“Let's eat,” said Svyatov, “since we ordered. You can tell me while we eat.”
“The thing is that I will soon have to clash with one of the guilds of Garagarahabi,” I began, watching the man clear his throat. “Well, I shouldn't say the entire guild, but half for sure.”
“Wow, you're a beast. I'm sorry to hear that. What's the deal with the empty coffee shops though?”
“It hasn't escalated yet, and there are no reasons to start anything just yet. Almost no one knows that I want to get into it.”
“That's bold, man,” he said, sucking in a ramen noodle. “If you need weapons, then you are recruiting people, too. But they are not mercenaries, because mercenaries have their own guns. The question is: why? Is it not easier to hire mercenaries?”
“Oh,” I sighed, “it's hard to explain. But briefly, I recruit people under the auspices of my personal guard. That's actually true. If I recruited mercenaries, that'd be too obvious. I'm trying to hide the fact that I was preparing for a war BEFORE it started.”
“That's kind of weird. So you do not want anyone to know even after the war is over? I just don't get it. Okay, I understand why you're hiding what you are doing BEFORE it. There is no need to warn a possible adversary of your actions. But what sense does it make to still hide the truth AFTER?”
“Oh, ho-ho,” I sighed again. “How can I explain it? You see, I'm not going to fight alone. I'm not even the central figure. Everything will start as a brawl inside the guild. But the fact is that even acting together with the main enemy of the guild leader, it'll be hard to win, and the losses will be too gruesome. While it's better not to start at all, it can't be avoided. So we came up with a plan... “
I hesitated. I was giving away very sensitive information in a very straightforward way.
“Shin...”
“It's fine,” I chewed on the egg from my ramen. “Just thinking. Khm. Okay, the plan. It's simple and risky. We... or rather my partner, Nakata Akemi—have you heard of her?”
“A female boss. Of course, I have.”
“She will have to frame Snake, the head of the guild, and provoke an attack of one of the aristocratic families on his group.”
“You really are a risky fellow,” he tapped his finger on the table, looking at me with an earnest look. “But now, it's all starting to make sense. Aristo realize that you and Nakata can't take Snake down on your own...”
“Ahem.”
“You're not gonna make it. With even half the guild,” I wasn’t going to try and convince him otherwise. “So your preparation for war, and therefore, the beginning of this hopeless confrontation, will raise questions. They’ll ask if you knew about what was going to happen there? In short, they could be offended. Really offended. But the plan might work,” he concluded, playing with one of the chopsticks. “How many people do you have right now?”
“A tad over sixty. Most likely, there will be about seventy.”
“Not bad. Yeah, it might work out. Who are these people?”
“Non-military. They were referred by the people whom I trust. Plus two old veterans. They can't be sent to battle, of course, but they will work out nicely as instructors. All the soldiers have the rank of Warriors.”
“Good golly! Shin, you sure take the cake! That's power, bro.”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Are you kidding me? I once had a detachment of a hundred soldiers. There were only a few Veterans among them.”
I honestly didn't understand. Noticing my confusion, ronin explained, “They were the internal troops of the clan, Shinji. Guards. It's even cooler when talking about within bloodlines, but the number is quite different too. In general, somewhere around fifty Masters and about five hundred Veterans among five thousand Guards. The rest were Warriors. I'm talking about Guards, Shinji! You already have almost a company of soldiers, and you're not even an aristocrat. How did you lure them in?”
Somehow this is too cool. Why hasn't this ever been done before? Or has it? Many have the money for it, many can be taught... Could it be just not trusting the guys from the street?
“I do not know, Alexei. I really don't. That's the way it turned out. I'm ... hmm. I gave them hope that they will become real Guards. For a bloodline.”
“Stop. Hold on. How's that? Do you understand that without fulfilling such a promise,” he didn't let me say a word. “Even if you don't meet their expectations, it's gonna turn out pretty bad for you.”
“I'll get the coat of arms,” I said like a stubborn child. “That's beyond any doubt. Everything is planned, everything is calculated.” This time, I didn't let him say a word. “Svyatov, you just do not know everything. You're not aware of the situation. The coat of arms will be mine. However, as I recently learned, a little later than expected. But not by much. I'll have it in five to ten years.”
“How many?”
“Five to ten,” I repeated, with a little uncertainty.
What else don't I know?
“Usually, if someone does get a coat, it happens by the time they are around forty. At best,” said Svyatov cautiously. “Are you sure you've calculated everything?”
Phew. I almost got scared.
“Yes, everything is right,” I said, relieved, slurping the broth from my bowl. “Believe me, Alexei, if you knew my neighbors... More precisely, I have relations with them, that will make it easier for me to get the coat of arms than for others. Of course, a circumstance of insuperable force might happen too, but I can manage that. Money, power, influence. Very soon I will fulfill all the requirements and, purely technically, I will have the opportunity to qualify for the coat of arms. That's when my good relations with the Koyama clan will come into effect.”
“Koyama? Wow, I learned some interesting things today. Okay, let’s get back to the original topic. Wait... what did I want to say? Oh, yes, the number of your people. Do you understand that it will be rather difficult to command them? Even if they are professionals.”
“I agree, this is a problem,” I sighed. “I have only one squad leader. In extreme cases, I can assign a platoon to him. He has some experience. But all the same, I'd still have to find five sergeants and a couple of officers. Although, tomorrow I have a meeting with the Shidotamoru chief of security. He is a former captain of the Special Forces. So I might have one more officer.”
“A one-man captain?” Thought Svyatov. “Is he noble?”
“No, of course not. Like I said he's former police.”
“You're more than once lucky,” ronin stretched and continued. “It used to be a critical factor for any commander, you know. No one would follow a commander without luck. Maybe I should follow you?”
This was completely unexpected and I was at a loss for words. I spent so much time preparing him for this discussion, and here he is so blunt about it. However, my decision had not yet been made. Maybe this was a joke? Although joking about such things would be strange. In any case, since I wasn’t expecting such a question, I didn’t know what to reply at first. Meanwhile, Svyatov was watching me.
“I would be very flattered,” I replied after five seconds. “And happy. Having an officer like you is true luck.”
“But...?”
“But I have not received the coat of arms yet.”
“Ah-ah,” he waved his hand, “that's fine. Tell me, have you not changed your mind about forming a hired squad?”
“No,” I answered cautiously, “it's not a fact that it'll be a hired squad, but personal army—for sure. The war and battles are guaranteed too.”
“I see,” he said light-heartedly, “I'll find my place in your detachment. Who knows,” he winked at me slyly, “I might be able to get to be deputy.”
“You know, I have quite a high opinion of myself, but at the same time, I realize that people of your experience and knowledge do not like to serve tiddlers.”
“Bro, even if you do not take into account that I've been in a clan dealing with tiddlers all my life...” he waved
his hand. “Anyway, tell me, which one of us is the millionaire?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
At that moment, the waitress came to pick up the empty dishes.
“Bring us some tea, dear,” he looked at me, and I just nodded, “and something for dessert.”
“The fact is, Shinji, that you are a sixteen-year-old millionaire, and as far as I know, your position didn't happen overnight. I'm already thirty-four,” he spread his arms and seemed to lose track of his thoughts, “and I’m really no one. A freelance artist, damn it. It sounds vogie, but in fact, I am. You are not standing still, constantly moving forward, achieving something. You have goals, I have none anymore. I used to once, but they died with the clan. It's hard to live without a goal, Shinji. For those who used to have one, it's even harder. What sucks is that we don’t become immediately aware of this fact. I got lucky. I want to take the chance, Shin. Sitting in this supernumerary coffee shop and listening to how things are spinning around you, I REALLY want to take a chance. Bid on the dark horse and either win or... let it all burn in hell. In any case, I won't be bored with you, I'm sure of it. And you know, it will be fun, to think about this moment many years from now and realize that the turning point in my life, and most likely not only my life, occurred in the most ordinary cafe. On the most ordinary, unremarkable day, spontaneously. Something I can tell my grandchildren. If there will be any.”
“I didn't know you were such an adventurer, Svyatov,” I said, feeling a snide smile on my face. “May it be so! I'll give you a goal.”
***
This fussing around is getting old, I thought, leaving the car in front of the Okhayashi mansion. Lord, and I want to become an aristocrat. What is it going to be like after? Should I just screw it all?
“Remember me kindly,” I said to Goro, who was looking at me through the driver's open window.
“We will remember you, boss,” he replied, and slowly drove towards the Okhayashi garages.
“Joker,” I said, adjusting my kimono sleeves and entering the gate.
I was met right at the gate.
“Good day, Sakurai-san,” the servant said with a bow and gestured toward the house. “Please.”
He led me into a huge drawing room with several low tables in the center. As soon as I sat down next to one of them, a small kettle and a bowl appeared before me. Then followed a tray with Japanese sweets, and the bowl was filled with tea. They didn’t seem to care that they’d spoil my appetite before dinner. Or was this a hint that there would be no dinner any time soon?
And I wonder who will meet me first from the Okhayashi family? It's probably going to be either Rydon or Aniko—that will emphasize the informality of my visit. If the head of the clan shows up, it'll be clear that it's a business meeting presented as a friendly gathering, given the form of the invitation. What if it's someone from the eldest sons? The answer seems to be simple, but I don't know how to act in this situation. I should have stopped at the neighbors’. In the end, I'm doing it for them. Ugh. Enough stressing out. It's just a waste of time trying to guess.
After I was left alone for over five minutes and had started wondering what all this meant, a blue miracle named Ami flew into the hall.
I give up. They outfoxed me. I can't even think what it could all mean.
“Hello,” she plopped next to me. “My sister wanted to greet you, but she has so many clothes that she was lost in her choice of what to wear.”
“She will figure it out,” I replied, smiling. “She's a big girl. The main thing is that you are not lost. Thank gods, I have the pleasure to sit next to such a charming young lady.”
My words seemed to have embarrassed Ami and she blushed slightly. The good thing about children is that they cannot yet control their emotions. That fact could touch even an old cynic such as me.
“Papa and Sean are busy with something in their office, Rydon is with Hiroshi now, Hikaru has disappeared somewhere, and mothers are in the kitchen,” the girl chattered on while I just sat there, smiling.
Hiroshi, as far as I knew, was Rydon's eight-year-old brother, but I didn't understand about dinner. I thought I had been invited to check out Aniko's cooking—so why was she lost, and mothers were in the kitchen? Apparently, Okhayashi had decided that eating Aniko’s bentos at school for almost a week was enough for me to come to conclusions, so she was free from having to cook a full-course dinner. What nonsense.
Looking at the frail girl sitting next to me, I left the logical train of thought. We chatted for another fifteen minutes, then the doors to the living room moved aside, and Aniko came out to us.
What a beautiful sight she is. A blue yukata with butterfly patterns looked really lovely on her, destroying my business mood completely.
I had already been out of my business state of mind before the eldest daughter of Okhayashi appeared. Nothing seemed to help me get it together.
By the way, this is the first time I’m seeing her with a braid... Stop it, Max. A Kawaii girl and a young beauty cannot cloud your judgment. You're tougher than that.
Nevertheless, by the time the head of the clan and his sons came, Ami was already sitting on my lap. She didn’t look or act at all like the girl she had been on her birthday.
The welcoming conversation with the men of the bloodline did not give me any clues. My impression was that I was just a classmate of their son and brother, who came to have dinner with the family. Perhaps, I'm a fool, but I did not detect any hints in their words.
Then three women, dressed in home yukatas, came into the hall, and after that, a few servants, who immediately started arranging dinner on the tables. Ami, Rydon, Aniko, and I sat at the same table. Three mothers and the little boy were at the second table, while the adult men sat at the third one. Considering that the Koyama always had dinner all at the same table, this setting was a bit unusual for me, but still fun. Ami talked about everything, Aniko hoped to simmer her down, and Rydon tried to maintain a meaningful conversation, the subject of which was military robots. More precisely, their technical components. Notably, the guy managed to avoid specific terms and conduct the conversation in such a way that everyone, even Ami, was able to understand him. She did try to change the topic of the conversation to something more interesting for her, which was apparently computer games.
“Shinji-i-i,” Ami tugged my sleeve with her childish innocence. “What's your rank?”
“I am a Disciple.”
“Well,” the girl said. “I was thinking...”
“Ami,” Aniko said sternly. “Shame on you.”
“I'm sorry,” she said in response to her sister's words.
I smiled not because the blue-haired miracle looked adorable at the moment, but because I wanted to hide my wry face. I had recently become annoyed by this world’s admiration for ranks.
“And what did the young lady think?” I asked, still smiling.
“I thought you were... uh ... a Veteran,” she said cautiously.
Okay, I'll take that as a compliment.
“I look that impressive?” I added a smile to my voice, making it livelier.
“Yes,” she said, nodding her small head, losing the last bits of embarrassment. “You look like a Knight though. But dad said that there are no teenage Knights. There’s even only one Master in the entire Empire. And it’s a woman,” she blushed again.
I look like a Knight—that's interesting. Judging by Rydon and Aniko’s looks, I’ll add that it's dangerous. They looked very suprised after their sister's words. That’s how spies are unveiled—through such little things. I really hope that I'm just being paranoid, and she can't really see... Damn, I don't even know what to think.
I sighed and realized how tired I was. I was not used to hiding. I was not used to it, and I did not like it. Usually, if anything went wrong, I just fought. And here, I was dealing with an eight-year-old. I couldn’t do anything but hide. And that’s what I was sick and tired of.
“Can you... see
human power?” I asked the girl.
I wish I didn't have to ask such questions.
Ami hesitated. I didn't know if I was getting into a family secret or if she was just shy, but Aniko responded in her stead.
“It's from her mother,” she stroked her sister's head. “It happens sometimes in her bloodline that children are born with such a gift. But it's rare. She doesn’t have the gift, neither does Hikaru.”
“So, is the guess always one hundred percent right?” I asked another question. “I mean, I really am a Disciple. That's why it's interesting.”
“I do not even know,” she looked at her sister. “We have to ask my mother. Or father if we have to.”
“The guess, as you put it, is always one hundred percent right,” Rydon said, sipping his tea. “However, she sees the potential rank, not the current one. The young age of this miracle,” Ami scowled hearing this, “and her inexperience might get in the way.”
I got scared there for a minute. If I think about it, it's actually true. After my first and last attempt to light Bahir, Akeno praised the possibilities of my great future. But, as for me, the Absolute is better than the Knight.
“So I am going to become a Master, am I not?” I patted her on the head. “This makes me happy. Thank you, babe, you gave me hope.”
She is so cute when she blushes.
In fact, visiting the Okhayashi family went well. After dinner, Rydon, Aniko, Ami, and I walked for a while in their family park and then Ami ran off to some kind of practice. Aniko was supposed to meet her friends after half an hour, so Rydon and I went to their clan polygon to shoot for a while. I doubt that he often did this, but it was fun. I think he had fun too. Until the very last moment, when I got into my car, I was expecting a conversation with the head of the clan or his eldest son, but it never happened.
What did Sean want from me then? Why did he invite me? I don’t understand, but I’ll stick to my motto: be happy when something good happens, but also when nothing bad happens. Alright, Max. You still have time to do a couple more things today.
Losing Masks Page 13