Chapter 4 The Suspicious Government of Time
When discussing major events of the Meiji Restoration period, the Battle of Hakodate, which took place in Hakodate, must be mentioned. This was the battle in which Hijikata Toshizo died.
The moment Han Zhou stepped into this timeline along with the sword spirits, she sensed the suppression that time and space exerted on her. This was also her first time appearing in a past timeline; although she possessed the ability to travel through time, she had never truly returned to the past.
This is her bottom line.
While spacetime exerted some pressure on her, it was negligible. A pale golden power adhered to her surface, forming a protective film that counteracted the spacetime pressure.
"General?" Yagen noticed Kanshu's slight abnormality and called out worriedly.
She gently shook her head, indicating that she was fine.
When truly situated in this era of distorted time and space, Han Zhou is even more able to directly pinpoint the exact location of the Time Retrograde Army.
"This time... is 1869. If the Time Travel Army wants to change history, they might target Hijikata Toshizo."
As a swordsman of the Shinsengumi, Kashuu Kiyomitsu also knew that this time was... the year Hijikata Toshizo died in battle.
Okita Souji and Hijikata Toshizo were close friends, and Kanshu also had a deep connection with him. Kashuu Kiyomitsu was somewhat worried, as he might need to confront his lord again, who had lost a close friend.
"Keep up! The Time Travel Army hasn't entered the city yet. Stop them now!" After confirming the exact location, Han Zhou immediately started running.
The two fastest short swords reacted first, followed closely by Kashuu Kiyomitsu and the Genji brothers. The five sword spirits followed closely behind the Saniwa.
After running for ten minutes, they encountered the Time Travel Army, emanating an ominous black aura, emerging from the woods in an open plain.
Although Han Zhou was dressed in combat gear, she showed no intention of interfering in their fight. She stopped, and the sword spirits brushed past her, their blades gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
They must bring victory to their lord!
While the swords were fighting, Han Zhou was not idle. Instead, he was trying to sense whether there were any remaining Time Travelers from this era, but there were no other enemies.
This battle should be over soon.
The swords that have just taken human form need to adapt to the human body through combat and accumulate practical experience so that their swordsmanship, honed over the years, can be fully utilized.
This time, the enemy wasn't strong, nor were they numerous. Han Zhou, who was constantly monitoring the swordsmen's battle, would immediately use his power to heal any wounds he noticed.
As she watched the enemies slowly dissipate into black smoke, she walked over. Just as she was about to offer some praise, she noticed something strange about the Time Travel Army.
Those pale gold eyes were fixed on the gradually dissipating black wreckage on the ground, their brows slightly furrowed.
These time-traveling armies are formed by resentment, obsession, and even corrupted souls. This is not a good thing; as long as one is human, one will inevitably experience these kinds of emotions.
It seems the Time Government has kept some things from the Saniwa. And most Saniwa won't even notice. Even if someone does notice something amiss, who knows if they might be targeted by the Time Government and thus disappear from history?
Let's go back.
After confirming that there was no longer any spacetime distortion in this era, Han Zhou led the sword spirits back to the city.
Then, as soon as they landed, they saw Kitsunenosuke waiting for them. Upon seeing the Saniwa who had accompanied them into battle, the fur on his entire tail stood on end.
"Master Saniwa?! Why are you going into battle with the sword spirits?! Doesn't the manual say that Saniwa don't need to fight?!"
Kitsune's voice was somewhat shrill and grating at this moment. Hanshu already disliked the title of Saniwa, and coupled with this irritating voice, she frowned in displeasure.
Then the swordsmen witnessed their lord's first instance of anger (?).
"Kitsune-no-suke, I want you to understand that I am the owner of this citadel. What I do is not for others to question. And don't call me the Saniwa!" The powerful pressure made Kitsune-no-suke tuck his tail between his legs in fear and retreat.
"Ten, I am very sorry! Lord Hanzhou!"
Han Zhou glanced at the trembling Kitsunenosuke on the ground. "I will apply to the Time Government to replace Kitsunenosuke. You may leave."
After Kitsune-no-suke disappeared immediately, the feigned anger on Hanshu vanished instantly, returning to the calm they were most familiar with.
"Oh my~ Doesn't the head of the family like that fox?" Higekiri asked with a smile, his keen senses already indicating that he had already sensed something.
Having just witnessed the Time Travel Army's anomalies and their attitude towards Kitsunenosuke, the sword that had accompanied Hanshu for a century naturally knew that Hanshu was not someone who was easily angered.
The sudden attack on Kitsunenosuke must have some purpose. Or perhaps... they don't trust Kitsunenosuke, who was sent by the Time Government.
"The Time Government has not been honest with me about many things." Han Zhou made no attempt to hide anything, after all, this was his personal sword.
Why should we protect history? Who wants to destroy history? Who exactly are the so-called historical revisionists? These questions lingered in Han Zhou's mind, and they were not minor issues that could be ignored.
"Be careful when dealing with Time Government personnel in the future." Hearing Hanshu's words, Higekiri and Hizamaru exchanged glances. They both simultaneously thought of the time when Hanshu had used them.
"You guys go back and rest first. Kiyomitsu will come with me to the general store later."
......
Han Zhou changed out of her combat uniform and into a looser yukata. Her long, black hair was loose, and the sharpness between her brows and eyes softened considerably. On the white yukata was a white crane spreading its wings.
She sat in her first-floor office, a spacious room filled with books arranged chronologically to facilitate the Saniwa's research into historical events. In the center area sat a coffee table and several sofas.
Near the desk is a sphere that projects a map of the era, marking the locations of spacetime distortions. This device is also connected to the citadel's time converter. The Saniwa can adjust spatial coordinates from these two locations.
The castle tower has three floors. The first floor is the office area for the Saniwa (Master of the Saniwa), the second floor is the living quarters for the attendants, and the third floor is the Saniwa's room.
The third floor has a special barrier; sword spirits cannot ascend without the Saniwa's permission. However, judging from last night, Hanshu didn't restrict the swords' movement.
Otherwise, how would Yagen have gotten to the roof of the castle tower?
"My lord? Are you there?" Kiyomitsu's voice came from outside the door.
Han Zhou put down the report in his hand and walked towards the door.
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