"Perhaps," said Jiro.  "It's often unwelcome, though."

"But expected of the Crab," Kasumi said.

"The abbot said that it sometimes takes keen eyes to see the obvious," Koyo said.

"There we go, Shintao has the answers," Kasumi said.

Jiro shrugged.

"I fear my eye still misses many things, though," he said.  "Well, I suppose we'll see if I can see through Scorpion deception."

"Well, I am here to help," Kasumi said.

"Which I am grateful for," said Jiro.

"We'll have to see what they try. The city of lies doesn't seem to think much of the Crab, at least from that book about the dead opium user," Kasumi said.

"Probably not," said Jiro.  "Well, perhaps I'll just be the Crab that they expect.  They might not believe in another."

"No one comes off well in that book," Nakanobu said. "Certainly not the Phoenix."

"Yes, but they can be a tad naive at times," Kasumi said. "A dangerous thing in a Scorpion city."

"The Phoenix don't seem to know how to fight in that arena," said Jiro.  "Of course, neither do we, so I can't point fingers."

"What book are you talking about?" Koyo asked.

"It was one that was all the rage. 'Memoirs of an Opium Eater'. The diary of a young Phoenix that becomes an opium addict and then dies from it," kasumi said.

"I would imagine that that could happen to a member of any house, though," said Jiro.  "Opium is dangerous; there are reasons they have to ban it.  It's a foe that a sword can't slay."

"I shall defer to your wisdom on the subject then," Kasumi said.

"Oh, I don't claim to be wise on the subject," said Jiro.  "I only know that it's banned, and I'm told that it's because of the hold it can have even on the strong-minded.  Still... perhaps a sword could slay it.  Not by cutting the flowers, of course."

"Well, I doubt it will be a danger to us," Kasumi said.

"I see why you didn't want me to go there," Koyo said.

"I fear your innocence would make you vulnerable," said Jiro.  "You'd learn about the world, I grant.  But it would be very painful lessons."

"There are better ways to learn," Koyo agreed.

"We are heading somewhere else for her," Kasumi said.

"I'm going to re-harness Endurance," Nakanobu said, standing up. "Please feel free to finish the tea."

Jiro did so.  Why not?  But he didn't linger.

Kasumi finished her tea as well.