No Matter What Lies Ahead, I Will Follow to the End!

This seemingly casual move was actually calculated step by step. It was neither overly aggressive nor lacking in the ability to pique the other party's interest.

He quietly observed the scar-faced man's reaction while also keeping an eye on the movements of the other patrons in the Teahouse.

In a corner, an elderly man in a gray cloak seemed especially interested in their conversation. Though he kept his head lowered and held a string of prayer beads in his hand, those cloudy eyes occasionally glanced their way.

The scar-faced man stared at the money pouch on the table in silence for a moment before finally speaking in a very low voice. "You want to know about that organization? I'd advise you not to get involved.

Those people aren't someone you can afford to provoke."

He paused, as though recalling some unpleasant memory, and a trace of apprehension flashed through his eyes. "They come and go like ghosts in the Land of Rain. Even the ninja villages don't dare provoke them lightly.

I heard they have a leader with ruthless methods. Even Kage-level ninja have suffered at his hands."

When Aoba heard the words "Kage-level ninja,"

his heart trembled slightly.

He instinctively looked toward Asuma, only to find the latter's expression unchanged. Asuma merely tapped the table lightly with his fingers and asked as if casually, "Oh? They're that formidable? So what exactly do they do? Don't tell me they specialize in scaring people?"

The scar-faced man gave a cold snort, seemingly angered by Asuma's flippant tone, but he did not lash out because of the money pouch on the table.

He lowered his voice, with a hint of warning in his tone. "What do they do? Hmph. Murder, arson, plundering resources—they do nothing but shady business.

I heard they're secretly