The vast chamber of the Great Hall of Shuri was filled with the heads of the most powerful houses of Tanna. Lord Renjou Genmo of House Renjou sat with an air of quiet confidence, his beard long and flowing. Beside him, Lord Kaizen of House Kaizen, a sharp-eyed tactician, adjusted the rings on his fingers. Lady Meiyu of House Meiyu sat poised, her hands folded, observing everything with a cold gaze. Lord Naratome of House Naratome, known for his ruthless political maneuvers, smirked slightly as if he knew something others didn’t. Lord Zhenkai of House Zhenkai, a hulking figure with scars from countless battles, exuded raw power. And finally, Lord Orumaga of House Orumaga, an old and wise noble whose words carried great influence, remained silent, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his chair.
From behind Shao Ao, Prince Renshu emerged, his robes swaying as he moved. “On behalf of my elder brother, Prince Meiji, who was sent to Mino prior to this unfortunate event, I welcome you all.” His voice was clear and regal.
Then entered Lord Arashi Naran, Head of the Military, his armor gleaming, his movements precise. He was followed by Shigen no Rishihito, the cunning diplomat, and Tetsujo, who had just arrived from the southern provinces. Lastly, Yoshiru the Butcher, a warlord feared across Tanna, along with the minor lord Tetsuharu of Kaishin, took their places.
A tense silence fell over the room as a clench of the great oak doors echoed through the hall.
With measured steps, a man entered. Lord Hidemasa of Hitachi, flanked by his retinue—the Three Fire Foxes of Tanna, men who had gained fame in the Reconquest of Tanna Islands years ago. The Fire Foxes were:
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Gorin no Jiro, the fastest cavalry commander in Tanna.
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Shiba Yojirou, the master of ambush warfare.
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Tenkai Aoba, the impenetrable defender of the eastern borders.
Shao Ao and Prince Renshu stepped forward, offering condolences, as was customary. But Lord Hidemasa did not speak. Instead, one of the Fire Foxes, Shiba Yojirou, broke the silence.
“Lord Hidemasa will only speak to one man… King Tannagork II.”
A flicker of concern crossed Shao Ao’s face. Could it be that he refuses negotiation?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
But the Chancellor merely nodded. “As you wish, Lord Hidemasa.”
As everyone took their places, Prince Renshu looked around. His brow furrowed. “Someone is missing… Lord Kanzaki.”
The name sent ripples through the hall. Lord Kanzaki, known as the Pillar of Shuri, had an uncanny ability to overturn any political decision.
Yoshiru the Butcher muttered under his breath, “Hmph. The great Hakken Shikikan is absent. That is… troubling.”
Shao Ao cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, we should proceed. The King awaits.”
With slow, heavy footsteps, the nobles moved beyond the massive doors of the Great Council Chamber, which shut behind them with a resounding DOOOOM.
At a small inn in Amonkai, Imei and Lima sat in frustration.
“What should we do?” Lima sighed. He then, as usual, came up with three bizarre ideas:
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Disguise ourselves as merchants and infiltrate the Great Council.
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Send a fake distress message to lure a noble out of Shuri.
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Travel to the scene of the crime and investigate ourselves.
Imei rubbed his temples. “And from where exactly?”
They both locked onto the map of Tanna, eyes narrowing at one specific point.
Lima grinned. “Imei, do you think what I’m thinking?”
Imei sighed. “Then it’s settled. We shall go to the border between Soga and Hitachi under the pretext of mapping the land while conducting our investigation.”
Lima jumped up. “Bingo!” He gesticulated wildly.
Imei raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Silence.
Lima smirked. “Just a word I invented.”
Inside Lord Kanzaki’s fortress, an old man sat by a low wooden table, sipping Jade Dragon tea, playing a strategic board game called Shinsen-no-Go alone.
Across the room, Kofi sat on the floor, legs crossed, his limbs nearly numb. For five hours, he had stared at a single line written on an ancient scroll:
“ALL WORLDLY WARFARE IS BASED ON DECEPTION.”
Finally, Lord Kanzaki spoke. “Kofi-boy, come here and make a move.”
Kofi groaned as he unfolded his legs, the pain stabbing through him like needles. He staggered to the opposite side of the board, feeling blood rush back to his limbs.
As he reached to place his piece, WHACK!
Kanzaki struck the back of his leg with a wooden cane.
“Boy,” Kanzaki said, his voice calm but firm, “a victorious general does not move a piece while looking at his opponent. He anticipates by judging his own moves and every possible outcome.”
Kofi rubbed his leg, confused. He hesitated, then made a move.
Another WHACK!—this time on his hand.
Kofi nearly protested until Kanzaki chuckled. “Look at the board.”
Kofi reluctantly glanced at it.
His pieces were trapped, surrounded on all sides.
“If this were a battlefield, you’d be ruined,” Kanzaki said. “Tell me, why did this happen?”
Kofi furrowed his brows. “Because I moved my piece there…?”
Kanzaki chuckled again, shaking his head. “No. It is because you did not look.”
He sipped his tea, gazing out the wooden-framed window into the misty gardens. His voice dropped to a whisper.
“As it is written in the Holy Scriptures, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’”
Kofi’s eyes widened.
Kanzaki exhaled slowly. “You have much to learn… Remember this: ALL WORLDLY WARFARE IS BASED ON DECEPTION.”
Outside, the evening wind carried the faint sound of drums beating in the distance. The storm was coming.
End of Chapter 19.