Shokomaru lead the others in a bow returned to the magistrate.

He would allow Ryuu and Geppu to leave first, but didn't seem to want to take up the magistrate's time with additional conversation.

"I will endeavor to visit them, Agasha-sama. Thank you for the recommendation." He bows and takes his leave.

Ryuu noted the grip to her sidearm, but stood and said nothing. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, for your time and understanding, Lord Magistrate." His words were soft, but sincere.

After, he looked to Geppu and Shokomaru, before leaving the office.

Now was not the time or place to discuss what he knew.

Shokomaru had stalled ever so slightly before leaving, but didn't say anything further to the magistrate. With a placid look he exited after the other two and walked down the hall toward the exit.

"I'll take care of the letter, as promised", he said evenly, hands in his kimono. "Though let's not do this again, I really hate dealing with this crap, doshin."

A few steps later he could hear no one exiting the office behind them.

"So...seems suspect to me, even though Agasha-bugyo came off as honest about what happened. Assessments?"

"I could not read anything off of her...but its certainly possible she's skilled at hiding her intentions...and I am inclined to agree. I am well spoken, but at some point my words will not be satisfactory."

He was silent for a moment as they walked away. Waiting until out of earshot of anyone.

"She is holding back the truth." Ryuu replied, quietly, flatly. "Her lips shifted slightly when she spoke, her pupils were dilated, and her breathing caught for a fraction of a second when she answered." It was almost clinical, cold, the way he described the reaction.

"I do not care enough to proceed with that information, and risk jeopardizing our goals in the miai. Clearly they do not want our help, or if they did, they would have demanded we finish what we started."

"If it were me on my land and some foreign samurai came to 'help', scaring the piss out of my peasants without asking, they'd have gotten infinitely worse than we did", he answered. "Though...", he kept walking, hands behind his head, looking carefree. "If I had something to hide, yeah...I'd let them off easy so they'd be grateful and back off."

"Going too hard when you need to keep secrets risks your guests applying outside pressure to get back at you. Looks like I'm talking to the governor after all."