Aftg react

Part66

They hoped whatever deal Stuart had wanted with the Moriyamas had gone well.
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Neil pawed desperately at his memory, searching for any advice on how to handle this encounter. Neil couldn't face Ichirou as Neil Josten; he had to face Ichirou as a Wesninski would. That meant every word had to be the truth and this had to be the biggest lie Neil had ever told.
He bit down on his doubts and the first flicker of panic and said, very carefully, "May I come in?"
Ichirou flicked two fingers in silent command, and Neil climbed into the car. He closed the door behind himself, firmly but not loudly, and fixed his stare on Ichirou's shoulder.
"Do you know who I am?" Ichirou asked.
"Yes," Neil said, and faltered for a half-second as he grasped at a proper title. "Sir" didn't have the necessary respect, but Kevin had referred to Kengo more than once as "lord". It was an outdated and clumsy term but it was all Neil had right now. "You are Lord Moriyama."
"Yes," Ichirou said, with a measured calm Neil didn't trust for a second. "You are aware my father is dead? I have not yet heard your condolences."
"Offering them seems presumptuous," Neil said. "It assumes you value my words, but I am just a no-one."
"You are not no one," Ichirou said. "That is why I am here. You understand."
It wasn't a question, but Neil lowered his head and said, "My father is dead at my uncle's hands and the FBI is investigating what is left of his ring. I am a loose end that must be dealt with one way or another."
"I could stop it," Ichirou said, and Neil believed him. It didn't matter that the FBI already had boxes full of Neil's stories and names. If Ichirou wanted the story killed and rumors quieted, he could do it with a couple phone calls and enough money. "Instead I am here. I like to know the value of things before I throw them away so I know how to compensate for their loss."
"I have no value now," Neil said, "but if given the time and chance to do so I would repay your family for the inconveniences I've caused. The average professional Exy player makes three million dollars a year. I don't need that kind of money for myself. Let me donate it to your family instead. I can route it through whichever holdings and charities you've inherited."
"An unsubtle attempt to buy your safety."
"My lord," Neil said, "I am attempting to right a wrong and fulfill a broken promise. I was supposed to belong to your uncle. I should have been raised at Evermore to be a Raven and play for Court. My potential revenue has always belonged to you. I returned to Exy as soon as my mother died because I know my purpose."
"And yet you did not return to my uncle," Ichirou said.
It felt like a test where failure meant death. Neil knew what the safe answer probably was, but a dangerous thought burned his tongue. His father had served Kengo, but to hold so much territory and power Kengo would have had to trust him. Nathan would have had the right to bring threats and potential complications to Kengo's attention. Neil didn't have that authority, but he had to try.

That worried them, they didn't know what he wanted to say this time but they knew that it could potentially get him killed and the alone kept them on edge.
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"I know you have no reason to trust my word," Neil said, very carefully, "and I know I have not earned your ear or consideration. But I am a Wesninski. My family is your family. Please believe me when I say I would never risk the safety of your empire. Playing for Edgar Allan would betray everything my family is supposed to stand for."
He hesitated as if afraid of continuing and crossing a fragile line. Ichirou waited for him to make up his mind. Neil wished he could read something, anything, on Ichirou's face, but his expression was serene and his tone hadn't changed since this awful conversation started. Neil didn't know if he was fooling Ichirou, and he didn't know if it would make a difference even if he could.
Neil finally took a steadying breath and said, "Your brother is going to destroy everything of yours unless someone collars him."