Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 75 Crimson Foundation

Seven o'clock in the morning. Saionji Main House.

The Tokyo sky after the rain was an almost unreal blue. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the elegant English breakfast and the day's morning paper on the dining table.

Shuichi held the newspaper in his hand, his brows slightly relaxed.

The headline in the social section wasn't some horrific murder case, but rather a rather intriguing piece of news:

The Akasaka yakuza office was mysteriously "purged" last night; Chairman Onizuka Toranosuke is missing.

The report stated that after receiving an anonymous tip, police raided the Black Dragon Society's stronghold and found it completely destroyed. However, no signs of injury or blood were found at the scene, as if everyone had vanished overnight. Police initially speculated that it involved either "overseas escape" or "internal power struggles."

"Is this what they call 'disappearing into the shadows'?"

Xiu put down the newspaper and picked up his black tea.

"It was handled very cleanly. Even the Metropolitan Police Department's Fourth Investigation Division, which specializes in monitoring yakuza, was completely baffled."

Satsuki, sitting opposite, was spreading butter on toast with elegant and gentle movements, as if she wasn't the one who ordered the cleaning last night.

"The dead can talk, Father. There are wounds, fingerprints, and a time of death on the body."

Satsuki said calmly, cutting the buttered toast into small pieces.

"Only 'disappearance' is the most perfect ending."

"For those big shots, it doesn't matter whether Onizuka ran away with the money or was sealed in Tokyo Bay with cement. What matters is that he can't be contacted."

The voice just fell.

"Ring ring—"

It wasn't the usual black telephone, but the red, confidential hotline that was placed next to Shuichi, which connected directly to the political core of Nagata-cho.

No more than fifty people in all of Japan know this number.

Shuichi paused for a moment. He glanced at Satsuki, who nodded slightly and continued eating her toast.

Shuichi picked up the receiver, his voice steady:

"I am Saionji."

"Shuichi-kun, I'm sorry to bother you so early. I'm Daiyama."

An old, hoarse, yet authoritative voice came from the other end of the phone.

Big mountain rock.

The ruling party's Policy Research Council Chairman, a senior member of the House of Representatives, and the mastermind behind what is revered as one of the "Monsters of the Showa Era" in the country. He is also the biggest protector of Onizuka Toranosuke's "soukaiya" (entertainment clubs) that allow them to run rampant in Tokyo.

Less than six hours after Onizuka "disappeared," this important figure couldn't sit still any longer.

Shuichi's gaze sharpened instantly, but his tone became gentler, even carrying a hint of junior's humility:

"It's Chairman Dashan. What a rare guest! How are you feeling?"

"I'm getting old, no longer useful." The mountain's voice was unreadable. "Lately, I've been so forgetful. Just yesterday, I was looking for my old 'watchdog,' which I've had for years, and it was gone. Even its kennel was taken. Xiu-kun, you're well-informed, I wonder if you've heard anything?"

This is a test. It is also an interrogation.

Shuichi looked out the window at the peaceful courtyard, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather:

"President Daiyama, if stray dogs aren't properly leashed and run into other people's yards barking, they're very likely to get lost. And..."

Xiu paused for a moment.

"If this dog carries rabies and bites someone, even its owner could get infected. Its 'lost' status might not be a bad thing for its owner. What do you think?"

There was a five-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Shuichi is implying: I know Onizuka is one of your men, and I also know he has dirt on you. Now that he's gone, you're safe. You should thank me for helping you deal with this dirty hand gracefully, instead of questioning me.

Five seconds later.

On the other end of the phone came Da Shan Yan's laughter, as loud as an owl's.

"Hehehe... Shuichi-kun, like father, like son. If Saionji-kun were still alive, he would be very pleased to see you like this now."

Once the laughter subsided, Da Shan Yan's tone became businesslike, as if the topic of dogs had never existed.

"Since the dog is lost, we need to buy a new one. But... I've been watching the news these past few days, Shibuya seems to be quite lively? Is the Saionji family's new store opening soon?"

"Yes, just this morning."

"Congratulations on your opening," said Oyama Iwao casually. "I heard that some clueless administrators were planning to conduct some kind of 'routine inspection' today? What nonsense. I've already had my secretary call the head of the National Tax Agency. The government should support this kind of business activity that benefits the country and its people, not cause trouble."

"Thank you so much, Chairman Oyama," Shuichi replied with a smile.

"You're welcome. I'd like to come to your 'The Club' for tea sometime. I've heard Yoshiaki Tsutsumi frequents it lately?"

"I'm ready to serve you anytime."

"beep--"

The phone hangs up.

Shuichi slowly put down the receiver, let out a long breath, and his palms were slightly sweaty.

"it's over."

He picked up the now-cold black tea and drank it all in one gulp.

"Oyama Iwao has admitted defeat. The administrative investigation has been cancelled. He's even hinted that he wants to join our club."

"As expected."

Satsuki put down her knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped her mouth.

"He's a smart man. With Onizuka gone, his biggest weakness has also disappeared. Although he doesn't know if we have a backup, he doesn't dare to gamble."

Since they dare not gamble, the only option is to win them over.

"That's 'politics'."

Satsuki stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Tokyo Tower in the distance.

"Violence is the trump card, and self-interest is the bargaining chip. As long as the chips are big enough, even so-called enemies will become the most polite 'friends'."

"Let's go, Father."

She turned around, a bright smile on her face.

"Let's go check out our new store!"

......

9:30 AM. Shibuya, Park Street.

The rain from last night has been evaporated by the morning sun, and the air is filled with a dry and restless smell of dust.

Despite it being a weekday morning, the street diagonally opposite Seibu Department Store was packed with people. This wasn't because of any traffic accident, nor because of any celebrity promotional event.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the pure white building.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows were spotless, letting in a bright white light like that of an operating room. The colorful T-shirts covering the entire wall, illuminated by the white light, created a strong, almost violent visual impact, like a giant palette splashed on the streets of Shibuya.

At the store entrance, the queue stretched for hundreds of meters to Palco Department Store.

From the window of the office on the second floor.

Tadashi Yanai gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, his palms sweating. He kept checking his watch, his eyes scanning the crowd below and the end of the street.

Through his own insider information channels, he learned that someone was likely to cause trouble. Not only the yakuza, but he also heard that even government officials would be involved.

He is waiting.

Waiting for that legendary right-wing propaganda vehicle, or waiting for those tax officials and firefighters in uniform.

He barely slept last night, his mind filled with images of his shop being sealed off or splashed with red paint.

"President! You're here!"

The store manager's voice carried a hint of fear.

Yanai Tadashi shuddered and looked sharply at the intersection.

A black and white police car with flashing lights slowly drove into the park entrance.

"It's over..."

Tadashi Yanai's heart sank to the bottom. The police arrived. It seemed those powerful figures' methods had finally come to fruition, albeit under a different guise.

The police car stopped in front of the store.

Two uniformed patrolmen came down.

Tadashi Yanai closed his eyes, thinking about how to explain things to his employees and how to face the young lady who trusted him.

However, the expected scolding did not occur.

The two patrolmen did not head towards the shop entrance, but instead went straight to a truck that was illegally parked on the side of the road.

"Hey! No parking here! Didn't you see there's an opening event today? Move your vehicle! Don't block the customers' way!"

The patrol officers yelled at the drivers, waving their batons; their actions were rough but efficient.

After driving away the trucks, the two patrolmen even stood on either side of the queue to maintain order and prevent anyone from cutting in line from causing a disturbance. They stood ramrod straight, as if guarding some important facility.

Tadashi Yanai was stunned.

He stared blankly at the scene until the store manager's excited scream came through the walkie-talkie:

"President! They're here to help! The police are helping us maintain order!"

Tadashi Yanai felt as if all his strength had been drained away.

He looked downstairs.

A black Nissan Presidential Sedan silently glided across the lane cleared by the police and came to a steady stop in front of the store.

The car door opened.

Shuichi Saionji and Satsuki came down.

They didn't use any VIP passage; instead, they stood by the roadside, basking in countless curious and envious glances.

Shuichi straightened his suit and looked up at the white sign with red lettering—UNIQLO.

"It seems that Mr. Daishan is very efficient."

Shuichi whispered to his daughter beside him.

Satsuki wore a black cashmere coat from S-Collection's latest collection today, but paired it with a white crew neck T-shirt from Uniqlo.

"Whether it's a black cat or a white cat, a good cat is one that catches mice."

Satsuki said calmly.

"President Yanai is coming down."

Tadashi Yanai practically tumbled down the stairs. He rushed to Shuichi, so excited he was incoherent, his glasses askew.

"Mr. Saionji! Miss! It's...it's alright! The police...they..."

"Calm down, President Yanai."

Satsuki reached out and helped him straighten his glasses.

"I told you, as long as you make the clothes, the Saionji family will protect you from all the other storms."

She glanced at her watch.

9:59.

"Open the door."

Satsuki's voice was soft, yet it sounded like a decree.

It was exactly 10:00 AM.

The doors of Uniqlo's Shibuya flagship store slowly slid open to both sides.

Welcome to UNIQLO!

Dozens of rigorously trained shop assistants stood on both sides, bowing in unison with loud and energetic voices.

Long-suppressed consumer desires erupted like a flood at this moment.

Crowds poured in.

They were awestruck by the exquisite white decor, captivated by the "self-service" shopping experience, and utterly overwhelmed by the unbelievable price.

"1900 yen?! Really only 1900 yen?!"

"My god, the quality of this hoodie is even better than the one that sells for 10,000 across the street!"

"Look at this basket! It's so fancy! I want one too!"

It's often said that the bubble era was a time of extravagance and a pursuit of only the expensive. But in reality, not everyone blindly pursued high consumption.

Moreover, the bubble era didn't make everyone a billionaire. Having a little money allows for occasional splurges, but it doesn't mean rejecting high-quality, cost-effective goods. People are also frugal in their daily lives, which is the true reality for most ordinary people.

People were frantically throwing T-shirts and jeans of all colors and styles into the black metal mesh basket, just like they were snapping up discounted eggs at a supermarket.

The long lines at the checkout never stopped. The beeping of the cash registers created a continuous symphony, a sound more beautiful than any symphony in the world.

Satsuki stood in the corner, watching this scene unfold.

She was holding a white T-shirt in her hand, looking at the simple size label on it.

"Did you see that, Father?"

She spoke softly amidst the clamor of voices.

"This is the general trend."

"Whether it's Onizuka or those big shots, they still live in the old era, believing that they can control everything through power and violence."

"But they can't stop this."

Satsuki pointed to the young people carrying baskets, their faces beaming with greed and joy.

"This is the power of consumption. This is the power of capital."

"In this white box, the rules we set are more effective than laws."

Xiuyi was deeply shocked by the sight of the frenzied crowd.

He saw a completely new and far greater power.

That power comes from the few thousand yen in the pockets of every ordinary person; when they come together, they are enough to break down all the old dams.

"yes."

"Shuichi sighed."

"Someone like Onizuka is nothing but a ripple in the face of such power."

……

late at night.

Marunouchi, headquarters of Saionji Industrial.

The lights are still on here.

Tadashi Yanai rushed into the president's office with a thick stack of reports, his face beaming with elation, not even caring that his tie was loose.

"President! Young lady!"

He slammed the report on the table, his voice cracking with excitement.

"First-day sales...35 million yen!"

"And this is just one store in Shibuya! Inventory turnover rate... 400%!"

"This is a miracle! This is a miracle in the history of Japanese retail!"

Although Shuichi was mentally prepared, he still gasped when he heard the number.

Thirty-five million. One day.

This is just one store. And it sells so-called "cheap goods" with extremely low unit prices.

If, as Satsuki plans, we open one hundred, one thousand stores throughout Japan...

What kind of empire would that be?

From the "Pink Building" in Akasaka to the "Crystal Palace" in Ginza, then to The Club, and now Uniqlo.

Every decision Satsuki made seemed destined for viral success, every model seemed destined for success, as if... as if she had already foreseen their success.

This is really... really...

Xiuichi lowered his head and rubbed his forehead, seemingly lost in thought.

Satsuki was sitting on the sofa, reading a book. Upon hearing the number, she didn't show much surprise; she simply closed the book.

"President Yanai, don't rush to celebrate."

She stood up and walked to the huge map of Japan.

On that map, several points in Tokyo have been marked in red. But in the surrounding areas of Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa, there are still large blank areas.

"Shibuya is just a signal flare."

Satsuki's fingers traced across the blank areas.

"I want you to capitalize on this momentum and open these kinds of stores in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Yokohama within this month."

But that's not enough.

She turned around and looked at Tadashi Yanai and Shuichi with a sharp gaze.

"The real battlefield is here."

Her finger pointed to the outskirts of Chiba Prefecture.

"Roadside Store"

"We want to go to the suburbs that big department stores don't want, to the national highways that only trucks pass by."

"Land prices are cheap there, and there are countless housewives and wage earners living in public rental housing."

"We're going to dump all one million items of inventory from the Chiba warehouse there."

Tadashi Yanai was stunned for a moment, then the fervor in his eyes intensified.

"Understood! I'll go check out the site selection tomorrow!"

"Go."

Satsuki waved her hand.

Yanai left, his steps light as a twenty-year-old.

Only Shuichi and Satsuki remained in the office.

Shuichi walked to the window and looked at the dazzling Tokyo night view outside.

The Tokyo Tower in the distance still gleams with a red light, as if overlooking this prosperous yet sinful land.

"Onizuka is gone, the roadblocks are cleared, and Uniqlo is hot."

Shuichi poured himself a glass of whiskey, the ice cubes clinking against the glass.

"We won this battle beautifully."

"Is it pretty?"

Satsuki walked to her father's side and looked out the window as well.

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of neon lights, looking into the distance.

I looked out over the dark Tokyo Bay.

There, deep in the icy sea, there is an iron barrel filled with cement, slowly sinking into the silt.

"Father."

Satsuki's voice was very soft, as soft as a sigh.

"In this city, light and darkness always coexist."

"If we light such bright lights in Shibuya, then the shadows will become even deeper in places that cannot be seen."

"Onizuka is just the beginning."

"The higher we climb, the more eyes will be watching us."

She turned her head, looked at Xiu Yi, and gave him a faint smile.

"But it's okay."

"As long as our foundation is deep enough."

"It's like reclaiming land from the sea."

Even a corpse can become the strongest foundation.

She looked at Shuichi, seemingly anticipating his reaction.

This time, Shuichi did not waver. His hand was steady as he raised his wine glass and clinked it against the air.

"Respect the cornerstone."

Satsuki smiled. She smiled very happily.

"Respect the cornerstone."

The father and daughter stood side by side.

Money is growing wildly on countless unseen bodies of flesh and blood.