Heavenfall

"There are others, although I think that my position has been... Misunderstood."

"Oh? In what way? It sounded like you were trying, or perhaps hoping, to train people to be alone in each city or village, and watch for those that overreach. Appearing to bow to the whims of fate and power, but actually just preparing to slash back, as a bent willow branch eventually does."

"Let us say that those who follow my lead are to exercise... judgment- and to act alone only when all else has failed."

"mmm. My point is, even those most alone need something, someone else. Someone to keep lines of communication open. Someone to allow them to know, though their watch is inactive, there is nothing for them to watch that is wrong, there are others that will come if called. That though they are alone in person, they are not alone in spirit. I run a mine, I have told many this. But, almost as often as not, I am also down here, in your empire, leading or running trading caravans. Not even the Isawa can stand completely alone. You need a branch like that."

"Another area to think of is a safe point. A place, out of the way, where records, ones that should not be let out, but are totally accurate, are kept. A Secret Library, available only to a few. Because, no matter how sincere Shiba is, eventually his descendants will do things they don't want recorded. And it will need to be known, when the inevitable blowback occurs. And that is an area I might be able to help with, should you agree it might be a good idea."

Kyosei doesn't always show it - but he has a crisp mind, one that attacks problems from many directions. Partly it is his training. But a lot is his own way of thinking things through.

"Those are useful resources to have, and if we did not trust in you we would not have told you what we did. Just remember that forces open and hidden would seek to crush this if they knew so discretion is of the utmost importance."

"We do try to make a point of not getting too... centralized."

"That is a thought - have multiple fallbacks, and multiple libraries. One that is open, and known to most, and another known as a backup to higher ranking ones. And a third and fourth known only to a very few. Again, I was thinking. My mine - there are several open areas, that are mined out, and no longer used. Some things could be stored there, without much if any comment."

"I am certainly not averse with sharing copies of my records at least."

"Given what my bunch may well get up to, having actual records of who's where and what's been authorized where they can be accessed certainly makes sense."

"I would agree to that. I would hope then, in the future that will be, you might also agree to support, in some way, the adding of the Isawa, when the Empire advances too far. When we must make a choice. Hmm?"

"Oh, I'm all for it. Have been for a while."

"Then, we appear to be in agreement. Now, do either of you wish to take the... odd obsidian arrowhead? Or should it, perhaps, be the first item held in the mine?"

"The, ah... spiritual dimensions of the arrowhead make it a bit dangerous to entrust to me. I might not recognize a mistake in handling it until it was too late."

Jin grimaces at the mention of the object, "I think securely locked away somewhere is a good place for it if you truly believe it will be safe and untouched there."

"There is a cavern. Where I first spoke to the spirits. It is no higher than my body when I am lying down. And, somehow, it can't be changed - it is impervious to any tools we have, or have used. I think something like that might work..."

"Be advised, I may inform the Emperor that we've trusted the Tribe of Isawa with the safekeeping of dangerous materials. It may help guide his policy."

"And? It is, in the end, mine, not the Empires."

"Merely a factor for him to weigh when making decisions."