"One person, twelve thousand ryo?"
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes nearly popped out upon hearing this salary, and he felt a mix of emotions.
Uchiha Kinya was indeed spending a lot.
Twelve thousand ryo per person, with about fifty to sixty people resting at the merchant association, that's around seven to eight hundred thousand ryo a month.
Spending so much money just to support the Uchiha clan members?
When calculated, Uchiha Kinya had spent quite a bit for these clan members.
Not only was Fugaku shocked, but even the clan members following him were astonished. A salary of twelve thousand ryo, and the merchant association also provided food and accommodation.
Many looked at the current treatment of their former colleagues, feeling restless. If they could join the association, it would be great.
Gulp, gulp.
They could even hear the sound of people swallowing.
"Uchiha Kinya, do you want me to also pay twelve thousand ryo?" Fugaku asked as he looked at Kinya.
"I just mentioned that they can work for the Police Force during their free time at the merchant association. You can pay less, just twelve thousand ryo per person!" Kinya repeated, making it clear that if Fugaku could persuade the clan members to help the Police Force in their spare time, they should go ahead.
"Twelve thousand is too much." Fugaku was surprised and shifted his gaze past Kinya to Uchiha Shin and the others. "You're free now, so you can contribute to the clan!"
His tone sounded almost like a request.
Fugaku felt there was no other way and was merely asking.
"Clan head, we also have families to feed. If you can only pay less, we can stick to the previous Police Force's salary!" Uchiha Shin looked at Fugaku's slightly forlorn face and said again, "The basic salary for the Police Force used to be eight thousand ryo!"
Eight thousand ryo?
Fugaku was speechless. If there were fifty people, each needing eight thousand ryo, that would be nearly four hundred thousand ryo. They couldn't afford that.
He shook his head and said, "Eight thousand is not possible!"
"Clan head, do you want us to serve the clan? Or do you want us to work for Konoha without compensation?" Recently, the various issues surrounding the Police Force had made them very frustrated. They truly didn't want to return to the Konoha Police Force.
They also didn't want to endure such humiliation.
Uchiha Shin was especially unwilling to go back. Ever since Fugaku asked them to apologize to those bullies, the Police Force had become unrecognizable.
If it weren't for the previous concession to apologize and make amends, the Uchiha Police Force wouldn't have fallen this low.
"Kinya, you are also a member of the Uchiha clan. You can't just stand by and watch the clan legacy of the Police Force decline!" Fugaku spoke, realizing he couldn't convince them but still tried.
He knew they couldn't provide the money right now, so he had to appeal to their feelings to get Kinya to agree.
Without others joining, the remaining dozen members of the Police Force would collapse completely.
"It's not that I don't want to help you, but these clan members don't want to work in the Police Force anymore!" Uchiha Kinya looked at Fugaku and the dozen or so exhausted members of the Police Force, knowing what a brutal experience they had gone through. "If the clan members want to go back, I have no objections!"
Members who had stayed here long enough probably didn't want to return to that place.
"Uchiha Shin, our clan is in trouble. Don't you really want to help the clan?" Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Shin with a pleading tone.
Without these people, the Uchiha Police Force might really collapse.
The reason he sought out Uchiha Shin was that he was the most respected among them, aside from Uchiha Kinya.
"Clan Leader, the nature of the Police Force has changed. I can't stay there anymore!" Uchiha Shin shook his head. He didn't want to bear the grievances, but if those troublemakers provoked him, he would still hold back from fighting.
After Uchiha Shin finished speaking, the other clan members nodded in agreement.
No one wanted to return to the Police Force.
"Kinya, this matter depends on you now. If no one supports the Uchiha Police Force, it will truly disband!" Uchiha Fugaku finally looked at Uchiha Kinya helplessly. "The Police Force is the last legacy of our Uchiha clan in Konoha!"
The last legacy!
Kinya frowned at these words, feeling a stir in his heart.
He was also a Uchiha and had been instilled with pride in the Uchiha clan since childhood. Although he was angry that Fugaku gave up half of the Uchiha Police Force, he didn't want the Uchiha to completely lose it.
If that happened, it would be a shame for the Uchiha clan.
Thinking this, his heart began to waver.
His eyes unintentionally glanced at his son Genya, who had just confidently declared that they wouldn't give any money. Now he wanted to help?
Genya noticed his father's current behavior and felt uneasy. His father was truly swayed by Fugaku's words. If he wasn't careful, they could end up in a trap. If they agreed, his fifty men would become free labor for the Police Force.
Moreover, his father would be spending money and energy.
It would be pure folly, and even after this matter, Fugaku and his son would not be grateful.
They absolutely could not agree.
But seeing his father's clear emotional response to the situation's impact on the Uchiha's honor, even the other ninjas looked a bit sad.
They had to find a way.
"Dad, since Clan Leader Fugaku has said this, let's agree!" Genya turned his eyes and tugged at Uchiha Kinya's hand, speaking in a childish tone.
As soon as these words were spoken, Uchiha Kinya and the clan members behind him were taken aback. However, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes lit up, and he looked at Genya with a bit more comfort.
At that moment, Uchiha Kinya and his son exchanged glances, confused about what his son meant. Kinya called out hesitantly, "Son?"
He really didn't understand what his son was thinking.
"Dad, I heard the village gives the Uchiha Police Force 500,000 ryo every month. If we ask Uncle Fugaku for 300,000 ryo, we can send some of the merchants' spare ninjas to work at the Police Force. We can then split the 300,000 ryo as bonuses for everyone!" Genya said, pulling on his father's hand and stating his terms.
"300,000 ryo?" Uchiha Fugaku hesitated. To be honest, he really didn't want to give that much.
Besides, he still owed the village a lot of money.
"Clan Leader Fugaku, you don't agree? You have more than ten people in the Police Force, so the remaining 200,000 ryo could be given to everyone as a bonus with everyone getting 10,000 ryo each!" Uchiha Kinya looked at Fugaku. If he didn't agree to this, there would be no point in discussing further.
The ninjas who had come with Fugaku also brightened at this suggestion. This was the best choice; if things continued as they were, they might break down.
"I can give you that, but it will start from next month!" Fugaku took a deep breath and continued, "There are three days left this month. Starting next month, I will give you 300,000 ryo!"
At that moment, Genya looked at Uchiha Shin behind him, winked, and then pointed at his father.
Uchiha Shin clearly understood Genya's meaning and nodded at him.
Fugaku then spoke, "Shin, take 50 people to the Police Force. They urgently need more hands, and you know what to do!"
"Clan Leader, we can go to the Police Force, but we have one condition!" Uchiha Shin said on behalf of the others.
Fugaku frowned, surprised that Uchiha Kinya agreed, and now Uchiha Shin was adding conditions: "What condition?"
Uchiha Shin looked at Fugaku and said slowly, "The Police Force needs a new leader. If there's no new leader, we don't want to go back!"
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