In Hokage's Office, the air is a little stagnant.
Baishi holds the lacquered letter from Capital between his fingertips. The edges of the paper have been softened by the body temperature. Hyuga Hiashi's neat handwriting, at this moment, seems to show a cold resistance in every stroke.
"Not in compliance with regulations, requires Daimyo warrant."
Shikaku Nara chewed these words in his mouth silently, his brows knitted into a knot.
"This is a completely unreserved rejection." He said solemnly, "Financial Audit Office's second-in-command, a civil servant, dares to reject our investigation team's application so stubbornly. There must be instructions behind it. He is using Capital's system to erect a wall for us."
Shikaku walked to the desk and clicked his finger on the location of Capital on the map.
"The conventional method of protesting through diplomatic channels will take at least half a month. By the time we get the warrant, the accounts will have been cleaned up."
"Or, let Master Hiashi use his early contacts in the aristocratic circle to smooth things over privately?" Shikaku himself rejected this idea, "No, this will turn the official investigation into a private request, and we will be at a disadvantage from the beginning."
Baishi said nothing.
He put the secret letter aside and picked up another document.
It was a joint report by Konoha Customs and Commerce Department, a summary of the quarterly flow of high-value strategic materials in Land of Fire. His eyes slowly moved over the document, and finally stopped at an item called "Special Life-Extending Medicinal Materials and Soothing Spices."
In the export records of this material, more than 70% of the delivery address columns point to the same place.
Capital.
"Shikaku."
Baishi spoke, his voice was very calm.
"Do you still remember the reason Environmental Protection Department Daimyo Residence used to stop our border flood control drill last time?"
Shikaku was stunned for a moment, and then followed Baishi's train of thought.
"They said that the border ecological environment is fragile and our project may cause 'unknown biological pollution'."
Baishi nodded, with an almost imperceptible arc at the corner of his mouth.
"Treat others in their own way."
He picked up the intercom on the table and pressed the line connected to Konoha Customs General Administration.
The moment the line was connected, Baishi's voice became formulaic, without any personal emotion.
"I am Fifth Hokage, Baishi."
"Immediately transmit my Executive Order No. 1."
"In view of the recent risk of the importation of 'mutated biological contamination' of unknown origin in the direction of Capital, in order to protect the public health safety of the eastern regions of Konoha and Land of Fire, in accordance with "Land of Fire Emergency Epidemic Prevention Regulations" Article 3, Article 7, Konoha Customs From now on, all 'special life-extending medicinal materials', 'high-grade soothing spices' and similar biological agents sent to the Capital area will be subject to quarantine control measures that suspend customs clearance indefinitely."
"All goods that are in transit or waiting to be shipped out of customs will be sealed on site and await notification of subsequent inspections."
"Repeat, this is Administrative Order No. 1 and shall be implemented immediately without delay."
After Baishi finished speaking, he hung up the communication neatly.
Throughout the entire process, he did not use any threatening words, and every word he said was strictly nested within the legal framework of Konoha.
This is a conspiracy.
Shikaku stood aside and listened to all the instructions. He looked at Baishi's calm profile, and his Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.
This hand was too cruel.
He did not attack the strong administrative barrier of Capital, but went around to the back of the wall and directly removed the most critical load-bearing stone under the wall foundation.
Capital Those pampered dignitaries may not care about Konoha's protests or ignore diplomatic rhetoric, but they cannot care about their own lives. Those life-extending herbs and soothing spices are necessary to maintain their luxurious life and even their lives.
Baishi's move is not a game against the Capital system, but a direct pressure on the Capital elite class itself.
Take the fire out of the cauldron.
"Lord Hokage," Shikaku's voice was a little dry, "If this happens, Capital will probably explode immediately."
"It's just to make them mess up." Baishi said calmly, "If they don't mess up, how can we have a chance?"
He sat back on the chair and picked up the cup of tea that was already cold, but did not drink it.
"Now, we don't have to do anything."
"Wait."
In the office, silence returned again.
Only the wall clock on the wall was ticking, as if counting the few remaining comfortable moments for the big shots at Capital.
The wait didn't last long.
Just one day later.
Capital's internal pressure came faster and more violently than Baishi expected.
In the evening, an encrypted emergency report from Hyuga Hiashi was sent to Hokage's Office.
It is completely different from the closed door the day before. This time, there is an irrepressible turning point in Hiashi's report.
"This morning, Financial Audit Office, the second-in-command, personally visited the post house with a respectful attitude and explained that yesterday's incident was purely a misunderstanding. In the afternoon, the investigation team has been authorized, and all confidential accounts of Financial Audit Office are open to the investigation team without restrictions."
Shikaku looked at this report and let out a long breath.
Without spending a single soldier, not even a formal Diplomatic Note. Just relying on a legal quarantine order made the high-ranking Capital core department lower its head.
"They can't hold on anymore." Shikaku said.
Baishi put the report aside, his expression still calm.
"This is just the beginning."
He looked at Shikaku.
"Let General Staff Headquarters and Intelligence Analysis Division be prepared. The amount of data in the accounts will be very huge."
"Yes."
Shikaku followed the order and left.
Late at night.
Hokage's Office is brightly lit.
The massive transaction accounts returned from Capital Financial Audit Office flooded into the data center of Konoha General Staff Headquarters like a tide. The ninjas of Intelligence Analysis Division, under the command of Shikaku, worked tirelessly to track, compare, and trace the source of every fund.
Time passed by minute by minute.
At dawn, there was a knock on the office door.
Shikaku Nara walked in, his face looked a little tired, but his eyes shone with a sharp light that revealed traces of prey.
Without any unnecessary nonsense, he directly placed a newly compiled briefing report on Baishi's desk.
Baishi picked up the briefing and looked at the last line.
There, a sum of up to 900 million taels of funds was clearly marked. After more than a dozen complicated Shell Companies changes of hands and laundering, the final flow pointed to an extremely inconspicuous location.
Land of Wind border, a smuggling transfer station named "Withered Cicada".