The Land of Demons is now seeing an increasing number of foreign arrivals, all thanks to Hakushi's adept leadership. However, caution is essential to avoid revealing their identities.
After all, as S-class renegade ninjas, Ruri and Ayane are well-known figures in the Ninja Realm.
Originally from the White Fang Squad, their names have already caught the attention of high-ranking officials from various countries, gaining them recognition. This act of defection further amplified their fame, despite the numerous negative connotations it carried.
On the other hand, someone as unremarkable as Hakushi, due to Konoha not providing any substantial intelligence, is still perceived by villages as merely a non-threatening Medical Ninja. From this perspective, it's not entirely inaccurate.
Excluding the combat capabilities of a few clones, his own level is only that of an Elite Jonin.
"Although young Hakushi doesn't understand business, he sometimes has his own unique insights into commercial development. In just a few months, he revitalized this commercial street."
Miyako pointed to the branded shops on the commercial street. Regardless of the products or shops, most were exquisitely decorated, appearing as if they were luxury items, yet surprisingly affordable, invigorating the commercial activity in the Land of Demons.
"Wasn't this created by you and father?"
Ruri asked in confusion.
"No, the detailed development was indeed our doing, but the grand strategy came from young Hakushi." Miyako showed a look of admiration and said with a smile, "At the time, he candidly said that if wealth is concentrated among the rich, the common people will lose the opportunity to climb upwards, and the goods in shops will become monopolized by the wealthy, leading to market stagnation and, ultimately, the decline of the country's strength."
Although Ruri and Ayane don't understand much about business matters, judging by the current condition of the commercial street, even some commoners have started doing business with loans from the Shion Flower Merchants Association, and their businesses appear to be thriving, which means that Hakushi's grand strategy wasn't mistaken and genuinely facilitated the economic development of the Land of Demons.
"Can just one sentence stir the market like that?"
"No, maybe it also has something to do with the roads."
Miyako looked at the ordinary road underfoot, her eyes showing a contemplative look.
Initially, she was hesitant about Hakushi's proposal to build roads.
If it hadn't been for Ruri threatening them with the Sharingan, she really wouldn't have wanted to invest such enormous funds into something that seemed to offer no personal benefit.
She was merely a merchant, essentially a vampire extracting the interests of the common people, not a charitable organization. Benefiting the commoners meant cutting her own profits and decreasing her wealth. Such a losing venture was something she wouldn't want to undertake, no matter what.
Looking back now, as a top-level merchant in the Ninja Realm, she had been taught a lesson.
Road construction, which seemed like a losing business, turned out to be a true path to profit.
The lost funds would return, offering a tenfold or even hundredfold return.
After the roads were renewed in the Land of Demons, more merchants were willing to travel there, stimulating business interactions and allowing the Land of Demons to develop rapidly. These foreign merchants also played an indispensable role.
Unlike Ruri and Ayane, who were interested in the packaging, quality, and functionality of goods, Miyako, as a merchant, was able to see further down the road through the changes of the past six months.
The roads, yet to be conceived in the Ninja Realm, were quietly being implemented within the Land of Demons.
They bought many goods without worrying about capital issues and continued until noon without stopping.
The commercial street in the Land of Demons was much broader than that of Konoha, and in terms of the variety and quality of goods, it surpassed it considerably.
After all, it wasn't just the merchants of the Land of Demons driving it; it was also the concentration of many wealthy businessmen from abroad, facilitating the flow of wealth and, naturally, the rapid development of the commercial street.
"Ah, I'm so stuffed. I didn't expect to find so many delicious foods here."
Ayane returned to the private room from the bathroom; here, free from outside interference, they could eat and drink to their hearts' content.
"You always eat so much, maybe it's time to lose weight."
Ruri remarked, looking at the empty plates in front of Ayane.
"That's rude, my chest just got slightly fuller. My figure hasn't changed at all."
Ayane coughed lightly.
"It's fine; a girl who can eat is considered blessed. However, it's quite a test of her husband's earning capacity. Ayane-chan can eat as much as she likes; Auntie will cover the bill."
Miyako genuinely appreciated Ayane's cheerful nature, even if not a word from her mouth was true. Still, getting along with her felt really comfortable.
"Thank you, Aunt Miyako. Then I won't hold back. After all, leaving so much food untouched would be too wasteful."
Time passed, and Ayane continued eating heartily at the dining table.
Despite the indulgence, Ayane's eating manners were very graceful, without a hint of crudity, conveying the image of a well-bred young lady and giving off a sense of pleasure.
Watching Ayane eat so happily, Ruri couldn't help but feel a bit envious. How could this woman eat so much, yet only her chest grew in places that shouldn't have? A normal person would have turned into a fat pig by now.
Ruri changed positions several times while sitting, yet Ayane remained there eating and drinking without any sign of fullness.
Spending so much time eating and drinking, Ruri felt she was much slower than usual.
Slower than usual...
Ruri sensed something was wrong; usually, even though this woman would eat a lot, this time she was taking too long.
Her expression suddenly shifted, and her eyes turned crimson, meeting Ayane's gaze as she looked up.
Ayane's eyes were vacant, her body stiff, and the utensils in her hand were frozen mid-air.
"Hey, Ruri, doing this——"
Miyako, witnessing this scene, immediately realized that Ruri had used an Illusion Technique on Ayane.
Though she knew Ruri disliked Ayane, using a Sharingan illusion to ambush her own companion was going a bit too far.
Bang!
Ayane's body turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared from the seat opposite.
Miyako's voice came to an abrupt halt.
A Shadow Clone?
Not only did she not say a single truthful word, but even her behavior was filled with deceit. Miyako at this moment seriously perceived Ayane's cunning and danger.