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Oni nodded, but there was an aura of distrust about him that never quite left “How is it no one else has uncovered this infor for the Honjo Masa”

“I have access to records they cannot see,” Han said “Governators speculated on this exact possibility as early as 1955, but by then Japan had become utterly dependent on America”

He picked up a glass of cha the country to rebuild Exports to the United States were growing rapidly, creating a new class of wealthy businessmen, while American ships, planes and soldiers protected the country fro the situation, those in power decided that nothing would be allowed to dae that relationship, least of all the sudden reappearance of a sword that was linked to Japanese nationalis families who’d pushed Japan into war Nor could they explain its disappearance without iood politicians do: they buried the information in bureaucratic piles of paper that would reach to the ated and the truth went dormant”

“Are you certain of these facts?” Oni asked

“It’s not possible to be certain,” Han said “But if the swords are not with the monks, then they are lost forever But, there is also theto Masamune and his descendants It reveals his secrets Hissuch masterworks”

O

ni seeuard “You’ve never shown any interest in collecting Why would you start now?”

“I’m not here to answer your questions,” Han said “But let’s just say, I have a sudden interest in the independence of my mother’s country And if you do as I tell you, not only will I grant you wealth but a new life and a full pardon for your crimes”

“Now I know you’re lying,” Oni said “I think I’ll just take what you owe o”

Han shrugged He was done with the hard sell He pulled a ser than a norhed heavy in the hand and had a nuon on the other

“Thiscontract,” he said “Take it to any table, they’ll give you high-denomination chips to play with Or if you wish, take it directly to the cage They will pay you in Aer denoe your mind, hold on to the marker and call me, we’ll discuss the new deal when you’re ready”

Han placed the chip on the table beside theOni stepped forward and picked up the golden disk He felt its heft in his hand as he weighed the options in front of him

He glanced at Han once and then looked out through the glass to the activity below His feverish eyes widened “No,” he whispered

“The choice is yours”

But Oni was neither listening nor addressing the question of the new contract He was staring at a figure on the ay one level below “No, it can’t be”