Ayakazu gave a small smile about this. “I wonder, would you like to spend a night with me? I can most certainly have a good time with you and you are able to pay for the fees. If you do, perhaps I can share with you some secrets. I mean, you’re the same age as Shinrou was back then.” Even as he certainly did have the cash to do so.

“No thank you.” He looked away, preferring not to say much about it. Even as Shinrou gave a laugh, deriving amusement from his whole situation as it was.

“So, you were adopted into her family?” He nodded. There was never much said about who she was from, and that she had spent most of her life traveling. “From what I knew, he had been something of a diplomat and a courtier of sorts. A member of the shogun’s circle, and also with the imperial court at times.”

Which was highly unusual, even as he had an idea within it. But Ayakazu mentioned that he was not a man of high standing at all and if it had been her kinsman: it would have been information that she would have given to them. “He had taken me in out of charity, nothing suggesting that I had a connection to him. I mean, you clearly know that.”

“But we lost contact with him after a while, he disappeared off the coast a couple of months just before Rin was born. And Mama had decided to take us on a ship beyond.” He knew it was highly unusual, something enough to placate a small child but nothing that could be said upon a further look into. “I don’t remember the clan name any longer.”

Which could have a link of its own, and suggested where she had a lead. “It’s Kobayashi, Shinrou.” The family name itself was not of any importance to her, which to Kazuho told him that it may have been two separate clans. Perhaps with a link, but one which they must find on their own. And even if he were to choose this route, there would still be a price paid.

“Hisaei, show them out for the night.” Even as Kazuho took the chance to drink his cup of sake. Just as Shinrou finished his cup before they stood up and leave. The girl had lead them down and showed them the way out, which was through the back gate. Outside, it was a garden and a place to study.

Something which Shinrou looked fondly at. “I certainly still remember running around here as a child.” Touching the table set in it. Before he stood up and choosing to leave. Just as Kazuho had been thinking about their next move. He did have a direction on his choices, and he could tell where to go first. A man of not high standing would have meant that it had nothing to do with the Shogunate.

Not that he thought about it either, being in the Shogunate drew a lot of attention. Even adopting a child often meant rumors being spread like wildfire. And thus, it would have made it to the news, and he had read it throughout these few days. And so far, it was nothing which suggested that she might have been there. But the Daimyos were possible, despite their influence and wealth, most had been private in their life. There was not much documented about their children.

Unlike the Shogunate where the children itself were often paraded, shown off to the others. Sons more so than daughters, as it suggested that the Shogunate had an heir. And tradition mandated that the whole clan had to be present for a wide variety of festivals, and the Shogun could send the side branches head as proxies if he could not make it.

It meant that he was looking at merchants, someone wealthy enough to afford such a lifestyle. Or the upper classes Samurai, as most of the ronin had often been used by the shogunate as soldiers in an effort to have their debts written off and gain monetary compensation.

Once they were out, he was walking the streets in the darkness. “So, what do you think we should do next?”

“There are three places, wealthy merchant families, influential Samurai families, and prestigousDaimyo families. To begin with, the merchants would be the easiest to enter. As I can prove that I’m doing business.” He could do that by doing investments, as he had decreased his number of investments before coming here. Even as he knew that they were a closed group, and it would take time. But he had promised to do it no matter how hard it was.

But the same could not be said for the rest. All he could do was take one step at a time. “It’s decided as it is.” A man of not high standing, but that didn’t explain much. And he couldn’t just make assumptions on them. Though he focused on the lower end first, not because they were easier but because she had mentioned it. It didn’t eliminate the last, but it could not be considered first until he had seen them.

“So, how would you enter?”

“Let me think of it when I reach home, and see whether there are any of those events where the richest convene. If there are, I probably can enter.”

“That would be enough for now.”

They walked back to their home, with a clear idea in mind of where to head next.