[Now Akechi's been called many things: a liar, a fake, a traitor, a bastard. Been told his smile is insincere. But he's never been accused of being a politician, and unbidden, the face of his father drifts across his mind. While he has enough self-control not to outright scowl at the thought, he does allow himself a frown.]

I'm not interested in running for public office, in my country or any other. The Diet certainly does exist, full of pompous, self-congratulatory fools. Tell me, was it corrupt and ineffectual from the very start, a ship plagued with rot that only grew as time passed?