[Faintly, Matoba ponders on that, an age he likely will never reach, but outwardly he just smiles.] I think you sell yourself short, Kim-san, but we'll agree to disagree.

[Perhaps the man undervalued his own skillset; he didn't seem like the type to undersell himself intentionally, but he was also in the Sutoku Alliance, so maybe it was giving too little credit towards his capability for deceit.]

[Matoba shakes his own head, tying off another decoration to hand off to Kim.] No, nor have I. In fact, from what I have gathered, everything outside of this city is a desolate wasteland which even spirits cannot subsist in.

...Hm, are you sure that is not your 'Pale'?