The room was cloaked in a dim veil, yet having just emerged from absolute darkness, this dimness seemed bright to him, enough to discern that this was a bedroom.

The room was spacious.

Outside, samurais were stationed as guards.

Light from the corridor's beams cast shadows on the Aizu warrior, forming silhouettes on the window.

But at this moment, neither inside nor outside the room did anyone speak a word.

Darker shadows spread from Aozawa's feet, ensnaring Matsudaira Katamori and his concubine on the bed, as well as the samurais guarding outside.

"Don't be so afraid."

Aozawa casually sat at the bedside and glanced at Ono Toshishi, saying, "Announce the General's command."

Ono Toshishi wanted to rebuke this attitude towards the Conquer Barbarian General, but considering the other party's astonishing strength, he held back and chose to abide by the General's command.

His death meant little; the important thing was not delaying his lord's big matters.

"Matsudaira Kyoto Protectorate Position, the Conquer Barbarian General commands you to transfer the New Shinsengumi to this lord for his dispatch, without questioning his actions."

Matsudaira Katamori, who previously had widened eyes, sighed in relief; he dreaded that this person might belong to the Xenophobic Patriots.

Hearing he was on the Shogunate side, his suspended heart instantly relaxed.

The Shogunate has indeed ruled Japan for long.

There are people opposed to the Shogunate all over, and those who support it.

The Aizu Domain, where Matsudaira Katamori resides, supports the Shogunate's continuation.

He nodded, indicating his understanding.

Aozawa withdrew the shadows.

Instantly, the samurais outside grew agitated, rushing in one by one, with someone shouting, "There's an assassin!"

"This is a misunderstanding!"

Matsudaira Katamori shouted, and the blades drawn by the samurais froze in mid-air.

They looked at their lord.

Matsudaira Katamori sat up, and not considering his shaved head, he could score ninety-nine out of a hundred in appearance.

Looking at it, at most only fifty points.

That speaks to his level of attractiveness.

He sternly ordered, "You all may stand down. Have Taro come see me."

After speaking, Matsudaira Katamori turned to Aozawa, saying, "Please wait a moment, I'll have Taro relay the message to the New Shinsengumi."

"Okay."

Aozawa nodded.

Matsudaira Katamori very much wanted to inquire about what the Conquer Barbarian General intended to do?

But recalling the order not to question, he swallowed his curiosity silently.

Ah, Matsudaira Katamori sighed lightly in his heart; he thought he was deeply trusted by the Conquer Barbarian General.

Now it seemed, perhaps it was Emperor Komei's appreciation that prevented him from gaining complete trust from the General.

This realization left him dejected, yet slightly comforted.

As a superior, how can anyone always let those below guess the intentions?

The Conquer Barbarian General increasingly appeared to have the bearing of a true ruler.

Only such a person can create a broad highway for the Shogunate to continue amidst the looming stormy situation.

...

Kyoto, New Shinsengumi Headquarters.

Night fell, yet the high-ranking officers of the New Shinsengumi remained awake, choosing to burn the night oil in discussion.

Their planted spies sent word, confirming that Yuuya Kieimon was indeed colluding with people from the Choshu Domain, possibly planning to set fire in Kyoto.

But when will the action take place? How many people are involved? The location?

The New Shinsengumi hadn't uncovered these details.

Chief Kondo Isami knelt on the platform, looking around solemnly, "The recent situation is unfavorable, as more and more Xenophobic Patriots, operating under the guise of divine punishment, are acting unrestrainedly in Kyoto.

Even demon warriors are mixed among them.

But this isn't entirely a bad thing.

Without prey, the hounds could only be served as delicacies at the table."

Saying this, a fierce glint flashed across Kondo Isami's face, as his lips curled into a sneer, "Some in Kyoto look down on us, seeing us as mere rural samurais without future.

This incident of Yuuya Kieimon colluding with the Choshu Domain is the critical battle for us to make our name known, we cannot afford any failure!"

The warriors of the New Shinsengumi focused intently, knowing that after the chief's motivating words, the Demon Vice Commander Hijikata Toshizo would assign the related tasks.

The New Shinsengumi always operated this way, as Kondo Isami handled the broad strategies and left the details to Hijikata Toshizo.

"At dawn, we will immediately move to arrest Yuuya Kieimon, then force the whereabouts of the Choshu Domain's Xenophobic Patriots."

As Hijikata Toshizo spoke, footsteps were heard from outside, and a delicate figure cast a shadow on the paper door, "Chief, Matsudaira Kyoto Protectorate Position sent someone over, saying the New Shinsengumi would henceforth fall under the jurisdiction of a certain high-ranking Shogunate official.

They also said it's an order from the Conquer Barbarian General not to be defied."

The present New Shinsengumi warriors, including Hijikata Toshizo, furrowed their brows slightly, not due to any grievances against the Shogunate.

But rather the timing was poorly chosen.

Kondo Isami sighed, "Let's go welcome that esteemed official."

...

Leaving the deliberation hall, along the corridor adorned with paper lanterns, a group reached the front yard.

This night in Kyoto was not particularly beautiful.

The stars hid behind clouds, and the crescent moon barely showed, the sparse moonlight wholly insufficient to illuminate the land.

So too did the front yard seem dim.

Kondo Isami saw Aozawa, dressed peculiarly.

His outfit resembled that of a dock worker, yet the material hinted it wasn't the coarse burlap cloth.

Young, looked like he might be a child of a high-ranking Shogunate official?

If so, that would be troublesome.

Kondo Isami wished to be a wolf under the Shogunate's command, fiercely tearing into prey, not a dog merely to amuse a child.

He thought all this without showing disdain, stepping forward confidently, "New Shinsengumi Chief Kondo Isami greets you, may I know how to address you?"

Aozawa examined the New Shinsengumi with interest, noting that these people didn't share the same style as other Shogunate samurais!

Perhaps due to lacking the traditional shaved head, New Shinsengumi warriors had thick hair.

It seemed that the beauty of this era concentrated within the New Shinsengumi.

Remarkably surprising was discovering a pretty young lady among their members.

Despite her dressing like the other samurais, wrapped in a haori, her features unmistakably revealed her gender to Aozawa.

"I've heard praise of the New Shinsengumi, yet had not expected a female member among you?"

Kondo Isami respectfully replied, "My lord, Yukimura, she is a Demon Warrior."

"What's your name?"

Hearing Aozawa's query, Yukimura dared not act arrogantly.

Though she had little regard for such second-generation officials with embellished credentials, she wished not to bring trouble to the kind New Shinsengumi who took her in, stepping forward, "I am Yukimura Tsuruko."

"A fine name."

Aozawa casually complimented, then added, "I've received news that the Choshu Domain intends to set fire in Kyoto, abduct the Emperor, and flee to Choshu. Have you any intelligence?"

"Yes, we've initially identified suspects and were preparing to arrest them!"

Kondo Isami answered respectfully.

Among those present, only he had the status to respond to Aozawa, others opting to blend into the background.

The New Shinsengumi initially planned to arrest at dawn.

For they knew the adversary intended to act on June fifth.

If they could resolve the Choshu Domain individuals on the day, they could showcase to superiors their robust crisis management ability.

Resolving it in advance wouldn't convey the urgent crisis atmosphere.

However, with superiors aware of the issue, they could no longer choose such a tactic, instead changing strategies to launch a night assault, crushing enemies.

Thus preventing superiors from perceiving the New Shinsengumi as inept.

"No need to rush."

Aozawa waved his hand with a smile, "We move at dawn to apprehend them. I'm tired, let me find a place to rest."

He planned to leave this parallel world upon returning to his room, then re-enter during daylight.

Although Aozawa couldn't manipulate time within this parallel world,

he could leap forward in time upon leaving, entering at any future moment of his choosing.