The day was long, and the workload even longer. Lima wiped the sweat off his brow, glancing over at the neatly stacked piles of arrows. The job was tedious, but at least it was done. He turned to Imei, expecting a nod of shared accomplishment—only to find the young man completely immersed in his maps and routes.

  Imei held a small brush, carefully marking out a new pathway through the rugged terrain of the Kaigen Forest. His eyes flickered with deep concentration, completely detached from their task. Occasionally, he would absentmindedly reach out, grabbing an arrow from the stack and placing it in the correct pile—though more often than not, he would forget and end up brushing ink onto his hands instead.

  Lima sighed, shaking his head.

  "Oi, Imei! You're supposed to be counting, not dreaming up new secret passageways!" he complained.

  Imei blinked, only now realizing he had made more brush strokes on his palm than on his map. He gave Lima a sheepish grin.

  "I was counting," he said. "In my own way."

  Lima scoffed. "You mean you were lost in another fantasy about roads and rivers. I swear, if you could marry a map, you'd have done it by now."

  Imei shrugged. "And yet, here we are, successfully finishing our task. I'd say my method is superior."

  Lima groaned in defeat. As they stepped outside, a strong breeze rolled through the settlement. Dark clouds gathered in the distance.

  Imei looked up and muttered, "Who knows how Sawai and Kofi are doing?"

  Lima waved a dismissive hand. "They’re probably doing nothing, just enjoying themselves."

  Then, from the horizon, a thick cloud of dust rose up. The distant rumble of hooves echoed through the settlement. As the dust settled, banners unfurled—blue and gold, the insignia of Tanna, accompanied by the crimson crest of a regiment that had become familiar over the past three months.

  It was Tetsujo.

  The newly appointed Thousand-Man Commander of the Kawazume Vanguard rode at the front, flanked by twenty of his men. Their urgency was clear.

  Imei rushed forward, calling out, "Tetsujo! What’s going on?"

  Tetsujo pulled on his reins and halted his horse. He turned, bowing his head slightly out of respect. "Young Lord Imei-sama," he said, his voice steady but hurried. "The King of Tanna has convened a Grand Council."

  Imei’s eyes widened. "A Grand Council?" he repeated. "What for?"

  Tetsujo’s gaze darkened. "A murder. It happened in the territory between Soga and Hitachi, deep within the Kaigen Forest. But I must go now, my orders are strict."

  Imei straightened, his curiosity burning. "Let me come with you!"

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  Tetsujo shook his head firmly. "Impossible. You know the protocol."

  He spurred his horse forward, and his men followed suit, galloping away into the distance.

  Lima sighed as the dust settled.

  Narrator’s Voice:

  At that time, it was customary that only the Seven Major Houses of Tanna, the highest provincial lords, the Great Generals, and the First Generals could attend the Grand Council. Any infiltration during such a meeting was punishable by death. Even the royal family was not exempt—only the King, the Crown Prince, and the Queen were permitted. Unfortunately, Prince Meiji was away on a diplomatic mission to Mino, leaving his younger brother, Prince Renshu, to take his place.

  An eagle soared above the Kaigen Forest.

  Kofi muttered under his breath. "I think it was this way..."

  He looked around, squinting at the misty landscape. The roads ahead forked in multiple directions. He let out a deep breath and decided to follow the path that looked the most traveled.

  As he rode, the fields slowly transitioned into villages. Unlike the war-worn regions he had grown accustomed to, Nakazawa Province was alive. The people were jovial, working with energy and enthusiasm. The sight surprised him.

  "So different..." he murmured.

  Just as he began to appreciate the peaceful scenery, his attention snapped to movement from the side—someone was reaching into his saddlebag!

  "Oi! Thief!" Kofi grabbed at the figure, but the thief yelped and darted away.

  Before he could chase, a large bald man stepped in, grabbing the thief by the scruff of his neck.

  "What did I tell you about stealing, Daigo?!" the bald man scolded.

  The thief—who turned out to be a scrawny young boy—groaned. "It was just food!"

  Kofi blinked in disbelief. "Your own brother?"

  The bald man sighed. "Unfortunately." He turned to Kofi and gave a respectful bow. "Apologies, traveler. My brother is... difficult."

  Kofi chuckled. "No harm done."

  The man straightened. "You're not from around here, are you?"

  Kofi shook his head. "I was sent by Shigen-dono to Lord Kanzaki."

  The bald man’s expression shifted. He nodded. "Follow me. I’ll show you the way."

  As they walked, an old wooden carriage appeared in the distance. A man stepped out—his presence alone commanding respect. His gaze was sharp, his posture unwavering.

  Silence.

  Kofi froze. The villagers bowed deeply.

  Lord Kanzaki.

  The man’s piercing eyes locked onto Kofi, studying him. The tension in the air was thick.

  More silence.

  Kofi felt the weight of the moment and opened his mouth to speak—

  THWACK!

  A wooden sword smacked him squarely on the head.

  "Ow! What the—" Kofi grabbed his head, looking up in shock.

  Kanzaki smirked. "What a rude young man Shigen sent me." He chuckled. "Kukuku... You’re an amusing one."

  Kofi, still rubbing his head, scowled.

  "Alright then, boy, you’re welcome here. Make yourself at home." Kanzaki turned and began walking away.

  Kofi stood there, speechless. The bald man and his brother gave him a sympathetic look.

  The doors to Kanzaki’s estate loomed ahead.

  With a loud CLANG, they swung open.

  [End of Chapter]