Chikage shrugged, looking utterly innocent.
"Lord Hokage, I'm a man who follows the rules."
"When someone breaks the rules, they pay the prescribed fine. That's how the Konoha Military Police Force has always operated."
"But out of respect for your tireless service, Lord Hokage, there is room for negotiation."
Mitokado Homura seemed to grasp at a lifeline and hurriedly asked.
"What kind of negotiation?"
Chikage held up three fingers.
"Konoha certainly can't come up with Three Hundred Million Ryo in cash from its current accounts."
"I'm well aware of that."
"The Konoha Military Police Force has always been sympathetic to the village's difficulties. We'd never drive anyone into a corner."
Chikage chuckled, showing a mouthful of white teeth.
"We can accept installments."
"An eighty-million-ryō down payment, transferred to the South Street Special Economic Zone's construction account before three this afternoon."
"The remaining two hundred and twenty million ryō will be paid off over five years, with forty-four million ryō in principal repaid each year."
"Additionally, following the Daimyo's Residence's usual practice, we'll charge a little interest. Fifteen percent annually shouldn't be excessive, should it?"
Utatane Koharu felt her heart twist as she listened.
An eighty-million-ryō down payment!
Five years of installments, plus annual interest!
How was this sympathy for the village? He was bleeding them dry with a blunt knife!
Mitokado Homura was about to protest again, but Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand to stop him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath.
He knew this was a trap Chikage had laid long ago.
The Daimyo Diplomatic Mission, the Exclusive Franchise, the breach-of-contract clauses, and the threat of three and a half billion in military funding.
With all those layers of pressure stacked together, the Hokage Building had no way out.
Had Danzo been here, he