Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 405 Common Interests

Shibata stared at him coldly for a few seconds.

"Mr. Sugimoto, you invited me here just to tell these stories to scare children?"

You're overthinking it.

Sugimoto's smile quickly faded.

He put the two documents back into the bag, then pulled out a folded map from the bottom and slowly unfolded it on the table.

Reclaimed land, harbors, roads, and the coastal sub-city center under construction occupy the most prominent position in the center of the map.

Sugimoto's fingers landed on Odaiba.

"I just hope Mr. Shibata understands that Saionji will find out sooner or later that we met today."

"There's no point in continuing to avoid her; there's no way to escape her now."

His finger moved forward along the road on the map, passing the headquarters of the Saionji Group, the planned site of the Saionji Pagoda, the computing center, the port storage area, and several commercial plots whose uses had already been marked.

"Construction, logistics, energy, and communications for Saionji Temple have all come in."

"After Seibu bowed down, hotels, convention centers, railway line businesses, and stadium surrounding services were also integrated into this system."

Shibata looked down at the map.

"Odaiba was originally part of the Linhai Sub-City Center Plan. It's better for someone to continue investing money now than to stop the construction site entirely."

"Saionji will certainly allow Odaiba to continue construction, and will also subcontract some of the project to companies in Tokyo."

Sugimoto's finger moved along the roads on the map, finally stopping at several unfinished public facilities in the waterfront sub-center.

"But Saionji's own project is already ahead of the Metropolitan Government's supporting measures. When the roads will be connected, when the harbor facilities will be put into use, and which areas will be supplied with electricity, water, and communications first—all these things have to go through the Metropolitan Government."

Shibata looked up at him.

"so what?"

Sugimoto pulled another piece of paper from the document bag and placed it next to the map of Odaiba.

"These are the companies that Naonori Isomura's office has contacted in the last two weeks."

Shibata looked down.

The paper listed several city banks, large construction companies, the Seibu Group, and several trading companies involved in the Linhai Sub-Center project. Each company's name included the meeting time, attendees, and the policy areas discussed.

"It's normal for Mr. Isomura to be discussing economic policies with businesses while he's running for governor of Tokyo."

"It's perfectly normal to contact any one of them individually."

Sugimoto reached out and tapped on several names on the list.

"However, these companies have historically held their own positions and rarely prepare policies for the same candidate simultaneously. In the past two weeks, however, they have submitted proposals to the Isomura office on SME financing, waterfront projects, and job placement."

Shibata continued reading.

Sugimoto moved his finger to the contact person column.

"And the people responsible for relaying messages between these companies are from the foreign affairs department of the Saionji Group."

"Several closed-door meetings were arranged at The Club, and Seiichiro Aesokawa's secretary also participated in two of them."

Shibata's gaze lingered on those few lines of text.

"Saionji is organizing financial support for Isomura."

"Now, funds, businesses, and policymakers are all starting to concentrate on him."

Sugimoto said.

"In addition, the Saionji Group has also prepared a project plan for a waterfront sub-center. If Isomura adopts it, he can publicly promise during the election campaign which roads will continue to be constructed, which companies can obtain financing, and how many jobs can be provided."

Shibata looked at the map of Odaiba again.

"Therefore, Saionji wants to send Isomura into the Metropolitan Government Building so that the supporting facilities for the coastal sub-center can proceed according to their plan."

"This is the first benefit they can obtain."

Sugimoto nodded.

"After Isomura's election, the coordination mechanism, annual budget, and work order of various departments in the coastal sub-center will be readjusted. Saionji has already arranged the hotels, convention centers, commerce, logistics, and construction projects. Next, the Metropolitan Government just needs to connect the roads, harbors, and public facilities."

"Which area will be prioritized for construction and which companies will be able to participate in the project will all be affected by the overall plan of Saionji."

Shibata said:

"This does not mean that small and medium-sized construction companies cannot get projects."

"Of course you can get it."

Sugimoto looked at him.

"Companies that can complete projects on time and are willing to accept Saionji's management style will receive even more orders."

"But once those member companies get used to directly seeking projects and financing from Saionji, will they still come to Duzhong Construction first when they encounter problems?"

Shibata's expression gradually darkened.

Sugimoto then took out a map of Tokyo from the file bag and spread it out next to the map of Odaiba.

"Over the past year, Saionji has brought factories, stores, warehouses, and restructuring projects to many constituencies. Many members of parliament who used to rely on factional funding are now able to maintain their support groups through these investments and jobs."

"Once Isomura enters the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Saionji will be able to coordinate corporate investments with Tokyo's public works projects."

"Which region receives a new project, which company gets financing, and which unemployed workers are put back to work—these will all become resources for Saionji to expand its local influence."

Sugimoto moved his finger from Odaiba to the map of Tokyo.

"They're starting in Odaiba now."

"The impact will be felt throughout Tokyo in the future."

Shibata stared at the map of Tokyo for a long time without saying a word.

After a long while, he finally picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The jasmine dew has become quite strong, but the temperature is just right.

"What does all this have to do with Qinghe Association?"

"The high-ranking family has just fallen."

Sugimoto's gaze never left him.

"They retaliated against the Isogawa family on behalf of the Seiwakai, and Saionji immediately sent Takashina Masaomi to the Special Investigation Department. The Seiwakai could only cut him up; they couldn't even say a word for him."

"Yet Saionji still announced at the graduation ceremony of Seika Academy, in front of so many families, that she would continue to expand."

Shibata had certainly heard about that graduation ceremony.

Many people in Tokyo's business circles have children attending Seiwa Academy, and Satsuki's speech had already spread through dining tables and meeting rooms. Some thought it was just the confidence of a young heir, while others heard a clearer political implication.

Sugimoto held up two fingers.

"The fate of the Takashina family shows others that she has the ability to protect those who follow Saionji."

"And she has the ability to eliminate those who provoke Saionji."

Sugimoto's tone gradually became serious.

"If she also sends someone to become the governor of Tokyo this time, she will prove something else."

"By following Saionji, we can also get a new position."

The living room fell silent, with only the ticking of the quartz clock on the wall, each tick striking Shibata's nerves.

In reality, Saionji's expansion does not directly harm the interests of those small and medium-sized companies.

The scale of the project in Odaiba is large enough that Saionji Construction is not capable of handling the entire project on its own. As long as the price is reasonable and the payment is timely, more and more people in the association will be willing to accept Saionji's orders.

The problem is that the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises cannot be equated with the interests of the Tokyo Small and Medium Construction Industry Association. If they all follow Saionji, then what is the point of having their association?

So, do I represent the interests of local businesses or the interests of the association itself?

Shibata's breathing became a little rapid.

Sugimoto continued:

"From now on, it will be up to Saionji to decide who can start a project, who can get a bank extension, and who can get the next project."

"The signboard of Duzhong Construction is still hanging, and the board of directors can continue to hold meetings. But when members encounter problems, the first phone call they make will be to the Xiyuanji Group."

He looked at Shibata.

"On that day, who will Mr. Shibata represent?"

This statement clearly made Shibata more uncomfortable than the previous speculations about SIS.

He put down his teacup, the bottom of which landed on the wooden table with a soft thud.

"What does the Qinghe Society want us to do?"

"Let's not talk about that today."

Shibata squinted.

"Then why did you invite me here?"

"To confirm one thing."

Sugimoto folded the map back up slowly.

"When Saionji prepares to integrate the Metropolitan Government Building into its own system, where will Tsutomu Kenji stand?"

Shibata did not answer immediately.

He watched as Sugimoto folded the map back to its original size and then tucked it under the manila envelope.

After a moment, he said:

"Projects in Tokyo should be decided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government."

"Companies within the association can collaborate with Saionji and also take orders from Saionji."

"But one company has no right to decide for all of Tokyo who should stay and who should disappear."

Sugimoto nodded.

That's enough.

Shibata stood up from the sofa.

"I am not here on behalf of the entire association today."

"I see."

"Don't think that a few words will make Du Zhongjian take the lead for you."

"certainly."

Sugimoto remained seated, not getting up to see his guest off.

When Shibata reached the door, he paused for a moment.

"Mr. Sugimoto."

"Um?"

"If you really are from Saionji, then you've put on quite a show."

Sugimoto paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Thank you for the compliment."

The door closed again.

Sugimoto was the only one left in the living room.

"People from Saionji...?"

Shibata had only drunk less than half of his tea; the tea liquor remained quietly tinged with a pale green in the white porcelain cup. Sugimoto watched for a while, then shifted his gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window where the curtains were not drawn.

There was nothing unusual about the roads outside.