“Takashi?” Milton asked.

“No. I am Fumio—I work with Takashi. Who are you?”

“My name is John Milton,” he said. “I sent a message yesterday—the two men over there thought it would be a good idea to follow me and Takashi’s niece. We had a chat and I told them to tell Takashi that I’d be coming over today. Here I am.”

“I see. And what do you want?”

“To speak to him.”

“He has sent me to talk to you.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. I want to talk to him.”

“I am sorry, Milton-san. He is busy.”

Fumio turned on his heel and took a couple of steps back toward the elevator.

“He’ll appreciate what I have to say,” Milton called out. “He lost something recently and I may be able to help him get it back.”

Fumio turned back.

“What is it that you think Takashi has lost?”

“I told your boys—a sword. One that used to belong to Yoshida Shōin.” He watched as Fumio assessed this information. “But if he’s busy, well, I suppose I’ll be on my way.”

Fumio eyed him suspiciously. “You have it?”

“I’d like to speak to Takashi.”

The older man chewed the side of his mouth, thinking.

“It’s up to you,” Milton said. “If he’s not interested, that’s fine. Others will be.”

Fumio nodded, his mind made up. “Please—come.”

Milton did as he was told. The guard searched him quickly and not particularly efficiently. Milton was not carrying a weapon, but noted that it might be possible to sneak something inside if this was the standard of security that Takashi employed.

Milton raised his arms above his head as the man patted down his torso. “No weapons and no wires.”

Fumio approached the elevator on the right, took a key card from his pocket and held it against the reader. The unit emitted a chirp of satisfaction, a light turned green and the doors opened. Fumio stood to the side and gestured that Milton should enter. He did, moving to the back of the car and then turning to watch as the guard and then Fumio followed. The older man took a small key from his pocket and inserted it into a keyhole next to the control panel. He turned the key, waited for another light to switch from red to green, and then held down the button for the twelfth floor.