In this chapter, we learn that the people of Japan are trying to maintain harmony with their hosts. One of the chieftains of the Gili tribe has come to see the gili's shaman. The chieftain wants to speak with the two men, but they refuse to listen to him. The gili are supposed to observe the customs of the host country, and the chieftain is supposed to be the messenger of that country's customs. The chieftain wants to know why they are there, and blake tells him that hiiragi is involved in the war in which they are stationed. The autopsy has revealed that the chieftain's system is made up of a highly refined neurotoxin that interferes with the cybernetic synapses of his brain. If they don't find a new lead, they'll be back at square one. blake says that the ninth chieftain has heard their plea, but that he's been thinking it's time to go back and claim his rightful place. The new chieftain has been listening to the plea, and has heard it, too, but he doesn't know much of what is going on. The two men decide to make a joint investment with the new chieftain, and they're going to stay in Rome.