To: the Hogosha Association

[Yak]

Yoi tsuitachi honourable friends.

I have recently had the... fortune?... to make the acquaintance of one Munen Musou, a member of the Sisterhood Of Dreams. As I am sure you are aware, the 'Sisterhood' is a particularly dangerous sub-sect of the Golden Chrysanthemums, and this is the reason I have entertained her request so far.

She seems to be searching for a particular artifact, apparently out of simple appreciation of its beauty. I am currently skeptical about this motivation, but if humouring her for now may give us an inroad to further information about the plans of the Sisterhood, perhaps it would be wise to continue.

Our organisation has had very little to do with the artifact trade, however I believe there are syndicates within your organisation who are indeed experts on the subject! This is why I come to you for help in this matter.

The only information I can provide about the artifact is that it has been on display in one of the museums on New Tokyo, and the following image:

Encrypted Image

If your organisation can gather any further information about this artifact, I would be most grateful. I hope we can turn this Chrysanthemum's request to our advantage, one way or another.

Arigato for your time.

Minoru Chiaki out.

[Redacted.Member1-4]

Kanemochi Katagawa - The New Tokyo Ravens

*Kanemochi was perusing a holopad, which exhibited images of several pieces of art and decoration. Even though just projections of a hologram, any of the pieces seemed to be masterfully made, and would probably tag an appropriately exorbitant price.

Kanemochi would usually present an expression of mild bemusement, since that was his own exorbitantly rich collection of Artifacts and Exotic goods, but instead he had a serious face, with a small tinge of frustration.*

"Minoru... Minoru was it? So be it, the servant of the Fox.

Can't say I am pleased with the news you bring me, servant. For once I pondered if you were just a group of expedite merchants, or maybe something more. Appeasers of those mongrels was one of the things I did not envision.

To be put in a position where you can be coerced by a lonely GC means that you failed to provide to yourself either the power to impose your will, or to deny hers. .... We will just blame on your inexperience, old man. This time.

Not only have you submitted to become a pawn for one of those women, women that will find no remorse or pity to dispose of you once you prove you have no use for them, should they find you again, but you came with news of her interest for artifacts.

Tawake! We keep an ongoing struggle to keep those depraved beings on a tight leash within Kusari, and now they dare to encroach on our trade? A Foolishness never seen by my eyes.

And yet, this artifact... *the image of the object in question appears in his holopad, and for a moment Kanemochi glare seems to gain a shine of his own, as if responding to his admiration of the object.*

This artifact should become part of my private collection, but seems fate brings no good news for my whims, or for your lady friend.

*he wipes aside the image, and a text log appears in its place*

It seems this particular artifact was indeed in a museum in New Tokyo, a donation by an influential Syndicate at that time... more than twenty years ago.

It was subsequently pulled from the exhibition by a government agency, and it was then diverted to the possession of a "significantly powerful" man. *Kanemochi says, remembering the the features of a large man, once said to be one of the great Governors within the Kusari politics*

But in the end, it was lost with the demise of that man, and disappeared from sight. Probably at the hands of Bretonian spies or something, we can't really tell. It all happened in the To... *he interrupts himself, turning his attention to the man in the comms*

That is all that you need to know, servant. The artifact existed, and now it's gone from Kusari. Destroyed, stolen by aliens, who knows. You really don't need to know.

*He casts the holopad to the fur trimmed sofa, and sits with a flair .*

You can go tell your degenerate lady friend that her search is over, and that if she can find mercy to spare your rear after that, you will be thankful.

Until then, I suggest you get a large bomb, so you can detonate her face if she even dares to utter a word back at us again. I'm sure we can provide one for your transport, old man. It would be an amusing sight to behold.

Call me back if you find any information about the artifact whereabouts, or if you managed to make the wench not puff an orange colored breath anymore.

Kanemochi Katagawa, Ovah!

---

The Hogosha Association

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[Yak]

**As the holo-screen flickers into life Minoru Chiaki's initially grim expression rapidly, but fluidly, transforms into a warm, benevolent smile as he extends his hands, palms upwards, in a gesture of friendly greeting...**

Yoi tsuitachi, revered Katagawa sama.

May I begin by telling you a short story from our planet?

There was once a man, a native of Planet Kyushu, who looked out across his home city and saw a plague that could be cured, where others simply saw just another symptom of poverty and the urban way of life. Walking the streets of the Kagoshima district of the planet, this man saw depravity and hunger, destitution and dishonour, but the thing that pained him most deeply was to see the victims of the cardamine trade, huddled in doorways at night, shivering and gaunt, deprived of their Kusarian dignity and honour.

The man had considerable influence, particularly within this district of Kyushu, and wielded this influence against the traffickers of the Orange Nightmare. In his campaign against the drug the man used every method at his disposal, calling in favours from local officials, destroying shipments, and where no other tactics would suffice, ensuring the dealers involved would... disappear.

For his actions against this curse, this man paid with his life, assassinated by a gang of cardamine traffickers.

That story ended almost exactly one year ago. The name of the man was Rokurota Mifune, our previous Oyabun, an honourable man, and a dear friend who's legacy we daily strive to preserve and enhance.

I hope you can call to mind the story of Mifune sama, and what he meant to every member of our organisation, the next time you think to label us as "friends" of cardamine users and distributors.

As to why we would treat with those "degenerates" of the Sisterhood of Dreams, as you so aptly put it... I believe you have provided an answer to your own puzzlement, Katagawa sama.

How long would it have been, I wonder before one of your own men, shooting first and questioning after, brought you this "news" of the Golden Chrysanthemum's interest in the artifact trade? Weeks, months perhaps?! As it stands, you have been presented with a problem that may yet be nipped in the bud, as opposed to the dire situation you may have faced if the flower were allowed to bloom and scatter its seeds to the winds!

As to my answer to this drug addict about the artifact she seeks, I see no reason to give her accurate information. Perhaps, if you are willing to lend your expertise to such an endeavour, we can use this as an opportunity to set a trap for these traitors who seek to deny their heritage?

I can see you are a man of action, but also a man of refinement, my hope is that this allows you to see the merits not only of brute force, but also the more subtle use of information and disinformation... you can use as large and sharp a hook as you will, but it is the fisherman who baits his lure that gets fed in the evening.

I will await your response, although it is possible that you may speak with Oyabun Makabe next time, we are expecting his return soon. Either way it has, as always, been my pleasure Katagawa sama.

Minoru Chiaki out.


**Before reaching to turn off the holo-recorder, Minoru performs a small formal bow, obviously hesitant, but sincere...**