My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 477: Chapter 167: Oh! Miss Elodie, Are You Blushing?

"Stealing from evil people isn’t stealing?" Anthony’s brow furrowed slightly. "No matter what, theft is theft. Regardless of what is stolen or who the target is, theft is always theft."

Every word in Anthony’s speech conveyed his dislike for Cat Monk.

"It’s different!" Elodie retorted unyieldingly, confronting Anthony. "Cat Monk, Fox Monk—they all dare to take on those villains even the authorities can’t touch. Daring to make those villains suffer greatly. Just for that alone, we should respect them!"

"Alright. Let’s discuss this slowly later."

"Colonel Sanders" frowned, quickly scanning Aoto and the others with his eyes... He probably thought it was quite unseemly to argue and dispute in front of Aoto and his guests, so Anthony wanted to end the topic.

However, Elodie refused to relent, completely ignoring Anthony’s suggestion to "talk about it later."

Elodie’s hands, folded and placed in front of her navel, tightened slightly, and a sharp look emerged in her sky-blue eyes like a clear summer day.

"Grandpa, statements like yours... are really annoying."

"You like to use your standards to judge those who are willing to confront the villains and the noble ones."

"Demanding that their character, lifestyle, and methods be aboveboard, lawful, and without a single flaw."

"Once they show the slightest flaw that doesn’t meet your expectations, you look down on them."

"And then often show leniency towards those villains."

"If Lukulus does anything frugal, you might think he’s not that bad after all."

"If Harpagon from Moliere’s works loosens his grip on his money bag and donates a little money that’s a drop in the ocean for him to the poor, you would probably think he’s a kind-hearted philanthropist."

"As long as these bad people perform a tiny good deed, they get your applause and cheers."

"This differential treatment of heroes and villains is utterly ridiculous and annoying."

"It’s because there are too many people like you, Grandpa, that everyone starts to enjoy being a villain more!"

Anthony was left speechless by Elodie’s rebuke, his mouth open and unable to respond.

Not to mention Anthony.

Aoto and the others... even Saito, who rarely showed any emotional or facial changes, were taken aback, and all focused their gaze on Elodie, who just said things beyond what a 12-year-old girl would usually say.

Although Aoto and the others didn’t quite understand Western references like Lukulus or Harpagon in Moliere’s works, they could roughly grasp the meaning.

Faced with everyone’s astonished gazes, Elodie didn’t show any sign of stage fright; she continued to look Anthony in the eye with unwavering determination.

"...Alright, I admit I did go a bit overboard just now." Anthony sighed lightly. "Elodie, let’s discuss Cat Monk, Fox Monk, and their rights and wrongs slowly later. Let’s leave here for now; staying here will affect Mr. Tachibana’s work."

Elodie paused, then seemed to realize that this was indeed not the right place for such a heated debate with Anthony.

"Sorry, Mr. Tachibana." Elodie turned around, slightly lifting the hem of her white puffy dress with both hands, and bowed apologetically toward Aoto and the others. "Sorry for letting you witness such an unbecoming scene."

"It’s okay, it’s okay." Aoto quickly waved with a smile, "We don’t mind."

"Mr. Tachibana, we’ll take our leave first." Anthony once again smiled apologetically at Aoto. "If you need anything, like food or drinks, feel free to ask us; we’ll do our best to help."

After quickly saying what he had to say, Anthony led Elodie and Leroy out of the study, followed by the astonished eyes of Aoto and the others.

As soon as Elodie and the others left, Nagakura smirked to himself, muttering:

"What an impressive little girl..."

Nagakura’s murmur echoed the thoughts of everyone present, including Aoto.

...

...

Monitoring the confectionery store through the study window didn’t require many people, so Aoto set up a "two-shift system."

He and Fujimura took the first shift.

Saito, Nagakura, and Harada took the second shift.

The two groups took turns monitoring the confectionery store for half an hour each.

Aoto and Fujimura leaned against the wall by the window, calmly completing the first round of surveillance. Nothing unusual happened at the confectionery store, and they didn’t spot the shifty bearded man mentioned by the informant.

After swapping with Saito and the others, Aoto suddenly felt a bit thirsty.

After briefly asking his companions if they also needed water, Aoto headed out of the study alone, planning to ask Anthony and the others for some water.

The third floor where the study was located was quiet, devoid of a single soul. Aoto had no choice but to explore down the stairs.

Only after reaching the bottom floor, the first floor, did Aoto finally encounter someone.

"Ah, Mr. Tachibana."

In the dining room, Elodie leaped off her chair, and with a gleeful smile, dashed towards Aoto with quick, lively steps.

*******

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Thank you to the Alliance Leader [My Beloved Home, Actually 12] for the two Alliance Leader rewards from the other day!

The author’s Chapter debt has finally increased again, rising from 12 to 14.

Today’s ten-thousand-character burst update is to repay the debt owed to the Silver Alliance Leader [Is That Handsome Handsome], who rewarded 2 Alliance Leaders and 1 Silver Alliance Leader for this book.

The author now owes 13 ten-thousand-character Chapters.

Requesting monthly votes! Requesting recommendation votes! (Crying emoji with a leopard head)