Finding the shuriken in the third wall, Masao marveled at its preservation. Of all the damage, it had only slightly dulled edges, which compared to ordinary shurikens was simply insignificant damage. Many shurikens went on sale with slight defects, and no one cared as long as the shuriken could perform its functions, because it was destined to split anyway when meeting an enemy kunai or stone-filled soil.
"Nakayama-san, your product is simply something! Our pavilion will take everything you have!" Masao declared joyfully, unable to restrain his emotions. He already imagined what a sensation these six katanas and four hundred shurikens would make. By his estimates, he could sell one katana for at least 150 thousand ryo, and the price for one shuriken could rise up to a thousand or even higher.
"Fine." Kenshin answered without much emotion and began to wait for Masao to bring the required amount of money. Six katanas and four hundred shurikens brought him exactly eight hundred thousand ryo, which increased the amount of money on hand to four million.
"Here, Nakayama-san, exactly eight hundred thousand here." The manager said with a satisfied smile and placed a solid leather analogue of a suitcase on the table. "Perhaps you have something else unique? Our pavilion will be glad to cooperate with a supplier of the highest level goods." Kimura Masao added fawningly.
"Hmm, we do have some katanas and shurikens. Are you ready to buy another ten katanas and two thousand shurikens in two weeks?"
"O-Of course, if they are of the same quality, our pavilion is ready to buy any quantity of goods!" Masao declared joyfully. He already imagined how popular his pavilion would become if real pearls were sold in it from time to time.
"Fine." Kenshin said and in front of the amazed Masao put a rather large "suitcase" into a small backpack.
"No way!" Masao exclaimed inwardly. He had seen artifacts of such a high level only a few times, and they were always owned by unattainable people in status. One such artifact with incredibly complex fuin cost several million ryo, and right now it was with an unknown person from the Nakayama Family. At that moment Masao was absolutely firmly convinced that he needed to be friends with this person and tolerate all his eccentricity.
"One more thing. Isn't it your Kimura family that owns the underground market for selling 'talking tools'?" Kenshin asked, deciding to save himself time and nerves.
"Y-Yes, sir." Masao answered stuttering. This answer was very difficult for him because in a fraction of a second the old manager's brain scrolled through a hundred variants of "yes" or "no" answers. But still Masao decided to take a risk and tell the truth although this was forbidden.
"Excellent. Escort me there, and your pavilion will be the first I come to with the latest and unique developments of my family." Kenshin said. And although this was only an offer, it was said in a tone that did not suggest refusal.
"Of course, Nakayama-san, follow me." Masao said with a smile. He was very pleased with the prospect of a reciprocal service from this person. In his long life he had learned well the need to establish strong mutually beneficial relationships, and the prospect of becoming a connecting link in relations with the Nakayama Family was very tempting for the old manager.
*****
Masao took this matter extremely responsibly and did everything at the highest level. In addition to showing Kenshin the way, Masao tried to entertain him with various stories, telling about the slave market much that Kasumi did not know.
The most important thing Kenshin learned was that the slave market under the unofficial patronage of the Kimura family was divided into two parts which were in different places and managed by different people.
The House of Flowers was something like a brothel because it was engaged only in selling women, most of whom did not possess chakra. The conditions in it were much more lenient than in the place where men suitable only for slaughter were sold.
All relatively calm women in the House of Flowers had some freedom and could even sometimes go outside to maintain health and therefore beauty. All these indulgences and leniencies were by no means due to the kindness of the manager but purely for profit. Kimura Takahiro at his thirty-five years received the position of manager precisely thanks to his prudence and cold-bloodedness. He did not care at all about the convenience or comfort of the goods if it did not bring profit.
Clients of the House of Flowers as a rule preferred well-groomed and neat women, that is why all promising slaves were well fed, and some had the opportunity to live in relative comfort and use various means to preserve beauty.
Slaves who had no prospects were usually deprived of good food and various beauty treatments. They were also deprived of the last crumbs of social status and occupied the lowest steps in the hierarchy of slaves if of course they could not stand up for themselves.
"Here, Nakayama-san, we have arrived." Masao said with a smile standing on the threshold of a large four-story building. Then he entered and courteously held the door for the respected guest.
Seeing how the formidable manager of the war pavilion behaved like a naughty boy trying to smooth over guilt before his father, the girl standing behind the counter almost dropped her jaw.
"What are you staring at?! Quickly call Takahiro, we have an important guest!" Masao barked at the worker. At that moment his smiling face acquired a beastly grin, and Kenshin grimaced discontentedly. With the strengthening of empathic abilities he like never before began to appreciate honest and open people because he saw a person's true emotions almost through any fuin.
"Sorry, Nakayama-san. Some people become very lazy if you don't yell at them from time to time." Masao said with a kind smile and led Kenshin to one of the rooms. "Please, have a seat."
"Everyone has their own management methods." Kenshin answered calmly. Masao did not displease him for his rudeness but for hypocrisy. If he were just callous, Kenshin would see no problem in that. He understood perfectly well how difficult it is to manage a large structure and find an approach to different people.
"Masao-san, won't you introduce me to the respected guest?" Kimura Takahiro asked with a kind smile entering.
"Of course, Takahiro-san. The respected guest represents the interests of the Nakayama Family and wishes to become a client of your House of Flowers." Masao answered.
Hearing about the Nakayama Family, Takahiro thought for a fraction of a second and remembered everything he had heard about this recently famous mercenary organization. The latest news said that two days ago this organization brutally dealt with a very strong Jonin leaving him no chance to escape.
"Nakayama-san, my House of Flowers is always glad to see you as our guest." Takahiro said with a smile. In literally a few seconds he managed to catch all the signs from Masao and understood how influential this person was. Moreover, he managed to notice two young people who were completely unnoticeably standing aside. They literally exuded enormous danger, and the experienced Takahiro decided to behave extremely carefully and courteously.