章 19: C19
"Okay, okay, what a good book!" The owner of Lichun Bookstore, located in the capital of the Land of Fire, exclaimed in excitement as he finished reading the manuscript Kain had given him. The manuscript engrossed him so thoroughly that he was unable to pull himself away until he reached the end of the first volume. Realizing he had been swept up in the story, the owner, Miki, regained his composure and smiled sheepishly at Kain.
After a moment, still intrigued by the manuscript, Miki couldn't resist asking, "Kain-san, is there more to this book? A sequel perhaps?"
Kain, sensing the owner's eagerness, responded with confidence, "Of course, the entire novel is complete. But Miki-san, shouldn't we discuss business first?"
Kain was fully confident in the potential of his novels. The literary landscape of the ninja world was, at best, barren. Before arriving at Lichun Bookstore, Kain had perused several bestsellers, only to find them lackluster and unappealing. They were predictable, full of excessive moral preaching, and overall devoid of the thrilling elements that make for a captivating story. Given this, Kain knew that his books—originating from another world—had the potential to become instant hits.
"Of course, let's talk business," Miki said with a smile. "With your level of writing, Kain-san, I can offer you 20% of the profit."
However, Kain shook his head, cutting Miki off. "Miki-san, this offer feels a bit lacking in sincerity. Before coming here, I took a look at the so-called 'bestsellers' in your store. Frankly, they don't hold a candle to what I have to offer. Moreover, I have two more novels of the same caliber as the one you just read. If this is your best offer, I'm afraid I'll have to take my leave."
"Wait, wait!" Miki quickly interjected, alarmed by the prospect of losing such a valuable opportunity. "Kain-san, did you say you have two more novels of equal quality? Could I perhaps take a look at them?"
"Of course," Kain replied, "but I advise you not to read them all at once. Otherwise, you won't have time to get any work done." With that, Kain pulled two more manuscripts from his backpack and handed them to Miki.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Miki eagerly began reading the first manuscript. It wasn't long before he was completely absorbed in the story, just as he had been with the first book. Miki was not just any bookstore owner—he prided himself on his ability to recognize good literature, and his instincts told him that these manuscripts were special.
After a few minutes, Kain cleared his throat, bringing Miki out of his reverie. Embarrassed, Miki chuckled and picked up the last manuscript to read. By the time he finished, he was left breathless, both from the compelling narratives and from the realization that he had stumbled upon three gold mines.
"I'll offer you 37% of the profits, Kain-san," Miki said, now wearing a serious expression. "This is the highest offer you'll find anywhere in the ninja world. I guarantee it."
Kain smiled, knowing that he had gotten the best deal. "It's a deal, Miki-san. Once the contract is signed, I'll hand over the first three volumes of each novel."
Miki and Kain quickly drafted and signed a contract. True to his word, Kain handed over the manuscripts for the first three volumes of each novel. He also suggested that Miki consider opening a branch in Konoha, as it represented a significant untapped market.
Jiraiya had earned hundreds of millions from just three books, and Kain saw no reason why he couldn't replicate that success. With minimal effort, he could generate a continuous stream of revenue. After sealing the deal with Lichun Bookstore, Kain decided to explore the capital of the Land of Fire. The city was many times more prosperous than Konoha, with a population that dwarfed that of the hidden village. Accompanied by two teams of Konoha shinobi as guards, Kain indulged in the city's finest food and entertainment.
Although the team leader, a Chūnin, initially refused Kain's offer to join him for a meal, Kain and the four Genin in the group managed to persuade him. They assured him that as long as he avoided alcohol and maintained his composure, there would be no violation of shinobi protocol. After all, they were in the capital of the Land of Fire, a relatively safe place.
Their camaraderie, fueled by good food and company, ensured that when they returned to Konoha, the shinobi's report on Kain's mission would be favorable—even slightly embellished in his favor.
For two days, Kain wandered through the Land of Fire's capital, gathering information about the region's economy and development. He concluded that the ninja world's economy was roughly equivalent to that of Earth in the 1970s—industrialization had only just begun, and many essential goods were in short supply. However, the nobles and daimyos paid little attention to industrial growth, allowing Kain ample opportunity to establish a foothold.
The dessert factory was only his first step. Next, Kain planned to control food production and labor. Once he had accumulated enough resources within the Land of Fire, he would expand his influence to smaller, less stable nations without strong ninja villages. These countries would be easy to dominate, providing Kain with an opportunity to amass political and economic power effortlessly.
After leaving the capital, Kain visited several prosperous towns in the Land of Fire, taking notes along the way. Eventually, he settled on a town near Konoha to establish his dessert factory. It was close enough to the hidden village to ensure safety but far enough to avoid unnecessary attention. Moreover, the local civilian population would provide a steady source of labor.
To manage the factory, Kain planned to recruit more people from the Senju family, much like Aya. The family's reputation and values would ensure that his business was in good hands. The only thing left would be to train the new recruits in the necessary professional skills.
Kain immediately set about acquiring land for the factory. He met with officials from the Land of Fire, hired a construction team, and had a large workshop and warehouse built to his specifications. The initial investment cost him several million ryo, but the land, factory, and warehouse were only the beginning. Kain still needed to acquire specialized production equipment, which the ninja world did not yet have. For that, he planned to return to the Marvel world, where he could purchase outdated but functional machinery at a fraction of the cost.
In the meantime, he arranged for the cultivation of cocoa trees near the factory, ensuring a local supply of raw materials for his dessert production.
After spending three more days overseeing the construction of his factory, Kain returned to Konoha. By that time, the construction was nearly complete, and he had already laid the groundwork for his next major venture.
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