Resolving matters in Slow Tide Harbor, the party returned to shore with the rescued samurai.
Ichiro Bando returned to the stable and delivered the head of Gaku to Hade, encouraging him to find his courage again now that the maho-tsukai who cursed him with unnatural fear has been killed. Akodo Tadashi attended the interrogation of the ronin he had dueled and disarmed on the boat, attempting to find out more information about who Gaku's boss was, the mysterious Kitsu Sokori whose name was only partially heard. The ronin, however, had no knowledge of such a person even existing. As far as he knew, Gaku was working on his own.
Shaken by the experience, Otomo "Doji" Hiroshige was eager to return back to his family in Otosan Uchi. While not able to meet with them immediately, Otomo Saneda's karo asked the party to return when they could be thanked properly. When summoned a few days later they were instead met by Doji Satsume, the Emerald Champion. After the events of the Topaz Championship along with the recommendation of Otomo Saneda based on how they handled matters in Slow Tide Harbor, they are being appointed as Emerald Magistrates to be assigned to Ryoko Owari in light of the assassination of the previous magistrate, Ashidaka Naritoki.
Given approximately a month before they due to report and be sworn in to their new position the party decided to stop at Shiro Usagi on their way to Ryoko Owari. Both to consult with the Hare Clan on their considerable knowledge of maho as well as for Akodo Tadashi to settle a debt of honor he still owes to Usagi Kamahime.
The journey went well, despite being stopped and questioned by a Scorpion magistrate, a woman with a spiderweb-shaped mask. However when nearing Shiro Usagi they happened upon a Hare samurai in combat with a massive ogre. Stepping in to help the already injured samurai they were able to defeat the monster before the samurai, who identified himself as Usagi Ozaki, passed out. They brought him to the castle where his family welcomed the party. In particular his father, Usagi Oda, daimyo of the Hare Clan, and his sister Usagi Tomoe. Although Tomoe caught Kitsune Nitsuki's eye, Akodo Tadashi had apparently attracted the attention of the maid Suki.
At dinner Usagi Ozaki brought out the saya that the ogre had been using, now clearly identified as the one belonging to Kennou, the long-missing ancestral sword of the Hare. Tomoe and Nitsuki summon the kami in the saya, asking it where the sword currently resides and are told simply "Haikyo sano Kappa", the fallen Hiruma fortress in the Shadowlands.
Ozaki insists on setting off first thing in the morning in order to retrieve the sword, but given his injured arm is eventually talked down. Instead the party volunteers to go and retrieve it in the company of Usagi Kamahime.