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Han bowed slightly “I apologize, Lao-shi”

Wen released Han froa another black stone “The ore, as we so blithely call it, is the key to the future Like bronze over copper and iron over bronze History has always been a tale of who has the sharpest and strongest sword, the lightest and most resilient armor The nation that controls the Golden Adaest we dig in the same exhausted location”

Han cocked his head to the side “But there are no other deposits”

“None that have yet been found,” Wen replied

“With all due respect, Lao-shi, we’ve had people scouring the world for years We’ve found no trace of this alloy anywhere Not in Africa, South Ahout our own territory or on the volcanic islands in the South Pacific Nowhere that we expected it to be We’ve taken ten thousand core sa beyond this one source”

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“All true,” Wen said “Nevertheless, I’ve developed information about another deposit that may exist, and far closer than one would think” He pointed to the board “Please, make your move”

Han looked down at the board He found it hard to concentrate on the ga in the balance Still, a quick look revealed his side was in a perilous situation His white stones were being surrounded Any additional moves he made would only put Wen in a better position He had to hope the old Master would make a mistake “Pass,” he said

Wen nodded “That is your right”

“Please, my friend Tell me, where is this other deposit?”

Across fro the s it on the board “Somewhere on the island of Honshu”

Han took a second to process the answer “Japan? The home island?”

“Possibly offshore,” Wen said “But most likely on the mainland And if I’m correct, very near the surface”

The words were spoken without emotion, but Han felt the wind knocked out of him “How do you know this? And, more importantly, how can this possibly help us? Even if we find it, we can’tdetected And should we try and be discovered, all we’ll have acco the existence of the ore to the attention of the Japanese And thatour adversary the very thing we seek to control ourselves”

“Precisely,” Wen said “And for that reason we have yet to follow up on the initial information”