The Kusagakure daimyo's face was livid.
But he feared the oppressive aura Ye Chen exuded and dared not lose his temper.
"Lord Hidden Jun Village, you would do well to consider this carefully."
"After all... the Land of Rain borders our Land of Grass."
"Its geographical advantage alone would allow the Land of Rain to intercept every force coming to support the Land of Grass."
At this point, the Kusagakure daimyo deliberately fixed Ye Chen with a strange look.
Ye Chen detected another meaning in the Kusagakure daimyo's words.
The smile faded from his face, and he said solemnly:
"So, is that why you secretly sided with the Land of Rain and willingly became its mouthpiece and lackey?"
Ye Chen's words were already decidedly disrespectful.
Whatever else he might have been, the Kusagakure daimyo was still Ye Chen's immediate superior.
After all, no matter how powerful Hidden Jun Village was, it could not control all decision-making in the Land of Grass.
The Kusagakure daimyo, however, had that power.
For Ye Chen to speak so insolently to his "superior" was unreasonable.
Yet after Ye Chen finished speaking, the Kusagakure daimyo's expression barely changed.
Instead, much of the gravity on his face faded.
"Lord Hidden Jun Village, a small nation caught between larger powers must make a choice to survive."
His earlier "Brother Hidden Jun Village" had now become "Lord Hidden Jun Village."
That change in address alone revealed the shift in the Kusagakure daimyo's attitude.
Ye Chen's gaze swept over the Kusagakure daimyo before he said:
"I reject your proposal. When we have nothing in common, even half a sentence is too much. Let us part here."
The Kusagakure daimyo had already made his purpose clear: he was acting as the Land of Rain's lobbyist, hoping to persuade Ye Chen to