"It's n..."

Akemi bit her tongue.

"Hey, honestly, our current big armors are a bit behind the time. Take way too long to master for a degree of protection barely better than that of a silksteel suit.

But, I'm sure that, in a few decades at worst, the Crab will own next generation heavy armors, combining the lightness of the silksteel with an extra coat of special hyper resistant alloy or even these weird force fields that are starting to be deployed by other clans. And then the Hida Bushi will the very best heavy infantry once again.

Would be great if we had this breakthrough before the big war that is looming at the horizon, but I don't count too much on it."

"Aren't the Hida already the best heavy infantry in the galaxy?" He frowns, "And if we make all these alliances between all the clans wont that stop the war? "

"We are.

In an age where infantry can be shot down from the sky or the other side of the mountain. Adjustments might need to be made.

As for the possible outcomes of negotiations and alliances... If you want peace, prepare for war as they say. We must be strong in all cases."

"What if we get married into clans that then go to war with our families? That would be horrible!"

How did he ever manage to survive to this day?

"Well, let's make sure this doesn't happen by contracting the best possible marriages and becoming so strong the war won't ever happen."

"No matter how big your wall is, someone, somewhere will always be dumb enough to try to scale it!" He now seems to be quoting someone as well.

"Uh. Sure? Is that a Kaiu proverb?"

"it's engraved on a plaque in the Kaiu Dojo, but the plaque attributes the words to Kisada-Domo "

"Okay... And what's the wisdom behind it? That they will always be suicidal idiots around no matter how well you do?"

"Never expect common sense from enemies, even if their mission is impossible, someone will try it. So you always watch every single approach, not just the obvious ones"

"Okay... And where does it fit in the previous conversation?"

She pointed at herself.

"Remember. Hida bushi. Good at taking hits. Not good at solving riddles."

"Looking like the biggest baddest person in the bar won't stop some idiot from taking a swing at you. Appearing to be the most awesome clan in the empire, won't stop someone from trying to start a war with us they can't win"

"Oh, ah, yeah. But at least I'll be a short war. Nothing worst than a war between sides of similar power, that just goes on and on, slowly depleting both of their resources and people."