298 BC, Tanna – The Palace of Shuri

  The grand courtroom emptied slowly, leaving behind murmurs and whispers of disbelief. Outside, the winning side rejoiced in muted triumph. Kanou Shogun extended his arms toward Shigen, and they embraced, their relief unspoken but shared. Imei stood frozen, still in shock at what had just transpired, while Lima, Sawai, and Kofi exchanged mixed expressions—part joy, part uncertainty.

  Kofi broke the silence. "What is foreignres gratiati?"

  Shigen paused before answering. "From now on, you will be treated as every other foreigner under Tanna’s rule."

  Sawai’s brow furrowed. "And how exactly are foreigners treated?"

  "They are given lands to cultivate and contribute to the kingdom’s economy," Shigen explained. "But make no mistake—those lands belong to Tanna. You live on them only at the pleasure of the King and under the watch of his appointed governors."

  A slow realization crept across Kofi’s face. "So, we are no longer the owners of our settlement?"

  Shigen hesitated before nodding.

  Lima clenched his fists. "At least we are alive, and they will not trouble us."

  Imei shook his head grimly. "You still don’t get it, do you? Your land is gone."

  "What?!" The three friends stood abruptly, rage and confusion flashing in their eyes.

  Kanou Shogun interjected calmly. "The lands have always belonged to Tanna. Now, if you wish to remain there, you must pay the toll tax of commerce."

  "Fair enough," Kofi muttered, crossing his arms.

  Shigen leaned forward. "But there’s more. You will no longer govern yourselves. Your clan leaders will have no say. Instead, a governor appointed by Tanna will rule over your lands."

  Silence.

  Lima dropped to his knees. "And who will tell our people?"

  Tetsujo, who had been leaning casually against the wall, finally spoke. "That will be the only real problem. We’ll return with you to your settlement so you’re not cut down like a ripe fruit."

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  Sawai, ever the comedic relief, groaned. "Speaking of fruit, I’m starving." He took a bite of an apple—only to bite his tongue instead. "Ahhh!" he yelped in pain.

  The laughter died as Kofi rubbed his temples. "Listen, Shigen… This ruling is worse than the other. It feels too good to be true—so what’s the catch?"

  Shigen’s face darkened. "You are wise, Kofi. The first ruling gave you only two options: flee or die. This new one—" He paused, letting the words sink in. "—will last only as long as you can pay the tax. The moment you fail, you will cease to exist."

  Sawai’s face lost its color. "What?"

  "Nevertheless," Shigen continued, "if you study well, you will find your way through this. And perhaps, God will help you."

  The three friends absorbed his words in silence, then nodded in grim agreement.

  As they stepped out of the palace, they retrieved their horses from the stables. Aranawa, the ever-loyal retainer, saluted Shigen. "Shigen-dono, where are you headed?"

  "South, to Amonkai."

  A voice rang out behind them.

  "The King wishes to see you."

  It was Lord Arashi Naran, head of Tanna’s military. Shigen and Tetsujo exchanged knowing glances.

  "You go ahead," Shigen told Tetsujo. "Escort them back. I’ll catch up soon."

  As Kofi mounted his horse, he looked back at Aranawa and gave him a slight bow. Then, without another word, they rode off.

  As they neared the city gates, they spotted a grand carriage adorned with banners foreign to Tanna.

  "Whose emblem is that?" Kofi asked.

  Tetsujo exhaled sharply. "That is Mino."

  Lima raised an eyebrow. "Are they powerful?"

  "Currently, the most powerful state in the region," Tetsujo answered.

  Kofi felt a strange sensation, a surge of something unfamiliar yet undeniable. He did not understand why, but he knew—he was destined for something far greater than this moment.

  As they passed the carriage, a veiled woman inside caught sight of him. She turned to her attendant and whispered, "Who knows if, when we meet again, he will still be alive?"

  Kofi, Lima, and Sawai rode through the city gates, unaware that their fate was already shifting.

  An old man, standing at the edge of Shuri, watched them go. He stroked his long beard and murmured to himself, "Behold, the emperor… Hail King…"

  He paused, searching for the name.

  "Hail King Tetsukiba."

  The nearby soldiers exchanged glances, uneasy at the old man’s words.

  Tetsujo, pretending not to hear, simply muttered, "We’d better leave."

  The four of them spurred their horses forward, galloping toward the unknown.

  That Night – Beyond the Forest of Kaigen

  In the darkness of the woods, a different fate unfolded.

  The Butcher of Lika stood amidst his so-called allies—men who had followed him into countless bloodstained battles. But tonight, they were not his comrades. They were his prey.

  His aide stood beside him, torch in hand, as the Butcher addressed the frightened men kneeling before him. "You thought you could betray me?"

  They pleaded, begged for mercy.

  The Butcher sneered. "Let this be a warning to all who dare to play with Yoshiru the Butcher of Lika."

  With a motion of his hand, the flames were unleashed.

  The night sky filled with screams.

  And by morning, nothing remained but charred corpses.