章 109: Karin Uzumaki
1.7 million ryō is what he currently had in his possession. He would have had more, but he consistently profits by buying the things he needs, not the things he wants.
This, of course, was not accounting his funds as the shadow feudal lord. One would be awestruck to understand how much money Arthur technically owned in the position.
The country's gross domestic product (or GDP) is a staggering 1.1 trillion ryō. This number isn't the amount of money in his country's possession, but the number measured from the total value of all goods and services produced within his country's borders.
That number was significant, yes, but it was only third in the world's economy—the first two being the Fire Country and Lightning Country.
However, if given enough time, Arthur's Water Country would surpass those rival countries. That was assuming he didn't face any setbacks, such as a war breaking out too early.
Regardless, his country's GDP was growing at about twenty five percent annually. A number like that was insane for a country's economies!
This was due to his sound fiscal policy and his sustainable development in both his country and in the land that was recently acquired by his neighbours.
By handling his government's approach to managing its spending and revenue, he maintained a balanced budget to reduce the country's debt. By eliminating central banks, he put the money supply back to the country, which helped reduce interest rates and prevented inflation.
By emphasizing the citizen's needs, he showed potential for their future generations. By spreading investments across various assets, he helped reduce saving risks. By introducing new ideas and services that were behind times, he improved production efficiency. And lastly, by reducing barriers to international trade, such as tariffs and quotas, he lowered the competition.
All of this indicated a positive outlook for his country's economic health and growth.
While the money he personally owns acts as financial liquidity, he's spent a lot of it on tools like kunai or shuriken to ensure that he's always prepared for battle.
Yes, he could always obtain them for free, but they all came from within his borders, enabling the acquisition of credit, resource production, and allies as needed in days to come.
Regarding what happened to all his wealth, it had been invested in his laboratory, which was in the guise of a plaza. There were still a few months until its completion, but it would most certainly be his greatest prize in terms of potential.
Arthur's comprehensive understanding of economy, finances, and military might was not one to overlook. They were reflections of his lethality.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. If he could gather the right assistance, he could expedite the process of many things. By assistance, he didn't mean partners or teammates, but servants, those who were skilled in things like genetics or combat to help his complex plans.
Arthur paused, a new ambition kindling within him. This endeavour needed to be grander than mere acquisition; it needed to be a crusade—a gathering of the greatest minds capable of unlocking the doors set before him.
He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and crossed his arms to think. He had built a network; perhaps, it was time to extend his reach further.
'No… not yet.'
Right now there were a lot of things, resources, and techniques Arthur had to have in his possession before making bigger moves.
By the time he slowly opened his eyes, he found that he had fallen asleep for several hours. This hadn't disturbed him in the slightest, since he had been thinking cautiously even while resting.
He regathered his tools before stretching his limbs to depart to the Uzumaki Clan Temple.
'Flying raijin…'
Upon arriving, he gazed upon the architecture. Something about it felt off. His eyes narrowed as he peered into the recesses of the temple.
Why he came here was to acquire some sort of Uzumaki skillset that could be of use.
Arthur knew that in this world with other players, secrets were almost like currency, and he had to stay ahead or risk falling behind. The thought of losing access to Gelel powers stung; players like Jasper were snatching up opportunities left and right.
Having the abilities of the Uzumaki clan at his disposal would give him an edge, allowing him to lower his chances of losing a fight.
Yet as he scanned the vastness of the temple grounds with his Tamashii, he began to understand what was so off about it.
There was nothing substantial that appeared within his parameters, but inside was a different matter—the jarring thing that struck him harder than he anticipated: the devil's mask was missing!
'Gone?' he thought. The last person to have used the mask was him, and it was a grueling experience, one that he wasn't looking to do again. 'No… Not gone. Taken. Likely by a player.'
Arthur's mind raced as he tried to think who might have been behind the theft.
Knowledge of such artifacts offered too much power. Anyone who thought the others wouldn't have snatched artifacts like this one should have underestimated the players. It was an ongoing power struggle between everyone.
Jasper, while easily the most power-hungry of the bunch, was the biggest suspect. But there was no need to accuse him yet. All of the players knew of this mask, meaning all of them were suspects.
Whoever had taken it was undoubtedly trying to whip up trouble. But why would they attempt such a thing when Arthur was already reported dead?
'No use considering it now,' he thought. He'd learned that patience would pay off before making an arbitrary decision.
Turning away from the temple, he knew that entering it would be fruitless. But this wasn't the end for him. He expanded his search parameters, feeling out the contours of the land to discover if there was anything left untouched.
He found remnants of Uzumaki symbols, but nothing that would aid him. Giving a frustrated sigh, he resigned himself to the next step of his journey.
'I'll have to go to Orochimaru's southern hideout…'
Of course, Arthur knew where this hideout was located due to having read Jirōbō's memories.
Orochimaru himself wasn't much interest to Arthur due to how morbid that character was. Yet, that familiarity granted him access to a vein of knowledge—notably, the whereabouts of Karin Uzumaki, an individual he believed could provide what he was craving for.
The peaceful lull of the ocean wrapped around Arthur as he flew toward the hideout.
With Uzumaki techniques nestled at the forefront of his mind, he felt a sense of urgency that neither fear nor doubt could undermine. He had a singular goal: Karin Uzumaki.
If her lineage held the key to sealing techniques, he knew those abilities could drastically be improved in his hands.
It took him only a few hours to travel from the Land of Waves to his destination across the ocean. Stepping into the air, he concentrated as the world dropped away beneath him.
A rush of wind tousled his hair as he soared over the dark blue expanse, glancing downward at the shimmering waves that sparkled like shards of broken glass. The sun hung low, casting a warm golden hue that blended with the depths below.
But he had no time to admire the beauty of this unnatural world. Not when his life was at stake.
After cutting across the ocean, he finally spotted the remote island. The place had an almost foreboding quality. There were jagged cliffs looming like sentinels against the sky.
Arthur's body descended toward what he knew to be the southern hideout—stealthily tucking himself in the folds of smoke before he landed.
This hideout was different—not merely a fortress but a prison. Underground, deep within the bowels of the earth, he sensed the environment. Cells, wardens, and perhaps even experimental subjects lined the labyrinthine grounds, hidden from the light of day.
The atmosphere there reeked of desperation.
Nonetheless, just like Orochimaru's main hideout, he knew of this hideout's layout well from Jirōbō's memories.
Strategically moving through the shadows, he navigated the corridors, attuning himself to everything around him. Each scientist and each guard did not at all look familiar to him. But there, in the midst of it all, was the unmistakable signature of someone's large chakra.
Undoubtedly, this was Karin Uzumaki. She looked younger than he remembered. This was understandable since he had mainly known about her part-two counterpart, who was three years older.
She has a distinct appearance, characterized by her short, red hair that reaches her chin. She's also wearing a dark purple short-sleeved shirt with a brown collar, paired with light brown pants and brown sandals.
Arthur liked the idea of knowing that her age presented an opportunity—the element of surprise would be on his side.
As he crept closer, the sensation of her chakra grew stronger, guiding him until he reached the entrance to her room. The door, merely a thin barrier, creaked slightly as he slid it open.
Still cloaked in smoke, he barely made a sound as he seeped inside.
Karin was seated at a desk, engrossed in paperwork while jotting down observations on a clipboard. Her brow was knitted in concentration.
He could tell she was deep in thought with each stroke of the pen. Now was the time to make his move.
'Smoke style: body oxidation jutsu.'
Within the silence that surrounded them, he invaded her body. Next, he activated the Eye Mind Reading technique as he slipped through the cracks of her consciousness.
A quick flick, and she slumped unconscious, the clipboard falling to the floor with a thud.
With her still form occupying the space within the confines, he cast a genjutsu around the area. The aura morphed, propagating layers that would help conceal any of his acts.
After successfully reading her memories, he didn't find anything useful. Most of her techniques were lower-ranked ones, hardly worth his time.
He therefore exited her body to carve out a portion of her cells. Securing them, he did not waste a moment in channeling his energy to heal her wounds. When he finished, he spared a brief moment to ensure its perfection.
She lay unharmed, but her face showcased the transient vulnerability of innocence while clothed in a complex heritage.
'Transformation jutsu.'
With a tap, he gradually stirred her from the depths of sleep. As her eyes fluttered open, it was as if his transformation had already permeated through the air. Disguised as one of Orochimaru's medical staff, he occupied the guise of a healer sent in to conduct routine assessments.
In her haze, she blinked up at him, confusion clouding her eyes momentarily before slowly giving way to recognition.
"Who—what?" she blurted with impatience.
"You shouldn't sleep on the job, Karin," he scolded.
"Excuse you?" she responded, her lips curling in irritation. "You think you can just waltz in here and—"
He couldn't help but smirk at her bluster. Even in disguise, he was privy to the subtle shifts in her demeanour. A hint of red washed over her cheeks as her expression turned from annoyance to embarrassment.
"Right. Right, I'm sorry. I just—" she stuttered, the ire quickly disappearing.
Her pride tumbled over itself in the wake of her confusion. Not because she was still a child, but because Arthur was a refined actor, knowing how to effectively gauge anyone.
He watched her, tinged by a flash of curiosity. She looked so different in her youth, yet her complex personality remained. Perhaps that's what made characters like Orochimaru seek after her.
"Just be more alert next time," he replied firmly.
His sternness softened as he turned toward the door, knowing he didn't need to stay longer. With that, he vanished back into the shadows, leaving her there to shake the remnants of confusion from her mind.
Now that Karin's cells were secured, he returned to the surface. He had what he needed, and he set his sights homeward.
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