"I know how to run a business!" Haruto Saito spread his hands.
He stared at Koharu Utatane and spoke rapidly, "Lady Koharu, do you know how much tax revenue my business district contributes to Konoha every month? I have revitalized eight surrounding blocks! I have stimulated consumption! I dare say, only I could accomplish this!"
"I make money legally! Can you say my business is illegal? I conduct lawful business, and I contribute exceptional tax revenue to Konoha. It's a win-win situation! Lady Koharu, tell me, where is the problem?"
"You…" Koharu wanted to say something!
"Just shut up!" Haruto Saito cut her off again. "How about this, Lady Koharu? From now on, you can designate any two places in Konoha, and then find someone to compete with me! Let's see who can boost the economy the fastest! Let's see who can contribute more tax revenue to Konoha! What do you say? Do you dare? If you lose, I believe you should voluntarily resign. With your intelligence, you are no longer suitable for the role of an advisor…"
Koharu's face turned red with anger!
Of course, she didn't dare to compete with Haruto Saito! His business acumen had reached an abnormal level! Competing with him would be suicide!
But this wasn't just about competition.
It was the fact that Haruto Saito's words were too ruthless!
"This isn't fair!" Koharu finally squeezed out. "You are the Minister of Commerce; you have authority…"
"Since it's a competition, the authority should be equal!" Haruto Saito immediately countered. "So? Do you dare? Or, Lady Koharu, would you like to participate yourself? Let's see who can stimulate the economy better and contribute more tax revenue to Konoha! Whoever loses steps down! Do you dare? Are you capable?"
Koharu was at a loss for words once again!
The atmosphere grew awkward.
The topic had completely been derailed by Haruto Saito!
"And you all!" Haruto suddenly pointed at the others, sweeping his finger across the group, including Hyuga Raiyo and Danzo. "Each of you! Who wants to compete with me? Put your position on the line! Whoever loses steps down! Dare to challenge me?! Come on, raise your hand if you think you can beat me. Let me see…"
Haruto Saito was going all out!
Bullying Koharu alone wasn't impressive. Since so many people were trying to impeach him today, he had to retaliate against them all!
The entire group was too frightened to speak!
They had to keep up appearances, maintaining a solemn posture.
"Haruto Saito, Konoha has never denied your abilities!" Danzo suddenly spoke. "But just because you have skills doesn't mean you can exploit your position for personal gain…"
"Lord Danzo!" Haruto Saito loudly interrupted. "Let me remind you once again, what I do is called making money—legal money—not hoarding wealth! Even if you're jealous of how much I earn, please don't misrepresent the facts!"
Danzo's face darkened.
"Furthermore, let me emphasize once again, Konoha's interests come first!" Haruto Saito continued, speaking rapidly. "I make money with my skills, and I contribute a huge amount of tax revenue to Konoha. If someone else were in charge, the revenue they could generate wouldn't even reach one-fifth of mine! You say I exploit my position, but I have never harmed Konoha's interests. Instead, I have done what you all failed to do—I have increased Konoha's income. Yet, you still want to impeach me? What exactly is your agenda?"
In truth, Haruto Saito's words were twisted logic!
Everyone felt there was something wrong with his argument, but they couldn't pinpoint the flaw, leaving them unable to refute him.
"Haruto Saito, since you claim Konoha's interests are paramount, can I ask you a question?" A cold voice suddenly interjected.
Haruto Saito looked over; it was Hyuga Raiyo who spoke!
"Lord Raiyo, please go ahead," Haruto Saito replied indifferently.
"How much money do you have right now?" Hyuga Raiyo asked a sensitive question!
Revealing the answer would certainly stir resentment!
But it didn't really matter, because Konoha's leadership already had a rough estimate of his wealth.
"Cash plus fixed assets, barely thirty billion ryo! So what?" Haruto Saito responded and then countered.
The conference room fell silent for a moment!
They had only estimated before, but now, hearing an exact figure, their worldview was shaken… They had never seen someone accumulate wealth so fast! It was like printing money!
Haruto Saito sneered inwardly, thinking, "Amateurs! Real estate is basically printing money!"
"Since you are so wealthy!" Hyuga Raiyo regained his composure and continued, "And you always emphasize that Konoha's interests come first! Then why don't you donate money to Konoha?"
Shameless!
"You talk as if the Hyuga Clan is poor!" Haruto Saito sneered at Hyuga Raiyo. "How about this, Lord Raiyo! Starting right now, this very moment! However much your Hyuga Clan donates to Konoha, I will donate the same amount!"
Bang!
Haruto Saito pulled out a stack of banknotes and slammed them onto the table!
"This is about five billion ryo!" Haruto Saito stared at Hyuga Raiyo. "Come on, Lord Raiyo! You're not a pauper! The Hyuga Clan is one of Konoha's top clans, with numerous businesses! Come on, how much are you donating? Whatever you donate, I'll match it! Let's go! Right now! Bring the money! Don't stay silent! Come on!"
Hyuga Raiyo's face turned purple!
His hands trembled under the table!
He was at a loss for words!
He wanted to slap himself! Why did he have to talk so much?
"What's wrong? Embarrassed? Don't play dumb!" Haruto Saito saw Hyuga Raiyo's silence and kept pressing. "How about this? Whatever I donate, you match! I'll go first! Sound good? No? Fine! I won't bully you all. I'm rich—I'll donate double! I'll donate five billion ryo, and each of you, yes, you and you, all of you trying to impeach me, Lady Koharu included… You all donate two and a half billion ryo each. How about that?"
No one dared to respond!
Haruto Saito was literally throwing money at them! He would actually donate! But the question was, would the noble clans of Konoha dare to follow?
The conference room was silent!
Some people sat motionless like meditating monks, not daring to speak!
Others shot Hyuga Raiyo side-glances, as if saying, "Are you an idiot? Why would you say that?!"
"No one's donating?" Haruto Saito continued nonchalantly. "You should've said so earlier! I thought you were all burning with patriotic fervor and ready to give everything to Konoha! Honestly, I even felt a little guilty for a moment—so wealthy yet not donating to Konoha. My mistake, my fault… Looks like I overestimated you all. Turns out, we're the same, huh? Heh."
Haruto Saito smirked and tucked his banknotes back into his pocket!
The atmosphere in the conference room had become unbearably awkward, as if many people felt uneasy sitting there, fidgeting as though they wanted to escape!