[Human Divine Kingdom Project]
This was the plan proposed by Simu.
Its primary objective was to use resources to attract the displaced refugees within the Land of Rivers, turning them into loyal believers of the Jashin Religion. This would establish a massive Jashin organization within the Land of Rivers, also known as the [Divine Kingdom].
Using this organization as a foundation, he aimed to significantly increase the fame of the Jashin Religion and harvest reputation points.
At this moment, Simu showed no surprise upon hearing the numbers reported by Rie Uzumaki.
Furthermore, after the Land of Wind began deploying troops into the Land of Rivers to regain its international face, the fighting between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand had plunged the Land of Rivers into the fires of war.
Among the victims, none were more tragic than the people who had lived in the Land of Rivers for generations.
Affected by the war, their already difficult lives became even more grueling.
To escape the conflict and avoid being caught in the crossfire of the "Great Ninja Lords," the people had no choice but to flee into the mountains and forests in large numbers.
Meanwhile, to facilitate supplies, the forces of the Hidden Leaf and Hidden Sand constantly scavenged the surrounding towns and villages within the Land of Rivers.
In fact, they would often set fire to the remaining farmland before retreating to prevent the enemy from obtaining supplies.
The bitter fruit of all these actions was borne solely by the people of the Land of Rivers.
It was under these circumstances that the Jashin Religion emerged.
This sect was hidden deep within a mountain range. As long as one joined the Jashin Religion, they could receive free food, their own farmland, and a house.
While it wasn't a life of great wealth, it at least allowed them to survive.
For the citizens of such a small nation, this was already something they could only hope for but never reach.
Moreover, some believers, after passing an inspection, could join the Jashin Religion's guard unit and become a revered [God-Chosen One].
To obtain all of this, all they had to give in return was their insignificant faith.
In these troubled times, standing on the brink of death, where would they find the room to care about their faith?
Even if the other party was a so-called Evil God.
As long as it gave them hope to live, what did it matter if it was the Jashin?
Therefore, the rapid development of the [Divine Kingdom] was only natural.
The count of fifty thousand was mainly limited by the population of the Land of Rivers, combined with the fact that the war made travel impossible or caused many to die in the crossfire along the way.
Otherwise, this number would only be higher!
"You've done well," Simu praised indifferently.
However, even this single word of praise caused Rie Uzumaki's face to turn bright red, and her breathing became hot and rapid.
"Thank you for the praise, Master!" Rie Uzumaki said in a sweet, delicate voice, looking as if she might faint the next second.
Simu pushed up his glasses. "Continue making preparations according to the plan. Whether it is the Hidden Sand or the Hidden Leaf, they should notice you soon."
"Yes!"
Rie Uzumaki complied. Seeing that Simu had no further intentions, she could only withdraw with a trace of resentment in her eyes.
Just as Simu said, with the rapid development of the Divine Kingdom, it would likely be noticed by the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand soon.
Perhaps they had noticed already.
It was just that the Hidden Leaf high-rankers were currently busy dealing with the possible Uchiha coup, and for the time being, they had no energy to deal with the Jashin Religion far away in the Land of Rivers.
Once the Uchiha matter was settled, given Jiraiya's emphasis on the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, the Divine Kingdom would inevitably face a terrifying crisis.
Of course, compared to the actions Simu was preparing to trigger in the Hidden Leaf, a Divine Kingdom with a mere fifty thousand believers was nothing.
At the same time, inside the Hidden Leaf Research Lab, Dr. Katasuke was staring at the computer screen in front of him. After a long time, as a red warning popped up, he collapsed onto the floor as if his soul had been sucked out of him.
"Why? Why is it still not working?"
He clutched his hair tightly, his brain working at a frantic pace, but he still couldn't figure out why this experiment had failed.
As the laboratory doors opened, Arima walked out, carrying his Quinque.
He looked at Dr. Katasuke slumped on the floor and gave a bitter smile. "It looks like it was another failure, Doctor."
Katasuke gave a despondent "mm," clearly not yet recovered from the recent failure.
Seeing this, although Arima was also a bit disappointed, he took the initiative to comfort him. "It's alright, Dr. Katasuke. Combining a Quinque with Ninjutsu was never going to be that simple. Failure is normal. Shall we go eat first?"
Indeed, the experiment Dr. Katasuke was currently conducting was regarding the fusion of Quinques and Ninjutsu.
He wanted to extend Ninjutsu onto the Quinque, thereby significantly raising the combat ceiling of the weapon.
However, such a breakthrough experiment was clearly not simple. He had failed consecutively for several months and still had no clue.
This massive failure made Katasuke somewhat numb; even Arima's consolation had no effect.
Arima scratched his head and left without another word.
He felt that letting Dr. Katasuke be quiet by himself for a while might be better.
Lying on the floor, Katasuke suddenly fell asleep at some unknown point.
In his dream, a crimson pattern emerged before him.
It was a formation with an outer circle and an inner triangle.
In the center of the triangle, a terrifying eye that looked like an abyss seemed to open.
Katasuke was startled awake instantly.
Ignoring the fact that he was drenched in sweat, he scrambled to his office desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a crimson necklace that was exactly the same as the pattern in his dream.
"Could it be that you are giving me a sign?"
Katasuke's gaze pierced through his lenses as he stared at the necklace.
He had bought this necklace at an antique market a year ago.
At that time, he had just started working on the [Quinque] project. That period was just like now; although he had such an excellent subject as Arima, the research could not move forward.
But on the night he bought this necklace, Katasuke had a nightmare.
In that nightmare, he conducted countless research sessions on Arima, and finally succeeded in mimicking him. Through the special relationship between the Kakuhou and the host, he successfully replicated the Quinque.
Consequently, this necklace had been kept by Katasuke as a lucky charm ever since.
Of course, it was only a lucky charm. As a scientist, Katasuke didn't truly believe his success was because of the necklace.
But the dream just now told him that this necklace might truly be extraordinary.
With almost no hesitation, Katasuke picked up the necklace and put it on.
He gripped the necklace with both hands, lay directly on the cold floor, and began to sleep.
As a cold red light flashed across the necklace, Katasuke instantly entered his dreams.