The soldiers were grumbling at the delay, but the Gunari was more interested in what his subordinate had to tell him.

Rei and Nana touched down barely minutes after Shoko, whose only response to their arrival was a short look of contempt, before continuing her report of what she had seen and done.

The Gunari listened patiently, then ordered a map of the area to be brought to him.

“Have you been listening?” he asked Nana when she joined them around the rolled out parchment in the dirt.

“Not generally when Shoko’s talking, but yes.”

“Anything to add?”

“They ruined their main strategic advantage by destroying the castle gates,” she observed, “Unless they have world’s fastest carpenters, it’ll offer them no shelter.”

The Gunari looked at his soldiers, frowning to himself.

“I’d agree if these were proper soldiers instead of children with swords.”

He drew some angry looks from the nearest, but he pretended not to be aware of them.

“Do we have air superiority?”

“I doubt they have managed to gain flying mounts, but…”

“But?”

“But I’ve seen soldiers with the foreign rifles. Not sure how powerful those are though…”

“Well,” The Gunari observed, “It might not have to come to violence. Can you negotiate a beneficial deal?”

“Sir… Diplomacy isn’t exactly one of my strong suits.”

The man, not used to being defied, drummed his fingers on his knee, but he relented in the end, “You’re probably right, Lady Hoshitentou. We’ll probably have to fight.”

“We could,” Rei started, then trailed off.

“We could what?” the Gunari wanted to know.

“I doubt it’s a good idea, sir.”

“I’ll judge that.”

“We could pretend we never made it back to you. You’ll go and talk to them, sir, then when you’re inside you and your honor guard can simply eliminate anyone near you. Especially Dekamu, if he is behind this treachery.”

“Rather….”

“They wouldn’t expect something that bold,” Nana added.

“I don’t think we should let our liege lord so close to somebody intent on upsetting the balance of the Empire,” Shoko put in, “It’ll be throwing blood to the mosquitoes.”

Nana had a thin smile and a sparkle in her eye, and she was about to reply when the Gunari cut her off.

“Shoko’s probably right,” he said, “But they don’t know we’re planning to attack…”

“You’d go in?” the captain gasped.

“With the right armor,” he smiled.

Nana was not happy with the Gunari’s idea of ‘the right armor’. She had traded her clothes with one of the young ant mounted Giya, as had Rei and Shoko, and their tiny honor guard now found themselves storming through the countryside on the back of the army ants, towards the massive column of white smoke in the distance.

The Lord Dekamu was already waiting for them when they arrived, apparently inspecting the collapsed walls of the castle and ordering his soldiers to start on the repairs.

When he spotted the Gunari’s banner approaching, he quickly called for stools and rice wine, then bowed, his back straight as a candle.

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The Gunari was the first off his mount, followed seconds later by the three disguised women. Nana shifted, unhappy with the thick armor weighing her down, especially as it did not fit her properly and the thick plates clicked with every step.

“I feel like a rock,” she whispered to Rei from behind the featureless face plate. Rei did not respond.

“Let’s hope this’ll over be with quickly…”

Rei still did not respond.

“Rei…?”

“I’m Shoko.”

“Oh…”

The Gunari gestured them to be silent, then instructed the lord Dekamu to Rise. He did, sat down on the provided stool, then called for his soldiers to hurry up.

“Sit, my lord! Sit!” he said Jovially, “I’m afraid you and your soldiers came too late to join the fun.”

“I can’t say I share your joy in the death of other,” the Gunari replied, taking his seat and immediately being surrounded by his honor guard.

He waited for the soldiers to bring a bowl of rice wine, delaying the conversation as was custom. After he took the bowl from the man, he levelly stared at Dekamu and waited for him to drink.

Dekamu took the jug from the soldier, not bothering with the bowl and drank deep from it. A common way to show that he had not poisoned the jug.

Dekamu sipped, then frowned.

“What exactly happened?”

“Weakness happened,” Dekamu responded, planting his feet firmly in the dirt and leaning over, “Kuwagata wasn’t prepared for any sort of uprising and it cost him his head.”

“Him and all his soldiers,” the Gunari observed.

Dekamu shook his head, seeming in disgust, before he quickly recovered himself, showing a face of pained despair to his audience.

“The peasants somehow managed to build a catapult,” he said, jerking his head to the gate, “We took it out only moments after the obliterating shot.”

“Peasants built a catapult? And how did they manage that?”

Dekamu took another long drink before answering.

“Beats me, my lord. Maybe one of them was clever, but not clever enough to run when we came.”

He laughed heartily, before adding in a tone of remorse, “Just a shame they managed to get Kuwagata. He will be missed. Sorely missed.”

“A gentle soul lost is a lost treasure for sure,” the Gunari agreed, “Which makes me wonder what flared this sudden rebellion.”

“Who knows? I don’t read the minds of roaches.”

It remained silent for a time after that remark.

“Now that I have you here,” Dekamu said, after what he felt was enough silence, “My lord…”

The Gunari responded by raising a brow.

“About the Kuwagata domain. It can’t be left ungoverned. A fast decision is warranted.”

“I’ve already made up my mind, Dekamu. Do you have a map.”

Dekamu raised a hand as if he were about to call for the map, but then shook his head, “No, lord.”

The Gunari shrugged, “I’ll leave it to the prospectors then.”

“Lord?”

“If I can’t find an heir to the Kuwagata domain,” the Gunari started, scanning Dekamu’s face for response. There was none.

“If I can’t find them, It’ll be divided between the neighboring five.”

“...Are you sure that’s wise, lord? You’ll be tearing apart families that won’t be allowed to cross the domain bor…”

“We’ll rehome them,” the Gunari interrupted, “I’ll see that each noble gets land assigned to them, based on their standing at my court.”

Dekamu’s composure slipped. He was visibly shaking, knowing all too well that the unimportant Dekamu domain would get the smallest slice of pie. He crushed the jug in his hand.

“Whoever brings me the Dekamu’s head,” he called, “Will get…”

The thought was never voiced. Three swords cut through his gut before he could finish his sentence.

“That’ll complicate matters,” the Gunari said, “But I’m sure we can…”

Like his conversation partner, he never voiced the thought. From the castle walls, three bullets bore into his chest…