The gang conflict was temporarily quelled through the intervention of the Shion Flower Merchants Association.
The misbehaving workers were forced to terminate their employment contracts, while those genuinely in trouble would receive help from the Shion Flower Merchants Association to free themselves from gang loan contracts, but they needed to work for the association for thirty years to repay the debt.
The indebted workers expressed their willingness to work for the association, after all, in a desperate situation, it was the Shion Flower Merchants Association that saved them and freed them from oppression, so a thirty-year debt-work contract was entirely reasonable.
Being sheltered naturally meant they had to work hard, something they believed wholeheartedly.
In fact, this could easily lead to feelings of gratitude.
Working for thirty years also implied that the association resolved their unemployment issues.
Many workers regretted why they weren't the ones in debt.
But such thoughts were only musings, not everyone who owed money to the gangs had the fortune of having support, most had disappeared without a trace.
Thus, work at the site resumed normal operations, and the gang, having no reason to cause trouble, naturally dared not approach. The ninjas from the Land of Demons exerted considerable pressure on them, so without a proper reason to interfere, they could only lurk in the dark and watch, waiting for an opportunity.
"This is from Ms. Ichihime?"
After a day's work, Tazuna called his old friend Kich to his house, and placed the 'International Industrial and Civil Cooperative' plan book—which had not been shared with the workers—before Kich for his opinion.
"Yes, in this plan book, the Shion Flower Merchants Association from the Land of Demons seemingly aims to establish an international labor organization, unifying all workers and farmers to liberate so-called productive forces and jointly create wealth. Members of the cooperative would receive an annual supply of living materials and have work positions arranged for them."
"What is productive force, and why does it need liberation?"
Kich read the contents of the plan, though he recognized the words, their assembly formed a bewildering puzzle.
"It seems to be a popular slogan among workers and farmers within the Land of Demons, meaning more or less that by gathering the labor of workers and farmers and using advanced technology, they can create significantly greater wealth than before."
"...Hmm, it all seems so troublesome."
Kich folded his arms, looking rather puzzled.
"So what do you think?"
"Anyway, for us workers living at the bottom, it's not bad, right?"
Kich asked.
"That's correct. But it's still strange, businessmen never act without profit, no matter how reputable the Shion Flower Merchants Association might be. Without benefits, merchants won't invest."
This was the aspect that troubled Tazuna the most.
He couldn't comprehend what made himself or the workers and farmers deserving of being wooed by such a colossal association like the Shion Flower Merchants Association.
An expert bridge builder? His fame was mostly limited to the Land of Waves; in front of a commercial giant like the Shion Flower Merchants Association, his expert title held no sway.
Likewise, the majority of workers and farmers, with their particularly low education levels, were content just to have food; what conditions could possibly allow them to create more wealth?
Tazuna even felt the plan book was filled with traps.
Yet after meticulously checking it multiple times, no such traps were found.
Rather than worry, he felt a sense of novelty and confusion.
Elevating the lives of workers and farmers, or liberating so-called productive forces, what profits could there be for businessmen?
Arranging work positions and even issuing living supplies seemed like a loss for the businessmen.
The idea of a philanthropic organization... Tazuna did not trust such things.
Businessmen invest solely for profit.
The same principle applied to the International Industrial and Civil Cooperative.
Because there was profit involved, the Shion Flower Merchants Association from the Land of Demons formulated this plan book.
This was the part Tazuna found most puzzling.
It wasn't that Tazuna underestimated his capabilities, but they were too weak.
Too weak to be considered valuable by anyone.
This was a truth they had always accepted.
Workers always remained workers, farmers always remained farmers, and the lineage of the ruling classes would perpetually endure.
This was the unbroken order of the Ninja Realm.
And the established system recognized by various social strata.
If that balance was disrupted, would the elite of the Land of Waves remain indifferent?
Tazuna dared not continue imagining.
Kich was unaware of Tazuna's concerns.
Unlike Tazuna, who could foresee further implications, he only saw work and better living.
The joy was barely containable on his face.
Humans who grasp the torch would not return to a dark era.
Although not entirely firm, Kich aspired for a higher quality of life, yearning to change his family's situation.
Ichihime's goodwill made him trust without reserve.
Such kind-hearted merchants wouldn't deceive them.
Because this was an opportunity to escape poverty.
Missing it might mean it never comes again.
"You're overthinking, Tazuna, although I don't know why Ms. Ichihime is doing this, as long as it's beneficial to us, it doesn't matter. After all, this Country is already so deteriorated; maybe Ms. Ichihime is the Savior of this Country."