The woman bowed slightly, revealing a sweet smile.
"Alright, guest. You are now in the core trading area of Falling Rain Town black market."
"Any act of violence is strictly prohibited during the transaction. Anyone who violates this rule will be immediately expelled from this area and permanently banned from the Falling Rain Town black market."
As she spoke, she guided Hoshino into the hall.
"That area is a temporary trading post; merchants can trade freely there!"
The woman extended her slender finger and pointed to one side of the hall.
"However, all items need to be registered in advance, and only after our inspection to ensure that no substandard items are listed can they be put on the market."
"Furthermore, a certain percentage of the transaction fee is deducted."
Hoshino nodded slightly, his gaze following the direction she pointed.
The temporary trading point was bustling with people, and both sides were talking cautiously, occasionally examining the items the other had brought out.
"Also!" the woman continued, "There's an auction tonight."
"This is the highlight of the black market; the items up for auction are all extremely rare, ranging from powerful ninja tools and lost Ninjutsu scrolls to rare Kekkei Genkai samples—you name it, they have it."
"The auction rules state that the highest bidder wins, and the transaction must be completed immediately after the auction ends. Anyone who maliciously inflates the price but is unable to pay will be severely punished."
"That sounds interesting." Hoshino's lips curled into a slight smile.
This black market has developed so much that it no longer resembles a black market. It no longer has that sneaky, clandestine feel of the past; instead, it's like a large, orderly trading market.
"Yes, sir. Many people are here for the auction; quite a few powerful ninjas and forces will be participating."
The woman smiled and explained, "If you're interested, you can first take a look at the auction items on display. When the auction officially begins, someone will escort you to a private box."
As she spoke, she led Hoshino toward the exhibition area.
The exhibition area features a series of exquisite glass display cases.
The items inside were all protected by special protective spells, and there were many ninja guards all around.
After a brief browse through the exhibition area.
Hoshino waved for the woman to leave, and she bowed slightly, retreating with a professional smile before quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Just as Hoshino strolled over to a display stand showcasing sealed scrolls.
A small, thin man in a dark cloak hurried past him, seemingly unintentionally passing by him side by side.
In that instant, Hoshino realized that something had appeared in his hand.
This is the Land of Rain, and there is no Reform Society Network here, so information can only be disseminated using such primitive methods.
Finding a secluded spot, Hoshino quickly glanced at the note before destroying it.
The main content is that the transaction between the Third Elder and other forces has been completed, and the process has been recorded.
The confirmed participants are Asuma Sarutobi from Konoha, Aburame Ryoma from Root, Kitsuchi from Iwagakure, and Darui from Kumogakure.
Besides the agreed-upon high-end cybernetic body transaction, they were also there for another item up for auction.
Outside the town, ninjas from other villages had already infiltrated, clearly intending to rob what they couldn't buy.
Hoshino fixed his gaze on the heavily guarded glass display case at the far end of the exhibition area.
A scroll with a metallic sheen lay quietly in the display case.
The plaque next to it clearly reads...
The final item in the auction.
The Secret Missile Refining Technique.
Features: Can be used to forge Chakra missiles with a range exceeding fifty miles and immense destructive power.
Included: Three finished product samples.
Starting bid: 35 million taels.
Special note: Includes the complete refining process and core technologies.
"So that's what it is!"
Firearms did exist in the Shinobi World before Sunagakure, but their power was very weak.
The research department later confiscated it.
After improvements, the current weapon modules were developed, which naturally include modules similar to missiles.
However, in other places, missiles seem to only exist in Nagato's Asura Path, and they are summoned from spirits.
Even Nagato probably doesn't know the specific manufacturing method.
Where did this thing come from?!
It feels like those technological creations such as computers and radios, whose specific creators remain unknown.
Thinking about it that way...
The Root was bought to give themselves an extra trump card, while the Kumogakure was most likely after that so-called Chakra Cannon.
What about Iwagakure?
A ninja village skilled in group combat, and with the incredibly ferocious Dust Release Kekkei Tōta, wouldn't this thing be of much use to them?
Could it be for in-depth research into Explosion Release?
The atmosphere at the auction grew increasingly heated, with people whispering and discussing the auction items, and even the temporary trading area saw a significant decrease in the number of people.
Just then...
A waiter dressed in splendid attire stepped forward and said respectfully, "Sir, the auction is about to begin. I will now escort you to your private box."
Hoshino nodded slightly and followed the other group of people who were also following the waiter to the private room.
Stepping into VIP room number 12.
Hoshino discovered that the view from here was excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire auction stage.
According to intelligence, the three elders are in box number 2, Asuma Sarutobi is in box number 4, Aburame Ryoma is in box number 5, Kitsuchi is in box number 7, Darui is in box number 9.
It's not far from here.
Shortly after, the auctioneer walked onto the stage, cleared his throat, and announced loudly.
"The auction has officially begun!"
The first item to be auctioned was an incredibly sharp Ninja Blade forged from Chakra Metal, with a starting bid of five million ryo.
The audience immediately erupted in excitement, with everyone bidding and the price soaring.
It was eventually auctioned off for nine million taels of silver.
As the auction progressed, one rare item after another was sold, and the atmosphere grew increasingly exciting.
From Ninjutsu scrolls, Kekkei ninjas, mechanical knowledge, ninja tool sets, to prosthetic bodies and various modules, every item sparked fierce competition in the various boxes.
Hoshino also photographed one item from it: knowledge in the field of biology.
When the eleventh lot, a complete prosthetic body with a medical module, sold for 23 million taels, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.
"Next up is tonight's grand finale!" the auctioneer's voice suddenly rose, " The Secret Missile Refining Technique!"
The lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the slowly rising exhibition platform.
The metallic scroll gleamed with a dangerous light in the specially made glass case, next to which were three miniature missile samples, each about half a meter long.
"The starting price is 35 million taels, and each bid must be at least 1 million taels higher!"
"Forty million!" Darui from box number 9 was the first to raise his sign.
"Fifty million!" Kitsuchi from Box 7 retorted defiantly.
The price climbed at an astonishing rate, quickly surpassing the 100 million mark.
Hoshino noticed that Aburame Ryoma in Box 5 had not made a bid, while Asuma Sarutobi in Box 4 was constantly raising the price.
"One hundred and thirteen million!"
This price caused an uproar in the venue.
It had to be Konoha, with their deep pockets and the money they kept asking for over 100 million taels.
It's unclear whether it was bought for Hiruzen Sarutobi or for the Daimyo of the Land of Fire; Hoshino thinks the latter is more likely.
"One hundred and fifteen million!" Darui raised the bid again, but his voice was already somewhat hesitant.
The atmosphere inside the venue was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
The crowd's gazes darted back and forth between the private rooms, as if they could see through the walls to witness the intense psychological battles within.
Each price increase felt like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of everyone present.
When the price reached 150 million taels, a tall figure slowly emerged from a corner of the auction hall.
He wore the Akatsuki's signature red and black robe, and his green eyes shone through the gaps in his mask.
They're rich, really rich, this is just too rich!
He considered the missile manufacturing process utterly worthless, yet it fetched such a high price.
As expected, being a bounty hunter is a dead end; becoming a boss is the only way to go.
You don't have to do anything every day; you just need to go out for a stroll at regular intervals, and you can amass a lot of wealth.
Although this money needs to be handed over to the organization, at least it all passed through his hands, didn't it?
This indescribable sense of satisfaction is something that others in the organization cannot understand.
at the same time.
Countless pieces of paper rapidly gathered in the air, transforming in the blink of an eye into the figure of a woman—Angel Konan.
She wore the Akatsuki robes, and six paper wings on her back trembled slightly, exuding an aura of holiness that also conveyed an inviolable majesty.
The appearance of these two people immediately calmed the previously restless atmosphere in the venue.
However, the representatives of the Four Great Shinobi Villages were not afraid of them.
The representatives of the Five Great Shinobi Villages believed that their villages had profound foundations and that there was no need to fear a ninja village from a nation that Third Shinobi World War.
The reason this black market has grown to its current size is the result of mutual checks and balances, and ultimately, pre-planning and leniency from the four major powers.
Who is the master and who is the subordinate? Their positions must be clearly defined.
Moreover, they had already made up their minds to obtain this Secret Missile Refining Technique.
After a brief silence, prices surged again.
One hundred and fifty-five million!
Asuma Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of weariness, but his eyes revealed a resolute determination.
Konoha has a deep foundation, but even for them, dealing with such an astronomical price is by no means an easy task.
Darui gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and shouted, "One hundred and sixty million!"
The Kumogakure spared no effort in obtaining this Secret Missile Refining Technique.
The development of the Chakra Cannon urgently needs a new breakthrough, and this secret technique is like a ray of light in the darkness; how can we easily give it up?
Kitsuchi clenched his fists tightly, but in the end, he gave up on bidding.
Iwagakure possesses a powerful Dust Release Kekkei Tōta and a large ninja force. Its core strategy lies in the combined use of large-scale Earth Release techniques and Dust Release.
While the Secret Missile Refining Technique is powerful, it's not what they urgently need right now. Their constant bidding is merely an attempt to create trouble for other forces.
Box No. 5.
Aburame Ryoma had been observing coldly all along. Now, seeing that everyone's bidding enthusiasm had decreased, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible sneer.
"One hundred and seventy million!"