Gongoro gives no visible response to being interrupted by Major Hakatoro, but Machiko is not deceived. She knows well the measure of Gongoro's anger. She is quite aware that he does not like being interrupted, especially by members of the security forces, especially by norms. For now, he will do nothing, because duty demands his attention, and because, here in the cul-de-sac, he stands under the guns of Hakatoro's men, and those men are Hakatoro's hand-picked best. In time an opportunity will come whereby he may repay Hakatoro his affront, and Gongoro will seize it. That is how he operates.