At dawn, Kofi stirred from his sleep, stretching his limbs as the first light of morning crept through the wooden shutters. He rubbed his eyes, glancing around the dimly lit room. The sound of rustling parchment drew his attention to the far corner.

  There, hunched over a pile of maps, was Imei, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. His fingers traced various routes and marked locations, muttering under his breath.

  Before Kofi could even say, "Good morning," Imei started rambling, his voice animated.

  "The Northern Outposts have reinforced their numbers—Commander Gensai has stationed an extra three hundred men near the Kanashiri Ridge. If we take the western pass, we can avoid them, but then we run into patrols stationed near the Daiyu Rice Fields. And then there’s the issue of—"

  Imei suddenly looked up.

  "Oh. Good morning, Kofi."

  Kofi, still groggy, blinked. "Morning…"

  Before he could say another word, Imei cut him off again.

  "We need to get going. Wake the rest up."

  "Wait… no breakfast?" Kofi asked, incredulous.

  Imei barely looked up from his maps. "We'll eat at Ina Inn once we reach the city."

  Kofi sighed, shredding at the thought of starting the day on an empty stomach.

  Kofi shuffled over to where Sawai and Lima lay sprawled out, their snores competing with the morning birds.

  He crouched down and nudged Lima. "Wake up."

  No response.

  He poked Sawai. "Time to move."

  A grunt. A turn. Silence.

  Kofi smirked, grabbed a nearby bucket of cold well water, and without hesitation, poured it over their faces.

  "GAAAH!"

  Sawai shot up, drenched, arms flailing. "WHAT THE—?!"

  Lima sat bolt upright, spluttering. "KOFI!"

  Kofi grinned. "Good morning, gentlemen."

  Sawai groaned, shaking the water from his hair. "You’re enjoying this too much."

  "Maybe," Kofi admitted. "Now get up. No breakfast till Ina Inn."

  Lima flopped back down. "I hate mornings."

  With their retinue of seven men from the settlement, the group made their way to the stables. Rows of strong, well-groomed horses stood tethered, their breath visible in the cool morning air.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  One horse caught Kofi’s eye—a brown stallion with a glistening mane, powerful yet graceful.

  He stepped closer, reaching out a hand to its muzzle. "This one…"

  Shigen, noticing his interest, nodded to the stable keeper. "That one’s yours."

  The stable keeper handed the reins over, and before Kofi could protest, Shigen paid for the horse.

  Kofi beamed. "Thank you, old man."

  Lima smirked. "Kofi, smiling again? Who are you, and what have you done with our brooding companion?"

  Sawai snorted. "Don’t let it get to your head, Kofi. It's just a horse."

  Kofi mounted up, patting the stallion’s neck. "We’ll see."

  They rode for three hours, the landscape shifting as they neared Shuri, the capital of Tanna. From the top of a hill, they finally caught sight of it—a city enclosed by massive stone walls, surrounded by vast farmlands, a grand canal, a bustling dock, and various military outposts.

  Kofi took it all in, but his attention was drawn to men standing by the roadside, whispering amongst themselves.

  Sawai frowned. "The people… they seem tense."

  Lima nodded. "Oppressed."

  Kofi felt it too—a silent tension, an unease in the air.

  Imei turned his horse to face them, spreading his arms.

  "Welcome to Shuri, the Capital of Tanna."

  The gates of Shuri creaked open with a great noise, guards pulling them apart.

  Sawai, riding beside Kofi, leaned in. "These guards… their sleeves are different from the ones we saw that night."

  Kofi noted the change—a different emblem, a different command.

  Before he could reply, a contingent of horsemen galloped from beneath the walls, forming a disciplined line. Their armor gleamed in the sunlight as they greeted Shigen with a formal salute.

  At their head rode a man with piercing gray eyes, his expression calm but unreadable. He dismounted and pressed his left fist into his right palm, holding it before his face—a sign of deep respect.

  "Shigen-dono. Imei-dono. Welcome back to Shuri."

  Shigen nodded but remained silent.

  The man continued. "We regret the misunderstanding that occurred previously. I give my word—I will fully pledge my support to your cause… if it does not cost me my head."

  Kofi and the others exchanged glances.

  Sawai muttered, "This guy's a big deal, isn’t he?"

  Lima nodded. "He's afraid of picking the wrong side."

  Shigen chuckled but said nothing, simply riding forward without another word.

  Kofi now understood. This man was no ordinary officer—he was one of the real power players in Shuri.

  As they passed through the gates, the atmosphere inside was different. There was laughter, chatter, the aroma of food from street vendors. But Kofi's attention was drawn upward.

  Standing on a high balcony, watching the streets below, was a young woman.

  She had shining green eyes, flowing black hair, and wore robes that spoke of nobility. Their gazes locked—for what felt like an eternity.

  Then—pain.

  A sharp edge touched his throat.

  Kofi turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing at the spear pressed against his skin—held by a guard who sneered at him.

  "You—watch where you look, outsider."

  Kofi held his ground.

  Shigen, ahead of them, suddenly snapped, "Some girls are too high for you, Kofi, unless you’re looking to get yourself killed."

  His voice was casual, but the meaning was clear. Be careful.

  Then, turning to the rest, he ordered, "From now on, keep a low profile. If possible, leave your weapons at the inn."

  They obeyed, securing their weapons before heading into Ina Inn, where a man already sat, waiting.

  As soon as Shigen stepped inside, the man leaned forward and spoke.

  "I have been waiting for you, Shigen-dono."

  Shigen bowed respectfully.

  "Kanou Shogun. Long time no see."

  [End of Chapter 8]