"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": Nineteenth Year in the Reign of Hantei XXXVIII, Twenty-Third Day, Month of the Dog
Today I had a disturbing encounter with a man called True Word, who is one of Naritoki's (P25) assistants. I was at the silver smithy visiting my Dear Friend when he entered and began regarding one of our decorated lacquer boxes. He stated his admiration of it in no uncertain terms, but seemed unwilling to haggle with my Dear Friend or meet our price.
Then he implied that a shop with so many precious things was always in danger of robbery. I said I had utmost confidence in the vigilance of the magistrates. Fondling the box, he looked right in my eyes and told me that a happy magistrate, with fine things to be proud of, is more vigilant. I was dumbfounded by such open corruption and simply played the simpleton until he left in disgust.