Nagumo Sian's Request
The two of them glared at each other, huffing and puffing for a while, before sitting back down as if nothing had happened. To an outsider, they would have looked like the best of friends. For now, it seemed like they were still in the probing stage, as they began asking each other questions in a roundabout way. To my eyes, it looked exactly like boxers throwing light jabs to gauge each other's skill.
"Why do you call Ryuta 'Junior,' Miss Mimata?"
"I was his senior at the Talent Development Center. I guess it just stuck. You and your cousin Ryuta seem awfully close, Lady Aris?"
"Being awfully close is perfectly legal, whether in Japan or New York."
"Hehehehe…."
"Ufufufu….."
Watching them go on like that was taking too long, so I stepped in and put a stop to their little war. We had come here for a reason, after all. We couldn't keep someone as senior as Nagumo Sian waiting indefinitely. First, I needed to understand the situation, so I turned to Mimata Chieri.
"Did you find out why Nagumo Sian wants to hire East Weapon?"
"It seems to be because of the Kurotsukidoo. There have been a lot of rumors lately that the Kurotsukidoo is concentrating their forces in the Akita area."
Hmm. What could be in Akita Prefecture that would make the Black Moon Party gather their troops there? Still, since this involved their affiliate Taira Food, couldn't they just borrow strength from the main Taira family? No matter how powerful the Kurotsukidoo was as a massive Chinese conglomerate and one of the top criminal organizations in the world, Akita was the Taira Group's own backyard. There was no way they could lose ground here. The Taira Group itself wouldn't lose to the Heiwei Group—the collective name for all the Black Moon Parties worldwide—so losing here would be utterly humiliating.
"Couldn't they just borrow strength from the main family? That's what they would normally do."
"They say they can't pull any forces because of some recent issue with the Minamoto side. That's probably why the request came all the way to us."
If things had reached this point, it was possible the Minamoto and the Kurotsukidoo had joined forces. If my guess was correct, the Minamoto were bringing in foreign powers to attack their domestic rivals… If this ever got out, public opinion toward the Minamoto would sour badly. Was I overthinking this? Or maybe…
"Does East Weapon have enough troops on standby?"
"Yes. It's only been a few days since I took office, so we haven't received any new requests yet. Aside from the staff already on existing missions, everyone else is on standby."
"Then let's respond positively. I'll need to call Nagumo Sian."
Nagumo Sian was one of the few friendly forces I had within the Taira family. She had promised to be the third to support me if I secured the backing of two subsidiaries. I couldn't let her fall like this. I immediately picked up my smartphone and dialed Nagumo Sian.
"Big Sister."
As expected, Nagumo Sian really loved being called Big Sister. Even though she told me to call her Godmother, her voice was clearly filled with delight. Maybe once we got closer, I could just call her Sister?
"It's a phone call. And there's no one else listening. Who's going to complain?"
"Of course we'll help. Just cover the labor costs and we'll be good."
Nagumo Sian sounded delighted by my immediate offer to help. I hadn't expected her to be this happy… Had something happened? Before thinking about that, I figured I should also drum up some business for Seryu Military Company.
"Also, would it be alright if I recommend another PMC? Unlike East Weapon, this one is a small elite unit…"
That made sense. East Weapon's only real advantage was sheer numbers, so they would struggle against the Kurotsukidoo. I had mentioned Seryu Military Company both to give them some work and to add a major achievement to their record of having received a request from the Taira Group. The fact that Nagumo Sian was specifically looking for an elite force made everything fall into place perfectly.
"It's called Seryu Military Company. It's small in scale, but it's a solid PMC."
"Then the practical staff will handle the contracts today. Once that's done, we'll head straight to Akita, Big Sister."
"Understood. Before I hang up, may I ask one thing? Have my uncle or aunt stopped by recently?"
At my question, Nagumo Sian fell silent for a moment. It seemed my guess had hit the mark.
The call ended with Nagumo Sian's meaningful words.
A few hours earlier, in the President's Office at Taira Food in Akita Prefecture.
"Aunt, I've heard you've been having a difficult time lately because of the Kurotsukidoo."
A man stood before Nagumo Sian, who was seated in the president's chair. Though short in stature, he possessed an overwhelming presence.
He had neatly combed-back hair, sharp and irritable eyes hidden behind rimless glasses with a high reflective index—like the eyes of a snake. His somewhat frail and slender frame was dressed in an expensive suit.
This man was the eldest son of Taira Danjo and the one closest to the throne of the vast Taira empire.
Taira Ichiro. It was an absurdly plain name for the eldest son of Japan's foremost Taira family, yet Taira Ichiro rather liked his own name. There was no better way to describe himself than as the first son of the Taira family.
Nagumo Sian looked at Taira Ichiro for a moment before speaking. She had known him since he was a child, but he had never been a boy she felt any affection for.
It was partly because of those cold, reptilian eyes, and partly because of the inhumane behavior he had shown as he grew up—behavior that clashed with her own reputation as the respected "Godmother" throughout Akita. Among Taira Danjo's children, the one Nagumo Sian had cherished most was Taira Saburo, which only made her feel even less warmth toward Taira Ichiro by comparison.
"It's not so much difficult as it is a temporary setback."
"As someone who carries the name Taira, even a temporary setback is unacceptable, Aunt."
As someone who carries the name Taira, even a temporary setback is unacceptable… Nagumo Sian gradually began to see through Taira Ichiro's intentions. She realized he wanted to insert himself into this situation.
"So you've come to offer advice on how Taira Food should handle this?"
"How could I possibly dare offer advice to you, Aunt? It's simply…"
"Simply?"
"I came to offer a small bit of help."
A small bit of help… If they accepted Taira Ichiro's assistance, the Kurotsukidoo problem would likely be resolved easily. The real issue was what price Taira Ichiro would demand in return.
"A small bit of help… Before I ask what that help entails, I'd like to hear the price first."
"It may be small help to me, but it could be significant help from your perspective. For the favor, you only need to grant me one of two things. The first is to unconditionally support me when the next chairman is selected—whenever that may be. The second is to hand over the site for the Eighth Factory, which is currently scheduled for construction. How about it? Just one of the two will suffice."
In that instant, Nagumo Sian realized that Taira Ichiro's true goal was the site for the Eighth Factory. Anyone would assume his objective was support during the next chairman selection, but with Taira Danjo still in good health, that event was still a very distant prospect.
The Eighth Factory site had only been purchased and not yet broken ground, so anyone would choose to hand over the land rather than offer political support for a future chairman selection that carried heavy implications.
If the conflict with the Kurotsukidoo dragged on, the cost of hiring PMCs would far exceed the value of that land. The fact that the Eighth Factory site was in a remote location and therefore not particularly expensive only added to the appeal.
"I don't need to decide right this moment, do I? I'd like some time to think it over."
"Of course. However, while you deliberate, the damage to Taira Food will only continue to grow. Since I wouldn't want to disturb your thoughts, I'll take my leave."
Taira Ichiro gave a polite bow and left the president's office. Nagumo Sian immediately ordered her secretary to investigate the Eighth Factory site.
"Was this why the Chairman introduced me to Ryuta's PMC?"
Politically speaking, Taira Danjo's greatest threats were Taira Ichiro and his two other potential successors. Taira Ichiro needed to expand his faction to solidify his position in the succession race, and that expansion was a burden to Taira Danjo.
Not long after Nagumo Sian had her secretary begin investigating the Eighth Factory site, the name Taira Ryuta appeared on her smartphone and it began to ring.
"What excellent timing."
Nagumo Sian smiled as she looked at the name Taira Ryuta displayed on her screen.
"Aunt will probably think the Eighth Factory site is my true objective, won't she?"
Taira Ichiro spoke from inside the car heading back to the airport. His driver and secretary, Kurinami Chuhei, glanced at him through the rearview mirror and nodded.
"Since we made sure that's what she would think, she will certainly believe it."
"If she investigates the Eighth Factory site and fights the Kurotsukidoo, there shouldn't be anyone capable of detecting our movements, correct?"
"That is true, but it's still a shame to lose 'that thing' at the Eighth Factory site."
At Kurinami Chuhei's words, Taira Ichiro smiled. It was definitely a smile, yet it somehow sent a chill down the spine of anyone who saw it.
"To gain one thing, you must give up another. That's simply how it is."
"Even so, once you become Chairman, everything the Taira Group possesses will become yours, my lord."
"Indeed."
Taira Ichiro looked out the window after saying that. Beyond the glass, the factory district of Taira Food was growing smaller in the distance.
"Yes… all of that will be mine as well."
Taira Ichiro murmured quietly as he gazed at the scenery outside.
