Inside the castle, the lord and his ministers sat upright in their armor, the atmosphere heavy and tense. Their expressions were solemn, as though they were facing a life-or-death battle. A resolute light gleamed in everyone's eyes; they knew full well that this war was intimately tied to the survival of the nation, and that only by giving it their all could they prevail.
Suddenly, Shinpachiro, the minister sitting to the lord's left, slammed his fist furiously against his knee and cursed through clenched teeth, "That damned Hayato! How dare he run away!" His voice was laden with bitter hatred and helplessness, as if he utterly detested such faithless traitors. Shinpachiro's eyes widened, blazing with fury toward the turncoat as though he wished to tear him limb from limb.
This minister named Shinpachiro was a loyal advisor who had stood steadfastly by the lord's side for many years, unwavering in his devotion. Yet recently, startling news had arrived: one of their own retainers had openly betrayed the country and defected to the enemy, leaving everyone dumbfounded, grieved, and furious. The news filled all of them with anger and disappointment; they could not comprehend why anyone would make such a choice.
Chapter 1587