Alex
||For context, I'm setting this scene after the events of 

Sanumo had come prepared today. The taste of failure never settled well with him - and doubly so in his current posting. Though Iemon had been much more understanding than he could have hoped for, he had no intention of making this a habit. Thus, he had prepared a stack of reports and proposals to bring before the ambassador in order to, among other things, emphasize that this failure did not detract from his usefulness.

Knocking briefly at the door in spite of the fact that he was expected, he admitted himself when acknowledged, bowed as cleanly as the papers in his arms would allow, and took a seat.

"Thank you for agreeing to yet another meeting with me. I'm sure you're beginning to grow rather tired of them." He gave a strained smirk. "Though I promise this one is especially worthwhile."

As he set his information out into four stacks, each had a cover page emblazoned with large kanji. They were a temporary measure to allow Iemon to perhaps gain an idea of what was in each and would be discarded before the documents were ultimately stored, if they were even kept at all.

They read as follows:
"Blunted Pincers?"
"Thunder's Shadow"
"A Battle of Definitions"
"Steel Talons"

Rather than diving directly into any particular report, he awaited a reply from Iemon and potentially an indication of which caught his initial interest.

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Deborah
Iemon had ensured that his desk was perfectly clear for this meeting, and was glad he had done so when he saw the stacks of paper that his Karo brought with him. "Firstly, Sanumo-san, I hope I do not have to reassure you that your presence is a bother. I trust your judgement in bringing matters to my attention when they have need of official action, and know that you would be the last person to attempt to waste my time."

He let his eyes roam over the large kanji on top of the stacks placed before him, his face quizzical as he examined them.
 "Quite the fanciful titles that you've brought me, I must say." He poured a cup of tea for Sanumo and carefully placed it on his side of the desk, not wanting to risk even a drop spilling by sliding it, and took a sip of his own tea. "A Battle of Definitions seems an apt place to start."

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Alex
Though appreciated, Iemon's assurances only went skin-deep. He knew how his superior felt about him and his work, but he needed to feel the stain of failure washed clean from himself. No amount of words alone would accomplish that. He did, however, nod in acknowledgment of them before getting to the matter at hand. "I had hoped the titles would help steer our discussion towards your personal preferences."

"In truth, I believe that is the topic you will be most interested in discussing today. Here, allow me." He picked up the report and procured several different marked-up documents that he set in front of the ambassador as he spoke.

"I recently visited city hall to go through some records with the assistance of one Seppun Arata-sama. I was looking specifically into the administration of the Unicorn's bazaar."

"As you may know, per this bit of legal code-" He gestured "-the Unicorn are obligated to pay a minimum in taxes to the lord of the land on which the bazaar rests. They have been making these payments to the Imperial administration ever since they took over."

"However..." He leaned forward in his seat to a rough sketch he had drawn based on memory (it was surely significantly different from what he had witnessed, but would convey the point he wished to). "...I was able to view one of the latest Imperial surveys and the bazaar **Actually** Rests partly within city limits and partly within Scorpion lands."

"The law dictates that these payments must be made to **The** Singular lord on which the market is built, but there are two such lords. If one could gain enough support and make a case for it, the Unicorn have been grossly delinquent in paying the Scorpion their dues."

Sanumo had his reasons for having uncovered this information, but he would save his opinions and reservations until asked.

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Deborah
Iemon raised his eyebrows at this. "That is certainly intriguing to say the least. Obviously this would be less about the payments themselves, but rather the exposure of the bazaar not being administrated adequately, of course?" Certainly it wasn't a matter of money, as such concerns were meant to be beneath the concerns of samurai.

"Though I am certain the Scorpion would appreciate our attentiveness, it could be questioned if the Imperial administration would feel the same way about it, and while he is still in control it is his opinion that would matter most. As you said, the dues would be meant for ***The*** Singular lord, and proposing taking from an Imperial steward is... Potentially a daunting task to take on.."

He sat back, ruminating. "Please, give me your thoughts upon the matter. Am I being too cautious in my thinking?" He was certain Sanumo had an intriguing course of action that would be coupled with this information, but he couldn't quite make out what it might be.

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Alex
Sanumo was quiet. He knew the many ways this could go and it was very important to frame things correctly and, as much as Iemon may not appreciate it, in an open and unbiased manner.

"Let us look at this from three perspectives; the pro-Scorpion, the pro-Unicorn, and the Imperial."

"From the pro-Scorpion perspective, the city has never been lost to them for long and they need it back. While pointing out this flaw won't do them much credit unless they come forward with it themselves, it puts the Unicorn in a poorer light as candidates to receive the governorship. That, at the very least, is a positive outcome."

"From the pro-Unicorn perspective, it would be best if this never came to light, but it almost certainly will, even if we burned these papers and joined our ancestors today. The longer this goes unresolved, the more potential it has to hurt when it is pressed; larger sums and difficulties being involved. The ideal scenario for them would be to either win the legal battle proving their payments are correct or to lose that battle as soon as possible so as to minimize asset loss and give them more time to combat any ramifications to their reputation."

"The Imperials are here to observe and determine who is best fit to receive the governorship. It is in their best interests to have information such as this at their disposal to make an informed decision. I guarantee you that the Imperials do not lack funds with which to handle their affairs, so I wouldn't be so concerned on that front. And nobody is advocating for the Imperials returning anything they've already been given by the Unicorn."

By this point, Sanumo had firmly talked his way around his own opinions and instead supplied the perceived ones of others. There was an audible pause as his mind stopped whirring through so many possibilities.

"I think there are many reasons that this topic should be aired, but the particulars of how and when it is done are very important."

One thing the Ambassador had said had caught his attention and he addressed it at the very end. "If this did come down to a formalized argument, we would have to request someone of higher status than the governor to come and make an arbitration, would we not?"

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Deborah
Iemon nodded. "I see, thank you for clarifying." He took a moment, considering his words in light of the volume of information that had been provided. "Were it to come to a formalized argument, yes absolutely. But from your assessment, it sounds like that is moderately unlikely, at least from the Imperial and Unicorn fronts. The Scorpion would stand the most to benefit from a more drawn out argument from the reasons you listed, as the longer it was drawn out the better it would elevate them by comparison." *But then, is that the point? Appealing to a higher authority would certainly elevate the claim to a much wider scale than local happenstance.* 

He looked up at Sanumo, as he finished this thought. "So, to the particulars then. Obviously this information is a weapon that could either be used to curry favor or cause greater harm, depending on how we wish to cut with it." 

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Alex
"Our most potent objective, greater than all others, is ensuring the longevity of peace. We must consider this through that lens." Were he talking to anyone else, he would be more careful, but Iemon had shown himself willing to accept such treatment as long as it helped provide clarity.

"If the Scorpion gain control, the Unicorn will strive to bring war to them. If the Unicorn gain control, or truly anyone but the Scorpion themselves, then the Underhand will seek to oust them however is necessary. I..." He struggled with the unyielding nature of the forces before him. No matter what he did, there would always be those who sought places to plunge their blades.

"Ultimately, I believe that any threat levied against the Scorpion will be more opaque and easier to thwart than any levied **By** Them. Between that and their long history as governors of the city, I believe that they are the practical choice to support. At least, in lieu of our rebuffed triumvirate plan."

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Deborah
Iemon considered this thoughtfully. To be sure, the history of the city and each brief change of hands away from Scorpion hands had been a repeated cycle that amounted to its return to their holdings. "I am loathe to consider it, but all options should be weighed. The only way this city would change hands for longer than a season would be if the entire province were to be taken from them, securing access to the city and clamping down on the common folk to prevent sedition. That does not foster peace, nor would it be something that either of us would see to completion in our lifetimes." He looked down, the thought particularly sobering. 

"Though it is an option that is deplorable to us, I wonder if it is something the chief contenders have weighed... Or who would be the first to consider it."

He cleared his throat after a few moments of silence, the words themselves sitting poorly on his palate, and Iemon's discomfort was plainly written on his face. *Perhaps some tea would help remove the foul taste that has been left behind by such talk.*

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Alex
There was some small solace in the fact that Iemon was also beleaguered by such thoughts. "I am certain this line of thinking has been pursued by others, though I will not presume by whom or how far they allowed it to go on unchecked."

A rigid silence took hold, broken only by the gentle pouring of tea for his Ambassador. This decision was a weighty one and he was more than willing to spare it the time it deserved.

"I refuse to urge you to make this choice in haste. If you would prefer more time to think on it, we can move on to another report and table the matter for whensoever you might be ready."

Sanumo very nearly elected not to share a particular detail with Iemon, worried that it might cloud his judgement. In the end, his duty to be thorough in his responsibilities as Karo won out.

"Irrespective of how we proceed, it is worth noting that we have not been living up to the full letter of our obligations to the bazaar. Taisei, no longer one of us, has been unable to perform his screenings for spiritual hazards." Visibly displeased, his mind lingered on the fact that the clan was still reeling from the man's actions after all this time.

"How should we remedy this oversight?"

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Deborah
"Certainly that must be remedied immediately. I do not know if we have any unassigned Shugenja that may be able to step in right away, but perhaps we could request Isawa Noboru-san take up some of that, though I would not want to take him away from his duty of investigating meishodo." Iemon sipped his tea with a nod of thanks. "Isawa Kashikoi-san could perhaps be an option as well, but if he is going to assist in the investigation of that 'Silver' individual, I would not want to dilute his efforts there either. I could formally request additional Shugenja support from our homelands, but the longer we go without fulfilling our duty, the more we potentially shame ourselves."

He paused again, his mind wandering back to the unpleasant topic he had given voice to. With effort, he dismissed it, and turned to the other reports. "Well, Sanumo-san, I chose the last one, it is only fair to allow you to select the next!"

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Alex
"I will evaluate our current resources and proceed accordingly." He inclined his head to the older samurai's wisdom. One problem, at least, was ironed out.

A measure of seconds later, he replaced the report between them with *Blunted Pincers.* "While looking into the previous topic, it became pertinent to examine past endeavors for the context they provide to the present." A classic move for a historian such as he.

"Imagine my surprise to discover that one of these was headed by a Yasuki who, reportedly, hardly knew his way around a ledger. Yet more peculiar is that those under his command consisted of ***Six Kuni** And a dozen Kaiu. The details, as recorded by a non-inquisitive eye, paint them as having made utter buffoons of themselves in the Noble Quarter not long after their arrival and they were summarily removed from the city."

He allowed that to sink in.

"While I understand that the Crab are not the most... Tactful, I am hard-pressed to look at this and not think that this was some sort of failed hunt of the supernatural, rather than an excessive bout of civic buffoonery." His speech had picked up momentum, growing mildly incensed. "This was around the start of the 12th century. If I am not being paranoid, Iemon - if they were after something - it is very possible that whatever it was is still out there."

"I am of the mind that we should discuss the matter with them. In the best scenario, it is either nothing or already dealt with. In the worst..."

It was left unsaid.

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Deborah
The numbers mentioned caused Iemon's eyebrows to shoot up in overt surprise. "Undoubtedly there was something of great import, the Crab are not known for sending their samurai away from the Wall unless absolutely necessary. Especially with that many Kuni in question, that would be a sizable force to spare from their defenses." He agreed, pouring some tea for Sanumo as well. 

"While possible, and certainly worth inquiring on, I wonder that they did not send an additional group to look into an issue that required that many samurai. It makes me think they may have accomplished what they had set out to do in the first place, or their would likely have been some sort of revisiting on their part, wouldn't it?"

Even as he said the words, the doubts in his mind came to the forefront. "Then again, as these things go, the Crab may have chosen to focus on exterior defense, and with how much tumult the 1120s brought to the Empire as a whole, who is to say where their records ended up?"

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Alex
"For all that the Crab focus outwards, and rightfully so given the foe they face, they can find themselves failing to focus inwards. Were they more prone to such, perhaps they would have discovered Kuni Yori before he stole the Master of Earth from us."

The above was delivered not as a tale of passion and hatred against the Crab, but as a cautionary reminder of the failings of others. He hoped that his words, combined with the firmness of his gaze, got that sufficiently across.

What was important was that Iemon had already admitted that it was worth bringing up with them. That was good enough for Sanumo.

"I will verify the truth of the situation with them and brief you on the results." After a little time for Iemon to parse through the written particulars to his heart's content, he prompted the older samurai. "I believe it is your turn to select the next topic."

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Deborah
Iemon gave a slight inclination to his head at the mention of the former Master of Earth, the words landing home well enough. "That will likely be the best option, as long as it is brought up in light of their rightful focus on the threats beyond our border, expressing that we share their concern for security of the Empire as a whole." Especially in light of the invasion and chaos that had only been repulsed by the combined efforts of of the Clans, the need for the Crab's vigilance had been proven beyond any doubt.

"Speaking of, Ambassador Koyama had written of an important matter, but I think we should finish with your reports first. Let's say... Steel Talons?" The titles that Sanumo had provided, while apt, certainly evoked the imagination. *He seems to have a flair for presentation, which I can certainly appreciate.* Iemon thought to himself, sipping again at the tea.

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Alex
He cocked an eyebrow at the mention of a letter from the Crab Ambassador, but quickly resumed a more muted expression and pressed on.

"Ah, yes. I think you may find this proposal particularly... Apt." He shuffled papers so as to give visual aides as he spoke. "In the wake of our recent duel, I've had much time to consider how we might be better prepared for such a situation down the line. Steel Talons, a placeholder name - assuming you are not fond of it, is a Phoenix-administrated dueling organization."

"The goal of this endeavor would be to make sure that we have first-hand knowledge of prominent duelists in the city so as to know who to avoid clashing with. If our hand was forced into a conflict, we would also better know their styles and have better odds of concocting a winning counter-strategy."

"My expectation is that we would have five members - the 'Talons', if you will - that are symbolically the best five duelists in the city. Whenever a challenger would wish to join the Talons, they would have to beat an existing Talon in a duel where another Talon was present to attest to the outcome. The winner would remain a Talon or, if the challenger won, they would assume the loser's position."

Sanumo chose his next words carefully, knowing that it would be a particularly sensitive discussion. "A topic of some concern is whether or not ronin would be eligible to participate in the first place. While doing so would give us a clearer picture of the... Opposition, it would also mean admitting that any ronin who achieved Talon status is a better duelist than any samurai who is not among their ranks."

"So..." He began to count on his fingers. "Is this organization something you are in favor of? Should ronin be allowed to participate? And, if we go through with this, how should we source the first five Talons?"

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Deborah
Iemon winced, likely only perceptive to Sanumo because of their long-standing cooperation. The pain in his pride had dulled since that ill-fated day, but it annoyed him that such a thing still caused an involuntary reaction. *I must steel myself better than this.*

"The name is acceptable, I would say, and the goal a laudable one. I hesitate to eagerly seek to enter a realm that has been more the focus of the Crane Clan, but perhaps appeasement can be offered to them through appealing to them to assist in finding the initial Talons?"

He paused for a moment, the memory of his ronin opponent before his mind's eye. "I hesitate to disallow ronin. Firstly, with my recent defeat, I would not want the assumption in whispered rumor to be something motivated by fear or some petty slight. Secondly, would not a ronin achieving this title provide drive for Clan samurai to better their own training? That in turn would help to foster better swordsmanship across the city's samurai. Although... It could also be a source of greater strife by that same virtue I profess." Iemon sipped again, thoughtfully. "Younger samurai will duel regardless, however, and having greater structure of rule in place could help keep tempers in check."

He turned his focus fully back to Sanumo. "Sourcing could be done partly by committee, as I started to suggest, though we could also look to tournament results and records of any other recent duels to come up with an initial list to weigh."

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Alex
With a firm nod, he noted that he would need to adjust his drafts later. « I understand, Iemon. I'll ensure ronin are eligible. » He was quick to resolve the topic, recognizing that it was still a tender matter.

The next problem gave him a little more pause. His experience with the Crane had been woefully sparse thus far in Ryoko Owari Toshi. But at last, he had a solution.

« If averting a potential slight to the Crane is your goal, then my suggestion would be to invite the contestants from their recent Iaijutsu tournament in order of descending placement. Surely they would not disagree with us structuring the Talons' initial ranks based on the outcome of a contest they directly oversaw. »

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Deborah
Iemon gave a swift nod at the suggestion. "That would be the perfect solution, yes. As you say, it is their own tournament that we would be using, and so in a way it is giving them proper input into such a matter. Though, depending on the results of that tournament it would be a further gesture to invite whomever the Crane consider their best duelist, just to ensure their pride is soothed." It seemed a little odd to Iemon that they should be the ones proposing and monitoring a dueling organization, but the advantages were unquestionable as far as he was concerned. 

"I believe, then, that leaves us with only one report left, does it not?"

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Alex
Diligently taking note of Iemon's words and priorities, he smoothly transitioned to the last - and shortest - topic he had brought today.

« Thunder's Shadow is less of a formal report and more a notification of a curiosity I observed while at city hall. In uncovering the Unicorn-relevant documentation, I worked with the aid of Seppun Arata, the Secretary of City Records, he talked briefly about his wife. Curiously, he claimed she was tasked with ensuring the Thunder Guard's loyalty to the city above that of their clans of origin. »

« That would be all well and good, but there is no position with such a duty that I am aware of. When I politely inquired as to her name and position so that we might help with such a stabilizing task, he talked his way around the issue. He would not even give me *His own wife's name*. »

He seemed mildly flustered, if largely because of the peculiarity of the situation. « I do not know the full extent of what this means, but I'm inclined to think that the Imperials have a piece on the board that they wish to keep secret. I thought you would wish to be informed of as much. »

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Deborah
"Intriguing. That he would mention her, and then immediately evade the issue is... Quite strange. Did it seem a slip of the tongue to have mentioned her?" Iemon leaned forward, attentively. "It certainly could be a sign of something, but the question remains of what. If it were an *Intentional* Slip, then we must also question what another would have to gain in giving us this information. Not that I wish to be paranoid, but rather consider all possibilities."

He folded his hands into his sleeves in front of him, considering. "That there is a sussing out of the loyalty of the Thunder Guard seems to be a likely fact, at the very least. Their reputation has less concern with loyalty than of motivation. They have been known to line their own pockets to look the other way in matters, from what I am aware. Reform would be something that we should encourage and support, but... Why keep it secret?"

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Alex
« I cannot begin to guess what would warrant such covert behavior. That, in and of itself, concerns me. » His jaw set briefly as he considered.

« While I can't rule out whether it was intentional or not, it's worth keeping an eye out for. We might even consider investigating further, though I can't imagine spreading ourselves thinner just yet. »

A thought occurred to him.

« Regardless, with that topic out of the way, you mentioned you'd received a letter from the Crab? »He allowed some of his displeasure to leak through; just enough to get it across without being unseemly.

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Deborah
"Yes. Ambassador Hida Koyama has written after learning of gaki in the hills around the city. He is desiring to send a force to address this threat, though he lacks the Shugenja and manpower to do so within his own Clan. He is requesting that we, along with the Scorpion, support this action."

Iemon sipped his tea before continuing. "I know that there is tension between our Clans, but as this is something that you yourself had observed during your own investigation into our missing bride, it seems a straightforward enough task to address and cooperate with. It is a threat that we can assist with, for the good of the city, and it will be a venture that involves the Scorpion as well as the Crab. As our friendly overtures with the Scorpion have been promising, this mitigates the risk our Champion has warned us of working with the Crab to a moderate degree, does it not?"

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Alex
His brow furrowed - and fast. « The Crab wish us to support them? » There was a lot of calculation that needed doing and not a lot of time.

« Iemon, I freely recognize that the gaki are a problem and that their removal brings us one step closer to retrieving our errant Isawa... » *How best to phrase this?

« ...But it is very dangerous to pursue this as-is from a political perspective. The Crab stole our Master of Earth from us and now we consider working as part of an effort, however necessary it might be, that is **Led** By them? Even if they do not lead us to our doom, this will not reflect favorably upon us in the eyes of many Phoenix. »

This had been intended to be an important meeting, but one that posed low immediate danger. Now he found himself wary and attempting to erect a wall between his Ambassador and disaster.

« We should insist that the Scorpion lead the operation and adjust the plan accordingly. It helps shield us from tongues and untoward actions in the field - as well as helping give more credit to the Scorpion for resolving this mess. » 

He nodded firmly, assuming that this course of action would readily meet with Iemon's approval.

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Deborah
Iemon's neutral expression turned to a slight frown, likely the most extreme expression of displeasure that Sanumo would have seen directed at him in their time working together. 

"*Insist?* Sanumo, given all of the events that have transpired on the local stage, I am afraid our ability to insist on anything beyond basic courtesy is compromised. That Ambassador Hida-san has taken it upon himself to address a problem that affects not only us, but the city at large, is a noble thing that we should cooperate with regardless of who had proposed it."

Composing himself back to a more neutral appearance, he continued. "This will clear our path to our errant Isawa while allowing us to put on display our duty to preserving the well-being of this territory. In addition, by showing even a cursory level of cooperation with the local Crab efforts we are given the opportunity to observe them more closely. If there is something to fear within the Crab's ranks locally, this will give us inroads to access and deal with such a matter rather than keeping them at arm's length from us. That is the intent that I perceived from our respected Clan Champion's letter as being paramount: we cannot fight what we are ignorant of."

He sipped again at his tea, pausing to consider his remaining words and lowering his eyes as he did so. "Speaking personally, I have a deep respect for Hida Koyama. Naturally, that should not translate to blindness for those who work under him. However, had he some ill intent towards corruption of other samurai, he would have been slower to call a hold to the duel. That ronin would be dead, and my honor stained, possibly beyond atonement to remain in this position."

He gave a decisive look back up to Sanumo. "With the Scorpion already involved, it is only appropriate that we move forward with cooperation. This will further our efforts of alliance with them in addition to all the benefits I have stated thus far." He paused again, taking a slow breath.

"I ask you, not just as my friend, but as my Karo, please assess my reasoning and critique it. I will accept criticism, but now that I have laid out my thoughts, I hope that my mind is readily apparent to you in this matter."

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Alex
Sanumo's ears grew hot as he realized just how differently Iemon was approaching this - and how delicately he would have to step as a result.

Were he in court, he would not have taken nearly as long as he did to answer. Thankfully, he had the benefit of being among friends here and could compose himself accordingly.

« None of the points you make are incorrect or to be avoided... However, I find myself in a different headspace than yourself right now. Your focus seems to be firmly on what we can gain from playing along, whereas I am focused on the dangers that could be present and what we potentially stand to lose. »

« I agree that we are not well-regarded lately, but the Scorpion are involved and we are being beseeched for our expertise. I genuinely believe that this would grant us more negotiating room than we could otherwise expect. »

« I cannot speak to the character of any of the Crab in the city - not a one. While I trust your judgement, I interpreted the clan champion's will - that of being watchful of the Crab - to be best executed at diplomatic distance. If you deem it fit to act otherwise, I will not contest your ruling. »

He couldn't help but wonder if Koyama's saving of the ronin's life was self-motivated. It would've blackened his honor just as much as Iemon's if the duelist had died on his watch. To voice as much now seemed... Unwise.

« I worry that this will be seen as an indefensible risk by some of those in Phoenix lands; samurai who would use it as a platform against you. Were we to take a precautionary measure, such as hosting the Crab Karo for the duration of the endeavor, I feel that would sufficiently demonstrate how seriously we are taking this. »

It would be readily apparent to Iemon that Sanumo was essentially suggesting the transfer of a political hostage. Were the local Crab to prove themselves of a darker variety, they would be giving up a pivotal piece from the board - an incentive to ´play nice. ´

« But I can see that such a warding maneuver is unwelcome. » He bowed as deeply as his seating arrangement would allow, making clear that his disagreement would not lead to disobedience.

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Deborah
"I do deem otherwise, yes." Iemon replied curtly, but quickly relented. *Sanumo is only considering my own well-being as well as the Clan's. To hold such against him is unjust.

"If we had any indication that the local Crab had more of a reputation one way or the other, I could see such a course as being wise. To make such a request is to immediately set us in opposition to them in this arena, which will only serve to prevent any ability to observe them in the future." He continues, his voice softer, though no less decisive.

"Our duty of preserving the spiritual purity of our Empire and preserving peace requires risks on our part. There are likely just as many in our lands that would criticize us harshly for the efforts we initially invested in reaching out to the Unicorn." Though the animosity between the two Clans over the question of meishodo was well-known, the closeness that the two Clan champions were displaying was somewhat controversial. *If our Champion feels that such interactions are acceptable with the known question of orthodoxy between the Phoenix and Unicorn, a similar action with the Crab on a much smaller stage seems to be acceptable in my judgment.*

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Alex
Were he in different company, he might've used his fan to conceal his face. Between the two of them... Well, he let his concern show openly.

« I can find no fault with your reasoning. » *As much as I might like to.* « I will remain watchful, but strive to follow your example in this regard, Iemon-sama. »

Iemon had been correct to say that their actions with the Unicorn would already be controversial back home, let alone what they'd been building towards with the Lion. So why did this set him so much more on edge?

*I should seek some stillness of spirit at one of the temples. This imbalance is ill-fitting of one such as I - not with everything at stake.*

His mouth dry, he simply asked, « Was there anything else that you needed to discuss while I am here? »

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Deborah
"Nothing of direct import, no." Iemon replied, though not in a dismissive sense to actually conclude the conversation. 

"Speaking outside our duties, though, I am sorry if I have disappointed you in this disagreement on policy. I... Am used to our being in step with each other, and to not have that in this case was a change."

He gave a small bow. "Should there be any repercussions from our homelands, the blow should land firmly on me. If any seek to address otherwise, please notify me and I will correct them with haste."

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Alex
Taking a deep sigh, he looked off to the side towards some stray bit of decor on the wall; any item that could plausibly be holding his attention.

« You haven't disappointed me, Iemon. I just... » he went quiet, briefly floundering internally, before returning his gaze to the man across from him.

« If we're eschewing formality... This is easily the best post I have ever held and, similarly, you are the best direct superior I've had the pleasure to serve. » Though the content of his words was positive, the weight of the situation was evident in the set of his gaze and the signs of less-than-perfect sleep.

« I strive to prove myself worthy of both every day. The idea of some factor beyond my control dismantling what we've built, I... That would be **Unacceptable.** » His voice hitched momentarily.

Amidst that display, he failed to acknowledge Iemon's comment about setting the record straight if exterior forces should come seeking answers. Whether this was intentional or not was... Unclear.

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Deborah
Iemon paused, somewhat surprised at the hitch in Sanumo's voice. "We must always be prepared for events beyond our control, Sanumo." He replied, evenly. "But that does not mean we should fear it. Factors beyond my control led me to this post, should the Fortunes or any number of the greater powers that be will me elsewhere, what can I do but go?" His tone, though serious, had a small touch of whimsy to it. 

Full earnestness returned as he locked eyes with the other man. "I promise you, though, that this position is not something I take lightly. Neither is your well-being. I cannot say I have any that have served directly under me as you do, but you have been nothing less than an exemplar of your school. Should such forces conspire to upset what we have built, all political muscle that I have will be put to the task of seeing you named as my successor. Not merely out of friendship, mind you, but because there is no one better who would be able to carry our plans forward.

"You *Are* Worthy, Sanumo. Do not forget that. You have stood by my side on the political front lines with all the bravery of a bushi in a war maneuver. You have helped me to my feet when I would have otherwise slipped. I am humbled to be so high in your esteem."

||
Alex
A Loremaster is many things, but it is a rare occurrence indeed when one is rendered speechless. Such an occurrence transpired right now, so genuinely floored was Sanumo at what had just been said to him.

It was unbecoming of a man of his means and talent, but that didn't change that it was happening nonetheless.

When he began scooping up his self control like so many loose pebbles, he bowed deeply and stayed that way for some time, his hair dangling in such a way as to thankfully shield much of his face from view.

He felt thunderous, his body thrumming with the energy of such a categorical success. While his fears would return in full-force with time, they were momentarily pushed from his mind. There was so much he felt the desire to say, but - as all would do well to remember - desire is a sin. And so he reigned himself in and said only the most important thing on his mind:

"I will not forget this great kindness, Iemon. May I please be dismissed?"

He had not risen from his bow.

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