Preliminary Cooperation Intent with the Okiki Family

Ignoring Okiki Fujida's discomfort, Neji spoke directly, "I have no intention of making enemies with the Okiki Family. There are two plots of land about 20 li east of the city. I need one for medicinal herb cultivation. The price is negotiable, and I hope the Fujida Family can accommodate me."

Neji stated his purpose very plainly, which stunned Okiki Fujida. It reminded him of his youth, when he seemed to be just as straightforward, disdaining the manipulation of so-called political schemes and believing that strength was everything.

However, as he grew older and his strength gradually stagnated, he realized he couldn't suppress everyone with sheer power alone. He began to change, playing the game of balance, compromise, and the political maneuvering that those in power should master!

Snapping back to the present, Fujida recalled those two plots of land. During a past meeting, a clan elder had proposed expanding the cultivation of "contraband," and those two plots were the chosen location.

But he had rejected that proposal. Fujida could sense that further expansion of "contraband" cultivation, and the increased harm to residents, would cross the Daimyo's bottom line.

After all, no one wants their country overrun with addicts. It would not only hinder long-term development but also significantly impact the Land of Hot Water's core industry—tourism.

Although he had rejected the proposal, these two plots of land had indirectly become associated with the Okiki Family because of this incident. Anyone wanting to use them would need the Okiki Family's consent—a typical display of hegemonic thinking: "If I can't use it, no one else will!"

The man in black before him was likely here for this reason. Fujida himself didn't care much about the land, but he did care about being visited in the middle of the night and threatened. Should he compromise?

If he compromised, there would be no loss, and he could even make some money.

If he didn't, the Okiki Family would certainly make an enemy of this man in black, a ninja he estimated to be Kage-level. This was no small matter. Even he, the strongest in the family, might not be able to fight the opponent head-on. It wasn't worth causing trouble for himself over a matter of pride.

Having figured this out, Fujida no longer wanted to haggle for a better deal. He laughed heartily, "What's all the fuss about? It's just a piece of land. I'll arrange for a specialist to handle it tomorrow. Money is not important. I, Okiki Fujida, primarily want to make a friend!"

Neji was also surprised by Fujida's pragmatism. But thinking about it, the matter wasn't that significant, and there was no need to gain a Kage-level enemy for no reason.

With this in mind, Neji wanted to further deepen his cooperation with the Okiki Family. He handed the enhanced Body Reinforcement Fluid he was carrying to Okiki Fujida.

Fujida accepted the medicine in surprise and asked, "About becoming friends?"

Neji explained, "This is a type of Body Reinforcement Fluid that I've enhanced with a special secret technique. Its efficacy is about five times that of regular reinforcement fluid, and it has no side effects!"

Fujida was startled by Neji's words. As a prominent family in medicinal herb cultivation, Fujida naturally knew about Body Reinforcement Fluid. Not only did he know about it, but he and the promising young members of his family had all grown up soaking in reinforcement fluid.

However, despite its imposing name, the effect of this fluid was minimal. It required years of immersion to achieve a noticeable effect, and it was expensive. Thus, only young people with significant potential and talent would have the family purchase it for them; ordinary families wouldn't even consider it.

The young man before him claimed his secretly made Body Reinforcement Fluid had five times the effect of regular fluid. This was a qualitative leap. What previously took five years to increase body strength by 40% would now only take one year!

This was not simply a fivefold increase. Achieving five years' worth of results in one year meant that the remaining four years could be used to continue soaking in this reinforcement fluid. In the same five-year period, the improvement from using the enhanced Body Reinforcement Fluid would be nearly 11 times that of regular fluid, or even more.

This was no small matter; it could even be a matter of great importance concerning the rise and fall of the family.

Okiki Fujida straightened his posture and said to Neji in a rather serious tone, "Are your words true? If it truly has such good effects, no, even if it only has double the effect, my Okiki Family is willing to pay any price to obtain the secret formula."

At this moment, Okiki Fujida even considered kidnapping Neji to force him to reveal the formula. However, he quickly reconsidered. Whether the reinforcement fluid had such good effects was yet to be verified. Even if it did, Fujida wasn't entirely confident he could capture the young man with his own strength and the ninjas currently stationed by his family.

Seeing that the other party was interested, Neji didn't overthink it. He said calmly, "I won't say much more. I've given you a sample of the reinforcement fluid, and you can verify it yourself. We have a basis for cooperation. As for how we will cooperate, I will bring people to discuss it in detail with you, Patriarch Fujida, the night after tomorrow."

Okiki Fujida naturally had no reason to refuse and readily agreed.

Seeing the other party agree, Neji didn't linger and turned to leave the study.

Okiki Fujida was left alone in the study, lost in thought, his hand instinctively reaching out to touch the medicine bottle from time to time, as if it were his entire world.

After a while, Okiki Fujida, slightly regaining his senses, immediately summoned several researchers and pharmacists from the clan to the laboratory, completely disregarding the fact that it was already late at night. Okiki Fujida was extremely eager to verify the specific effects of the reinforcement fluid.

Even if it only had half, or even a third of the effect, it would be an opportunity for the Okiki Family to soar! It would also be an opportunity to fulfill his ambitions and dreams!

Neji returned to his base along the same route. The negotiation with Okiki Fujida this time had been quite smooth. Not only had he achieved his original goal, but he could also gain a powerful partner for cultivating medicinal herbs.

With the involvement of the Okiki Family, a professional family with generations of experience in cultivating medicinal herbs, it would save him a lot of trouble. Matters that he and his subordinates were not specialized in could be handed over to the Okiki Family, while he would only need to master the core technology—"Natural Energy Purification and Compression Technology"—to firmly secure the Okiki Family.

Once cooperation was established, Neji would need to transfer the Natural Energy purification equipment to the Summoning Realm. This would not only exponentially increase purification efficiency but also provide much greater concealment and security compared to the Ninja World.

Establishing his own base and influence in the Summoning Realm would also need to be put on the agenda.

With these thoughts in mind, Neji prepared to rest after soaking in a bath of the ultra-high concentration Body Reinforcement Fluid he had prepared for himself. This special formula was nearly ten times more effective than ordinary liquid medicine, but its potency was more intense. Only Neji, who possessed Sage Chakra, could withstand it. This wasn't Neji hiding his strength; it was simply because others couldn't handle it!

Feeling his Sage Chakra grow slightly stronger, Neji was somewhat satisfied and fell into a deep sleep!

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