He pulled over a chair next to him and sat down without a care, showing no intention of waiting for the host’s invitation.
Sato Fan glanced up at him but said nothing.
“Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous.” The man waved his hands hurriedly, the smile on his face unchanging.
“My name is Hayakawa Ge, and I deal in supplies.
I saw the two of you coming out of several suppliers on the street earlier, so I thought I’d come over and strike up a conversation.”
“What about?”
Hayakawa pulled a business card from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.
Sato Fan took it and glanced at it— “Hayakawa Trading Company, Supply Procurement”.
“I can roughly guess your procurement list.” Hayakawa Ge leaned back against the chair, his tone relaxed.
“Construction materials, ninja tools, medicine, and food, right?
These are exactly what Konoha is currently lacking most.”
Sato Fan did not deny it.
“What do you want to say?”
“I have the goods you urgently need in my possession.” Hayakawa Ge lifted his chin slightly.
“And the prices are fair; I would never gouge prices like that group consisting of Ibe and Yamamoto.”
“Why?”
Hayakawa Ge chuckled.
“Because I want to do long-term business with Konoha.
That group of people only focuses on the immediate order, aiming to swindle a large sum and run away, but I am different.
I hope Konoha can overcome its current difficulties, and in the future, if there is a need, you will think of my Hayakawa Trading Company first.”
Sato Fan was silent for a few seconds.
“Where do your goods come from?”
Hayakawa Ge waved his hand dismissively.
“The source is not important; what matters is that the goods are good, the price is low, and they can be delivered on time.
You can return to report success, Konoha gets the urgently needed supplies, and I earn a bit of hard-earned money.
Everyone is happy.”
Sato Fan stared at him, calculating quickly in his mind.
This person approached him proactively, the price was low, and he wanted long-term cooperation—either he truly wanted to attach himself to Konoha, or he had ulterior motives.
But he really didn’t have many other choices right now.
“What is the price?” Sato Fan countered.
Hayakawa pulled another piece of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and handed it over.
It listed the unit prices and supply quantities for several types of materials.
Sato Fan took it and did a rough calculation; it was actually twenty percent lower than the normal market price.
“At this price, do you still have a profit?”
“Small profits but quick turnover.” Hayakawa replied with a smile.
“I said, I am doing long-term business.
Those guys are short-sighted; they don’t think about how Konoha, the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages, could possibly collapse easily.
When Konoha recovers and the order volume increases, we can renegotiate the price then, and I will naturally have money to make.”
Sato Fan stared at the list for a moment, then looked up at Hayakawa Ge’s face, which was still smiling.
“What about the quantity?
Can you supply everything on the list?”
“Everything can be supplied.
The shipment will be divided into three batches; the first batch will arrive within seven days, and the latter two batches will all be in place within half a month.”
Sato Fan pondered for a moment, going over the price and quantity in his mind again.
According to Hayakawa’s quote, he could get more supplies than expected, and it supported installment payments, which would reduce the Village’s financial pressure significantly.
“Deal.
But I need to see the samples first; don’t think you can fool Konoha with inferior goods.”
Hayakawa Ge clapped his hands, laughing even more heartily.
“Straightforward!
That is only natural; how would I dare to fool Konoha, the strongest of the Five Great Ninja Villages?
May I ask your name, Lord?
Please move to our company’s warehouse to inspect the goods in person!”
Sato Fan glanced at Morishita Kunihiko.
Morishita Kunihiko stood straight behind him, indicating that he was following his lead.
Hayakawa Ge did not look down on Sato Fan because of his young age and took the two of them to his company’s warehouse.
Sato Fan looked at the goods in the warehouse; the quality was no lower than those from the suppliers this morning.
It seems he is indeed someone looking to provide help in a time of need.
Hayakawa Ge pulled another contract from his sleeve, with the price and quantity already written on it, waiting only for a signature.
Sato Fan raised an eyebrow.
Good heavens, he came prepared; his information is really well-informed.
Sato Fan took it, read it from beginning to end, confirmed there were no issues, and signed it.
Hayakawa Ge also signed it, and each took a copy.
“How should the payment be made?” Sato Fan said cautiously.
“Twenty percent deposit, payment upon delivery.
When the first batch arrives, pay for the first batch.”
“Fine.” Sato Fan paid the deposit, put the contract away, and stood up.
“Then it’s a deal.
The first batch of goods will be delivered to Konoha within seven days.”
Sato Fan also stood up.
Hayakawa Ge walked over to him, suddenly reached out, and shoved something into his hand.
“I still need Lord Sato to put in a good word for me in the Village.
It’s just a small token of my appreciation, not worth much.” Hayakawa was extremely fawning.
After speaking, Hayakawa Ge turned and left, giving Sato Fan no chance to refuse.
Sato Fan looked down at the thing in his hand—a kraft paper envelope, thin, but he could feel that it contained banknotes inside.
He opened the envelope and took a peek inside.
One hundred thousand Ryo.
He was stunned for a second.
This is a kickback!
Sato Fan folded the envelope and put it in his pocket.
Morishita Kunihiko was sitting opposite, drinking tea, his eyes looking out the window as if he hadn’t seen anything.
Sato Fan didn’t say anything either.
He folded the contract, put it into his backpack, and stood up.
“Let’s go, Senior Morishita.”
Morishita Kunihiko put down his teacup, stood up, and followed behind him out of the teahouse.
On the way back, Sato Fan walked in front, his pace neither fast nor slow.
He was thinking about what just happened.
This person, Hayakawa, had an unknown background and unclear sources, but the price he gave was indeed low, and the goods could be delivered on time, so what else was there to say?
In terms of violent organizations, Konoha was the biggest; why would he be afraid of a mere businessman?
As for that one hundred thousand Ryo kickback—he didn’t refuse, nor did he decline.
He understood one principle: sometimes, accepting money is more reassuring than not accepting it; once you accept it, you are in the same boat.
Morishita Kunihiko walked behind, still with that unhurried manner, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
“Senior Morishita.” Sato Fan didn’t turn back.
“Hmm.”
“Regarding what just happened, I will report it to Section Chief Yamada after we return.”
Morishita Kunihiko glanced at him.
“Although I don’t understand these roundabout dealings, I feel you did well.
If you took that money, you took it; I didn’t see anything.”
Returning to the inn, Sato Fan took out the contract and read it from beginning to end again.
The price, quantity, and delivery time were all fine.
What he was holding in his hand was his own head, Sato Fan’s head; being careful couldn’t be wrong.
He took out the envelope Hayakawa had given him again, one hundred thousand Ryo, and separated fifty thousand Ryo from it.
He came to Morishita Kunihiko’s room.
He pushed the door, but no one was in the room?
Did he go to the red-light district?
Sato Fan walked in, put the money on the table, and went out.
Although Morishita Kunihiko said he would help him keep it hidden, it was better for everyone who saw it to have a share; eating alone easily leads to choking.
He should go out for a walk himself.
It was hard to get out for a trip, and the mission could be considered a complete success.
After walking around and resting for the night, he would hurry back to Konoha tomorrow morning to let Section Chief Yamada look over the contract.