I am. And you'll find me a reliable confidant. Anything you want kept secret will never be spoken by my lips again.

[ Her excitement is infectious, and a broad smile flashes over his features. ] Then when there's an opportunity, we'll find a kitchen and I can teach you some basics. My apartments in Kyoto and Tokyo are rather tiny, but the kitchen there is serviceable if we have no other alternatives.

[ Until then... ]

—So, tell me everything! Or rather, everything that you can speak of. I presume that like any other government position, you have a fair number of things to keep away from public knowledge.