Serizawa turned his face sideways and looked into Shinami Shinami's eyes.

"..."

After a while, he calmly looked away, turned his body back to the front without saying a word, and did not break out any further conflict with the General Secretary and others.

Seeing that the other party took the initiative to give in, the General Director and others, who were unwilling to let the dispute escalate, also gave up.

A sudden storm subsided.

Since just now, Sanako, the captain of the seventh division, has been paying attention to the situation here.

Seeing that the storm had subsided, she straightened her head and continued to be an angel that was incompatible with the environment she was currently in.

Among a group of rough men, the graceful Sanako stands out particularly.

In such a serious environment of war, it is definitely not appropriate to wear a women's kimono that can only take small steps.

The Edo period was an era of strict etiquette, and it was common for men to dress up as women. For example, all kabuki actors were male, and the female characters in the plays were all performed by artists dressed as women.

It's okay for a man to pretend to be a woman, but it's absolutely not okay for a woman to pretend to be a man.

Neither women's kimonos nor men's clothes can be worn...the only clothes Sanako and Kinoshita Mai can wear are kendo uniforms.

Strangely enough, Sanako was the only person in the room—except Hijikata Toshizo—who had the air of a general.

She held her head high, looked straight away, her expression was neither humble nor overbearing, and she made no unnecessary movements. Her ponytail was tied high and fluttering in the wind. Looking from a distance, she seemed not angry but confident.

On the other hand, other people... although they cannot be said to be the best, their movements reveal an aura of unconfidence and shrinking.

However, we can't blame them.

It is too difficult to ask the middle and lower-level samurai who until recently were a bunch of unknown people to grow into majestic heroes in a short period of time.

If the fairy in blue is the most celebrity-like among all the people, then the girl in red can be said to have gone to the other extreme.

As the only two women (ostensibly the only two) in the Shinsengumi, their current performance can be described as one-of-a-kind.

At this moment and here, even people with normal social skills like Souji and Nagakura Shinpachi can't help but feel nervous, so it's not difficult to imagine the performance of Mai Kinoshita who is afraid of society...

As expected, she tightened her shoulders, hung her head, and looked at her nose and heart, her face was bloodless, and her eyes were unfocused.

Anyone who looks at it can tell at a glance: this girl is very nervous now.

On her left is the captain of the 10th division, Harada Sanosuke, and on her right is the captain of the 8th division, Toudo Heisuke... They are both people she is not familiar with at all!

Kinoshita Mai has never been more hopeful than at this moment that Sanako can stand beside her.

Even though they were very difficult to deal with, at least she didn't feel nervous or afraid when facing Sanako.

She was surrounded by people she didn't know. If she hadn't clenched her hands hard and concentrated all her strength and attention on her palms, she would have probably trembled.

Don't look at me, don't pay attention to me, I want to shrink, I want to shrink - Kinoshita Mai's posture carries this message.

People who don't know about it may never imagine that such a girl is actually the captain of the Shinsengumi 9th Division on the same level as Souji, Sanako and others.

Judging from the appearance alone, this is simply a little girl who seems to have lost her parents and is lost.

The captains of the Ba Dao Team were having a great time - the officers standing in front of them were also making concessions.

"Ah... I feel so full... If I had known better, I wouldn't have eaten so much."

Isamu Kondo caressed his swollen belly.

"What did you have for breakfast?"

Hijikata Toshizo asked casually.

Kondo Isamu patted his majestic chest and grinned:

"I ate 'Katsu chestnut' and 'Kombu' before going out."

Eating winning chestnuts and kelp is a Japanese folk custom, which is a homophony of "victory" and "joy" to seek good omens.

"This kind of behavior is just to seek comfort and is meaningless."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hijikata Toshizo paused for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"If you think about it carefully, I don't seem to be in a position to criticize you. Just a few days ago, I had sex with my brother-in-law and sister."

Drinking a glass of water is also a Japanese folk custom to express farewell.

"Ah Sui, you don't have to be like this..."

Isamu Kondo burst into laughter.

"It's not like we'll never come back."

"Huh, that's hard to say."

As he said that, Hijikata Toshizo put his hands on Izumi Mamoru Kanesada's waist.

Logically speaking, Hijikata Toshizo, who was just a farmer, was not qualified to carry a sword.

However, because today's Japan has already fallen into the predicament of broken etiquette and music, no one cares about these red tapes.

"A Sheng, we are not going on a trip, but we are going to fight."

"Maybe in half a year, three months... or maybe the day after we arrive in Kyoto, we will have to urgently join the fierce battle."

"Be mentally prepared to be wrapped in horse leather - this is my advice to you."

After hearing this, Kondo Isamu shrugged.

"Ah Sui, I won't bother you with this. Even without your detailed explanation, I know that this trip to Kyoto will be full of dangers."

"but--"

He suddenly changed the subject.

"I will definitely survive, and I will also achieve great success!"

His words were full of high self-confidence.

On the other side, Qinghe Hachiro talked to Shannan Jingsuke very enthusiastically.

"Shannan-kun, long time no see!"

Shannan Jingshu responded politely:

"Qinghe Hachiro, long time no see."

The two teachers came from the same sect, and both were disciples of Beichen Yida Ryu.

The difference is that Qinghe Hachiro studied at Xuanwu Hall, while Shannan Keisuke studied at Xiaochiba Sword Hall.

Although their home schools are different, because the two sword schools are closely related "brotherly schools" and they often communicate with each other on weekdays, Shannan Keisuke and Qinghe Hachiro have known each other for a long time, but they are not very familiar with each other.

"Shannan-kun, from now on, we will be partners working together!"

Qinghe Hachiro had a hearty, unpretentious smile on his face.

"A long time ago, Shannan-kun's reputation as a 'all-rounder in both civil and military affairs' has been widely spread among our Xuanwu Temple and Xiao Qianba Sword Hall."

"With your talent, the Shinsengumi will surely prosper!"

Shannan Jingsuke smiled reservedly:

"Mr. Qinghe, you're too generous. I don't have that much ability."

"Shannan-kun, you are so humble!"

Qinghe Hachiro's initiative and positivity did not lead to Shannan Keisuke's enthusiasm. He behaved very coldly throughout the whole process.

However, Qinghe Hachiro did not take this seriously and continued to talk and get closer to himself.

…

…

Time passes.

When the sun in the sky rose a little higher and the light became more intense, a dozen people with helmets and armors and fully armed banners lined up in two rows and marched majestically into the arena, neatly arranged in rows.

Both sides of the venue.

At this time, everyone knew that the mobilization ceremony was about to begin, and they suddenly became nervous.

There was silence inside and outside the temple, except for flags of various sizes, fluttering in the autumn wind, making hunting sounds.

Click, click, click, click, click...

The sound of the collision of nail plates comes from far to near.

A military commander wearing blue-white full armor, cloud-white feathers, a spade-shaped helmet on his head, and three swords on his waist walked slowly and slowly from the back of the venue into everyone's sight.

For a time, from the Shinsengumi queue inside the venue to the onlookers outside the venue, all kinds of eyes - admiration, envy, love, jealousy - fell on Qingto one by one.

At a time when everyone in the Western world has begun to use giant ships and cannons, wearing thick armor that looks like it has been transported from the Warring States Period is indeed a bit exaggerated.

This kind of armor is okay for blocking swords, but in front of guns and artillery, it can only make a hole and a pile of rubbish with one shot.

However, exaggeration is exaggeration, even those who hate Qingdeng have to admit at this moment: Qingdeng wearing this armor is very powerful and intimidating.

As the saying goes: People are what they wear.
To be continued...