"Kensei, I would be happy if we could all gather and talk, but there's something important that Shiro and I need to discuss in private," Jishin shifted his gaze to Uramasa.

"No problem, Commander," shrugged the ronin, leaving them in an awkward silence.

"Come in, take a seat," Jishin gestured hospitably to the spot in front of him. "How was your journey? Any surprises on the road?"

"Everything went smoothly," Stas comfortably settled on the offered cushion. "The only thing is, all these ruins don't exactly put one in a cheerful mood, but that's life for us."

"Speaking of life," Jishin's speech flowed seemingly calmly, but Stas remained on guard. "I heard you've finally become an advanced warmaster. How did the test mission go? I heard there were some problems."

"Your network of informers is getting better," nodded Ordyntsev. "Because of the 'unexpected,'" he stressed the word, "mistake by the council, they sent me straight into the mouth of a dragon settled in the mountains. That huge fire-breathing monster gave me quite a beating and almost cooked me in my own armor. Luckily, in the end, he was so impressed by my will to live that it decided not to eat me, but to use me to deliver a message."

"I see," Jishin nodded sympathetically, but Stas could sense some insincerity in his gestures. "And what about our joint venture? I understand we've run into some issues with that?"

'It looks like we've come to the crux of the matter.'

"You know, when Shin, the son of one of the Shadow Stone's leaders, approached me and said that he had greetings from Io himself... I got very tense," Jishin narrowed his eyes dangerously. "But when it later became clear that a certain Shiro the Serpent was involved, things started to make sense. Will you share? It's quite unpleasant to sit far from home and feel that you could be branded a traitor at any moment."

Stas fearlessly looked at the visibly angry prince of the great clan.

"It was quite presumptuous to think that our actions would go unnoticed," Stas began explaining. "Although we tried to eliminate any leaks of confidential information from our people, and we succeeded in that, we didn't account for their families."

"They told their family members?" the prince hissed angrily.

"Fortunately, no, even though the end result hasn't changed. Among their families were Io's agents. They reported on their relatives' suspicious movements. After that, it was a simple matter of setting up surveillance and uncovering the whole organization."

"And what does this mean for us? Since we're not in jail yet, Io must need something from us," Jishin said grimly, correctly assessing the situation. "Has he already said what he wants?"

"Yes," nodded Ordyntsev. "And this is where it gets interesting. Io claims that he and a few others at the top have nothing against you gaining power."

"Conspirators?" Jishin clearly did not like this scenario. "They want to stage a coup and overthrow my brother?"

"No," Stas smirked. "Rather, they wish that when you and your brother grow up and Goro Sumada retires, the eldest prince would have opposition in you."

"Why would they want that?" Jishin asked, a bit bewildered. It was obvious he hadn't spent much time on such intricate politics. "Isn't it easier to just influence Izuna alone?"

"There are likely several reasons," Ordyntsev pondered. "But I think it's about the ability to advance different ideas and proposals. The problem with a unipolar power structure is that if an idea is rejected at the top, nothing can be done about it. And that idea might be quite valuable, but it won't be put into practice because the ruler and his entourage might make a mistake. If, however, there is some opposition in power, or even just a part of society that's not fully subservient, then discussion becomes possible. If that idea is rejected at the top, you can take it to another camp, and maybe something will come of it."

Stas gave a wry smile, spreading his hands.

"That's how the system should ideally work. Plus, having at least a couple of sides opens up a whole list of opportunities for an enterprising person like Io, including some not quite legal ones. That's just how it is."

"So he benefits from my brother not being able to make me disappear? If I become stronger, my brother won't be able to push me aside?"

"Exactly. And for that, he promised to turn a blind eye to actions that don't harm the clan. But I still didn't trust him, so I started relocating some of our forces elsewhere."

In this aspect, Io's perceptiveness had created a lot of headaches for Stas.

It was foolish to risk trusting that Io, who had them by the balls, wouldn't suddenly clench his fist.

So Stas had to split the existing fighters into several cells, which moved to completely random cities.

Some remained under Io's watchful eye, carrying out his orders. The others were kept as hidden as possible.

Currently, there were thirty warmasters in the organization, not counting Jishin's mentors. Only one was strong enough to be considered for the title of advanced warmaster, but he was way over fifty.

Stas had met him when he and his two sons were making their way through Rashta Country. Stas made an offer, emphasizing training. The grandfather, looking at his still-green sons, agreed. They were fleeing from somewhere, so the chance to lay low for a while was a blessing for them.

The old man led one of the three free cells away from the Citadel and the grasping claws of the Shadow Stone's leader.

Each of the free cells did not know where the other groups were or in what form. They maintained communication through a system of secret signs and passwords and only through trusted individuals known to few.

Ordyntsev had to work hard and think a lot to plan and calculate everything. Still, even with all that, the earthling hoped to just buy time while Io's seekers were looking for their people.

"You've indeed done a lot of work," Jishin nodded with satisfaction, having listened to the brief report. "However, the strength of the organization is disheartening. It seems to me that even your own powers would be enough to wipe them all out."

"Yes, but this is just the beginning. They're learning and carrying out contracts independently. Both the open cells, to which Io assigns Sumada tasks, and the hidden ones, which act as independent mercenary squads, are continuously recruiting new members. Thanks to your support, this process is exceptionally easy."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Stas snorted.

'Sometimes even too easy.'

This world was not accustomed to the idea that knowledge, even basic, could be given for absolute loyalty and service. You could belong to a great clan from birth, but being from a secondary family, you would get nothing out of it.

It was after looking at the disjointed skills of the organization's fighters that Stas realized the chasm between them and the clan warriors, who at least underwent some sort of systematic training.

However, it also worked the other way around when you could get a completely unexpected technique from members of some small clans living in the backwoods, leaving you puzzled about how to defend against it.

Nonetheless, the conversation was clearly not over. From the very beginning, Jishin hadn't forgotten to protect the headquarters from eavesdropping, but now, apparently, he was about to say something even more important.

Ordyntsev leaned in.

"By the way, earlier you mentioned harm to the clan," Jishin looked away. "Even we've heard rumors about the monstrous and brazen attack by the Deathbringers on the Citadel. They say that many clan warriors and even some elders were killed by the demon they summoned. Don't you want to tell me anything about that, my friend?"

Jishin's friendly facade cracked momentarily, revealing something grotesque.

"What exactly are you implying?" Ordyntsev's face turned into an impassive mask as he slightly lowered his head and looked demandingly at his interlocutor.

"What am I implying?" Jishin muttered quietly, his voice gradually filling with rage. "Well, let me repeat and even clarify. Several elders send you to your death, and then there's an unexpected attack by the Deathbringers and their undead. And the elders, oh miracle, suddenly die! Don't you find this suspicious?"

Stas said nothing, just looked at the prince with a heavy gaze, and the latter only grew more heated.

"Or, for example, at the very end, the Deathbringers summoned a demon, a terrible serpent-like yokai, which rampaged, killing everyone around. And I know only one person who also has a subordinate yokai! And somehow, I think it's all connected."

Jishin gritted his teeth.

"And finally. I know one person who can organize a small apocalypse affecting an entire city with minimal effort and resources in just a few months. Could this person do something similar on the scale of a great clan over several years? I don't know. But I want to ask you, Shiro, if you're my friend, tell me, do you know anything about the attack that happened?"

The two men were motionless.

"What's the point of this outburst?" Ordyntsev's voice was cold. "Yes, I organized and carried out all of it."

Jishin's eyes flew open, and he exhaled sharply. He was clearly stunned.

"You... You're not even trying to hide. Do you realize what you've done?!" The table flew into the wall, and Jishin grabbed Stas by the kimono collar peeking out from under his armor.

Ordyntsev was taller than the prince, and the scene might have looked comical if not for the understanding of what a person at the higher threshold of an advanced warmaster could do.

"I trusted you, and the Sumada clan gave you a home, a refuge! Old man Hideo started teaching you, and my father gave you one of his best warriors and his brother as a teacher, and this is how you repay us?! You killed my fellow clansmen and destroyed my home?! And you dare to admit it so brazenly, looking me in the eye? Have you no honor or gratitude at all?!"

But if before Stas could only hope to die quickly in the hands of the warmaster, now, even though Jishin was stronger, it was far from a sure thing.

"And now you listen to me," Ordyntsev's serpentine eyes narrowed contemptuously, and he jabbed the prince in the chest. "Tell me, Jishin, if I may still call you that, what are we doing?"

"What are you talking about?" Jishin growled, not understanding.

"Are we playing games? Or did we suddenly decide to joke?" Stanislav's tone boded ill. Jishin himself was a bit flustered by the way Shiro was talking to him. Few could afford such familiarity besides his father.

"Oh no," Ordyntsev twisted a wry smile. "We're not playing games. We're conspirators, Jishin. And the price of a mistake is oh so great. Not only that, we've already dragged a huge number of people into this abyss. These people believe in us, they follow us. They have dreams and desires."

"What are you..."

"Don't interrupt," Stas cut him off. "These people have trusted us. If we lose and everything goes to ruins, they will die after us. Moreover, their families will suffer. The stigma of traitors will be on them until the end of their days, and it might even pass on to their children. Is that what you want? And now that we've clarified this point, do you want to tell me that I'm doing something wrong?"

"But not by such means!" Jishin had already let go of Stas and was angrily waving his hands. "What's the point then?"

"You're asking me what the point is? The point is that all who believe in us live, our enemies die, and we win. Again, we're not playing games, Jishin. Realize this. Our mistakes will cause others to suffer. We can't afford the luxury of staying clean. And if I have to get dirty, I'll step into the darkness willingly, rather than whining about why things turned out this way."

Jishin said nothing, just listened tensely.

"And for your information, there weren't that many casualties. I specifically took time and effort to reduce them. And those that did happen mostly belonged to the elders' people."

Stas's words dripped with venom. Still, as much as he didn't want to admit it, Jishin's emotional words had struck a chord.

"And yes, the dead elders weren't just those who were plotting against me. I spared some of them and instead targeted those who were scheming against you, Jishin. Yes, I eliminated those who supported your brother and wanted you dead. Moreover, I even managed to make them fight against each other, suspecting one another. I work day and night to ease our lives and fulfill my promise. Isn't this how friends should act?"

Stas grimaced.

"And now, after we haven't seen each other for several very stressful months, instead of gratitude, all I hear are accusations and reproaches?"

"Alright," the words were tough for Jishin to say, "Perhaps you're right about some things. But the Deathbringers?! They weren't outlawed by almost all the warmaster clans for nothing! Yes, as a prince, I know that one can compromise honor for the sake of victory and one's clan. But even so, there's a limit to the darkness you can enter!"

Stas stared intently at the prince, who was breathing heavily.

Ordyntsev didn't want to do it, but if he didn't rip off the band-aid now, the situation would only get worse.

The legend about the Deathbringers was fine for outsiders, but feeding it to Jishin, who knew the stakes, was a ticking time bomb.

"There were no warmasters," Stas's words were final, and there was no going back.

"What do you mean there were none?" Jishin stopped.

"The entire attack was a well-staged spectacle. I saw no point in involving the Deathbringers, who could act unpredictably and not according to the plan. So I created and controlled those undead myself, staging the attack. It was difficult to find such knowledge, but I managed. And the ancient yokai that escaped from the dungeons completed my plan by destroying the elders that were in our way."

Stas was telling the truth, but even in such a situation, he was not about to reveal all his cards, not admitting how well he knew Minoru.

"You started practicing forbidden arts?" Jishin asked quietly, at a loss for words.

"Are you going to start something like, 'Oh, it's dishonorable and unseemly'? You need to let go of those naive thoughts, Jishin."

"Forbidden arts are not called forbidden for nothing," Jishin was visibly still confused and did not know what to say.

"Believe someone who knows what he's talking about," Stas rolled his eyes. "Yes, they're dangerous, but if you follow safety rules, you can even work with forbidden arts. Besides, we don't have the right to reject such power. Only the strong can think about honor and prohibitions. The weak must use everything they have."

"I... I have nothing to say. I don't know what to do," Jishin turned away, not wanting to look at Ordyntsev. It was clear that this whole situation had hit him hard. "Leave me. Kensei will tell you where to stay. You know what to do from the scroll with the mission. I have nothing more to add."

"Thank you, Commander," Stas bowed dryly. "I shall not impose upon your time any longer."

Jishin said nothing more, turning his back on the departing friend.

"What happened there?" Kensei asked lazily, leaning against the exit. "In the last few days after the attack on the Citadel, Jishin hasn't been himself."

"Just some issues," Stas replied vaguely. "Jishin instructed me to get a place to sleep."

"That's no problem," nodded Uramasa. "These Sumada have dug out so much here that you could fit three times as many people."

"Well then, lead the way," Stas smiled, trying not to show his true emotions.

A sense of unease filled him. What would Jishin decide?

Obviously, the price wouldn't give him up. After all, they were too closely tied. Killing? That wasn't in his nature.

But that was all he could guess.

Despite all the horrors Jishin had managed to survive, like war, his brother's hatred, and the clan's suspicions, the young man was still not ready for high politics.

He found it too hard to accept Shiro the Serpent's methods.