Reki was not really the sort of person that did this sort of thing. The Lion had 'people' for that. Still she had felt some obligation to ensuring the ronin was paid for her services last night.

So there she was in tacky sunglasses and a so painfully plain outfit that every spy with in 300 meters immediately pegged her as 'up to something'. Taking a seat in the Kochako Fried Chicken, she waited for the other party in this exchange.

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Tue May 03, 2022 11:44 pm

Snip

It's not long before one of the customers walks over with a sizable serving tray of what is probably fried chicken and sits opposite Reki after a respectful bow and smile.

"Akodo-sama! I must say this is unexpected. Thought I'd buy some lunch if you were hungry? I'm told your clan has excellent fried chicken."
The ronin looks a little tired but can hardly be unhappy with so much food about.

"Oh. Hello Yurei-san." Reki smiled, then cleared her throat, "I am...not usually the sort that does these things. Fortunately the embassy had this." She pulls out an...honest to kami paper book of exceedingly cheap construction. A stack of hideous off white thick pages, wrapped in a stiffened cardstock cover of beige and stapled together. On the cover is the following:

FM 743-12
PROPER CONDUCT FOR INTERACTION WITH RONIN
2ND REVISION

Reki opens it up, "Please bare with me while I ensure this is done per the book." She skims through a page, reading out loud, "Your average ronin is, like a hunting dog, of limited intelligence but great loyalty if properly trained..." The Lioness looks up, "Let's...skip this part."

Flipping through the pages she continues, "First one must establish a connection of trust with the ronin. Most ronin are in some state of emancipation...no I think they meant emaciation...Most ronin are in some state of emaciation." She looks Yurei over, "Alright checks out..." She continues, "An offering of food stuffs is often sufficient in the initial stages of interaction. Oh well you seem to already be ahead of me there..."

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Tue May 03, 2022 11:54 pm

Snip

"Ah hmmm!"
She nods around a mouthful of fried chicken.
"There's probably a little section about us being fundamentally untrustworthy too. I think that's probably under the Scorpion section though."
While Reki reads, Yūrei consumes. Although she does her best not to splash anything on the all important manual.

Reki nods, "Some ronin are probably Spider or Scorpion infiltrators, these are most fit for special duties as defined in section 8.9-3: Proper Disposal and Materials Handling. Huh...."

"Alright...back to...okay, so be sure the ronin understands their position compared to yours. Each ronin is slightly different and may require different strategies. Please note the ronin discomfort increaser rod...this looks like a shock prod to me...should always be considered an option, particularly after they are already on a transport." She flips through a few more pages, "Covert employment of ronin is best handled by trained professionals, please see FM 743-13: Advanced Ronin Interactions...damn that one is classified."

She shrugs, "...I suppose I will have to wing it."

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 12:08 am

Snip

"Oh that's a fancy 'discomfort increasring rod' though. The little diagram of the ronin jumping adds a lot."
Yūrei dunks a leg in some hot sauce and chews it slowly.

"If I might humbly suggest, Akodo-sama. A simple exchange of koku for services rendered is tasteful and honourable. Even more so when it was for such a good cause?"

She makes a note to heist the Lion sometime in the future to get access to advanced ronin interactions.

"Ah yes...of course..." Reki smiles awkwardly and puts the book away, "...is a sum of 30 koku acceptable? I pulled two Matsu made knives, good sturdy blades for...well knife work." She smiles even more awkwardly.

Pulling out a bag she sits it on the table, "Probably best to not pull those out in here, but..." The Lioness hands over a credit stick of unmarked koku. 30 koku to be precise.

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 12:49 am

"Ah yes...of course..." Reki smiles awkwardly and puts the book away, "...is a sum of 30 koku acceptable? I pulled two Matsu made knives, good sturdy blades for...well knife work." She smiles even more awkwardly.

Pulling out a bag she sits it on the table, "Probably best to not pull those out in here, but..." The Lioness hands over a credit stick of unmarked koku. 30 koku to be precise.

Firmly "Akodo-sama, it is more than enough and more than I expected. And I think you're doing very well at all of this."
She takes the stick daintily and it instantly vanishes into a pocket.

"I really like the Matsu knife work, that serrated edge can come in handy." Smiling "You know, this is my first ever job for your clan, every retroactively."

"Actually on that..." Reki's smile turned more relaxed, "your skillset, at least what I observed would not be...amiss in my family's famous scouts. I could not promise anything concrete of course but we do have authorization for passage to one of our worlds available. And if it included an account of exceptional fieldcraft and courage, I think certain considerations might be made."

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 12:56 am

Snip

She blinks twice, chicken pausing on its way to her mouth before being carefully set down.

"Oh, I had not expected that." She quickly wipes some source from her face and sits a little straighter "Your scout tradition is well known, they are some of the very best. I'm honoured you would judge my skills so highly. But...I have an ongoing interest here, for now, duties I must see to."
Cocking her head

"But perhaps, if you believe I have served appropriately. I could make a counter-offer?"

Reki raised a brow, but shrugged, "It isn't the sort of thing that is offered lightly...but it isn't forced either."

"Counter-offer?" She asks...was there something in the book on this...

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 1:02 am

Reki raised a brow, but shrugged, "It isn't the sort of thing that is offered lightly...but it isn't forced either."

"Counter-offer?" She asks...was there something in the book on this...

"Indeed."
Keeping her tone cordial, friendly but not too friendly given the status difference.
"I'm putting together a team. Starting a project with the goal of bringing ronin of proven quality, both physical and spiritual together with the Clans that seek their services. Ultimately it would ensure that samurai such as yourself can be assured that those you hire have been vettered and will perform about and beyond expectations. For the ronin they will have assurances of pay and fair treatment."

Reki nodded slowly, having shifted in to realms more logistical and strategic...it was now more her comfort zone. What processes were now running in the Gunso's mind were hidden behind her On.

"Go on."

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 1:13 am

Reki nodded slowly, having shifted in to realms more logistical and strategic...it was now more her comfort zone. What processes were now running in the Gunso's mind were hidden behind her On.

"Go on."

"We'd operate more like a neutral third party, solving an existing problem....fixers, if you will. A client would approach us with a job and give some basic details of what needs to be done. Extraction, infiltration, elimination, protection. Then the fixer could select a ronin or group of ronin who they believe would be a good fit."

Continuing on enthusiastically
"Once the fixer picks the ronin they can setup a meeting with the clan representative to ensure both sides are comfortable, and then they negotiate a suitable payment, with a small cut for the fixer of course."

Reki was definitely sure the book said this was dangerous, or more likely that ronin were not capable of organizing without a proper clan samurai to direct them.

But the Lioness was curious, there were ups and downs of this sort of thing...the biggest one being if it formed one had better not have had bad relations with it early.

"And what do you want from the Lion for this project?"

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 1:21 am

Snip

"Only your interest. Perhaps next time your Clan needs a job done you contact us? That way you can gauge our effectiveness in practice. It could be the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship."
Pause

"I wasn't originally going to pitch this at a fried chicken mall cafe but here we are. Did not Akodo-no-kami himself say that '“No enemy was ever overcome by repeating the same strategy. Innovation creates victory. ?'"

"Lord Akodo has said a great many things," Reki replies and then rubs her head. Sounded like the ronin already had something put together...

"I can bring this back to my superiors and see what they think."

Which will be that it would be best to work with the ronin then have them used against them.

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 2:02 am

Snip

Yūrei bows her head.
"Then for that I am grateful. Now, can I interest you in some overly fatty comfort food? I think after all that you deserve to treat yourself a little."
Wobbling a wing
"And if you're good with spice....?"

"Spice?" Reki raises an eyebrow, "Huh...the manual didn't mention what to do if a ronin offers you food."

She smiled again, a sardonic expression as she eyed the chicken.

Akodo Reki wrote: ↑

Wed May 04, 2022 2:12 am

Snip

Yūrei puts some one a paper plate and slides it across.
"Maybe you can write the updated version then? You can include a little section about ronin dining."
Pointing at a vibrant red sauce
"Just be careful, Deadly NXghtshXdX is really hot."