Chapter 1231: Alliance and Unexpected Events (Part 2)

Chapter 1231 -123: Alliance and Unexpected Events (Part 2)

Onoki’s face broke into a smile, like a kind, endearing little old man.

He had, in fact, heard a bit about the conflict between the Underground Black Market and the Land of Demons.

When you got down to it, this was the Land of Demons meddling far too broadly.

Besides, this sort of thing is impossible to eradicate.

In the past, the Five Great Nations had considered wiping out the Underground Black Market, but in the end they found that no matter what they did, it simply could not be destroyed.

Because it’s only a platform—so long as people still exist, this thing can never be completely cleaned up.

If you asked which current Ninja Village understood the Underground Black Market best, it would undoubtedly be Hidden Rock.

Back during the Ninja Realm wars, Hidden Rock more than once made use of mercenaries from the Underground Black Market, causing a lot of trouble for the various Countries.

“Lord Tsuchikage, do you consider the existence of such a platform reasonable?”

Hakushi asked.

Onoki fell silent. Reasonable?

Of course it’s not reasonable.

Onoki, as Tsuchikage, understood perfectly well what the Underground Black Market represented.

However, the existence of this platform is tacitly approved by the Daimyo and nobles of the Five Great Nations, and many times this platform has indeed brought the Five Great Nations considerable benefits, which is why it’s allowed to exist.

Yet the bounty system of the Underground Black Market is fundamentally at odds with the Land of Demons’ system—they were born to clash.

Because the Land of Demons’ military exercises excessively tight control over the civilian sphere.

From major cities, down to towns, and finally villages, all of them have specialized Security Teams set up, centralizing the Country’s public order.

If the Underground Black Market wants to operate within the Land of Demons’ borders, it will inevitably trigger civilian chaos in the Land of Demons and clashes with the Country’s Security Teams.

So the Land of Demons struck first.

The Underground Black Market’s market in the Western Continent suffered unprecedented exclusion, its market share shrinking.

Seeing Onoki stay silent, Hakushi said nothing more either; some things are still not suited to being laid out in the open, this summit included.

That’s why it had to be held here in secret, and the Kage attending all understood this point.

Hakushi then gave a signal to the woman behind him, Amatsukime.

Amatsukime slowly nodded, walked to the side, and pressed a button.

The lights in the conference room dimmed, leaving only the area around the conference table illuminated.

“All right, enough small talk. The reason I was so eager to have the three of you come is very simple: it concerns the Isolated Island Merchant Alliance. According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, as well as top-secret information from internal agents on the Isolated Island, this Merchant Alliance is conspiring in a terrifying scheme to control Countries. Such actions severely undermine international security. If we don’t move against them now, in the future it will surely embolden other unscrupulous merchants and prompt them to follow suit. That’s something you all would rather not see, isn’t it?”

Hakushi began.

That was the official line—but the truth behind it was what really mattered.

The Land of Fire intends to swallow the Isolated Island’s Merchant Alliance whole, and in the process bring the Land of Waves under its control.

The Land of Demons discovered the Land of Fire’s aim, and thus initiated this secret summit.

By uniting the Land of Demons, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water, they would move first to eradicate the Isolated Island Merchant Alliance, divide up the island’s wealth, and at the same time throw the Land of Waves into turmoil to create trouble for the Land of Fire.

On another front, it was also meant to fracture the ties between the great nations.

Everyone present was perfectly aware of this.

From their lofty positions, they have access to first-hand information, and with strategic analysts at their side, the purpose behind Hakushi calling this summit was obvious after the slightest consideration.

As long as the connections between great nations are broken, relations between the Land of Demons and the Land of Earth may ease. Then, in the Western Continent, the Land of Demons can focus its efforts on the Land of Wind and break up the alliance between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.

The Isolated Island Merchant Alliance was the “meeting gift” Hakushi was putting on the table.

At the same time, stirring up the Land of Waves and the Land of Rain could also create obstacles for the Land of Fire.

The Land of Lightning would no doubt be happy to see that.

The Land of Lightning has been constantly expanding its military power, eyeing the title of Number One Great Nation.

Its primary goal, then, is to drag the Land of Fire down from the altar—only then can the Land of Lightning become the leading great nation.

Lure the Land of Earth with profit.

Lure the Land of Lightning with the Land of Fire’s status.

Hakushi was prescribing the right medicine for each.

Compared to money, what the Land of Lightning covets more is status; money is merely a byproduct.

Only Yagura is the ally Hakushi truly intends to support.

From another angle, pulling the Tsuchikage and Raikage into this was also meant to serve as cover for his covert cooperation with Yagura.

“Indeed, as merchants, they should just do business honestly. If they seek to use money to dictate the will of a Country, that certainly plants a massive hidden danger.”

Onoki felt a surge of dissatisfaction.

This displeasure was not directed at Hakushi, but at the Land of Fire, at Konoha.

They had clearly planned to ally with the Land of Earth, yet in secret they sought to monopolize the Isolated Island Merchant Alliance, without so much as notifying the Land of Earth and Hidden Rock Village to come share in the spoils. As allies, isn’t that a bit too greedy?

As a result, Onoki now had little desire to interfere in the Land of Rain’s affairs. He’d rather just let the Land of Fire, the Land of Demons, and the Land of Rain entangle themselves.

Watching the Land of Fire, which had repeatedly defeated the Land of Earth, get pulled down from its pedestal, Onoki felt a covert surge of delight.