It was time for the promised tour. Nishida, his two bodyguards and his guests stalked around the upper levels of the mine. Unfortunately, they had not (yet) been allowed to enter the lower levels.

While he was fascinated by the sheer industrial beauty of the place, he had in mind the information he had been given. Absently he stared outside,...

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 15, 2022 11:50 am

It was time for the promised tour. Nishida, his two bodyguards and his guests stalked around the upper levels of the mine. Unfortunately, they had not (yet) been allowed to enter the lower levels.

While he was fascinated by the sheer industrial beauty of the place, he had in mind the information he had been given. Absently he stared outside,...

Yūrei is slightly delayed, entering mid-conversation on her communicator
"Do I know what top secret means? Do you know what topic secret means?!? Ah huh-...ah huh-. Look, you are not hearing me. Im-Per-I-al. One of them is actually an Otomo...yes, yes one of the Otomo...Their problem? I'm not telling them that...oh you got another call? Don't you even thinking of hanging up on me!...Hello? Hello?"

Closing her communicator
"Shit."

Clearing her throat and crossing the final few meters to bow respectfully to Nishida.
"I am so sorry Miya-sama, I reminded the administrators quite firmly of your desires and they told me it's a security matter. We are able to tour the upper workings of the facility, but I am afraid the lower levels of the mine are restricted."

Koroshi was dressed in a lime green and neon orange checkered suit jacket with a peach button-down shirt (that had little peach embroidery) and white and black stripped pants. He passed on a piece of paper to the Miya when he arrived after bowing properly.

"Yūrei-san! Your kindness and benevolence are without bounds." He greeted the ronin with cheer.

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 15, 2022 12:12 pm

snip

"What a shame, I would have loved to look at the lower level" he said, silently annoyed. It was clear that the scorpions had dense security, but that they had the audacity to defy the chrysanthemum itself?

"Don't do anything, don't do anything, let's just explore the higher levels then, I bet something will catch our eye, won't it Otomo-san?"
he took the note and read it quickly before stuffing it into his pocket. Later, when no one was looking, he would burn the note. One never knew.

"You honour me Otomo-sama."
Bowing very deeply
"The burning light of your bushido fairly lights the walls around us."

Nodding at Nishida's command.
"As you say Miya-sama. If you would like we can start at the outlets themselves and work our way back deeper into the facility?"
She gestures down to wear the huge conveyor-belts of the Forge were still carrying fresh produce even as the crowd of shoppers dwindled with the evening.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:21 pm

snip

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:44 pm

snip

"Your devotion to duty is a constellation of stars, guiding the souls of the world-weary travelers the right way along a road of fearsome darkness!" Koroshi replied quickly to her with even more cheer than previously. He almost continued but a quick look at the Miya reminded him not to annoy his immediate superior with loud gestures. That had been very explicitly mentioned a few times from his mother. Though she had been clear it was her that he was annoying it likely applied to Nishida as well.

"This one is most interested in their facilities. It is a great honor to accompany you, Miya-sama. Do you have anything in specific that you would like me to do to be of service on this trip?" Never hurt to ask, the Otomo figured.

The heimin assigned to show the Imperials around seemed rather nervous, waiting at them by a large map of the mining complex, his expression making in painfully clear he clearly did not want anything to do with Otomo and Miya samurai.

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:44 pm

snip

"That sounds like a good plan, Yurei-san. By the way, you're looking quite well today," he said, indicating that she no longer looked like she was going to fall over at any moment.

Otomo Koroshi wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 17, 2022 1:58 am

snip

"Well, I'd say we should use our Humble Visitation to see what the Scorpion has created here with its massive economic engine, no?" he walked a bit closer to Koroshi, whispering, "Maybe we'll even have a moment where you can consult the local spirits?"

Tassu wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 17, 2022 8:10 am

snip

He turned away again and now spoke to the Heimin, "Tell me, my dear resident and worker of this place, how are you doing here?" the Rich Samurai asked the Poor Man.

"Things are well, o esteemed Miya-sama." the heimin replied, bowing deep enough to bend over.

Tassu wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 17, 2022 10:10 am

"Things are well, o esteemed Miya-sama." the heimin replied, bowing deep enough to bend over.

"Most excellent honorable worker!" Koroshi said with an enthusiastic nod in his direction. No one bows to heimin.

"I would like your name for my notes, and your official title please. Also if you wouldn't mind starting with the shops and other retail style locations first, we can begin at once!" The Otomo said with a finger pointed directly at the nervous looking man. "The most perfect and honorable Miya would like to see the forges, and hear about the layout of the buildings, and living and working conditions, and so on."

"One is called Ukemitsu, my esteemed lord." the heimin replied, remaining bowed - just to be safe. You never really knew with Otomo. "I am public relations representative." he added, his eyes still downcast. "A guide, if you may. "Alas, sadly and most unfortunately we cannot adjourn to the forges - the grounds are rather hazardous without proper protective gear. But one is more than willing to explain anything and everything." Hearing their question, the middle-aged man would happily point at the map, explaining the layout of the mining complex as well as listing the metals the Scorpion were extracting from the soil. He would show them where they were in relation to the everything as well as point out the dormitories of both the heimin and the samurai staff. "The living conditions are excellent, one thinks. We have as much space as most commoners downtown. Only three to four people sharing a room. It is a privilege to work here."

"Thank you Miya-sama, I must much...rejuvenated. I would not dream at being at anything less than my best."

She listens intently to Ukemitsu as they walk before interjecting.

"Perhaps you could tell our guests what an average day of labour entails? From waking until rest?"

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 17, 2022 11:09 pm

"Thank you Miya-sama, I must much...rejuvenated. I would not dream at being at anything less than my best."

She listens intently to Ukemitsu as they walk before interjecting.

"Perhaps you could tell our guests what an average day of labour entails? From waking until rest?"

"The workers do work on 3 shifts, samurai-sama. But say, assuming we were talking about morning shift, they would clock in around hour of the Horse, work until end of Monkey, then have a recreational break, food and such, I am sure samurai-sama understands. After that work would continue until hour of the Rat." Ukemitsu explained, sounding and looking rather nervous. "Rest of the time the workers are free to spend as they wish, be that just relaxing or meeting their families. We do have a large children's creche here. Scorpion are very keen on educating the next generation." he added, beaming with pride.

Tassu wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 18, 2022 7:51 pm

snip

"And a worker will only take a single shift in a day? This one is not unfamiliar with the concept of crunchtime, Ukemitsu. Many times has this one taken double shifts at the computer. I imagine it is even more tiring in manual labor such as this." Koroshi questioned without looking directly at the heimin.

Nishida, who has hardly worked more than a few hours a day in front of his computer and spent the rest of his time in meetings, had apparently expected this and wondered whether Otomo had ever been involved in business.

But he kept out of the conversation and wanted to concentrate on observing the Heimin and keeping an eye on his surroundings.

Otomo Koroshi wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:02 am

"And a worker will only take a single shift in a day? This one is not unfamiliar with the concept of crunchtime, Ukemitsu. Many times has this one taken double shifts at the computer. I imagine it is even more tiring in manual labor such as this." Koroshi questioned without looking directly at the heimin.

"Only under most unusual circumstance, Otomo-sama. You can fit only so many people in the mines after all." Ukemitsu explained, tapping the map behind his back with his calloused fingers. "Deepest mine on the world. We take pride in being able to serve our lord in this manner." he added. "It is heavy work, but very essential. The skyscrapers of the city were built with minerals unearthed from mines like this."

"Pride in your work is important Ukemitsu! Your efforts are rewarded daily with the items flowing from the forges into the shops, and the ore flowing into manufacturing facilities around the planet!" Koroshi agreed with the heimin loudly. "But it is still dangerous work, yes?"

"Please don't think you're doing as disservice to your masters by answering honestly, Ukemitsu. On the contrary, given the importance of our two guests sincerity is certainly for the best."

She gives him a 'don't fully B.S these guys' look.

Nishida cocked his head and was ready to listen closly to the Heimins testament.

Otomo Koroshi wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 1:36 am

"Pride in your work is important Ukemitsu! Your efforts are rewarded daily with the items flowing from the forges into the shops, and the ore flowing into manufacturing facilities around the planet!" Koroshi agreed with the heimin loudly. "But it is still dangerous work, yes?"

"It is night impossible to mine that deep without any incidents, Otomo-sama." Ukemitsu explained, prodding the map again. "We are talking a bore almost two mile deep. We have safety gear and drill regularly." he assured. "Like any reasonable worker would, given the line of work."

"Please don't think you're doing as disservice to your masters by answering honestly, Ukemitsu. On the contrary, given the importance of our two guests sincerity is certainly for the best."

"Oh, rest assured samurai-sama. Such would not even cross my mind." The poor heimin added, looking rather flustered.