"In normal circumstances you would have been called to the patriot's courtyard, presented to his majesty's council, and receive their thanks. As you can see," Minister Go frowned at the guards who had inched forward, "these are not normal circumstances. Still, I have been charged to bring tokens of the courts thanks for the role you played in getting the information needed to bring down two of the main conspirators in the Council of Five."

San Jin and Junseo nodded to each other while the other boys looked on in confusion.

"Now, I can see why your uncle put so much trust in you," Minister Go smiled proudly at his son. "You brought essential information to us. Not without a cost," he nodded in Xuiyang's direction, "but with great discretion." Song-hee brightened when he realized he had a role carrying the code book.

"The evil attack on your group inspired someone close to the conspiracy to provide information which helped us stop an assassin reaching the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, some of their accomplices escaped and took revenge on one of his majesty's confidential informants. Through his most heroic efforts Captain Shiro made sure we would be able to track more of the plot and this had led to the arrest of Lord Sun-Gyu and the allies aiming to restore the fourth kingdom." Minister Go then invited Lord Lie to step forward and presented him with the official charter for the training yard along with a permanent lease from General Tan for the city compound.

"We are most grateful for these honors." Wen-Hou bowed formally. "They can never replace the loss we feel since even though Captain Shiro was only with us a short time, he made such a difference. We will do our best to carry-on his legacy of loyal service." It was only with these words the other boys realized what Junseo and Song-hee had known since the morning. Captain Shiro had died.

Chenhui squatted down and covered his face with his hands. He rocked back and forth and Hae-sung knelt beside him and rubbed his back. Xuiyang looked at Junseo who shook his head sadly. San Jin just raised an eyebrow at Song-hee who clearly had not been surprised by the announcement.

Their training master noticed the look and decided to offer an explanation: "Earlier today the fates guided Junseo to the riverside where the captain's body had washed up. His persistence made the guards take notice. He and Song-hee then completed other missions that made it possible to move forward with the case but they had to promise not to share any information with you. Unfortunately, that will still be the case until the whole investigation is wrapped up."

Minister Go stepped in again. "We believe it best if you all stay here to be guarded as special witnesses. I also should mention it will only be a matter of time before more people realize my family line are now the senior descendants to the fourth kingdom. That means more precautions." He stared straight at San Jin who nodded sadly. "Good. Now you can ask questions but I have to warn you we might not be able to answer."

Hae-sung was the first to raise his hand. "Were there any members of the Counsel of Five at the estate when we were there?" When Minister Go nodded Hae-sung quickly asked, "Were they after the San Jin or just some of General Tan's documents?" He could have been more specific about which documents but he did not know how much the guards should hear.

"We are not sure about all their motives. What I can say is you must have stymied at least part of their plot. That is probably why they made their move in the capital before everything was in place." Minister Go looked to one of the men from the palace for confirmation on this point before he added. "Please don't try to figure out who is connected to the Council of Five, or who our informant might be. It is far to volatile a situation for everyone."

"I don't understand why anyone would go after Captain Shiro. He was a tutor and exam coach and really the best teacher I every had." Chenhui choked up again.

"Yeah. He never made you feel less for not knowing something. So long as you gave an honest effort, he said it was up to teacher to make sure you were on the right track." Xuiyang added.

"His position allowed him to meet people from different backgrounds and that was helpful for his confidential work. We are not sure exactly how he got betrayed but he knew he was playing a dangerous game," Manager Doak looked at Minister Go to see if more could be added but got a frown and a slight headshake in response.

Scout Jia knew the boys needed to hear more so told them, "In the short time he was working with us Captain Shiro became a true friend. He was very happy with the way you all progressed in your studies and combat skills."

"I'm going to miss the way he could change up styles to keep me on my toes." San Jin said quietly and invited the other boys to share more. They each had their own story to tell. By the time they had gone around their circle they were able to share things that could bring a smile. At first their elders just listened but then they joined in with a few stories of their own.

Afterward, they all sat quietly for a minute or two then Chenhui looked a San Jin and said "Thank you. I think we all needed to remember better things."

"Yes, but it is so unfair that somebody's perverse ambitions would take someone like Captain Shiro away from us. I'm still so very angry." San Jin admitted.

"Truth," Junseo said while placing a hand over his heart. The other boys mirrored the gesture.

"So, what now? How are we just supposed to sit here and do nothing?" Hae-sung asked in frustration.

"Well, maybe not nothing. Let's get the strategy board out. We can talk a bit about history and a bit about the different players we know to be involved with recent events." The Knight-Master knew this was likely to break the confidentiality rules but trusted the team to keep things to themselves.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Seems the last time we did this we ended up on a very dangerous road," San Jin said only half teasing.

"I don't think we are actually off that road yet," Junseo said levelly. The others all stared in surprise, "What?" he has to ask.

"Just how you know, what you know. I could never put it into words so easily. But you are right," San Jin answered and the others all nodded along.

"I am afraid the different tracks all go back further than you think," Minister Go said before starting in on how the original four kingdoms were merged through a combination of conquest and strategic marriage alliances. He reminded them of the previous generation's war of succession and the way the neighboring empires profited by playing different parts of the royal house against the other. Then he talked about his father's great hope when the Northern Princess married into the Lie family. "Having a twice-royal come to the throne would help bring the other factions into line, especially since they spend decades fighting each other."

"The early death of the princess and her son was a severe blow. Then the man who would become our king took a second wife with strong ambitions for her son from her previous marriage," Manager Doak took up the story. His perspective was tinged with cynicism born of pain as he explained that even before Sun-Gyu's arrival there had been regular attacks on the Lie family members. "Anyone with any wits tried to not to be too prominent if they were on the list of succession but we can't always blame the remnants of the other kingdoms. Power, either the want, or fear of it, can make people a bit crazy." He laid out different markers while Minister Go explained more genealogies and invited the boys to study the board.

Knight-Master Lie added to the tension by saying, "I think it is time we talk about the ambitions of a faction interested in at least expanding the legacy of the second kingdom. It happens to include my own stepbrother who was banished along with my uncle."

"Wait, is this group different than the one the Council of Five was promoting? I mean, it seems like it might be but if the goal is to take over the united provinces from the Lie family maybe they have some sort of alliance." Xuiyang speculated but then admitted it hard to follow the different genealogies.

Manager Doak expressed his sympathies and then explained "If you go back far enough, the four lords, who proclaimed their own Kingdoms were part of the same family and owed allegiance to the High King. To cement alliances, they inter-married so yes, they are all related to some degree." He then sketched a rough diagram of the different houses before observing, "Only the northern province claims to have an independent court but their joint rulers agreed to be known only as prince and princess. There are undoubtable factions who want to raise their status. We have heard some concerning rumors as well. Something about a new heir but it is impossible to say if it is anything more than wishful thinking."

"Yes, well the Qin barely even recognize the Lie family. I can't imagine how they might view territories even smaller separate territories." San Jin reminded them and the added some other external considerations. Then he stopped and looked at each of his teammates. "This feels pretty hopeless. I mean there are entire government departments for this. So honestly, I think the best we can do is knock it out of the park with our exams and tournaments and make Captain Shiro proud." The boys all nodded then arranged themselves into a loose circle. They put hands in the middle. "Always Remember, down on three." San Jin instructed and then followed through with the solemn cheer.