"Ayaka, although you often deal with people, this is the first time you've engaged in such a high-stakes game."
This was a conversation that had taken place not long ago, in the Yashiro Commission's carriage. The young man with light blue hair was teaching his younger sister the art of negotiation.
"You must remain calm. As long as you can seize the key card, we can counterattack. Don't worry, I'll cover your back. Just move forward with confidence."
…
"The Doctor, that Harbinger…"
The moment Kamisato Ayaka uttered these words, she immediately braced for a counterattack. However, halfway through her sentence, she felt a sudden chill down her spine, and the source was not the young lady. It was Muramasa. He had glanced at her.
Her body almost had a stress reaction, but her nerves held it in check. At the same time, she made up her mind: she absolutely could not admit to it. "We do not know much about the affairs of that Harbinger. But there are always those who wish to slander us to gain a greater diplomatic advantage." She tried to shift the blame, implicitly suggesting the other party was making false accusations.
"Then, the spy from yesterday, was that also a 'slander' as you call it?" The matter of 'The Doctor' was something Muramasa wasn't directly involved in, but yesterday's incident was different.
"Hmph! Don't think you can just find some random person and pin the blame on us!" The tables had turned. The diplomat was clearly not as composed as before.
"We investigated the background of that 'Inazuman'."
"His hometown was fake, his identity was fake. He claimed to be a countryman from the east, but he only mimicked the accent and couldn't even understand the local dialect."
Kamisato Ayaka was closing in on the truth, but the diplomat couldn't listen anymore. "What's the point of all this nonsense! The incompetence of the Yashiro Commission is an indisputable fact. Staying in Inazuma is just a slow suicide! But in our Snezhnaya, as long as you have enough ability, you can do anything you want."
When she finished, her agitated state left her breathing even heavier than Ayaka's, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Then, Kamisato Ayaka continued, "The House of the Hearth."
"After hearing that name, and a certain 'fairy tale', the man broke down." Ayaka didn't specify what the story was; it wasn't important. As long as the man was real… and the fact that her opponent had stepped on a landmine, that was enough.
She turned her body, no longer facing the Fatui diplomat. "Mr. Muramasa, perhaps they can indeed provide you with more resources. But in an organization that is corrupt from top to bottom, can you truly feel at ease? On the other hand, although we have been lacking in the past, we now have a clear conscience."
Her words were not just to counter her opponent but to pull Muramasa onto their side. This was a matter the Yashiro Commission had guaranteed with its reputation, a solid proof laid before him. At the same time, she turned her gaze back to the Fatui, her gentle smile completely gone. "And, no matter how much time passes, we will seek justice for those smiths. The following are the clan head's own words, which I am relaying on his behalf—"
"'A debt of blood will be paid in blood'."
Things are getting more and more troublesome…
Seeing the two women at each other's throats with no intention of stopping, Muramasa let out a heavy sigh. "Hah…"
"This has completely devolved into children picking at each other's scars, hasn't it?" He had figured it out. One side was boasting of its own strength while belittling the other's ability to guarantee anything. The other was attacking her opponent's low moral standing.
"But, righteousness?" If it were his past life, he was confident he had never done anything evil. But now, having been an enemy of human order, he could no longer say such things. 'Whether it was my intention or not, I did it, and I have no intention of denying it.'
He thought to himself, muttering, "At this point, I'm in no position to criticize anyone…"
"But, even so."
"Without a commission, I still hope to live with a clearer conscience. So, I will not be going to that place called Snezhnaya."
Hearing this, the diplomat knew that nothing more could be said.
"As for establishing a school and all that, it's still too early, isn't it? Let this old man enjoy his retirement for a while. We can talk about coming back later." Spoken from such a youthful face, his words sounded like those of an old man, making Ayaka use her fan to hide her expression.
"Of course, we are not asking you to give an answer or take action immediately. Just hearing you say that is enough to put our minds at ease." Kamisato Ayaka had achieved her goal and naturally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, and you too," he said to the departing Fatui. "Though I can't be recruited, if there's a commission for forging or a chance for cooperation, I won't refuse." Whether such an opportunity would truly arise, and whether he would actually accept the commission, was another matter. It was important to maintain appearances; burning bridges was not his goal.
"In that case, we of the Fatui will take our leave." With that, she immediately stood up and walked out the door. She had barely touched her tea, a waste of its perfectly cooled temperature.
"By the way, have you determined your price list, Mr. Muramasa?" Ayaka watched the Fatui leave, then turned to ask. "If possible, I would also like to commission a weapon."
To this request, Muramasa said awkwardly, "I can, but I don't have any materials on hand." This wasn't an excuse. His warehouse was so clean that a mouse would cry upon seeing it.
"That is not a problem. The Yashiro Commission has brought a welcoming gift with us. They are all carefully selected, high-quality ores, enough to last a normal blacksmith for a month."
What a generous offer… Though daimyos had tried to curry favor with him in the past, there was a difference between giving charcoal in a snowstorm and adding flowers to a brocade.
"Then what's the point of a price list…"
"After receiving so many materials, how could I possibly charge you more money?"
Hearing his answer, Ayaka smiled. "It was my oversight."
"Then, may I ask one more thing of you?"
Twists and turns. It wasn't until the very end that he could see what she was truly after. Muramasa sighed inwardly, thinking, 'It's probably another troublesome matter I know nothing about,' then nodded. "Go on."
Getting his approval, Ayaka straightened her posture and said seriously, "In the future, if there are any commissions regarding 'Watatsumi Island,' please grant them your convenience. You need only charge them eighty percent of the price. The remainder will be covered by the Yashiro Commission."
-------
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