The air in the interrogation room was as cold as iron.
The light shines directly from the ceiling, casting a pale halo on the metal table.
Kakuzu's words full of malicious meaning are still echoing in the air.
"It is your Land of Fire's Capital."
Shikaku Nara's hand holding the pen paused imperceptibly.
Baishi's expression did not change at all, as if Kakuzu just said that Tenten is feeling good today.
He looked at Kakuzu with calm eyes, as if he was examining an inanimate tool.
"Intelligence is the cheapest commodity." Baishi spoke, his voice was not loud, but it clearly covered the hum of the lamp, "It can only show value in the hands of specific people at a specific time. What you are throwing out now has zero value to me."
Kakuzu's dark green pupils shrank.
He originally thought that this news would be enough to shock the young Hokage in front of him, make him lose his temper, and at least keep asking. As long as the other party kept asking, he would regain control of the bargaining chip.
But the other party didn't.
"I'm not here today to listen to stories." Baishi tapped his fingers on the table and made a dull sound, "I'm here to solve the problem."
He glanced at Shikaku.
Shikaku understood, took out a bound document from the briefcase he carried with him, placed it gently in the center of the table, and pushed it in front of Kakuzu.
The cover of the document is a blue hard case Konoha Standard, with no title on it.
"What is this?" Kakuzu asked hoarsely, his eyes full of vigilance.
"A job opportunity." Baishi said.
Kakuzu laughed, the laughter was hoarse and unpleasant, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.
"Lord Hokage, are you kidding? I, the special envoy of Amegakure, am now your prisoner."
"You are not a special envoy, you are just a businessman who failed to pay bribes." Baishi corrected him, "And you are not my prisoner. From now on, you are my... partner."
Baishi's tone was very calm, but the word "partner" made Kakuzu's laughter stop abruptly.
"Open it and take a look." Baishi gestured.
Kakuzu hesitated for a moment, and finally stretched out his hands locked by Chakra's handcuffs and opened the document.
The title of the first page of the document reads in eye-catching bold letters:
"About the market-based outsourcing cooperation agreement for security services along the Eastern Border of the Land of Fire line".
Kakuzu read word for word, he read very slowly, and the expression on his face gradually changed from the initial sarcasm to seriousness, and finally turned into an unbelievable horror.
The content of the agreement is shockingly simple and crude.
Party A: Konoha General Staff Headquarters.
Party B: Amegakure (tentative).
Cooperation content: Party B is responsible for completely clearing out all wandering ninja groups and illegal strongholds in the border buffer zones of Land of Fire and Land of Wind that have not been registered with Konoha or Sunagakure in the next three months in the name of "commercial liquidation".
Working standards: Based on the map provided by General Staff Headquarters, we must "clear people, clear areas, and clear strongholds" to ensure that there are no organized armed forces in the area.
Remuneration: After Party B completes each stage of the cleanup task, Party A will lift the ban in batches and deliver previously seized winter supplies with a value equal to the workload of that stage based on the evaluation results.
In the attachment, there is even a detailed list of the difficulty of cleaning each area, as well as the corresponding types and quantities of materials, ranging from coal, food to medical drugs.
This is not an agreement at all.
This is a letter of employment wrapped in a business contract, a contract of sale that puts the butcher knife in your hands, asking you to kill people, and then pay you with what should be yours.
"You..." Kakuzu's voice was a little dry, "You are letting Akatsuki be your thug."
"It's a 'security contractor'." Baishi corrected, "Or, to use a more popular term, 'white gloves'. This agreement will make your behavior 'legal'. You are no longer a terrorist organization that everyone shouts about, but a security company that is fulfilling a commercial contract."
Baishi's body leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp.
"Kakuzu, let me calculate an account for you. If you refuse, how many people will Amegakure freeze to death this winter? How many people will starve to death? How many days can Konan rely on vain ideals and pride? And you, as the main briber, will be detained in Konoha forever, and all the money you regard as life will rot in Scroll."
"You accept that Amegakure can get supplies for the winter and survive. And you, as the hero who facilitated this cooperation, will not only be able to go back safe and sound, but you can also make the profits you want for yourself from this agreement."
Baishi's words were like a precise scalpel, cutting open the deepest desire in Kakuzu's heart.
Ideal? Righteousness? Village?
Those are all things Konan and Nagato.
Kakuzu only believes in one thing - money.
And an order that allows him to make money.
What Baishi provided him was exactly this kind of order. A brand new order that was endorsed by Konoha's powerful strength and could package killing and plunder into legitimate business practices.
The interrogation room fell into dead silence again.
Kakuzu's breathing became a little heavy, and in his dark green eyes, greed and reason were fighting crazily.
He knew that by signing this agreement, Akatsuki would be breaking his own spine, and would be completely reduced from a revolutionary organization trying to subvert the world to a vassal of Konoha, a dog with a collar on it.
But the dog, at least, can survive.
After a long time, Kakuzu raised his head and stared at Baishi.
"I want to add one clause to the agreement."
"Say."
"All Trophy seized during the cleanup operation, including but not limited to money, ninja tools, and intelligence, shall belong to Party B. Party A shall not interfere for any reason."
Baishi looked at Shikaku.
Shikaku nodded slightly. This was part of their plan. Let Kakuzu taste the sweetness, and he will bite harder.
"Okay." Baishi replied simply, "Shikaku, add this item."
Shikaku took out a pen and a Supplementary Agreement template from his briefcase and filled it out on the spot, Isshiki two copies.
Kakuzu looked at Shikaku's skillful movements, and the last bit of luck in his heart disappeared. Everything was within the opponent's calculation.
Supplementary Agreement was written quickly and stamped with the seal of General Staff Headquarters.
"Sign." Baishi said.
Kakuzu picked up the pen and hovered the pen tip on the paper for a long time. Finally, he used all his strength to write his name.
When the last stroke fell, Kakuzu seemed to have been drained of all his strength and collapsed on the back of the chair.
Baishi took the agreement, confirmed it was correct, and handed it to Shikaku.
"Shikaku, notify Discipline Inspection Department to lift the investigation on Mr. Kakuzu. Notify Commerce Bureau to prepare the delivery procedures for the first batch of materials in accordance with the agreement."
"Yes." Shikaku put the documents away, turned and left.
In the interrogation room, only Baishi and Kakuzu were left.
Baishi stood up and looked at Kakuzu condescendingly.
"Welcome to Konoha's... new security system, Mr. Kakuzu."
Kakuzu raised his head, with a strange smile on his face.
"Lord Hokage, happy to cooperate."
He paused, as if remembering something, and added slowly.
"Before I leave, I'll give you another free message, just to celebrate our cooperation."
Baishi looked at him and said nothing.
"The things Orochimaru left behind in Sea of Death are indeed more than just failed products." Kakuzu's voice was full of malicious playfulness, "There is a core technology, code-named 'Life Cradle'. I once offered him two billion taels, but he didn't sell it."
"As far as I know, this technology that he regards as a treasure has actually flowed to Capital with a special 'tribute'."
Kakuzu's gaze swept across Baishi's face.
"As for what that 'tribute' is, I think Lord Hokage should know better than me."