Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

Late July, 1572.

Despite the challenges remaining with the screw ship, there were no major issues with the Stirling engine, blast furnace, and associated facilities, and the test run was successfully completed. Shizuko breathed a sigh of relief. With a major project completed, she felt a little more relaxed and remembered that the inspection of a certain facility, which had been postponed, was approaching. Although it was not necessary to inspect the facility, as it was already in full operation, Shizuko, as the head of the organization, could not leave it unattended. She headed to the factory with Keiji and the others.

“Wow, this one is big too.”

The facility of the blast furnace was huge, but the facility they were inspecting this time, the “Silk Factory” established by the Oda family, was a different kind of huge facility with a vast site. The factory site consisted of four sections. The residential area where employees live, the support area also known as the commercial area where schools, hospitals, nurseries, shops, and restaurants are located, the silkworm production area responsible for the process from silkworm breeding to drying of cocoons, and the spinning area where fibers such as hemp and cotton brought in from outside and dried cocoons are spun into thread.

“Unlike glass, mass production was an absolute requirement, so it took years… but now it is a famous place within the Oda family as one of the largest facilities in Owari.”

While talking about such things, Shizuko and her group passed through the main gate of the factory. Although it could be called a city in itself, the factory was not open to the public like a regular city. Only those involved in the operation of the factory, such as Nobunaga and Shizuko, were allowed to use the main gate. The employees living in the facility and the transportation of goods were done through the back gate or side gate.

“First, let me show you the silkworm room.”

Shizuko said so, and the factory manager, who is responsible for the factory, personally guided them to the area where the silkworm room was located. If Nobunaga is the founder and president, then Shizuko holds a position equivalent to the head of the sales headquarters, so the factory manager, who is the ultimate responsible person in the factory, is serving as a guide with a relaxed attitude.

There are a total of fourteen silkworm rooms. Ten rooms are for breeding regular silkworms, two rooms are for hatching silkworm eggs and raising them until they reach the second instar, one room is for conducting research on artificial feed and breeding improvement, and the last room is for breeding a special silkworm variety called “Koishimaru”. There is a term called “sanrei” that indicates the degree of silkworm development.

Silkworms that have hatched from eggs are covered in hair and are called “kego” or “gisang” because they look like black ants. This is considered the first instar. After completing the first molt, they are called the second instar, and each subsequent molt is referred to as the third instar, fourth instar, and so on, until they reach the stage of cocoon production, which is called the fifth instar.

The number of silkworms bred per room can reach up to twenty to thirty thousand. To secure a year’s worth of silk thread from May to November, a large number of cocoons need to be prepared. While the feed for silkworms is mulberry leaves, here they are also using experimental artificial feed. The artificial feed is made by grinding dried mulberry leaves into powder as the main ingredient, mixing it with powdered corn starch, defatted soybean powder after extracting oil, powdered buckwheat for supplementing vitamins, and dried and powdered yuzu peel. Although fresh mulberry leaves are currently available, research is being conducted in case of emergencies. The advantage of powdered feed is that it can withstand long-term storage and does not require much storage space. Alongside the breeding with artificial feed, detailed research is also being conducted on the ecology of silkworms. This research is indispensable for improving productivity and breeding improvement.

And then, there is a separate breed called Koishimaru, which is being bred apart from the regular breeds. Koishimaru is a silkworm variety that has been bred since the Nara period and can be considered the ancestor of the current varieties. Koishimaru, which is a traditional Japanese breed, produces high-quality silk thread despite being very thin. The silk thread has a strong elasticity and unparalleled luster, and is still considered the highest quality silk thread today. On the other hand, the amount of silk that can be obtained from one cocoon is shorter than that of regular breeds. While the average length of silk thread obtained from regular breeds is around 1300 to 1500 meters, Koishimaru can only produce up to about 500 meters. In addition, the number of eggs laid is also small, and they are susceptible to diseases, so they need to be bred separately from other silkworms, making them unsuitable for mass production. Despite these disadvantages, products woven with Koishimaru silk thread have a unique luster and flexibility, making them constantly in demand as the highest quality items.

“It’s lunchtime, so no one is here.”

Once the silkworms reach the second instar, they are fed and their breeding boxes are cleaned twice a day, in the morning and evening. The silkworm breeding boxes are placed on the bottom of wooden boxes without lids, covered with silkworm nets, and mulberry leaves, which serve as feed, are spread on top, and finally the silkworms are placed on them. The silkworm breeding method differs depending on the instar. For the first to third instar silkworms, mulberry leaves cut into 1 cm squares are provided as feed. The cleaning process is also simple. A new silkworm net with fresh mulberry leaves is placed on top of the silkworms. After waiting for about thirty minutes in this state, the silkworms move to the new net with food. The new net is then placed on top of another silkworm box, and after transferring the silkworms that have not moved, the old mulberry leaves, discarded exoskeletons from molting, and accumulated feces in the silkworm box are cleaned, preparing for the next transfer.

From the fourth instar, a method called “josoiku” is adopted. This is a breeding method where the mulberry tree is cut with its branches intact and given to the silkworms as feed. The feeding and cleaning are the same as in the first to third instar, but from the fourth to fifth instar, the body length of the silkworms increases rapidly, so to avoid overcrowding, two breeding boxes are used. The cleaning method remains the same as in the second instar, but the amount of feed increases, so it is necessary to check the amount of feed at noon.

In a regular sericulture farm, the mornings and evenings are spent taking care of the silkworms, and during the day, they are fully occupied with the mulberry trees, except during the off-season. However, here, with an external mulberry field and fresh mulberry leaves being brought in every day, it is different. The mornings and evenings are still busy, but during lunchtime, there is little to do except check the remaining feed and replenish it if necessary. By the time they reach the fifth instar, the silkworms exhibit a strong appetite for spinning cocoons, so it is necessary to frequently replenish the feed and check if any silkworms are ready to start spinning cocoons. The area Shizuko and the others are currently inspecting is the area where fourth instar silkworms are being bred. And at first glance, there was enough feed prepared in the breeding boxes by evening. There didn’t seem to be any particular problems, but the factory manager was sweating nervously.

“Ah, ahaha. It was a sudden request, so… yes.”

The factory manager made excuses while wiping his sweat. It was understandable that he felt embarrassed. After all, just before Shizuko’s inspection, Nobunaga had conducted a surprise inspection of the factory and expressed displeasure with the relaxed atmosphere inside the factory. As a result, the factory manager and several other managers were personally scolded by Nobunaga and received a reprimand to work with more tension. If it weren’t for the provision in the employment regulations set by Shizuko that stated that as long as a certain level of quality and production volume is maintained, work attitude is not questioned, some heads might have physically rolled.

“I’m not particularly concerned. It’s just about maintaining the production volume.”

While putting the factory manager at ease, Shizuko moved on to the next breeding process. Silkworms reach the stage of spinning cocoons, called “jukusan,” about three weeks after hatching. At this time, the silkworms stop eating completely. Their bodies appear dark yellow as the silk substances accumulated in their silk glands become visible through their skin, and their bodies shrink slightly. Once this happens, the silkworms are moved along with the mulberry leaves they are on, and a net is placed on top. The silkworms then try to escape from the cramped space and move up through the holes in the net. When they have moved to a suitable position, the net is scooped up, separating the silkworms from their excrement, mulberry leaves, and the net.

After separating the silkworms spinning cocoons from the waste, the next step is “jozo” or “upzoku.” This is the process of transferring the silkworms to a net called “mabushi” made of straw. It is not a problem to transfer them one by one manually if there are only a few dozen silkworms, but when transferring tens of thousands of silkworms, it requires a tremendous amount of effort. To streamline this process, a method called “kaiten mabushi” or “rotating mabushi” is used. A special mabushi is used for rotating mabushi. It consists of two wooden frames, one slightly larger than the other, which are fixed in a cross shape with metal fittings, and several layers of lattice-like mabushi are installed and secured with metal fittings. Each individual silkworm will make a cocoon in each lattice. The key to rotating mabushi is to hang the mabushi and let the silkworms themselves move to the lattice frames. The principle is simple. First, a certain number of silkworms are placed on the rotating mabushi and hung. The silkworms enter the lattice cells one by one in search of a safe place for spinning cocoons. Silkworms that do not enter the cells will move up in search of a resting place, and when the silkworms gather too much in one place, the center of gravity shifts due to their weight, causing the rotating mabushi itself to rotate around the metal fittings that hold the outer and inner frames. Then, the silkworms that were supposed to be on top realize that they have moved down and start climbing up again, finding the lattice cells and starting to spin cocoons. This process is repeated until all the silkworms are evenly distributed in the lattice cells. Of course, some silkworms may fall due to the rotation, but there is a cloth spread slightly below the rotating mabushi, and even if they fall, as long as someone puts them back on the rotating mabushi, they will spin cocoons without any problems.

Apart from assisting the fallen silkworms, it seems like a task that can be left unattended, but managing the temperature and humidity at this time is very difficult. The quality of the cocoons is determined within three to four days after upzoku, so this process requires the most attention. The appropriate temperature and humidity vary depending on the season when upzoku is performed, so caution is necessary, but the cocoons are removed from the mabushi, a process called “shuken,” in about seven to eight days. After the cocoons are removed, the next step is to remove the silk thread from the cocoons. In the past, when there were no machines, a tool called “mayukaki bo” was used to remove the cocoons from the mabushi, and a hand-operated silk thread remover was used to remove the feathers attached to the cocoons. In this factory, although it is manual, a mayukaki bo and a silk thread remover are prepared, and the process of collecting the cocoons and removing the feathers attached to the mabushi can be done at once, greatly improving efficiency. The removed feathers are boiled and then used as filling for futons, etc.

“Currently, it is the time when the cocoons are being made. I wanted to check the operation status, but there’s no helping it. Let’s head to the final drying room.”,When checking the date on which the silkworms were placed on the cluster, it was not yet the day for cocoon collection. The set date was a few days later, so it was not possible to show it now. Since there were no issues with the quality of the silk thread that was being produced, Shizuko judged that there would be no special problems and headed to the final drying room, which was the last task.

“Ah, ah!”

The factory manager replied with a cold sweat.

Leaving the building, Shizuko entered a building with a chimney nearby. If the cocoons are left as they are, the adult silkworms will hatch from the cocoons by making holes in them. To prevent this, the cocoons need to be exposed to hot air of about 100 degrees for about 6 hours to dry them. This kills the silkworms inside the cocoons and allows the cocoons to be stored for a long period of time. If there is no equipment to blow hot air, another method is to freeze the cocoons for a few days to kill the silkworms, and then sun-dry them.

“I see, so the dried cocoons are packed and stored in a low-temperature, low-humidity warehouse.”

“Yes, that is the procedure, yes.”

The dried cocoons are temporarily stored in a warehouse. Sericulture can only be done from May to November, so during this period, a year’s worth of cocoons are stocked to ensure continuous silk thread production. Therefore, sericulture can be done outside of the factory just by raising silkworms. The reason for having a centralized factory without increasing production bases is that it allows for consistent production in a completely closed environment and enables the circulation of various things that occur during the production process.

In a circular factory, everything from the main product to by-products and waste is reused without waste. Silkworms in particular are so efficient that they are called “honorable silkworms.” Leftover feed, feces, exuviae, mulberry waste from harvesting, etc., which would normally be discarded, can be dried and mixed to become fertilizer or livestock feed. In particular, dried silkworm feces are used as a traditional Chinese medicine called “sansha.” Modern ice cream and green gum use chlorophyll extracted from silkworm feces as a green pigment.

It’s not just silkworms and mulberry leaves that are reused. Human excrement and leftover food are also reused. Basically, they are reused as fertilizer. After extracting silk thread, the silkworm pupae that come out are used as food for carp. The fertilizer is used in fields and rice paddies outside the factory, or sold at a low price to other villages.

The factory also has areas for reeling silk from silkworm cocoons and cotton and hemp, as well as areas for weaving fabric using machines, but this time, Shizuko only inspected the sericulture area. Shizuko moved to the factory manager’s residence, where documents were stored. There, she checked various documents such as work reports, journals, ledgers, and records of causes and countermeasures when problems occurred.

“Based on the cleanliness of the factory and the condition of the workplace, maintenance of tools, and record keeping, there don’t seem to be any particular problems.”

At that moment, the factory manager and the other executives let out a sigh of relief. Some of them even let out a big breath. Shizuko couldn’t help but think to herself if the previous inspection by Nobunaga was particularly frightening, but she swallowed her curiosity as it would trouble them if she asked.

“This time, we will only inspect the sericulture area, and we will inspect the other areas at a later date.”

“Yes, we will be waiting for you.”

“Oh, by the way. Please show me the sample book at the current stage. Lord would like to see the designs and patterns.”

However, their relief was short-lived as they were once again pushed into a tense state. The sample book is a notebook where small pieces of fabric made from silk, cotton, hemp, etc. produced in the factory are cut and pasted onto cardboard. Unlike modern color-printed catalogs and leaflets, the actual fabric is pasted, allowing the advantage of directly confirming the color, texture, and quality of the material. No matter how high-quality materials are used to make a kimono, it is meaningless if it doesn’t sell. However, when it comes to a sample, it consumes a large amount of thread to make a single kimono. Therefore, small pieces, which are the smallest unit that can confirm the color, texture, and pattern, are prepared and shown in a sample book, and then the design is confirmed before accepting orders. This allows customers to get the kimono they desire, and it is a system that benefits both the production side and the customers by avoiding unnecessary consumption. Therefore, the sample book is considered an important document that affects the sales of kimonos and the sales of the thread, and it is updated at least once a year. Although kimonos with designs not in the sample book are also made, it takes a long time for the craftsman who received the order to finish them before they can be delivered, which is a disadvantage.

“Here is the sample book.”

“Thank you.”

Shizuko received the sample book from the factory manager and quickly checked its contents. There are already over 200 patterns. Although it is a different story how many of them are actually selling, it proves that there is the ability to come up with that many designs.

“With that, today’s inspection is concluded.”

Holding the sample book, Shizuko said to the formal factory managers.

When Shizuko returned home to her mansion, she checked the contents of the sample book. It includes not only patterns but also a sample book for dyeing. This is because different people have different images of “dark colors” or “light colors.” When using white fabric and a color sample book, there is always a “color mismatch” where the finished product is “different from what was envisioned.” To avoid this, the color sample book has dyed fabric pasted on it. However, even with this, color mismatches can still occur.

There are various methods of dyeing fabric, and the color can subtly change depending on the method used, causing the color to appear different from what was envisioned. Additionally, when a person looks at a bolt of fabric after looking at a fabric scrap, they may perceive a difference in shade even if it is the same color. These factors can lead to a situation where the finished fabric is perceived as different from what was envisioned by the customer. Currently, instead of using white fabric and a color sample book, the finished fabric is chosen by the customer to minimize the perception of a different color.

“Well, in this era, we can’t really complain about different colors and such.”

Although it was called a color mismatch, it can also be said that customers have the sensitivity to distinguish “subtle color differences.” At the moment, Shizuko’s customers are not particularly sensitive, but she cannot guarantee that there won’t be any in the future.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t checked the comfort of the kimono I made the other day.”

Shizuko checks the comfort of the kimono, or more precisely, the kosode, which is the basis of the traditional Japanese clothing. After changing into it, she murmurs for a while, then puts on a haori and checks the condition again.

“Hey, Shizuko. I’m bored, keep me company to kill time.”

While checking the condition of the kimono in front of the mirror, Shizuko is interrupted by Oichi, who opens the door without any consideration. There was no consideration for Shizuko, who has been dealing with her for almost a year, but there’s no point in pointing it out as it won’t change anything. After all, Oichi’s carefree nature is something even Nobunaga has given up on.

“What’s with that peculiar outfit?”

Looking at Shizuko, who is wearing a plain arrow feather pattern kosode, and on top of that, a navy blue haori embroidered with cherry blossom petals, Oichi makes a puzzled face. The gold embroidery is not a vibrant shine, but rather a dull color. It can be described as having a calm color.

“Peculiar is a bit rude. It’s a fashion that leads the trends of the world.”

“Is that so? But it’s not currently in fashion. That’s why it can be called a peculiar outfit.”

“Hmm, hitting where it hurts. Anyway, what do you want?”

Unable to refute the calm retort, Shizuko scratches her head and tries to change the topic. Oichi also seemed to have forgotten about it, as she claps her hands together as if remembering something and asks her question.

“Oh, right. Since you’re free, keep me company to kill time.”

“I’m busy, so I’ll decline. I have to check the documents now, or Aya-chan will get mad at me, so find someone else to play with.”

“No, I’m bored.”

“I see… then entertain yourself. I have work to finish.”

Shizuko realized that it was pointless to argue and decided to go along with Oichi’s request to kill time.

On July 10th, Shizuko headed to Kyoto for a certain matter. Nobutada’s “gusoku-hajime” (the beginning of wearing armor) ceremony was scheduled for the 19th, so she wanted to settle some business in the meantime. It was a pearl trade. After calculating the quality and production volume of pearls, Shizuko determined that stable supply would be possible from the following year. Previously, pearls were sold to merchants and then sold to temples, shrines, and samurai. However, this time, Shizuko wanted to establish a sales channel overseas, specifically in European countries.

Pearls are said to be the first gemstone encountered by humans. The oldest pearl in the world dates back to approximately 5,500 years ago in the Jomon period and is called the “Torihama Pearl.” Descriptions of pearls can be found in “Wei Zhi Wo Ren Zhuan,” “Kojiki,” “Nihon Shoki,” “Manyoshu,” and other ancient texts, and the Shoso-in Treasure House in the Nara period contains over 4,000 well-preserved pearls.

The most famous pearls in the world are the Oriental pearls, natural pearls harvested from the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and around Sri Lanka. This area also has a long history, and it was a major pearl-producing region until cultured pearls emerged in the 20th century. In addition, freshwater pearls that can be harvested from the California Peninsula to South America Peru in the Americas and from rivers in Scotland and Germany in Europe are also famous. The harvested pearls were supplied to royalty and the church.

In other words, Shizuko’s business partner for the negotiation is the church, specifically the Society of Jesus. The reason is that Christianity uses pearls extensively for religious decorations. Furthermore, in Christianity, there has been a long-standing association between Jesus Christ and pearls. Even the Gnostic sect, which is a Christian heresy, regarded pearls as the most ideal symbol of perfection. The reverence for pearls is not limited to Christianity. In Islam and Buddhism as well, pearls are treated as precious treasures. It’s not just about religion. During the medieval and Renaissance periods in European countries, pearls were considered the most rare gemstone and were used as a symbol of power by the nobility. Pearls are also believed to have various health benefits and are considered a longevity medicine worldwide. Although not strictly a mineral, pearls are the first gemstone encountered by humans and have fascinated people since ancient times.,”I can’t believe that these round balls are worth the high price that the Nanban people are willing to pay.”

Nagayoshi murmurs as he looks at the pearls he carries as a fever reducer. It’s understandable. Although pearls are highly regarded in Japan, they are rarely used as decorative items like in Europe. Therefore, it is natural for Nagayoshi to not think of them as something that can be sold at a high price. And because Shizuko produces many pearls of various sizes, they didn’t seem valuable to him.

“Pearls have been associated with the moon since ancient times and are considered symbols of water. They appear many times in the Christians’ Bible and are seen as spiritually perfected objects. So I don’t think there’s any reason to refuse.”

Shizuko answers Nagayoshi’s question. However, even if they are said to be spiritual and symbols of water, Nagayoshi doesn’t quite understand. Eventually, he gets tired of thinking about pearls and puts them in his waist pouch.

The day after they arrived in Kyoto, Shizuko changes into her usual male attire. As soon as she finishes changing, members of the Jesuit order, including Organtino, Frois, and monks, visit Shizuko’s mansion. It’s understandable. As a greeting for the business negotiations, Shizuko sent them about 30 special pearls. The astute Organtino probably understood the meaning just from that.

“Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to meet you despite the sudden visit.”

Organtino bows his head as a representative. Shizuko was impressed by Organtino’s intelligence. Although she wanted to talk about the business negotiations, she didn’t show it on her face. She had her usual gentle atmosphere.

“Please raise your head. This time, it’s not a formal discussion. However, since it’s a business matter, there may be some strict aspects.”

“Haha, I understand that.”

“Well, it’s good to chat, but it’s also a problem to keep you waiting too long. First, please take a look at our products.”

Shizuko claps her hands as a signal, and the attendants enter the room with trays in hand. The trays have a few pearls placed on them, and the attendants place them in front of Organtino and the others, bow, and leave the room.

“Please take a good look. These are pearls produced in our country…”

Organtino, who momentarily reacted to the word “produced,” picks up the pearls placed on the tray without asking any questions. He thought that the color and luster were perfect, unlike anything he had seen before. The shape was also almost perfectly round, and when he picked up one pearl wrapped in cloth, it rolled around on the cloth. He had rarely seen pearls with such uniform shapes before, as most pearls he had seen were distorted and rarely perfectly round.

“These are pearls of excellent quality.”

The quality of the pearls was impressive, even to Organtino, who was unfamiliar with decorative items. However, even though he was unfamiliar, Organtino noticed something.

“However, these seem different from what I know. And the perfect roundness, if there is only one, we can call it a miracle. But to gather this many, there must have been some human intervention.”

Europe uses freshwater pearls, so the color and luster of saltwater pearls are different. Not only that, but he also felt a sense of unease in the almost uniform shape. It would not be strange for there to be some variation in shape even in pearls, but the shape and color were eerily consistent. From this sense of unease and Shizuko’s actions, he speculated that the pearls were artificially made.

“You have a keen eye. We have acquired pearl production technology from a neighboring country, and we have finally been able to produce pearls in our country.”

“I understand. However, we cannot offer something that has been tampered with as an offering to our Lord.”

Shizuko understood that Organtino’s reaction was natural. It would be natural to have reservations about offering something that is not natural but artificially cultivated, even if the content is the same. That’s why Shizuko aimed to supply pearls not to the Jesuits, but to the people behind them.

“I understand that. And it would be impolite for us to force you to use them. However, what about the nobles and aristocrats?”

With those words, Organtino roughly understood what Shizuko wanted to say.

“I see. Hooded Prime Minister (Shizuko) sama, are you thinking of selling them to the nobles and aristocrats who support us, rather than us?”

“I apologize, but how many of the foreign merchants visiting our country have gained the trust of the nobles and aristocrats in their home countries? That’s why we thought of selling pearls to you.”

“I understand. Even if you insist on their good quality, it is natural for you to think of them as something similar to unknown pearls. Although we call it a business discussion, this is more like a preliminary transaction.”

Currently, Akoya pearls are the most common pearls in the world, but during the Warring States period, there was almost no trade in Akoya pearls. There is also a possibility that the European nobility will avoid them. However, Shizuko had a winning strategy. She judged that the amount of pearls in circulation had decreased significantly due to overfishing of pearl oysters in medieval and early modern Europe, and that Columbus was enthusiastic about Japanese pearls. Therefore, even if the Jesuits did not use pearls as church decorations, there was a possibility that the nobles and aristocrats would value pearls, according to Shizuko.

“If you have considered it to that extent, you will understand what I am about to say next.”

Organtino says to test Shizuko. He maintains a smiling atmosphere, but it doesn’t allow anyone to guess what he is thinking deep down. Shizuko, who guessed what he wanted to say, signals to the attendant at the entrance to bring something. After a while, a tray with several paulownia boxes is placed in front of Organtino.

“I will give you the pearls to show to the nobles and aristocrats, as well as the jewelry made with those pearls. Please show them to them thoroughly.”

Organtino smiled when he heard Shizuko’s words. Her answer was perfect for Organtino. Even if they are praised, Organtino, who is in Japan, does not have the power to move a large amount of money. Moreover, even if he were to purchase pearls, he would not be able to judge their quality unless they were made into jewelry. With both pearls and jewelry, he can see how the nobles and aristocrats of Europe will react. Of course, personal preferences may vary, but there is no choice but to accept that.

“Indeed, you are a wise Hooded Prime Minister (Shizuko) sama. Then let us use these to gauge the reaction of the nobles and aristocrats. If they like them, we will discuss the business again. However, please understand that our home country is far away from here, and it will take time.”

“I understand.”

With that exchange, Shizuko’s negotiation with Organtino ended. After a brief conversation, Organtino and the others left Shizuko’s mansion to take care of their church duties. About half an hour after they left, Shizuko changed out of her male attire and into her regular clothes.

“Ah, I’m tired. I thought they would be more aggressive, but they showed a rather cautious attitude.”

Shizuko stretches her body, trying to relieve the tension. Her body becomes stiff due to the constraints of her male attire. After finishing, she needs to relax her body, or the next day will be miserable.

“There were rumors that the Christians dislike business, but they seemed quite interested in the conversation.”

Nagayoshi also stretches his body to relieve tension. He is not good at serious discussions, and even business negotiations make his shoulders tense. While massaging his shoulders, his gaze is always alert to his surroundings. Saizo positions himself to protect Shizuko at all times, completely relaxing his body and only relying on his reflexes. Keiji may seem completely relaxed, but he always has his hand on his sword. Even in this state, if someone were to attack Shizuko, at most one of the three would be injured, and if they were unlucky, the attacker would be the one who gets cut.

They have a reason to be on high alert. Since the end of the negotiation, the three have been aware that there is a spy among them. However, they couldn’t sense any killing intent or hostility from the other party, only a vague mist-like presence. Knowing that the opponent can erase their presence to this extent while infiltrating enemy territory, the three were amazed. While remaining vigilant, they were unable to pinpoint the whereabouts of the opponent. But that’s understandable, as the opponent is Tobikato (Flying Kato) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katō_Danzō). Knowing that the three were unnecessarily on guard, Tobikato simply left Shizuko’s mansion. As soon as they realized that the spy had left, the three let out a small sigh of relief.

“Well, shall we take care of the other task?”

Unaware of everything, Shizuko speaks to the three as she sends out a letter.

On the other hand, when Organtino returns to the church, he gathers people from the same faction. Although the Jesuits appear to be united, there are actually two factions: the hawks and the doves. The Jesuits’ ultimate goal is to spread Christianity in China, but the basic principle of their activities is “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” However, there are individuals who do not agree with this view, and opinions on the spread of Christianity in Japan have always been divided within the Jesuits.

The unfortunate thing for the Jesuits is that Cabral, who belongs to the hawk faction, is in charge of the overall responsibility for the spread of Christianity in Japan. It is said that Organtino lamented the future of the mission under Cabral’s leadership. Another person who belongs to the hawk faction is Gaspar Coelho. He made plans to convert the Japanese to Christianity, turn Japan into a Christian nation, and use it as a vanguard to attack neighboring China. Therefore, Coelho received special criticism and was even blamed by his fellow Jesuits for the expulsion of the Christians.

However, from the perspective of the Franciscans and Dominicans, the Jesuits are considered moderate, or in a negative light, a group of spineless people, and Coelho is not seen as a particularly special person. On the contrary, there were more such individuals in other religious orders where people like Coelho made up the majority. Of course, if a Dominican friar had come from the beginning, Christianity would not have spread as much in Japan.,”I received pearls from Hooded Prime Minister (Shizuko). And borrowing his words, this seems to be something made by human hands.”

Organtino shows the gathered doves the Akoya pearls. Everyone exclaims in admiration at the brilliance of the pearls.

“Is Hooded Prime Minister (Shizuko) someone who has obtained divine wisdom to create such a thing?”

“It’s understandable that Lord Cabral is cautious and doesn’t want to meet. He is completely different from the Japanese we have encountered so far.”

Even though they were called artificial, they were fascinated by the elegant brilliance of the pearls. Some people were already considering how to obtain pearls from Shizuko using various methods.

“I told him that we cannot dedicate something made by human hands to God, but these pearls are charming gemstones.”

Organtino speaks while playing with the pearls in his palm through the cloth. He hesitates to use cultured pearls in the church, but he does not have any aversion to selling them to European royalty. In fact, he was considering the practicality of obtaining funds from them.

“As Lord Organtino says, we can use these pearls to obtain funds for our activities.”

“The rulers of this country cannot be met unless they are clean individuals. But to keep our bodies clean and wear glamorous clothes, we need funds.”

“Unfortunately, a lot of funds are needed to carry out missionary work in this country. But even if we propose it to Goa, they are not easily convinced.”

The monks express their thoughts one after another in response to Organtino’s words. Preaching while wearing tattered clothes is considered the correct preaching style in Christianity, but in Japan, it was usually rejected. There are various factors, but the biggest one is the smell. The smell is amplified by humidity, so even if it is not a problem in dry Europe, it smells terribly in hot and humid Japan. It is said that Miyamoto Musashi, who never took a bath except for baby baths, could be smelled even from over 100 meters away. On the other hand, it was believed in Europe that taking a bath would make you more prone to illness. Now, even the missionaries were originally from the upper class, and some of them became missionaries from military personnel or doctors.

“However, if we dress too extravagantly, it will anger Lord Cabral.”

The aversion to bathing has decreased due to adaptation, but it has not completely disappeared. And Cabral, who is the top of Japanese missionary work, is negative towards adaptation and dislikes missionaries dressing cleanly.

“To carry out missionary work, local collaborators are necessary. Without the protection of the rulers, missionary work is impossible. Why doesn’t Lord Cabral try to understand that?”

“Indeed. We are taking various measures for the sake of missionary work, but everything is denied.”

Even if they dislike it, they endure it as a trial from God for the sake of missionary work. They are prepared for that, but Cabral denies everything he doesn’t like. As a result, there was growing dissatisfaction among the missionaries towards Cabral.

“Well, well, everyone. It is not good to speak ill of others behind their backs. Let’s take a deep breath and calm down for now.”

“But Lord Organtino…”

“I understand everyone’s dissatisfaction. However, the Lord said, ‘Put away anger and abandon wrath. Forgive your hated enemies.’ Lord Cabral has made us realize things we didn’t notice. Rather than harboring resentment, we should be grateful.”

Everyone falls silent at Organtino’s words. If he goes so far, any further complaints would just be words driven by anger.

“Let’s put the discussion about the pearls on hold for now. Let’s send some to Goa and discuss the handling again based on their response.”

Any further discussion would turn into a venue for expressing dissatisfaction towards Cabral. Thinking so, Organtino, although somewhat forcefully, ended the discussion.