Chapter 230: 226: Disappearance

Chapter 230: 226: Disappearance

In a relatively high-end single villa, a table was filled with brand new banknotes. Kakuzu stood there diligently counting each note one after the other. Suddenly, a staff approached with a black device and spoke him, "Kakuzu-san, there's a machine for counting money here..."

But without lifting his gaze, Kakuzu dismissed the staff "No. Machines are prone to mistakes. It's more convenient to work with my naked eyes. And..." He paused, creating a tense atmosphere in the room. He picked up a stack of banknotes, "These twenty are counterfeit. Please replace them."

Kakuzu's faint green eyes seemed to glow brightly. He didn't know if someone had purposefully placed the counterfeits or did so accidentally, but as long as he was here, it was impossible for him to leave with the counterfeits.

"Quick, hurry up and change them!" The manager ordered the staff, prompting them to go look for replacements.

"Yes!"

Ignoring the commotion, Kakuzu continued counting the banknotes as if no one else were present. It wasn't until two hours later, after meticulously counting, that he finally stopped, satisfied. He carefully placed the banknotes in a prepared black leather case, ensuring it fitted.

"Well, Kakuzu-san, is everything alright now?" The manager rubbed his hands together in a flattering manner.

"There's no problem. The numbers are correct." Kakuzu confirmed, his eyes observing everyone in the room.

"The bill..." The Manager smiled obsequiously.

Kakuzu retrieved a card with a purple rose seal engraved on it from his pocket. It contained the debt details mentioned by the manager, including the loan amount, date, interest, repayment date, and repayment amount.

"Remember to pay back early next time, if you continue to overdue, you would be making things difficult for me."

"Yes." The manager accepted the owed receipt from Kakuzu, glancing painfully at the black suitcase he carried, a weight lifted from his heart.

"Then, I'll be taking my leave. I hope I won't be coming to your place again.. next time." Kakuzu, carrying the black suitcase, opened the villa gate, the garden outside had turned into ruins.

A large number of black-clothed guards lay in disarray, wailing and screaming, highlighting the unglamorous nature of a debt collector's job.

Those who refused to pay back their debts on time were often the targets of the Purple Rose Debt Collectors. Regardless of the Manager's pleasant attitude, being targeted by a debt collector equated him to being someone untrustworthy who had breached the agreed-upon repayment terms.

This Manager, though appeared flattering, was among wealthiest people within this small town. His business ventures consisted of gatherings like gambling, brothels, and other properties associated with organized crime. It isn't an exaggeration to designate him as a big shot in the town. While the average debt collector might hesitate dealing with such a figure, however, for Kakuzu, it really wasn't a difficult task.

The manager's now honesty resulted from Kakuzu's demonstration of his power as a debt collector, effectively compelling him to dutifully settle his debt. To properly deal with such rogue debtors using unconventional means was often necessary to successfully recover the overdue payments. It is the modus operandi of the Purple Rose Merchant Association's debt collectors in the Land Of Demons.

Possessing exceptional strength was a prerequisite for joining the debt collection. The battle between debt collectors and debtors would keep on going.

Leaving the villa, Kakuzu retrieved a booklet from his pocket while carrying the black suitcase. The booklet detailed names, addresses, and information about a large number of dishonest debtors.

"The next target.... the Land of Valleys..."

Kakuzu thought for a moment, realizing he had little time for rest after concluding his business here. Resting too much would only reduce his efficiency in completing the jobs.

One his black robe, there was a sterling silver medal engraved with roses, representing his rank as a debt collector. This silver rank was an exceedingly rare designation, considered top-notch within the organization.

Achieving this rank in less than three years showcased Kakuzu's remarkable speed of promotion, unparalleled by any other debt collector so far. With a 100% debt collection success rate and a demanding workload throughout the year, Kakuzu embodied the model life for all debt collectors.

Kakuzu walked out of the town. The debtors here hae all been dealt with, then he still had to go to the next targets in the Land Of Valleys. The land Of Valleys, a small country with numerous valleys.

Kakuzu had been there a few times in the past while on his bounties. Not long after walking out of the town, an unnatural wind blew past him, making him pause subconsciously. Looking forward, five figures stood there, blocking his path.

Kakuzu said in a rather unexpected tone: "It really is a long-lost familiar face; I never expected to meet you here."

The group of five blocking his way was none other than Bug Men. Their abilities were rare and strange, and they were quite powerful. Although it wasn't widely spread in the world, according to inside information within the Land Of Demons, even the Sannin Jiraiya has suffered a loss at their hands.

"Long time no see, Kakuzu-san. I heard you were working hard to become the chief gold medal." Bug Man said playfully.

"Hmph! Isn't that a matter of course?"

"Makes sense."

"Did you specifically come here to find me? I must warn you that I'm extremely busy with my job, it's quite difficult to surpass the workload of a gold medal debt collector before next year." Kakuzu stated bluntly.

"You really are a dedicated workaholic, Kakuzu-san. I assure you that we won't take up too much of your time. In fact, we've come to ask you about a particular place." Bug Man scratched his head helplessly.

Among the staffs, Kakuzu was undoubtedly the most respected. Despite their differing job responsibilities, they occasionally heard snippets of information about Kakuzu from other employees.

For instance, there were exaggerated rumors about his 100% debt collection success rate, his ability to work tirelessly throughout the year, and his reputation as the most exemplary debt collector in the association.

Such extraordinary feats were only achievable by someone like Kakuzu. No matter how physically fit an ordinary ninja may be, they would succumb to exhaustion under such a demanding workload.

."What?" Kakuzu asked, ready to listen to the Bug Man's request.

"False Valley... are you familiar with this place?" Bug Man asked concisely.

"False Valley..?" The corners of Kakuzu's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flickering in his gaze. 'False Valley', he repeated, as if the name itself was inconceivable.

"It seems you do know." Seeing the surprised expression in Kakuzu's eyes, Bug Man knew he was asking the right person. Kakuzu indeed knew about the place.

"What would you like to know about?" Kakuzu asked curiously.

"Our mission targets are headed to this place, but we have no idea of the whereabouts of it in the world, leaving us no choice but to ask for your help."

"Well... I don't mind sharing. The so-called False Valley is actually a refuge village."

"A refuge village?"

Kakuzu's words made them frown.

"That's right. A group of boring people established a village there. They claimed it to be a place of pure land to escape from the world. In simple terms, it's like an ideal place for humans." Kakuzu's tone was quite disdainful.

"Then where is this place?"

"Pure Land?" Shiraishi thought while pinching his chin. He was certain he was unfamiliar with such a place and he had never heard of it.

"I see. In short, the large forest in that country needs careful investigation. Your next debt work can be put aside for now. We will need your assistance in this problem."

"No problem... What about this month's salary?"

"Double for you." Kakuzu had no objection. As long as the compensation was sufficient, attempting once more in the mysterious False Valley wasn't out of the question.

After reporting the issue, Kakuzu left the office.

Not long after, the door of the office opened again. Ruri entered from outside, looked at Shiraishi, and inquired, "What can I do for you?"

"I'm really sorry for interrupting your training. I have a mission for you here." Shiraishi said with a hint of helplessness.

The disappearance of Bug Men wasn't a trivial matter. The importance of this team was evident, and if something unforeseen occurs, retraining a new team will require time and effort. Therefore, False Valley's problem must be thoroughly investigated.

However, there lies the problem. Bug Men were formidable, and their disappearance without a trace raises questions. The people in False Valley must be powerful as well, otherwise, the collective disappearance of the five would be impossible.

While there were other teams present that could handle such tasks, Ruri's exceptional capabilities made her the preferable choice. Threats like this needed to be removed as soon as possible.

Ruri furrowed her brow. It was impossible for her to undertake ordinary missions solo, and Shiraishi only deployed her for challenging situations.

"Bug Men disappeared in a place called False Valley. I want you to investigate there."

"False Valley?" Ruri didn't care about the disappearance but was intrigued by an unheard location like the 'False Valley.'

"Yes, according to Kakutsu's account, it seems to be built within the large forest of the Land Of Valley. Bug Men disappeared there. I've written the specifics here."

Shiraishi placed a scroll on the table. Ruri picked up the scroll and quickly scanning its content twice.

In essence, it detailed that in the pursuit of the remnants of the Blood Mist faction, Bug Men had pointed to a location known as False Valley. Then, Bug Men disappeared from there, and only Kakuzu returned, inexplicably recounting the events.

"Strange."

"It's truly strange. But I'm sure Kakusu isn't lying, his soul fluctuation is normal." Shiraishi affirmed. This was precisely why he requested Kakuzu to join in. The fact that the enemy allowed Kakuzu leave but only intercepted Bug Men raised suspicions, no matter from the perspective. Whatever secrets existed there , they must be unearthed this time.

"I understand. I'll investigate."

"Please. Just in case, I'll have Tu and Soryu accompany you."

False Valley was too mysterious, and it was uncertain what potential enemies lurked there. Despite Ruri strength, there were still aspects that may be challenging..With the addition of Tu and Soryu, the plan becomes foolproof. Even in the face of unexpected changes, there was the option to escape in time.

Ruri had no objection to this, she picked up the scroll Shiraishi provided, and walked out of the office. Shiraishi watched Ruri's departing figure, hoping that this incident would be resolved smoothly.

....

Amegakure. Land Of Rain.

Summoned by the pouring rain, Nagato walked to the window of the tower.

Surrounding Amegakure, a canal formed by the collection of rainwater made Amegakure resemble a ninja village constructed on water.

Footsteps approached from behind; it was Konan. Different from the past, her expression lacked the tenderness and kindness, but only an almost cold-blooded expression.

However, Nagato understood this was all Konan's facade. She was merely forcing herself to appear ruthless. Behind her was White zetsu, giggling like a mischievous urchin without a care in the world.

Nagato wondered what had been amusing him all day; had he found something interesting?

"Nagato-sama, the target in the Land of Wind has been found." White Zetsu smiled and provided Nagato with the information he had gathered.

"The genius puppet master, Sasori of the Red Sand, who defected from Sunagakure?"

"Yes, it is Sasori. He's currently hiding in the big sand dunes of the country. It's a case of hiding in plain sight. For a dangerous S-rank rogue hiding in the sand, still remaining in the Land of Wind without leaving is truly crazy." White zetsu nodded.

"Any news on the other targets?" Nagato nodded, without making any comments, inquiring about the whereabouts of the remaining targets.

"Yes. The other one is in False Valley." White zetsu mentioned an unfamiliar location.

Konan looked at White zetsu as she frowned.

"False Valley... where's that?"

White zetsu said with a grin: "It is a 'pure land' built by a group of rebels who escaped the turmoil of the world and were wanted for rewards. It's also referred to as a refuge village. It's built in the wide forest of the Land Of Valleys. It is quite difficult to get inside without the guidance of someone inside leading the way. But for Nagato-sama, it should be very easy to get in."

"Escape from the world? Refuge village?" Nagato raised his head slightly, and looked at White setsu who was grinning unscrupulously. This reminded him of Madara, and the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" Madara once mentioned to him... It was also a way to escape from the world.

A glint appeared in Nagato's cold eyes, and he spoke in a calm tone: "Escaping from reality can't change anything. Allow me to go to the refuge village constructed by those rogues myself."

"Sasori..."

Before White zetsu could finish, Konan, beside him, took a deep breath and stood up.

"Let me go, Nagato. I'll win over Sasori."

Seeing the determined expression on Konan's face, Nagato fell into a momentary silence, sighed, closed his eyes, and eventually nodded in agreement.

-----

5You can support me and read advanced chapters on Patreon.

Patreon. com/chizihn