Searching Sakai

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Searching Sakai was a virtual representation of one of Fujibayashi Naoe's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Naoe travels to Sakai in search of blacksmiths who may have knowledge of the individual who owned a golden-clad teppo that killed her father.

Dialogue

Naoe arrived in Sakai, overhearing a few merchants.

• Merchant 1: He refused to listen to reason. Complaining he spent a fortune to get Sokyu's favour. He said he would collect on his investment.
• Merchant 2: Master Sokyu can afford to pick and choose. He has Lord Nobunaga's ear.

Naoe headed to the Sakai Firearm District, and saw a merchant making sale pitches about his swords.

• Merchant: My swords are forged from fine Sakai steel.

Naoe spoke to the merchant.

• Naoe: Do you sell teppo?
• Merchant 1: (sighs) Everyone's impressed with teppo, but they can't beat a sharp blade. Can I show you some swords?
• Naoe: No. Thank you.

Naoe headed down the street and found a teppo merchant.

• Merchant 2: A good teppo is worth ten soldiers.

Naoe spoke to the merchant.

• Naoe: Do you have any teppo trimmed with gold?
• Merchant 2: Why do you want that? It doesn't help you shoot any better.
• Naoe: It's for a gift.
• Merchant 2: Sorry. I'm not artisan. I just sell them.

Naoe continued down the street and found a weapons blacksmith.

• Merchant 3: You won't find better weapons anywhere outside Sakai.
• Naoe: I'm looking for a teppo with gold ornaments.
• Merchant 3: (scoffs) Why settle for gold? I have some of the purest Tamba silver. I know an artisan who can pound some on. For a small fee.
• Naoe: No. It has to be gold.
• Merchant 3: No! No gold! Silver!
• Naoe: I'm wasting my time here.

Naoe then overheard a conversation in a nearby alley.

• Asajiro: You say you want to sell teppo? These letters can get you a meeting with any teppo trader in town!
• Yakichi: Lower your voice! You'll get me in trouble.

Naoe entered the alley and hide behind a nearby fence, eavesdropping the two gunsmiths.

• Asajiro: These letters are the key to the better life, brother. Access to Imai Sokyu himself. He may invite you to a tea ceremony.
• Yakichi: You're a fool! Sokyu's son knows me. He won't believe that I suddenly hold contracts, for... for "thirty bars of silver for the Portuguese of Nagasaki" or "a shipment of Tanegashima teppo" for Oda Nobunaga. These forgeries could fool Lord Nobunaga. One bears his seal!
• Naoe: That looks suspicious, even by Sakai standards.
• Yakichi: If I am caught in this lie, I'll be barred from all trade. You have wasted our mon on these forgeries.
• Asajiro: I used your mon since you would be the one to profit from this.
• Yakichi: What? My mon? How much did this cost me?

Naoe came out of hiding and approached the two gunsmiths.

• Asajiro: Who are you?
• Yakichi: Are you with the Imai?
• Asajiro: Don't be a fool. She's just some street thief who heard your childish cries.
• Naoe: Who or what I am does not matter. Give me the papers and carry on with your lives.
• Yakichi: What letters? I don't know what you're talking about.
• Naoe: I don't want to hurt either of you, but I will have those letters.
• Yakichi: You can have them. They're not worth our lives.
• Asajiro: If you want them so bad, you could pay us. Five hundred mon.
• Naoe: You are testing my patience. Do you know what I am? My people are born to kill. I am shinobi.

The gunsmiths decided to run away. Naoe chased after the man named Asajiro and was forced to kill him. From his body, she recovered the contracts.

• Naoe: These letters will help me pass as a trader. Maybe I can barter a way in finding the woman with the gold teppo.

Naoe headed to the southwestern part of Sakai.

• Naoe: All right, Naoe. From now on, in Sakai, you must be someone else.

After a shortwile, she reached the residence of the Imai family and entered the house. There, she approached and greeted both Sokyu and Sokun.

• Imai Sokun: No one enters House Imai uninvited.

Sokun led Naoe to the house's entrance.

• Naoe: Forgive my ignorance, I'm a trader and would like to speak with Master Sokyu. I'm told he knows everyone in Sakai.
• Imai Sokun: That's true, but he doesn't grant an audience to just any merchant who comes to his door.
• Naoe: I'm not just any merchant. I bring letters. Trade contracts.
• Imai Sokun: Let me see.

Naoe handed over the documents she acquired from the gunsmiths to Sokun.

• Imai Sokun: "Silver for Nagasaki..." My father has some holdings and I could help with you that... And order of Tanegashima teppo... This bears the seal of Lord Nobunaga. You do know my father is his tea master?
• Naoe: Of course.
• Imai Sokun: And that my father supplies teppo for Lord Nobunaga's army? You're either very naiive or increadibly bold.
• Naoe: I heard you need to take risks to succeed in Sakai. Why should we be rivals when we can work together?
• Imai Sokun: You are more shrewd than I took you for. We can find what you need for a modest share of the profit. What shall I call you?
• Naoe: Sanuki.
• Imai Sokun: I am Sokun. Welcome to Sakai. Nothing in this city comes without cost. Except that piece of advice. I have business in town. Walk with me and we'll take the measure of each other.

Sokun led Naoe to follow him as they walk through the town.

• Naoe: The people know you.
• Imai Sokun: They know the Imai family.
• Naoe: Are all tea masters so revered in Sakai?
• Imai Sokun: Only a few, but my father is much more than that. He would be first to tell you so.
• Naoe: You do not respect your father?
• Imai Sokun: I do. It takes a smart man to rise as high as he. A hard man. I hope to have such steel in me when the family business is mine. And speaking of business, excuse me while I deal with a minor affair.

Naoe stood by as Sokun approached a merchant, who performed a zarei as a greeting.

• Imai Sokun: Shota! You still owe us money. Imai Sokyu is displeased.

After greeting, the merchant got up.

• Merchant: These are hard times. You will have your money next week.
• Imai Sokun: Lord Nobunaga may be coming for a visit. He too would be annoyed by this inconvenience.
• Merchant: You will have it tomorrow!

After the matter is resolved, Naoe continued to walk with Sokun.

• Naoe: You and your father know Lord Nobunaga personally?
• Imai Sokun: He is Lord Nobunaga's tea master. My father owes much of his fortune and influence to him. In return, we advocate for Lord Nobunaga in Sakai.
• Naoe: I didn't think someone like Lord Nobunaga cared for culture.
• Imai Sokun: On the contrary. He takes the ceremony very seriously. He wishes to show his mastery on and off the field of battle.
• Naoe: Some call him a tyrant.
• Imai Sokun: Not loudly. Some think his actions extreme, others call him daring. But no one has united this warring land the way he has.
• Naoe: You... admire him?
• Imai Sokun: I respect his effectiveness. These are uncertain times, but the Imai clan will thrive so long as Lord Nobunaga has power.

They passed by a bunch of Portuguese merchants speaking in their tongue.

• Naoe: Do you speak that tongue?
• Imai Sokun: Portuguese? A little. You can hear more and more of it spoken in our streets. It makes some nervous.
• Naoe: That they might invade?
• Imai Sokun: That they take over our markets. We need to control the sea trade. That will be my legacy.

They reached and entered Sokun's business office.

• Imai Sokun: This is my office.

Imai sat down at his table, with Naoe following as well. The two were served sake.

• Naoe: I thought you had business in town.
• Imai Sokun: In Sakai, deals are sealed over sake.

Sokun poured a cup of sake and gave a toast to Naoe.

• Naoe: I'd rather you invite me for tea. I hear those ceremonies can open doors.
• Imai Sokun: My father serves tea to the most powerful in the land. Why would he sit down with you?
• Naoe: With the approval of House Imai, I'll bring in bigger, better contracts. To our mutual profit.
• Imai Sokun: That is exactly the degree of boldness one needs to survive, and thrive, in Sakai. Very well, I'll speak to my father. To success.
• Naoe: There is one more thing I would ask. They say Sakai leads the teppo trade. I'd like to meet merchants of that sort, or even other women with an interest there.
• Imai Sokun: A gathering of women with an interest in teppo? That's worth proposing just to see his reaction. I'll ask him. Inform yourself ontea etiquette, then find yourself some more appropriate robes. A kosode, perhaps?
• Naoe: Of course. These are my travelling clothes.
• Imai Sokun: Very good. Take the time you need to prepare, and then return to House Imai.

Naoe bowed and then left Sokun's office.

• Naoe: The kosode for the tea ceremony will be part of my disguise. I'll need to choose wisely.

Outcome

Naoe posed as a trader and met Imai Sokun, convincing him to allow a meeting with his father as well as organizing a gathering for women with interest the teppo trade. She was asked to prepare for the ceremony by learning tea etiquettes and obtaining a proper attire.