Il Cielo dei Tre Regni
by Lunar Wave

Disclaimer: This story borrows the setting and characters of the Koihime†Musou series and borrows multiple elements from Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I own neither series as they both belong to their respective owners. Also, considering Koihime†Musou could be considered a fanfic of the Three Kingdoms, I'd like to say I don't own anything related to the stories of the Three Kingdoms.

-()-

The Fine Details at the Aftermath

-()-

"Sousou-sama. It seems Enshou, Ganryou, and Bunshuu have all been captured."

"Those damned Ryuubi Army!" Kakouton roared, "They stole a march on us! We should take them on now!"

"Hmph." Sousou shrugged, "Finish things here." Sousou ordered one of her division commanders. shrugged. "Shunran, Shuuran, Keifa, with me. We'll be going to the Ryuubi Camp to discuss what's next."

"Shouldn't I come too?"

"Choukou." Sousou frowned, considering the matter. "… Fine, you can come. Rin, come along as well."

-()-

"Sousou-san." Ryuubi greeted the smaller girl. "It's been a while."

"Ryuubi." Sousou greeted. "A couple of months, I believe? The end of the last battle against Enshou." Sousou turned around, "Why are you not occupying Kahoku? Why camp all the way here?"

"Kahoku was still Enshou's home base, and Enshou's soldiers, the ones in Kahoku at least, are her fervent supporters. It's simply too risky to bring Enshou into her own capital and not expect someone to try to break her out." Shokatsuryou remarked.

"So the race still goes," Sousou smirked.

"What do you mean?" Ryuubi frowned.

"The race that Hongou proposed; the rule was who could capture Kahoku." Sousou replied.

"Please stop." Ryuubi sighed. "We're currently in negotiations with Kahoku."

"Hoh?"

"You should probably send a delegation there as well." Shokatsuryou remarked, "We are discussing reparations from the war after all; I imagine you would have your own list of demands."

"Assuming they're not finalized yet?" Sousou frowned. Kind of rude to enter negotiations without her.

"… Do you really think we've finalized anything with the Kahoku officials?" Ryuubi frowned, "… They're basically demanding us to return all their lost properties because they, and we quote, 'do not have anything to do with En Honsho's crimes against the Empire' and that 'they shouldn't be punished for the crime of one woman'."

"Despite the fact that they're in this mess because that one woman got too greedy."

"… May I speak for a bit?"

"Hmm? Oh, Choukou?" Ryuubi blinked, "It's… been a while."

"Yes. Half a year I believe." Choukou nodded, coldly. "… Have you been well?"

"Not really." Ryuubi shook her head, "This last few months have been a mess of paperwork and wartime… How about you?"

Choukou considered it for a bit before asking, "Would it be possible for me to execute Enshou myself?"

"Is this a request by Kanhyoku?" Ryuubi asked.

Choukou slowly looked up, "… No. This is for my honor alone. I… I failed to protect our territory… And because of that failure, Kanhyoku-sama took her own life. She didn't even want to live in the same world as me."

"That's… I'm sorry for your loss… if we just went to your aid sooner…"

"Maybe if we held our territory for longer than a week, I'd be blaming your group for not helping but… we failed to hold it for a day. How pathetic of us, huh?" Choukou laughed hollowly. "… Taken over by a mercenary with barely any support."

"Story of our lives." Kousonsan appeared. "I mean… failing to hold onto our territory… really…"

"Oh, Pairen-chan, are you done?" Ryuubi greeted the girl.

"Yeah. I assigned my commanders to take charge of Yuushuu for the time being."

"Are you not going to take charge of Yuushuu?" Sousou asked.

"Nah." Kousonsan shook her head, "I mean, I owe Touka too much now, and well, Touka needs a cavalry general."

"If you want, you could go." Touka offered.

"Nah, I'm sticking with your group." Kousonsan shook her head. "Besides, if I stay here in Yuushuu, I won't be able to see Enshou get her just desserts." Kousonsan replied.

"I suppose Enshou had a more direct hand with you…" Choukou grimaced, "Then may I execute Kayuu?"

"We'll talk executions when they're in front of the Emperor." Ryuubi firmly responded, "If it's a request from Kanhyoku, I may have honored it, but… ultimately their crime is to the Emperor. The Emperor will decide their punishment."

"Frankly, if these people do not die, I'd be shocked." Sousou huffed. "Or the Emperor is far too kind to those who oppose her."

Ryuubi grimaced at that. "… Right…"

"Just so we're clear, Ryuubi, the punishment for treason is death." Sousou remarked. "That's been law since forever."

"That's slightly incorrect, Sousou-san." Shokatsuryou corrected her, "The Emperor's words are law. Even if it might seem that there exists a clear precedent or examples from records, if Kentei-sama disagrees then that's that."

"I am aware of that, of course." Sousou replied.

Ryuubi merely shook her head. "Let's leave court matters to the court. It… really wouldn't do for us to discuss this without Paitan-sama."

"Ryuubi-sama, with all due respect, are you against executing Enshou and her court?" Choukou asked.

"… I personally am against executing anyone in the first place." Ryuubi shook her head, "But if the law dictates that execution is the path, then I will accept the outcome."

"Enshou invaded your territory, and you're still willing to forgive her?"

"… Enshou has hurt a lot of people, but I'm not all too sure that she can atone for her crimes by dying and leaving us to clean up after her." Ryuubi shook her head.

"Good luck trying to convince her to atone for her sins." Sousou scoffed.

"However!" Ryuubi turned to Choukou, "If Paitan-sama believes that Enshou should die… then I'll honor it as well."

"The Emperor, who you pretty much groomed to be your lapdog?" Sousou huffed.

"I did not!" Ryuubi angrily denied the accusation.

"If you say so." Sousou smirked. "Either way, we'll just have to see when the time comes then."

"Sousou-san…" Ryuubi sighed as she schooled her emotions, "Before we talk about the trial, there's something I'd like to discuss."

"Oh?" Sousou frowned.

"It's about the transport of the prisoners."

"What about it?" Sousou asked.

"Would it be possible for you to take some of them directly to Kyoshou with your army? It would be… more sensible, than us bringing them through Seishuu, then Joshuu, before bringing them into your territory."

"And what would I gain from it?' Sousou raised an eyebrow.

"If you are unwilling then we can forget it." Ryuubi frowned. "It was merely a suggestion, after all."

Sousou frowned, as she considered the suggestion itself. Her mind quickly calculated the situation and hummed, "… Well, I suppose we do have room to spare." Much to the surprise of her vassals. "Who will I be taking then?"

"Shuri?" Ryuubi turned to the advisor who nodded.

"We'd like you to take the primary offenders of this case of treason directly to Kyoshou so that they can be secure until the trial date." Shokatsuryou nodded.

"So all of them?"

"No." Shokatsuryou shook her head, "We speak of Enshou and Kayuu." Choukou's ears perked at that.

"Hmm? Kayuu, but not Ganryou and Bunshuu?" Sousou frowned.

"Ganryou and Bunshuu are… accessories to Enshou's crime. They are her vassals, and while they'll be held liable for some of the crime, it's not as severe as Enshou herself. As for Kayuu, while she's in a similar vein to Ganryou and Bunshuu when it comes to Enshou's treason, there is a crime that she has to answer for… but we ourselves have no jurisdiction on the matter." Shokatsuryou turned to Choukou, "As the jurisdiction of Kanhyoku's old territory, according to the deal, is now yours."

"True enough." Sousou hummed. "Very well, then that means you wouldn't mind what I do with Kayuu?"

"She's still a key witness for Enshou's trial." Shokatsuryou warned. "Please try to stay your hand for that."

"Do we not have enough ammunition to send Reiha down into the deepest depths of the afterlife?" Sousou frowned. "Frankly, I'd rather deal with Kayuu's business as soon as possible. Considering that the trial with her will be done in Kishuu's capital, it'll be on my way there."

"People's lives shouldn't be weighed 'on the way'." Ryuubi frowned.

"Unlike you, I'm a busy woman, Ryuubi. I don't have time for such quibbles."

"However." Shokatsuryou interrupted, "Kayuu's sentencing needs to be consistent with Enshou's. And a lot of Kayuu's crimes hinges on Enshou's."

"And?" Sousou raised an eyebrow. "I know that, but frankly, Reiha's crimes are cut and dry, and Kayuu's part on it is too. She was hired by Enshou to overthrow Kanhyoku. Hired. She accepted the job."

"Extenuating circumstances can make people do drastic things." Ryuubi frowned, "And while I don't like that Kayuu attacked Kanhyoku, I still want to know why."

"And let her spin a sob story? A thief is a thief, regardless of why they want to steal." Sousou huffed.

"There is also another matter!" Shokatsuryou spoke up. "Sousou-san… we haven't seen hide nor hair of the sorcerers in over a year."

Sousou's mouth snapped shut at that.

"They've been adamantly influencing things in the shadows since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and they won't show their hand here?" Shokatsuryou asked, "Kayuu… is the last person we know that has had direct contact with the sorcerers; one sorcerer helped her escape during the Coalition."

Sousou's stare hardened at that. She can't help it; Koumei brought up a valid point. What the hell have these sorcerers been doing the past year?

"Tch… then Kayuu is far too important to die unless I can confirm she has no information of note."

"She gets to evade death once more." Choukou groaned.

"Choukou-san…" Ryuubi looked at her apologetically.

"Did you not already extract this information in your time here?" Sousou frowned.

"We didn't have the time, and time is needed for something like that. We could do it on route back to Joshuu, but…" Shokatsuryou looked at her, "… You have Chouryou Bun'en in your ranks; you'll likely be able to get more information out of Kayuu than we could."

"You also have Ryofu Housen." Sousou replied, "However, if you're offering, then I'll oblige you. I'll see if I could drag the information out." Sousou shrugged.

"We'd rather it if you let Kazuto-sama see her." Shokatsuryou replied, "He's… good at finding out when someone's hiding something from him."

"Is he now?" Sousou asked, "Never figured him for an interrogator…"

"That man, being any good at interrogations? Hah!" Jun'iku couldn't help herself.

"… but in hindsight it makes sense." Sousou continued.

"Karin-sama!" Jun'iku felt betrayed by the whiplash.

"In hindsight?" Choukou asked.

"He has a large tendency to ingratiate himself into other people's confidence." Sousou shrugged.

"It's called being friendly." Ryuubi sighed at the gross mischaracterization of Kazuto.

Sousou merely waved off Ryuubi's comment. "And?"

"We've also captured Kayuu's men." Ryuubi decided to just continue. "We aren't trying the rank-and-file soldiers, so… we might just let them go. Unless…"

"We'll take them." Sousou interrupted. "If you aren't trying them, then I will."

"… Very well." Ryuubi nodded.

"I'll take Ganryou and Bunshuu as well, if you don't mind."

"We do, I'm afraid," Ryuubi replied.

"Reason?" Sousou frowned.

Shokatsuryou spoke up, "Ganryou and Bunshuu injured some of our guards during their escape from our capital. We weren't completely at war at the time, yet, so they'll still be tried for it."

"Minor crime compared to leading an enemy army."

"It would also be unwise to put all our eggs in one basket. While Enshou and Kayuu we'd prefer to go to Kyoushou as soon as possible, Bunshuu and Ganryou aren't, and we'd rather prefer to keep them separate from Enshou. On the off-chance that Enshou escapes, then at least she won't be able to rise up again, as her two most trusted aides are far away from her."

"Are you implying Reiha could escape me?"

"There's still a higher chance of Enshou escaping if Ganryou and Bunshuu are nearby, than if they aren't."

Sousou wasn't impressed by that logic. "What is your group up to?"

"What do you think we're up to?" Ryuubi replied with a question.

Sousou couldn't discern it. On some level, Sousou wanted to believe that this is just them being hopelessly naïve again, believing they could save people even though they've committed great crimes. But this was the army that almost defeated Enshou without outside aid. Sousou was wary. They have access to tricks that Sousou herself could only discern with the benefit of hindsight. It's too dangerous to disregard their motives. But what is their motive?

"Che!" Kakouton finally couldn't hold her breath any further and spoke up, "How dare you act smug against Karin-sama!? Just answer her question!"

Ryuubi flinched at the sound of the one-eyed general's voice. However, after breathing in once, she looked her in the eye and said, "No."

"What!?" Kakouton frowned. "How d-"

"I said no, Kakouton-san."

This time, something felt… off in the girl's voice. As if her voice was resonating across the room. As if her voice was the only important noise, drowning out even Kakouton's tirade.

Ryuubi sighed, before looking at Sousou, "Much as Sousou herself has her own secrets and designs for the future, so do I. And unless she's willing to share, then I am more than happy to keep my own. Just as you are forcing us to guess your motives, you will do so with us."

"How petty." Sousou snidely remarked.

"Coming from you, who isn't above pettiness?" Ryuubi replied. "Now then. Would you like some tea, or will you go on your way?"

"I doubt your tea will serve my palate. I've tasted all of Joshuu's teas and found them wanting." Sousou waved her off.

"Then, before you go, I'd like to ask something."

"Right after you chose to ignore my own question?" Sousou smirked, "I'll hear it out, but no promises in a response."

"… While we did intend on discussing these matters with you soon, it wasn't us that called you here; you came here on your own." Ryuubi frowned, "Why did you come?"

"Merely to see if you would honor your little bet."

"Then I suggest that you send your delegation to Kahoku." Shokatsuryou spoke up once more. "It would be faster than us taking all of it and then delegating it as your territory."

Sousou nodded. "Well, I do prefer if things went quickly from here on out." Sousou nodded. Besides, doing it that way would be a chance for backstabbing, she thought as she turned to her girls. "Rin, Shuuran, go to the negotiations. Make sure that all Kishuu territories west of Kahoku are ours. Choukou, go with them. You know Kishuu better than us after all."

"You will only take the southwestern territories, Sousou-san. The northern territories, which you haven't entered, no matter how west they are, will not be part of your territory."

"Hmph." Sousou scoffed, "Fine. Then I'll take my leave. There's nothing left for me to discuss."

"Aisha-chan?" Ryuubi turned to the black-haired general at her side.

"I will escort you to the prisoners then." Kan'u nodded.

"Much obliged." Sousou nodded, seeing a glimmer of opportunity.

Sousou turned around and walked out of the tent, followed closely by her entourage. Kan'u made a quick bow to Ryuubi, before following suit.

… A few seconds pass…

When they were certain that Sousou was not coming back, both Ryuubi and Shokatsuryou let go of a breath they weren't aware they were holding back.

"That… was exhausting." Touka sighed as Mifa walked in with tea.

"Thanks for your hard work, Touka-sama, Shuri-sama."

"Hey, what about me!?" Pairen complained, but sighed as Mifa handed her a cup of tea, "But yeah, I guess they worked harder than I did. Even just watching that was exhausting."

"See what I mean that this is the more troublesome battlefield?" Shuri gave a small wincing smile. "Hinari-chan's lucky that she'll only have to deal with Sousou's advisor and generals."

"She does have Fuurin-sensei and Rairai-chan with her, so she won't be outnumbered." Touka nodded. "Still… couldn't I have gone too?"

"If you'd gone, then Sousou-san would've gone there as well." Shuri shook her head.

"So it's Sousou-san for me either way." Touka sighed.

"What's stopping Sousou from just… you know, going with them anyway?" Pairen asked.

"Nothing." Shuri replied.

"If Sousou-san decides to go to the negotiations as well, I'll say sorry to Hinari-chan." Touka laughed a bit.

"Well, we did send Aisha-san with Sousou-san… Sousou-san will likely try to recruit her during that time…"

Touka frowned, "… And?"

Shuri winced, "… On second thought, that doesn't change anything, does it?" Shuri shook her head, "She'll either be too angry by failing to recruit Aisha and go back to her camp or still too angry and wanting to make a mess of the negotiations and go herself."

"Either way, as long as Touka doesn't go, there's a half chance that Sousou will go." Pairen concluded, "But she's guaranteed to go if Touka goes. Does that sum it up?"

"Yes."

"Then let's just send Touka there if Sousou shows up." Pairen shrugged.

"… Pairen-chan, you bully."

-()-

As it turns out, Sousou decided to return to her own camp after picking up the prisoners… well, picking up as in, get Enshou and Kayuu, and then have her soldiers come in later to pick up the rest of the non-important prisoners. Both Kayuu and Enshou were bound and gagged. The ones bringing them along were four Ryuubi Army soldiers, who upon reaching Sousou Camp, stood just at the edge of it, as Sousou's soldiers hurriedly took the prisoners off of them. The Ryuubi Army soldiers dwelled a bit to ensure that the hand-off was done properly, before leaving.

The entire time, Sousou watched it with her face made as impassive as possible.

No one needs to even guess that something spoilt her mood quite a bit, and frankly, it was obvious what spoilt it, considering she just left Ryuubi Camp.

"Shunran." Sousou finally spoke. "Make sure our prisoners are secure."

"Understood, Karin-sama!" Kakouton quickly started barking orders to the soldiers. Unnecessary orders, as the soldiers were already doing the task.

Sousou huffed and turned around. There was no need for her to supervise this any further. Upon turning though…

"Welcome back. You brought back a prize."

"Hello, Fuu." Sousou nodded. "It's not often we see you awake. And Shia."

"… Huh. Kayuu." Chouryou spotted her former comrade.

"Going to beg for her life?" Sousou asked.

"Nah. She knew what she did." Chouryou waved it off. "I mean, I could see if she wants to join up… if you want her?"

"Choukou wants her dead." Sousou shrugged.

"… bit much, but guess so." Chouryou grimaced. "Still, she's strong, ya know? Probably roughly on par with a lot of our greats. I mean, I've never seen her fight Gen-chan, but…"

"She's also a loose cannon who was practically the reason why the Toutaku Army lost." Sousou scoffed, "In turn, Choukou listens to orders and could be relied on to follow them to the letter. Even if Kayuu's the greatest general in the country, she's not worth much if she'll ignore me." Sousou shook her head.

"Fair 'nuff. Still think it's a waste." Chouryou walked up to Kakouton, "Yo, Gen-chan! Lemme help ya!"

"Hah!? Oy, Shia, this is Karin-sama's orders! I'll take care of-"

"So." Fuu's voice cut Sousou's musings. "What happened?"

"Hmm?" Sousou looked at the strategist.

"Why is Keifa looking like she'll bite someone's head off?"

Right. That. Sousou looked at the strategist, and Jun'iku glared at Fuu for bringing attention to her.

"… I'm guessing." Fuu hazarded a guess, "That you tried recruiting someone and failed to budge them?"

"She'll see the light." Sousou waved off Fuu's concern, but she couldn't completely remove the annoyance in her tone.

"Urgh!" Jun'iku growled, "What's with her!? Can't she see that being Karin-sama's vassal is way better than that country girl!?" Then she started to mutter, "This is definitely a ploy to attract Karin-sama's attention, so that when she joins she'll get all of Karin-sama's love, how devious Kan'u, you dirty-"

Fuu decided to ignore Jun'iku's little spiel. It's not worth it.

"So what's with the extra baggage?" Fuu nodded.

"We're playing transporter. Kayuu's being delivered to Hongou for interrogation, while we get to parade dear Reiha around as a prize and proof of our victory."

"You don't like parades."

"Yes." Sousou nodded, "Waste of time and money." Sousou then smirked, "Reiha, in turn, loves them."

"I… see." Fuu nodded.

"Ryuubi foolishly handed me the trophy to present to the Emperor. And I can spin the tale however I please, and it will be official… at least until Ryuubi comes to Kyoushou."

"Provided that Kazuto doesn't get information first." Fuu remarked.

"If he could." Sousou shrugged. "As long as I spin it correctly, that will be what's written in the history books…"

"… So if Kazuto gets the information first then, they win." Fuu repeated.

"… What do you mean by that?" Sousou frowned.

"Chihou." Fuu replied. "She'll have performed at least once before we arrive home. He could spread the information faster by having the Kazoe Yakuman Sisters perform."

"If he thinks of it." Sousou replied, but started to understand the problem.

"You can't deny he could think it."

"Then may the more cunning one win." Sousou huffed. "Either way, I will profit from this more than they would."

"… Right. Even if you lost the race, no matter the result, you said you would be the winner."

"I won the moment the Ryuubi Army failed to account for my sudden entrance into Joshuu. If they didn't panic and kept their course, then I wouldn't have been able to get this far."

"Then…"

"These little games that we played since then are to try and wrestle some of my victory away from me."

"Then I'll leave you to it." Fuu frowned, "… Where's Ganryou and Bunshuu?"

"Ryuubi decided to keep them." Sousou frowned.

"Then why not keep Enshou?"

"They said a lot of weird reasons. I honestly can't be sure what the real reason is. Whatever their plan is, they don't need Reiha."

"Or maybe they want Enshou to be with us?" Fuu proposed. "As I recall, they set Ryofu free during the coalition and disguised it as a breakout?"

Sousou's eyes turned sharp at that suggestion. "… Maybe. But in that case, it was their guards that were stationed. And Ryofu still bust down a wall, rather than through the guards."

"A human being capable of breaking walls, don't you think that story is odd in its own way?"

"You propose that they used sorcery to destroy that wall?" Sousou asked.

"It's a possibility?"

"And are you saying they may intend on breaking out Reiha discretely to smear us?" Sousou frowned.

"Again, a possibility."

"… Call Karon and tell her to pat down Reiha. Strip her completely if she has to. And then make sure that someone is watching over the idiot at all times."

"Understood." Fuu left, realizing that she just made work for herself.

"… Add another thing to question Hongou when we get back." Sousou sighed.

"… Karin-sama's obsessing over a dumb monkey… I'll kill him, I'll kill him…"

"Keifa."

"Yes!" Jun'iku's mood turned sunny after hearing her True Name from her beloved Karin-sama.

"I scheduled you for a Go match with Hongou. Don't disappoint me."

"Yes!" Jun'iku grinned, "I won't let you down!" But when she realized that that was all Sousou wanted to say to her, she fidgeted a bit. "… So did we do good, Karin-sama?" Jun'iku smiled. "Will you reward me for my hard work~"

Sousou blinked and realized too late: she hadn't had sex with her most loyal subjects in a while… Goodness, she's slipping. "I'll love you plenty, Keifa." Sousou smiled.

"Wait, me too, Karin-sama!"

"No!" Jun'iku refused, "I want Karin-sama all to myself this time! You can have her after me!"

"Shunran, I'll take care of you properly as soon as possible."

"You promise?"

"Make sure to do your job here and help Fuu out with relaying the orders."

"Right!"

-()-

The negotiations at Kishuu ended easily enough, and soon the two armies began retreating. Kousonsan announced the ones in charge of governing Yuushuu among her old men, who agreed. Most of them were Yuushuu-bred-and-raised, and wouldn't want to move to Joshuu. Those who did, however, easily mixed in with Pairen's cavalry.

Of course, the march would take at least several days. Not to mention that the Ryuubi Army needed to make a quick short stop at Seishuu, to iron out the details. They will leave matters of the new Kishuu territory that Ryuubi governed as joint-responsibility of the new Seishuu representative, Kouyuu, and the one Pairen assigned.

Simply put, Touka decided to forego taking a direct hand in the governance of the two territories.

Ryuubi sighed as she moved to a specific tent. When Touka flipped the flap open…

"You're…"

"Good evening, Ganryou-san." Touka greeted the sole occupant of the tent.

"… Ryuubi." Ganryou blearily sat up with much difficulty. Her hands and legs were both bound up to ensure she can't run away. "… I… what is it?"

"Are you well? We did order our soldiers to not harm you but, well…"

"Yes. I'm unharmed." Ganryou grimaced. "A bit sore from the bindings, but no one has hit me in my stay."

"Good." Touka nodded. "And how are they treating you?"

"They're… fine." Ganryou shrugged. "I usually don't talk to them, and they don't talk to me…"

"Right." Touka nodded, "Sorry about the bindings. Bunshuu… she well… She keeps trying to escape, so we bound her arms and legs… And you're pretty much the same strength as her, so as a precaution, that's why you're also bound up like that too… sorry."

"That's Bun-chan for you." Ganryou laughed.

"She's calmed down since and she's chatting up a storm. Although she did ask for food a bit too much."

"We could do that?" Ganryou asked.

"Not really." Touka shrugged, "It's not as if we can cook up a meal on the fly, and we sort of want to keep up our own supplies to get home." Touka then frowned, "That's… why I'm here, by the way. We're going back to Joshuu soon."

"I see." Ganryou nodded, "Umm… is my sentence decided?"

"Admittedly, you have two options… you could push the blame onto Enshou-san, and you won't be too punished. Or you could admit guilt with Enshou-san, and you'll share her punishment…"

"Death." Ganryou grimaced, "If we admit guilt with Reiha-sama, we'll be sentenced to die too?"

"We could choose not to," Touka replied. "… Personally, I'm against the death penalty. It… teaches people that you can get even with someone by killing the other person. I don't really like it."

"Eh, you mean…"

"Even though Enshou-san's actions resulted in many of my soldiers' deaths… I'm against her being killed by the law."

Ganryou could only look at the girl with respect, "I… thank you…"

"But… that doesn't mean that Enshou won't be executed… because I don't have as much power as I'd like."

"No, no, that's enough." Ganryou shook her head, "Thank you, Ryuubi-san…"

Touka smiled, "I'm not that great… I mean, I still… stole… all of Enshou's properties. She'll no longer have a home to come back to in Kahoku. She will no longer have money… she'll no longer have the En Family at her back. Even if she doesn't die, we might be locking her up for a long time, or we might be disbarring her from anything but the most menial of jobs, never once more to hold a position of power."

"… Like a once proud castle brought to ruin." Ganryou nodded, "But… it's fine. If she lives, then I can simply support her."

"Eh?" Touka blinked.

"I'll join your army, and use that money to keep her afloat…"

"Just so we're clear, she's still a criminal in the eyes of everyone… and same with you." Touka winced, "We can't wave off your crimes… and Enshou's life in the future will be monitored. Heavily."

"I should've expected as much." Ganryou sighed.

"We can guarantee your lives, but you won't be as free." Touka sighed, "It's… not perfect. You won't be able to enjoy the same freedom that you have had the past few years."

"I don't mind." Ganryou shook her head.

"But would Bunshuu mind? Enshou?"

"They might." Ganryou admitted, "As long as they're alive, it's unlikely they'll give up getting ahead."

"Then we'll leave it to you to convince Bunshuu and Enshou to consider your way…" Touka replied. "I… I don't think either of them will listen to me."

"I'll talk to them." Ganryou replied. "But, how are you planning to get us out of execution?"

"The first idea is for you to appeal to Reitei-sama."

"Would that work?"

"You can try." Touka smiled. "And if it doesn't, I still have some ability to work with. After all… your biggest crime is against Joshuu. If I, the most affected by the war, were to ask for your lives to be spared, there will be few who can deny me that."

"Thank you! I'll see what I can do." Ganryou nodded. "… Can I talk to them now? It'll take a while to convince Reiha-sama."

"… Enshou is being shipped directly to Kyoshou by Sousou-san."

"Wait, why!?" Ganryou blinked, "Why is she…"

"… Ganryou-san. Enshou already escaped from our clutches twice. Her luck in getting out of danger is astonishing. We… we can't risk her escaping because all three of you are in the same camp."

"So… you're saying… because I broke through your guards when we escaped from Kahi…" Ganryou winced. "… You couldn't keep her here?"

"Technically we could. We chose to give her to Sousou… so that Kayuu can be sent directly to Kazuto-kun."

"Eh?"

"We needed an excuse to get Kayuu to Kazuto-kun as soon as possible. But the excuse we came up with… it would look suspicious if Enshou didn't go as well."

"Why did Kayuu-san need to go?"

"The sorcerers. If we're right, Kayuu should've been the last person who's directly interacted with them. Or at least, she's the last one that we haven't talked to yet." Touka sighed, "They've been quiet for far, far too long, and bad things usually happen when people like them are left to idle in the background."

"And for that you're risking Reiha-sama!?"

"We've given Enshou all the chances she could have." A new voice entered the tent, and Kan'u Unchou stoically moved to her sworn sister's side. "Keep your voice down, Ganryou."

"… Sorry."

"Aisha-chan, I said I could handle this alone…"

"Raised voices mean raised tempers. And Ganryou is strong enough that the ropes that bind her aren't good enough to actually keep her for too long. I wouldn't be surprised if she pulled apart the ropes in anger."

"… You overestimate me, Kan'u-san." Ganryou hollowly laughed.

"Say that when the ropes that bound you on the first day weren't frayed." Aisha shrugged.

"They… were?" Ganryou blankly said.

"We changed it this morning, yes. Those ropes that are tying you up are new. And it's not because the ropes we use are cheap, you understand?"

"Is… that so?"

"The strength required to lift your hammer is not in any sense average. You and Bunshuu are monsters in your own right."

"… Just not monstrous enough to beat you, you mean?"

"Pure strength is nothing if it doesn't connect." Aisha nodded. "… Back on topic. Simply put, we have no reason to be considerate of you. You will, at best, get time with Enshou before the trial."

"I will?"

Touka nodded, "We can ensure it, provided your goal is to convince Enshou to give up."

"I could've done with more time…"

"That time would've been spent with Enshou trying to convince you to escape." Aisha rebuked. "Unless Enshou is at completely rock bottom, she will not see sense. If you had had the time, you and her will be able to hatch a plan to escape from our grasp instead. So tell me, what point is there to give you time? No. The best time for you and Enshou to speak will be at Kyoushou, with the trial mere days, if not hours, away."

Ganryou sighed, as she can't break that logic. She knew Enshou better than anyone. She knew how stubborn the lord is. If she had been able to meet with Enshou, then Enshou would've convinced her to hatch an escape plan instead of preparing a plea deal.

"And Bun-chan?" Ganryou asked.

"You can speak with her in the confines of Joshuu, supervised by some of us. Not on the way home."

"Right… I'll take what I can get." Ganryou nodded.

"You do realize how nice we're being by doing this, right?" Aisha sighed.

"I know." Ganryou nodded, "I… if it had been us, Reiha-sama would've executed you… no questions asked."

"Then, thank Touka-sama for being too nice for her own good."

"Aisha-chan, meanie." Touka huffed.

Ganryou wryly smiled, "… I suppose I should. Thank you, Ryuubi-san. I'll…"

"It's… probably still too early to thank me." Touka shook her head. "I'd rather it if I don't have to speak up for Enshou's life to be spared. While I personally want it, as the current regent of Joshuu, it's…"

"Yes." Ganryou nodded. "It would not look great for you." Ganryou closed her eyes. "… And it would be bad for me if you aren't in a good position."

"What do you mean?" Touka asked.

"After all, we'll need someone to supervise our actions if we're going to live. If we are left in the hands of Sousou, for instance, we'd probably die if we make a single misstep." And missteps are practically guaranteed with Enshou and Bunshuu, "… I'll cooperate to ensure that you'll be able to supervise us when we're done."

"So you'll use us." Aisha summarized. "… What do we gain from it?"

"Kishuu is under your control now, right?"

"Kahoku specifically, yes. Kishuu, not really." Touka shook her head.

"I can give you some inside information on Kahoku." Ganryou replied. "After all… I'm the one who is mostly in charge of that."

"Enshou?"

"She… usually just gives orders that we then follow… and Bun-chan isn't much help. I'm usually the one hashing out the details." Ganryou sighed, "When Denhou joined us, I finally had a friend while doing that so I guess I got pretty attached to her then." Ganryou then winced, "… But unfortunately, I'm… not as… good at it?"

"You're good enough to have gotten this far." Aisha remarked. "Don't downplay yourself. From what I could tell, the people of your city didn't seem to think badly of Enshou, despite her… selfishness. That's either a testament to her morality… or a testament to your ability to curb her worst tendencies."

Ganryou blinked, "… Thank you." Ganryou smiled, "But… in the end, I think I prefer being a general than a clerk."

Aisha then shook her head, "… Still, if all you have are inside information on Kahoku, that's… hardly enough for us. We aren't small-time enough for that to be enough anymore."

"I think it's fine, though?" Touka frowned. "We do need more allies, Aisha-chan."

"We need good allies, not questionable ones." Aisha replied, "And although you said you prefer being a general to clerical duties… one of the few things that our army is looking into are diplomatic solutions to things. The less we go into war, the better."

"But Reiha-sama didn't give you the chance?"

"We got the chance we needed when she came to Kahi that time." Aisha replied. "We just failed to convince her to not go through with war."

"I… see…" Ganryou winced. "I… probably should've convinced Reiha-sama to calm down sooner."

"… Your regret is unnecessary." Aisha sighed, "I apologize. Many soldiers lost their lives in the past few wars. We were, of course, minimizing our own casualties, but that doesn't mean we could avoid them… The fact that Enshou will live when so many died because of her… it doesn't sit right with me."

"Enshou will never learn if she doesn't live." Touka shook her head.

"Yes." Aisha smiled, "I mean, in my heart, I know that what you say is true, Touka-sama. But as a general, I can't help but feel so either way."

"Many soldiers died on our side as well." Ganryou weakly replied.

"Neither side would've lost lives if Enshou simply accepted that Kuutan-sama stepped down and Paitan-sama's the new Emperor." Aisha frowned.

"I know." Ganryou sighed.

"If Enshou simply calmed down and talked…" Touka frowned, "… Honestly, that's what I want the most out of this. I want Enshou to explain."

"Eh?"

"When last we met, she refused to explain anything. She just looked down on me and didn't bother talking to me. She ignored most of what I had to say. Honestly, it felt as if we were talking across from each other. I wanted her to calm down and talk, but…"

"You're hoping that in the trial she'll be willing to talk?" Ganryou asked.

"I just wish that, just so that I can talk to her, I didn't have to take so much away from her." Touka sighed, "It's the same every time… Talking to nobles never seems to get any easier."

"The perspective of a common-born is simply too different from someone born into nobility." Aisha said, although it sounded as though she was reciting some quote.

"And the perspective of a sheltered princess can only bridge the gap so much." Touka smiled ruefully, "Kazuto-kun's words."

"Eh?" Ganryou said confused.

"When we were dealing with Joshuu's nobility, Kazuto-kun once said so. Mostly to console me and Paitan on our… really bad dealings with them." Touka laughed hollowly at the thought. "At some point, Kazuto just looked at their holdings, saw some weird things, brought them to court, and when they denied it, we pretty much just had to arrest them on corruption charges. That didn't exactly endear us to the nobles of the province."

"I… imagine so." Ganryou winced. No one likes losing power. And what Touka just described was basically a power grab.

"It's not as if we're the pinnacle of being non-corrupt, either." Touka self-deprecatingly smiled, "We ignored some discrepancies if they're allies, or swore to join our side. Like the Bi Family. And well…"

"Some would argue us talking to you about somehow letting Enshou live is a corruption in itself." Aisha remarked. "Still, while I personally disagree with this matter, I understand that Enshou should still be held accountable for her crimes…"

"You already talked about this." Ganryou pointed out.

"Ah, sorry." Touka apologized.

"As you can see, while we are united under Touka-sama, our opinions on the matter are still rather mixed." Aisha sighed. "So, if you want to ease this situation, it would be good if you were cooperative with us."

"You can make sure that I get a chance to talk to Reiha-sama before the trial?"

"Yes." Touka nodded. "I will make sure it happens."

"And Bun-chan?"

"Once we arrive in Kahi, your cells will be across each other." Aisha nodded. "There will be a few days between our arrival to our departure. Preparations for war are a little different from preparations for a trial at an imperial court."

"… That will have to do." Ganryou nodded. "I'll… cooperate."

"Thank you, Ganryou-san!" Touka smiled brightly, "I hope that we can work together well!"

"As long as Reiha-sama and Bun-chan lives… I'll cooperate in any way you need me to." Ganryou nodded.

And so a nefarious(?) backroom deal was made.

"If you are really feeling cooperative, then can I ask something?" Aisha spoke up before the two could end this conversation.

"Yes?" Ganryou asked.

"Do you know where the former Empress and former Great General are?" Aisha asked. "We didn't find any sign of them the past skirmishes, and they weren't anywhere in Kahoku when we set foot in there."

"Abandoned the sinking ship, I suppose." Ganryou sighed.

"They did?" Touka grimaced, "I don't know how to feel about that. I hope they don't show up somewhere to cause trouble again."

"I don't think they have many friends in high places left." Ganryou shook her head, "Even Reiha-sama only cared about them because of her friendship with Reitei-sama, you know?"

"Really?"

"The two are commoners who rose to the top because Reitei-sama married Kataigou-sama, remember?" Ganryou pointed out. "And you know how Reiha-sama treated you for being the same."

"I didn't marry anyone to get where I am."

"But it's all the same for people in nobility." Ganryou reminded her. "Family and bloodlines are simply more important in their eyes, and if new blood shows up, well, that might disrupt the balance of power that the big families have."

"And now that we've toppled the En Clan?"

"You're now a threat to every noble in the Empire." Ganryou nodded, "The En Clan is the most prestigious in the Empire. Or rather, was. Reiha-sama was not exaggerating in the slightest when she said it." She did wear it like a badge and paraded it as though it made her the equal of the Emperor herself. The ego boost of being recognized as a friend by Reitei didn't help, "If they fell so easily due to a commoner upstart, what would the nobles feel? Would another commoner upstart take their place? They'll be worried. Really worried."

"… I'll raise that as a concern to my officials. Thank you, Ganryou." Touka smiled.

Ganryou can't help but be a bit taken aback by the easy acceptance of her warning, "… You're welcome."

"It is a concern we should look into." Aisha nodded. Aisha walked over and inspected Ganryou's bindings. "… Have a good rest."

"Good night, Ganryou."

"Good night, Ryuubi-san, Kan'u-san."

-()-

"Good evening, Reiha."

"Karin-san." Enshou huffed. "Is this your idea of revenge?"

"Honestly, no. I'm just reminding you that you'll soon be sleeping in my prison. Try not to provoke my prison guards." Sousou smirked.

"Release me!" Enshou demanded, "I should not be in a cell! I should be fr-" Whatever sentence she was going to say, she was interrupted by the sound of a scythe stabbing the earth just beneath Enshou. Barely an inch away from Enshou's leg.

"Haah…" Sousou sighed, withdrawing the blade. "I deliberately avoided speaking with you for almost the entire journey to give you time to realize just how low you've fallen. But clearly, your pride is still intact." Sousou scoffed, "If you still sincerely believe you are on the right side of history, I have a few choice words for you: The En Clan is all but destitute."

"W… what?"

"The En Clan's assets have been split between myself and Ryuubi as reparation for the war the past few months. Even if you get out of this mess this time, you're finished."

"Thieves!" Enshou snarled.

"If you won, you can say that, but you lost."

"If… if it wasn't for you interfering two months ago, this would be my victory already!"

"Correction. You lasted longer because I interfered."

"What?" Enshou blinked.

"Because I attacked, you didn't lose to just Ryuubi."

"What are you say-"

"Did you know, Enshou, that, if I didn't enter Joshuu that time, Kan'u would've successfully cut you off from your supplies long enough for the other generals of Ryuubi to corner you and your soldiers."

"Hah? You… you're bluffing!"

"How so?"

"If you're telling the truth, why did you go into Joshuu!?" If the side that she was helping was going to win anyway, what was the point?

"The nuances of what I wanted would fly over your head, so let's keep it simple. Simply put, so that it would be my victory."

"What!?" Enshou looked at Sousou incredulously, "How the hell could you have become the winner in a war that doesn't involve you!?"

"You're right. When I got involved, it didn't involve me. But now that I am involved… well?"

"You… you're just trying to steal the spotlight. You're trying to make this war all about you!?" Enshou roared.

"As opposed to letting Ryuubi take it." Sousou replied, "Right now, Ryuubi is the rising star of the empire. She has the Emperor in her back pocket. Her idealistic nature is practically the talk of the town. She has gathered powerful allies to her side, each practically gaining empire-wide name recognition in a year, including generals, strategists, and even a sorcerer. Honestly, Reiha, if you were smarter, you would've brought the girl into your confidence. Ally with her, instead of this nonsense of warmongering."

"She's… a commoner who just…"

"You're upset that she and Hongou 'stole' your spotlight? Then why didn't you push to be the leader during the coalition?"

"…"

"You do realize the only reason they managed to do it at all is because you didn't volunteer yourself as the leader?"

"I have not forgotten that you said I was an unworthy option!"

"And I still believe so, Reiha." Sousou scoffed. "If we had it your way, you would've simply marched us into the difficult journey down Shisui Pass into Korou Gate then all the way to Rakuyou. All the while keeping your army, the largest in the group at a safe distance from the fighting. I'd rather not have such a reckless leader, with little to no strategic prowess."

"And how is that man any better!?"

"I voted Kousonsan." Sousou replied as mockery. "I could trust her strategic prowess more than either of the options."

"And your second choice?"

"Hongou. Anyone but you. I'd rather trust the newbie army who defeated Chouhou than you who I know all too well."

"Then what? Are you going to leave me to rot?" Enshou asked, "If you march me into Kyoshou before the child emperor, it should be obvious what would happen to me!"

"Yes. After all, we both know the outcome if we had been on the throne and some warlord tried to topple us." Sousou smirked, "Execution."

"I can't die here, Karin-san!" Enshou demanded, "This empire will fall without the authority the En Clan possesses!"

"Authority? What authority?" Sousou scoffed, "The En Clan has already fallen. You are considered the scum of the country, who enriched themselves upon the backs of the citizens. All because you couldn't see past your own nose."

"It… not yet… I still live! As long as I live…"

"It's because you lived that the En Clan has fallen."

"I can fix it! As long as I have Toshi, Iishe, and Machi!"

"You won't get the chance to. After all, you'll be executed, remember?" Sousou laughed, "Now then, tell me, Reiha; what incentive do I have to set you free?"

"Wha-?"

"Give me one, Reiha. Just one. And I'll let you loose. Give me one good reason why I should risk my neck for you to go free?"

"Our families! Although we're not particularly close, we're still…"

Sousou sighed, in disappointment, "… Goodbye, Reiha."

"Karin-san!"

Sousou smiled and left, no longer caring.

Sousou had come to see if Enshou would try to plead with her for freedom. Sousou might've even considered it; after all Enshou had been a family friend. However, that letter she found upon Choubaku's desk… bearing Enshou's seal.

Enshou had betrayed her. And furthermore, she also betrayed Choubaku, when she did not come to Choubaku's aid during the war. A traitor of the highest order.

And let it be known that Sousou does not tolerate traitors.

-()-

Kazuto watched the parade from atop a nearby tower.

"… Yeah, it was a good idea I had the Kazoe Yakuman Sisters announce the end of the war." Kazuto sighed, "I know what Touka and the others expected from me, but Sousou could've spun the story into something about the Joshuu Army not pulling their weight in the war."

"She's merely parading Enshou. She's not making any statements. Yet. You probably should wait till she gets to the palace." Reborn scoffed. "That's when she could spin a story."

"I think Sousou sees me." Kazuto laughed, and gave a small wave. The warlord returned a smirk, but seemed to decide to largely ignore him.

"Hoh? It's not like you told her where you were."

"I wasn't hiding, and Kakouen spotted me." Kazuto shrugged. He then waved to the master archer. She glares at him for a bit, before looking forward once more. From what Kazuto could tell, Sousou seems to have told her and everyone to ignore him. She likely called him with some demeaning phrase, but whatever. He catches the others turning to his general location before looking away.

Fuu and Rin were at the back. Fuu seemed to be mildly annoyed… that she can't just doze off right now. Now normal Fuu wouldn't care and just doze off right then and there, but the parade was, despite its relative lack of pomp, still very, very loud, and being blared at by loud crowds was not conducive to a nice siesta. Then again, she's also walking. She can sleep standing up, but deliberate sleep-walking is still beyond her.

Karon was proudly walking along, seeming to not even realize that he was the… and there's a wave from the upbeat girl, followed by a mild scolding from Kakouton behind her.

Kakouton didn't bother hiding her hostility as she… glared in the completely wrong direction. She must've missed the memo on where he is. Considering her lack of depth perception and Sousou's absolute zero-interest in pointing her in the correct direction, she's glaring somewhere at the base of the tower.

Jun'iku, however, pinpointed him directly and was glaring at her directly.

Chouryou looked at him with a curious glint in her eyes.

Choukou gave a short, quick nod to him. She seemed a bit annoyed. He did receive news that Choukou was all for executing Enshou and Kayuu. Justified, considering everything, but talking her down seems like a chore and a half…

Hmm? Kazuto frowned as he spotted a girl slip away from the parade. Choukou looked surprised at the girl's disappearance.

"What's wrong, Bakazuto?"

"… I thought I saw someone…" Kazuto frowned. "I think someone just tried to escape me seeing them."

"Hoh?" Reborn frowned looking around, "Are you sure?"

"There's a spot next to Choukou that people are hesitant to fill up. They're filling it up now, but…"

"You aren't confusing paranoia with your intuition?"

In all honesty, Kazuto can't say he wasn't. However…

"I don't ever remember being paranoid about something that wasn't true though?"

"There is a difference between then and now; you've been living on enemy territory for over a month."

"… Maybe so." Kazuto relented. "I should probably just go then."

"That is not to say you should disregard your intuition." Reborn jumped off his perch and onto Kazuto's shoulder. "If you are so certain someone was trying to avoid your gaze, whether you pursue it or not, you should be careful of your surroundings."

"Right." Kazuto jumped off the tower and, with a few quick airsteps, landed on a nearby roof. He then started moving over the rooftops towards the palace, carefully keeping hidden from the crowd. The parade will eventually end and Sousou will move to the palace and Kentei will meet Sousou and Enshou again. He needs to be there for it.

-()-

"… Ukitsu."

"Don't do anything rash, assassin. You know I don't even approve of your association with Sousou's soldiers. If you somehow alter the course of the story with your existence, you know what we'll have to do with you."

"I'm posing as a soldier than a strategist."

"Shibai, Sima Yi, was a strategist that joined late in Sou Gi's future. And you're no rival in mental prowess compared to Shokatsuryou. Taking the strategist's name will be your downfall."

"Leave me alone. So? What do I do? Should I try killing him?"

"And ruin my hard work?"

"You've barely done anything the past year!"

"Which shows just how hard I worked. Neither Sousou, Ryuubi, nor Sonsaku even realized my hand moving in the background."

"What exactly did you do?"

"Do you really think I'll tell a girl who's spent nearly a year dangling on Sousou's arm? Even if this history's Sousou is different from the books, she still has charisma in spades."

"Are you saying I'll betray you?"

"It is not out of the question for Sousou. I'm simply being cautious."

"I don't even like her that much. She's too… perfect. I feel suffocated by her presence."

"Is that so?"

"… So?"

"What?"

"How do you want this event to end? I can act accordingly."

"Do you have any inkling of what Sousou intends to do?"

"From what I gathered, Sousou is moving to absorb the Ryuubi Army."

"Is that so… then, don't do anything to arouse Sousou's suspicions just yet. However, I will occasionally want you to plant a few things to sow discord between Sousou and Ryuubi."

"Why?"

"This empire has been on the verge of collapse for far too long. A full breakdown is necessary for our plans to succeed."

"What a complicated ritual."

"But a necessary one. Frankly, whoever designed it is both a genius and out of their mind. It takes far, far too long to fulfill the necessary conditions."

"… So how do you want me to do it?"

"Just investigate. Tell me any little detail that you catch… after verifying it of course."

"… Fine."

"Then take care, 'Shibai'. And I sincerely hope your next excuse for avoiding Hongou's eyes has nothing to do with a stomach hurting again."

"Oh shut up."

-()-

"I have returned, Kentei-sama." Sousou declared.

"Welcome back, Sousou-san." Paitan nodded. "… And a greeting to you as well, Enshou. The last we spoke, you stormed out of the court and refused to even have a discussion. Are you willing to discuss matters this time?"

"A word of warning before you speak, Enshou." Kazuto walked up, "… You have the right to keep your silence. Anything and everything you say can be used against you."

"Not that it's necessary." Sousou rolled her eyes, "Reiha's pretty much slated for the chopping block."

"… Fortunately, I'm not bloodthirsty enough to go for an immediate execution." Paitan shook her head, "… No. I'll give you a chance. To prove that this entire escapade is justified…"

"Your crimes that you are accused of are… well, Treason. Starting an Insurrection. Lese Majeste."

"… Hongou?" Sousou frowned.

"… Lese Majeste means 'to do something insulting to a sovereign'. In this case, she openly insulted the rightful ruler of the Empire."

"Then just say that."

"Fair enough." Kazuto nodded. "Now then… Enshou. How would you respond if these things were done to you?"

Enshou looked at the man with annoyance. She won't answer that. She can't.

"… Answer." Paitan spoke up.

"How should I know?" Enshou huffed.

"Execution." Sousou smirked.

Enshou flinched.

Sousou continued, "and if I had a say in the matter, immediate execution."

Here Enshou glared at Sousou.

"… Well, just be glad we're not going to immediately execute you." Kazuto shrugged, "Whether we like it or not, you're from the En Clan. It would be bad for the Empire to actually execute you without at least a chance to plead your case. So you'll be granted a trial."

"… Really, Hongou?" Sousou frowned, "Is there a point? The entire country knows about her crimes. She led an army and caused countless casualties. Giving her a chance to live?"

"… If you're so certain of her crime, then would you like to serve as prosecutor for the trial, Sousou?" Kazuto hummed.

"Prosecutor?" Sousou frowned.

"Essentially, the representative of the state." Kazuto replied, "The job is to prove that, without a shadow of a doubt, that Enshou is a criminal, and by law, what punishment she should deserve for such."

"Hoh?" Sousou hummed. "You're saying I will represent the Emperor? Why not yourself?"

"Like it or not, I am still a foreigner. There are probably countless laws in this country that I don't know." Kazuto shrugged, "It's better to leave something like that to an expert. Like you."

"… I accept, I suppose." Sousou hummed. "And what of Enshou?"

"Enshou… you can choose someone to represent your side of the story, to prove that you are either innocent of the crime accused… or the crime that you are accused of is not as severe as the opposition is making it out to be. Who you decide to do so, is up to you."

"Huh?" Sousou raised an eyebrow.

"After all, this is your life that you're gambling here." Kazuto didn't turn his head away from Enshou.

"Who can I choose?" Enshou asked.

"You're of the En Clan. Your prestige should be able to hire a few scholars." Kazuto remarked. "… Of course, since we took your money, we'll properly use it to pay them if you do decide to hire one."

"Of course, a scholar willing to defend you?" Sousou scoffed. "Good luck. Your crimes are so public, that any scholar who agrees will be tarnished black by mere association."

"Urgh…"

"… If you do not find one, then you have the right to represent yourself."

"Then I'll do that." Enshou huffed. "I'll show you all that I, En Honsho, was not in the wrong here!"

"You are." Sousou scoffed.

"You definitely are." Kazuto agreed.

"I really don't see how you can even get out of this." Josho muttered.

"Sousou, mind taking her away then? I'd like to talk to the other… captive, in the room."

Sousou shrugged, signaling to a few soldiers, "Men, take her away to her holding cell. Make sure it is secure and as uncomfortable as possible."

"… Hello. Kayuu." Kazuto greeted.

"… Well?"

"… I imagine you'd not want to deal with a court session?"

"Hmph. I am a warrior. I'd have preferred to have died on the battlefield."

"… Kayuu. There's something that I want to know. What is your relation with the sorcerer who attacked us when you were defeated at Shisui Pass?"

"Just some eunuch that showed up in the middle of the night. He asked if I needed help. I told him no. He then went behind my back and stuck a bunch of leaves on my men and made them move against their will. I know nothing else." Kayuu scoffed.

Kazuto looked at Kayuu for a few seconds before sighing, "You aren't lying. You really don't know anything else?"

"If I did, I'll be glad to tell you all." Kayuu shrugged. "It is against my honor to play with such cheap tricks."

"Another bust." Josho muttered.

"Thank you for answering honestly." Kazuto sighed, "Still, considering the circumstances with Kentei back then, we are rather… you will not be prosecuted for the crime of aiding that situation. At this point… the only crime I can say is the invasion of Kanhyoku's territory and driving her off of the land… Is that right, Choukou?"

"You will not hold her for the crime of being part of Enshou's Army?" Choukou asked.

Kazuto looked at Paitan. Paitan merely closed her eyes. In a way, she's saying: I'll leave it to you. Kazuto sighed, "… With the increase of instability across the kingdom, each warlord was permitted to form an army to combat those who would try to defeat them. You are aware of this, of course?"

"Of course." Choukou nodded.

"… Therefore, Enshou forming an army, hiring a mercenary to join her army, using her money… is all legal. In a sense, Enshou merely pointed her army's spears at the wrong target. We intend to hold Enshou as the criminal in this case. Then there's the En Clan, who did nothing to curb their representative's tendencies. While it's arguable that Ganryou and Bunshuu are capable of also curbing Enshou's tendencies, they are still hired soldiers that work for Enshou. There is… nothing illegal about their actions. Kayuu more so, as she's a recent recruit. So ultimately, her only crime… is against Kanhyoku. And Kanhyoku… is not here to prosecute her."

"That's!" Choukou blinked.

"If Kayuu killed Kanhyoku, we could criminalize her for killing an ally of the emperor."

"And what of Hanhou?"

"… What do you say to that accusation, Kayuu?"

"I've killed many soldiers. You'll need to give me some idea of who you're talking about." Kayuu dully told the girl. "And… if you really are a warrior… then take my neck yourself."

Choukou gritted, "… Hanhou. Used a sword and shield. She held you back when I brought Kanhyoku to safety."

"… A true warrior, then." Kayuu shrugged, "Weaker than me, but died honorably. I see nothing wrong with that."

"… Kanhyoku-sama treated Hanhou like a sister. When news of her death reached us, that was the same day she took her own life."

"… I… am sorry to hear that." Paitan sighed.

"She was weak." Sousou huffed, "The death of a treasured subordinate is hard, but that doesn't mean you should give up your own life when you have others that need your support."

"… Let us not speak ill of the dead, Sousou." Paitan shook her head.

"But you can't deny my words?"

"We won't. You are entitled to your opinion." Kazuto replied. "You just need to have a bit of sensitivity, and keep it to yourself when possible."

"It's fine. It's nothing I haven't heard already." Choukou shook her head. "… Still…"

"Girl. If you want to reclaim your honor for failing to protect your friend and your lord, then come take my life. Don't waste time quibbling over nonsense." Kayuu scoffed.

"Are you that eager to die?" Paitan frowned.

"I'd rather die a warrior's honorable death than a dog's death in prison." Kayuu turned to the girl. "… Well?"

"I've no weapon to draw, Kayuu." Choukou growled.

"Sorry, but gladiator fights aren't really a thing for us." Kazuto shook his head, "Otherwise I'd suggest Choukou just duel you. If you live, then you live."

"Why not?" Kayuu looked at the idea with a fierce grin. "Sounds like a good way to decide things."

"… Well, Choukou's not my subordinate, now is she? I'm not risking her life when it's not mine to risk." Kazuto shook his head. "Besides, Trial by Combat is just an excuse for nobles to watch blood and gore from the safety of a high perch. You're not fighting to prove innocence; you're just proving that you're strong."

"Ch." Kayuu clicked her tongue at that.

"Sousou-sama." Choukou turned to the lord, "… would it be possible to…"

"Can you beat her?" Sousou sharply asked her.

"…" Choukou couldn't answer that. Her weapons are the worst matchup to Kayuu. The length of her poleaxe would simply result in her being too far to even scratch with her claws. "… I will not fail." She said.

"Very well." Sousou shrugged, "I'll schedule a match between you and her."

"You will endorse this, Sousou?" Kazuto asked.

"This matter has been eating her up since she joined my army." Sousou huffed. "As long as you promise to win and swear your complete loyalty to me, I will allow this minor dalliance."

"Thank you, Sousou-sama."

"Oi, Sousou." Kayuu spoke up.

"Hmm?" Sousou turned to the prisoner.

"Just so we're clear, I won't be holding back, right?" Kayuu grinned, "I will either live as a warrior or die as a warrior. So your soldier better be ready for it."

"I won't lose." Choukou glared at the captive general.

"Then we'll leave her to you." Kazuto shrugged.

"Men!" Sousou turned to the soldiers, "Get this one to her own cell."

Some of Sousou's elites immediately came in and took the Enshou General away.

"Now then, I believe you have some new faces to introduce to the Emperor?" Kazuto turned to Sousou.

"You've already met Choukou Shungai." Sousou shrugged, "… Then all that's left should be…"

"Kakouton Genjou, Jun'iku Bunraku, and… Chouryou Bun'en." Paitan greeted each. "… We've met although in various degrees of hostility."

Kakouton and Jun'iku merely politely nodded their head, although their frowns are practically frozen on their faces. In turn…

"'Ssup!, Kentei-sama~" Chouryou greeted.

"… We… didn't have much to talk before… but I see you're doing well since your time with Yue." Paitan smiled.

"Heh, well…" Chouryou grinned. "… By the way, I heard you're pardoning Yue?"

"There's nothing to pardon; she was a good ally up till the end." Paitan shook her head. "… Although the incident in Rakuyou could've gone better…"

"Which one?" Chouryou frowned. "Oh, and please, call me Shia! I mean, there's another Chouryou going around, so, might as well?"

"I don't recall there being one?" Paitan frowned.

"coughRenhou-sancough" Josho subtly coughed.

"Oh, right." Paitan nodded.

"Chouryou-san…" Kazuto sighed.

"You can call me Shia too, Heavenly Messenger-guy!"

"Kazuto, then." Kazuto chuckled. Seems Chouryou's the casual type. "I didn't get to see much of you during the coalition."

"Didn't help much then, though I do remember your fancy fire thing when we went to Joshuu last year!"

"Fair." Kazuto shrugged.

"Hey, can you teach me too?" Chouryou grinned.

"Do you have a magic ring?" Kazuto dryly asked, "If not, no."

"I have my weapon, though? And Kan'u seems to be using it fine?"

"Kan'u is wearing a ring I gave her." Kazuto chuckled.

"Heh? Is that so?"

"Honestly, it's the gem on the ring that does the trick. If you can find a gem that works and something to mount it on, you can probably figure it out after a while." Kazuto shrugged, "Most people can really just stumble into using flames."

"So it's not impossible for me?" Chouryou grinned.

"Ren learned to do it and I didn't teach her anything." Kazuto shrugged.

"Fair enough!" Chouryou grinned. "Guess I'll go gem hunting!"

"Good luck telling the difference between one that will light up and one that won't." Kazuto sighed, "We literally went through Enjutsu's treasury and found nothing."

"Geh." Chouryou grimaced.

"Is there a chance that the real ones were thrown away because they're not valuable?" Rin spoke up.

"Then what are the odds that your army would've kept it if Enjutsu didn't?" Kazuto asked.

"… None." Rin frowned.

"What of Enshou's treasury?" Fuu asked.

"I haven't been anywhere near that treasury for me to make that call." Kazuto shrugged.

"Is that so?" Sousou smirked. "Then what about looking through the part that we took?"

"Interesting idea, but I think that's not going to give you better odds." Kazuto laughed, "… After all, as the elite army of Sousou… I doubt any of you took something that you don't think was valuable, especially since you had to lug it through an entire province. You don't do pointless things, Sousou."

"… I will decide what is pointless." Sousou did not back down.

"Good on you. But if you expect me to look at every piece of rock you come across, I'm not that free… especially now that the war has ended."

"… Right." Sousou nodded. "… So are you going to bring the emperor back to Joshuu?"

"Sounds fun! Is that an invitation?" Kazuto smiled.

"It would look bad for the Emperor to move to the trial grounds." Fuu remarked, "… but you already knew that."

"Dang, hands tied." Kazuto sighed, "Still… is that everyone then? I imagined that there were a few others that you sent to the frontlines that were important."

"That is all you need to see." Sousou shrugged.

"… Then we'll leave it at that."

"By the way, I recall that you have a Go match against my Keifa soon?"

"I look forward to a strategist showing a newbie how much further she is in the game than I'll ever be." Kazuto replied, slightly annoyed. "You do realize that by moving the goalposts, I also have free rein to do the same to you in a future date?"

Sousou smirked, "I fail to see what you have that I'd want?"

"Rare instance of you admitting you fail at something, Sousou~"

"Do you?"

Kazuto pondered before saying, "Fair enough. Then let's just close on a full report from you on the war."

"Of course, although you seem to be more informed than me apparently, considering you used my Kazoe Yakuman Sisters to announce the end of the war."

"You make it sound as if we made you sound bad somehow."

"They didn't." Eika sighed. "I was there."

"… Hello, Eika." Sousou greeted her cousin. "And what exactly did they announce?"

"That the war ended and the victory was a joint effort by the Sousou and Ryuubi Army. No real details, but the announcement did make it clear that both sides contributed as much as the other."

"Bullshit." Jun'iku snidely scoffed, "We were fighting the Enshou Army for months on end before the Ryuubi Army swept in!"

"The people know that much." Kazuto rolled his eyes, "They're not stupid. They know that there were soldiers sent to the Kishuu border."

"Jun'iku-san." Paitan frowned, "… last I checked, the Sousou Army wouldn't need to have engaged the Enshou Army at all if you didn't enter Joshuu without warning."

"And you would've won if we didn't?" Jun'iku raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Ask Sousou." Kazuto replied.

"Keifa, calm down." Sousou sighed. "Still, equal contribution?"

Kazuto shrugged, "Eika's wording, not mine."

"And how did you word it?"

"That Sousou and Ryuubi worked together to defeat the tyrannical Enshou?" Kazuto answered. "Contributions didn't really come up in the slightest."

"But since they both came up in the same sentence that implies so." Eika dryly pointed out.

"And was it wrong?" Kazuto dryly pointed out. "Although it doesn't feel like it for you, the war started a good month before you guys came in. You then just barged in yourself. The Joshuu Army took a slight break to reorganize, but they were back at it within a couple of weeks. Sure it's not in Kishuu like you were, but we were rooting out a bunch of nobles who were sabotaging us from within and siding with Enshou. And regardless, Ren spent much of that time messing with the Enshou Army in their territory before subverting an entire province to oust Enshou. Your few weeks of standing menacingly at a border are paltry compared to that. Just be happy we didn't bring that up."

Jun'iku grumbled.

"… That happened?" Eika blinked.

"It did." Sousou confirmed although she didn't seem particularly thrilled to admit it. "Although this does confirm that you were aware of her actions, Hongou."

"No, I wasn't."

"S… what?" Sousou blinked.

"I simply trusted Ren to do her duty. Essentially, I just left her with a blank set of instructions, and to end the war in the fastest way she can think of. Whether she planned to take over Yuushuu before she left Joshuu or while she was in the middle of making a nuisance of herself in Kishuu, I had no idea."

Sousou took a bit to digest that. It feels foreign to her to think that Kazuto wasn't aware of the actions of his valued general. "… You're…"

"If you're suggesting I'm lying, Ren's job in the family is to be the 'aloof cloud that cannot be bound. To protect the family from an independent standpoint.' Essentially I gave her a blank check to do as she wants and my job is to clean up after her." Kazuto smiled, "As you can see, she's good at it."

Sousou felt like she was being pummeled by things she could barely understand. Or rather, Ryofu had such a rather cushy role in the hierarchy of the Ryuubi Army? The leash on her is too long!

"The race thing was suggested by Hinari." Kazuto continued, "It's meant to incentivize you to actually help with the attack. You get something whether you win or lose, and even if you lost, you gain enough to justify actually putting an effort into trying to win. Ren blind-sided all of us when she decided to negotiate with Yuushuu. But it was a good thing for us." Kazuto grinned. "So? Any random accusations of unfairness? Get it over with."

"You're lying!" Jun'iku yelled. "No commander is willing to just leave a loose end like Ryofu on such a loose leash! Ryofu's basically an entirely separate command structure to you!"

"Which is why it's nice that I filled that role in with Ren." Kazuto smiled, "She's perfect for the role, don't you think?"

Shia laughed a bit, "She landed a nice job…"

"Oi, Shia! Are you regretting…"

"Nah!" Shia waved Kakouton off, "It's fun with you, Gen-chan! Honest! I don't think I'm alone when thinking Ren got a good job, though, right?"

"Such a position would be… tantalizing to anyone," Fuu admitted.

"I suppose so." Kazuto nodded. "Anyway, that's that."

Sousou dryly pointed out something, "Do you really think we'd believe you if you just say so?"

"That's the beauty of it! I just need you to hear my version of the truth. You're the ones who will waste time trying to verify it." Kazuto grinned. "And bluntly speaking, if you expect me to get detailed reports inside your own territory… you have either a lot of faith in the Ryuubi Army's espionage skills or little faith in your own counter-espionage skills. I mean… wouldn't it make more sense that it was the ones in Joshuu that knew all the plans? I'm just the messenger."

"The Heavenly Messenger." Jun'iku mockingly corrected him.

"I'm flattered, Jun'iku-san. However I'm still not from heaven, and I have no message from heaven for any of the people in this country." Kazuto replied.

"… I know, you ugly monkey."

"Ooh, personal attacks. You must be losing an argument." Kazuto grinned.

"You better be ready for me to lose horribly in Go!"

"Oh no, I'm going to lose to you in your field of expertise while you will never ever face me in mine. What ever shall I do!?" Kazuto made a mock face of despair.

"And what's your field of expertise?" Jun'iku unrepentantly asked, "I'll beat you in that too!"

"No takebacks!" Kazuto grinned. "You asked for it!"

"I fail to see how I could lose to you!"

"Translate this into the local language: I am the King of the Kingdom of Wei." Kazuto replied. He said that last sentence in Italian.

"That's!" Jun'iku blinked as she processed the sentence.

"A joke." Kazuto scoffed. "Even I'm not that mean. I had a month or so spent looking at a Go Board. I'll at least give you the same amount of time to study the game we'll play. And no, it won't be a game of luck or chance. It'll be a game of strategy."

"… Better." Jun'iku grumbled. "Why didn't you say that in the first place!?"

"Because you gave me a free pass to challenge you to a game I'm good at; why won't I suggest a game that only I can play because of my background?" Kazuto dryly pointed out. "You'd do the same to me."

"I wouldn't!"

"Really?"

"Of course not…"

"Keifa. Lying doesn't suit you." Sousou sighed.

"Karin-sama!" Jun'iku felt betrayed.

"I know you far too well, Keifa. Or are you forgetting last night?"

"O-of course not~!" Jun'iku immediately switched to lovestruck mode, leaving no room for all other emotions.

"Now then, Hongou. Are you quite done taunting my subordinates?"

"Taunting? Sousou, if that was taunting to you, you wouldn't want me to actually start taunting." Kazuto laughed.

"Try it."

"Very well!" Kazuto coughed, "So, Sousou! How's losing to an army barely a year old?"

"…" Sousou dully looked at him for that.

"I'll end it there, but basically if I'm taunting you, I'd have a lot more malice involved. At this point, this is friendly ribbing." Kazuto then looked around her, "… Then again… I don't think you have friends that participate in that activity with you. You should get more friends."

"I thought you said you'll end it there?"

"Friends make fun of each other. They point out each other's mistakes. And then have a laugh about it afterward. When was the last time you had a friend do that for you?"

"Hongou…"

"What? You said to try you. You can't take the heat?" Kazuto smiled. "Then stop playing games with the guy who summons fire."

"And what about you?" Sousou fired back, "You act like you're some savior, but you only got to this position because you showed up at the doorstep of a village girl."

"Said village girl became one of the most prominent warlords in this country in a year. What about you? Inherited it from your dad, right?'

"You don't get to talk about my father, Hongou." Sousou frowned.

"That's right. While you are a fine commander, and probably the strongest warlord in the country right about now, you didn't become a warlord on your own; that was something your father did. You just took from where he left off and built up from there. In turn, I think someone who could build herself up from scratch is much more interesting, don't you think?"

"Your girl used her ancestry as well!"

"Yeah. Sure. That old sword. Let's be real; that sword didn't bring Kan'u to her side. That sword didn't bring Chouhi to her side. I didn't even know what that sword meant until her mom told me. And you certainly didn't care about that sword when you saw it. And no one else of importance cared about it either. All it is is an old memento from an ancestor." Kazuto hummed, "So? Tell me, how exactly did she use her ancestry to get anywhere? I mean there are plenty of imperial descendants across the land. Are you seriously going to say she managed to become the Imperial Descendant by having an old sword?"

"You amassed an army with that."

"Oh, then let's throw your scythe into the countryside then. Let's see someone else amass an army as large and impressive as yours. Or better yet, lets' give Paitan one of our soldier's swords! Have her swing it around for a few days and then drop that into the countryside. That's an imperial sword itself, now isn't it?" Kazuto laughed, "As amusing an idea as it is, an old memento with a heritage does not amass an army; it's the person with the old memento. You on the other hand grew up with an army ready to be passed down to you. Sure you probably elevated it to new heights, but you didn't build it from scratch."

"She still had a leg up; that's not building from scratch."

"Question? Do you have proof that her sword is from said old emperor?" Kazuto hummed. "it's a nicely-designed sword, but anyone could hire a blacksmith to make a good-looking sword. For all I know, one of her ancestors did that and then said it was an Imperial Heirloom, and the family simply continued believing it is?"

"Then she would've gotten to where she is with a fake." Sousou remarked.

"And what would have changed over the last year if it was a fake that some great-great-great grandpa had forged for the family?"

Sousou didn't want to say it.

"Nothing." Fuu said it for her instead. "Whether the sword was real or not, nothing would've changed."

"There's been many emperors over the years. One of these emperors could easily have had swords made and then gifted a random unimportant but decent-looking blade from their collection to a branch family. Ryuubi could be descended from that. So her story can and does check out." Eika grimaced. "Simply put, her sword could be real. It could be fake, but it's immaterial."

"Even if the sword is real or fake," Paitan spoke up, "I and my sister recognize Touka-neesama as our cousin. There is no point in looking into the sword any further." Paitan said, although reproachfully looking at Kazuto for bringing up something like that.

"And so, here's the crux of the matter. If what Touka did was so unimpressive and could be chalked up to a self-proclaimed bloodline and an old sword with questionable origins, why are there not more upstart peasant commoners popping out of the woodwork and claiming peerage in this wartorn era? Where are the second comings of Ryuubi, acting haughty for being somewhat distantly related to the Emperor. Why are they not our peers?"

"Luck?" Jun'iku snidely pointed out.

"Are you admitting Touka has the Mandate of Heaven, Jun'iku? Because luck is a providence of heaven, isn't it?" Kazuto teased the girl.

"Ch!"

"Luck is great, but… let's say Kakouton over there entered a lottery and won enough money to buy booze for a lifetime."

"Why me?" Kakouton frowned.

"Now if Kakouen had entered that same lottery and earned enough money to buy herself enough booze in a week."

"So it's a sibling analogy this time?" Kakouen frowned.

"Now then, what would the two of you do?"

"I'd obviously use it on booze. You said I could buy enough booze for a lifetime." Kakouton frowned.

"… I'd give most of it to Karin-sama." Kakouen frowned.

"Ah! I'd also give it to Karin-sama! No, ALL OF IT!"

"… And there you go. Despite Kakouton getting more lucky than Kakouen in this analogy, who actually made use of the money better?"

"Shuuran." "Shuuran-taichou." "Myou-chi." "Kakouen."

"Eh?"

"If you waste the money on booze, then why not use it for other things? Alcohol is great and all, but you need a lot more than good wine to survive." Jun'iku sighed.

"And in the second where you decided to give it all to Karin-sama…" Fuu hummed, "… You became poorer than Shuuran. Shuuran at least kept some of it."

"… Geh…"

"In the end, luck is only useful if you know how to use it when you get it." Sousou dryly nodded, "… Luck can only get you so far."

"Mmhmm… Even bad luck is useful if you know how to use it." Kazuto smiled, "Lucky me. Before I landed in this country, I managed to break a bronze mirror. According to a few legends I know, breaking a mirror is seven years of bad luck? So I should be halfway through year 2."

"Is that an actual thing?" Paitan asked.

"Huh?"

"Seven Years Bad Luck for breaking a mirror?"

"Oh, that… from what I know it's more that, when full-sized mirrors were first made, they were so expensive that the one who breaks it will likely have to work seven years to pay it back. The rumors probably started from there."

"I see." Paitan nodded.

"I could imagine so." Sousou huffed. "Developing something like that for mere vanity…"

"If you say so, but I doubt you mind when going out for clothes shopping." Kazuto smiled.

"I suppose so!" Sousou said, amused. "Still, we're devolving to small talk now, and I don't believe we have time for that? Yes?"

"Habits die hard." Kazuto shrugged. "Still, that was a fun tangent."

"Just so we're clear, I'll be pushing for Enshou's death."

"I'm personally against killing her, but that's because I don't like criminals getting the easy way out of being absolved for crimes." Kazuto sighed.

"Why do you consider it the easy route?" Sousou frowned. "Aside from what you already said."

"Do you know what it's like to die, Sousou?" Kazuto asked. "… I do. I experience it every time my tutor wants me to do a stupidly impossible task."

"What?" Sousou could only look at him with ridicule.

"Getting tossed off the tower for missing a note is the least injury-intense training I've been through, let's just say that." Kazuto laughed.

"… I'm surprised my soldiers haven't cursed you then."

"I know the limits of human beings. My teacher simply disregards them in my case." Kazuto waved him off. "But my forays to near-death have told me something interesting about death: when you are there, it's really easy to die. You might have a few regrets, or worries, but all you need to do is let go of them. In return, you'll get peace. Like falling asleep after a really rough day of hard work. The only way to truly survive is to cling to those regrets, to keep yourself focused on simply living."

"… So what are you advocating for? Torture then?"

"Now that's just mean. We already took everything of value from her. We could always just legitimize it in the eyes of the country." Kazuto waved it off, "Torture is really only worth it when you can gain something useful from it. I thought you were more practical than that, Sousou."

"I'm just throwing suggestions here, Hongou." Sousou dryly pointed out. "It would be good for me to push the Imperial position on the matter, rather than my own."

Kazuto smiled. There. Mission success, Touka. You get Enshou's life. Hope you're happy. That was the most finagling that he had to do to get the girl to live. Honestly, Kazuto didn't think it was worth it, but Touka wanted Ganryou. And Ganryou wanted Enshou and Bunshuu.

The trial itself will largely be a kangaroo court. A farce. It's just a front for the sake of the populace. It will look like justice, but in the end, it's already set in stone what will happen. That's how corruption works, and this country's system is highly susceptible to corruption.

So now, all they need to do is… decide on a punishment.

"Maybe we can work her in the fields." Paitan suggested. "Hard work in exchange for the crimes she committed."

"Problem with that, Paitan, is that she'll be on the fields." Kazuto frowned, "And we usually don't want a prisoner outside of a place where we can easily contain them. We really don't want Enshou to escape. So while we could put her on a labor-intensive job, it's better if it's in a place where we can put soldiers all around her and keep her from running. And if she does run, she won't get far. Mining would probably be easier."

"Her shrill voice will likely cause a cave-in." Sousou dryly remarked.

"We could always make her be a backstage worker for the Kazoe Yakuman Sisters." Kazuto suggested.

"No." Sousou immediately refused. "Letting her access to those three is the worst idea yet. I'd rather put the manpower in putting her in the fields."

"… How about we don't let her be complacent then, and put her in whatever odd jobs we can think of? If the sewers need cleaning, we'll send her to clean sewers. If the farms need farmhands, we'll send her with a retinue of guards." Kazuto hummed. "Let's just go with… all of the above?"

"Is that so?" Sousou entertained the idea. No singular punishment. Basically turning that high and mighty woman into a gofer for anyone who needs it.

"And Choukou, you can supervise her! If she fails your evaluation, then we'll add to her sentence."

Choukou thought on that before smirking, "Cleaning the sewers? A novel idea, if I must say."

"Please. Her job would be easier than what I had to do once. I had to dive into sewers to retrieve an object before. It took forever for me to wash it all off. I even got sick." Kazuto shivered. "Then my teacher made me go to the store to buy my own medicine!" Kazuto complained.

"Hongou… I think you should get better teachers." Sousou dully said. "The more I hear of your teacher, the more I am worried for your health. And I'm not supposed to worry for your health."

"What better teacher in fighting off assassins than a professional assassin?" Kazuto shrugged. "Especially, the world's strongest hired assassin in the world?" He decided to translate 'hitman' to 'hired assassin'. It's easier for people to understand.

"… I feel like said hired assassin is trying to assassinate you in the process."

"According to him: better a dead heir than a weak lord."

"Your father accepted that?"

"My father was also taught by the same hired assassin. He lived, and he professed himself to have been the weakest human in the world before he began training." Kazuto smiled. "I'm not the weakest human, so I should at least be able to do that much. It's easy to just give up and die." Kazuto then sighed, "Although personally, I think that if I just give up my right of succession, I probably would get said teacher off my back. But that would mean subjecting my little sister to that teacher. So… an older sibling's job is to look after the younger, right, Kakouton?"

"Right!" Kakouton agreed immediately. She failed to recognize the irony in her words. First, she agreed with Kazuto. Second, she is usually the one looked after by Kakouen. Kakouen laughed a bit.

"… Well, dismissed?"

"Dismissed." Paitan nodded. And soon everyone began shuffling out of the court. Kazuto and Paitan moved towards the door to the inner court.

"Kazuto-san?"

"Yes?"

"Was all that just to fulfill Touka-sama's request?"

"No." Kazuto replied. "It helped, but it's not the main thing. I wanted another thing: I wanted to see how Sousou would react to me talking about her father. While everyone around her seemed outraged, and Sousou herself seemed annoyed, she wasn't angry. I could probably bring him up again in a better setting."

"… Right."

"I want to know how deep our enemy's goals are. If I'm just jumping at shadows, fine. I have nothing but time." Kazuto frowned looking at the sun, "… But… if the entire situation with her father was plotted by the sorcerers… I want to start connecting dots before they tangle us in their web."

"Right."

"And if it turns out nothing, then I guess I know who got the seven years bad luck curse. I've been nothing but lucky for the past one and a half years." Kazuto chuckled, rubbing Paitan's head. "I met all of you, after all."

"Th-thank you." Paitan blushed a bit. "… It's unfair that Touka-neesan got to you first."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing, nothing!"

Paitan then sighed, looking at the sky… She thought something simple: I guess the Mandate of Heaven… really is in Touka-neesan's hands.

R-()-

"I remember reading that breaking a mirror is seven years' worth of bad luck. Is that why this isn't working?"

"Shut up! How much longer must I put my foot in a vat of hot water before you are certain that this. Isn't. WORKING! UKITSU!?"

"Fine, remove it."

Saji immediately removed his foot from the vat of water. The ice of Zero Point was still clearly encased in it.

"No noticeable differences… pretty much still the same size. There is no possible way that Sawada Tsunayoshi is able to send his energy through time and space… my goodness, this ice is a good specimen. Even though we managed to chunk off some small pieces, the rest of the ice is more solid than any steel or stone I've ever seen. I surmise that the reason the other pieces of ice chipped off is due to impurity."

"I could've told you that a MILLENIA AGO! Either find a way to get the ice off, or find a way for me to fight even with this handicap!"

"I could cut your foot off and then replace it with a peg?"

"If the next time I look down and see a wooden plank where my foot was, I'll show you how lethal I can be with my other leg."

"I could regrow your leg?"

"And I thought you were smart, Ukitsu."

"Then maybe give me more time, Saji. Unlike you, I'm busy."

"Whose fault is it that I went in with no information on my enemy?"

"I admit fault in failing to gather information, but that doesn't mean you get to hold it over my head forever, Saji. I'm not a sentimental enough fool."

"This ice can be removed, correct?"

"The method to remove it is likely in the hands of Vongola."

"And?"

"All we need to do… is to get our hands on it."

-()-

Chapter End

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Chapter Release Date: July 1, 2022

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Beta Reader: Seraphius