"well what do you think" i repeat to the rain village ambassador
"ahh i think thats not the solution that would work i think we should find out what the civilians want, we turn the villages into a democracy" him putting that on the table this early is interesting but it helps to push me closer to my idea.
"and whats your name" i ask, i look him directly in the eyes as i ask this
"goro" he says confidently. if i keep pushing him i imagine he'll break down, if i cause him to have a breakdown then the other ambassadors reaction wont be pleasant and ill lose any and all credit. i have to find a way to push him enough to get what i want but not enough to break him. if i can strike the kind of fear in the ambassadors that receives respect ive won, ive already defeated ryo in that sense. i can tell that even though ryo may be upset even though hes concealing that well, ive earned his respect and he'll be more likely to hear me out when i get to my solution as opposed to discarding it immediately since im young.
"mikku im very impressed at your strategy of gaining respect" the old man that greeted me when i arrived sounds genuinely impressed. "mikku i have a question for you, have you heard of the 10?
i have heard of them, when jeiku and fuya returned from the mist village i could tell jeiku was hiding something but after some coercion i was able to get him to explain the 10, i dont know if i should reveal that i know of them or not
"i havent heard of them"
"dont lie to me mikku, you hesitated slightly with your answer and there was no curiosity whatsoever in your words, ive been around a long time I understand how these mind games work."
"im impressed i didnt expect any real competition here"
"this isnt meant to be a competition its meant to be a discussion"
"funny how these things play out isnt it" i have to stay calm, if i let my guard down for even a moment ill lose. but why would he ask me about the 10? most likely the same reason i pushed ryo for an answer, power over the other.
"mikku if i may ask, what is your actual suggestion for peace among clans? a bright mind like yours must have come up with something more interesting than giving the villages more food and water" i decide to reveal part of my plan now to see how the old man reacts.
"i suggest we unite the villages as one, one leader for all"