booktalesy Chapter 28 The Shadow from Seibu
Chapter 28 The Shadow from Seibu
In June, the sky over Tokyo seemed to have a hole in it.
Since the beginning of the month, continuous rain has shrouded the city in a gray, misty fog. The air humidity is extremely high, and the asphalt roads in Marunouchi have a sticky sheen, making the sound of cars passing by dull and sluggish.
In the office of Saionji Industrial Co., Ltd., even though the central air conditioning was running at full capacity and the dehumidification mode was turned up to the maximum, the deep-seated dampness still lingered.
Shuichi sat in the main seat of the conference room, holding a cup of Darjeeling tea.
The steam from the hot black tea rose gently, blurring his vision behind his glasses. He stared out the window at the seemingly endless rain, lost in thought.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Xiu Yi turned around and placed the black tea he was holding on the table.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open.
A man wearing a dark blue double-breasted suit walked in.
Quan Tian.
Deputy Director of the Development Department at Seibu Land Development Co., Ltd.
A year ago, on the tennis courts in Karuizawa, it was this man who, representing the Seibu Group, attempted to acquire the Saionji family's villa.
Shuichi knew perfectly well that a behemoth like the Seibu Group wouldn't send a brainless idiot to negotiate business. Gonda's arrogance stemmed more from the "natural aura" created by his enormous capital advantage than from a matter of personal character.
"Member of the House of Representatives, how have you been?"
With a professional smile, Quan Tian bowed slightly, performing a standard business greeting.
His attitude was more polite than a year ago. After all, the Saionji family's recent moves in Ginza and Akasaka had already stirred up quite a stir in the industry. Furthermore, Seibu had also received some word about the Saionji family's activities in the financial sector. In short, in Seibu's eyes, the Saionji family had evolved from an ant into a strong wolf—possessing the ability to hunt, but posing little threat.
"Deputy Director Gonda." Shuichi didn't stand up, but simply gestured to the leather sofa opposite him. "What brings such a busy man like you here? If it's about Karuizawa, I think we already discussed it quite clearly last time."
"Heh, let bygones be bygones."
Quan Tian sat down, placed his briefcase on his lap, and spoke in a relaxed tone.
"There are no permanent enemies in business. Chairman Tsutsumi often says that the Saionji family is a prestigious family with a foundation that our business groups do not have."
He took a document out of his bag and handed it to him with both hands.
"I'm here for another business deal. Perhaps this could be the starting point for a friendship between our two families."
Xiuyi took the document and glanced at the cover.
Letter of Intent for Transfer of Azabu-Juban Plot in Minato Ward.
"Another land purchase?" Xiu put down the document without opening it. "The speed at which the Seibu Group expands its territory is truly astonishing."
"This isn't expansion; this is resource integration."
Quan Tian smiled and leaned forward.
"Mr. Councilor, I heard that you acquired that famous 'ghost house' last month? Although that plot of land is also in Minato Ward, as you know, the terrain is irregular and it's a haunted house, so its commercial value is very low."
"Perfect timing. Our Chairman Tsutsumi is currently planning the second phase expansion of the 'Tokyo Prince Hotel.' That plot of land isn't far from our main building. Although we can't build the main building there, it's still very suitable as land for supporting facilities."
Quan Tian stretched out one hand, spreading his five fingers.
"Five hundred million yen."
His tone was enticing, as if he were giving candy to a child.
"You bought it for 400 million, right? It's only been a month, and you're already making 100 million in profit. And Seibu covers all the transfer taxes and fees. That's real cash profit, and the Saionji family needs cash flow for their expansion right now, doesn't they?"
Shuichi looked at the five fingers.
A profit of 100 million yen.
Indeed, this aligns perfectly with business logic. Buy low, sell high, and secure your profits. If Xiu Yi were just an ordinary businessman, he would have already signed the agreement by now.
Unfortunately, the Saionji family is not actually short of cash flow. Even excluding overseas assets, the Saionji family currently has ample liquid funds.
"Vice Minister Gonda, if I may ask a question," Shuichi tapped lightly on the table, "if you buy it, what does Chairman Tsutsumi plan to do with that old mansion?"
"A Western-style mansion?"
Quan Tian paused for a moment, then smiled slightly and said.
"While we respect the cultural value of the old building, it's too old, has high maintenance costs, and its layout isn't suitable for commercial use. The planning department's suggestion is to demolish it and build a multi-story parking garage, or turn it into a green park, to improve the environment around the hotel."
"Level the road...and build a parking lot."
Shuichi repeated the sentence, the smile on his lips fading slightly.
That was the former residence of Count Kyogoku, a testament to the romanticism of the Taisho era. In the eyes of the Seibu Group, its value was merely that of a concrete slab used to park those expensive imported cars.
That's right. That's the efficiency of capital.
But this is not the way of the Saionji family.
"Deputy Director Gonda."
Shuichi slowly took a cigar out of his pocket, cut it open, and lit it.
Blue smoke rose up.
"Please go back and tell Chairman Tsutsumi that I will not profit from this 100 million yen."
Quan Tian's smile froze on his face.
"Mr. Saionji, is it too little? If it's a price issue, we can discuss it further..."
"It's not about the money."
Shuichi shook his head, his gaze calm.
"I'll keep that land; I need it. I'm going to build a club there."
"A club?" Gonda frowned, his tone carrying an undisguised skepticism. "On that kind of secluded slope? And in a haunted house at that? Mr. Saionji, business isn't child's play. Do you really think you have the resources to support a high-end club?"
He paused, his tone becoming meaningful.
"Furthermore, you should know that if the Seibu Group doesn't acquire the land it's eyeing... the surrounding urban planning, road approvals, and even bank loans might become 'slightly' troublesome. After all, this is Tokyo, and Chairman Tsutsumi's reputation is still quite valuable."
This is a threat.
Although it was phrased euphemistically, the meaning was clear: if you don't give Seibu face, your business in Tokyo will be very difficult.
Shuichi stopped what he was doing.
He raised his head, and the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses did not waver in the slightest; instead, it became even sharper.
"Deputy Director Gonda, you just said that Chairman Tsutsumi's influence is a passport to success."
Xiu Yi said calmly.
"But in my view, face is something that is given to each other."
"The Seibu Group has its own rules, and the Saionji family has its own rules."
He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Quan Tian.
"Not only will I not sell that land, but I will also develop it into the most prestigious place in all of Tokyo."
"High bar?" Quan Tian sneered, standing up as well. "How high? High enough that even our Chairman Tsutsumi can't get in?"
Shuichi turned around and looked at Gonda.
His expression remained gentle, but his words carried weight.
"That depends on Chairman Tsutsumi's capacity in coming here."
"If he's here as the 'Chairman of the Seibu Group' to discuss business, acquisitions, or simply to showcase his wealth..."
Xiu Yi pointed to the doorway.
"I'm sorry, the door here won't be opened for him."
"But if he could shed the title of 'Emperor Seibu' and come simply as an appreciative guest, with respect for his host."
"Then, the Saionji family is always welcome."
Quan Tian was stunned.
Although these words did not directly insult anyone, the underlying arrogance was even more vicious than any verbal abuse.
This means: Here, my rules are more important than your money. Even if you are Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, you have to follow my rules when you come to my territory.
"Well... well, the Saionji family is something else."
Quan Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He knew that the talks were over.
"I will convey your insightful remarks to the president verbatim."
He grabbed his briefcase, straightened his perfectly wrinkle-free suit, and resumed his cold, businesslike demeanor.
"However, Mr. Saionji, Tokyo has a long rainy season. I hope your body can withstand the rheumatism that's about to develop."
After speaking, he bowed slightly, turned around, and strode out of the conference room.
Shuichi looked at the closed door, sat back down in his chair, and exhaled a long smoke ring.
My palms were slightly sweaty.
After all, he had just been asserting "sovereignty" to the most powerful businessman in all of Japan.
The door to the lounge was pushed open.
Satsuki casually stroked the teddy bear's fur and came out.
"Father, my heart seemed to be beating faster just now."
Satsuki walked to the table, picked up the letter of intent that Shuichi had rejected, and casually threw it into the trash can.
"I was a little nervous," Shuichi admitted with a wry smile. "After all, that's Yoshiaki Tsutsumi. Although I left room for maneuver with my words just now, it was still a way of humiliating him."
"Face is earned, not given."
Satsuki looked out at the rain outside the window.
"If you sell the land for 500 million yen today, or compromise out of fear, then in Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's eyes, the Saionji family will always be just a minor character that can be easily dealt with."
"But what you just said told him a fact."
Satsuki turned her head, a smile playing on her lips.
"The Saionji family is not anyone's vassal."
"Even the Seibu Group, if they want to get in our door, they have to learn to knock first."
Xiu nodded, the hesitation in his eyes gradually disappearing.
"Yes. Once you've decided to do it, you can't be afraid of offending people."
"Notify Ando."
Shuichi stubbed out his cigar.
"We'll revise the blueprints according to your ideas. We'll raise the walls and upgrade security."
"In addition, have the family crest engraved on the front door."
"Since we're going to set rules, let's make the flags even clearer."
"I want everyone to know that behind that door in Azabu-Juban lies something that even Yoshiaki Tsutsumi cannot buy."