Arc XChapter2
<strong><b>IX</b></strong>
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<strong><b>Arc XChapter2</b></strong>
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Asamipresidedoverherhastilyimprovisedandpoorlyorganisedofficethatoncewashermodestapartment.
Herroomsweresmall,cramped,andill-suitedforallkindofadministrativetask,butitsufficedasatemporarysolution.
For the time being, her former apartment fulfilled its new noble calling and allowed her to govern her emerging realm from the safety and coziness of her living room.
MasanariassuredherthewouldtheHattoriprovidehersoonwithamoresuitableamodation.Theirpoundwouldserveasherimpromptuheadquarterforherfutureactivities.
TheHattoriwouldalsoprovideherwiththenecessarystaff,servants,andmaids.Anobldyofherstatusshouldn’tperformmenialtaskofmeagreimportance,suchascookingandcleaning.Unimaginableandtrulydreadful.
Aftersuchalongtime,shewouldreimheroldlife,thatofatrueprincess.Asamiwaslookingforwardtoit.Shereallywas.
AsamiwaspattingKatsuki,herpersonalhugglycuddlyfluffball.Sosoft.Sowarm.Sofluffy.Shewassuchalovelypet.
Katsukiwasareliablesourceofprofoundrestandrxationinstressfultimeslikethese.Movingthewheelsofhistoryallbyherownwasanexceedinglytiresomeaffair.Afteralongdayofwork,littlegirlslikeherdeservedsomewell-earnedrest.
Asamismiled.Katsukiwassosugarsweet.“Howdoyoulikemytickles?”
“Purr.” Katsukiclosedhereyesandpurredindeepsatisfaction.Shewasinheaven.Hermistresstreatedherwell.
“Thoughtso.” Asamismiled.Katsukienjoyedherpreferentialtreatmentinformsoftickles.Herfavouritekittenlovedbeingtickledunderherfluffychinoraroundhercutetinyearises.
Asamicontinuedindulgingherkitteninsecret,unseenbypryingeyes.Forthesakeofherhonourandpride,nobodywasallowedtoseeheryingwithalittlekitten.Nobodywasallowedtowitnessherundignifiedbehaviourandherhavingfun.
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Aknockatthedoorinterruptedheryingsession.Thedooropened.Aninjaentered.ItwasKenshin,herpersonalsecretaryprovidedtoherbytheHattorin.Whatwouldshedowithoutherhelpfideagainstthegrowingmountainofpaper.
Kenshinstoodstraight,hishandsfoldedbehindhisback.“LadyAsami,Iinformyouthatyourguesthasarrived.”
Asamileanedbackinherseat,whilestillpattingKatsuki.“Excellent,guidehimhere.Wedon’twanttomakeourguestwait."
“Understood.” Kenshinnoddedandfollowedherorders.
Asamiweedheresteemedguestwithasmile.Makotohadfinallyarrived.“Ihopeyouhadanmagnificentday,Makoto.Pleasetakeaseat.”
“Notnecessary.” Hedeclined.
“Areyousure?”
“Quite.”
“Iwon’tdisagree.” Asamismiled.
“Anyway,yousummonedme.Whatdoyourequirefromanoldmanlikeme?”
Asamigrinned.“Anoldman...Foranintelligenceofficerofyourcalibre,that’squiteanunderstatement,isn’tit,Makoto?
Iknowaboutyourreputation.Iknowaboutyourexploitsduringthewar.Youmadequiteanameforyourselfbackthen.YouservedunderHanzoandwereresponsiblefordirectingAmegakure’sintelligenceoperations.ImustsayIamquiteimpressedbyyouraplishment.”
“...” Makotohesitated.“Iappreciateyoupliment.Unsurprisingly,YourLadyship,iswell-informedaboutmyperson.” Heshouldhaveexpectedso.
Asamismiledalong.“Whyshouldn’tI?”
Asamipattedherfluffykitten.Thesoftcuddlytemptationprovedirresistible.“Myintentionistorelyonyourexpertiseandknowledgeonceagain.Theyarebothsorelyneededindesperatetimeslikethese.Ihaveaseriesoftasksforamanofyourtalents.”
Makotoraisedaneyebrow.“Suchas?”
“IwantyoutorebuildAmegakure’sintelligencwork.Ourserviceshavedisintegratedafteralltheseyears.
Weareblind,Makoto.Werelyonrumoursandhearsayforinformation.Westumblearoundlikefoolsinthedark.Suchcircumstancesareuneptable.Werequireaworkingintelligenceapparatus.Weneedtoknowwhatourenemiesarethinking,whatourenemiesarenning.Ifthevigeshallsurvivethestruggleste,weneedtobeaheadofthem.
Fixthissituation,Makoto.Youhavetheexperience.Youhavetheconnections.Youknowthemen.Gatheryourpeopleandstartyourwork.Wewillprovideyouwithfundsandpersonnel.”
MakotoHedidn’tappearenthusiastic.“Thatisquitethetask,ifImayspeakfreely.Itmighttakeyears...”
Asamireassuredhimwithasmile.Hisconcernswereunderstandable.“Noneedtoworry,Makoto,Iamapatientperson.NeitherdoIseek,nordoIexpectimmediateresults.
Infact,youwillneedtooperatewithlimitedresourcesintermsoftrainedpersonnel.Themilitarytakesprecedencewheniestotheallocationofninja.Kaoruandhernhavetheirhandsbusywithreorganisingourforcesfromscratch.Theywillneedeveryninjatheycanget.
Youwillrelythusmostlyrelyoncivilianpersonnel,merchants,artisans,etc.Ihopethat’snotanissue.Personally,Ithinkthat’snotthecase,asthevastmajorityofninjaaren’texactlycutoutfortheintelligencebusiness.Ironically,theckstealthandsecrecy.Andthosefewwhoare,thoseareeasily...receable.
Sotakeyourtimeandproceedwithdiligence.Ifittakesyears,sobeit.Wearewillingtoythelonggameifnecessary.”
Makotodidn’tobject.“Areasonableapproach...Iwilmencemyworktomorrow.Iwilltrytoreactivatesomeofmyoldchannels.Ifwearelucky,theyarestillfunctional.Anythingelseyourequire?”
“Yes,beforeIforget,Iwouldappreciateyourhelpwithasetofprojects,projectsofthemorespecialkind...Delicate operations,anda personalinquiryof mine.Strictestsecrecyisdemanded,andhighestconfidentialitymustbemaintained.Theirexistencemustremainguardedat any cost.Youaretherightman.”
Makotopaidattention.“Iamlistening.”
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