Just as expected, the Queen of Loulan was a smart woman.
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After recognizing the situation, she was willing to sponsor 200 million taels in the name of supporting the construction of Sunagakure, and promised to provide Sunagakure with mission quotas of no less than 20 million taels every year.
This was essentially paying protection fees.
Seeing that the Queen of Loulan was so sensible, Shimizu and the others naturally didn't want to make a big fuss.
According to their estimates of Loulan's population and economy, 20 million taels a year was already close to the limit.
Loulan might still be able to have a few million taels left over each year to continue development, but if more incidents were to occur, affecting Loulan's livelihood and economy, even 20 million taels a year might not be available.
At least the Queen of Loulan still had enough skills to keep Loulan prosperous. If someone else took over, they might not do better than the Queen of Loulan, not to mention that the local Dragon Vein also needed the Queen of Loulan to suppress it. Her willingness to cooperate was a good thing for Sunagakure.
The only impact might be that Loulan's development speed in the short term would inevitably be affected, but Sunagakure didn't care, and the Queen of Loulan didn't care either—she now seemed to want to regard Sunagakure as Loulan's backer, which could also bring some benefits to Loulan's future development.
After the stationed ninjas dispatched by Sunagakure arrived in Loulan, Shimizu and his group immediately returned to Sunagakure.
The current time was exactly the end of Konoha Year 38.
Most of the Sunagakure ninjas, including the Third Kazekage on the other battlefield, had also led a group of people to conduct a joint naval exercise with Konoha and returned to Sunagakure one day earlier than Shimizu.
This might be the most lively year Sunagakure had ever had, after all, this war that had lasted for many years had already ended ahead of schedule for Sunagakure.
The profits from the foreign war would make Sunagakure's fiscal budget for the next few years quite abundant.
After returning to the village, it was already midnight.
Shimizu first rolled into bed and had a good sleep, waking up only in the afternoon of the next day, close to evening.
After washing up, he spaced out for a while, checked the time, and pushed the door open to leave.
Puppet Corps Base, Sixth Squad Headquarters.
"Yo, everyone's here."
Shimizu pushed open the door of the headquarters and looked inside.
Ishido and Keno, Kensetsu were sitting around the table, seemingly playing cards.
Sasori was wearing a brand-new Chunin vest, not interested in the card game, just sitting on the other side tinkering with a puppet.
Hearing Shimizu's voice, everyone turned around.
"You've finally arrived."
Kensetsu's eyes lit up, he threw the cards on the table, stepped forward and patted Shimizu's shoulder.
After this year, Shimizu would be almost thirteen years old, and his height was now close to meters, already close to an adult.
His body would still develop rapidly in the next two or three years, and it shouldn't be a problem to grow to meters before adulthood.
"I knew you were about to lose and were going to cheat."
Keno looked at the messy card game on the table, caused by Kensetsu, and couldn't help but complain.
"Kensetsu, long time no see, and congratulations, Sasori and Keno-senpai."
Shimizu smiled at Kensetsu and congratulated Sasori and Keno.
Sasori occasionally entrusted the logistics and transportation team to send letters to him and Chiyo. At the beginning of the year, he had said in the letter that he had won first place in the Chunin Exams in the middle of the year and successfully been promoted to Chunin.
As for Keno, he went to the battlefield with Shimizu and the others, but belonged to a different squad, and occasionally had the opportunity to meet.
Also in the middle of this year, Keno, who had just turned eighteen, was promoted from Special Jonin to a true Jonin.
"I heard that you have been promoted to Special Jonin, congratulations."
Sasori said to Shimizu with a serious face.
"When congratulating, there's no need to keep a straight face, right?"
Shimizu couldn't help but laugh as he looked at Sasori's poker face.
Sasori ignored Shimizu's words and continued to say:
"I also heard some people who came back from the front lines to recuperate say that you are now as powerful as a real Jonin. When my Crow is repaired tomorrow, let's spar again."
Shimizu followed Sasori's gaze and looked at a huge puppet standing in the corner.
The size of that puppet was also about two meters, wrapped in a tattered cloth, with four thick arms extending from the side of its body.
Shimizu was slightly stunned.
Because this seemed to be very different from the Crow in his memory. Through the shape in between, it could be vaguely seen that this version of the Crow was designed with reference to some of Fatty's structure.
Was this also a change brought about by himself?
Shimizu smiled and nodded at Sasori.
Without exception, the first thing you must do is look!
"I look forward to your current strength."
Sasori pursed his lips, seeming to want to say something, but didn't say it.
"Hey! You two, stop chatting, everyone's here, let's go! It's not easy to book a private room in the Golden Desert Restaurant tonight, ah ah ah! I heard there's grilled fish recently, I haven't eaten grilled fish a few times in my life!"
Kensetsu pushed Shimizu and Sasori towards the door.
… …
… …
DC World.
Gotham City, the Burnley District.
A luxurious modified car stopped in front of a supermarket building.
The cashier at the supermarket entrance glanced at Shimizu, who walked into the supermarket, and continued to record the accounts calmly, secretly pressing the button inside the counter with his left hand.
Shimizu just glanced at the cashier faintly, reached out and pulled his collar, revealing a black pin on his chest.
The pin had a small badge on it, with a pattern of a burning demon's head engraved on it.
He walked calmly towards the innermost elevator that was always under maintenance, first pressed the negative first floor, then pressed a string of numbers as if entering a password, and finally pressed the close button.
The elevator clanged and descended to an unknown depth.
When the elevator door opened, two rows of ninjas in black tights were kneeling neatly in front of the elevator door, looking at Shimizu and lowering their heads in unison.
That inconspicuous pin that Shimizu hung on his chest was given to him by the Ninja Master, and the demon head on it symbolized the Ninja Master's identity as the Head of the Demon.
The badge represents the identity. Black is the Ninja Master's deputy and heir, representing the high-level of the League of Assassins. There is also a bronze shape, representing important allies of the League of Assassins.
Ordinary League of Assassins members have tattoos on their arms, and different tattoos represent different levels.
"Get someone who can speak to introduce me to this place, and the others go and do their own thing."
Shimizu glanced around and said.
"Yes, sir!"
A masked assassin standing in the front quickly stood in front of Shimizu.
