Hiruzen Sarutobi's opening remarks were direct and clear, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Even the ninja clan representatives who had originally planned to leave and celebrate or gather privately settled back into their seats and pricked up their ears.
They knew that the closed-door meeting in the afternoon was the key to deciding the distribution of even greater benefits.
But the policy details and direction that Sarutobi, the Hokage's aide, was now explaining publicly were equally crucial intelligence, allowing them to better assess the situation and prepare for the afternoon's discussions.
"Have you all seen these brand-new storefronts and carefully planned blocks around you?
This is the core area of the South District Phase One Commercial Facilities!
The Hokage's promise of a 'fifty percent universal allocation' was no empty talk!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not waste words and went straight to the point.
Behind him, an assistant unfurled a massive detailed map of the South District's commercial plan, clearly marking the functions of different zones, the types of shops, and their floor areas.
The atmosphere in the sections for ordinary citizens and merchants instantly changed.
Their previous excitement and pride swiftly turned into breathless concentration, even carrying a hint of anxious urgency.
For many of them, the grand blueprint painted by the Hokage was certainly inspiring.
But the possible operating rights to storefronts and partnership rights for small processing workshops before them were the real "hard cash" that could change their families' livelihoods and allow them to rise in status.
They did not possess the resources or risk tolerance of great clans. Every opportunity could be a turning point in their fate, and likewise, every failure could mean losses they could not bear.
Thus, their excitement ran deeper, and their attitudes were more earnest. Almost everyone craned their necks, afraid of missing