Chapter 595.On the Professional Competence of a Top-Tier Kage-Level Secretary

—Shahzaam, Jacob Mooe, kevin Williams, Jose Sierra, Pasang Sherpa, Acedia, kurtis newman, Nhoxious, Little Sand, sediaz, Targaryen, King Scales, Kurgarraz.

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Rasa wore a surprised expression. Onoki’s face darkened slightly. Mei Terumi let out a light laugh. "It seems the Hokage places great importance on his secretary, entrusting her with such significant matters."

"Merely honing her capabilities. Otherwise, why go to all this trouble?" Kazuki replied offhandedly before lifting his head to look Onoki directly in the eyes.

"Tsuchikage, this is simply a form of training for my subordinates. I hope you can understand."

I was willing to represent the Leaf Village and sell war materiel to your Stone Village, which means I have already given you ample face. Having my secretary handle the negotiation is that simple. If you insist on preserving your pride and feel I haven’t shown you enough respect, then this matter ends here. Forgoing this particular deal won’t impact the Leaf Village in the slightest. If you insist on being obstinate, then suit yourself.

Besides, it was Onoki who was asking for a favor. When asking someone for goods, you still expected to maintain a haughty demeanor and keep your dignity intact?

Good heavens, did you have to stab right at the heart like that?

Mei Terumi’s mouth twitched. Rasa stared at the ground, pretending he hadn’t heard a word. When he’d privately approached Kazuki to purchase supplies, he’d been even more humble. Fortunately, Kazuki hadn’t given him any unpleasant looks, and everything had proceeded smoothly.

Stabbing at the heart was one thing; Onoki felt as though even his lungs had been punctured. Yet he was utterly unable to retort. When asking for favors, one had to adopt the proper attitude. Just because you held a high position and possessed great strength didn’t mean you could dispense with humility.

If that were the case, why bother asking at all? Wouldn’t it be better to simply solve the problem yourself? Onoki was a stubborn old fossil, and stubborn people don’t easily change their thinking – unless someone blocks their path entirely. That was exactly what Kazuki had done. Whether you care about face or not, I’ve cut off your road. Let’s see how stubborn you can be.

Onoki’s expression flickered with irritation. After a moment of silence, he coughed and said with visible discomfort, "In that case, this old man will make the trip to the cave. I hope this journey yields some results."

"As long as the Stone Village shows sincerity, the results will not disappoint. However, you should prepare yourself mentally, old man. The goods will be very expensive."

War materiel was costly whether during wartime or after. Prices doubling was the norm. Even though the war between the Mist and Sand had ended, the war between the Stone and Cloud was still raging. At this point, everyone’s coffers had been drained. Did you expect to find cheap goods? Impossible.

"Thank you for the warning, Lord Hokage. Since I dared to ask, I am naturally prepared." Onoki’s expression eased somewhat. The Stone Village needed to show sincerity, but he could also see the Leaf Village’s sincerity. Unfortunately, his good mood didn’t last long.

"WHAT?! Five times the price?! Why don’t you just rob me?!" Ten minutes later, Onoki’s enraged roar echoed from within the cave. Despite his mental preparation, he was still completely stunned by Mabui’s proposal. Furious and flustered, Onoki was sorely tempted to throttle the woman in the secretary’s uniform.

Were you doing this on purpose?! You’re no longer part of the Cloud Village, and you still come here to disgust this old man! "I’m telling you, this is absolutely impossible! This is highway robbery!!!" At this moment, Onoki had completely abandoned his Tsuchikage decorum. He was a sputtering, hopping little old man, utterly beside himself.

Faced with the furious, bouncing Onoki, Mabui remained perfectly composed. She produced a handwritten list and placed it on the table. "Lord Tsuchikage, if you find my prices too exorbitant, perhaps you should first examine this transaction list."

What was this? Onoki snatched up the list and scanned it. Good heavens – a purchase manifest for supplies, with prices uniformly horrifying. And the quantities purchased weren’t even large. For some inexplicable reason, seeing this list gradually quelled the inferno of fury within Onoki.

"I know that all villages are currently short on war materiel, especially various ninja tools, scrolls, and explosive tags. I can accept that prices are somewhat inflated. But your asking price is simply too high." The list Mabui showed Onoki was something she had gleaned from the documents. It detailed purchases made by small villages and other factions from the Leaf Village. The quantities were modest, but the prices were steep.

Typically, during special periods, the smaller the purchase quantity, the higher the unit price. Mabui had specifically selected some of the more expensive entries and transcribed them for Onoki’s viewing. As for who the buyers were, that had to remain confidential. It was Leaf Village intelligence and couldn’t be casually disclosed.

"Three times the price. That is my final bottom line," Onoki declared, raising his hand impatiently and gesturing. "That is also the price your Hokage sold supplies to the Kazekage at."

It seemed someone had been loose-lipped. Onoki must have learned through special channels that the Sand Village had procured supplies. During their negotiations, he had seized the opportunity to extract this secret. In exchange for greater benefits, Rasa had simply confessed. The initial secrecy had been to guard against the Mist Village. Now that the war with the Mist had ended, the old secret no longer held much weight. So Rasa decisively traded it for advantage.

A bird in hand is worth more than a thousand in the forest. It was all for the village’s benefit. Rasa’s actions surprised Mabui somewhat, but she showed no sign of anger. After a moment of thought, she replied calmly, "Lord Tsuchikage, three times the price is impossible. First, there is the matter of timing. A considerable amount of time has passed since the Sand Village’s covert procurement. Time waits for no one, and neither does money. At this juncture, besides the Leaf Village, which other village has the audacity to extend you a sizable batch of supplies on credit?

Even if you repay at an exorbitant price, repayment takes time. If you can pay in cash, I am authorized to accept three times the price. But if this is to be a debt, gradually repaid with ores after the war, then three times is absolutely out of the question."

Did the Stone Village have money? Forget the Stone Village – even the Daimyo of the Land of Earth was likely penniless. He had been the most generous of all the Daimyo in supporting his village. Asking him to cough up funds now would be practically impossible. Mabui had precisely calculated that the Stone Village was broke, thereby holding Onoki firmly by the throat.

Cash purchase? I can give you three times the price. Pity you don’t have the money. Long-term debt repayment? Surely some interest should be added. Otherwise, the Leaf Village would be taking a massive loss. The feeling of having to engage in extreme haggling just to purchase goods at three times the price was utterly wretched. Onoki was on the verge of cursing up a storm. Yet he had no alternative. He could only pinch his nose and push forward.