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On the official road leading to the Land of Hot Water, the daimyo's carriage moved steadily forward.
Wheels rolled, kicking up plumes of dust.
Inside the carriage, incense smoke rose, giving off a calming and soothing scent.
Shin leaned back on the soft couch, his gaze passing through the carriage window at the constantly retreating scenery outside.
The scale of this journey was similar to his previous trip to Konoha.
Only there were a few more accompanying officials.
Just then, the voice of his confidant, Asaba Toru, came from outside the carriage. "My lord!"
"Come in!"
The carriage curtain was pulled open, and the young Asaba Toru walked in, then knelt on the ground, his posture respectful. "Greetings, my lord!"
"Rise!"
"Thank you, my lord."
"How have things progressed?"
"Reporting, my lord." Asaba Toru's voice was young, but it had already become much steadier. "As per your instructions, we have made contact with some nobles in the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind."
"Especially some officials from the Ministry of Finance of both countries, who have shown great interest in our proposal for cooperation."
"Very good." Shin nodded in satisfaction.
What was called "interest" was merely another way of saying "greed."
As long as there was desire, there was a possibility of control.
"On the Land of Water side, because it is separated by sea and far away, progress is slower, but several trade routes are already under discussion."
Asaba Toru continued to report. "As for the Land of Lightning, due to the war, there has been no progress yet."
"No rush." Shin tapped the table lightly. "The Land of Lightning will soon open its own doors and welcome us in."
Once this daimyo conference ended, once those three thousand heads fell, and once the Land of Lightning's vitality was severely damaged, that would be the best time for harvesting.
His strategy was never simply business expansion.
Through these businesses, what was delivered was profit, a temptation that those greedy people could not refuse.
When their families and factions were deeply tied to the interests of the Land of Fire, these people would be used by him.
And the sole purpose of these people was to ensure that their countries would not interfere when it was dealt with in the future.
In fact, they would even have to turn around and help him hold back them.
To forge a new world order with money.
Thinking of this, Shin added, "Bribery and sneaking in are merely low-level tactics."
"Relying solely on financial ties is not reliable."
"I understand!" Asaba Toru nodded strongly.
"No, you don't understand yet." Shin shook his head.
"When their appetites are fully fed, when they are completely dependent on us, remember, the deeper the financial ties, the more you must hold evidence that could cost them their heads."
"Stealing military funds, working with other countries, even killing political rivals..." Shin's tone became playful. "Heh, if there's no such thing, then we'll have to help them create one."
"They must understand that once they board our ship, there's no getting off."
"Their only way to survive is to pray that my ship never sinks."
The air in the carriage instantly froze.
Asaba Toru even broke out in sweat on his forehead, his breathing momentarily stopping.
His daimyo's methods were even more ruthless and without scruples than he had imagined.
This was about completely grabbing the lifelines of those great nobles!
"You handle the details yourself." Shin sat back on the soft couch. "I only want results."
"Yes, my lord. I will never fail your trust!"
Asaba Toru knelt again, bowing his head, burying the shock and devotion in his heart.
"You may leave."
"Yes!"
Asaba Toru bowed and left.
The carriage door curtain closed again, but was soon pulled open once more.
Minister Tanaka and several high officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs respectfully walked in, bowing together. "My lord."
After everyone had sat down, Shin directly asked, "Are the talk details for the daimyo conference all prepared?"
"Reporting, my lord, this is the draft we have prepared according to your decree. Please review it, my lord."
Saying this, Minister Tanaka took out a scroll from his robes and presented it with both hands.
"Read it directly!" Shin did not take it.
"Yes!" Minister Tanaka dared not delay, quickly unrolling the scroll. "Our proposed draft has several points..."
"First, demand that the daimyo of the Land of Lightning must issue a public, formal apology for this invasion!"
"Second, war payments."
"We initially estimate that the Land of Lightning will need to compensate our Land of Fire at least the sum of our national revenue for the next five years!"
"Third, give up three border mines and all strategic strongholds at the border between the two countries!"
"Fourth..."
Minister Tanaka read out each point, every one of them harsh.
The several officials beside him listened with burning excitement.
If all these demands could be met, the national power of the Land of Fire would be stronger than ever before.
Soon, Minister Tanaka finished reading the draft content, then quietly awaited the daimyo's decision.
Shin asked, "Is that all?"
Minister Tanaka replied, "That's all!"
"Not enough!"
Hmm?
Minister Tanaka and the several officials exchanged glances, seeing surprise on each other's faces.
This isn't enough?
This was already an outrageous demand!
Any more, and it wouldn't be a talk, but rather forcing the Land of Lightning to fight to the death!
Minister Tanaka carefully asked, "Then what do you mean, my lord?"
Shin did not answer directly, but instead asked three questions in a row. "Can an apology bring back the shinobi who sacrificed their lives at the border?"
"Can payments make up for the panic caused by the battle under the walls of Konoha?"
"Can giving up territory guarantee that they won't make the same mistake again?"
These three questions in a row left Minister Tanaka and the others speechless.
Seeing their confused expressions, Shin did not hide anything and directly said, "Add one more point. I want to station troops in the Land of Lightning."
His words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in the ears of the officials.
Station troops?
Station troops in the Land of Lightning?
"My lord! This, this absolutely cannot be!" Minister Tanaka shouted in shock.
Shin waved his hand, interrupting. "Wait until I finish!"
"When we reach the Land of Hot Water, you will find the daimyo of the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Land of Water."
"Tell them that I invite them to jointly station troops in the Land of Lightning!"
"Ah?" The officials were stunned.
Minister Tanaka stammered, "This, this, is it possible?"
"Why not?" Shin said. "Kumogakure openly developed a space-time ninjutsu that can bypass border defenses and directly deploy thousands of troops into another country's heartland."
"This act breaks the long-standing rules of war in the shinobi world and poses a huge threat to world peace."
"Shouldn't it be controlled?"
The officials then suddenly understood.
That's right!
Kumogakure's strange sneaking in method!
Seeing that they understood, Shin continued, "Therefore, our troop deployment is not for invasion, not for taking over."
"We are going to carry out a peace watching mission."
"It is to ensure that the Land of Lightning will no longer use such dangerous techniques to threaten the security of other countries."
"We are removing a huge security risk for the entire shinobi world."
"We represent justice."
It can be like this?
After this speech, Minister Tanaka and the others were stunned.
Packaging clear acts of aggression as righteous deeds to maintain world peace?
Brilliant!
Truly brilliant!
The officials immediately understood the meaning behind the daimyo's words.
Four countries stationing troops!
Originally, they were worried that stationing troops would cause the other countries to unite against them.
But by inviting the other three countries, not only would they not argue, but they would actively push the matter forward.
With four countries against one, even if the Land of Lightning wanted to refuse, it couldn't.
Thinking of the significance behind stationing troops in the Land of Lightning, the officials immediately became excited.
Minister Tanaka excitedly said, "I understand, my lord. When we reach the Land of Hot Water, we will make contact."
With that, the officials began to discuss excitedly.
Shin listened quietly, his thoughts already drifting far away.
In truth, what he had just said were only the things laid out in the open.
The real game was outside the conference.
Only when those three thousand Kumogakure shinobi completely vanished would the Land of Lightning become weak.
Only then would certain countries feel there was an opportunity to exploit.
Only in this way would the great Land of Fire have the chance to uphold justice.