The entire group, consisting of the people who were supposed to be in Tongyo and the people who were not supposed to be in Tongyo, is currently on the way to the Tribunal House, since the people who were meant to be in the capital have their rooms there. They manage to get inside without being seen by anyone and lock themselves into one of the rooms.

  Najun, Naki, Saku, and Kogiri kneel on the floor in front of the three older individuals. All four think about the situation with the doppelg?nger, since it is very similar to this one.

  Aihara: “So you’re telling us that not even a day after we left, you also set off, and that as non-members in an unauthorized vehicle. Then you were attacked by hired killers and almost killed. Unfortunately, they also managed to escape. And then what was it again?”

  They all try to tell the story about the doppelg?nger, but every time they start talking about it, their words turn into indistinct sounds. It seems that their promise not to tell anyone is binding in some way and not voluntary. As an excuse, they claim they got lost in the forest.

  Kogiri: “We got lost in the forest and had to find a way out.”

  Aihara: “Okay, then I must have understood it correctly after all. Then you came here and comfortably went on a sightseeing tour?!”

  All four nod with their eyes closed. They are just waiting for Aihara to start yelling. But nothing happens. One by one, they open their eyes, and he is just standing there, staring into the air. Ino and Keiko are sitting to the side and are also confused by Aihara’s behavior.

  Aihara: “I’m so happy that nothing happened to you. Do you know that I even worried about you while you were telling me all of this on the way here, even though I knew everything turned out fine?”

  He rushes toward them and hugs them tightly. You can practically feel his concern and love, which is very unusual for Aihara. But in the next moment, it changes again. He gives all four of them a headbutt and stands in front of them.

  Aihara: “How can you be so stupid? You ignore my orders and put yourselves in danger. You could have died. What if you had never arrived here and we wouldn’t know where you were?”

  He seems completely different. Just moments ago, he was loving and worried about his children and their companions, but now he is punishing them anyway.

  Aihara: “I would love to break you, but we don’t have time for that. Although, Kogiri, as my employee you should be the most afraid. I saw great potential in you, and I still do, but it doesn’t work if you support my children and my niece in such a stupid plan, and do so behind my back. I will have to dismiss you, whether I like it or not.”

  Naki: “No, Father, I beg you. We made him do it. Don’t punish him for our disrespect.”

  Aihara: “He was involved. I know you didn’t threaten him with death, and that alone is enough to know that he didn’t have to do it.”

  Saku: “Uncle, I can tell you that he is a very good carriage driver, and without him we really would have died. Please think about that as well.”

  Ino looks at Saku with a strict gaze. He tells her with his eyes that she should stay quiet.

  Aihara thinks it over and plays with the idea of dismissing Kogiri and the associated banishment in his head. It would only be fair to do so, even if he would then have to consider what to do with Hina, since she may have helped as well.

  Keiko: “Aihara, please put this matter aside.”

  Aihara: “What do you mean by that?”

  Keiko: “Exactly what I’m saying. Drop it. You can handle the dismissal of this driver after the tribunal. What’s more important is how we proceed now that the young ones are already here.”

  Aihara: “Do you think I’ll let them participate in the tribunal? They will stay here until we return home, and then they will be properly punished.”

  Aihara clenches his fists like an uncontrollable monster.

  Keiko: “I wanted to talk to you about your strange parenting methods anyway. One could more accurately call it endangering the welfare of children, but what’s more important is what we do at the tribunal.”

  Aihara: “Fine. The discussion about your dismissal is postponed, but don’t forget it.”

  Kogiri thanks the Sakiko family for the extended time and promises to do everything he can to change their opinion of him again.

  Keiko: “At tomorrow’s tribunal, we are the ones being accused, or rather attacked. Three major accusations are being brought against us: first, theft of Phoenix Gold; second, placement of bombs and other traps on their estate; third, the murder of the brother of the head of the family.

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  The second accusation is the most questionable, since such traps would not only require a lot of time and would have been difficult to place right under their noses, but also because the simple question arises of how they even know about the traps if none were ever triggered.”

  Aihara: “We don’t know that.”

  Keiko: “If there had already been victims and real activations, the head would have rubbed it in your face long ago. It might even have been on social media. The first accusation must have solid evidence to be credible. If they have good evidence that can deceive the snake judges, then we’re screwed. The third is a mix of the first two, but the question is also how he was murdered.”

  Naki has mentally checked out halfway through this analysis. Keiko is a very attentive woman. Very little escapes her, especially when it comes to exposing lies.

  Ino: “All the other family members we summoned are ready for the tribunal. There are fewer than expected, but still a good representation.”

  Najun: “I have a question. Why do you place so much value on the number of members? And also, why are you talking as if we’re going to fight the Taira family, and I mean a real fight, not a verbal one?”

  Keiko: “Because that’s how it is. There are always many deaths after such tribunals, because both sides slaughter each other even though they made peace before the tribunal. That could happen to us too. Numbers are important because the judges also look at that: numbers, important family members, and the bonds between all of us.”

  They continue talking about the details of tomorrow’s tribunal, and it quickly becomes clear that Keiko is a real expert. Aihara and Ino, just like the others, listen obediently to Keiko. She explains possible courses of action and counterstrategies that might help them. However, she cannot say anything with certainty. She does not know what aces the Taira family has up its sleeve. Only a few hours remain until the start of the tribunal. They all decide to get some rest.

  Najun goes to one of the empty rooms. On the way, he encounters a strange person. The person is dressed in white robes and has a huge snake head. Najun stops briefly and is astonished by this appearance. The person also stops and hugs Najun tightly. Najun is overwhelmed by the hug but lets it happen. The snake person lets go of Najun and walks on. Still confused, Najun goes to his room and tries to sleep before the tribunal.

  Najun: “[That was a strange encounter. I wonder if it has some higher meaning or if it was just a weird situation.]”

  With that thought, Najun falls asleep. Only after waking up does he realize how exhausted he was. However, he doesn’t have much time to properly gather himself, since in less than an hour the tribunal will begin—the tribunal that will decide the future of the Sakiko family. Najun meets up with Naki, Saku, and Kogiri. They are brought to the main hall by Keiko. On the way there, they encounter a man standing at the entrance to the main hall.

  ???: “Well, look at the young sprouts of the Sakiko family. You’ve grown quite a bit.”

  All four look at Keiko in confusion.

  Keiko: “He’s not one of us. He’s not even one of the Tairas. His name is Michinaga Fujiwara, and he is a treacherous man.”

  Michinaga: “That’s no way to talk about someone when he’s standing right in front of you. I’m just a spectator today.”

  Keiko: “Sharks come when there’s blood.”

  Michinaga: “Me, a shark? Don’t make yourself ridiculous. Perhaps we could become allies?”

  Keiko: “Leave us alone, or I’ll call the guards.”

  Michinaga takes the threat seriously and retreats. There is a separate area for outside spectators.

  The main hall is divided into two sides. On both sides are small grandstands arranged in a circular structure. In the center floats a long table where four people could sit. Keiko leads the group to the second row. They sit down.

  Najun: “Aunt Keiko, shouldn’t you be sitting in the first row?”

  Keiko: “I have too low a status in the family to be allowed to sit in the first row. I can be happy that I’m even allowed to sit in the second or third row.”

  Keiko: “Besides, I can accomplish enough from here. The first row isn’t necessary.”

  The reason Kogiri is allowed to sit in the second row is because he has the status of a close associate. As a long-time servant, he has a certain standing in the tribunal, but another factor is that Aihara wants to keep an eye on him.

  With a loud gong, the tribunal begins. All five rows on the Sakiko side have several seats filled. On the Taira side, only the first two rows are occupied, and even those are not full. Kiyomori sits all the way in front alone. He looks at Aihara with a provocative gaze.

  After the gong, a group of people in suits appears. Men and women wearing normal suits but with crow elements. They wear crow masks with feathers on the masks, shoulders, and a few other places. These are the Crow Guards. They primarily serve to ensure the safety of the judges and those present, as well as to enforce the rules.

  Next come the four Snake Judges who preside over this tribunal. They are four individuals in white robes with snake heads. The snake heads are helmets; they are not their real heads. Beneath the helmets, they are normal humans. They listen to all statements and evidence and determine the final outcome. However, much also depends on the families, since those with great power are less at risk than others. It is a modern system with old influences. One thing, however, is very important: the memories of the Snake Judges and the Crow Guards have been erased. Almost anyone can be a Crow Guard, whether familyless or a member of a weak or strong family. Snake Judges must at least be of good blood and undergo a certain level of training. If they knew which family they belonged to, they would not be neutral and objective as they are supposed to be. Only the memories connected to family are erased, so that they do not become mindless machines without creativity or flexibility.

  Najun: “[The Snake Judges look exactly like the person who hugged me yesterday. Could one of them be it?]”

  Snake Judge No. 1: “The Snake–Crow Tribunal has begun. I will now explain the rules:

  1. Any use of violence is absolutely forbidden and will be punished with expulsion or imprisonment.

  2. Any piece of evidence that is to be considered credible must be well supported. Otherwise, it will not count.

  3. The final verdict of the tribunal must be obeyed. One may request a retrial, but it may take some time before it takes place.

  4. Dangerous objects are not allowed in the main hall unless they are birth objects.

  5. All instructions given by the Snake Judges must be followed without exception.

  6. You must come to the tribunal prepared and not devise your strategies during the tribunal.

  7. Otherwise, general rules of conduct apply to everyone.

  These should be all the rules for this tribunal.”

  After this list of rules, the tribunal truly begins.