Inside the royal study of the Land of Water.
Shun casually looked at the intelligence report sent by Anbu.
"The Finance Minister of the Land of Wind plans to send 25 million immigrants?"
He lightly tapped the table with his finger and asked, "Shikaku, what exactly is their conspiracy?"
Shikaku stepped forward and handed over another encrypted intelligence report.
"According to intel from our spies, the merchants organizing these immigrants are all controlled by the Finance Minister, and they explicitly stated that all immigrant rewards must be paid in gold, refusing to accept the Land of Water's currency or equivalent goods."
Shun had a playful expression on his face. He could find gold in the Universe, so the Land of Water was not lacking in gold.
"The Finance Minister doesn't have the guts for this. It should be the work of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. He wants to make a quick profit by selling immigrants and also intends to use the reward for 25 million people to deplete our gold reserves, thereby crippling the Land of Water's finances. His plan is clever, but we have 160,000 tons of gold reserves, so it won't affect us much."
Shikaku immediately bowed and flattered him, saying, "Your Excellency's foresight is profound. The calculations of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind are mere child's play before you."
"However... according to the latest news from Anbu, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, having heard that the Land of Wind is exchanging population for gold, have also secretly sent people to contact us, wishing to emulate the Land of Wind and exchange their own commoners for gold."
Shun's finger lightly tapped the armrest. "The Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning also want a piece of the pie? Then there's no reason for us to refuse, let's accept them all."
He looked up at Shikaku, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "Go reply to those envoys and tell them that I agree to their request. The immigrant reward will also be calculated at 200,000 ryo per person, paid in gold. But tell them that the Land of Water's demand for gold has been quite high recently, so subsequent payments may need to be made in batches. Have them prepare for this."
Shikaku frowned slightly, then immediately understood. "Your Excellency, are you trying to... feign a shortage of gold reserves in the Land of Water to lure them in?"
Shun deliberately created an air of mystery. "I want to create the illusion of a gold shortage, absorb as much of their population as possible, and finally devalue gold."
"Go arrange it. Say that to alleviate the pressure on gold reserves, the Land of Water will hold a 'Treasure Auction' at the capital one month from now, inviting nobles and ministers from various countries to attend."
Shikaku respectfully bowed. "Understood, Your Excellency."
"When promoting it, you can reveal information about the treasure at the auction: the Water of Life. According to the Land of Water's research, the human lifespan limit is 120-150 years."
"Many people don't live to their maximum lifespan because daily labor and bad habits accumulate too many hidden injuries in the body. These hidden injuries continuously deplete vitality, causing people to age and die prematurely."
"The purpose of the Water of Life is to continuously repair these hidden injuries, restoring the body to a truly healthy state."
"After use, a person over 60 years old can revert to the appearance and condition of someone in their 30s, lasting up to 8 years. After 8 years, when the life energy is depleted, they will return to a normal aging state."
"If the Water of Life is used multiple times, humans can live to the maximum lifespan of 120-150 years."
Understanding the hidden meaning, Shikaku pressed on. "Your Excellency, do we really have the Water of Life, and are there different ranks?"
Shun smiled confidently. "Yes, the Low-Rank Water of Life has low purity of life energy and many impurities, with effects lasting only about 2 years. The Intermediate-Rank has higher purity and can last 5 years. The Advanced Water of Life has the fewest impurities, and its peak effect can last 8 years."
"You must spread all these details, letting them know that if they want to maintain youth and health for a long time, they must compete for higher-rank Water of Life."
Shikaku bowed in response. "I understand. I will arrange it immediately, ensuring the news spreads throughout the noble circles of all countries in the Ninja World, letting them know that if they miss this auction, they will never have another chance to possess the Water of Life."
...
The news spread like wildfire, reaching the entire Ninja World within a few days.
In the Daimyo's residence of the Land of Wind, the Finance Minister rushed into the great hall, holding a promotional brochure for the Land of Water's auction.
"Your Excellency! The Land of Water will be auctioning a treasure that can extend life."
The Finance Minister handed the brochure to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
He excitedly pointed his finger at the description of the Water of Life and said, "Your Excellency! This Water of Life is truly miraculous. A 60-year-old person who uses it can revert to being 30 years old, and it can even last for 8 years. If we can get our hands on it, then you could live for several more decades without any problem."
Upon hearing this, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind's heart trembled. He snatched the brochure with one hand and eagerly began to read.
"Repair hidden injuries? Revert to 30 years old? Can last up to 8 years? Even after the effective period... because all previous hidden injuries have been repaired, lifespan is generally extended. Is this true?" He murmured to himself, the shock in his heart inexpressible.
The Finance Minister respectfully took out his phone and explained, "The Land of Water has already released a video demonstrating the effects."
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "What video? Show it to me quickly."
In the video, a 65-year-old man stood before the camera, his hair completely white, looking frail and aged.
When he drank a small bottle of the Water of Life, an astonishing scene unfolded.
In just over ten seconds, the old man's appearance rapidly transformed on the screen.
His skin became smooth and firm, all the wrinkles on his face and hands disappeared, and his hair turned black. He looked like a robust young man in his 30s, even able to do one-handed push-ups on the spot.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind exclaimed, "This... this is simply incredible!"
His eyes were glued to the screen, afraid to miss any detail.
The Finance Minister continued, holding his phone, "Spies have sent back intel from the Land of Water, saying that because the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning also want to exchange population for gold, the Land of Water's gold reserves are strained, which is why they are putting the Water of Life up for auction."
"Gold reserves strained?"
A look of triumph flashed in the eyes of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.
"It must be because we exchanged 20 million people for 5,000 tons of their gold, causing their gold reserves to be unsustainable. It seems my plan was indeed correct."
Thinking of the Water of Life, his gaze became eager and greedy.
"Immediately send people to inventory the national treasury's gold, gather all the gold that can be mobilized. Once I win the Advanced Water of Life, there will be plenty of ways to then seize more Water of Life from the Land of Water."
"As for a few fewer commoners in the country... what does that matter?"