Seireiden, the capital of Mi-Zu, was a tranquil city, despite the sheer number of people residing in it. Humans and beastfolk walked quickly and calmly as they boarded stone-grey carriages, each large enough to fit a hundred or so people, while others vanished into pagodas ten to twenty metres tall. There were dustbins every few minutes along the footways that flanked the roads the grey carriages used, and at every corner of the city, people in blue uniforms stood calmly, their arms holding on to what looked like a Straight Shot artefact. Sweat ran down their foreheads — the effect of standing underneath the afternoon sun for long periods of time — but none of them moved to wipe their faces.

He glanced back at the checkpoint at the city’s gates. An equally stoic set of guards had waved them through when Tsurugi produced a yellow card, bowing in silence as the little convoy passed through them, before returning to process the next person in line.

Isabelle was looking at the pagodas, clearly interested in those red buildings. These tiered towers were spaced out rather regularly throughout the entire city — it was possible that they were key components of whatever defences that protected the Mi-Zu capital. Other than that, it was evident that these pagodas served more conventional functions, given that people were entering and leaving every few minutes.

“What are these pagodas for?” Isabelle asked. “I’ve gone to Eo-Seu before, but I only saw a single such building there, which I assumed was for cultural purposes.”

“They’re hubs of communication and business,” replied Tsurugi. “Each of these pagodas can send messages to other cities, even if they’re in a different Territory. If you’re involved in important duties, it is recommended that you pay a visit to any pagoda everyday and check for messages addressed to you, which explains why property prices are absurd around any of our pagodas.”

“Does the pagoda offer message deliveries for urgent messages?” asked Gaius.

Tsurugi shook his head. “Within us is a sense of responsibility. If there’s an urgent message, someone has screwed up, and it should be their responsibility to handle it without bothering others. Likewise, it is equally irresponsible to ditch one’s current duties because they received an urgent message.”

“That’s a unique take on it,” replied Gaius, making sure to keep his face still. He couldn’t help but think back to Earth, where a philosophical debate about picking up a call when a guest was visiting still flared to life on some obscure forum once in a while.

“You don’t approve?”

“Not that. I’m just impressed.” Gaius mulled for a moment, and said, “Being responsible to the very end is a facet that permeates every part of Mi-Zu’s life. I like it.”

The entire exchange had been done through whispers, which was pretty much how every other conversation that was occurring in this city took place too. No one wanted to speak loudly enough to be that person who broke the tranquillity of the capital city.

“You’re here for a reason, right?” Tsurugi whispered. “Let’s get some drinks at a nearby shop. We’ll be able to speak freely there later.”

He motioned for everyone else to follow him, and after a few minutes of walking, he stopped at the entrance of a shophouse. The last two bodyguards following him stood at the sides of the shop as he entered, Isabelle and Gaius trailing him closely. Cool air brushed across Gaius as he stepped into the shop, and his body relaxed. A few steps ahead of him, Tsurugi was handling their seating and drinks, and it didn’t take long before he was done.

Nakama, who had stirred awake when Gaius stepped into the shop, sniffed at the sweet scent wafting out of the cups laid out on the table.

“Ice-cream?”

“Oh, you know of it?” Tsurugi asked Gaius, his eyes blinking in surprise. “It’s a rather rare treat even in Mi-Zu, and it definitely doesn’t exist in the South. Where did you have this before?”

“Oh, I…overheard someone talking about it earlier, while we were walking,” said Gaius.”

“A couple was walking to our side,” Isabelle added on, “and Gaius asked me about ice-cream.”

“Is that so?” Tsurugi looked at Gaius again, an odd expression on his face, and then shrugged. “Well, if you haven’t had it, this will be a nice treat for you. Mi-Zu has the best ice-cream makers in the whole of the Five Lands.”

He pushed one of the cups towards Nakama, who looked at Gaius with big, shiny eyes. The boy laughed, and she picked up the spoon happily.

“We’re here to get a Crystal of True Restoration,” said Gaius. He decided not to beat around the bush — and a native might be of greater help if he treated the other party with all due sincerity.

Tsurugi hissed softly, his eyes darting around the shop, it wasn’t all that crowded, but Gaius was of the opinion that crowded places are the best places for exchanging secrets. “Do you know how many people have their eyes on the same item you want? Don’t say these things openly, for crying out loud!”

“Demand’s high?”

“Not just that,” said Tsurugi, “but anyone whose explicit goal is the Crystal is a prime target for robbery. Fools from other places who ask to buy the Crystal openly are asking to be accosted and mugged a day later.”

“And all of this happens in Seireiden?”

“Regretfully, yes.” Tsurugi’s voice, which was already soft to begin with, weakened further. “This phenomenon started recently, after the abrupt appearance of Paragon Sasori. No one knows who he is, but those who have been keeping an eye out have noted an increase in crimes after he took office as Mi-Zu’s Undersecretary of Information. That’s why my family moved out of Mi-Zu…to tell the truth.”

“And you’re telling me this for…?” Gaius asked, quietly.

The young man looked at the boy. “You clearly aren’t anyone ordinary. Maybe you can do something about this. After all, Sasori was the latest recipient of the Crystal of True Restoration.”

“You’re setting him as my target…” Gaius’ words lapsed into speechlessness. Was it really alright for Tsurugi to reveal his intentions openly like this?

Well, he’s honest…somewhat, I guess. He might be thinking of something else, or plotting some grand masterplan while I’m acting as a distraction. Gaius looked at the young man with a different gaze and said, “I’ll think about it.”

To his side, Nakama continued to stuff her cheeks with ice-cream, clearly unaware of the conversation that had just happened.