Mastermind is the 86th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Ei Sei notices that the person on the other side is Shin and Ka Ryo Ten. While seeing Shin's wounds, he asks them if Shou Bun Kun was the one who sent for them but Shin states that it was one of Shi Shi's underlings. Ei Sei deducts that the reason for Shin and Ka Ryo Ten being here are enemies have snack in. Shin tells him that ten or so of them are left. Ei Sei notices that Shin has improved in the last six months and states that he is no longer a match for his swordsmanship with Shin smuggling reaffirming when was he. Kou finally wakes up and mistaken Shin and Ka Ryo Ten for intruders. Ei Sei tells Shin and the others to follow him.
Elsewhere, Shou Bun Kun, Heki, and Shi Shi with their party arrive at the royal palace of Kanyou and are welcome to the aftermath of a massacre and the bodies of palace guards. Seeing this horrible event that has transpired and being chocked that only a handful of assassins are responsible for this. Shi Shi notices however that there is less security than there should be. Meaning this has to be intentional and the palace defenses must be under a mastermind's influence.
Heki states that the kingdom is currently stable as it is under Ryo Fui's control. Then the thought crosses his mind that maybe another state is behind this attack. However, then he recalls the fact that assassinating another states king is a taboo. It is an unspoken agreement among the states. Heki plays with the thought that maybe Wei is behind it due to the last war. Or it could be Han, however Chancellor Chou is regarded as a sagely man with high morals.
Meanwhile Shin asks Ei Sei if he knows the details of what happened in the last war. He states the knows most of it, but Shin isn't pleased with that and tells him as he is here anyway, he can tell him the details. Kou notices that Shin is talking casually with the young king despite his obvious peasant appearance. Shin apologizes to Kou for interrupting their evening as Ei Sei is struggling to open the door and states it is locked from the other side. He tells everyone that this is a secret passage only known to him. Not even Shou Bun Kun knows about this. But then he says that Ryo Fui is the only person other than him that knows about it, assassins and Kyou Kai arrive to found them.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei
- Shin
- Ka Ryo Ten
- Kou
- Shou Bun Kun
- Heki
- Unnamed officials
- Unnamed guards (corpses)
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ryo Fui (Mentioned)
- Sou Jou (Mentioned)
- Clan Shiyuu
- Clan Shukyou
- En Tei
- Two unnamed members
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ou Ki Army
- Ou Ki (Mentioned)
- Mountain Tribes
- Tajifu (Mentioned)
Han
- Chancellor Chou (Mentioned)
High Points
- Shi Shi ordered one of his underlings to warn Shin and Ka Ryo Ten about assassins aiming to take Ei Sei's life and was the one responsible for bringing them to Kanyou.
- Ei Sei states that he is no longer a match for Shin's swordsmanship after noticing his six months of improvement.
- Shou Bun Kun, Heki, and Shi Shi arrive at the royal palace of Kanyou.
- Shi Shi notices that there is less security than there should be.
- Assassinating another states/kingdom's king by another king is an unspoken taboo.
- Chancellor of Han is named Chou.
- Chou is regarded as a sage with high morals.
- Ei Sei, Shin and the others are trapped.
- There is a secret passage only known to the king underneath the royal palace.
- Ryo Fui is the only person other than Ei Sei that knows about the secret passage.
- Kyou Kai and the assassins found Ei Sei, Shin, and the others.
Trivia
- Chancellor Chou of Han is mentioned for the first time.