naruto-story Chapter 113 The Devil's Gift
Chapter 113 The Devil's Gift
September 15, 1988, noon.
Akasaka, Tokyo, Ryotei "Kuchitsu".
The torrential rain that washed away the dust from Tokyo last night has stopped, but the air still smells of damp earth.
This ryotei, hidden deep in the bustling city, was as quiet as an isolated island. In the depths of the courtyard, the bamboo deer scare stick, which had been struck for countless years, was filled with water and struck the moss-covered stone bowl with a "thud".
The sharp sound was particularly jarring in the deathly silent private room.
In the most secluded "Pine Room," the air is so heavy it seems to drip water.
Shuichi Saionji knelt in the main seat, a pot of warm sake before him, but he did not drink it. Opposite him sat the man who controlled half of Japan's political scene—Shin Kanemaru, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Beside Kanemaru Shin sat Ozawa Ichiro, whose eyes were sharp.
The two sides did not engage in the usual enthusiastic exchanges of toasts and drinks, and even the small talk was omitted.
Shuichi turned slightly to the side and waved to Endo, who had been waiting outside the door.
The paper door was gently pulled open.
Endo and two trusted bodyguards entered, carrying three heavy silver metal safes. The surfaces of the safes were still damp with rainwater, which gleamed coldly in the dim light.
"Thump."
The box was placed on the tatami mat with a dull thud.
Shin Kanemaru's eyelids twitched. He held a freshly cut cigar between his fingers, but didn't light it, staring intently at the seals on the boxes.
The seal was printed with the words "Apes Group - Top Secret" and also had President Ezaki's personal seal.
"Mr. Kanemaru."
Xiu Yi spoke, his voice steady.
"The rain was heavy last night, and some things will probably rot in the ground if they are not brought in in time."
He reached out and gently patted the boxes.
"In order to prevent these things from soiling the floors of Nagata-cho, the Saionji family took it upon themselves to do a thorough cleaning for everyone."
Shin Kanemaru didn't speak, but simply gestured with his chin towards Ichiro Ozawa.
Ozawa understood and bent down to open the box.
"Click".
The lid of the box was opened.
The document was packed full of files, neatly stacked inside.
Black handwritten ledgers and stacks of yellowed bank transfer receipts, along with stacks of "Stock Transfer Confirmation Letters" clipped together with paper clips and bearing the names of prominent figures.
Shin Kanemaru extended his short, stubby fingers and randomly pulled out a card from the deck.
That was a receipt.
The amount on it is 50 million yen, and the purpose is vaguely stated as "consulting fee," but in the signature column in the lower right corner, the name of a core member of his faction is clearly written.
Shin Kanemaru's hand trembled slightly.
He picked up a cigar, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it. He just chewed the mouthpiece hard, as if he wanted to crush the tobacco.
If these things leak out, and if they unfortunately fall into the hands of those Special Investigation Department prosecutors, the Takeshita faction—no, the entire Keiseikai, and even the mainstream faction of the Liberal Democratic Party—will completely collapse tomorrow morning.
This is a nuclear bomb powerful enough to destroy the entire Japanese political arena.
"The original?"
Shin Kanemaru raised his eyelids, and a sharp glint shot out from his cloudy eyes, piercing straight into Shuichi's face.
"All of them."
Shuichi met the gaze of the powerful old man without flinching, even wearing a humble smile on his face.
"I've already gotten rid of the 'unruly' employees on Apes' side. Those backup carbon copies, printer ribbons, and even the memories in that CFO's head have all been disposed of."
Shuichi picked up the sake pot, stood up, and personally refilled the empty cup in front of Kanemaru Shin.
The wine was clear, reflecting the faces of the two men, each harboring their own secrets.
"Mr. Kanemaru, the Saionji family is in business. The most important thing for business people is to make money through harmony."
"These things, left in that idiot Ezaki's hands, are like bombs. But now that they're in your hands..."
Xiu Yi lowered his voice.
"That is the Saionji family's sincerity towards their friends."
Shin Kanemaru stared at the glass of wine, then glanced at the several open boxes.
After a long while, he exhaled a long breath, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant, or as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.
He understood that this was a deal.
The Saionji family disposed of the "corpse" for him not only as a gesture of goodwill, but also to demonstrate their power. To be able to retrieve these items intact right under the noses of the Special Investigation Department at this critical juncture—this level of skill far surpasses that of an ordinary businessman.
This is no longer the old Han Chinese that could be manipulated at will.
This is an ally that must be treated equally, and even needs to be courted.
"Shuichi-kun."
Shin Kanemaru finally picked up the lighter and lit the cigar with a "snap".
Blue smoke rose up, blurring the expression on his face.
"This gift of yours is too heavy."
He waved.
Ichiro Ozawa immediately closed the lid of the box, locked it again, and then carried the box behind him.
"Since it's a gift from a friend, I'll accept it."
Shin Kanemaru's voice regained its former authority.
"I'm not someone who likes to owe favors."
He looked at Shuichi through the smoke.
"There are still a few plots of land in Odaiba. Although it is still a wasteland, I heard that the Ministry of Construction is currently reassessing the plot ratio of the coastal sub-city center."
"The new planning approval will be delivered to your desk this afternoon."
"in addition……"
Kanemaru paused for a moment, then said meaningfully:
"Regarding S-Collection's application for the 'duty-free import quota for special textiles,' the Ministry of International Trade and Industry will handle it on a case-by-case basis."
Shuichi bowed slightly and raised his wine glass.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Kanemaru."
"Let's look out for each other." Shin Kanemaru raised his glass and gently clinked it against his. "In this world, it's not easy to find a friend who knows the rules and is efficient."
The crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed deep within the courtyard.
The startled deer fell again.
"Thump."
The deal is done.
……
3 PM.
Peacock Hall, Imperial Hotel, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Countless enormous crystal chandeliers illuminated the banquet hall, which could hold a thousand people, as if it were daytime.
Hundreds of reporters crowded below the stage, their cameras and microphones already set up, flashes going off like crazy.
On the dais, a brand-new line of large characters was printed on the huge backdrop:
[News Conference on Saionji Industrial's Capital Injection and Restructuring of Aipesi Group]
Xiuyi stood in front of the microphone.
He had changed into a dark gray double-breasted suit, his pocket square folded meticulously. To his left sat President Ezaki, his face ashen, forcing a smile.
This once arrogant "information king" now resembles a spineless puppet, mechanically nodding at the camera.
"Dear friends from the media."
Shuichi's voice resonated throughout the venue through the speakers; it was steady, powerful, and possessed a convincing magnetism.
"The recent rumors surrounding the Apes Group have caused great distress to all sectors of society. As a company with a century-long history, the Saionji family has always believed that corporate social responsibility is of paramount importance."
He turned slightly to the side and pointed to Ezaki beside him.
"We will not discuss the numerous cases involving the Apes Group for the time being, but they possess job information on millions of citizens. This is national wealth and also the privacy of the citizens. We must not allow this data to be misappropriated or even exploited by those with ulterior motives due to mismanagement."
"Therefore, Saionji Corporation decided to acquire the data and real estate division of the Epes Group."
The audience erupted in uproar.
The reporters whispered among themselves, their pens flying as they jotted down notes.
"Please don't think of this as just a commercial acquisition."
Xiu Yi raised his voice, his expression becoming serious and righteous.
"This is to protect the information security of the people, to save a company on the verge of bankruptcy, and to protect the jobs of two thousand employees."
"Starting today, we will conduct a thorough cleanup and restructuring of the existing management team."
When he uttered the word "cleaning," President Ezaki, who was standing next to him, visibly trembled.
"The name Apes will become history."
Shuichi's voice echoed throughout the banquet hall through the microphone.
He bowed slightly, facing the countless cameras below the stage, his expression serious and sincere, like an architect making a promise to rebuild the ruins.
"In order to completely sever the shadows of the past and give the people an explanation, Saionji Corporation is urgently preparing to establish a brand-new technology company. It will take over the data and real estate businesses of the former Epes and thoroughly purify the original management system."
Xiu Yi paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.
"Although the registration and listing of the new company are still in full swing, I can assure you all here—"
He looked up and stared straight at the sea of flashing lights.
"The new company will have a completely new structure, the strictest privacy regulations, and..."
"An absolutely clean future."
There was thunderous applause.
The flashes of light created a sea of light, almost engulfing the two people on the stage.
No one knew about the dirty deals behind it, no one knew about the burned ledgers. In the eyes of the public and the media, this was a perfect "white knight" rescue, a righteous act by an old Chinese family that stepped forward regardless of cost for the sake of social stability.
……
At the same time, in Bunkyo Ward, at the Saionji Main House.
In the living room, the television was turned up very low.
Satsuki nestled in the soft sofa, holding a cup of warm black tea. She wasn't wearing her school uniform, but rather loose-fitting loungewear, with a wool blanket covering her knees.
On the screen, the father, with a righteous expression, shook President Ezaki's hand, accepting the cheers of the entire audience. Below the screen, scrolling subtitles displayed lines of alarming text:
The Saionji family steps in to save the market!
"Apes renamed! Citizens' privacy is now fully protected!"
Satsuki looked at her father's face, which appeared exceptionally tall under the spotlight, and a faint, slightly mocking smile appeared on her lips.
"You acted so well, Father."
She spoke softly, taking a sip of her black tea.
"Indeed, the biggest lies are often told with the most righteous words."
She picked up the remote and pressed the power button.
The screen went black instantly, cutting off the grand farce.
"alright."
Satsuki put down her teacup, stood up, and walked barefoot to the window.
The rain outside the window has stopped, the dark clouds have dispersed, and a corner of the azure sky has been revealed.
"The stage is set up. Now, it's time for that 'genius' to take the stage."
……
It was six o'clock in the evening.
Kasumigaseki, Special Investigation Department, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.
Dozens of black government vehicles roared out, their police lights casting blinding red streaks in the twilight.
The prosecutors were ashen-faced, clutching the newly issued search warrants. They knew perfectly well why the warrants had suddenly become so difficult to approve; the Special Investigations Department had made significant progress during the internal strife within the Takeshita faction. Now, just as they were about to reach the crucial point, the internal strife had ceased, and all that inexplicable assistance had suddenly vanished.
Although they were a step too late, and although public opinion had shifted, they still had to investigate.
If we don't investigate thoroughly, where will the Special Investigation Department's reputation be?
"Quickly! Destination: New Bridge, the former headquarters of Apes!"
"We must take control of the finance office and server room before they destroy the evidence!"
The convoy, like a long black snake, snaked through the evening rush hour traffic, menacingly rushing towards Xinqiao.
Twenty minutes later.
"Bang!"
The doors of the Amis headquarters building—now temporarily displaying the sign for the "Saionji Information System"—were suddenly pushed open.
Dozens of investigators dressed in dark blue trench coats rushed in.
"Don't move! Special Investigation Department, search!"
However, what greeted them was not a scene of panicked destruction, nor employees scattering and fleeing.
The hall was quiet.
Only a few security guards in Saionji Corporation uniforms were leisurely wiping the marble floor. They didn't even show surprise when the prosecutor rushed in; they simply bowed politely.
Where is the finance office? Where is the server room?
The lead prosecutor roared.
"This way, please follow me."
A man who looked like a manager led the way with a smile.
The investigators stormed into the finance office on the top floor.
Empty.
The safe was wide open, and there wasn't even a mouse inside. All the filing cabinets had been emptied, leaving only brand-new, still-smelling-of-ink ledgers for the "Saionji Information System."
"Damn it! Let's get to the server room! The data must still be there!"
A group of people rushed down to the second basement level.
The door to the computer room was wide open.
Under the dim blue light, the row of huge IBM mainframes and Cray supercomputers were still running, emitting a low hum.
But in front of the control panel, there was only one young man.
Shimomura Tsutomu.
He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and slippers, sitting with his legs crossed in an ergonomic chair, chewing a piece of gum, and blowing a bubble with a "pop".
Seeing the group of people rushing in aggressively, he took off his headphones and blinked blankly.
Who are you looking for?
"Get out of the way!"
The prosecutor shoved him aside, lunged at the control panel, and yelled at the technical expert he'd brought, "Investigate! Get all the data out of me! Especially last year's transfer records and customer lists!"
The technical expert was sweating profusely as he typed on the keyboard.
Lines of green code popped up on the screen.
One minute.
five minutes.
ten minutes.
The technical expert's face grew paler and paler, and finally he dejectedly let go of her hand.
"No……"
"What do you mean, 'nothing'?!"
"There's nothing there..." The tech expert turned around. "The system has been reset. The underlying architecture has been changed. The current database... only contains the attendance records of Saionji family employees that were just entered today."
"Where's the previous data? Where are the backups?!" The prosecutor grabbed Shimomura Tsutomu by the collar and roared.
Shimomura Tsutomu innocently spread his hands, and the chewing gum in his mouth made a "pop" sound again.
"I'm the CTO who just joined the company today, and this system just went live today as well."
He pointed to the traffic lights that were still flashing.
"The boss said the old system was terrible, full of vulnerabilities, and prone to privacy leaks, so he made me format it completely. As for what was in the old system..."
Shimomura Tsutomu shrugged, his face saying, "I'm a tech geek, I don't understand politics."
"When I took over, this place was empty. It was probably... deleted by a hacker?"
"you--!"
The prosecutor was so angry that he trembled all over. He suddenly took off his hat and slammed it hard on the anti-static floor.
"Damn it! Those cunning foxes!"
He looked at the silent machines and knew he had lost.
We lost completely.
The chain of evidence has broken.
There were no ledgers, no data, no original documents. Even knowing there was something fishy going on, he could only watch as these people danced on the edge of the law.
……
At the same time.
The backyard of an unassuming private residence in Nagata-cho.
The night is dark.
A small, privately owned incinerator is burning fiercely.
The orange-red firelight illuminated Shin Kanemaru's aged face.
He stood by the furnace, holding an iron hook in his hand, gently poking at the ashes in the furnace.
Those stock transfer documents filled with the names of important figures, those secret ledgers that could bring down the cabinet, are now curling and turning black in the high temperature, finally turning into wisps of smoke and dissipating into the murky night sky of Tokyo.
"call--"
A night breeze swept by, swirling up a few black pieces of paper ash, like a flock of black butterflies dancing in the firelight.
Shin Kanemaru stared expressionlessly at the swirling ashes.
"It's clean now."
He threw away the iron hook and dusted off his hands.
In the distance, the spire of the National Assembly building looms in the night, still majestic and silent.
It was as if nothing had ever happened here.