The magistrate laughs a bit and smiles broadly. The geisha girls all begin to file out of the room as the magistrate pulls out a small carved bird. He whispers in to it and a bird emerges and flies off . He then tucks the carving back under his robes.<br/><br/>"Good to get some reaction from you now. You have all demonstrated exactly why we needed a ronin as part of the team. Even through the guise of polite civility you all managed to look down on him. For that same reason those you investigate will not be quick to chat with you. But they will be more open with him. Maybe.<br/><br/>As for the other two questions, none of you have any guarantee that your duties won't get painted in a bad light by the court. When it is complete, your exploits will be known. Anything you do in the course of your duty will be washed away by success. You can proceed however you wish. I have found many a useful rumor in the hands of a peasant myself. However, you are surrounded by every clan in the empire, they are not all as dismissive of that behavior as my brethren.<br/><br/>Whatever your decision, you all have horses waiting in the stables. If you did not bring your own, then we provided one."