It has long been wondered as to the birth nation of Kafeng Masangwa. I am here to tell you that she if of a dual bloodline. Her father was a poor shoemaker in the island of Tonggo, in the Charnel Isles Archipelago. Her father was a daughter of a traveling Tsu merchant. They met when they were both traveling to the great city of Selorong. Kafeng Masangwa spoke great conversational Selorongian, as she was born there, and when she was put into University by the efforts of his grandfather she became well-versed in both Putunghua and Shihua, the Court Language of Shen. However, all of her works were written in Bazaar Kyapo--translated from Old Kyapo--as that was the true lingua franca at that time, used even between high officials of disparate nations.

No doubt the confusion arises when one looks at Kafeng Masangwa's works: they are written in both Putunghua and Bazaar Kyapo. Nationalists have begun to claim her as a product of their own national histories, but no truth burgeons from that. No nation has claim to Kafeng Masangwa, as she repudiated the ardent nationalism that gave rise to Fascism.

A Study of Masangwan Sociopolitical Philosophy

Raxri resisted the urge to squirm and leap straight out of the house.

Sintra Kennin scowled. "That Galakal fellow that rented us this house... he probably knew about this."

Isura nodded. "You know how it is with people trying to make a buck," he said, shrugging.

Raxri tilted their head to the side and wondered. "Has anyone thought of destroying the house? Burning it to the ground?"

Goton coughed and said: "Well, we tried, a year or so ago. It did not go well. First the exorcism ritual was upended when the exorcist was... decapitated. And then the workers that were supposed to carry out the demolishing were pierced through with sicknesses and diseases, which spread to their families. It was..."

"Horrific," said Isura, nodding. He kept writing on the palm leaf. "And so we kept it up. Unfortunately, looks like Galakal swindled you into taking the bait."

"Hence the lowball rent," said Sintra Kennin, stroking their flaming beard. "Often, a few nights stay would require a high rent to be able to offset the costs. It is only economical."

"Port towns are rife nests for capitalists to arise," said Isura. "With the international trade, international ideas, and international machines, it was bound to happen."

"It's interesting to note that Imos Town still has no real power," said Sintra Kennin. "Being so connected to the international ports, I would've assumed it would be powered by a karma engine by now."

Goton smiled at that. "Well," he said, beginning with a sigh. "The only way to get power in this island is through the Nunuk League. Guess who cut it off?"

Sintra Kennin shook his head in disbelief. Isura said: "Thankfully we do have mini-engines here to power lotus lights and the like, and a competent enough plumbing system, but nothing of the sort of other higher-class municipalities."

"Imos Town seems like it's in a predicament," said Raxri, leaning back now. They rested Puksa on their knees. "Why don't the citizens rise up and overthrow the 'King?"

Goton pressed his lips together. He leaned back as well, steepling his fingers over his chest. "We did. It did not end well."

"Despite his looks, the High Chief is still someone of great, burgeoning spiritual power. He's spent his life cultivating Inner Power, and has become a master of those dark magicks. He's no wizard, but he is a powerful warlock all the same," said Isura.

Sintra Kennin looked down, staring at the cigarette butt that Goton placed upon a porcelain tray. "If the High Chief is slain... what do you think this would entail?"

Goton looked away for a moment. He was thinking, no doubt. "I suppose... it would entail a change of power. The problem is, who would become the new High Chief? I would prefer that there would be no new High Chief at all, and that we would be led by some form of council that has our best interests in mind."

Isura shook his head. "It is more likely that the Prime Minister Tun Moriwasa will take power. He is a faithful to the royalty, and thus faithful to the king. As someone that is amiable to nobility, no doubt he will simply take power instead."

"I see." Sintra Kennin dove deep into his thoughts once again.

What if we assure that the higher ups would not take power? What if we assure that the dockworkers take power? Raxri said: "What if you take power? What if you establish a council and take power of the town?"

Goton and Isura looked at each other, uncomfortably. Who wouldn't? Taking up arms against the crown...? They were, effectively, being asked to perform lese-majeste.

Raxri did not afford them too much time to think: "If the world truly has gone past the time of kings, then High Chief Trasan simply clings to old notions. No doubt the modern people want a world where the Will of Many trumps the Will of the One. Why not rouse that? Bring a better world to the workers here of the port town?"

"To be honest with you," said Goton, thinking about it. "The majority of the workers here are also simply international agents who come and go. The workers of Imos Town don't even directly work for High Chief Trasan anymore, but for the international merchants and princes."

Raxri tapped their chin. "So they wouldn't exactly get in the way of a revolutionary coup?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Isura shrugged. "Yes, but they wouldn't exactly be in favor of it either. Simply... neutral. These workers work to survive. Can you blame them? When the world has ended, there's no other reason to do anything else. But to survive. And so they do. And they will not take sides. They will prioritize their lives."

Sintra Kennin, not too unfamiliar with politics, said: "Then you will just have to be the favorable option. When you take over, promise to the traders that they'll get less cuts and more profits."

Goton leaned back. "The traders have been complaining to the officials about how they've been losing a lot of profits due to the taxation of docking, selling, and leaving. Ha!" Goton clapped his hands and laughed. "That's the reason why no one helped the Port Chief, by the way. It was because almost no one liked the Port Chief! He was a gang lord abuser of power."

"Good, then at least we have that," said Sintra Kennin. "Things will get easier from then on, but you will need some modicum of--"

"Hold on," said Isura, removing his glasses. "Are you actually serious about this? Regicide?"

"Perhaps not regicide. Perhaps not outright murder," said Sintra Kenning. "But karma returns in ways one never even thinks of."

"Remember. This man is a warlock. He is filled to the brim with Inner Power. He can turn into a hawk, fly, and control the elements. He is powerful."

"And he is dangerous," said Raxri, leaning back. "And we will not be able to leave Imos Town until we either achieve what we wish to achieve, or find justice for Usisi, the woman." A thought arose in Raxri's mind. "We can... I can... Or perhaps Akazha...."

"Spit it out, boy," said Goton.

Raxri bit their lip and said: "We can speak with Usisi. We can try. We can reach out to her, ask her if she will stop haunting the town if we find her justice."

Goton thought about it for a moment, and then said: "Perhaps. But that's going to be out of my purview. You will need to do that on your own. Ghostwork... gives me the fucking heebie-jeebies."

"We will," said Raxri. Their eyes drifted to the ladder again that led to the attic. The attic door, closed shut.

"And if you're willing to help us," said Isura, butting in. "Then we will do the majority of the work. All we need is the Will of the People on our side."

Goton tapped their chin and added: "Well, you could be getting some backup from the Nunuk League. A conspirator arrives here on the morrow, noon. One of their diplomats, studied in the Five Schools. Scholar Kalaw. The Hornbill Martial Sage."

"Conspirator?"

Goton gesticulated with his hands. "Let's just say he's... someone that has a similar vibe of regicide going on with him. In service of the Nunuk League, of course."

"And is being affiliated with the Nunuk League something the people want?" asked Raxri.

Isura nodded. "Yes." Curt answer. "For the longest time, the majority of those living in Imos Town have been complaining about how their life has become harsher because of the loss of connection with the League. It will benefit us all. As you know, the Nunuk League is a particularly anarchist collective, and one that does not like resorting to outright violence. But what they do have at hand are martial artists. They could not take Imos Town by force until after the entirety of the people will it so."

Raxri Uttara shrugged. "Then let us be the catalyst. The three of us will join forces with your Scholar Kalaw to violently depose the High Chief."

Sintra Kennin's face was a firm scowl. Raxri thought he looked like a Enlightened statue.

Goton huffed out through his nose. "You make it sound so easy."

"The Code of the Ocean will not take kindly to such an upheaval," said Isura. "But what is the Code of the Sea adept at but change? No Kings, No Masters, after all."

"Mantri Isura, we should approach all the concerned parties about this. Let's see what we can do today, for it is yet early."

"Let us approach Ka Kushna?"

Goton nodded. He turned to Sintra and Raxri. "Ka Kushna is the head of the burgeoning dockworker's syndicate here. It's... not doing too well. They barely have 30 members. Most of the workers are afraid joining the syndicate will mean a loss of their jobs. With this, we will make it work for them."

"Do it," said Raxri Uttara. Spirited, invigorated at this turn. In their eyes, anything that helps the Lower Classes arise is an unequivocal good, so that all beings may be free. After all, one of the major goods of the Law is to be able to cut away all hindrances to the practice of Enlightenment. "Do it for the people."

Mantri Goton and Mantri Isura both smiled. "Right. For the people."

After they left, Sintra Kennin set about to making food. Raxri decided to help him in the meantime, cooking rice in the pot and making runs to the market for soy sauce and vinegars.

As Sintra Kennin cooked another plate of thick-sauced adobo, he said: "What an interesting outcome."

"What? The whole kill a High Chief thing?" asked Raxri. "This is really convenient." They looked at the cigarette in their hand. The taste was peculiar, felt smaller.

Sintra Kenning gesticulatd at it. "That's new technology you know."

"Tabako?" Raxri raised an eyebrow. They looked at the cigarette again. "I don't think so."

"No. Cigarettes," clarified Sintra Kennin. "Smaller, easier to produce, made in factories. Guilds started making them, as far as I know, as a cheap working-man alternative to pipes and cigars."

"Truthfully? Well, I should get a pack of them," said Raxri. "They're more convenient than having to clean, set up, and carry around your own pipe."

"That it is." Sintra Kennin laughed. "Do you believe that we will be able to slay the High Chief? I... was just thinking about it, I did not look at it with any particular course of action. I did not think you would be actually willing to do exactly that."

Raxri shrugged. "I've slain worse things before," they said, taking another puff. "But considering that there are three of us at least, and we are all versed well-enough in arts of fighting and magickry, I don't suppose we have a bad chance of enacting such a plan."

Sintra Kennin thought for a long while. "You have a great trust in us, Raxri Uttara."

"I have had to walk upon trust for the past few months, having nowhere else to go." They smiled.

"Very well."

"And I believe that returning the karma to the High Chief is exactly what the patayenak--" Raxri's eyes flashed up to the attic again; they swore they saw a woman looking down at them from the barred window, "--would want to happen. In so doing, we carve a bloody path to our own freedom, as well as to the freedom of Imos Town."

"Perhaps there is a less... violent way of doing things?"

Raxri Uttara nodded. "We can certainly try. But I believe we must be comfortable in the fact that those in power will not wish to relinquish their power without force. And sometimes that force must be physical."

Sintra Kennin sighed and nodded. Acquiescence. The garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce mixed smell of Sintra's adobo lifted into the air and made Raxri's mouth water.

Sintra Kennin stirred the pot and said: "In any case, you will have to tell this new development to Akazha."

Raxri blew out some smoke. "I will. I will have no choice, I think."

"Wait. Doesn't she have a meeting with Captain Ampalila at dawn?"

Raxri blinked. "Oh, gods. You're right. Oh, Revolution Achievers guide my hand." Raxri turned to run into the house, but Sintra Kennin shook his head and stopped them with a casual placing of his hand on their shoulder.

"Leave her be. I'm sure Captain Ampalila will understand, considering she saved your life."

"Are you sure? What if--"

"What are you so scared of? Of course I will, as long as you explain why!" The two of them looked over their shoulder to see a casually dressed Ampalila standing by the doorway to the outer kitchen.

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