Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 24

Later that day, Matsu sat in his home office, a stack of requests, concerns, complaints, and news from the Yamatori clan spread out before him. The glow of his computer screen illuminated his bored expression as he scrolled through the numerous emails and documents. He sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair as he ran a hand through his hair. It had been a while since he'd tackled this particular task—usually, he left it to Yumiko. She had a knack for it, and in return, he'd reward her with whatever she wanted, even if it was something that money couldn't buy, like doing embarrassing favors for her.

But today, Yumiko was at school, and with him being back in the country, the responsibility fell squarely on his shoulders. He couldn't pawn it off on anyone else, much to his chagrin.

He tapped his fingers idly on the desk, skimming over a complaint about the state of a road that had been overlooked for repairs and a request for more educational resources at a local school. These were important matters, of course, but they weren't exactly thrilling to deal with. He found himself longing for the excitement of the battlefield or the intrigue of weapon development—anything other than the mundane bureaucracy that came with managing the clan.

He picked up a particularly thick document, grimacing at the sight of it. It was a detailed report on a series of disputes between neighboring families within the clan, each accusing the other of minor infractions that had escalated into a full-blown feud. Matsu rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He couldn't help but think how much easier it was to negotiate with military leaders or heads of state than to mediate between feuding clan members.

After a while, he couldn't take it anymore. He pushed his chair back and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. The silence of the office felt oppressive, and he needed a break before he lost his mind. He considered calling Yumiko, but he knew she'd just tease him for struggling with what she handled so effortlessly.

He paced the room for a bit, trying to think of a way to make the task less unbearable. Maybe he could approach it like a military operation—strategize, prioritize, and execute. Or perhaps he could turn it into a game somehow, set goals and rewards for himself as he completed each section.

But even as he considered these options, he knew that, in the end, it was just something he had to get through. He had responsibilities, and this was part of them. No amount of strategizing or gamification would change that.

With a resigned sigh, Matsu returned to his desk. He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and dove back into the pile of papers and digital reports. It was tedious, but he'd get through it—just like he always did.

And maybe, just maybe, he'd find a way to convince Yumiko to take over again next time.

Matsu sat back down at his desk, now determined to tackle the mountain of documents before him with some semblance of order. He decided to sort everything into two main categories: community and personal.

The community pile quickly grew as he sifted through the various requests. These were the ones dealing with broader issues—construction and infrastructure projects, requests for repairs to public buildings or roads, demands for better educational resources, and concerns about local governance. These were the things that affected the clan as a whole, and while they were important, they weren't always urgent. Matsu knew he'd need to delegate some of these tasks to the appropriate departments or officials, but he made notes on a few that required his direct intervention, particularly those involving major infrastructure overhauls or sensitive matters that needed a chancellor's touch.

The personal pile was a different story. These were usually petty disputes—quarrels between neighbors, complaints about noise, or disagreements over land boundaries. Occasionally, there were more serious matters, like a family seeking help for a troubled child or someone requesting assistance with a medical issue. These tended to be more tedious to deal with, often requiring Matsu to mediate or offer advice.