General Quan stood beneath the reviewing stand, holding neither a gun nor the swagger stick he used for show. Instead, he cradled a heavy black leather case. Inside were neatly bundled stacks of banknotes—brand-new Land of Fire currency, carrying the enticing scent of fresh ink.
Today was payday.
"First Battalion, Second Company, Private Tanaka!"
General Quan shouted. His voice lacked the chakra-enhanced resonance of those lofty ninja lords; it was nothing but a rough, broken rasp. Yet to these rank-and-file soldiers, it sounded sweeter than music.
A young man as skinny as a monkey stepped forward, his military boots striking the ground hard enough to make it tremble. His salute was textbook-perfect.
"Present!"
General Quan looked him over, grabbed two bundles of cash from the case without counting them, and stuffed them straight into the young man's arms.
"You did well in Workshop Three last month, kid. Caught two lazy bastards." General Quan patted Tanaka's shoulder so hard he nearly scattered Skinny Monkey's bones. "I heard your mother's lung disease still hasn't gotten better?"
Tanaka's eyes immediately reddened, and even the hands clutching the money trembled. "Reporting, General! After taking the medicine issued by the Arsenal, she can already get out of bed!"
"Then buy her more meat." General Quan pulled several large-denomination bills from the case and forcibly shoved them into Tanaka's breast pocket. "Quit pinching pennies. Remember this: you're a man of the One Mind, One Body Society, one of my soldiers. If your mother has to live on bran and vegetables, that's a slap in my face."
"Yes! I am willing to die for the General!" Tanaka shouted until his voice cracked.
General Quan waved him off and moved on to the next name.
The adjutant beside him watched with twitching eyelids. He leaned over and muttered