to devise; to arrange; to plan; to plot
good-for-nothing; spineless; gutless; spiritless; feckless; pluckless
internal disunity; internal division; internal rift
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
(your) business; (your) concern; (customer's) order; official business (of the government, Imperial Court, etc.); arrest; capture
inevitable; inescapable; unavoidable
open; public; overt; free; unreserved; uninhibited
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery
intentional; deliberate; contrived; artificial
haughty; arrogant; proud; stuck-up
to stop talking; to be silent
merger (of companies, towns, etc.); combination; union; amalgamation; consolidation; coalition
person given as a reference; witness; potential suspect; person of interest; witness
petty underling; small fry
vocal sound; tone of voice
to follow; to accompany; to cleave to; to join up with; to obey implicitly; to flatter
empty eyes; thousand-yard stare; blank glaze; expressionless look; (lit.) eyes of a dead fish
overwhelming strength; extremely strong person; powerhouse; very strong player; very strong team
suddenly (appear, stick out); abruptly; unexpectedly; (stand) still and expressionless; imposingly
speaker; one who is skilled at speaking
handicraft; work; construction; maneuvering; manoeuvering
with a click; with a snap; ornamental clip (hair, obi, etc.)
top notch; first rate; top-of-the-line; leading
traveling about to gain skill in combat (travelling)
to get (a joke or explanation); to strike home; to click; to know intuitively
cultural standard (of the people); moral standard; cultural level; standard of living
alias; pseudonym; pen name; nom de plume; different name; other name
hardly any; almost nonexistent; very little
deed; act; work; performance
to use as an intermediary; to worry; to mind; to care