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Mariko’s heart thundered in her chest She needed to warn her falanced sidelong at Ōkami "Why are we here to raid and ransack these people?" Mariko asked in an even tone "They have not done anything to you"

"We are not here to raid and ransack them," he said "We are here to" His head tilted to one side "Redistribute"

"Excusethe people who live and work on his land for years"

"What?" Mariko exclai "I’ve never heard--"

"He lives well beyond his hter’s dowry A dowry he stole from his people in order to buy his way into influence"

A lie!

Mariko opened her mouth to refute his words To defend her faan to slither across her body The tiniest seed of doubt

Hattori Kano was not a bad hter to further his own prominence It was not unusual for aIt was true Hattori Kano had alished for Mariko to be different Wished for her to forswear her childish wishes and be more than what she was Those had been his last words to her But he had not been a bad father He’d cared for Mariko Provided her guidance and attention

A man like this wouldn’t rob his own people blind Not si a foothold in Heian Castle

Nevertheless, the seed of doubt took root in Mariko’s hter for the barest measure of influence Not even a seat in the imperial court And hermore than his fair share of his people’s crops, herHer brother would not know to pay attention

And Mariko?

I’ve been blind to so ht I possessed the truth so often

When in truth I’ve possessed nothing

"Do you not believe us?" Ranh you do not"

"It’s not that I don’t believe you It’s that I can’t believe a daimyō would be so careless with his own people"

Ōka in the footsteps of his eht unsettles you, why don’t you journey into the village nearby?" Ranmaru said "And see the truth for yourself"

"You would trust rinned "Take soht, her eyes lifted to Ōkaht," the leader of the Black Clan finished "We will raid the granaries and storehouses then"

--

"So this is what you do" Mariko pronounced it as a statement of fact "This is the true work of the Black Clan Redistributing the wealth you steal to those less fortunate, like the woh the edges of a village on the southern side of her fa in response

"And you truly think your actions won’t hurt the people of this province?" Mariko pressed

"No," Ōkami said "Just wound the pockets of Hattori Kano And if the Dragon of Kai happens to be killed in the process, so be it"

Anguish knifed deep within Mariko’s chest She desperately wanted to protest To offer soument They did not even know if Kenshin was truly the one responsible for Akira-san’s death!

And yet

Her mind descended in a whirl Theparty Perhaps then she could find a way to warn one of her family’s servants before it was too late Before the unthinkable occurred

And if it should occur anywayMariko had another weapon at the ready

She studied the expanse of land before theh the sun had already set,away any weeds and fending off the countless insects that always plagued the harvest The golden stalks of rice were growing tall Usually Mariko loved the harvesting ti thenew ideas in her mind