The ruling families were monoliths that had collected kingdom resources for many generations, raising martial forces of astounding power. This was before considering the four Totems they had contributed who were still living within the Heavenborn Family.

  How could the Cloudborn Family compete?

  But if they truly could…

  Muro’s mind flew to other topics.

  Did his brother know of the operations that the Cloudborn Family were conducting? If so, was this the reason why he had been sent to study from Yoren?

  Muro was further confused. Was he meant to participate, or merely to observe and learn, in preparation for leading the Seaborn family in the future?

  He suppressed the questions in his head, as he returned his full attention to the report.

  After listing a few more officials, Oka Loro continued. “One person of interest has returned to Jade City, Sage Soko Fora. According to our sources, he has no plans to leave before the designated moment. We can have men positioned around his compound in the scholar district in a day with orders to act on the Day of the Lunar Festival.”

  Yoren immediately shook his head. “The time is not yet right, wait for the next moment.”

  The name Soko Fora was familiar to Muro. He was a famous Sage who had grown up in the backwaters of Hundred Cave. His works of Conception were so potent that he had even been invited to the capital to contribute to the archives of Wind Listening Tower, the highest scholarly honor in the kingdom.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Yoren stopped Oka Loro’s report with a wave of his hand, before turning on the armrest of his chair and facing Muro.

  “We cannot directly involve the relations of true families without attracting unwanted attention. Therefore, in playing with mortal politics, you may think of highborn officials as deterrent forces. You can still defend from them or strike against them, but this increases the difficulty of the operation.

  “Of course, if you do not fear scrutiny, then you may act as you wish, but such a situation is not considered ordinary. We do not all have a good brother that can protect us.”

  Muro nodded, and Yoren continued.

  “When acting with subterfuge, you need to gather as much information as possible, and act only if the circumstances lend to it. If you move against the grain of the world, you will face resistance according to the movement. Such is the way of politics.

  “In this case, we are waiting for the moment of perfect absence, when the presence of strategic priorities is at an absolute low. At that time, we will conduct the operation within the interval and end it before the conditions change.

  “Remember that you should never feel compelled to act, or you will inevitably make mistakes. You should always be the one in control.”

  Muro wanted to ask what the purpose of the subterfuge was, but he stopped himself, remembering Yoren’s earlier instruction.

  They could not speak freely in front of Oka Loro, as he was not a disciple of the sect.

  Yoren saw the question in his eyes and waited, but Muro shook his head. Yoren turned back to Oka Loro, and waved his hand again.

  “Go on to the next location.”

  Oka Loro nodded, and launched into another series of officials. This time they were all related to a town in Hundred Cave Duchy.

  Muro noticed that the new designated moment was four months in the future, and the individuals being named were further removed from sect lineages, but the level of detail in the report remained similar.

  In the end, when the person of interest was brought up, Yoren dismissed the mission again.

  The timing was not yet right.