Some time later, Arthur stood at the edge of the capital of the Water Country.
It was quite a magnificent city with thousands of citizens, and he was currently disguised as John, the affluent businessman, wearing a tailored silk robe to add to his status. Every detail, from the gold chain adorning his waistcoat to the polished cane he kept tapping, screamed worldly success and authority.
Much like Wizened Town, the capital was a place of controlled chaos. Towering glass structures were several stories high, and monstrous carriages—pulled by horses—lumbered through the streets amidst pedestrians equally dressed like him.
'Crimson gaze…'
His vision's range reached out and snaked through the city, seeking his target. He found who he was looking for nestled at the heart of the metropolis, a castle of steel and glass that was a tad taller than the other buildings: the feudal lord's residence.
A feudal lord held absolute political power in their country. They made all the important decisions, from budgets to alliances, and even had the final say in appointing a Kage of their hidden village.
Why wouldn't Arthur target this country's feudal lord?
They are wealthy and well-protected, but their decisions could be selfish and create conflict. For instance, they could outsource jobs to cheaper ninja villages, causing resentment and even rebellion among their own people.
Arthur, who may not like it, understood the political game well. And these hypocrites were undoubtedly going to be used.
Upon looking at the castle, he judged the climb to be a waste of his time. He could scale the structure easily, but such an approach lacked the finesse he often employed since his appearance needed to be seen.
So he joined the citizens in their daily walk, gradually moving toward the castle with his cane tapping on the pavement.
The entrance was a marvel in and of itself when he arrived. Gigantic, automated doors slid open, revealing a lobby that defied any notion of a traditional castle. White marble floors shone under the glow of crystal chandeliers.
Arthur, despite having seen his fair share of wonders, was by no means impressed.
A trio of guards, sleek and imposing, with black armour stood by the gates. Their blanketed faces swiveled as he approached.
"Halt," one intoned. "State your business."
Arthur offered a charming smile and said, "John Belfort, my goodmen. I have an appointment with the feudal lord."
"Do you have any identification?"
Arthur produced a crafted card embossed with a golden emblem that was a perfect imitation of one used by high-ranking officials. When the guards scanned the card, looking for any signs of discrepancies, they found none.
"I've never heard of you," a guard declared, returning his fake card. "No matter how special you are, you need an appointment to be here anyway."
Arthur's smile didn't falter as he chuckled smoothly, saying, "Ah, a slight misunderstanding, my goodmen. Perhaps a message could be sent to the lord's secretary? Inform them that John Belfort, a highly affluent investor with a very lucrative proposition, wishes to speak with the feudal lord. And remember, my time spent in these affairs is of the utmost importance."
The guards looked at one another, unable to quite grasp his strange behaviour. Following a brief pause, one conceded, "One moment, Mr. Belfort... Please wait here."
As Arthur stood aside, his gaze swept across the area.
This land, he mused, was a hodgepodge of the old and the new. The feudal system, with its reliance on a single lord, felt antiquated amidst the backdrop of ninjas able to destroy settlements. It was quite puzzling to see in this world.
Several tense minutes ticked by before the guard returned. "Mr. Belfort, the lord's secretary will see you now. But first, allow us to pat you down."
Arthur straightened his robes in compliance and extended his arms outward. "Of course, my goodmen…"
Hidden within the folds of his robe lay his weapons—scalpels, shuriken, and kunai—which screamed that he was a ninja. However, a simple security check like a pat-down wouldn't be enough to spot them since he was using the Transformation technique to hide them.
When they were done, their search yielded nothing suspicious. So they allowed him passage. Even if they hadn't granted him an audience, he had more than one method to enter the castle.
As he crossed the lavish courtyard, his senses took in every detail. It came as no surprise to him how manicured a feudal lord's garden was. There were guards here, too, and they watched as he walked through more security checkpoints.
Finally, he entered a sleek, modern office. Behind a glass desk sat a woman dressed in a tailored business suit with sharp features. Her only concession to tradition was the ornate hairpin holding her dark hair in a tight bun.
"May I know your purpose here, Mr…?" She moved a small notepad with a name on it closer to her before finishing. "Belfort…?"
"John Belfort, the one and only."
"Right… John Belfort. And what business do you have coming here?"
"Simple. It's in relation to an unscheduled meeting with the feudal lord."
The woman's expression remained stoic as she said, "I'm afraid lord Hiromu is currently unavailable. He's out on a business trip."
This was the first time Arthur had heard the name of a feudal lord from the Water Country. Many of them weren't expanded on. And if he were a fan, he would have known that "Hiromu" was the name of the Japanese actor who voiced this specific feudal lord.
Clearly, this world was lacking creativity.
Now as Arthur stood there staring, he knew the woman was lying because he had already sensed Hiromu's presence prior to that.
"Perhaps you haven't been properly informed, miss. I'm a very prestigious individual, and a meeting with lord Hiromu is paramount to my business interests." Arthur then leaned forward to continue. "Tell me, would you rather risk hindering your lord's potential prosperity or simply admit you made a mistake in saying he's 'out'?"
The woman's carefully constructed façade slightly faltered. Relaxing herself, she professionally apologized. "I'm sorry, but I can't simply let anyone just enter without a meeting."
"And I'm not just anyone," he corrected. "Surely you can see I'm here on an important business matter."
She paused for a moment to truly take in his aura: an expensive suit and a well-groomed appearance. If he were an assassin, she'd be dead by now. But if he were a noble, why hadn't she heard of him before?
After a moment, she looked to her side to see that the guards were still at their post. Taking a chance wouldn't hurt if Arthur were this important. So she stood up and walked with him toward the throne room.
Heavy, ornately carved doors were swung open by two more guards, revealing a vast chamber. Seated upon a raised platform was Hiromu.
He was a man of average stature, clad in a silk kimono adorned with fancy patterns. His head was also crowned with the traditional lord's headgear, the complete opposite of what an average citizen would wear.
Even affluent royalty figures would be ostracized if they were caught mimicking that attire.
Hiromu's eyes, small and black, were fixed on a scroll he held in his hands. When he felt their presence behind him, he glanced up. Already he looked annoyed.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
Yet Arthur didn't respond to him; he instead looked at the woman. "I require a private audience."
"No can do, Mr. Belfort. I—"
"You're already interrupting my peace after I explicitly stated I wanted no more visitors," Hiromu shot back.
The woman greatly apologized as she bowed. But it did her little good once he continued reprimanding her for her folly. She soon left the two alone, believing that Arthur had been the cause of this mistake.
Arthur paid his respects outwardly by bowing slightly. When he raised his form, he said, "John Belfort, at your service, lord Hiromu. I apologize for the unexpected intrusion, but the opportunity to speak with such a visionary leader like you couldn't be missed."
Hiromu narrowed his eyes. He was used to people of high stature speaking to him respectfully.
"State your business, Mr. Belfort. I'm a very assiduous man."
Now was the time for Arthur to act.
'Evil illusion: enhancing flattery...'
"Listen to this, lord Hiromu," he began in a sincere tone, "your leadership is a necessity for stability in these uncertain times, your intellect guides the nation, and your strength protects it."
Arthur continued to riddle Hiromu's ears with compliments and careful observations he'd known about within these borders. He spoke of the country's economic potential, the rising tensions with neighbouring lands, and the importance of a strong successor to carry Hiromu's legacy forward.
As he spoke, a transformation was taking place within the feudal lord's heart as his guarded expression softened.
It was time for Arthur to push further.
"But even the most brilliant leaders cannot rule forever. No, the burden of such responsibility requires strong shoulders to bear what you can't."
The effect was instantaneous after Hiromu spun around. Arthur had him!
When Hiromu turned back around, he asked in a more vulnerable tone. "What would you have me do about this predicament, Mr. John?"
"Choose a successor, Hiromu," Arthur replied, purposefully excluding the title. "Someone well-versed in the art of leadership, someone who can carry on a better vision for the country."
"Do you have someone in mind?!"
"Maybe… But these are matters best discussed over a fine meal, wouldn't you agree?"
Hiromu stroked his chin in thought. "A fine meal? Very well, Mr. John. Please return in two hours. We shall discuss this further over dinner, and I will make an announcement regarding a successor then."
Arthur bowed, causing Hiromu to feel slightly uncomfortable. Not because he wasn't sure of Arthur's persona, but because he was not used to someone he believed to be of a higher status lowering themselves!
What did Hiromu think of Arthur exactly? He thought one thing and one thing only: that Arthur was the most prestigious man in the whole world and the only one fit to rule the entire Water Country.
✟
Two hours later.
As Arthur approached the castle gates once more, he held his head high. This time, the guards didn't even bat an eyelash. They bowed with faces that showed a newfound respect.
No pat-downs, no questions.
The illusion of him being a highly respected individual had taken root faster than he had expected.
Inside was the same. The woman he had met earlier was absent, replaced by a woman with a more lenient smile and even sharper eyes.
Arthur quickly learned that the previous woman who had dared lie to him was dismissed for "disrespecting a valued guest."
The Enhancing Flattery technique truly was an overlooked genjutsu.
It wasn't long until Arthur was finally ushered into a grand dining room where a feast for the eyes was taking place.
A massive table, adorned with a white tablecloth, stretched across the length of the room. Crystal goblets glittered from the chandelier's lights above, and plates were piled high with delicacies.
At the head of the table sat Hiromu with one empty chair beside him. Scattered around were men and women in opulent attire. Most of their faces were filled with curiosity and unease.
When he saw Arthur enter, he rose. The act caught the other guests' attention.
"Mr. Belfort," Hiromu announced in a warm tone, "it's a pleasure to have you join us this evening. Please, do take the seat of honour."
Many of the guests gasped silently. The seat next to the feudal lord was an honour rarely bestowed, and for it to be offered to a stranger none of them had ever seen or heard of before defied their expectations.
Arthur, of course, remained unfazed. He bowed subtly while maintaining his calm posture.
"Thank you, lord Hiromu," he replied in a controlled voice. "I didn't mean to intrude so late."
Hiromu chuckled. "Nonsense, Mr. Belfort! Your insights have been invaluable, and your presence graces this table."
Arthur gave a humble smile. This was far better than he'd anticipated. Not only was Hiromu putty in his hands, but the others were also scrambling to understand things.
It was like a coup de maître.
Arthur soon settled into the chair. He played his part flawlessly, engaging in polite conversation with his neighbours by occasionally dropping a well-timed comment that displayed a high level of understanding of political affairs.
As the dinner progressed, he deliberately deflected any questions about his background, allowing his mystery to further solidify his unknown relationship with their feudal lord.
The main course was eventually cleared and replaced with an assortment of desserts. Hiromu, having enjoyed the wine, finally cleared his throat to signal the end of the casual banter.
"My esteemed guests," he began, "I have an announcement to make." The room fell silent. Every eye was on him. "As some of you may know, the responsibilities of ruling are not to be taken lightly. The weight of a nation rests upon the leader's shoulders, and one must always expect the unexpected."
He paused as his gaze swept across the faces staring back at him. Arthur could practically feel the predetermined conclusion.
"Therefore," Hiromu declared, "I have chosen a successor to help ease my burdens."
Murmurs filled the room. Who was it? When was this decision made? How come so soon?