800 PS
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The night passed quietly, filled only with the pleasant sound of applause echoing through half the night.
When the first ray of morning sunlight shone through, Arashi woke up.
The hime beside him was still sleeping soundly, her black hair scattered across the brocade quilt, her cheeks flushed.
Like a flower glistening with morning dew.
Arashi's gaze lingered briefly on her curves before becoming calm again.
Last night's intimacy had been delightful, but nothing more.
He got out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold, smooth tiles.
The maids waiting outside entered quietly, their heads bowed, their movements graceful and silent.
One brought a hot towel, another clear salt water.
Arashi spread his arms slightly, allowing them to dress him.
Throughout the entire process, only the faint rustle of fabric could be heard.
By the time he had finished washing and was seated at the dining table, the hime had slowly woken.
Seeing Arashi already seated, her expression turned flustered, and she hurried to get up and bow.
"No need."
Arashi's tone was faint.
"Your dance was good. You will be rewarded."
"Gen will arrange your residence."
He did not look back, only waved his hand.
The hime froze for a moment, then her face brightened with joy.
She knew she had caught the Daimyo's attention.
She knelt respectfully, kowtowed, and quietly withdrew with the maids.
After breakfast, Arashi strolled to the study.
He stood before the enormous map of the Ninja World, hands clasped behind his back.
In his mind, the results of the System's deductions from several days ago began to evolve into specific strategies.
Economic influence and military deterrence.
That was the strategic guideline given by the sandbox.
But it only provided direction, not the means of execution.
The execution, however, was the real test.
Arashi pondered.
The Land of Earth was harsh and cold, and the Land of Wind was barren.
These two nations had a natural hunger for foreign goods.
But simply selling them food and weapons would be strengthening the enemy.
It had to be something non-essential yet irresistibly tempting.
Something that would rot them from within.
Arashi's thoughts gradually became clearer, as if he could already see the future.
In the cold stone palaces of Iwa, soft carpets from the Land of Fire would be spread.
On a wind-swept afternoon in Suna, nobles would sip sweet black tea they had never tasted before.
Once they grew accustomed to such luxuries, they would never return to their former lives.
If the strategy worked, Iwa and Suna's economic dependence on the Land of Fire would grow immensely, and their upper classes would become deeply tied to it.
When the seeds of desire sprouted, they would willingly become pawns in his hands, all to preserve their luxury.
Arashi took a sip of warm tea.
Everything was ready, only lacking an obedient executor.
A knock came at the study door.
"Come in."
Gen pushed the door open and bowed. "Daimyo-sama, Tanaka Shigeru requests an audience."
"Let him in."
Arashi sat back, his expression returning to a lazy calm.
Soon, the slightly plump Tanaka Shigeru entered, dressed particularly formally.
"Greetings, Daimyo-sama!"
He knelt low, performing a deep bow.
"Rise, and be seated."
"Thank you, Daimyo-sama."
Tanaka sat carefully, his posture humble, then presented a scroll.
"Reporting to Daimyo-sama, this is the preliminary budget plan for the concubine selection ceremony. Please review it."
Arashi waved a hand. "For such minor matters, you and Gen can handle them. You don't need to ask me about everything."
"Yes... this official understands!"
Tanaka quickly retracted the scroll.
Arashi spoke directly. "I called you here to discuss something else."
Tanaka straightened immediately. "Please instruct, Daimyo-sama."
"The war has ended. The country must recover, and the people must live in peace."
"I intend to strengthen trade relations with Iwa and Suna."
"What do you think we should sell them?"
Tanaka's mind raced.
Strengthen trade with Iwa and Suna? Why these two nations in particular?
What about Kumo and Kiri?
Years in politics had honed his instincts. Something about this felt deliberate.
He thought for a moment before replying cautiously, "Daimyo-sama is wise. Post-war reconstruction and mutual trade are indeed the best ways to enrich the nation and benefit the people."
"Iwa is cold and harsh, and Suna is barren. If we sell them grain and cloth in exchange for ore and local products, it would be a win-win situation!"
Arashi chuckled softly.
The light laugh made Tanaka's heart sink. He had said the wrong thing.
"Tanaka," Arashi said calmly, "you are good with finances, but your vision is too narrow."
"We cannot sell too much grain or cloth."
"If we give them too much, they will be full and warm, and then they will have the strength to pick up weapons again."
"We want to make money, not strengthen them. Do you understand?"
Tanaka immediately understood.
The Daimyo's goal was not simple trade at all.
This was a grand strategy, a terrifyingly elegant one that used economics as a weapon.
And his earlier suggestion now seemed childish.
He sat frozen, his thoughts spinning.
Not food or cloth. Not strengthening, but weakening through desire.
A flash of inspiration struck him.
Luxury goods!
Silk, porcelain, tea, fine wine.
The unique luxuries of the Land of Fire.
"This official understands! I know what we should sell now!"
"The trade of grain and cloth can remain symbolic, but what we truly need to sell are those things they lack, yet can never abandon once they have them!"
"Like silk. Which noble lady in Iwa or Suna wouldn't crave beautiful clothes? Who would want to face stone and sand forever?"
"And our porcelain. They'll need exquisite tea sets to flaunt their status."
"Oh, and sugar. No one can resist sweetness. Once people taste it, they'll never return to bitter lives!"
"We have endless supplies, and they can only buy them with money."
Tanaka spoke faster, growing excited.
He felt as though he had stepped into a new world.
These luxuries were beautiful poisons, intoxicating and corrupting.
They wouldn't make a nation stronger, only weaker, consumed by indulgence.
Arashi listened quietly, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Good. This old man was still useful.
Just as Tanaka thought he had grasped everything, Arashi asked lightly,
"Speaking of which, Kumo still refuses to sign the peace treaty?"
"They really are a bunch of fools with only muscles for brains."
"A pity. With so many good things, they won't have the fortune to enjoy them."
That one sentence made Tanaka freeze.
Strengthening trade with Iwa and Suna, excluding Kumo, corrupting their elites through luxury, tying them to Fire's wealth—all the clues clicked into place.
The goal was isolation.
To strangle Kumo economically.
This Daimyo had no intention of true peace.
He would use money and trade to choke Kumo to death outside the battlefield.
Tanaka didn't even dare breathe too loudly.
Then another thought hit him.
Iwa, Suna, Kumo... what about Kiri?
He gathered his courage. "Then... Daimyo-sama, what should we do about Kiri?"
"What do you think?"
Arashi returned the question.
Tanaka froze, then sank into thought again.
Kiri... the Hidden Mist Village... was mired in civil war, closed off from the world.
A nation consumed by internal strife, too busy with itself to interfere.
The current greatest threat to the Land of Fire was Kumo, not Kiri.
His thoughts aligned, and he bowed. "This official understands!"
"Kiri is deeply trapped in the Blood Mist conflict and cannot interfere with us, nor can it be a useful ally."
"Our main target is Kumo. We should avoid creating new problems."
"With Kiri, we only need to maintain the status quo, keeping minimal trade, neither helping nor hindering it."
"Mm."
Arashi was finally satisfied.
"Then proceed. Draft a detailed trade list and implementation plan."
"To improve efficiency, you will head a new department—the Foreign Trade Promotion Department—to handle all related affairs."
He had bet correctly.
Tanaka was overjoyed and quickly accepted.
"Oh, and," Arashi added casually, "I have some promising young people skilled in economics. They'll join the department as your deputies to gain experience."
"Yes, Daimyo-sama. This official obeys!"
He understood. These were the Daimyo's confidants.
But he felt no resentment, only relief.
It meant the Daimyo still valued him.
"You may withdraw."
"This official takes his leave!"
Tanaka bowed deeply and left the study.
Only Arashi remained.
He slowly stood and walked to the enormous map.
His gaze fell on the Land of Lightning, eyes gleaming with conquest.
(To be continued.)