Oda Ieyasu, or rather the government and business groups centered around the Daimyo, clearly understood Linto's plan.
It was simply to overthrow some people and create a world without pressure, where people could live like people, using the idea of "awakening thoughts," so that when that time came—
"Resources and power will be broken up and redistributed based on each person's actual needs, so that everyone can maximize their self-worth and efficiency..."
Oda Ieyasu quietly looked at Linto.
"Such a dreamlike world."
"Then, Mr. Linto, how do you plan to fight against human desires with your idea of equality and distribution according to need?"
The moonlight was strong, reflecting in the small pond in the courtyard.
The bamboo water fountain slowly filled, and then— with a "thud"— it dropped, startling the fish in the pond to dart away, shattering the moon's reflection into ripples.
It was like the state of mind of everyone present.
Terumi Mei quietly clenched her fist, worriedly looking at Linto's back.
It was just a question, and the other person wasn't being pushy, but the question felt like a needle, piercing straight into their minds.
She had no answer.
She hadn't found the answer on the way from Youma County.
But Terumi Mei understood that Oda Ieyasu was right, the fog in Youma County was indeed his kindness.
As a Daimyo, as an honest man, Oda Ieyasu didn't launch a surprise attack tonight, but instead threw the question to Linto early, giving him enough time to think.
She couldn't even argue against Oda Ieyasu's points.
If things were distributed according to need... what is there in this world that people don't need?
People would crave fancy foods and desire to go to the sky or the sea.
The desire pit is hard to fill, and people are never satisfied; it's simply human nature.
All eyes were on Linto.
In the quiet room, the casual conversation had, without anyone realizing it, become heavy, as if the following words would decide the life and death of countless people and the direction of the world.
Linto took a deep breath and looked up from his thoughts.
When his eyes met Linto's, Oda Ieyasu, who had picked up his teacup and was about to take a sip, stopped. He felt the power in Linto's eyes.
He slowly put down the teacup, straightened his back, and waited for Linto's answer in the most serious manner.
Linto tapped his finger on the table, on a piece of paper with the word "Awakening" written on it.
"Desire is indeed human nature, but the pursuit of power, money, women, status...
Is this a desire from the bottom of people's hearts?
Or is it a desire forced upon them by the world?"
For a human, being able to eat enough and having a safe environment is enough to live comfortably.
It's the times that tempt them, telling them from childhood that only being better than others is success and happiness.
For those who don't crave success or happiness, the times whip them with taxes, forced labor, and debt, forcing them to run and compete.
Linto picked up his teacup:
"You drink expensive tea, live in a mansion, have a beautiful wife, and have countless people serving you with a wave of your hand.
But is the happiness these things bring you coming from your heart, or from the world's approval?"
Oda Ieyasu: "..."
This was ironic.
The happiness people get from buying houses, cars, new phones, promotions, and raises is often like a beautiful feather, floating on the surface of their hearts.
And the pain people get in life often grows from the inside out.
"Oda Ieyasu, do you think one Hori Masaji can shake me? No, his appearance will only make me realize that this path is the right one."
Linto said: "The 'desire' you mentioned is the desire of the times.
When this era is overthrown and the old rules are destroyed, the corresponding desires will naturally change.
Conversely, if we always stay in the past and are trapped in the current rules, people will always be entangled in this terrible desire and unable to escape."
Thud—
The bamboo water fountain chimed again.
Oda Ieyasu said: "But these rules maintain the most basic order and have supported generations."
Linto nodded slightly: "That's right, before productivity is completely full, these rules will continue to operate normally according to the pace you are familiar with.
But you and the business groups behind you know that this world's wrong technology tree is being rewritten.
At some point, without me even doing anything, countless people will rush in and tear down your roof."
This time, Oda Ieyasu didn't immediately question him. He was thinking, looking for flaws in Linto's words and will.
Thud—
The sound of the bamboo water fountain woke him up.
"But overthrowing 'us' doesn't necessarily mean it will be 'you'; it could also be—"
Oda Ieyasu reached out and tapped the bloodstained paper.
"It could be 'them'. The world will fall into deeper chaos."
Linto also reached out and tapped the paper.
"So, I want to make more people... 'awaken'."
Adjusting the technology tree, increasing production, and overthrowing the original rules to create new desires.
Awakening their thoughts to keep those desires within a controllable range.
Of course, this involves more detailed systems and regulations, which will take a long time to refine.
But for Linto and Oda Ieyasu now, getting to this point was enough.
It wasn't until now that Terumi Mei and the others behind them breathed quietly.
It was just a verbal exchange, but to them, it felt like a battle between two top ninjas.
Every sentence, every word, was a deadly blow aimed straight at the heart.
Especially for Linto, if he wavered in his heart, the path he was pursuing would be completely cut off.
But now it seems—
Terumi Mei looked at the two.
Oda Ieyasu was kneeling, and Linto was sitting cross-legged.
In terms of height, Oda Ieyasu was higher, and this was his home ground, but judging from the aura the two were giving off...
He won!
Although the two of them chattered on for a long time, she could only understand a part of it, but as long as she knew he won, that was enough!
"One last question."
Oda Ieyasu relaxed his shoulders a little. His words were less formal and more like those of a friend:
"Mr. Linto, why do you want to go to such lengths?"
"Because—"
Linto thought of the bodies in the Uchiha compound, the people locked in cages in Kirigakure, and the "sage" who soaked people in ponds to make pickles.
"This isn't right."
Knowing that it was wrong and happening to know what was right, so he did it.
"That's all?"
"That's all."
Oda Ieyasu chuckled, then laughed loudly.
He laughed heartily, tears coming to his eyes, and then, at the loudest point, he stopped, turning it into a deep sigh.
"Mr. Linto, you are truly amazing, but..."
"Why did you and I have to be born in the same era?"
Thud—
The bamboo water fountain chimed for the fourth time.
A circle of red barrier sealed off the study.
Zabuza scoffed: "You're going to rely on this kind of thing to kill us?"
He thought Oda Ieyasu had been talking for so long that he would have some real skills, but he didn't expect it to still be the old tricks of ambushing and killing people.
Oda Ieyasu shook his head slightly: "You misunderstand. I wouldn't expect to kill you.
These simple things are meant to, in front of Mr. Linto, in front of millions of tourists in Kyoto..."
"Kill me."
Linto understood his plan.
Before they set out, Terumi Mei had said that the Land of Water had two heroes, one was Linto, and the other was Oda Ieyasu.
Oda Ieyasu had just stabilized the country and couldn't possibly openly attack Linto, regardless of the world's opinion.
But... the reverse was also true.
"This is your plan."
Linto stared at Oda Ieyasu.
First, try to shake his ideas with words.
After the attempt failed and he was sure he couldn't shake him...
He would use his own life as dirty ink to smear Linto from head to toe!
Boom!!!
Trembling and heat came from beneath their feet.
"Explosion! It's an explosion!"
The high temperature and impact of the explosion was comparable to the explosion of tens of millions of explosive tags all at once, coming from below.
Linto suddenly raised his hand.
"Star Platinum! The World!"
"Time, stop!"
---
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