Chapter 3
Mr. Kamui

The six guests looked at one another as Jakob left. A seventh guest? Shouldn't they have been told, or at least waited until he arrived to start dinner?

"Ah, come in. You are eagerly awaited," the butler said from the hall. His voice was distant, "Leave your bag here, if you do not mind."

"Why?" asked a voice, presumably that of the new guest.

"Because everyone is eating," Jakob replied evenly, his voice starting to approach. "Whatever you have can be dealt with after dinner."

Six pairs of eyes darted to the open door, waiting for the final guest to enter.

The butler stepped in first, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, Mr. Kamui."

A tall, white haired man stepped in. He neither looked pleased to be there, nor unhappy. Instead, he looked as if he were appraising a warehouse of machinery. Detached amusement seemed like the most apt description.

Jakob extended an arm, gesturing to the open chair. The casually dressed guest sat down without making any comments.

"Flora," cued Jakob.

The cook stepped forward, dinner in hand. She bent down to set the plate on the table.

"Don't bother with that, sweetheart," Mr. Kamui smiled, "I just ate."

"Do you two know each other?" Niles, the only one with enough gall to ask such a direct question, asked.

"Yes, all too well; isn't that right, love?" the guest smirked, and cast a suggestive glance at the cook.

Flora flushed red and quickly retreated to the kitchen. Felicia took her place only a moment later, looking at Mr. Kamui with a troubled face.

Jakob cleared his throat, "Perhaps we ought to adjourn to the study? I believe that is where our mysterious host shall reveal himself."

"Let's go," Kagero said, standing up. "I, for one, am tired of all this suspense."

The seven guests stood and followed Jakob into the hall. The study where the group was heading was across from the lounge.

"Please go inside, and help yourselves to any drinks in there," the butler said, pulling Felicia aside to speak with her quietly.

As the seven people stepped into the room, Kaze flipped the switch on the wall. Lights flickered to life, displaying an empty room of several chairs and a couch.

"There's no one here," he said.

"Maybe our host is actually Jakob," Selena said, irritation weaved into her voice.

Mr. Kamui took a seat right next to the door on a small chair. The remaining guests filled up the spots further into the room.

Niles leaned up against the wall while Xander and Kagero took the couch. Selena took the plush armchair and Camilla sat on the desk, letting her legs swing just above the floor. Kaze elected to flee to the liquor table in the corner. He pushed the fragile glasses aside, and leaned against the table.

Jakob entered, though without Felicia. He strode across the room to the desk where Camilla was perched. Opening the first drawer on the left, he plucked a hefty envelope out.

The duchess scooted over to the desk, giving room for the butler to lean. She peeked over his shoulder and read, 'Do not open until AFTER dinner.'

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to just cut to the chase," Jakob said, removing a letter-opener from his pocket. With a swift slice, he opened the coarse paper, "You've all been invited here tonight because you all share one thing in common. You're all being blackmailed."

Each guest's face became a clear beacon of truth. They all knew Jakob's comment to be true.

"For some time now, you've all been paying our friend the blackmailer to keep a story out of the papers about each and every one of you," Jakob said, rifling through the information in the envelope, "My instructions say that I am to go through each of your…infidelities just so that we are all on the same page."

"…Will you not spare us all the shame?" Kagero asked, her expression turning to something akin to fear.

"I'm afraid not. Would any of you care to confess yourselves?" the butler questioned.

Since no one responded, he set to work. Jakob turned toward Xander, who sat on the couch next to Kagero.

"Mr. Night," began the butler. "You are a business executive, is that correct?"

"That is true," Xander said, shifting uncomfortably.

"That means you are privy to information unavailable to most members of your company," Jakob said, scanning over a document as he spoke, "and even, to an extent, information about competitors and the like."

Xander said nothing, so Jakob continued, "With that information, you have on several occasions leaked details that influence buyers on the stock market for sums of money."

"If that story hits the papers, I won't just lose my job," Xander spoke quietly, "I'll go to jail for some time."

"Tch," Kaze said from his corner. "I can't stand business corruption."

"Are you truly one to talk, Mr. Green?" Jakob rounded on him, "Your status as a diplomat grants you a wide source of financial aid and out of country contacts."

"As it should," Kaze said, "I operate in Hoshido, due to my heritage. It makes me a good fit for the job."

"Hoshido's culture is influenced by honor, is it not?" Niles asked, "Is that why you find corruption horrid?"

"Hardly," Jakob interrupted before Kaze could respond. "Hoshido does favor honor, but that seems to not have rubbed off on Mr. Green here. Rather, it seems the Krakenburg has rubbed off on him."

"Who gave you this information?" demanded Kaze, rising from his makeshift seat.

Ignoring the outburst, Jakob continued, "Mr. Green has been extorting money from the government for years now. Extra funds for nonexistent expenses. He splits the profits with the diplomats on the reverse side."

"Like a ring of thieves?" Kagero asked.

"Hardly anything that romantic," the butler answered, "simply a group of people taking advantage of the system."

Kaze sat back down, looking defeated.

Xander laughed, and taunted, "Very Hoshidan of you, Green."

"Shut it," he replied, anger barely leashed.

"Well, I for one have no idea why I'm here," Selena said, folding her arms. She purposely didn't look at the two confessed guests.

"Oh? Is that so?" Jakob asked, stepping over her way. "Nothing you'd like to say about Mr. Silver?"

Selena smiled, as if unbothered by the name. "Jakob, my husband was a simple scientist. One day, I came home to his work shop having blown up."

"How about the other… three husbands you've had before that one?" the butler frowned. A few of the other guests gasped in the background.

"It seems as if I am just bad luck for men," Selena smiled sweetly.

"Indeed," Jakob agreed, leaving it at that.

"I have something to say," Niles spoke, not waiting for Jakob to pick out another victim, "I know why I am here. I am a homosexual."

"Disgusting," Kagero spat.

"It's not something I'm ashamed of," Niles said, giving Kagero a displeased glance, "but as a doctor, I must keep it secret, or I may lose my job."

Jakob nodded, everything the doctor said checking out. He leafed through the envelope's contents, and came to Kagero.

"Mrs. Crimson," smirked Jakob. "How is your husband?"

The dark haired woman fixed the butler with a fowl look. "Get on with it," she muttered.

"Mrs. Crimson, you've been having an affair with your current employer, a man you've been guarding for several months now," Jakob revealed.

"How Hoshidan," mocked Kaze.

"If word gets out," Kagero said softly, "then it will hang over every woman's head who wants to get ahead in this world."

"In that case, I suggest you be more careful before bedding your employer," Niles laughed. "It may be how lots of women advance, but it doesn't set a good example."

Kagero leapt up and yelled, "Keep your sexist comments to yourself!"

Niles continued to chuckle, and waved Jakob on. The butler returned back to his place at the desk, adjacent to the duchess.

"I thought it best to save royalty for last," he said, giving Camilla a warm smile.

"Ha," grinned the well-endowed woman. "Well, you won't have me denying anything."

"Oh?" Jakob said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you not being blackmailed?"

"Oh, I'm being blackmailed alright. But I did what I'm being blackmailed for, and I'll keep doing it," Camilla smiled.

"Do enlighten us, Duchess Snow," the butler said, lowering his envelope of secrets.

Camilla politely cleared her throat, "I provide men and women alike the opportunity for a night with a duchess of Krakenburg. And I get lots of returning customers and demand."

Niles clapped a couple of times and loudly proclaimed, "I knew I liked you."

Camilla winked at him and turned her attention back on Jakob.

Xander stood up and faced Mr. Kamui, "So that just leaves you. What's your secret?"

Jakob's eyes widened, "His secret? Haven't any of you guessed? He's the one blackmailing you."