Inside the inn, White Ram reported on the reconnaissance of the past few days.
"Captain, the Left General of the Land of Rivers only returns to his residence once every two weeks, always guarding the west gate of the castle tower. Even when he returns to his residence in the noble district, he is surrounded by hundreds of samurai as guards. Among those samurai are at least eight Sand Ninja.
As for the Grand Master of the Palace, he lives directly in the Treasury Department. After the battle between Sand and Konoha, these officials have become even more cautious. Please give me some more time, Captain; I will definitely find more information about them."
Yoru said, "Continue your investigation. I will find a way to create an opportunity to lure those two out of the Capital."
"Lure them out of the Capital? How?"
"Just wait for my news."
Yoru left the inn and boarded the carriage of the Treasury Department.
This carriage took Yoru to the outskirts of the Capital. He changed carriages outside the city and boarded the carriage of the Treasury Department's chief minister, Koi Chisa.
Chisa's carriage was filled with fragrance, with four sachets hanging from the four corners.
"Mr. Light, please forgive my haste. Ever since the Land of Lightning invented electricity, the Capital has become inseparable from various electrical appliances.
Coal reserves are running low; in a month, not only the Capital, but even the castle tower will be without power.
I had the blueprints you gave me reviewed by craftsmen at a coal-fired power plant, and they said it's indeed possible to generate electricity using river water.
Today, I would like to ask you to discuss the plan and site selection with the craftsmen on-site, to determine a suitable location for building a hydroelectric power station."
Light was a false name given by Yoru.
Yoru said, "I can't just draw a few blueprints and take away 1 million taels; this is what I should do."
He was calculating in his mind how to persuade Koi Chisa to invite some nobles to the groundbreaking ceremony for the hydroelectric power station, thus drawing both targets away from the Capital.
Walking downstream along the Yoshimizu River, Yoru chose a valley. Yoru said, "The soil of the Land of Rivers is unique. Rivers constantly erode the land, creating deep trenches. These trenches can be utilized to build hydroelectric power stations.
This place is perfect. Just build a dam here, and you can create an artificial lake and generate electricity using the gravitational potential energy of the lake."
Looking at the map, Chisa couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Light, why not build a dam upstream of the Capital? That way, it can generate electricity and regulate the Capital's water flow."
Yoru shook his head and said,
"If a dam is built upstream of the Capital, and someone blows it up, the Capital will be finished. Don't overestimate the morality of ninjas. If I were a Sand Ninja, I would not hesitate to blow up the dam to destroy the Land of Rivers, which is protected by Konoha, even if the flood kills thousands of the Capital residents."
Koi Chisa's expression darkened.
The destructive power of ninjas is too great. Ordinary people carefully maintain their living environment, but a few passing ninjutsu techniques from a passing ninja can destroy everything.
"I didn't expect Mr. Light to know so much about ninjas."
"I've learned a few things from killing and being almost killed."
Koi Chisa found Light quite optimistic.
"Mr. Light, I wonder if you'd be willing to settle in the Land of Rivers? I'm willing to apply to my brother to grant you the official position of Governor of Infrastructure, to build and manage dams and hydroelectric power stations."
Koi Chisa was the younger sister of the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, and had never married, managing the important Great Treasury for the daimyo.
Yoru's heart stirred; wouldn't this make it easier for him to approach the nobles? He said, "Is the Great Treasury of the Land of Rivers facing difficulties? Does becoming Governor of Infrastructure mean I won't receive the 1 million ryo bounty?"
Koi Chisa smiled and said, "I'll bring the bounty and the official seal of Governor of Infrastructure tomorrow."
For several days, Yoru worked at full capacity in the Great Treasury, just to start construction as soon as possible.
Koi Chisa had already agreed to invite nobles to the groundbreaking ceremony, holding a grand ceremony.
Koi Chisa was increasingly moved. A wandering ninja from the Land of Lightning was working so hard for the hydroelectric power station in the Land of Rivers.
She quickly realized she couldn't treat Light as just a wandering ninja anymore; he would settle in the Capital and become the Governor of Infrastructure.
Their feelings for each other deepened rapidly. Yoru deliberately nurtured their relationship, and Koi Chisa was also attracted to Yoru's engineering talent.
The fulll moon shone like a silver platter.
Moonlight illuminated the courtyard deep within the Great Treasury Temple.
Without electricity or lights, the moonlight and candlelight only added to the romance.
Inside her boudoir, the window was open, letting in the moonlight.
Bathed in moonlight, Koi Chisa blushed and asked, "Why do I have to wear glasses all the time?"
Yoru, looking at Koi Chisa's snow-white skin under the moonlight, said, "I like you wearing glasses; it creates a unique contrast."
"But...the glasses keep wobbling, it's uncomfortable."
"You have to wear them."
As the younger sister of a daimyo, Koi Chisa had never seen such a domineering man before, and instead became even more compliant.
Outside the boudoir, a maid waited in the corridor, ready to be summoned to serve Miss Chisa.
The maid's eyes flickered, glancing frequently at Miss Chisa's study, where the preliminary design drawings for the hydroelectric power station were kept.
She had already relayed everything that had happened here to the Hidden Stone ninja spies, wondering what the spy chief would choose.
If the Land of Rivers built the hydroelectric power station, it would no longer buy coal from the Land of Earth, a vital economic pillar for the Land of Earth.
Half a month later, the equipment drawings were completed, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the dam began.
Yoru, dressed in the official robes of the Land of Rivers and wearing a tall hat, sat on the platform.
White Ram, wearing sunglasses, mingled among the craftsmen. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, kept glancing towards the nobles' rest area to the side.
He hadn't expected the company commander to actually lead the assassination target to the outskirts of the Capital.
The hydroelectric power station was too important to the Land of Rivers. The Left General of the Imperial Guard and the Grand Master of the Palace were both invited nobles to attend the groundbreaking ceremony.
The two nobles were surrounded by samurai, making it difficult to strike.
White Ram glanced at the captain, who was sitting next to the tall and beautiful Chisa, the two chatting and laughing.
Two people who had been intimate would have different boundaries than others; an unintentional glance, an occasional touch, were different from ordinary friends.
White Ram guessed that the captain must have slept with the sister of the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers to complete the mission.
He hadn't been taught the art of seduction during his Root training.
So the art of seduction works this well.
Sigh, with his body riddled with parasites, it seemed he'd never be able to use the art of seduction in this lifetime.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held under the supervision of Koi Chisa.
"Distinguished nobles, esteemed craftsmen, the groundbreaking ceremony for the the Capital Hydroelectric Power Station officially begins.
This power station is a project of utmost importance to His Highness the Daimyo, and it will solve the power shortage caused by insufficient coal..."
Yoru smiled, watching the profile of Koi Chisa in her long dress.
His peripheral vision swept over the guards of the Left General.
He wondered which of those guards were Sand Ninja.
The war between Konoha and the Hidden Sand was still undecided, yet these fence-sitters couldn't contain themselves.
He wondered if the Left General and other nobles' fence-sitting was spontaneous, or if the Daimyo had secretly ordered it.
Perhaps the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers also feared a Hidden Sand victory.
As Koi Chisa's clear announcement rang out, four craftsmen suddenly leaped up and charged towards the platform!
"Kill the Governor! We must not let the Land of Rivers build this power station!"
"Earth Style: Stone Pistol Jutsu!"
The four simultaneously spat out pebbles, which grew larger in the wind, becoming boulders one or two meters tall, flying towards the platform.
Yoru was startled. "I'm plotting to murder a nobleman, why is someone coming straight at me?"
Koi Chisa was frightened, then immediately drew a rapier and swung it repeatedly, splitting a rock in three strikes.
She actually possessed considerable samurai swordsmanship.
She quickly ordered the samurai, "Protect the Governor!"
With that, she pulled Yoru along and fled to the side.
"Hidden Stone ninja spies are trying to sabotage the hydroelectric power station for coal," Koi Chisa said anxiously, but reassured him,
"Don't worry, Light, I won't let anything happen to you."
Yoru said, "I know, I won't be hurt."
Chaos erupted.
Yoru gestured to White Ram, signaling him to act.