The privateer had heard that his champion had finally arrived to the city. Believing his champion would wish to meet him, he made his way to the place shortly after sun down being escorted towards the man's presence.

When Zabieru was called into the Champion's presence Zazu was dining. He was eating something with tomatoes, voraciously, and regarded the captain without pause to his chomping. He gestured toward a cushion before him though.

Zabieru lowered his head and took his seat. He observed the man silently; he had a reputation around him but that didn't matter for the privateer, he even respected the man for thriving when the odds were so stacked against him and thanked that the only reason he didn't enjoy a reputation among the Rokugani was because his own actions seldom left survivors or were done so far removed from the mainland that it didn't matter.

"I don't know you." Zazu said between chowing down one mouthful and taking in another. "So tell me something."

The Tortoise smiled. "My liege," he begun, his mind slowly planning which words to say. "I am Muhaki Zabieru, member of the Imperial Naval College and one of the candidates to take one of the expeditions vessels."

"I am also the son of Muhaki Daikoku, who served the Clan for many years faithfully."

"I didn't know Daikoku had more sons. But then, we don't always control how our offspring comes about." Zazu chuckled after wiping his mouth from the tomato juice. "So you're Rainoku's brother, or half-brother? He's been serving me well, with making good of the ties to my former family."

"Full brother," he nodded with a smile. "He was never much of a sailor but he made more than enough with his eye for business. Can't complain though, my fathers aptitude for commerce is present in all of us."

"A welcome trait," Zazu replies before picking teeth with his tongue. After getting the offending morsel he adds a question, "You're going out with the explorers then. Where are you coming from?"

"I just arrived from East Hub. I wanted to see a deal regarding the distribution rights of several brewers to closure and show my appreciation for my clan," his smile widened "After all, if anything this coming months shall be extremely lucrative."

"I also wished to come and meet you Muhaki-dono," he lowered his head "It is not always one is able to meet his champion."

Continuing to eat his soup with gusto as the other Tortoise spoke, Zazu didn't spare him a look as he listened. When the other man finished, Zazu nodded looking up once more, wiping his mouth clean. "Good to hear that business is going well. And I'm glad that you were able to report success to me. This would have been a far more awkward conversation if it came with disappointing news."

Leaning back in his chair, he rests his hands on his stomach as he wiggles his portly body into a comfortable position. "You're planning on joining this voyage. You've been out to sea much?"

"I have spent most of my life out in the sea," he admitted. "True I was first at the House of the Dawning Lights and now I am in the Imperial Naval College but those were but brief periods in an otherwise maritime life."

"I do believe I am more than qualified to be one of the commodores, specially when we consider that there are no people as capable like your loyal vassals, my liege."

Zazu nodded to Zabieru as a servant came to take the bowl, leaving behind a small plate of sweets. He takes and holds it between his fingers as he rests his wrist on his paunch. "Well, it would certainly be a good thing to have Muhaki at the helm of some of the Explorers' ships. You have experience commanding then, not just sailing?"

"Of course my liege," he nodded. "Anyone can learn how to sail. But to command and be successful at it?" he shook his head. "My father always told me that it was in the ocean that one separated the weak from the strong," his smile widened "And I have commanded my own vessel for about seven years."

"I look forward to seeing how the selections go then." He finally lifts the desert to his mouth, popping it in and chewing it while reaching for another. He isn't quite done chewing when he speaks once more, but he's still easy to understand. "Where have you visited in those years? Any interesting places of note?"

The Tortoise measured his words carefully "Same as me but," he eyed the man with caution "Perhaps it'd be interesting if a Tortoise was guaranteed a spot as well as... less capable captains that would heavily require Tortoise help."

He noted his question but hoped his veiled offer would be enticing enough.

"While it would certainly be a boon if that were to happen, I doubt that will be the case. I imagine selections for that role will be quite rigorous so that only those with competency will be chosen," he says as he reaches out and takes another sweet. "And they will also likely be heavily observed by many interested people."

"True," he smiled as he pondered on his next step; the man before him was an enigma to him, someone who according to everything he had learned should not be in the position he was now. The fact that he was in that position made Zabieru respect him and he wasn't going to be so foolish and pass the opportunity of secure his commodore position.

"Still," he continued having found the next steps. "In the very least a Tortoise should be in one of those positions. Perhaps a Tortoise with a long track of both seafaring and good service to his clan. I am certain such a Tortoise would be a great boon in securing new trade routes." his smile widened "For the Empire of course."

"Many members of the clan have both of those traits, I imagine. I suspect anyone entrusted with that level of responsibility requires something more than loyalty and experience." Another sweet is tucked away in his mouth, thinking as he chews it.

"Dedicating those types of resources to any one person, one would expect to receive a return on that kind of investment in their future."

His smile widened ever so slightly "Tortoises are known not only for their longevity but also for their excellent memory." he proceeded calmly. "I am certain a Tortoise that would see itself being helped at such a critical point would remember later on who helped and pay it in the same coin."

"Such things do not happen overnight," he says as he uses a cloth to wipe his mouth, a small bit of the cake having been stuck to the corner. "But they can be sped along depending on motivations and circumstances."