Nakahama

"Indeed, business is business." Reaching into his haori, Hikari retrieves a black case, clicking it open to produce one of the reactive transparent plastic business cards he had offered at the mixer on the first night, setting one on the table and sliding it over to the Kaiu as he takes a seat.

"I appreciate the straightforward nature of your question, Kaiu-san. My pitch is a relatively simple one. I think Green Carp has the potential to be one of the brightest stars in Crab space, if not Empire space. You have an excellent location, abundant resources, and a relatively virgin market outside of your own internal markets. I also think that everyone else thinks so, otherwise they wouldn't have sent delegations to try and sway you to their side."

He sits up a bit in the chair, sliding out a few sheets of holoplastic.

"The Crab have reputation for, at times if you'll forgive the expression, being obtuse at times when it comes to matters outside of their duty and somewhat rugged needs. I do not believe there is anything wrong with the Crab approach to how your Clan conducts business. There is little room for deception, outside of perhaps some buyer beware from the wily carp," he will say, looking over to Taraka with a small grin. "From what I've been able to read of public opinion, the Dragon, Scorpion, Crane, and Mantis are quite interested in the planet here, with the Scorpion and the Dragon being especially keen."

He clears his throat and begins drawing up a business plan idly on one of the sheets.

"It is my belief that I, and by extension, the Phoenix can offer something to the Crab that the other Clans would charge a great deal for: Honesty. We have always been the Clan of peace and mediation...but we are similarly straightforward and I would match the forthrightness of the Crab. The Scorpion will only be honest to you when it suits them, the Crane are bound by their sense of honor and courtly fancies, the Mantis are simply transparent in their self-interest and have been known to turn on others when it is expedient...and the Dragon are inscrutable at the best of times."

He lets that hang in the air for a few moments before continuing. "In addition to my own personal investments that I'd like to make in the local economy, the Phoenix can also offer things such as farming technologies that will preserve the natural beauty of Green Carp using high efficiency and low footprint techniques, invaluable medical supplies and support for the righteous conflicts of the Crab, and support with spacefaring technologies."

Tetsu steeples his fingers. He is quiet for a long time "You are aware that both of Yasuki-san and myself are in or are looking to expand manufacturing, yes? It sounds as if your plan would be objecting to the kind of work we intend"

"But more pressingly: what is your plan to win over the governor? You made fair points about the other bidders but you speak of allies already made and groups who have been pressing hard for favor. How are you going to displace two of them?"

It was a good pitch, say what you would about the Phoenix, but it was well thought out and quite appealing on a personal level. You wanted to like Hikari and trust in his vision of peace and prosperity. If the Phoenix had sent a few more of him, that might've really swung people to their sides.

"It had not occurred to me to commodify Honesty, Asako-san, nor to pitch Obtuseness as a virtue." she commented, somewhat amused.

She took a sip of tea.

"There is a lot you can call the Scorpion: Villains, Mustache-Twirlers, black pajama enthusiasts....but also, most importantly, allies of the Crab. There is a lot of trade we already conduct with them, our Crab shells being better protection than a frog's skin, so while pushing them out to embrace the Phoenix sounds noble and virtuous, like virtue it also sounds very hard and not particularly fiscally rewarding." she adds.

"It is a sad truth, Yasuki-san, that everything is a commodity. It would be better if it were not so, but that is the world we live in."

When the dynamic duo make their point about the Scorpion being allies, Hikari raises his hands nonconfrontationally.

"The Crab alliance with the Scorpion is not something I would wish to drive a wedge between. I would simply offer that it would perhaps be wise to diversify your potential trading partners and allies. We all know how the tides of history ebb and flow and the ally of today could easily become the villain of tomorrow."

He turns back to the Kaiu and nods. "I am aware that it is something that any highly militarized society wishes to pursue, yes...and I would encourage such things. To prepare for peace one must also prepare for war...but the natural beauty of this place is something that I would hope to see preserved...and I believe that tourism is also one of the wishes of your governor, no?"

A clearing of his throat for a moment as Hikari considers. "I could not hope to easily displace the court of Scorpion and their much larger delegation here, but something I can offer is that if the Phoenix are able to gain favor here and have a place of business, the face you will see, provided I receive leave from my lord, will be mine. I will stay here and do business personally as long as it would satisfy the Crab, as a symbol of my dedication and my word, unlike the faces that come here to seek favor and then flit off."

Tetsu is quiet for a while. "Asako-san, I truly am the wrong person to make this case to." he finally replies. "I reside on Green Crap, legally, but for some time movements will be dictated by the Crab armed forces. A sincere and visible presence is an appreciated offer, and is one that would possibly appeal to those with more roots, but not one that affects me. In the same breath you've admitted that you see no chance of victory against the Scorpion. I have yet to hear a plan to dethrone the Mantis or Dragon. Am I to take it that there is none?"

Taraka considered the words exchanged.

"Hmmmm, I think, that Asako-san understands well the relative strengths of the clan's greater interests, Kaiu-san." she said, feeling he was leaning on the Phoenix just a little too hard.

"If the Phoenix were truly interested in making a major play for Green Carp, they would have sent more negotiators. Talented though he may be, Asako-san can only pull so many strings on his own."

She refreshed the tea for those who needed it.

"But as Crab, I think we can both appreciate the courage it takes to stand against a horde alone. And we are likely set for a bloom of smaller interests landing on Green Carp. I think you have the right of is, Kaiu-san, Asako-san's plan it not going to mesh particularly well with your vision of the future. But as someone with a shop of Golden Shotengai, getting to know who is going to be setting up next door is of interest to me." she offered.

She gave a small shrug.

"Now, as far as my family's business is concerned, I have entered into an arrangement with the Scorpion that means I can't necessarily help you get your business off the ground with investments. But I am happy to offer my advice and my knowledge of the locals for you to utilize."

She grinned.

"And if I am at all able to support your business as a client when it gets off the ground, I will be happy to be a customer. Though if you're planning on taking advantage of increased Scorpion traffic by opening a mustache wax emporium, I might not be able to help as much there."

"I do believe that Yasuki-san has the right of it. There is only so much weight my word has and it is unfortunate that more of my Clan did not choose to attend."

Hikari takes a sip of the tea that was refreshed, giving an apologetic smile.

"If I can make an inference from your statements, Kaiu-san, it would appear that our paths are at cross-purposes here, outside of wanting the Crab to genuinely succeed and for this place to grow. I apologize if you feel as though you have had your time wasted here today with my words, but it is time spent in good company is rarely wasted, eh?"