novelraw Chapter 23: This Isekai Start Keeps Getting Worse!
Chapter 23: This Isekai Start Keeps Getting Worse!
Upon hearing the word "Expel the Barbarians," the expressions of nearly everyone in the room immediately turned grave.
"Without me saying it, all present should know just how rampant these so-called 'Expel the Barbarians faction' members are, constantly spouting 'expel the barbarians' this and 'expel the barbarians' that," Usui said with a disdainful curl of his lips, his face twisted in contempt and resentment.
"If these people actually dared to draw their swords against Americans or British barbarians, if they had the guts to row small boats to attack Western steamships, then I'd say they at least have some courage."
"But these thugs only point their blades at their own people!"
"Currently, anyone who praises foreign countries or studies Western learning has become a target for these violent extremists."
"Just last month alone, seven innocent people were brutally murdered by these fanatics!"
Usui continued in a tone of frustration and helplessness.
Aoto couldn't help but think of himself—currently targeted by the radical Expel the Barbarians faction for inexplicable reasons—and unconsciously furrowed his brows slightly.
"I shouldn't need to explain this, but you all know how much Lord Ii despises members of the Expel the Barbarians faction."
"Lord Ii is absolutely furious about these thugs' atrocities.""But what angers Lord Ii even more is how the Three Squads have failed to curb the rampant violence of the Expel the Barbarians faction in Edo."
"Yesterday, Lord Ii summoned Atsukawa and me and gave us a severe reprimand."
Atsukawa—the Town Magistrate of the Southern Watchhouse, the other "mayor" who jointly governed Edo with Usui.
"He directly demanded to know why the Three Squads of the Southern and Northern Watchhouses were so incompetent as to allow the Expel the Barbarians faction to run wild in Edo, questioning whether our samurai were just a bunch of useless parasites feeding off their positions."
"Atsukawa and I vehemently shook our heads, insisting this wasn't the case."
"Then... Lord Ii told us: 'If that's truly not the case, then prove it to me! Show me that the Three Squads aren't just a collection of good-for-nothing drunkards!'"
At this point in his speech, Usui's mouth corners drooped downward as if recalling something unpleasant.
"And so—Lord Ii issued this order to evaluate the performance of Three Squads officials from both watchhouses by March 1st."
Usui let out a long sigh.
"Lord Ii gave an absolute command: on March 1st, he would send trusted aides to conduct a major review assessing everyone's work performance during this period."
"Anyone failing to meet standards would be immediately stripped of their official position."
As soon as Usui finished speaking, everyone's expressions in the room instantly changed.
Many looked terrified.
Aoto also couldn't help but freeze in shock.
The Great Elder was essentially this nation's prime minister.
Having the prime minister personally send inspectors to evaluate your work performance, with underperformers getting fired on the spot... wasn't that terrifying?
Usui now sat cross-legged on the tatami again, picked up a cup of water from the nearby table, drained it in one gulp, then continued in a grave tone:
"Listen carefully—you must take Lord Ii's evaluation with the utmost seriousness."
"I'll... take this opportunity to share some insider information."
"You should all know that since assuming office as Great Elder two years ago, Lord Ii has been actively reforming the shogunate's administration to strengthen national power against foreign barbarians like the Americans."
"And I've recently received confirmed news—Lord Ii is preparing to overhaul the bureaucratic system."
"His plan is to start reforming from the grassroots level, replacing personnel in all key shogunate departments and positions with capable individuals."
"The Three Squads bear the heavy responsibility of maintaining Edo's public safety—they're extremely important positions."
"So I suspect... Lord Ii suddenly ordered this evaluation precisely to thoroughly 'clean up' the Three Squads who shoulder such vital duties, weeding out mediocrities and replacing them with more talented people."
"In short—this evaluation is no trivial matter! It's not some minor routine check!"
"Previous evaluations might have allowed some slacking off."
"But this evaluation is being conducted by Lord Ii specifically for bureaucratic reform."
"I shouldn't need to elaborate on its importance and severity, should I?"
Some people in the room grew even paler.
"Today is January 14th."
"There's one and a half months left until Lord Ii's evaluation date: March 1st."
Usui's gaze swept across everyone's faces in the room.
"Anyone lacking confidence in their recent performance should use this final stretch of time to work hard! Find ways to improve your records!"
"I don't want to see anyone stripped of their position and slinking away from the Northern Watchhouse in a month and a half."
Some people in the room involuntarily hung their heads, looking tense and fearful.
"Especially you, Tachibana Aoto!"
Suddenly and without warning, Usui sharply turned his gaze toward Aoto, who had been quietly listening behind Arima the whole time, and called his full name in an extremely stern tone.
Aoto looked up at Usui in bewilderment.
A faint trace of irritation flickered in Usui's eyes as he stared at Aoto.
"Of everyone here, you're the one I'm most worried about."
"You'd better put in serious effort!"
"Let me be perfectly blunt with you!"
"With your current performance record, you'll definitely be kicked out of the Northern Watchhouse in a month and a half."
As soon as Usui finished speaking, soft snickers and mocking laughter arose in the room... mainly from the "Tojo Group" seating area...
"Magistrate!"
Arima quickly spoke up loudly.
"Tachibana-kun has only been at the Northern Watchhouse for half a year."
"He's still unfamiliar with many of the Teimachi squad's duties."
"Moreover, during the recent operation against the Righteous Crowd two nights ago, Tachibana-kun made significant contributions—he successfully captured Cat's Eye, the Righteous Crowd's second-in-command."
Just as Arima was about to say more, Usui impatiently cut him off:
"Arima, at the evaluation meeting in a month and a half, do you plan to use 'Tachibana's still new here' and 'Tachibana's had some accomplishments' as excuses for him too?"
Faced with Usui's sharp retort, Arima pressed his lips together, his face showing hesitation before silently lowering his head and saying no more.
"Tachibana."
Usui now turned his attention back to Aoto.
That faint trace of irritation reappeared in his eyes.
"I won't say anything else unpleasant to you."
"In short—you'd better work hard over this next month and a half."
"Don't be the first one stripped of your position at the evaluation meeting."
"Losing face would be the least of your problems—losing your livelihood would be far worse."
"Understood?"
"Yes..." Aoto responded with an awkward smile, bowing to Usui. "This humble official understands..."
"Teehee..." Soft snickering sounds rose again in the room—still mainly from the Tojo Group's direction.
Of the Tojo Group's four members, everyone except Yoriki Tojo himself was sneaking glances at Aoto as if watching a circus clown while stifling laughter.
Their target was obvious.
Butagaya and Ushiyama sitting beside Aoto, along with Arima in front of him, all shot angry looks toward the still-snickering Tojo Group members.
Why had Usui specifically called out Aoto, telling him he needed to work harder?
This all traced back to the "original Tachibana Aoto's" abysmal work performance...
When the "original Tachibana Aoto" had taken over his father's position six months ago to become the Teimachi squad's new dōshin, he'd demonstrated... to put it charitably, enormous room for improvement. To be blunt, even a pig might have done better!
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