Chapter 0097: The Arrogant Centipede

"Very well."

Orochimaru found it amusing. Someone daring to pose as one of his subordinates right in front of him was, in its own way, quite interesting. He smiled faintly and said, "I want information about the Kingdom of Loulan."

"The Kingdom of Loulan?" Mukade blinked. "You mean the ancient kingdom of Loulan? You’re going there for treasure too?"

If it had been anything else, he might not have known the answer. He had already decided to con someone out of a fee and then vanish; once he had enough money, would this world not be his for the taking? So no matter what Orochimaru asked, he intended to weave a convincing story, take the deposit, and disappear.

But it happened to be the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

Mukade thumped his chest, looking immensely pleased with himself. "Then you’ve come to the right person. I know far more about the ancient kingdom of Loulan than anyone else does."

He did not say anything specific, but he raised his hand and rubbed his fingers together in front of Orochimaru. The meaning was unmistakable.

Orochimaru took a money pouch from his robe and tossed it lightly in his hand.

Mukade stared, eyes fixed and unblinking. That plump pouch was enough!

"Hahaha."

Mukade said, "The ancient kingdom of Loulan was discovered a year ago, an old ruin already stripped once by the Fire Country, but everybody knows there must still be things left behind. Plenty of people have already made fortunes there!"

He could not help thinking of himself. He was one of those who had gone to pick up the leftovers. Though he had found nothing, unlike the others he had vast ambition and a wildly unconventional mind. What he had his eye on was the Dragon Vein.

The Dragon Vein possessed immense power. It had once erupted violently, and to prevent evil men from taking advantage of it, the Fourth Hokage had sealed it away.

In this world, few could break the Fourth Hokage’s sealing techniques, and he was not among them.

But he had taken a different path and truly found a method to undo it.

The money he had been collecting this time was for that very method.

Bringing his thoughts back, Mukade spoke with great fervor and detail about what he knew of the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

"...Ahem, that about covers most of the information on the ancient kingdom of Loulan. If you want the details, or a few other inside rumors, that would probably..." Mukade rubbed his fingers together, his gaze shining as he stared at the money pouch in Orochimaru's hand.

Orochimaru remained expressionless. He had not expected Mukade to actually know anything about Loulan, but knowing more was better. Under Mukade's greed-bright eyes, he put the pouch back into his robe.

Mukade: "?"

"What do you mean by that?" Mukade's eyes turned fierce. "You don't plan to pay?"

He pulled back his coat, revealing three kunai tucked at his waist, and growled, "I used to serve Orochimaru. I may only be a middle-ranking ninja, but my strength is greater than that of most shadow-level fighters! Think carefully!"

Just then—

"Lord Orochimaru."

Kimimaro had returned with the information.

Both Orochimaru and Mukade looked toward him. The place was too noisy, and Kimimaro's voice had been swallowed by the surrounding din, so Mukade had not heard him clearly.

Seeing Kimimaro approach, Mukade's expression turned vicious. When Kimimaro came near, he leaned close to his ear and lowered his voice.

"Your companion bought information from me. If he listens and then refuses to pay, then don't blame me for being rude."

Kimimaro froze. "Being rude?"

"That's right, hahaha, scared now, aren't you? Let me tell you, I once crushed Kabuto with my fists and kicked Kimimaro to the ground, and I only barely lost to Orochimaru. If you provoke me, the two of you are finished!"

After issuing his warning, Mukade charged forward with great momentum, intending to snatch the money pouch from Orochimaru's arms.

Crack.

Kimimaro struck instantly, hitting Mukade once. A metallic snapping sound rang out.

Mukade was not a real person, but a puppet. Struck at a critical joint by Kimimaro, it collapsed into pieces on the floor.

The scene startled many people. Quite a few eyes turned toward them, but none of those present were ordinary. After a brief glance, they all went back to their own business.

Some even passed by casually, bent to pick up a part from the scattered puppet, tucked it into their clothes, and walked off as though nothing had happened.

Kimimaro said, "Lord Orochimaru, we have disturbed you."

Orochimaru shook his head. He had found the whole thing rather amusing, but it was over now. "Did you get the information?"

"Yes."

Orochimaru nodded. "Then let us go."

...

Elsewhere, in a dark room not far from the bounty hall, Mukade's true body flew into a rage and opened his eyes.

They had dared not to pay, and they had even broken his puppet!

He was a missing-nin from the Sand Ninja Village and a master of puppetry. Though he only had the strength of a middle-ranking ninja, if he gave it his all, killing an elite ninja would not be impossible.

And they dared to cross him?

Mukade, seething with anger, sent out another puppet to the bounty hall, but he did not find Orochimaru or Kimimaro there.

He was a ninja, and he did not fear powerless commoners. He shoved his way to the front of the line, and though others were furious, none dared speak.

He reached the counter window. The staff there did not seem to care and asked, "Are you here to take a mission, or to post one?"

Mukade replied, "Neither. I want information on two people."

He began to describe them. "One has long hair hanging over his shoulders, snake-like vertical pupils, earrings, and purple markings on both sides of his nose.

"And the other has two red dots on his forehead. Strange-looking. They were in the hall just now, here to buy information."

The staff member listened more and more closely, the description growing increasingly odd. Could it be those two people from the rumors?

He was in charge of selling information and knew a great deal, including the appearance of the strongest and most influential person in the ninja world today, Orochimaru, as well as the people who often stood at his side.

If it really was those two... then had Orochimaru and Kimimaro just come to their organization?

A storm of shock rose in his heart, though his face remained calm. While he searched the records, he probed Mukade's intentions. "What do you want with those two?"

"What do I want?" Mukade revealed a horrifying smile. "I don't mind telling you. I'm going to teach those two a lesson! They crossed me. If they hadn't run fast, hmph, I'd have shown them why flowers are so red!"

At that moment, the staff member pulled up today's purchase records and clearly saw the signature on the list.

Kimimaro.

Confirmed.

Orochimaru and Kimimaro had really been here, and the troublesome customer was indeed looking for trouble with those two.

The staff member suddenly leaned forward and studied Mukade carefully, making Mukade's skin crawl.

Mukade looked down at himself uneasily. Nothing seemed wrong. His clothes covered him well; ordinary people should not be able to see that he was a puppet.

The staff member asked, "You're serious about causing them trouble?"

Mukade immediately understood. So he had been frightened by his overwhelming presence. He laughed aloud. "Of course I am. More genuine than pearls!" He even tossed out a joke.

The staff member's mouth twitched into something that was not quite a smile. Then he operated the screen beside him and said, "Those two are headed to the Kingdom of Loulan, and we arranged a guide for them. I’ll just replace that guide with you. Go to the address and you’ll find them."

"That easy?"

Mukade was a little surprised. They had even arranged him as the guide. It seemed his bragging from earlier had actually worked, though the timing was a bit tight.

Still, this was a good opportunity. As for the problem of not having enough money, he would solve it by any means necessary.

Mukade said, "Thanks. How much is it altogether?"

Information consultations required payment.

Unexpectedly, the staff member said it was free.

Mukade: "?"

He left the bounty hall in a daze, thinking to himself that bragging really was surprisingly useful...

...

After Mukade left, the bounty hall shut down immediately. All the staff gathered together, holding the signature from the purchase record, and the report was sent up the chain of command in layers.

Orochimaru and Kimimaro had been here!

The staff member who had handled Kimimaro's case was slapping his own forehead in regret. When he had dealt with Kimimaro, he had been strictly businesslike, never even looking at the signature and never imagining he would meet someone of such stature.

By then, he was filled with deep regret and lingering fear.

Regret that he had not secured a connection.

Fear that he might have done something wrong while handling the matter and been marked in Kimimaro's memory.

Now everything was too late.

The message that "Mukade inquired about Orochimaru and Kimimaro and appeared to have hostile intentions" was also personally delivered to Orochimaru by the strongest figure stationed in this city's bounty hunter branch.

He also told Orochimaru that they had assigned that arrogant fool Mukade to serve as Orochimaru's guide, and that Orochimaru could deal with him however he pleased.

...

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "I see."

Kimimaro said, "The bounty branch in Redstone City knows how to handle things. They will certainly grow stronger after this."

To be able to receive someone like Orochimaru and Kimimaro, and even be of help to them, was their good fortune.