[he rubs his face thoughtfully] ...spells and magic, I have little experience with. Only the mystics and one or two strategists have the ability to use it, here. But if it is something Kiyomori is doing, again...

[it's the first he's thought of Orochi's sorcerer, so far, and the first he's mentioned his existence. Hmm.]

You have a point. Retainers and servants are the easiest to bribe to get in close to someone higher-ranked. Yet, knowing what I know of Orochi's people and how they operate, they overlook servants just the same in order to go straight for the more tempting target.

[like himself]