The first glimmer of dawn had barely crested the dunes when the ancient city of Rōran erupted with excitement.
Today was Rōran's annual parade. Countless colorful flags snapped in the wind as townspeople flooded the central square, eager for a glimpse of their queen.
On the spiral staircase leading to the top of the tower, Sara wore an ornate gown, its hem swaying gently with her steps.
Yet her expression was utterly at odds with the festive atmosphere, as cold and hard as tempered ice.
"Lord Anrokuzan, I really think you should consider my plan."
Sara did not turn around. Her voice echoed through the empty stairwell.
"Sara, you have no idea how terrifying that man is. This isn't a question of whether I'll consider it."
Anrokuzan spoke from behind her. Ordinary people really have no respect for an angry ordinary person. Could a ninja possibly stand against an angry ordinary person like Miki Yūya?
"Hmph! Even if I give you all of Rōran, all its authority, and all its dragon veins, I will never give that bastard Miki Yūya a single scrap!"
She stopped, digging her fingertips into the cold stone wall until her knuckles turned white.
"That unreasonable bastard!"
"That barbarian who barged in out of nowhere to steal from us!"
"He's done nothing and contributed nothing. What gives him the right to covet Rōran's dragon veins?"
"He thinks he can carve up my country just because he has that lousy short sword? Shameless! He must be dreaming!"
In Sara's eyes, Miki Yūya was a robber through and through.
Arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable, he did whatever he pleased simply because he could fight.
He invaded other people's countries, disrupted their lives, stole their belongings, and acted as though it were his right.
Someone like that had no right