A deafening silence hung inside the carriage, and every single second of it felt like torture for Kyo.
However, in the end, Toji smiled and brought his hand up for a handshake, then said, "Well, I'm looking forward to our future corporations, Mr. Kyo."
Although Toji felt that the amount was far too low, it was still a profitable cooperation in the long term. The terms Kyo had agreed to is something most people would never agree to.
What's more, the Hosai clan doesn't have the manpower to create more of the sealing scrolls. After all, the only person that knew sealing jutsu is Kamishiro. With the help of Kyo, the Hosai clan and the merchant guild wouldn't have to hire anyone and gain a massive passive income.
Toji took another sealing scroll from his sleeve, and asked, "Mr. Kyo, do you know how to use chakra?"
Kyo nodded, to which Toji smiled and said, "Good, that'll make things easier."
He threw the scroll to Kyo and informed him, "Inside that scroll is the jutsu for making sealing scrolls. However, you would need someone who's familiar with sealing jutsu to create them. Although they don't need to be a master at it, they should at least be someone familiar with sealing jutsu."
Toji turned serious and warned Kyo, "But… I would suggest you hire the finest ninjas for this task. I don't want the scrolls to be half-assed. Furthermore, you should make sure that the people you employ have a seal inside them to prevent leaks.
Even though everyone would probably know how to create sealing scrolls, it's still best for us to monopolize it now. Understood?"
Kyo nodded with a smile, "Of course. I was thinking about that from the beginning."
Toji nodded and the two began to discuss the future of the merchant guild in the Land of Tea. In the end, Toji had decided to make Kaito the representative of the merchant guild in the northern port of the Land of Tea, while Kyo would be the one overseeing the Land of Tea branch.
With the help of Kyo's connections, the influence of the merchant guild in the Land of Wind could skyrocket. Not only that, Kyo could also be a bridge for the other merchants in the Land of Wind to join the merchant guild.
Soon enough, the two stepped out of the carriage with smiles on their faces. The ninjas hired by Kyo let their guard down once they saw that Kyo was unharmed.
Kyo turned to one of his subordinates and whispered something to him. The subordinate turned pale, but quickly regained his composure and hurried off.
Turning around to face Toji, Kyo asked, "Would you care to join me in meeting with Ray Tepei?"
Ray Tepei was the owner of the estate before them. He was an influential man throughout the Land of Tea, as he was a direct vassal of the daimyo, and his sister was one of the daimyo's concubines.
Toji nodded and said, "That would be wonderful." He paused and turned around at the cart full of sealing scrolls, "I actually wanted to meet with Sir Ray to sell them our goods."
Kyo merely nodded as almost every merchant entering the estate had the same thing in mind. Ray Tepei was known for his spendings. He was a man that will spend on something he wants, no matter how expensive.
Kyo and the merchant guild soon made their way inside the estate, where a massive palace stood grandly. It was a traditional black and white Japanese palace with a hint of this world's own natural culture.
"How grand." Toji murmured.
Hearing Toji, Kyo chuckled and agreed, "It is, isn't it?" He looked around and continued, "This is one of the biggest palaces in the Land of Tea… They say Ray used a massive amount of money to build this palace in one go."
Behind Toji, Sakina joined in the conversation, "This place would probably cost billions in ryo…"
Kyo chuckled, "Ms. Sakina, was it?"
The two had already been acquainted as they made their way in, and so Kyo continued without introduction, "If I'm not mistaken, this palace cost him around 4 billion yet. And that's just the palace itself."
Both Sakina and Toji felt bewildered at the sum of money. Just a few months ago, they were just a nobody that barely had anything to eat. Imagining that amount of money seemed impossible for them.
However, as they were thinking about how much money this place costed Ray, they finally arrived at the entrance of the palace.
There were plenty of merchants entering, and none leaving. In front of the gate, two large men wielding spears guarded the gate. And from what Toji could discern, the two were at least jonin-level ninjas.
Kyo turned to Toji and Sakina. "This way." He began walking toward the right side of the palace. "I know a place where we can meet the old man faster."
The right side of the palace was guarded by two other ninjas. However, unlike the front gate, there was no one entering the right side.
Kyo greeted the two guards and entered the palace alongside the merchant guild and their carts, which were loaded with sealing scrolls. Upon entering, they were met by red-painted walls stretching into what seemed like an endless hallway.
At the end of the hallway, the group stopped and a guard opened a door, where a man was sitting down with two girls flanking him from behind.
The old man appeared to be in his fifties, with white hair and a short beard. Even while seated, he seemed tall, his shoulders broad—unlike most nobles. Scars marked his body, including his face.
Behind him stood two identical women. However, the one to the old man's left appeared older, while the one to his right seemed younger.
"I knew you would be here, old man." Kyo stated.
The man sitting down was Ray, the owner of this place. Ray grumbled and said, "I've told you already, stop barging in. I was having such a good time with my family…"
The older woman behind him chuckled, "Don't listen to him, Kyo. You're always welcome here."
The older woman was the wife of Ray, Yuuko. She was the same age as Ray, but unlike Ray, she had no white hair and beautiful clear skin.
Kyo turned to Toji and the others. "Let me introduce you. This is my sister, Yuuko, and her husband, Ray. And beside Ray is his youngest child, Miyo."
Toji and the others bowed their heads. Smiling, Kyo continued, "These men are part of the merchant guild—a league of merchants I recently joined."