4600】

Kinoshita Mai doesn't understand French at all, so she is completely confused now.

Qingden once studied French for a while under Elodie's step-by-step guidance.

Although my level is not high, I can barely understand what these two grandfathers and grandsons are talking about.

Therefore, when he heard Elodie say this: "I think... this is a good opportunity! An opportunity to prove to the world that we are not Yi Di", he, like Anthony, showed an expression of surprise.

Perhaps to take care of Mai Kinoshita, who didn't understand French, Elodie switched back to Japanese:

"Grandpa, ever since we crossed the ocean and worked hard to reach this distant country, I have been thinking: Why are the people in this country so hostile to us? Why do they regard us as barbarians?"

"I think... the biggest reason is that the country behind us, together with Britain, the United States and other countries, used violent means to force open the country's borders and force the shogunate to sign a series of unequal treaties."

"By acting like this, trying to get the people of this country to look favorably upon us is like asking Marie Antoinette to bathe in milk again - it's simply impossible."

[Note: Marie Antoinette (1755-1793): Queen of France, known for her extravagant lifestyle]

Elodie's pretty face gradually turned into a rich bitter color.

"I'm just an ordinary girl... I'm a quiet person."

"I can't get involved in the important matters of our family and country."

"I can't convince France to show goodwill to this country."

"But...even if it's just a little bit, I want to ease the gap between the two nations!"

"The root cause of many disputes in this world is the lack of mutual trust between the two parties! The lack of understanding of each other!"

"Because they don't understand us, they resist us."

"Because they don't understand us, they hate us."

"If I can become the head of the Shinsengumi, I will have the opportunity to show myself to the world and show off our Frenchness!"

"I know, it's hard."

"I also know that these ideas of mine are too naive and too idealistic."

"The conflict between two ethnic groups... a dispute of this scale will not change significantly because of my personal efforts."

"I'll probably get a lot of looks from people and be insulted by a lot of people."

"But, even so, I still want to try it!"

"Courage is a lesser crime than cowardice."

"Even if I regret it, I want to regret it after trying it!"

Speaking of this, Elodie paused for a moment, seeming to be thinking of new words.

After a while, she spoke again:

"...Grandpa, I know you are worried that I will be in danger."

"As for my personal safety, Grandpa, you can rest assured."

As she spoke, she patted her chest, chuckled a few times, and assumed a free and indifferent posture.

"The Zunban forces headed by Changshu have withdrawn from Kyoto."

"This town is no longer as dangerous as it once was."

"What's more, my position is that of the director of the office, and I am responsible for the abacus and account books."

"I spend most of my time in a heavily guarded camp."

"If people from the Zunbang sect want to do harm to me, it won't be that easy."

From ideals to reality... Elodie brought her eloquence to the extreme.

Her impassioned speech impressed everyone present.

To ease the gap between the two nations... It is really admirable to have such a grand ambition at such a young age.

But... I have to say that Elodie's ambition is indeed too idealistic.

As she just said - her personal efforts cannot fundamentally change a dispute of this scale.

However, Qingdeng does not dislike such idealists who "look up to the stars and keep their feet on the ground".

With her courage to practice, the young people who are just waiting to die have no right to blame them.

After Elodie finished speaking, Qingden quietly turned his eyes and looked directly at Anthony.

Whether it's Aoto, Mai Kinoshita or Elodie, everyone here is waiting for Anthony's reply.

As expected - Anthony frowned, his facial features almost curled up together, and his expression was dominated by strong hesitation.

It is not difficult to understand his tangled mood.

Although the office director does not need to stand on the front line, his safety factor is undoubtedly much safer than other positions.

But... whenever he thinks of the cruelty of the Zunban sect and the abyss of malice of the Zunban sect towards Westerners, Anthony feels chills at the root of his teeth, like a ray of light on his back.

Elodie is his only granddaughter and his only relative in this distant country.

Letting his granddaughter leave the stable "safe house" and enter the complicated "jungle"... It is really impossible for Anthony to accept it immediately in a short period of time.

In order to reassure him, Qingdeng said in a sonorous and firm tone:

"Monsieur Angoulême, please rest assured."

"Since I dare to recruit Elodie, then I have full confidence to protect her personal safety."

"Even if a million troops attack, I will never let Elodie be harmed in the slightest!"

Anthony: "..."

Qingdeng's passionate speech really made Anthony's expression look better.

However...he still remained silent.

Neither agreed nor refused.

Seeing Anthony was silent for a long time, Elodie pursed her lips.

After a while, she suddenly let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh:

"Ah ha ha ha ha..."

"Although I just said a lot of beautiful words."

"But actually..."

As the conversation suddenly changed, she slowly lowered her head and looked at the tatami in front of her knees, as if she was too shy to look at anyone.

"'Easing the gap between the two nations'... This is just one of my purposes."

"My other purpose is completely selfish - I want to stay in a lively place where the master and the dancing lady are."

"I hate being alone."

"I really don't want to..."

At this point, her voice stopped.

Immediately afterwards, she took a deep breath and gathered strength and emotion:

"I really don't want to be alone in this big house anymore..."

The moment Elodie finished speaking, Anthony's demeanor changed like an ice cube placed under the scorching sun.

The hesitant expression faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye, and was filled with shame and distress...

…

…

Osaka, a certain teahouse——

With a bang, Boss Kiryu pushed open the paper sliding door in front of him.

The sun penetrated through the crack in the door and penetrated into the room, and the dust in the air shone under the light.

"...Kuroro, long time no see."

An old female voice came from inside the room.

Boss Kiryu smiled slightly:

"Lord, I'm back."

After saying that, he stepped forward and entered the room.

Although this tea room is not small in size, its decoration is unexpectedly simple.

The paper sliding doors that surround the entire teahouse are of a very common type on the market, and are not luxury items painted with luxurious ukiyo-e paintings.

The only furniture in the room is a screen depicting the famous historical event of "Water Attack on Takamatsu".

[Note·Water attack on Takamatsu: Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s classic work. He used the ingenious strategy of water attack to capture the Maori family’s Takamatsu Castle.]
To be continued...