Imperial Court of the Blood Dragon Shogunate

[Dab]

Zetsumai was unimpressed, and her expression showed it.

"There is quite a difference in accepting the help of the Outcasts, and allowing your organization to grasp at ruling in Kusari, at any level." Zetsumai swept her hand towards Kaiten, where he stood at the edge of the crowd. "Everyone in this room can also observe, with his or her own eyes, that the man leading this particular group of Outcasts who are helping us, is a Kusarian himself, and my brother. I stand by my statement saying that those not born Kusarian have no right to be in any position of power within Kusari. My brother, Kaiten Keisotsu, is of Kusari birth, and has ceaselessly helped me and my people whenever we needed him. None of this can be said for the Consortium. Your people were not born here. Your leader was not born here. You have no claim to power in Kusari, and that you act as if you do is troubling to us."

"The concerns over the Storta Destroyer outside of Kyoto.. Yes, it is true that it is there. This is known to the Dragon's leadership, and they have not yet asked for it to be removed. Make no mistake, that destroyer was not sent by the Outcasts or under their orders, but at my own request. The commander of that ship is Kaiten, a Kusarian himself. I trust the Blood Dragons to trust in turn that he is as fond of Kusari as they, and would take no action to harm it or those loyal to it. I have reasons for asking for that vessel to be brought here, and it in no way reflects doubts in the Dragon's hospitality, nor is it in any way a threat."

"Times are changing, in that you are right. But just because time continues to go on, with or without our consent, and that there are many things in this world we cannot control, it does not mean we should lower our standards or accept that which we should not, and which our minds tell us we should not."

"As this world grows and goes on, the people in it change. Friendships come and go, trust is earned and lost, wars are lost and won... And as the world grows, so does man. And like fungus grows in the dark, dank places of worlds, so does ambition and greed in the dark corners of man's mind."

"The Blood Dragons call it honor, we Chrysanthemums call it purity.. Many people have many names to describe a virtuous disposition towards the world and people in it, and for a kind and helpful inclination. But in this world we share, this trait has became less and less common, and less and less respected. Mankind has changed, yes. But if for the better, it isn't clear. What I can be sure of is this; In this world, those you can trust are few, and those who make the biggest efforts to please are those you must guard your strongest against, for it is in the pursuit of greed and ambition that man will adopt any face to fool those around him."

"Of honor and purity, I have seen none from you or your kind. Just demands, requests, and promises. You have given us no reason to trust you, and I do not believe you have earned the right to be trusted. You say every step you take is calculated, serves a purpose... But what purpose? And what mind has calculated it? An insane man may calculate just as the sane do, and reach the opposite conclusion. A mean man may calculate just as a kind one, and reach a selfish decision rather than a selfless one. I, for one, would rather trust in a man's heart and man's mind, than in the mechanical organs and computer processes that have replaced those items in you."

"We must ensure Kusari is not overrun by foreign powers, just as you say. This is a good decision, and I fully agree with it... And I also say that in pursuit of such a thing, that your removal from Kusari is a just and good decision as well, for you are one of those foreign powers, and I have no delusions that if you could take control of Kusari for yourselves, you would not hesitate to do so."

"Along with that, you preach that we should begin direct conflict with Kusari, rather than the guerrilla attacks and what you call 'simple minded' tactics. I do not like to be called simple minded, and I think that is something everyone else in this room shares. Our current tactics have proven to be effective. Look at the current government, the state Samura is in. They both are on the decline, while the more progressively-thinking Kishiro and Gas Miners Guild are rising up past them. I would not call success such as this as an indication of needing to change. What you suggest would do nothing but result in the destruction of our ships and the death of our pilots. We are not a navy, and cannot match the power of one in open combat. If you wish to sacrifice people's lives, do it with your own, and not with ours. We shall conduct ourselves in the best manner that allows us to further our goals, and we do not need your approval on how we operate. I believe we all know that the Blood Dragons, with their guerrilla attacks and 'simple minded' tactics, have accomplished far more than your Consortium."

"When we succeed in full, and roust that fool that currently sits on the Emperor's throne, I don't see why the Consortium would need, or would want, any stake in the military or industrial affairs of Kusari. It sounds like you want to use the industry of Kusari to strengthen yourselves, and the military to support you further, for purposes you have still refused to elaborate on. What are your goals once we finally liberate this nation? What would you want from us? And what would you use it for? This is a topic the Consortium has been asked in the past, and one you have never given a clear answer to, but instead twisted the subject away. Well, I say now is the best of time for you to be completely clear on what your motives truly are."

"Why are you in Bretonia? Why are you in Kusari? You want to postpone the issue of everyone's position in regards to who will rule what in Kusari after a successful revolution.. But why keep it in the dark? What part of our nation would the Consortium demand in return for its help?"

"You have not convinced me. You are still as vague as ever, and still leave the topic of your motives and goals untouched and ignored. I think it is time we see where the Consortium stands. Any further discussion is pointless with this topic still to be addressed."

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