No major disturbances or commotions were caused.

In the silent shadows, an elite Ninja, newly assigned to Rice Leaf Mountain Castle, was captured by the even more elite Mino Secret Department.

The "Scattering of Loiterers" Technique, personally conveyed by the Sovereign himself, played a crucial role, unknowingly dispersing people from the area in advance. Then, it was just a matter of waiting for the target to return to what he thought was a safe place for a game of capturing him as if it were catching a turtle in a jar.

The Barrier Talisman temporarily isolated this area, preventing sound, movement, and turmoil...

And with debuff Yin Yang Dao Talismans like the Slow Talisman and Sealing Talisman, once they took effect, even the motions of a Demon Ghost would slow, and their energy would be greatly reduced, leaving them almost helpless...

Not to mention more means waiting in the shadows, although they remained unused.

Despite his reluctance and anger, this elite Ninja could only smile bitterly. No wonder the intelligence network at Rice Leaf Mountain Castle has been losing contact one after another.

In the end, he was humiliated and pinned down on the island. After extracting the secret message from his body, he was tied up and gagged, quickly transported to behind a vacant house nearby, then entered the underground via a very secret passage.

The cleanup of the scene was quickly completed, with all traces erased and buried.

By the time those temporarily driven from the area by the "Scattering of Loiterers" Technique returned because of sudden matters or remembered tasks, they likely wouldn't realize what had transpired here.

......

"Ugh... mmm..."

After a period of descent in an underground elevator of unknown origins, the elite Ninja was carried out. His eyes, wide open since entering the secret passage, were in shock at this unexpected development.

Despite having his mouth gagged, he couldn't help but mumble as if extremely agitated.

The underground space before him was vast beyond measure, its time of excavation unknown. Everything, from the floor to the ceiling and walls, was orderly and smooth.

Though deep underground, it appeared brightly lit and brilliant. Glass lamps embedded in the walls glowed brightly, providing an excellent lighting environment for all operations, evoking the feeling of entering a tunnel on a highway.

As he was carried over the side walkways, his eyes darted around uncontrollably. He saw people laying tracks in the central pit below—though he didn't know why.

These were Mechanical Golems, covered in biometric skin, appearing human. Despite being engineered to standard human model, their combination of mechanical body and Golem Puppet technology made them immensely strong, an untiring labor force.

They handled the most grueling tasks, tirelessly collaborating with other advanced machines, working non-stop beneath Rice Leaf Mountain Castle, achieving today's results and scale.

After two months' time, at the current rate of progress—

Two subway lines leading to Zengen Castle and Ogaki Castle were already being laid, expected to open within the month.

Before long, the captive was brought to the deepest part of this underground space, right beneath the center of Rice Leaf Mountain Castle. If he had X-ray vision, he'd realize directly above was the Heaven-Defending Tower. Here lay the greatest secret, a place of rebirth for many.

Some emerged from here, mastering skills they could've never grasped, becoming competent new-age workers ready to start at once.

Others left here as completely different people.

"Ugh... mmm..."

The elite Ninja stared with terror-widened eyes, experiencing fear for the first time because, after being brought here, the group handed him over to someone else.

And this person, he knew well... A former comrade-in-arms, one he believed utterly loyal and incapable of betrayal. But now, this missing brother carried him indifferently through a bright, pristine corridor.

Ignoring past camaraderie, everything seemed expected, natural.

Even along this path, this elite Ninja saw many familiar faces; they now appeared to stand casually on the opposing side.

They certainly recognized him. When they met, they'd greet his brother, chat a bit, even discern his identity, and burst out laughing, speaking things he couldn't understand.

Inevitably, a chilling dread welled from deep within the Ninja's heart.

He didn't fear death, only that what followed might be more terrifying than dying.

He struggled with all his might, but the weakening effects of the Yin Yang Dao Talismans lingered, and, for good measure, those who captured him had treated him with Daqin Juice. This secret extract, refined from Ninjutsu's arcane secrets, could temporarily paralyze even Demons, let alone human bodies…