The Amegakure Envoy's Illicit Bribery and the Discipline Inspection Department's Lightning Crackdown
Inside Hokage's Office, the light remains the same.
The air was filled with the dry smell of high-grade rolling paper and ink.
Baishi's finger tapped lightly on the entry report on Amegakure "Private Trade Delegation" on the desk. The report was very concise, with a line of small characters recording the location of the business group's stay: Konoha East District, Guesthouse.
This is a place used by the village to receive visitors who have a certain status but are not qualified to stay at State Guesthouse.
"The leader calls himself Kakuzu." Shikaku Nara stood opposite the desk. His voice was not high, but every word was clear, "A businessman."
"Businessman?" Baishi repeated, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
He leaned back in his chair, crossed his fingers, and looked at Shikaku.
"How much money did this 'businessman' bring?"
"The personal assets declared upon entry are fifty million taels." Shikaku replied, "But according to our ANBU monitoring, the cash and equivalents stored in a special seal Scroll he carried with him are at least ten times more than this number."
The office became quiet.
More than ten times, that is more than 500 million taels.
No one would bring so much cash just for a regular "private business" negotiation.
"Our Commerce Bureau, Takada, what kind of person is he?" Baishi changed the question.
Shikaku pondered for a moment and spoke very carefully.
"I have very strong business skills. I have won a lot of benefits for the village in foreign trade negotiations. But..."
He paused.
"It's just that his personal consumption of luxury goods has increased rapidly in the past two years."
Baishi nodded.
This sentence is enough.
"Let the Discipline Inspection Department people work hard tonight." Baishi said in a very calm tone, "No need to do anything, just keep an eye on Takada. Write down where he went and who he met."
"Yes." Shikaku accepted the order without asking any more questions.
He understood that the net set by Lord Hokage had reached the stage of closing. And Takada was the bait used to lure the big fish to the bait.
The night is getting darker.
Konoha The top-notch restaurant "Moonlit Hermitage" was booked out of the entire courtyard on the third floor tonight.
This abnormal information was delivered to Baishi's desk immediately.
"Takada has gone." Shikaku's voice came through the internal line on the table, and there was a little noise in the background. "The only people attending the banquet were him and the businessman named Kakuzu, without any entourage."
"Are all the people from the Discipline Inspection Department in place?" Baishi asked.
"According to your instructions, the perimeter has been deployed. The service staff at the restaurant have also been replaced by our people."
"Very good."
Baishi hung up the phone.
He was not impatient at all. He sat quietly behind his desk and began to review a regular document on Border Outpost's winter supplies. It was as if everything that happened in "Moonlit Hermitage" tonight had nothing to do with him.
Time passed by minute by minute.
The clock on the wall is about to point to nine o'clock.
The phone on the table rang again.
"Lord Hokage, the fish is hooked." On the other end of the phone was the voice of Minister Discipline Inspection Department, Yamanaka Kaido, suppressing a hint of excitement, "Our people confirmed it through micro-monitoring equipment. Confirmed, Kakuzu offered Takada a price of 300 million taels, requiring Takada to use his authority to release the seized materials within three days in the name of 'completing quarantine procedures'."
"Takada agree?"
"Agreed. The box was placed on the table in front of them and opened. It was full of brand new large-value banknotes."
Baishi picked up the pen and signed his name on the document in front of him.
"Close the Internet cafe."
His voice was as calm as if he was signing a death notice.
"Everyone gets the stolen goods together, no one can be left behind."
"Yes!"
Moonlit Hermitage, third floor.
The air is still filled with the mellow aroma of top-quality sake.
Commerce Bureau, long Takada, looked at the open black lacquered wooden box in front of him, his throat a little dry. The neatly stacked banknotes in the box had an attractive luster under the light.
"Mr. Kakuzu, you... you are too polite." Takada's fat faces squeezed together with smiles, "Don't worry, this matter is on my shoulders. Konoha's rules are ultimately made by people. I made a report and said that there was a small technical error in the quarantine process, and it will be done soon..."
He couldn't finish what he said.
The wooden door of the private room was opened from the outside without any warning.
A group of people wearing black uniforms with the Konoha Discipline Inspection Department badges on their chests poured in. The leader, Yamanaka Kaido, had a face as cold as ice.
"Director Takada, we are from the Discipline Inspection Department." Yamanaka Kaido's voice was not loud, but it made the temperature of the whole room drop. "There are some accounts that we need you to go back with us to check. Please."
The blood on Takada's face instantly faded completely. He subconsciously looked at Kakuzu opposite, his eyes full of horror and confusion.
Kakuzu's reaction was beyond everyone's expectations.
He didn't even stand up, but slowly put down the wine glass in his hand. His dark green eyes glanced at the Discipline Inspection Department personnel who rushed in. There was no panic in his eyes, only displeasure at being disturbed.
"Is this how Konoha treats guests?" His voice was hoarse and low.
"Anyone who tries to break the rules through bribery in Konoha is not our guest." Yamanaka Kaido waved his hand, and two Discipline Inspection Department personnel immediately stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right to hold up Takada, who was already limp on the ground.
"As for you, Mr. Kakuzu." Yamanaka Kaido turned to Kakuzu, "As an important person involved in this bribery case, please come with us and assist in the investigation."
Kakuzu sneered.
"I am a trade representative sent by Amegakure and enjoy diplomatic immunity. You are not qualified to detain me."
"Diplomatic immunity does not include criminal offenses." Yamanaka Kaido took out an arrest warrant stamped with Hokage, "This was personally signed by Lord Hokage. In Konoha, Hokage's order is the highest rule."
Kakuzu's eyes finally changed.
He stared at the bright red Hokage seal, a hint of sinisterness flashed in his dark green pupils.
He knew that from the moment he stepped into Konoha, he fell into a well-designed trap.
Within Hokage's Office.
Baishi has finished listening to Yamanaka Kaido's report.
"Takada has recruited them all." Yamanaka Kaido stood respectfully in front of the table, "Kakuzu is still in the interrogation room and refuses to say anything. He keeps emphasizing his diplomatic status."
"Well done." Baishi nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."
After Yamanaka Kaido stepped back, Baishi stood up and straightened Hokage Haori's collar.
"Shikaku, come with me for a walk."
"Yes."
Discipline Inspection Department Underground Level Seven Special Interrogation Room, the air is cold and oppressive.
Kakuzu sat on the only chair, his hands locked on the table by Chakra-Suppressing Handcuffs. The expensive businessman's clothes on his body were already wrinkled, but his sitting posture was still upright.
The door opened.
Baishi and Shikaku walked in.
Kakuzu raised his head, looked past Shikaku, and locked directly on Baishi.
"Fifth Hokage, Baishi." There was a hint of mockery in his voice, "What a big deal."
Baishi ignored his sarcasm and went straight to sit across from him. He gently pushed a recording device and a confession signed by Takada to the center of the table.
"Mr. Kakuzu, can we talk now?" Baishi's voice was very calm, "Should you give up your so-called diplomatic immunity, sit here, and negotiate a business with me? Or should I make this evidence, along with all the details of your bribery, public to the public, so that Amegakure can no longer hold his head up in front of Five Great Nations."
Kakuzu's dark green pupils stared intently at Baishi.
There was a long silence in the interrogation room.
After a long time, Kakuzu laughed hoarsely.
"Interesting. Really interesting."
He leaned forward and got closer to Baishi, his voice was very low, like a poisonous snake spitting a message.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"It's very simple." Baishi said, "I can release the supplies. But not all."
"What about the conditions?"
"I want to buy something."
Kakuzu's eyes flashed with a hint of greed.
"As long as you can afford the price."
Baishi looked at him and said word by word.
"What I want to buy is not something."
"It's information."
Kakuzu was stunned.
Baishi leaned back slightly, leaning on the back of the chair, looking deeply.
"Tell me, in Orochimaru's base at Sea of Death, apart from those failed experimental subjects, what else is left?"
Kakuzu's expression changed drastically for the first time. He looked at Baishi, his eyes full of shock and fear.
He suddenly understood that what the young Hokage in front of him wanted was not money or trade surplus at all.
What he wants is to reveal the trump card of the entire Shinobi World poker table.
Kakuzu was silent for a long time, seeming to be weighing something.
Finally, he grinned, revealing his white teeth.
"The things there are very valuable. Very valuable."
He stared at Baishi and said slowly.
"However, as a sign of sincerity in the transaction, I can send you a message for free first."
"Part of the core technology of Orochimaru is indeed no longer there."
"Its flow is not somewhere else."
Kakuzu's voice is full of malicious playfulness.
"It is your Land of Fire's Capital."