"Ah, good Anita," Shu began. "You haven't left yet."

"Change of orders?"

"Yes. There is a slight change."

Freed was sitting in his favorite armchair in his house thinking to himself. How was he going to find out who Schtoltelheim Reinbach IV was? Following Shu had been futile. Shu was too crafty, way too crafty. He then heard Rikimaru snore. Rikimaru was sleeping in the corner. He was a true samurai. Maybe he could help Freed? It wouldn't require too much coaching. Rikimaru had asked if there was anything he could do. But no, Rikimaru was his guest. He couldn't ask his guest to do any favors. That would be rude. When he was growing up he remembered his father telling him once, "Freed, my boy you can become anything you want in this world, however you must always have good manners. That's the secret to this life." This advice had governed Freed's live ever since that day when he was 4.

Besides, Freed couldn't reveal his SECRET mission. Yoshino walked over to him. "Hello Freed honey."

He looked at her tenderly. "Oh, Yoshino I wish I didn't have this secret mission."

"I'm sure Lord Granmeyer would like you to relax as well."

"Yoshino, Lord Granmeyer sends me on serious missions. I must accomplish this one. I must!" Freed put his fist in his hand. Shu was smart but not too smart for Freed Yamamoto.

"Well, Freed you should get some rest."

Freed looked at his wife and realized she was right.

The next morning the scene was quite similar. Rikimaru was eating a ton of food. Yoshino was cleaning the house. And Freed was sitting in his chair again, contemplating.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Yoshino strolled over and answered it.

Freed heard a feminine voice, "Is a Mr. Freed in?"

"One second," his wife responded.

Yoshino was coming back to alert Freed that he had a visitor but Freed was already at the door. The woman was some might say attractive. She had short blonde hair and carried a falcon rune. Freed remembered reading the report about Valeria the Toran General. However this woman was quite different than the description. She must be someone else. "Can I help you?" Freed asked.

"I am Anita. I work for Shu, he wants to meet with you."

Freed was alarmed. Did Shu know about his secret mission? Freed didn't know what to do. The words just seemed to spit out. "Uh, yes. Where? When?"

"The warehouse by the flood gate. 6:00 o'clock." Anita looked at Freed and then walked off.

Freed was stunned what should he do?

At six, Freed was dressed in his usual uniform though he had made sure it looked nice. Well since he was home he really didn't have to worry about it because Yoshino was the greatest uniform washer in all of Jowston. He knocked on the gate. It opened and he entered. Anita and one of Shu's lackeys shut the door. Another of Shu's lackeys entered wearing a headdress made of straw.

"Welcome Freed!" he said in a booming voice.

Freed looked at him strangely. Was this man crazy?

Then Shu came in. "Welcome Freed," he said in his own quiet reserved manner. "You must be confused, I bet."

Freed nodded.

Shu walked closer. "We all belong to a secret society, we get together and chat about stuff. We'd like you to join us."

"I'm confused," Freed said.

"Well, this is our leader Pomodo. He can explain further."

Pomodo walked closer to Freed. He grabbed Freed's head. "To join my brother all you must do is to go to Tinto and get Lord Gustav's permission in writing to travel to the Forest Village."

"Huh?" Freed asked totally bewildered.

Shu walked closer to Freed while the big Pomodo still grasped his face. "Freed, we send all of our applicants on strange assignments. They're all odd. If you want to join us, you'll have to do the quest."

Freed suddenly understood. Schtoltelheim Reinbach IV must have been trying to join this secret club. They just picked South Window at random. Freed stepped back from the big Pomodo. "I'm regretfully admit that I am unable to join your group. Lord Granmeyer requires my attention."

Shu looked disappointed. "Well, Freed you're always welcome if you do the quest."

Freed gulped and backed away. "Um, no sir. I'll just be going." Freed was a little freaked by these people. He quickly left the warehouse.

Shu snickered. He had won again. But of course he all but knew his plan would work. He was a master strategist.

Anita walked up to. "What would you have done if he had gone to Tinto?"

Shu looked at her pensively. "I suppose I would have had to expand my plan. However, Freed got the answer he was looking for. I doubt we'll ever have to worry about it."

Anita looked at him. "I've decided to leave Radat and just travel to Muse. After all this I don't really want to do a spy mission."

This was working out great for Shu. Two unwanted persons were out of his hair. Though he had to admit id had been pleasant working with Anita. "Well, I wish you luck," Shu said. He handed her a pouch. "Look inside. You'll find double what I promised you."

She opened and looked inside. "Shu are you getting soft?"

Shu looked at her calmly. "Let us just say I may want you in the future. Now, you will be predisposed to work with me."

She smiled and walked out.

Shu was almost happy. Not quite happy, he didn't get "happy". It was still the best he felt in awhile.

Freed was packing his bag at home. Yoshino stood near him. "Must you go RIGHT now?" Yoshino asked.

"I must return to Lord Granmeyer, Yoshino. I'll miss you more then I can express though," Freed said closing his case.

Yoshino paused. "Well be home soon."

"I will try," Freed said. "Yoshino can you look after our guest for awhile?"

"Sure honey," Yoshino replied.

Freed bowed to her and left his room. Rikimaru was waiting for him.

"Thank you again, Freed," Rikimaru said. "I'll help around the house. Yoshino did mentioned she wanted a nursery."

Freed went white. "Uh, uh…" Freed mumbled for another few second and the finally the words came free. "Goodbye, Rikimaru." He then left his house.