The Minamoto country was once a small territory located on the ports but it has grown to control most of the eastern ports. It has relations with many outside countries and has grown extremely wealthy. In roughly a decade it has expanded six times its original size and has grown to possess enough power to rival the Yamashiki country. The post emperor was a good man and only done things that would benefit the country and its allies. However the emperor suddenly died and his son took over. Unlike his father, the son took his power for granted. He made rash decisions that only granted short term benefits and it is because of him that the Minamoto country's growth has stopped lately.
However it still stands as an enemy to the Yamashiki country.
When the three of them returned to the study Kazuki began to investigate. "They wouldn't do it right? Even if they want to they wouldn't do such an action that would expose them so easily."
Juji nodded his head. "I agree. They wouldn't take such reckless decisions even if the emperor wants to, his advisors would not let him."
Of course Naoki knows of this but who else would be behind this then? Could it be the Mugo clan?
"Juki find out what the Mugo clan has been doing over these couple of years and report them back to me." Juji nodded and walked out of the room.
"Naoki, you don't that it's the Mugo clan behind all this aren't you? You've already sent for a report to be done on them about their actions these couple of years." Kazuki said.
Naoki let out a sigh. "I don't know but something tells me that they are related to this."
"Kazuki, find out who came in contact with those people before and after their death." Naoki ordered.
"Hai." Immediately Kazuki went to do his task.
~The next morning~
"The first victim is a servant of a samurai. He is 45 years old and has one daughter who is now married to a fisherman. His wife died eight years ago and after his daughter married out of the house he has been serving the samurai ever since.
The samurai he was serving lives in the outskirts of the country by himself. So from before his death and after his death he has only been in contact with the samurai and the maid that found him. However according the the maid, there has been very little contact and she has only seen him for at most 5 times.
The next victim is a young girl about 14 years old. She collapsed on the road on her way to her fiance's house. She works as a seamstress and it seems that only her family and her fiance has had direct contact with her.
The third victim is a 21 year old mother of three children. She was found dead on the floor of her house and only her children and husband has come in contact with her.
The next victim is an elderly women that lives off the streets. The fifth person is the young son of a nobility and the last victim is the servant of a shop owner. This servant was ordered to get the orders from the port when he suddenly collapsed. Before his death he has come in contact with a bunch of people but after his death besides the soldiers a young boy examined him."
"A young boy?" Naoki asked and Kazuki nodded.
"Who is the boy?"
"Apparently he is new so I still need to investigate." Kazuki answered.
Naoki sat down on his chair and looked at Kazuki. His eyes were full of darkness. "Find out who he is." He ordered.
"Hai." Kazuki bowed and left the room.
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In the yard of a cozy little house, a young man could be seen tending to his crops. Mirai is crouched over the patch of rotten cabbages and investigating the plants.
Today was her day off so she is staying home all day today. She let out a sigh and remembered that she had to wash the clothes. She stood up and picked up the laundry basket. Halfway through washing the clothes remembered that she left the outfit she wore yesterday in her room and ran in to retrieve it.
She found it and draped it over her arm when she noticed a darkened area on her robes.
"What is this?" She touched the dark patch and noticed how it was dry.
She bent down her head and smelled it. It had a peculiar smell, like a cross between the sour citrus smell and the smell of jasmine.
'Jasmine.' She thought.
Mirai had gotten this stain on her clothes from when she was examining the body. Coincidentally, a part of her clothing fell onto the puddle of water from the man's bottle.
'Water.' Then a realization hit her and her blood went cold.
Mirai's entire face went white and her robes landed on the ground.