"Lord Daimyō, Lord Daimyō... those samurai have all rebelled!"
"They've all rebelled!!!"
"They've surrounded the Land of Fire, driven people of noble standing from their homes... and even killed the Land Survey Bugyo!"
"Lord Daimyō, you must see justice done for us."
A man with a pencil mustache burst into the hall in a sorry state, a black hat in his hand, and approached the Land of Fire's Daimyō to report everything happening outside the Imperial Palace.
Over the next while, several dozen people filed into the hall.
They paid their respects to the Daimyō in turn. A few articulate ones stayed to supplement the mustached man's account, while the others cautiously made their way to the far-right corner and stood there, huddled up.
By now, they all sensed something was wrong and did not dare draw any attention to themselves.
Soon, the account was finished.
Just as everyone braced themselves for the Land of Fire's Daimyō's thunderous wrath-
There was not a trace of anger on his face. Instead, he rose excitedly and took a few jubilant hops, making the hall tremble slightly.
"Good! Good riddance! What a wonderful death!"
"Why couldn't a few more have died?"
Yet this simple action startled everyone present. They decided the Daimyō was so furious that he had begun laughing in his rage.
One after another, they lowered their heads without prompting, afraid of catching the Daimyō's attention and being beaten to death right there in the hall.
Seeing their attitude, the Land of Fire's Daimyō patted his belly smugly and paced around the throne that symbolized his supreme power and status, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
At that moment, no one in the hall except him knew what he was so happy about.
"Lord Daimyō."
"We should still make preparations early...