Chapter 7 - Minor Complications
"Well, Tsuruchi-san, Yoritomo Akuto says, "we have the beginnings of an agreement with the Crane, but now we need to get our associates among the Minor Clans to agree with us. With the Mantis newly minted as a Great Clan, few of the Minor Clans trust Yoritomo-sama to continue to act in their best interests--not that many of them did so in the first place," the seasoned Mantis courtier grins, "now, we--really you--need to convince them that this deal with the Crane is in their best interests, rather than simply in the interest of the Mantis."