Ronald
"Ok... So this should be the place" Said Kakatsu as he approached his destination. He took a sigh of deep breath and then blanked out for a moment.


Just as he was drowning in self doubt, he decided to pick himself up and walked up to the entrance of the embassy, and after a short conversation with the guard he was able to enter the embassy. As he entered the place he looked up and down, high and low for the ambassador.
Alfred
After a moment of searching, Moshi Kakatsu would be approached by one of the servants, seeing the man looking about. "Ah, you must be Moshi Kakatsu-sama," Said the older fellow, "Please, if you'll follow me, I will take you to Moshi Mai-sama." He would give a proper bow before escorting him into the main hall. 

There, Moshi Mai was looking over reports, sitting on her throne of cushions. When she spotted the servant and Kakatsu, she smirked, and set her reports down. "Ah, who might this be?"

"May I present Moshi Kakatsu-sama, Ambassador-sama." The servant would bow and then retreat, so that Kakatsu may introduce himself properly. 

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Ronald
"H-hello Ambassador-sama, I-I am Moshi Kakatsu, son of two famous shipmakers that are from the island of Tokigogachu."
As he says that he does a kowtow towards her out of fear and respect. 

As he had heard from sources that she IS the most powerful person within the city. Naturally, he would shudder due to the fear obviously. However underneath the kowtow bowing, a small grin would appear on his face that at least to him, doesn't look visible to the ambassador.
Alfred
Moshi Mai looked at the young man with a quizzical expression as he made his shaky introduction. She respected the introduction and the honor that he was bestowing, but she felt something was off about it. Nothing that seemed to come to mind, so for the time being, there was no reason to harp on it. "Well met," Mai said, "And welcome. Please, sit." She motioned to one of the cushions, and called for tea to be brought. 

"Famous shipmakers, you say?" Mai sipped her tea when it was poured, and set her cup down. "I think I recall hearing of some Moshi that took the ship-building. Well, if that's the case, well met, indeed." 

Mai gave the man a once-over. A young fellow, but the young were bold and eager to prove themselves. Never a bad thing. "I take it you know your way around a ship, then. You see, I intend to have plenty of ships in the city. There's plenty of trade here, and trade needs ships, and ships need watching." Mai smiled, and crossed her arms. "I could use some young samurai that might want to run a defense team of sorts, watching teh docks and wharves our Clan has care over." 

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Ronald
Now feeling a bit more laxed and mentally stable, he replied to the Ambassador in a more calm tone. 

"So Ambassador-sama... Urm when can I begin and most important of all... Who am I working with to secure the clan's docks and wharves?"

If you looked into his eyes however, it had lit up. It was full of passion and hopes. The same thing was going on in his mind, but a bit more intense than what shown off from his face.
Alfred
Moshi Mai smirked at the fire in Kakatsu's eyes, and uncrossed her arms. "Well, _that's_ what I was looking for." She chuckled, and leaned forward a touch. "You, Moshi-san, need to show more enthusiasm. I don't like timid men, even if I like my subordinates intimidated by me. So, sit up straight, yeah?" 

That said, she explained herself a bit more. "So, I intend to petition a sort of dock security of sorts. Working on keeping the docks clear of brigands, ne'er do wells, all that sort of thing. For now, it will be you and another Samurai, one that hasn't quite made it to the city. And eventually, my son Yoritomo Tomichi will be part of the retinue. 

"You'll only need to watch over our ships at port," She explained further, "But, I intend to make some letters out to a few of the other clans to see if they'd wish to join our endeavor. Clan relations, and all." 

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Ronald
Kakatsu would lean back a bit so as to not touch the mighty ambassador and disrepect her. He would now reply back to the ambassador with some courage.
"So ambassador-sama, I am to assume you are making some Port Defense Garrison, correct? And if you're plan succeeds, which it most likely will, there will be more members from other clans doing the same thing but across a nationwide scale, right?"

Due to hearing what she also said before, he would make his face more enthusiastic than before while also maintaining his sense of spirit in his eyes.
Alfred
Moshi Mai chuckled at the question Kakatsu gave, covering her mouth to be polite. "Hm, I hardly doubt it'd go that far! What use do the Lion or Dragon for Port Defense? No, I intend to look to the Crane and the Crab, and see how susceptible they'd be to a little cooperation." Mai sipped her tea, and looked over at a grand mural of the Isle of Silk and Spice. "No, our goal is this city, it's river, and extending our influence. We're ot out for war or anything large like a whole realm-wide service. The other Clans are too proud for that. 

"See, young Kakatsu-san, the Mantis' needs in the city are simple. The Unicorn are surely going to take the city, as far as I'm concerned. The Crane will assuredly leach onto the Unicorn and use their power to weasel into power as well. And we will either be in cahoots with the both of them, or at the worst, we'll be so integrated into the river trade that removing us will be so much of a calamity that they don't even try. The best way to keep oneself in a position is to make sure that losing you isn't worth the trouble."
Ronald
Being overwhelmed with such information, Kakatsu while keeping a straight face would contemplate on whether he should ask for a simplification of the things the Ambassador said, as he wasn't very well versed in the geopolitics of the land.
Alas he went ahead with it, while obviously wording his question with care。

"Uhh... I am sorry to intrude Ambassador-sama, but as someone not very well-versed in geopolitics could you perhaps... Simplify it so I can better grasp the situation so I know the importance of my task?"
Alfred
Mai scoffed, resting her hands on her hips. "What, do they not teach you anything more than to swing a sword and raising the sails nowadays? You know you're not so handsome that you can afford to be foolish, you know." She chuckled, obviously just having a little laugh at the bushi's expense, but it was not to purely insult. "But yes, I'll explain.

"The Mantis Clan lost a large amount of land, to gain our status as a Great Clan. No doubt, the Crane knew this when they petitioned us entry, which had us give up most of our coastal land . While we're no destitute, we can't expand on the isles. We need more land to stretch out. Hence, we've got ourselves an opportunity here in the city.

"We make moves to control the river. We work the docks, we work the shipping, the cargo, the handling of lading and more, and eventually we'll need to expand. Build more docks on the river. And housing for the workers, and with so many workers, Samurai will need to be stationed. And Samurai need proper lands to govern." Mai leaned in a little, smirking. "Now, do you see what I mean, Moshi-san?"
Ronald
Rather than feeling insulted, Kakatsu would feel more genuinely more enlightened as not only now did he know the importance of his task but also the geopolitical stuff in the realm of Rokugan... At least by a little bit.

"Ahh... So basically I am to ensure the dock's safety while more are made while we at the same time expand and take land... Yes, Ambassador-sama, I do see what you mean now. I also sincerely thank you for enlightening me on such matters and expanding my vision in the realm of politics."

He then proceeded to kowtow before sitting up again.
Alfred
Mai handwaved the large level of praise she was getting, though she _did_ appreciate it from a vain perspective. "Well, I _am_ rather wise, aren't I?" She chuckled, but didn't laugh for long. "But, yes, that is the jist of it. I pray you're up for the task. There's always been something going about, so it's best to keep your eyes alert and your head on a swivel.

"But, with that said, you are dismissed." Mai stood up, signaling that Kakatsu was free to go. "Just keep in mind: Do not pester anyone from the Otter Clan at this time. They're a minor clan, and thus protected by the Emperor's word. Other than that, I pray you have a nice time in the city. If you need anything, call upon me, or Magistrate Moshi Kana."
Ronald
"Understood, Ambassador-sama. I will be going off now"
And with that he stands up and just for a good measure, bows down to her (not kowtow) and then faces the other side and leaves.