples—that alone is a crime!"

"Maybe..." Kawaki's voice suddenly came from behind Dingding. "If you ask me what unforgivable sins I've committed, I can't even count them. But..."

Oro's eyes widened as he realised the broken wall in front of him was empty. He turned around, but it was too late. Kawaki, without hesitation, swung his umbrella.

"My lord!"

Boom!