I Formed the Strongest Swordsman Group-Chapter 24: The Expel the Barbarians Faction and Saitō Hajime

In the six months since the "original Tachibana Aoto" assumed his position, Arima had assigned him to independently handle a total of 11 cases.
Among these 11 cases were major incidents like murders and thefts, as well as some relatively simpler cases. But regardless of the case type, it made no difference to the "original Tachibana Aoto" - he couldn't solve a single one...
Not solving cases was bad enough, but what was worse was that he created numerous embarrassing scenes...
For example -
During murder investigations, he mixed up the victims' genders and causes of death...
During theft investigations, he accidentally damaged evidence at the scene, completely compromising the crime scene...
Even when handling relatively simple cases like "boss suspected of abusing employees," he still managed to create a host of problems.
No matter what case it was, others always had to clean up after the "original Tachibana Aoto."
The Tojo Group, being in competition with the Arima Group, naturally took every opportunity to kick their rival while they were down after seeing the Arima Group gain such a "high-quality male."
Thus, the dōshin of the Tojo Group gave the "original Tachibana Aoto" a derogatory nickname: "Dull-headed Aoto."
At first, this nickname only circulated within the Tojo Group.
But gradually, with the Tojo Group's deliberate efforts, the nickname spread further and further.
Now, it had basically spread throughout the entire Kita Bansho.
Almost everyone at Kita Bansho knew that the Arima Group of the Teimachi squad had a complete idiot nicknamed "Dull-headed Aoto."
Because the "original Tachibana Aoto" was so utterly incompetent, repeatedly causing Usui to face criticism due to his blunders, even Usui didn't think much of him. That's why Usui's eyes had been faintly showing annoyance when speaking to Aoto earlier.
But fortunately - no matter how much others mocked the "original Tachibana Aoto," the Arima Group members always remained united.
Whether it was Arima, Butagaya, or Ushiyama, none of them ever looked down on their junior. Instead, they consistently offered help - teaching the "original Tachibana Aoto" how to handle paperwork, how to process various cases, trying to help him shed the "Dull-headed Aoto" moniker.
After Aoto respectfully said, "This subordinate understands..." Usui gave a few more instructions to everyone in the room regarding "Lord Ii's assessment."
Only after a while did he show slight fatigue between his brows and wave his hand at everyone.
"Alright, I've said all that needs to be said."
"Dismissed! Everyone return to your duties!"
"I hope you all work hard!"
"In a month and a half, I hope to see none of Kita Bansho's 'Three Squads' members disgracefully stripped of their official positions!"
When saying this, Usui specifically glanced at Aoto again...
Just as people in the room were getting up in twos and threes to leave, Arima suddenly tilted his head slightly and quietly said to Aoto, Butagaya and Ushiyama behind him:
"After the meeting, all of you come to my office first."
......
Kita Bansho, Arima's office -
"...Tachibana-kun. Although the magistrate's words earlier were harsh, he meant well..."
After the Arima Group members returned to his office as requested, Arima immediately sat behind his desk and began somewhat awkwardly comforting Aoto.
He probably thought - Usui's public admonishment earlier might have hurt Aoto's self-esteem, so he racked his brains for comforting words.
But in reality, after being scolded like that by Usui, Aoto didn't feel his self-esteem was damaged at all.
He just felt... extremely frustrated!
—How many more messes do I have to clean up?!
After having the Expel the Barbarians faction targeting his head, the Yakuza targeting his wallet, and being scolded by friends and family for hiding the Expel the Barbarians faction's attacks, now a new mess called "Dull-headed Aoto" had been dumped on his back...
Since crossing over, in these barely three days, Aoto had either been cleaning up messes or was on his way to clean up another one...
Before one wave subsided, another arose.
The Expel the Barbarians faction, the Yakuza... these two major problems weren't resolved yet when a new one emerged.
The assessment organized by Lord Ii in a month and a half... the urgency and severity of this new problem wasn't much less than the Expel the Barbarians faction targeting his head.
A single coin can stump a hero - this is an eternal truth.
If kicked out of Kita Bansho's Three Squads, it would mean the only income source for Aoto's family was cut off.
Samurai had difficulty finding jobs - many positions were unwilling to hire them.
Some jobs even explicitly prohibited samurai from applying.
Want to carry bricks or lumber at construction sites? The foremen probably wouldn't even look at you.
The class divide meant most commoners saw samurai as troublesome nobles - they'd rather leave positions vacant than hire samurai.
If Aoto were really expelled from Kita Bansho, forget about repaying the Shimizu Family - daily food and necessities would become major problems.
Before the Expel the Barbarians faction could take his head or the Shimizu Family could harass them, he and Kyūbei would probably starve to death at home...
One thorny problem after another kept coming... making Aoto feel like escaping reality...
"...Arima-sama, don't worry." After Arima finished comforting him, Aoto, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Butagaya and Ushiyama, suppressed his frustration and forced a smile. "I'm not so fragile as to be severely affected or discouraged by such a small matter."
Seeing Aoto's response, Arima's face showed some relief.
After offering a few more comforting words, Arima gradually stopped consoling Aoto, straightened his face and said seriously:
"You all clearly heard what the magistrate said at the meeting earlier, right?"
"I won't give you any official rhetoric or empty talk."
"In short - everyone work hard in the coming month and a half."
"No need to worry about being eliminated in the assessment due to insufficient achievements."
Arima moved his gaze, carefully examining the faces of Aoto, Butagaya and Ushiyama in turn.
"There's still enough time to prepare."
"If we unite and help each other, getting through Lord Ii's assessment together won't be particularly difficult."
At this point, Arima focused more attention on Aoto.
Aoto, Butagaya, Ushiyama: "Yes!"
"Tachibana-kun." Arima now turned his gaze back to Aoto. "Regarding the Expel the Barbarians faction targeting you, I'll this to the magistrate later and discuss how to handle it."
"In the coming period, remember to avoid walking at night and going to secluded places."
"And..."
Arima paused.
"...don't do something as foolish as 'concealing and not ing' again."
"With the Expel the Barbarians faction becoming increasingly rampant, having encountered their attacks twice, you should promptly relevant intelligence about them - that's the correct approach."
Arima's slightly furrowed brows relaxed somewhat.
"If anything happened to you, we'd have no face to meet Takayuki in the afterlife."
Aoto: "Understood..."
Arima waved his hand: "Butagaya, Ushiyama, you two stay. Tachibana-kun, you may go perform today's patrol duties."
Seeing Arima only asking him to leave while keeping Butagaya and Ushiyama, Aoto was momentarily stunned.
"...Understood." Thoughtfully glancing at Butagaya and Ushiyama on either side, Aoto gave a light bow to his superior before quickly leaving Arima's office.
Once Aoto had exited and was confirmed completely gone, Arima immediately raised his owl-like gaze to fix on Butagaya and Ushiyama.
"No need for me to say - you two should know why I kept you behind, right?"
"...About Tachibana's assessment, and the Expel the Barbarians faction's attacks on him, right?" Ushiyama said lightly.
Arima nodded: "What the magistrate said earlier... was completely correct."
"With Tachibana-kun's current achievements, he basically has no chance of passing the assessment in a month and a half."
"If we don't quickly find ways to help him, Tachibana-kun will definitely lose his official position."
"So, I plan to assign him some cases that can more easily boost his achievements."
"In the next month and a half, I hope you two can also try your best to help Tachibana-kun."
"With our assistance, it's not impossible for Tachibana-kun to pass Lord Ii's assessment."
"Of course." Butagaya grinned. "No need for you to say, Arima-sama - we already intended to do so."
After smiling slightly, Butagaya... lowered his head slightly.
His previously raised lips drooped downward.
"Tachibana-kun is Takayuki's only son."
"Even just for Takayuki's sake, we must help Tachibana-kun to the end."
As he spoke, shadows of pain and regret crossed Butagaya's brow.
"Back then... if we had extended timely help to Takayuki, he might not have owed that damned gambling debt to the Shimizu Family, and might not have been driven to his pointless death by that shitty 'Hōchō Party'."
"This time, even if it costs me my life, I'll help Tachibana-kun..."
"Butagaya!"
Before Butagaya could finish, the previously silent Ushiyama sternly interrupted him with a darkened face.
"At the magistrate's office... don't mention Takayuki." Ushiyama warily glanced at the door behind them. "And especially not the 'Hōchō Party'...!"
The room's atmosphere... fell into eerie silence at this moment.
The heaviness made the air seem to thicken.
"...Sorry." Butagaya closed his eyes and let out a long, painful sigh.
"...Let's return to business." Arima's voice slightly eased the tense, oppressive atmosphere. "...Let's temporarily change topics - now let's discuss how to protect Tachibana-kun from the Expel the Barbarians faction."
"Those radical 'Expel the Barbarians faction' members are all unpredictable madmen."
"They come and go without trace - rooting them out completely is extremely difficult."
"Before completely eradicating them, we must find a way to ensure Tachibana-kun isn't harmed by those lunatics again."
"So, I have a plan: the three of us pool money to hire Tachibana-kun a bodyguard - what do you think?"
"Bodyguard?" Butagaya asked. "Pool money to hire him a bodyguard... I have no objections, but who would we hire?"
"I happen to have a very suitable candidate." Arima said. "Remember that left-handed swordsman youth I mentioned before?"
Ushiyama: "You mean... that Saitō Hajime?"
Arima nodded: "I think Saitō Hajime would be perfect. If we hire him to protect Tachibana-kun, ordinary thugs shouldn't be able to touch Tachibana-kun."
Butagaya and Ushiyama exchanged glances.
Then nodded firmly.
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