"You're so reticent, does the princess put up with this in your everyday life?"
The Ox teased.
Akakage's wife was Tamahime, the princess of the Land of Bear. To bring Akakage, a Kekkeigenkai Ninja, into his camp, the Daimyo of the Land of Bear did not hesitate to sacrifice his daughter's happiness to win over Akakage.
This is also why the Daimyo of the Land of Bear has such trust in the Hidden Star Village.
Likewise, it facilitated the Land of Demons' various operations in the Land of Bear.
"This matter has nothing to do with you, and Tamahime doesn't think so anyway."
Akakage furrowed his brow.
"Is that so? It seems that having a woman has indeed brought some changes. Now, let me talk about the current situation, make sure to handle the tail."
The Ox chuckled as he spoke.
"Tail?"
Akakage looked at the Ox in confusion.
"The public momentum is stable, the upper echelons of the Land of Bear have specialized personnel managing it, and since the Hidden Star Village has already been assimilated by us, no matter how ambitious that Daimyo of the Land of Bear is, the final path is only defeat. Therefore, the Daimyo and nobility of the Land of Bear are not the main issue now. Our enemies are now the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth."
The Ox spoke with a serious expression.
The Land of Bear is a small country sandwiched between the Land of Demons, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth.
The situation becomes more difficult as the geopolitical landscape becomes turbulent.
Akakage stared at the Ox without speaking.
"The Land of Wind has ostensibly admitted defeat, but on the other hand, they have been secretly searching for the crucial reasons for their defeat. Additionally, they are puzzled by where the silent and stealthy Land of Demons' troops initially infiltrated the Land of Wind. Now they've freed up their hands and dispatched ninjas to infiltrate the Land of Shadows and the Land of Bear to investigate the matter."
"Then let's get rid of all those Hidden Sand Ninjas infiltrating the Land of Bear!"
Akakage's eyes flashed with coldness.
The Ox shook his head and said, "If we were to eliminate these people, it would be even more troublesome. The Land of Bear now only requires the 'Bluntsword' method—slowly cut down. There's nothing the Hidden Sand can find in the Land of Shadow, but in the Land of Bear, they'll surely make contact with the Hidden Star Village. At that time, follow the steps on the Scroll."
The Ox said while taking out a Scroll and placing it on the table.
"I understand. Is there anything else you need to instruct?"
Akakage nodded.
"No need to trouble you, I've heard that your princess is already pregnant. You'd better spend more time with her. The subsequent matters, I'll discuss with Lord Raidenmaru to handle them. Just manage the Hidden Star Village properly and prevent those Hidden Sand Ninjas from detecting anything. That is your current task."
The Ox stood up from the couch, his body dissipating into a puff of smoke and vanished.
◎
"Looks like matters on Akakage's side are arranged."
Seeing the Ox reporting before him, suddenly stiffening, and gracefully crouching on the office desk, Raidenmaru gently laughed and picked up a piece of Anko mochi from a plate with his paw to taste it.
"Yes, Lord Raidenmaru, as long as Akakage handles things according to the plan, it will not arouse suspicion from the Hidden Sand Village."
The Ox nodded.
"You've worked hard, your recent work has been excellent; I'll report it to Father."
Raidenmaru spoke in a tone of praise.
"Then about the upcoming action plan..."
"Hmm, follow your method. After all, I'm merely responsible for checking the work; specific actions were already outlined in the military meeting a few years ago. Just follow that. However, one thing—formal operations should wait until the turmoil subsides, and now is not the time to agitate the sensitive and fragile nerves of the Land of Wind."
As the Land of Demons is already very strong, exposing ambitions to annex surrounding small countries could lead to more unexpected scenarios amidst this tense situation.
At that time, the Land of Earth would surely get involved.
When facing only the Land of Wind, the pressure isn't significant, but facing two major nations simultaneously, pressure in various aspects becomes apparent.
Therefore, even though the Land of Demons abandoned all mission mandates, it doesn't mean the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth feel completely assured about the Land of Demons.
The visible struggle has ended; the upcoming fight will be conducted covertly.
Currently, the Hidden Sand is dispatching ninjas, infiltrating the Land of Bear to investigate, possibly suspecting something.
At such times, it's crucial not to expose any flaws.
After all, the Hidden Sand surely cannot imagine that the Hidden Star Village has already been branded with the seal of the Land of Demons.
Moreover, Akakage, the Leader of the Hidden Star Village, is the Daimyo's son-in-law in the Land of Bear. Presumably, when the Hidden Sand Village's ninjas come to investigate, the Daimyo could use him as a shield for the Land of Demons.
Once the situation settles, that will be the optimal time to truly replace the Land of Bear.
Slowly cut down with Bluntsword, gradually devour, neither rushed nor slow, let everything fall into place naturally.
Too eager to succeed, on the contrary, would create a situation where the tail is difficult to discard, putting the favorable position of the Land of Demons into a passive state.
"Yes."
The Ox also understands such matters.
Before the Land of Demons penetrated the Land of Bear, they had already cultivated a large number of Witches, wandering throughout the Land of Bear, healing and saving, gaining significant popularity among the people, with many villagers even voluntarily building Shrines for the wandering Witches. The Witches' prestige among the populace has already formed absolute undercurrents.
The time to annex the Land of Bear won't be too long.