Too Old to Be Useless

[Zelot]

Keko returned to the table a few minutes later. She was obviously nervous, but just as obviously, her boss had told her to come back and sit down. Miguel had assumed as much would happen. He ordered the woman another drink and one for himself. Miguel played the game, and mindlessly talked to Keko, he knew she was fairly unimportant in this whole thing. He knew someone was just using her to try and look after him, and he figured this was his way in. Miguel didn'€™t know anyone in the leadership of the Hogosha any longer. In the past, he had trusted contacts in Kusari, but when the Emperor was deposed, all that changed, and the people who knew, were now mostly dead or in jail.



Miguel had like the Emperor, Kogen, well enough, they had never met in person, but had some communications. Kogen was a strong leader, and with his fall, the protection his strength provided had fallen away just as quickly. In the changing Kusari, the old timers were in jeopardy. If Miguel wanted to corner the trade from Kusari to Crete, he needed to make some contacts with the new kids on the scene. That'€™s why he had come here, and it looked like it was working.



About five minutes later, a small Kusari man in a very fancy suit came up to the table and sat down. The suit was grey silk, and he wore a gold tie with it. His hair was ink black and short, and his skin was fairly dark for a Kusari. He finished off the look with gold rimmed sunglasses, even though they were clearly indoors.



Looking over at Miguel, the man began to speak. '€œElder Sephardi,'€ was all the man got out before Miguel cut him off. '€œLet'€™s dispense with that '€œElder'€ business. I no longer sit on the Council of Elders, nor do I lead the Brotherhood, so I think Miguel will work just fine for our purposes. And your name is?'€ Miguel asked without missing a beat. The man looked a bit taken off guard, after all recognition of status was a big thing in Kusari society. '€œI am Sisan Tokana, hand of the Dragon'€™s Foot organization.'€ The man said, his chest puffing out with pride as he explained his position. The Hand of an organization of the Hogosha was the man who ran its operations day to day. It was considered a fairly high rank among the Hogosha.



The man started to talk again, '€œElder Seph'€¦. Excuse me, Miguel, I must say, Keko here is concerned she is in danger, would you care to explain to her that isn'€™t true?'€ He said, trying to sound protective in front of his employee. Miguel reached into his pocket and pulled out a large fold of bills. '€œHere sweetie,'€ he said handing her the cash '€œsorry, didn'€™t mean to scare you, just needed to get your boss'€™s attention. Why don'€™t you scurry off now so the men can talk.'€ He said, and the young woman quickly hurried off. Miguel looked at the Kusari man across from him and quickly began to talk again, not wanting to give the other man time to consider his options. '€œTokana-san. You obviously know who I am, so I am curious as to why you felt the need to have someone spy on me? That doesn'€™t seem to be the appropriate way to treat those of us who have been long time friends of the Hogosha.'€



Tokana ordered a drink and then responded once the waiter was out of earshot. '€œIt'€™s not every day that someone of your standing shows up at the Golden Dragon unannounced Miguel. With the change in government here, we have had to be very, very careful not to bring any undue attention to ourselves and our activity. Senor Sephardi, to be honest, we have to know what you are up to. This is not the same Kusari as last year. So much has changed, and the only thing holding the Hogosha on the razor'€™s edge of legitimacy is our discretion. We can'€™t have you coming in here and kicking up the hornet'€™s nest right now.'€ Tokana finished as the waited returned with his drink, taking a long sip, it was clear to Miguel, this man knew just how precarious the situation in Kusari was. He might work, Miguel thought to himself.

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