The upcoming meeting was crucial for Francis. He had sailed to Japan with a purpose, a purpose he had kept to himself. Above all, he desired glory, and he knew that to gain it, he would need to accomplish feats that would leave an indelible mark on history. And what could be more momentous than ushering Japan into the Western world?
For years, Japan had followed the sakoku policy, sealing itself off from foreign influence and trade. Their determined isolationism kept the nation rooted in age-old traditions, undisturbed by the changing world outside. But Francis was intent on changing that.
