Inside the reception hall of the Land of Earth's embassy, the atmosphere was cordial.
Tanaka sat in the guest seat, took out two exquisite gift boxes, and presented them.
"Sirs, these are the new spring teas recently procured by the Daimyo's manor. I brought them specifically for you to taste," Tanaka said with a smile.
Seated in the main position were the envoys from the Land of Earth.
Hearing this, he nodded slightly, motioned for his attendant to accept the gifts, and personally poured tea for Tanaka and the other guest.
The other guest was the envoy from the Land of Wind, who wore a perpetual smile.
The tea was a new tribute from the Land of Fire this year. The liquor was clear, the aroma diffused, and simply smelling it invigorated the spirit.
The Land of Earth's envoy picked up the cup, sniffed lightly, then set it down, clearly uninterested in such refined things.
The Land of Wind's envoy, however, was a connoisseur. He took a delicate sip, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
"Excellent tea."
"Slightly astringent at first, followed by a full, sweet aftertaste. Indeed, excellent tea. Lord Tanaka, you are too thoughtful."
Tanaka smiled and nodded, though his mind was perfectly clear.
The two before him, one pragmatic and profit-driven, the other shrewd and fond of wealth, were both tough to handle.
After a few pleasantries, Tanaka followed procedure and broached the main topic.
"Sirs, you have been in the Fire Capital for some time. Are you satisfied with our hospitality?"
"As for last month's shipment to your esteemed nations, what feedback did you receive?"
At the word "shipment," the Land of Earth's envoy, previously composed, showed a flash in his eyes.
The Land of Wind's envoy clapped and laughed. "Lord Tanaka is too modest. The feedback was not merely satisfactory, it was extremely satisfactory."
"Especially the white sugar. It is now priceless in our Land of Wind. The nobles are practically fighting over it."
He was not exaggerating.
Those crystalline, sweet-white crystals were an unprecedented luxury for nobles in the Land of Wind, who lived their days amidst yellow sand.
The Land of Earth's envoy also spoke, rare for him. "It is the same in our Land of Earth. Our Daimyo is very pleased."
Pleased was an understatement.
By reselling these luxury goods, the Daimyo's manors of both nations had earned in one month what might once have taken an entire quarter.
This trade route was no longer merely a source of wealth.
"It is good that you are satisfied. I can report back to Daimyo-sama."
Tanaka nodded, the smile on his face slowly fading as his expression turned serious.
He lifted his cup, blew away the foam, but did not drink.
Finally, a sigh escaped him.
The sigh was soft, yet it pierced the hall's harmony like a needle.
The two envoys exchanged glances.
Here it comes.
These old foxes had sensed something was off from the moment Tanaka entered.
No one visits without a reason.
Gifts, pleasantries, and now this posture. He was holding something back.
The Land of Wind's envoy set down his cup and spoke first. "Why does Lord Tanaka sigh? Has there been a mishap in trade?"
Tanaka looked up, his solemn expression perfectly placed.
"To be frank, I encountered a thorny issue today."
"I fear it will affect the common interests of our three nations, which is why I came to discuss it with you."
He did not lower his stance. From the outset, he pulled the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind to his side.
What a cunning old fox.
The two envoys thought to themselves, he wants to define the situation with his first words.
On the surface, the Land of Wind's envoy remained warm. "Speak freely. Our three nations are now allies. If there is truly an issue, we will not stand idly by."
The Land of Earth's envoy also nodded at the right moment.
This was exactly what Tanaka wanted.
With a grave expression, he recounted how the Land of Lightning's envoy aggressively demanded trade, and how the Daimyo sternly refused.
Of course, in his telling, the Land of Lightning's envoy became a madman who resorted to violence at the slightest disagreement, and the Land of Fire's Daimyo became a principled monarch who upheld agreements, protected allied interests, and refused to bow to bullies.
"...Daimyo-sama said that our trade with the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth is based on a peace agreement."
"The Land of Lightning lacks even basic sincerity. This door must never be opened."
"Otherwise, it would be the greatest injustice to our two allies."
"But that Land of Lightning envoy flew into a rage on the spot, smashed a table at my manor, and even threatened to meet us on the battlefield..."
"Although Daimyo-sama does not fear war, he does not wish to spark conflict lightly. Yet principles cannot be conceded. This matter is truly difficult."
At that, Tanaka looked at the two with a heavy expression.
A brief silence fell.
Their expressions were subtle.
They knew exactly what this was.
This old fox had not come to discuss.
He had come to accuse, to use their hands to pressure the Land of Lightning.
All that talk of standing up for allies was nonsense.
They cursed inwardly, but kept straight faces.
The Land of Wind's envoy broke the silence first, righteously. "Absolutely lawless."
"The Land of Lightning has always been domineering. Rest assured, Lord Tanaka, we will not stand idly by."
The Land of Earth's envoy added in a deep voice, "Indeed. We will report truthfully to our nation and issue the sternest condemnation of the Land of Lightning's barbarity."
They spoke glowingly.
All condemnation.
Would condemnation cost the Land of Lightning anything?
Tanaka sneered inwardly. These two old foxes still wanted to sit on the fence and watch the show.
Watching the fire from the far shore?
Not so easy.
His grave expression deepened. "Thank you, sirs, for upholding justice."
Then his tone shifted, becoming solemn.
"However... those brutes from the Land of Lightning have always been unreasonable, recognizing only brute force."
"I worry they might truly stir up trouble at the border."
"Although our Land of Fire is not afraid, if it comes to that, for the greater good, for peace... what if, I mean what if..."
Tanaka stopped here and sighed heavily.
"Our side is forced to make concessions..."
"Our Land of Fire's production capacity is limited."
He paused, then looked up at the two faces that changed instantly.
"If there is one more Land of Lightning..."
"Then the silk, tea, and especially the Fire Crystals supplied to your two nations..."
"I fear they would have to be taken from your allotments."
The words were like a thunderclap.
The two envoys' faces changed at once.
They did not care about disputes between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
They even hoped they would fight, so they could profit from the chaos.
But.
They would never ignore their own purses.
Divide the trade shares?
That was the same as taking money from their pockets.
Over the past month, the nobles behind them had already developed a taste for pure white sugar and exquisite silk.
And now they were to cut the supply?
This was worse than killing them.
Moreover, it was not just a trade issue. It touched their domestic stability.
In an instant, the two old foxes' minds raced.
(To be continued.)