The Takeda castle loomed like a lion upon its mountain perch. Its black-tiled roofs cut sharply against the gray sky, and banners of crimson fluttered in the winter wind. Within its halls, warmth and tension mingled, for word had arrived of an extraordinary triumph.
Eugene and his battered Fifty Spears had returned.
The great hall of Takeda Shingen was alive with murmurs as retainers and generals gathered. Fire crackled in the braziers, sending warmth into the air, yet the mood was anything but calm.
"Preposterous!" barked General Ishida, a broad man with a scar down his cheek. "Fifty men routing an outpost of two hundred? Lies meant to glorify a boy with more pride than sense!"
Yet before anyone could respond, the wooden doors slid open. A hush fell.
Eugene entered, clad in travel-stained armor, his black hair dusted with frost, his cloak torn from battle. Behind him, the remnants of his Fifty Spears followed, scarred and bandaged but standing tall.
They advanced in disciplined ranks, halting before the raised dais where Lord Takeda himself sat, stern eyes studying the young warrior.
"Lord Takeda," Eugene said, kneeling deeply, his voice steady despite the weight of countless gazes. "Your enemies at Ishikawa outpost have been destroyed. The pass is secure."
He cast forth a blood-stained banner—the severed insignia of the Ishikawa captain. Gasps rippled through the chamber.
Takeda's eyes narrowed slightly, though a flicker of approval glinted within them. "Rise, Eugene. Tell me… how did you achieve this?"
Eugene's answer was calm, measured, every detail laid with clarity. He spoke of the snowstorm, the fire raid, the wedge formation of the Fifty Spears, the duel with the Ishikawa captain. Not a boast passed his lips, only precise recounting of strategies and sacrifices.
As he spoke, some generals shifted uneasily. Ishida sneered.
"A convenient tale," the general interrupted. "And what of the twelve men lost under your command? Would you call such waste genius?"
Eugene's gaze met Ishida's coldly. "Their deaths were not waste. They bought victory. With fifty men, we crushed four times our number, and severed a supply line that threatened your lord's borders. Would you have preferred I sacrificed a thousand?"
Murmurs rose again. Some nodded grimly in agreement. Others frowned, jealousy simmering like poison.
Takeda lifted a hand, silencing the hall. His voice, deep as a drum, rolled through the chamber.
"Young though you are, Eugene, you have proven yourself in fire and snow. Such cunning and resolve are rare… perhaps even among my oldest commanders."
His words struck like arrows. Several generals stiffened, their pride wounded.
"Therefore," Takeda continued, "I grant you elevation. You shall no longer be known merely as a promising youth. From this day, you are to hold the rank of Hatamoto—my personal retainer, trusted to command in my name."
The hall erupted. Some cried out in outrage, others in awe. Hatamoto was no trivial honor; it meant Eugene was now among the daimyo's closest circle.
General Ishida rose, face red with fury. "My lord, this is madness! He is but a child of sixteen summers, a newcomer whose victories are mere fortune! Will you insult those of us who have bled for you these many years?"
Takeda's gaze turned icy. "Do you question my judgment, Ishida?"
The general froze, sweat beading on his brow. "N-no, my lord… I only beg caution."
Eugene bowed again. "Lord Takeda, I will not betray your trust. My blade, my men, and my life are yours."
Inside, however, Eugene's thoughts were sharper.
Hatamoto. A title of honor, yes… but also a chain. Shingen raises me to bind me closer, and my rivals will sharpen their daggers. Still… it is a step closer. One must first stand near the throne to seize it.
That night, as the Fifty Spears feasted in the barracks, Hiroshi approached Eugene privately.
"You've risen higher than any of us dreamed, my lord," Hiroshi said with a grin. "But…" His expression grew serious. "The other commanders will not forgive this. You've won the daimyo's favor too quickly. They will watch for any misstep."
Eugene poured sake into his cup, swirling it gently. "Let them watch. If they cannot see the road ahead, then I shall walk it while their eyes remain blind."
The AI chimed softly within his mind.
[Assessment: Political hostility increasing. Recommendation: expand loyal personal forces. Target strength: 500 within two years. Suggested methods: recruitment of ronin, assimilation of disbanded ashigaru, cultivation of peasant militias.]
Eugene smiled faintly, setting his cup down. Five hundred men. A seed for a kingdom. Yes… I will gather them. One step at a time.
But far from the castle, in the smoky halls of rival lords, whispers had already begun. Word of a young genius with the mind of a hundred generals and the sword of a demon spread quickly.
Some sought alliance. Others plotted his death.
The warring era of Japan had gained a new player—and the board itself would soon tremble.