A cut above the rest

Whilst Hattori would not outwardly speak against his wife, he couldn't say he agreed with her assertion. Was she simply being polite? Diplomatic in ways Hattori cared not to be, paying lip service whilst keeping her true thoughts and intentions hidden away. Perhaps, it was hard for him to know for sure. In situations like this, and Hattori had partook in many, wolves were often all talk, tending to go on and on about how reliable they were and why they ought to be trusted. As a man who was all action and little talk he found it very difficult to accept their words at face value and even if he did, why did Ashen need a pair of loners to do their dirty work? In Hattori's mind it would undermine the Empire's strength, imply they were not strong enough or willing to deal with matters alone.

But perhaps it was too soon to be checking for chasing shadows, the more packs indebted to the Empire the better, perhaps Venom had sensed this from the start.

He pursed his lips and side eyed Ikigai, his glazed silver gaze taking in the daintiness of her form, how she held herself so perfectly it made Kiyohime seem as though she was slouching.  She seemed fond of them, but that meant little to the Shogun, after all she was still just a child and polite enough to always try and see the best in others.

"If indeed." Was all Hattori said.