This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 218 The Era of the Great Puppet

"...Ryuji, do you mean to mass-produce puppets?"

After pondering for a long time, the Third Kazekage suddenly asked a question.

"Hmm!" Long Er nodded and said, "Although the chakra manufacturing machine is not yet practically useful, it is undoubtedly a completed technology. As long as we continue to research and optimize it, we can shrink it to the size of a palm or even smaller, making it practically useful for puppets to stay away from the dragon vein."

"I naturally believe in your abilities..." The Third Kazekage pondered for a moment before continuing, "But you mean to have each Sand Village ninja accompany one or two puppets? The funds required for that are simply too enormous."

This is why Ryuji wanted to demonstrate the chakra-generating machine.

According to Ryuji's plan, even with the advanced training system learned from Konoha, Sunagakure would not be able to train a ninja force comparable to the entire ninja world within three to five years.

To avoid falling into a numerical disadvantage in war, the only option is to use puppets to compensate.

Autonomous puppets possess independent consciousness and can fight on their own, even if they don't know puppetry techniques.

However, considering the efficiency of training ninjas after the reform of the ninja academy... in three to five years, there will be at least 12,000 ninjas of Chunin level or above in Sunagakure. If each ninja is equipped with two, that would be more than 24,000.

This is still a conservative estimate.

The cost of producing so many puppets is astronomical.

Sunagakure is a brother village, and its highest decision-making body is the Round Table Council. Important decisions of the village require the approval of more than two-thirds of the members of the Round Table Council to be passed.

"But it's all worth it," Ryuji said. "Everyone has witnessed how powerful my autonomous puppets are. If each ninja in the village is equipped with two, it will greatly increase the mission completion rate and reduce casualties. Whether it's to prepare for potential future wars or for the longer-term future, it's an absolutely worthwhile deal."

"That's true, but making so many puppets would be too expensive, and I'm afraid the village's finances can't support it," the finance minister said.

Although the others did not express their opinions, they all nodded slightly in agreement.

But both Ryuji and the Third Kazekage smiled at the same time.

If the problem is that the finances cannot support it, rather than that people oppose it, then it means that everyone agrees with expanding the puppet production plan, but the conditions simply do not allow it.

Once the conditions are resolved, everything else is no longer a problem.

But would Ryuji have made this suggestion if the conditions couldn't be resolved?

That's impossible.

Long Er smiled slightly and said, "This cost cannot be entirely borne by the village."

"The village shouldn't bear the entire cost?"

The finance minister looked astonished.

Is there anyone who can help share the burden now?

A famous name?

Impossible. The village's military expenses are sponsored by the daimyo, with a certain amount allocated each year. It's impossible for them to continue investing money.

"The village's ninjas should contribute at least half of this money."

Seeing that no one understood, Ryuji explained, "Although it was a plan proposed to prepare for the war to come, once each puppet is distributed to the village's ninjas, it will become their private property. They can't possibly contribute nothing!"

The village and the ninjas have a mutually dependent relationship.

If war breaks out, then all the losses related to the war will naturally be borne by the village.

However, during missions outside of war, ninjas need to prepare their own weapons, medicine, food, and so on.

"We can do pre-sales..." Ryuji explained, "We'll offer pre-sales to the village's ninjas. Those who participate in the pre-sale can buy the puppet at half price and receive free maintenance during the Third Shinobi World War, with replacements for any damage."

"In that case, it can be used until the end of the war no matter what, which is equivalent to buying it at half price in advance."

Luo Sha quickly discovered the key to the plan.

Equipping two puppets can increase the mission completion rate and reduce the casualty rate... In peacetime, even without a half-price discount, ninjas would still buy them.

During wartime, you can buy it at half price, and it will definitely last until the end of the war, so what reason is there not to buy it?

"If that's the case, I don't think any of the village's ninjas would miss it!"

"You'll buy it eventually anyway, but buying it in advance can save you half the money, so no one would refuse that."

"Back then, everyone had two puppets; it was practically the era of the giant puppet!"

"With the funds provided by the village ninjas, the village's finances should be able to stay afloat!"

Will they survive?

The village will not spend a single penny.

Watching the members of parliament discussing amongst themselves, the Minister of Finance couldn't help but sneer.

Half-price pre-sale refers to half the selling price, not half the cost.

The autonomous puppet is unique, and the price he can sell it for is entirely up to Long Er. Even if it's half the pre-sale price, he'll still make a profit.

These councilors may each have their own unique strengths as ninjas, but they are complete novices when it comes to business.

Upon hearing about the half-price pre-sale, I assumed it was a benefit from the village subsidizing half of the price.

Actually... well, it really is a benefit.

After all, it's not a subsidy from the village, but rather a reduction in earnings.

They used the money from pre-sales to buy materials, then made puppets to sell to ninjas and made a fortune... Although it did indeed benefit the ninjas, it was still a bit of a scheme to get something for nothing.

"Since everyone agrees, then this plan is settled," the Third Kazekage said. "The detailed plan will be handled by Rasa."

"yes!"

Then the crowd dispersed.

Ryuji smiled with satisfaction.

As the inventor and manufacturer of the autonomous puppets, all the money from selling them naturally went into his pocket, and with this money, his subsequent research projects could proceed smoothly.

Research cannot be separated from funding. In order to study the principles of dragon vein formation, chakra amplification armor, and chakra generators, Ryuji has run out of money.

……

The pre-sale plan for the self-disciplined puppet is going smoothly.

When Rasa posted a notice on the Kazekage Building bulletin board announcing a half-price pre-sale of the Autonomous Puppet, the village ninjas reacted strongly.

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

Ryuji's name is renowned throughout the ninja world, and his autonomous puppets are also famous, with the Mechanical Bird and Steel Fortress being regarded by puppeteers as the pinnacle of puppetry.

They were almost like gods.

How could the village ninjas not be enthusiastic about selling such items?

Almost instantly after the notice was posted, hundreds of ninjas went to the relevant departments to inquire, and then paid to pre-order, not to actually buy.

The gleaming silver coins fell into Long Er's pocket.

He divided the money in two and placed two more orders with Cardo.

One set of materials was for purchasing standard autonomous puppets, and the other set was for materials needed for the experiment.

At the same time, real estate pre-sale plans are also in full swing.

Although the entire ninja world secretly united against Sunagakure, ordinary people who were unaware that other ninja villages were also about to possess Sky Castle believed that even if Sunagakure couldn't win, it could remain undefeated, and the Castle of the Machines was still the safest place.

Therefore, a large number of wealthy merchants and nobles came to pre-order.

(End of this chapter)