Dusk had just fallen. Suzuki Makoto had already chosen his campsite for the night, lit a bonfire, and was roasting a thick flatbread speared on a branch over the flames.
When he was a wandering samurai with his master, this kind of life was the norm. Sometimes he would hunt to treat himself—but after discovering that everything from the rabbits on the ground to the fish in the water contained the same aura as the centipedes, he abandoned the idea completely.
What he was eating now were the dry rations Shinobu Kocho had made for him, but even these were nearly gone. For this reason, he had used that folding fan to trade for some food from a passing caravan. Though the provisions, prepared when the merchants first set out, had a stale taste, in Suzuki Makoto's eyes they were undoubtedly better than anything local.
The sound of dry branches and leaves being crushed underfoot came from not far away. Someone was walking this way, and they clearly had no intention of concealing their presence.
The Daimyo of Ashina, just as Suzuki Makoto had requested, had come to the meeting without a single attendant.
The man walked to the bonfire and removed the conical hat he wore as a disguise. His gaze was immediately drawn to the black Mortal Blade at the other's side, but Genichiro Ashina made no superfluous movements. He simply walked to face Suzuki Makoto and bowed his head respectfully.
"On the mountain path earlier, my subordinates and I offended you. The discourtesy was ours. Please allow me to apologize."
In addition to the apology, he held a money pouch he had taken from his waist. The weight of it was enough to bring a smile to the face of even someone with no interest in money.
Suzuki Makoto looked at the Daimyo of a nation with appreciation. The man's posture was very low; clearly, Genichiro Ashina was not the type to be hung up on noble blood. At the very least, he had no arrogant ideas about himself.
He stood, took the money pouch, and gestured for the other to sit.
"Please, sit, Lord Daimyo."
Although it was only a sawn log, Genichiro Ashina sat ramrod straight, as if he were in the main seat of the Castle Keep, his eyes fixed on Suzuki Makoto opposite him.
"Please, call me Genichiro—I was delighted to learn from Lady Butterfly that you are willing to make a deal with me. As my grandfather has grown older, his actions have become increasingly whimsical. Though I am his junior, for him to do something so improper... it's just that this Mortal Blade is the greatest treasure of our Ashina Castle. It is by no means something that can be given away lightly. I hope you can understand, Lord Suzuki."
"Spare me the excuses, Lord Genichiro. You must have already heard some things about me from your grandfather and know what it is I intend to do. Even if I mean to sever the Dragon's Heritage, kill the Divine Dragon, and destroy the Fountainhead Palace, you are still willing to lead me into that so-called divine palace?"
This was what truly interested Suzuki Makoto. Compared to his own goals, there was no way Genichiro Ashina should risk the Divine Dragon being killed just for a sword, especially since he had, in fact, defeated Isshin Ashina.
For the Ashina of today, what they needed most was time. They should not, under any circumstances, help an outsider deal with the Divine Dragon. As long as the lure of immortality held the Interior Ministry's attention, Ashina could continue to rest easy. If several decades passed like this, no one would remember the war between Ashina and the Ministry, or even the reason Ashina truly earned its name.
By then, even if the power of the Dragon's Heritage were severed and the Divine Dragon died, the Interior Ministry would have no interest in waging war on Ashina again, and Ashina could be fully integrated into the Ministry's system.
But from the peace talks until now, a mere three years was far, far too short. So short that if the Fountainhead Palace were destroyed and the higher-ups in the Ministry found their hopes of eternal life dashed, those great figures would very likely redirect their fury upon Ashina, pinning the blame for the palace's destruction on them and making Ashina a public enemy, ostracized by the entire world.
"Twenty years ago, my grandfather led the Ashina clan to successfully steal this nation while the Interior Ministry was at the zenith of its power. It was a vicious slap across the face of the Shogun who wished to complete the grand enterprise of unifying the country. But even so, that Shogun, famed for his patience, was able to suppress his inner rage and quietly wait for the right moment to wage war on Ashina."
"Twenty years later, though my grandfather is old, that Shogun is likewise ailing. Otherwise, after I handed over the power of the Dragon's Heritage and offered the hope of eternal life, the Interior Ministry would not have accepted all our conditions so swiftly, nor would they have established total control around the Fountainhead Palace with such speed."
Genichiro Ashina was not playing the part of a riddler. Although he did not agree with the old man's actions, he still trusted Isshin Ashina's judgment. Suzuki Makoto must truly possess the power to slay the Divine Dragon for his grandfather to have gifted him the sword.
And since the other party truly wanted to kill the Divine Dragon, he could not possibly be a scoundrel in league with the Interior Ministry. Therefore, he could share some of the Ministry's plans to foster trust between them.
—Especially when their objectives had no substantial conflict.
"The true power of the Interior Ministry today is indeed still in the hands of the Shogun. However, at his age, he should have long since begun to gradually cede power to his son, Lord Hidetada. But since three years ago, that transfer of power has completely stopped. The Shogun himself has even begun to reclaim his authority."
This man was, indeed, a political genius.
To display such a sensitive grasp of outside political information in such a closed-off mountain castle... if not for Isshin Ashina's endorsement, he would have found it hard to imagine that such an old man could raise an eccentric so accomplished in politics.
Just as Genichiro Ashina said, eternal life was an irresistible temptation for the aging Shogun. But for the Shogun's son, who was already staring hungrily at the seat of power, it was nothing less than a heavenly chasm blocking his path forward!
"A fine idea. However, shouldn't the Shogun's son hate you even more for presenting the method of eternal life to the Shogun? In that case, how will you get this... Lord Hidetada... to trust you, and even conspire with you to destroy the Shogun's dream of eternal life?"
Suzuki Makoto posed his question. As long as Genichiro Ashina could explain this clearly, then a true foundation for cooperation would exist between them.
____
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