I mean, yeah, it's another "ex-top assassin tries to lead an ordinary life" story, but it had it's unique moments, specifically in how the main character Shimizaki is developed. He's an interesting man of few words, who understands the weight of his past but does not grovel or monologue about it in a melodramatic fashion like other stories. I was liking the story when it was about Shmizaki, but eventually the main bad guys start to become more relevant and hoo boy. It interests me that in a time of rising right-wing radicalism across the globe, where hatred amoung racial and ethnic lines are becoming more divided than ever, a story aboiut the dangers of political extremnism decides to have its bad guys be super communist (communism is never directly mentioned) terrorists who apparently have the economic and military might to wage open war against the nation of Japan, but also have no concrete ideals besides social media leftist talking points (the 1% bad, the upper class owns to much wealth compared to the lower class; that's it, that's their entire stated ideology).

In my opinion, to bring real-world ideologies into your story, but never directly mention them or argue against their philosophy/goals, and instead just be as vauge as possible so you can cry out "maybe they have a valid point, but their methods are too extreme!!" is the peak of both laziness and cowerdice (i.e peak centrism). If you don't want to put your personal political opinions in your story for fear of taking a side and angering people, then don't make a political story! Black Panther has more of a point than you! I am not joking, there is a chapter where the author makes an entire chapter dedicated to ranting about "why is political discourse so vitriolic? Can't we all get along and have an open discussion?" My brother in Christ, look at the state of the world! It's because these sides have completely opposing ideas for their nation and humanity's future! Also, you live in Japan, your country is practically owned by the LDP and has been for decades because your populace is so politically apathetic that change has become impossible. What are you even doing complaining about political polarization, do you live on Twitter or something? Did a socialist insult you online and call you names? It's all so naive and vapid that it's ruined my enjoyment of what was once an enjoyable story. Probably gonna drop it.

5/10. (It would be 4, but the beginning is good, so it brings it up.)

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