Donate Money!

At 3:45 PM, Fukuda Kō left the house, reminded by his butler. He had brought plenty of money with him today, and he couldn't be happier thinking about how he could swindle so many people.

The Zhonghua Grand Hotel was the first hotel established by the Kurama Clan, and it was also the first five-star hotel in the Naruto World. Ming Jing was meticulously dressing himself in the luxurious suite on the top floor. He chose a beige robe and added a light ink-colored cloak over it. This way, he concealed his slight youthful immaturity, appearing much more layered and mature.

"Have those people arrived?" Ming Jing asked, adjusting his collar in the mirror.

"They have all arrived," Yuexi replied.

"Alright then!" Ming Jing took a deep breath and turned towards the main hall. Yuexi and Qing Yan followed behind him as always.

At this time, Hall No. 1 was filled with music and lively chatter. Fukuda Kō arrived neither too early nor too late. From the moment he entered the hotel, he had been observing, showing great interest in the Kurama Clan's entirely new business model. The first thing that caught his attention in Hall No. 1 was the rich variety of food, displayed piece by piece on long tables. Guests could simply take whatever they wanted, and the atmosphere of the entire venue was relaxed and vibrant.

Koji Kurama saw Fukuda Kō arrive and left the guests he was chatting with to greet him. "Mr. Fukuda, it's been a while. Welcome to this charity gala."

"Mr. Kurama is too kind. It is my honor to receive an invitation," Fukuda Kō said with a slight bow. Koji Kurama's family business was much larger than Fukuda Kō's, and with his strength as a Jonin, Fukuda Kō respected him greatly.

"I'm happy to hear you say that, Mr. Fukuda. Then, I hope you will generously contribute later!" Koji Kurama said with a smile.

"Of course," Fukuda Kō nodded.

"Very well, I wish you a pleasant time, Mr. Fukuda," Koji Kurama said before turning away. Only then did Fukuda Kō have time to observe who was present at the event. Hmm? Most of the attendees were acquaintances! Oh, and they even invited reporters from the Royal Capital Daily!

A while later, an old man wearing a dark kimono and leaning on a cane entered. He scanned the room with a solemn expression before finding a quiet corner to sit and wait. This old man was Masao Kosaka.

Suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the music stopped. Then, a beam of white light cut through the hall, landing on the stage at the front. Within the white light, a fresh and handsome figure slowly emerged. By the time everyone's eyes adjusted to the bright light, they could clearly see the person on stage – what a refined and elegant young man!

Ming Jing, with a smile on his face, looked at everyone present and said, "Welcome, everyone, for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this banquet. I am Akira Kurama, Prime Minister of the Land of Fire. Before we begin, please watch a short video."

Without waiting for anyone to refuse, Ming Jing snapped his fingers. Ripples spread out from him, and by the time everyone reacted, they found themselves no longer in the original hall but in a sea of flowers. The women present couldn't help but let out exclamations of awe, while the men's expressions grew slightly serious.

"This is a wonderful world where all things operate in order under the same sky. Flowers bloom in spring, and fruits ripen in autumn." At this moment, Ming Jing's voice echoed. As he spoke, the scenery before their eyes changed. Everyone felt as if they were in a dream. One moment they were in the wilderness with birds singing and flowers fragrant, and the next they were in autumn with trees laden with fruit.

"Here, some people create wealth through their hard work and wisdom. Others are blessed by heaven and become rich overnight." As he said this, everyone felt the scene shift, and they found themselves in a room filled with gold.

"Thus, people began to enjoy life: good food, beautiful scenery, and attractive companions." Following Ming Jing's words, various foods appeared, followed by beautiful young women and men, as well as scenery so breathtaking it made one linger.

"Life is short, so what's wrong with spending your own money to enjoy it?" Most of the people present nodded in agreement. But Ming Jing continued, "However, while enjoying life, shouldn't we also pay attention to those who are at the lowest point in their lives?"

As he spoke, the scene before everyone's eyes changed again. This time, they found themselves in a mountain village. It was peaceful and serene, with no wealthy households, yet every family had enough to eat and wear.

"This is a small village on the border of the Land of Rain, home to sixty-four households, totaling two hundred and seventy-one people. They originally lived ordinary, happy lives. They weren't particularly wealthy, but they had houses and fields, and harmonious neighborly relations. The people here were quite content with their lives, but a disaster shattered their peaceful existence."

While everyone was still observing the villagers' lives, they suddenly heard a rumbling sound from behind them. They turned around and were terrified. The upper reaches of the gently flowing river seemed to have released a terrifying primordial beast. Accompanied by rocks and tree trunks, a flood instantly surged towards them.

At that very moment, the lights in the hall fully illuminated, and the terrifying mudslide that had sent everyone into a panic vanished. Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and the hall erupted in noise.

"Phew... that scared me to death..."

"Yeah, yeah! I'm already old, and you still scare me like this. You're so mischievous!"

"Wuwu... I thought I was going to die..."

Fukuda Kō was also sweating profusely. When the flood had rushed towards him, he had also thought he was doomed. The only person present who remained calm was the near-death Masao Kosaka, which showed how many thrilling experiences this old man had been through.

"Floods like this occur almost every ten years in Muchuan County, on the border of the Land of Rain. The local people have tried many methods, but none have been effective. Therefore, I have an idea that can completely solve the flood problem! And this idea requires the help of everyone present. I hope you will all extend a helping hand with a spirit of 'compassion and benevolence, following the flow of goodness' to help these people in need. Of course, you will receive rewards, not just a simple thank you," Ming Jing paused here, wanting to see if anyone would voluntarily step forward to express their intentions.

Unfortunately, Ming Jing had underestimated the inherent greed of capitalists. Everyone present wore expressions of shock, as if they hadn't recovered from the fright. Their performances, comparable to Oscar-winning actors, left Ming Jing in awe.

Fortunately, he had planted a pawn among them beforehand.

Fukuda Kō knew it was his turn to appear. He pretended to pat his chest and stepped forward, saying, "To be honest, Prime Minister, the images you showed earlier startled me, and I haven't fully recovered! Before, I could never have imagined how helpless people are in the face of natural disasters, but now I know. The Prime Minister is right, people should have 'compassion and benevolence, following the flow of goodness'! I have decided to donate five million Ryo for disaster relief. Please accept it, Prime Minister!"

As Fukuda Kō finished speaking, the hall immediately fell silent. Everyone looked at Fukuda Kō in disbelief. Had this guy's brain short-circuited? What did the suffering of people thousands of miles away have to do with them? Why was he so concerned? He was donating five million Ryo, an amount only slightly less than the net worth of some people present!

Masao Kosaka also glanced at Fukuda Kō, then seemed to realize something. He turned to look at Ming Jing, who was standing on the stage. After several thoughts flashed through his mind, the old man spoke, "My ancestors had intricate ties with Muchuan County, so it can be considered my half-hometown. Seeing my hometown people suffer such a natural disaster pains me deeply. However, my family is not as wealthy as the Fukuda family... Alas... I will donate three million Ryo, hoping it can help the elders and folks in the disaster-stricken areas!"

Holy crap!

Everyone present was truly shocked this time!

Even the old man Masao Kosaka was willing to part with money, which was unbelievable! The reporters present were incredibly excited, swarming around Masao Kosaka and taking countless photos. Tomorrow's headlines were secured.

Fukuda Kō also looked at Masao Kosaka with surprise. Why wasn't this old guy playing by the rules? He donated less money but captured everyone's attention. Fukuda Kō immediately felt displeased, as if his five million Ryo had gone down the drain.

Masao Kosaka glanced at Fukuda Kō and smiled slightly inwardly. This young man was still too naive!