The wick in the oil lamp crackled and flickered, making faint sounds in the dim surroundings. Its elongated flame illuminated the underground chamber.
"Tch, what kind of crap Shinobi Alliance is that?" A piercing sneer rang out, echoing through the dark room. "In terms of professionalism, they can't even catch up to half of what we do in the Phantom Alliance."
"Boss, if you ask me, we should establish a Hidden Village too and get a piece of the Shinobi Alliance's pie."
The indignant voice continued from the shadows, making the others in the room frown.
"Kazuma, why are you spouting nonsense now? You used to look down on them. Why are you suddenly urging the boss to join?"
"Can't be helped. With the Hidden Villages joining forces, our business volume has fallen off a cliff."
On the newspaper lying on the table, stained bright yellow by the firelight, the word Konoha could faintly be seen at the top. Kazuma tugged at the vicious scar by the corner of his eye and said harshly, "Peace means no conflict. The bounties issued by the various Hidden Villages and shinobi clans have all been withdrawn."
The man who chimed in spoke in a rough voice. He drank his sorrows away while sighing over the scattered documents on the table.
"Chief Kuang Jiang! Something's wrong!"
A man soaked from head to toe in seawater abruptly pushed open the wooden door and urgently addressed everyone in the room.
"Shucun, look at the state you're in. Have a drink to warm yourself up! There's nothing to be nervous about. Our island—"
Thud!
"Hey, wake up!"
Kazuma put down the newspaper and forcefully shoved Nagura, who had passed out on the table. Seeing that he was completely asleep, he snatched away his flask. "The sea mist