AHN – Chapter 7 Africans move to Mito (Part 1)

Two Black men, with faces as if carved from black stone, stared at Mitsukuni and his companions without any expression.

Sukezo recalled seeing men with similar eyes somewhere. After a moment of thought, he remembered: it was a wandering tradesman he had met long ago.

It was a face that had become accustomed to walking, knowing his feet were treading on hell, unable to stop.

“Captain Jong, who are these two people?” 

Ignoring the enormous gemstone brought before him, Mitsukuni had been looking at the two Black men with keen interest.

Captain Jong glanced at the men briefly before turning back to Mitsukuni.

“Ah, Lord Mitsukuni, is this your first time seeing Africans?” 

Jong’s words were interpreted by Kamon.

“Africans…?”

“Yes, Africans. I usually do not bring lower-ranking workers, but the load increases yearly, and we needed extra hands, so I brought them along this time.”

“I see. I have seen people of this skin color in Nagasaki before, but it is my first time seeing them up close. Are they employees of the trading post?” 

Jong shook his head.

“No, not for the trading post. I purchased them personally.”

Mitsukuni’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Purchased? Are ‘Africans’ bought and sold like commodities?”

Jong replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“An acquaintance of mine, a captain, informed me that he had some useful Black men and asked if I wanted to buy them. We were short-handed at the office, so I thought it was a good opportunity and bought them.”

“How did the captain acquire them?” Mitsukuni inquired.

Jong looked slightly puzzled.

“I think they are sold normally at African ports. There, they are not sold individually but by the shipload. I believe there is a company that specializes in this, called Bedrijf.”

After translating Jong’s words, Kamon leaned closer to Mitsukuni and whispered in his ear.

“A while back, I had the chance to speak with someone with dark skin in Nagasaki. He said, ‘I am not here by choice. I was captured.'”

“Captured without any crime?” Mitsukuni murmured sharply, his eyes alone moving.

“That seemed to be the case.”

Mitsukuni’s face became expressionless.

Sukezo thought this was the face he made when hearing of someone’s wrongdoing.

—Kidnapping innocent people and selling them is no different from what bandits or pimps do. What is so advanced about Western culture?

Sukezo felt a chill despite his expressionless face.

He sensed that Mitsukuni shared the same thought.

After a brief silence, Mitsukuni suddenly burst into laughter.

Jong, Gen’emon of Nagasaki, and another white man were taken aback, as were Sukezo and his companions.

“Pardon me,” Mitsukuni said, raising his right hand as he continued to chuckle.

“I just had a delightful idea.”

He then looked Jong straight in the eye.

“I have decided how to use the money this time. Captain Jong, I would like to take these two Black men to Mito with me. How about that?”

Jong’s eyes widened as the interpreter translated Mitsukuni’s words. He froze, exhaling an “Oh.” After a brief silence, he looked at the two Black men and then at Mitsukuni.

“This is quite troublesome. They are necessary labor for us, and I did not bring them to sell. We are not in the business of selling people…”

He showed a troubled expression.

Mitsukuni’s mouth curved into a smile.

“You acquired them with money. There is no reason why I cannot do the same.”

Mitsukuni’s face was smiling, but his eyes were not.

Jong faltered a little.

“Well… If it is Lord Mitsukuni’s request, I have to consider it.”

His eyes took on an appraising look.

Realizing he could make money, he grew greedy. Sukezo observed Jong’s face with contempt.

“It will be quite expensive. Is that acceptable?”

“Name your price,” Mitsukuni said firmly.

The two middle-aged magistrates, who had been like statues in the corner of the room, began to fidget. They started whispering to each other. The guards were outside the hallway, so they could not hear the conversation inside.

“Uh, excuse me…” One of them hesitantly raised his hand.

Gen’emon approached and leaned down slightly.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

“Well… Isn’t this about buying and selling people? Such transactions are… a bit problematic…”

One of the magistrates glanced nervously at Mitsukuni.

“Hold your tongue! You are in the presence of Lord Mitsukuni! How dare you question his orders!” 

Kamon stepped forward and shouted in a commanding voice.

The magistrate immediately shrank and bowed low.

The other one nodded nervously.

“No, no… Not at all… It’s just that, when there is an unusual transaction, we need to report to the senior inspector… for fear of our own negligence…”

“Then bring the senior inspector here!”

Kamon shouted, making the magistrates bow and tremble.

If they embarrassed the senior inspector in front of Mitsukuni, they would face demotion at best and death at worst.

Their pale faces were understandable.