(Kato Hayato)
“Welcome back, sir, and so early!” I nod my head at Uchiyama Jun. He’s turned out to be a mostly decent assistant. Willing and eager.
“Ah, I switched to a smaller, faster ship at Kitakyushu, what with the news you shared with me.” Some which was pleasant, other… not as much.
I wave at the group of reporters gathered by the docks. “We’ll discuss more, in the carriage.”
I look out at the assembled group – good, all from the dailies in Osaka, and even one from Kyoto. “Gentlemen, I’ll be brief, for once, so you can make your deadlines,” I say, jovially. They all laugh.
“My trip to Hong Kong was a success and the Kato Group has been able to secure trading agreements with our British partners which will be benficial to Kansai as a whole,” I say. “But my most important thing I wish to share with you all, gentlemen, is regarding some sad news I heard when I landed in Kitakyushu.”
“A daughter of Kyoto, Yagi Hide, has been reported to have been kidnapped from her home. While she lives a quiet life, her family was important during those turbulent years of the Bakumatsu, but she is an innocent! Even though my business has me turn to Osaka more and more, Kyoto is the home of my heart, and today it was hurt at the thought of this dear woman and what she must be enduring at the hands of some cruel fiend! The shadows of the past stay with us, and this poor woman… is only a sign of that.”
“So as a good citizen of Kyoto, I am offering the sum of 100 yen as a reward to see Yagi-san found safe and sound. Of course, any and all tips should be reported to the police.”
The press starts shouting out questions, and I try for a smile that is between “grave” and “beatific”.
“Hey, hey, you’re a rich man, just 100?”
I pretend to look offended first, but then nod, as if I’m taking in his advice. “You’re right. 200 yen!” Of course, he’s from a paper that we have our thumbs on…
More questions swirl, but I dismiss them. “Gentlemen – get this in the morning’s papers! There’s not a moment to spare!”
Jun-kun waves me towards my waiting carriage. I wait for the door to click and to get comfortable before speaking.
“Should that do it?” I ask, and he nods. “Now… the rest. So Tanaka’s dead?”
“Yes sir, but since we were just using him for laundering…” he shrugs. “I’m confident that nothing will trace back to us. The government is more obsessed with him trafficking women than his financials.”
It’s too bad. I had a lot of sympathy for his venture in Yoshiwara – all of those former samurai, including Shinsengumi…. true, they were Goryo Eji, but Shinsengumi, still! Even though that failed, he was useful.
“And my… special delivery?” I place my hands on my stomach.
“Arrived at your mother’s estate in Suita – all three of them.” He looks over a note and frowns. “Your… special cargo was extracted but had some injuries, but nothing major.”
I nod. It’s all going perfectly. “I’ll go… let’s say, Thursday. We’ll let my announcement have time to settle and distract the police.” I look at the flyer Jun-kun handed me, squinting at the picture of my long-awaited for prize. Blurry… ah well. I’m surprised that they’re looking at Osaka – either the police are better than one assumes, or my friend isn’t as clever as he thinks he is. Probably the second – he has style (and that face!) but can be sloppy.
(OOC – news of Kato’s reward will be in the morning papers Tuesday)