Takeda had been sitting quietly in the back, looking over his documents. He was a man of few words, usually, unless he meant business; Men who talked too much were often a liability in the Hogosha. Often these men could be picked out in a crowd due to missing fingers. Takeda had all of his, and was using them to sort the significant amount of information presented to him, the majority of it heavily redacted. It would raise questions of exactly what he was hiding...
The man glanced up at the conversations of the Fisherman and the Lady. Filing through a series of papers. One one of them, was an esoterically printed card. A paper talisman more suited to a Shinto Priest or a Fortune Teller. It was a reminder of things past, and present. However, dwelling on matters of the past was not relevent. A number of issues had been raised and it was his chosen turn to speak. He quickly stood from his table, at the far back of the room, speaking to his fellows over the rim of his glasses.
"You have raised a number of valid concerns. However let me remind all of you that we are in a new power now. Traditionally the Hogosha syndicates have relied on the unquestioning support of Samura and the Government. The Black Dragon Society was always symbiotic with both Tenno Kogen's supporters as well as the Artisan Farmers' Alliance. Now, understand that I have sung praises of the Farmers' Party, and will continue to do so, but overall both they and the Black Dragons were only successful because they existed in a political environment where they had endless kickbacks and de-facto legal immunity.
We no longer have this. We have a Kishiro Regime which will certainly have not forgotten our past grievances and association with Samura. Moreover, we have a Samura which is much less capable and willing to support it's previous political obligations. Times are much harder for the association and all other supporters of the old order because they have to fight for what they desire.
Truth be told, the old syndicates are spineless. They can't adapt. They can't make a comeback without the unity of the Association."
He would begin to pace the room, continuing to speak, not looking at anyone in particular aside from the occasional glance."If the association is to survive it must be much more assertive in it's position, much more willing to branch out and work with those parties whom are willing to hold to the old traditions. Samura would not dare abandon us wholesale simply because they know how much political dirt we can dump on them should they choose to force our hand.
Kishiro simply cannot be trusted. It has had a taste of power and it wants market dominance. Like a spoiled child it will continue to lash out until it achieves it's ends. Perhaps by subtle means, perhaps overtly.
Overall, our best course of action is to renew and strengthen our ties with both the Corsairs and the Traditionalists of Kusari. From the former we will receive artifacts and from the latter we will receive a bed of community support and be able to broaden nationalist sentiment. A desire for the stability and spiritual unity of the old order. Their hearts are with us, but their willpower is weak. In the new regime they are deafened under a cacophany of squabbling voices from every special interest group, every traitor, every political saboteur, and every derranged lunatic under Kusari's Suns."
He would then pause, turning and looking over the assembled bosses and ladies in a theatrical, and well rehearsed manner. The same used when speaking to political constituents.
"I need each and every one of you here to understand this: The Hogosha as an institution and tradition cannot survive if there is not some levy of support from the Public and the State. We must take actions to restore our traditional position as protectors of the old ways, keepers of the peace, and vanguards of the national body and spirit of Kusari. We need to take hold of our destiny and nudge the republic toward a state which supports the growth of the Syndicates as it did in the time of Tenno Kogen. That is all I have to say."
With that, he would turn and walk over to the Fisherman, whispering over his shoulder quietly, so that the others would not hear, and remembering what precisely that talisman meant.
"We need to speak privately after this. It is urgent."
Takeda turned and went over to his table, sitting down and sorting through his dossiers once more. Glancing up every now and then at the assembled association members.
