"Help yourself. Don't be shy," the Daimyo said, gesturing at the dishes on the table while his eyes were fixed on the dance in the hall.
The costumes provided by the themed hotel were quite true to the original.
The long chestnut hair cascaded past the waist and reached the white skirt covering her slender legs.
She had a pair of long and pointed elven ears, and a gossamer veil fluttered like wings. Her white evening - style dress revealed her belly button.
"I've never seen such a creature before," the Daimyo said, taking his eyes back and sighing involuntarily. "No matter how you look at it, she's so beautiful."
"Because she doesn't actually exist," Haruki smiled, picked up a fried shrimp, took a bite, and thought the taste was okay.
"It would be great if she could exist in real life," the Daimyo showed a look of pity.
At this moment, he seemed like an otaku (a person with an obsessive interest in anime, comics, etc.).
Although Haruki didn't expect the Daimyo to have an affection for Asuna, he wasn't too surprised either.
Asuna was one of the most popular heroines.
The Daimyo gulped down a glass of wine and finally got down to business.
"My Dainagon told me that the industries under your name, Haruki, haven't paid taxes according to the laws of the Land of Fire."
The Dainagon is the fourth - rank official position in the Land of Fire, equivalent to a third - rank minister.
"Before I answer, I have a question," Haruki said. He wasn't intimidated by the Daimyo's status. Apart from his own strength, he didn't need to be overly subservient.
The Daimyo clearly understood this too. His tone was calm, without any threat or accusation.
Since he had reached this position, he naturally understood Konoha's influence and constraints on him.
After all, might makes right.
All diplomacy is based on one's own strength.
It's no exaggeration to say that the Land of Fire is like an ATM (a source of easy money) now.
The Daimyo knew his own position.
He could still give some orders to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. However, the influence of the previous two Hokages on him was too profound.
"What's the question?"
"There are many people from Konoha doing business in the Land of Fire. Why are you specifically targeting me?"
"Perhaps you don't even know how much profit your industries can actually generate," the Daimyo suddenly smiled when he heard this question, and waved someone over to bring a document.
He took a deep breath and said, "This profit is really enviable."
Haruki raised his eyebrows slightly. He didn't expect the Daimyo to have done his homework before coming.
He casually flipped through the document.
It recorded the recent situations of the New Konoha Bookstore, A Happy Union of Gold and Jade, and Akihabara.
The Daimyo squinted his eyes and said, "What I've seen and heard in the past two days makes me believe that you're a rare business genius. If you could share some of the profits, the Land of Fire would be very willing to provide enough convenience for you and promote your industries to every corner. Then the money would roll in."
Haruki suddenly recalled a saying: "When the profit reaches 300%, people will dare to take the risk of being hanged."
"Is this profit for the Daimyo or for the Land of Fire?"
"Hahaha," the Daimyo laughed. "It depends on what you mean, Lord Haruki."
"How about we change our way of thinking?"
Haruki put down the information and said, "I remember there are the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the Land of Fire. I'd like to recommend a ninja to you in lieu of the tax payment."
The Daimyo was slightly stunned, then shook his head. "I don't need the ninjas from Konoha. Besides, the ones I have now are enough to protect me."
"Are they really enough?"
Haruki asked with a smile, "Although I don't know their capabilities, I'm sure they can't stop the Hokage."
"The Hokage?" The Daimyo frowned. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Haven't you ever thought about bringing Kiki Village under your control?"
Haruki swirled the wine in his glass and asked casually.
"Ah?" The Daimyo seemed to wake up from a dream and pretended not to hear clearly. "What are you talking about?"
"The ninja I'm recommending can train a new army for you."
Haruki raised his glass and offered it to the Daimyo, whispering, "A new army that can defeat the Allied Ninja Forces."
The Daimyo's face changed slightly.
It was impossible that he had no thoughts about it.
No ruler would want a power that they couldn't control.
If Konoha ever harbored disloyal intentions, they had no countermeasures.
"I don't believe it."
The Daimyo took the glass, took a sip, and then shook his head. "Even samurais have a hard time going against ninjas. It's even more impossible for your so - called new army, unless they're all ninjas. Only ninjas can deal with ninjas."
"That's true under normal circumstances."
Haruki stood up and said, "If the Daimyo is interested, come with me. I'll show you a treasure."
The Daimyo pondered for a moment. Haruki wouldn't harm his life, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
He was really curious about what kind of army could fight against ninjas.
Haruki led him to a building in Akihabara.
It was the new base of the Xia Organization.
Of course, the research institute at the Ninja Academy was still kept.
However, some of the more important things had been transferred.
What he was going to show the Daimyo was Heavenly Fire.
The Explosive Tag bullet gun.
Before Haruki's engagement, Ichiro Muramasa sent someone to tell him that a prototype had been made.
"Lord Haruki."
After receiving Haruki's notice, Ichiro Muramasa immediately left the laboratory and came to the waiting room.
"Yeah."
Haruki got straight to the point. "Give me the Heavenly Fire you've made."
Ichiro Muramasa turned around and left. He reappeared a moment later.
He was holding a strangely - shaped miniature crossbow.
Haruki said no more and took the Daimyo to the Death Forest.
The Heavenly Fire has its own propulsion device, but without chakra, its effective range is only about three hundred meters.
"Oh, well!"
"Give it a try." Haruki put the device on the Daimyo.
"This is the treasure you were talking about?" The Daimyo was unimpressed and even thought it was a waste of time.
"How do you know if you don't try?" Haruki gently patted the crossbow and added chakra to it.
"Fine."
Since he was already here, he might as well see what this thing was good for.
With that in mind, the Daimyo raised his hand and pulled the safety device.
With a soft sound, a crossbow bolt flew off rapidly.
After a few seconds, the Daimyo lost sight of it.
He was just an ordinary person, and seeing several hundred meters away was his limit.
Is this it?
The Daimyo looked at Haruki and was about to speak.
A huge roar rumbled over.
A strong gust of wind blew the fan off his head far away. A second later, he felt his ears were almost deafened.
In the distance, a fiery red mushroom cloud rose.
The Daimyo gaped at the mess in front of him.
His head was buzzing.
It took him a long time to slowly come to his senses. Staring at the Heavenly Fire on his wrist, he hesitated to speak.
"Pretty powerful, right?" Haruki shrugged. "The new army I mentioned is exactly the army equipped with these weapons."
"These?" The Daimyo caught his words. "You mean there are more than just Heavenly Fire?"
"Of course." Haruki nodded.
The Daimyo's eyes completely changed.
He could imagine how powerful and amazing such an army would be.
"I don't understand why you want to help me?"
Taking a deep breath, the Daimyo voiced his doubt. "I don't think the so - called tax is comparable to such weapons, which can even change History."
"The reason is simple." Haruki explained. "The manufacturing cost of Heavenly Fire is extremely high. I want to make a deal with you. You provide the raw materials and money, and I'll train a new army for you."
Hearing this, the Daimyo fell into silence.
This reason seemed reasonable.
It also explained why Haruki, a Ninja, was trying every means to make money.
The Daimyo didn't care about Haruki's purpose, but the Heavenly Fire gave him the courage to fight against Ninjas.
"I agree to your proposal."
A smile appeared on the Daimyo's face.
Haruki also smiled.
Why not have someone else support his army?