"Please, please! Ask me anything, esteemed ninja lords! I'll confess everything I know!"
The ferryman trembled slightly as he replied.
They might have smiled kindly, but he didn't dare let his guard down—not even a little. After all, even wandering samurai would kill commoners like him with no consequences.
"Don't be nervous."
"You're from Waves Country too, right?"
Shimoku asked kindly.
After all, he wasn't some man-eating beast.
"Yes sir."
"Have you heard of the Gato Company?"
"Oh yes, yes indeed!"
"This company arrived on our island two years ago. They claimed they noticed how our Waves Country is surrounded by sea on all sides and transportation was inconvenient. They offered to cooperate willingly, transporting goods and trading commodities for our citizens."
"Now practically all maritime trade across the entire island is monopolized by their company."
"Oh? Then what do you think of their company?"
"Speak honestly!"
Hesitating momentarily, the ferryman finally responded candidly:
"At first it was actually quite good. Many people on the island earned money through their large cargo ships and maritime market."
"But starting last year and continuing into this year, Gato Company personnel have gradually begun using various methods to suppress our purchase prices!"
"Just take the salmon my family regularly catches. Initially we could sell it for more than 20 or 30 silver taels per catty."
"But now, Gato has reduced the price to merely eight or nine taels per catty. Sometimes they only give five or six taels... and there've even been several blatant confiscations!"
"Forcing the majority of fishermen on the island to suffer terribly, barely able to make a living anymore!"
The ferryman gritted his teeth while denouncing them with deep hatred.
It wasn't just the fishing industry alone.
Virtually every industry across Waves Country had been similarly squeezed and exploited step by step.
Otherwise, someone who'd fished for over twenty years like himself...
Wouldn't have abandoned fishing altogether to become a passenger ferry operator instead.
They simply couldn't support their families anymore!
In contrast, the Gato Company profited massively by purchasing local goods at extremely low prices from Waves Country, then reselling them at prices multiplied several times over!
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin blurted out in shock:
"What?! So low a purchase price?!"
"Why don't you sell to other buyers then?"
After all, at the ramen shop run by an old uncle in Konoha, even the simplest bowl of ramen cost 60 taels already (a traditional unit of weight and currency in ancient Asia).
And here, a whole catty of salmon only goes for five or six taels!
This wasn't even exploitation anymore—it was outright robbery!
"There are no other channels!"
"The entire island's purchasing channels are controlled by Gato Company. Other than them, we have absolutely nowhere else to sell!"
"And if anyone dares secretly sell privately, it won't be just confiscation..."
Gin and the rest were even more taken aback.
"Then why don't you resist?"
"Being exploited like this, you'll all end up losing your lives..."
The boatman let out a bitter chuckle.
"There have been those who resisted."
"But the Gato Company has hired many wandering samurai!"
"Those weapon-wielding samurai lords are simply beyond our ability to resist."
"Even the Lord of the Land has been controlled by them—we're completely powerless to fight back!"
Tears welling up in his eyes, the boatman recounted bitterly.
If they could resist, they would've done so by now.
How could things have become this miserable!
Unfortunately, their enemies were far too powerful. They simply couldn't win!
Recently, it was said that Guy was organizing resistance, but it would ultimately end in death anyway...
...
"How could this be? Can just an ordinary company and a few wandering samurai control an entire island nation and oppress countless people beneath their hooves?"
"Young Master, this is unreasonable!"
Gin abruptly stood up, turning sharply toward Shimoku, fire flickering in his eyes.
The Uchiha clan had long faced discrimination and oppression from Konoha. Naturally, they detested this kind of ruthless exploitation and brutality with every fiber of their being!
Likewise, Riyō and the others also showed serious expressions, clearly displeased by such a bullying company.
"Gin, sit down."
"But..."
"Sit down!"
Shimoku ordered again, his childish voice carrying an undeniable tone.
Gin could only quickly sit back down, continuing to suppress his anger.
...
Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, the boatman frantically waved both arms as he pleaded:
"Please, noble sirs, don't take offense!"
"All that I said was nonsense—please don't take it seriously."
"And please, don't mention anything outside!"
"Otherwise, my whole family's life will be in danger..."
Shimoku gently comforted him: "Uncle, get up. Don't worry, we won't say anything."
The boatman relaxed slightly.
And he daringly added a few more words:
"We're almost there."
"May I ask what business the noble ninja masters have in Waves Country?"
"If convenient, please tell me, so I can choose which port to disembark at..."
Shimoku casually responded.
"Any port will do."
"We're simply here on someone's request to bring back some local 'souvenirs' from Waves Country."
Riyō: ???
Gin: ???
Yueji: ???
Master Long: ???
Everyone remained silent for a moment before lowering their heads trying to hide their laughter.
Still, the Young Master is amazing!
He tells whoppers without batting an eyelid!
It sounds absolutely genuine.
This so-called 'local souvenir' probably costs tens of millions of ryo again, right?
...
Soon, the small boat docked.
Shimoku and the others disembarked.
The boatman originally didn't dare to accept any payment.
Eventually, under Shimoku's insistence, he tremblingly accepted the ferry fee.
At this moment, there weren't many people around the port.
But a large number of cargo ships were waiting to be loaded.
And the villagers loading live animals were watched and driven around by several sword-wielding samurai,
just like masters commanding slaves through labor.
The entire port exuded a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere, making people feel extremely uncomfortable.
"It seems the ferryman wasn't lying. These villagers really are held captive and crushed underfoot..."
Master Long swept his gaze around and murmured decisively.
Seeing this, Gin's anger flared up again.
"Young Master, why didn't you let me reveal them just now? Such evildoers deserve to be wiped out!"
Shimoku kept his usual calm expression.
He patted Gin on the shoulder.
As he walked past him, he said, "More talk won't do. It's what you *do* that matters."
"Anger shouted from your mouth means nothing. It must be carved into their flesh with your blade. Only when enemies scream in agony will they understand your fury!"
"If our ancestors, our clan leader... had dealt a blow to Konoha long ago, our clan wouldn't have fallen into such destitution."
"The same applies today!"
Gin suddenly saw the light, set his heart cold, and quickly caught up with Shimoku.
"Young Master, what should I do?"
"Gin, when was the last time you killed someone?" Shimoku asked quietly with narrowed eyes.
"A year ago, during the seventeenth mission..."
"That's been quite a while. Still remember the taste of blood?"
"Never forgotten!"
"Good. Then let's go."
"Tonight, we'll probably face quite a few enemies. Watch yourself—don't dull your kunai."
"Understood!"
Gin replied firmly, and a sudden crimson glow flared up in his pupils.
In the next instant, the group dashed toward their target—the base of Gato Company's operations—with deadly intent.
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