"Who came here just now?" Kakuzu abruptly asked after counting the money.
"Huh?" Black Smoke, standing beside him, had yet to react.
"Hm?"
Seeing Black Smoke's expression, Kakuzu could not help but frown.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Kakuzu. If you mean the person who just came by, it was someone named Ember, wearing an Ice Mask and a snow-white robe."
Although Soji's presence had also been overwhelming, he was not here!
Right now, Kakuzu stood before him—the man Black Smoke feared even more. Naturally, he spilled everything he knew.
"I hope there won't be a next time." Kakuzu's threatening words rang beside Black Smoke's ear.
If not for the fact that this Black Market owner had worked with him many times and left him with a decent impression, the man's heart would no longer belong to him.
Yes, Kakuzu was that irritable. If someone disagreed with him, he could start killing without hesitation. In the original story, even several of his Akatsuki teammates had apparently been killed by him.
Much less a mere Black Market owner.
"Yes, yes, Lord Kakuzu." Black smoke nodded profusely, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Then, in order to make up for his mistake, Black Smoke gave Kakuzu a detailed description of Soji's clothing, appearance, and intended destination.
After all, the Black Market owner had long memorized the location of the research institute Soji was heading to. There was no need to consult the scroll.
This sort of thing was normal for Black Smoke.
Though he wanted to befriend Soji, when someone he could not afford to offend even more appeared, he sold Soji out without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm sorry, Lord Ember. For Lord Kakuzu's sake, I can only sacrifice you." Black Smoke even silently offered Soji a moment of mourning.
"Is he on