Being under the intense scrutiny of so many powerful people was not a new experience for Stas. When he first arrived at this clan, something similar had already happened.
But back then, there had been fewer people, and his role had not been as impressive.
But now, everything was different.
He had been through hell, and none of those present could say that he had undeservedly received the title of an advanced warmaster. And even if someone did say so, there wouldn't be much truth in their words.
"Shin Sumada," Goro glanced at the young man who had stopped smiling. Shin was dead serious and looked reverently at the head of his clan. Stas didn't know how much of that facial expression was genuine, but it was enough for Goro to look at the lad with approval.
"As I have learned, it was you who found out about the planned meeting of Jirobu Sansa and his potential allies." For some reason, Goro chose not to mention the Avasaki by name. Was he planning an alliance with them, or did he not yet want to aggravate the situation? "Moreover, you aided my son in the battle against him. You also fought bravely in this war."
Goro paused, and the servants brought out a couple of scrolls.
"In honor of this, I award you powerful Earth techniques for the advanced rank. Become stronger, care for the clan, and the clan will take care of you."
"Thank you, Lord," Shin stood next to Stas, and the earthling just managed to notice the edge of a small piece of paper that got stuck among the scrolls. Had he not been standing so close by, he would have missed it entirely.
Ordyntsev looked down, showing no sign of his awareness. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened. Although the scrolls were precious, the reward was, after all, relatively small.
This meant that there was another reward. But since Shin was listed in the Shadow Stone, Goro couldn't award him in front of everyone.
And if Stas remembered the structure of the Sumada spy organization correctly, Shin had just been promoted from a "shadow" to the "gloom," or, in other words, to a commander of the Shadow Stone.
If previously only a few shadows were subordinate to Shin, and they were generally on equal terms, now he could command dozens of operatives and had the full right to order them around. In a way, he was now of equal rank with his father. Though the latter, due to his age and area of responsibility, had many more subordinates.
Next, it was Kensei's turn.
"Kensei Uramasa. I didn't think I'd have to reward someone like you," Goro said with a slight smile, and surprisingly, the former samurai returned it. "Between us warmasters and samurai, there is a long-standing feud and mutual grievances, but no one can say that the Sumada clan is ungrateful."
Everyone kept silent, and Goro let the hall feel his thoughts.
"Therefore, so that there are no debts between us, you will be given the finest samurai techniques we have acquired. Continue to serve us as faithfully as you have, and the reward will not be long in coming."
"Thank you, Goro-sama," Kensei bowed, accepting a bulky roll of scrolls wrapped in colorful festive paper.
And now it was Stas's turn to stare into the merciless eyes of one of the most powerful men in this world. Although the man sitting before him didn't particularly participate in the recent war, more coordinating or commanding troops, he did come out a couple of times "to stretch his muscles."
Exactly three times the legendary Goro Sumada, son of the no less legendary Ichiro Sumada, went out to fight.
In the second battle, Akaru, the much-suffering city from which his son fled with Stas, leaving behind wild disorder, ceased to exist entirely.
Someone might think that he was avenging the capture of his son. And to some extent, it was indeed so. But in reality, Ketsero Sansa, the head of the poisonous clan, was holding the defense there.
Countless lives disappeared into the undulating sea of poison and animated earth. There, Ketsero met his death, and nothing was left of the city. Not even the suburban buildings survived.
So little of the Sansa leader remained that Goro couldn't even take his head.
The third time he went out to fight was against the leader of the Kiatto clan. The latter's head took a prominent place near the throne for a long time.
In the process, the forest and part of the fields near which the battle took place ceased to exist, replaced by stony wastelands. The leader of Kiatto was monstrously fast, and to hit him, Goro struck vast patches of land.
"Shiro, healer," the clan head's tone became thoughtful. "I remember when you came to our clan. At the time, you knew nothing and could die from the slightest danger. But even so, you were a great service to our clan, helping to save my son. Now, years later, you have proved that our trust in you was not misplaced."
Stas simply bowed, ironically thinking about him creating his own army and freeing Minoru behind the clan's back.
Ordyntsev had a unique way of living up to the trust placed in him, like no other.
"In light of this, I have decided that you are worthy of finally becoming one of us. Shiro, you are offered the honor of becoming a Sumada and joining one of the main families. The Eiko family. Do you agree?"
Although Stanislav's face shone with a beaming expression, dark suspicions beat inside his heart.
'Could Mei's father have managed to intervene here too? But why would he? Was his proposal regarding his daughter not merely a test after all? Or a different kind of test? But he was against their relationship... Or was he pretending? Or is there something else?' There were too many questions and too few answers.
But whatever he thought, there could be only one correct answer in this whole situation.
"Thank you for the trust and such a great honor, Lord," Stas bowed deeply.
And Ordyntsev was not exaggerating. He had just become one of them. Not a servant or a fighter of a subordinate family, but a full-fledged Sumada, capable, in theory, of receiving positions and rising up.
In the local society, deeply entrenched in caste distinctions, Stanislav had jumped from "useful subhuman" to "human," bypassing the ranks of "almost-human" and "weak human."
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"Also," Goro continued, to Stas's great surprise. The earthling thought that would be the end. "Knowing your successes, both in healing and in combat, you will be provided with techniques in both these directions. And finally."
Ordyntsev tensed up.
"As far as I know," Goro looked first at Izuna and then at Jishin. "You used to serve my elder son, but lately, you've worked very well with the younger one. As I recall, I've already asked you this question, but I'll repeat it again. Whom would you prefer to continue serving?"
'So, he's giving me a legal way to leave Izuna,' Stas noted with surprise. 'Thus, he will preserve the honor of the elder son and reduce the intensity of their struggle, while helping me.'
"Jishin-sama, Lord," Stas replied briefly.
"So be it, Shiro Sumada. Now you are under Jishin's command," Goro motioned Stas and the others back into the ranks and continued the ceremony.
The way back to Izuna was now demonstratively cut off, but Stas was not concerned.
Because they had a lot of work ahead of them.
*****
Such significant reshuffles could not happen without a subsequent wave of changes.
To start with, they all had to move to a new place. For Shin and Uramasa, it also meant receiving their personal housing in the Citadel.
When the belongings were moved, it was time to delve into new responsibilities.
Jishin received the position of treasurer. By and large, he was a complete novice in this business, and Goro understood this perfectly.
But a boss doesn't always have to be smarter than his subordinates. Often, a skilled commander or leader must be able to properly manage the knowledge and skills of employees to solve the tasks at hand with their help.
And Jishin had just such a person in mind, who had previously been doing the same job.
Toshiyuki Eiko was prepared to extend a hand gladly to his new boss, explaining and showing where and how everything works.
If the head of the family was concerned about having to submit to a young, financially ignorant man, he showed none of it.
On the contrary, Toshiyuki was more cheerful than usual and positively radiated enthusiasm.
Stas wondered: did his activity have anything to do with Io? Or perhaps the head of the Eiko family saw the prospects for developing the city if, for once, the treasurer would be on his side?
Ordyntsev also took the time to have a thorough conversation with the head of the secret service, sharing a couple of interesting pieces of information. After all, cooperating with this meticulous official was incredibly useful and worth maintaining this connection from his side, too.
Jishin thought so as well. It was sufficient to remember that his current position was earned solely thanks to Io sharing one exclusive piece of information.
Yes, Jishin defeated Jirobu, but without Io's intel, there would have been no victory.
"So the Deathbringers have become so brazen?" Io's eyebrows continued to slowly rise as Stas recounted, mentioning a caravan he had accidentally noticed. "And while we're looking for them here, they're calmly doing their business in Hyugo? Pretty bold of them after what they've done. Time to resolve this problem once and for all."
Io thoughtfully tapped the back of a writing brush on the table.
"I'll have to pass this on to Shigero, our allied onmyodo. They recently went back home, finding no one, but perhaps they'll have more luck in Hyugo. Considering the chaos reigning there, hiding in those lands is not the stupidest move. Thank you, Shiro-kun. You have provided valuable information."
"I serve Sumada," Stas nodded indifferently. He didn't intend to show any interest in the topic. The farther he was from it, the better. It was enough that his techniques bore a suspicious resemblance to those of the Deathbringers.
"Wait, I'd like to discuss something else with you," Io moved on to the next topic. "Tell me, what kind of relationship exists between Katashi, the prince of the Mizuno clan, and Jishin Sumada? During the war, they met several times at different times and were constantly talking about something. I've heard it was quite lively and completely non-aggressive. I would even say friendly."
Stas mentally froze, quickly calculating what to answer, but Io interrupted him with a snap of his fingers, looking slightly frowning.
"Shiro-kun, I am not one of those fools who think that a couple of conversations with the enemy can lead to betrayal. Therefore, please spare me the ordeal of enduring pleasant, yet ultimately untruthful, words. I seek to hear the truth, however scant it may be, but the truth alone."
"You're right, Jishin and Katashi did indeed find several topics on which they both think alike," Stas cautiously agreed, carefully monitoring Io's reaction. This was particularly problematic, given the nature of the person sitting opposite him.
Ordyntsev suspected that even if an orgy followed by the sacrifice of all present were to take place in front of this man, he wouldn't even blink but would calmly continue to watch the spectacle.
"Oh? And what are these topics?" Io prompted Stas.
"The possibility of war between Mizuno and Sumada, as well as the current system of the great clans."
"Really?" Io shook his head with light disbelief. "I must admit, in our time and at your age, we did not think about such global things. On the other hand, we weren't princes. So what conclusion did they come to?"
"A World War is coming, and the great clans will clash to the death. This has happened before, more than once. But Jishin and Katashi wondered what would happen if two great clans united and faced the others as a joint front. Even the other great clans would not be able to withstand such a blow."
"A beautiful and captivating idea, but unfortunately, unattainable," Io leaned back with palpable disappointment, losing interest. "And that's what these young men are talking about? Unrealizable projects? It seems to me, Shiro-kun, you're still being disingenuous."
"Nevertheless, it is so," Stas shrugged, looking firmly into the unblinking eyes of the head of the Shadow Stone. "Katashi will become the head of the clan one way or another. He's monstrously strong, and his desires will be heeded. Jishin, though not the eldest prince, now has some weight thanks to you."
"But all of this is not enough," Io snorted, rolling his eyes. "I thought him smarter. There are no and will be no alliances between the great clans for one simple reason – the clan members want to kill each other too much. Even if the leaders want to form an alliance, they will simply not be allowed to conclude it. Dozens of setups and provocations, up to the assassination of leaders."
A silence hung between them, but while one waited, the other thought.
Ordyntsev did not believe Io's play for a second. And the latter wasn't really trying. Io was waiting for something as important as "trust" from him, and Stas was considering whether to continue.
"If you act directly, of course," Stas finally decided. Io changed the angle of his head, expressing interest. "But during the World War, people will die. Some families will become stronger, others weaker. Opportunities will arise. And besides this..."
Stas took a deep breath, and Io leaned forward. The man's entire experience screamed that right now, he would hear what he so wanted to hear.
"During the war, there may also arise a danger that will force former foes to unite against a common threat. And joint struggle unites even the most sworn enemies."
"And what is the threat that can make two great clans forget their grievances and unite?" Io clarified. "No such threat exists."
"Such a threat does not yet exist," Stas corrected. "But... nothing prevents creating that threat."
"After which they will jointly defeat it," Io concluded.
No one was in a hurry to speak first. Light softly penetrated through the wide-open windows.
"Do they understand that even if everything goes as planned, there will be many casualties on both sides?"
"There will be casualties either way."
"And there might be even more if the princes' plan works out." Io was very intelligent and dug too deep.
Ordyntsev doubted that they would be able to keep their movements secret from someone of his caliber. Moreover, these were just idle talks so far.
Yet, they were strongly bound now. Although Io was cautious and left no leading threads to himself, if Stas or Jishin started talking, it would, in any case, create uncomfortable questions for the head of the Shadow Stone.
"If the idea succeeds," Stas continued, "then a power will appear in the world that no other clan will be able to deal with one-on-one."
"That will force the other clans to try to unite against us as well," Io noted, without revealing his stance toward the ideas laid out before him.
"Yes, but that will be the next problem."
"For now, I won't say anything," Io decided. "Yes, you have potential, but not enough to implement such grand plans. In this world, Shiro-kun, personal strength decides a lot. And until you, Jishin-kun, and Katashi become supreme, your conversations and ideas are nothing more than palaces made of sakura petals."
"Well, in that case, our first step is evident," Stas concluded solemnly, causing Io to chuckle quietly.
Obviously, Jun's brother did not take them seriously. On the other hand, he was not against it either, taking a neutral position.
"Thank you for the interesting conversation, Shiro-kun. I'll be honest: I don't think you'll even come close to realizing your plans, but I see potential in your dreams and desires. I won't keep you any longer."
Stas bowed silently and left Io, who returned to his brush, ink, and scrolls.
Plans to change the world are one thing, but paperwork is not going anywhere.