Necessary Corruption 16:

Necessary Corruption
Chapter 16: Moving On

-VB-

With her acceptance of my proposal, I … was not quick to move for a simple reason: I did not want to rush her out of her home and her family. Her son was coming with us, though he would now be my stepson. I didn’t mind.

The problem wasn’t with him; it was with Teuchi.

After all, why else would a man spend all of his time, money, and life trying to make his island better if not for his family?

What I was doing was making his efforts meaningless. His efforts weren’t meaningless to the islanders; they loved him so much more than they “liked” me (they tolerated me because I helped oust an asshole). It would still feel like that to him if Tsunami and Inari didn’t stay.

At the same time, I knew that he was very aware of the advantageous situation the rest of his family found themselves in. To be married to a noble? There were so many worse matches for a widow and far too few better ones than this. On top of that, he’s met me enough to know me, and while I might not be like Kaiza, he also couldn’t tell Tsunami what to do.

He could, but all it would do was alienate her from him.

The situation was complicated to say the least for everyone involved.

I cared but not enough to intervene, because I was simply happy and over the moon over the fact that she said yes.

That said, I couldn’t help but feel sad at the same time. As happy and elated as I was, as great as being accepted was, and as powerful as love felt in my heart, I could not keep the matters of the state out of my mind. Even as I planned our move from the Land of Waves to the Land of Rivers, I found myself plotting.

It had taken a single orange jumpsuit boy to break the mystique of the ninjas for me, and I now knew better.

I wasn’t scared of the hidden ninja villages or the ninjas anymore. All I needed was time and allies to ensure that I could muscle my way into the heavyweight ring. At over a hundred empowered retinues, I was probably stronger than some of the more obscure hidden villages. What I needed to do was prevent any assassination or recruitment of the more important members.

That said, I wondered how the project was coming along.

“Washimoto.”

My ever loyal butler slid the door open to my room and remained kneeling.

“Hai.”

“How is Gina coming along?”

I learned about her long before killing the late Rimosumoto. I intended to use her as a puppet to rule the island on my behalf, as I had already empowered her and ensured her loyalty. She was also Tsunami’s niece and Tazuna’s grandniece. With her ability to empower others (though far more limited than my ability) could ensure loyalties of her own and with my backing, she could control a significant portion of the island as the directors of my enforcers.

“She is learning how to better manage people. She has tested well on telling liars apart as well.”

“Good. I can’t have ninjas sneaking into my operations.”

“Of course, milord.”

“How has her education been coming along?”

“Very smoothly, although she sees the use of our products in unsuspecting populations to be … unethical.”

“And those who are aware?”

“It is their poison, not hers.”

“Good. Make sure she knows that many of those people are those paying taxes to ninjas who would kill, extort, and war over the smallest of resources.”

Because once I learned about the ninjas, I was pushing the operation specifically towards the hidden villages. I knew that people who touched the narcotics first voluntarily could be divided into three categories: the stressed, the bored, and the isolated. Hidden ninja villages had to have all three in abundance, I reasoned, so I had discretely moved all operations’ expansion pace.

Why, I read just this morning a report from the Land of the Winds that more than a few kilograms of the really good stuff “found” its way into Sunagakure.

It would be a shame if I didn’t follow up on such business opportunities with the … not so good stuff. As great as having my mystique and fear of the ninjas removed was, it also wasn’t a bad idea to have desperate and pliable ninjas working under me.

That said, I needed to start bribing all of the noble courts of the big name nations. Since I was already in the Land of Waves, why couldn’t I ask Lord Jinshi to introduce me to some of the vacationing nobles from the Land of Waves?

I’m sure they will appreciate some of my friskier and willing retinues in bed.

“... Make sure to tell Ami and Rimi that all operations they take are voluntary. I don’t want any of the forced labor my esteemed peers back in the Land of Rivers likes to do to their people. It’s wrong and I hate it.”

Because they killed my father.

“Of course, milord. All of your men and women are firmly aware of your stern guidelines. No woman - or man - would do any of what you ask unwillingly.”

“Good.”

-VB-

Meeting Lord Jinshi again proved to be an eye opener.

Because the man was legitimately sad about me leaving despite already having manipulated me into doing half of his dirty work for him.

That said, our goals had aligned so I had cut him some slack and hadn’t taken offense over it.

Truthfully speaking, he owed me because of it, and this, him introducing me to some of the Land of Winds nobles in the Land of Waves right now, was him paying me back.

That said, I think he was genuinely sad to see me go. We did agree a lot on reforms and the need for, well not purges, restructuring of the noble courts so that the nobles had less time corrupting and more time working.

And right now, he was introducing me to the noble who would start the descent of the Land of Winds.

“Originating the southeastern fringe of the Land of Winds and from the Noble House of Dokigoro, this is Heiress Mira,” he said as he stepped aside.

I kept my eyes up, but dear god, this woman had some knockers.