Chapter 158: The Finalized Chess Piece

"Has Tao-jun... not adjusted his state of mind yet?" Anzai Sanwei asked with a troubled expression. "Good grief, why did you take him straight to the Shukura Shrine to see the Twelfth Generation Saiou? Wouldn't the third or fourth floor have been fine?"

Kinoshita Shufu wore a bitter expression. "Since we went there, naturally, the twelfth-layer Junihitoe Saiou has a much greater impact. He is a young man, after all; he would definitely prefer that kind of atmosphere. Putting that aside, Ishibashi Reiko makes a fuss every day. If we don't find a way to negotiate with Mitsui behind him to quell this matter, our negative image will only grow heavier. Even if others know very well that they are kicking up a fuss because this land is extremely valuable, it is still unfavorable for subsequent matters."

"That's precisely why you should have Tao-jun come out quickly to resolve this," Anzai Sanwei muttered. "And stop using him as an excuse all the time. For this matter, you need to compromise a bit, and we need to compromise a bit, so that Mitsui won't end up empty-handed. But for me to persuade the directors to compromise, Sumitomo must at least definitively possess a say regarding that plot of land in the Japanese National Railways incident."

"I really am not using him as an excuse," Kinoshita Shufu said meaningfully. "Kazushi-aniki appreciates him a lot, and besides, you know Zhao Chunshu from the Inagawa-kai, right? He is also from the Xia country and has similarly begun taking an interest in Daro. They are planning to open a dance hall together on that plot of land. If that land is mortgaged to Sumitomo Bank, and there is a gap in the terms, the Inagawa-kai—having suffered setbacks—will naturally choose the better party."

Anzai Sanwei could not help sighing: "I have already given Lord Inagawa an account. Besides, hasn't much of the Kitashiro-kai's territory also been seized by the Inagawa-kai? Isn't that enough?"

"In short, do not assume that Daro will just listen to me alone," Kinoshita Shufu said, taking pleasure in cornering him. "To tell you the truth, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Chuo Trust, Japan Post... they are all contacting him. You shouldn't waste your time here with me; instead, you should go explain the situation to Sumitomo's directors. When all is said and done, even my own Most Prosperity Corporation has a relationship with Sumitomo based merely on cooperation, doesn't it?"

Anzai Sanwei gazed at him and slowly said, "How can a mere difference of a little over a billion yen in terms compared to the benefits of entering Sumitomo's board of directors?"

"Yet this mere billion-plus yen is precisely what allows us to feel the sincerity of Sumitomo treating us as one of their own," Kinoshita Shufu said gravely. "Once this matter is decided, I will no longer be able to sever my cooperative relationship with Sumitomo. The ground I am giving up is by no means smaller than the prospects of entering Sumitomo's board of directors."

The two men stared at each other for a long time before Anzai Sanwei spoke. "I understand. This consideration will be properly discussed with the other directors."

He stood up, walked over to the window, and looked out into the distance. "In any case, if Sumitomo acquires a say over both your plot and that other plot, even if the value of the Shiodome Freight Terminal is overestimated further, it won't be enough to affect our decision-making power within JR East. But once the say over that land falls into the hands of others, we can only push with all our might for the Shiodome Freight Terminal to be handed over to the liquidation team, ensuring no one gets it at all. In that case, your plot of land will probably have to wait five or even ten years to reach its expected value."

"I am well aware of the gains and losses," Kinoshita Shufu remained unmoved. "I believe you understand them as well. So, make your decision sooner. Relying solely to this day on the friendship already established with me to influence Daro is not a good strategy. A young man with that kind of audacity—you should treat him as a sufficiently rational and equal partner."

"They believe he is merely your pawn," Anzai Sanwei said frankly. "Previously, I thought so too."

"I refuse to believe you haven't been paying attention to his movements. Registering three companies in one go, and even establishing a Zhao Holdings in Hong Kong—does this plan of his look like a pawn?" Kinoshita Shufu laughed freely. "Previously, I truly regarded him as a pawn. But now, we are allies. He has entrusted me with the say over that land in the National Railways incident, but the disposal of the land itself is up to him. Perhaps in your eyes, he is still a pawn, but now he is a pawn capable of deciding the outcome of the war."

"If the land itself is mortgaged to other financial cliques, how can you retain any say?" Anzai Sanwei ignored the remark about the pawn.

"As long as the loan can be repaid, what say could other financial cliques possibly have? Launch a new round of battle? In that case, this time the Inagawa-kai and I will meet them head-on."

Anzai Sanwei's gaze sharpened, and after a long while, he said, "I understand."

"Therefore, the right path is for Sumitomo to offer him terms that are at least sufficiently equal, completely cutting off any lingering thoughts from other financial cliques. Next, we only need to exert all our strength to oppose their proposal of pushing the Shiodome Freight Terminal to the liquidation team."

***

Tao Zhiming panted, glaring with vexation at the smug Ueda Nana before him.

Fish-bashing, was it? Bullying a novice?

Sooner or later, he would pay her back in kind.

At the very least, a flogging; at the very least, he'd make her unable to stop crying out.

Ueda Nana vented her pent-up frustration before speaking: "If you have nothing else to do, come home with me."

Tao Zhiming regulated his breathing and shook his head. "Tonight, I'll give your father a call. Regarding that matter, if Mitsubishi's terms are just like that, I won't consider mortgaging it to them. So I'll make my stance clear to your father first and have Mitsubishi revise their terms. Next time we meet, we must reach a conclusion."

He swung his bamboo sword twice, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. "After dragging them along for so many days, it's time for them to make a decision."

Ueda Nana stared at him in a daze.

Those two swings he just made, along with the aura he displayed, were quite handsome...

"...Then I'll go home first. When Father returns home, I'll call and let you know."

Tao Zhiming nodded, tugged at his collar, and said, "Off to take a bath. Nana-sensei, you wanted me to handle such a difficult task, yet you struck so heavily?"

"...You were just too weak."

"I'm merely a beginner! You were just annoyed that I rejected your proposal to date!" Tao Zhiming walked ahead, exposing her unsparingly.

Ueda Nana gritted her teeth at his back.

"I rejected you for no other reason, you know." Tao Zhiming suddenly looked back and smiled brilliantly. "Rest assured, wait until I become stronger."

Ueda Nana was dazzled by that sweat-drenched, radiant smile, but stubbornly retorted: "That was merely... a rebellious joke."

Becoming stronger—is that so he can try to make her father look at him in a new light and change his mind?

She felt that must be what he meant.

"Is that so?" Tao Zhiming said nonchalantly. "I'll become stronger, and then beat you soundly!"

He laughed heartily and walked into the men's locker room.

Ueda Nana was so angry her teeth itched again.

So that's what he meant!

Yet shortly afterward, hearing the faint sound of running water from the adjacent room, she couldn't help biting her lower lip again.

What on earth did he mean?

A senior's schedule is relatively relaxed, whereas underclassmen can only come to the club for activities after finishing their classes.

Yamane Yokuhisa, serving as an officer, had just arrived at the kendo club to supervise the new members' practice when he saw Tao Zhiming and Ueda Nana emerging from the locker room side by side, neither of their hairs completely dry yet.

He stared blankly at Ueda Nana, who had just emerged from bathing, and then cast a complex look at Tao Zhiming.

"Yo, Yamane-kun," Tao Zhiming greeted casually as he walked toward the kendo study room.

"Ueda-ojōsama..." Yamane Yokuhisa bowed only to Ueda Nana.

"Guide the new members' practice properly!" Ueda Nana said with a cold and haughty expression.

"...Understood!"

A gust of fragrant wind swept past as she walked in the opposite direction from Tao Zhiming.

Yamane Yokuhisa felt a mixture of emotions in his chest.

They looked as though they had no particular relation, yet had they just been practicing together?

Guided so devotedly by Lady Ueda, by the time he graduated, would he perhaps be unable to beat that punk even in kendo?

The new members arrived shortly, and Yamane Yokuhisa raised his voice and shouted, "Suburi practice! One thousand times!"

"Eh?"

"Save us..."

"Senpai, why so many?"

"What are you chattering about!" Yamane Yokuhisa roared. "Self-improvement! Don't you understand? Begin!"

The painful club life of the new members commenced.

Not long after Tao Zhiming returned to the study room and received calls from Zhao Yuanxi and Maehara Kumina, Lin Qiyu arrived.

"Is this the last batch of materials the professor needs?"

Lin Qiyu nodded. "Because of the previous findings, the professor adjusted the contents required for this final batch."

Tao Zhiming stretched his neck and wrists. "Let's begin."

In a building not far away, Ueda Nana was actually watching that window from afar.

Seeing Lin Qiyu's head drawing closer and closer to the screen, with Tao Zhiming occasionally locking gazes with her and smiling, Ueda Nana's expression flickered with indefinable emotions.

Perhaps when he rejected her, he truly meant nothing else.

She had long since understood the kind of power wealth and status could wield. Because of wealth and status, even she had no control over her own fate.

How many women's hearts could be won by someone so young, possessing so much wealth through his own abilities, and so handsome?

He had too many choices, so he didn't need to recklessly charge forward out of potential trouble just to liberate her and protect her.

After all, she was not gentle at all, nor docile at all, and always found herself wanting to strike him with a bamboo sword.

Yet how Ueda Nana wished he would just recklessly charge forward like that, to liberate her and protect her...

Just like her older brother when they were young.

Ueda Nana walked home in silence. Upon seeing that her father was already home, she calmly stated, "I've spoken to Tao Daro. I'm letting you know he is at home; he wishes to speak with you personally."

"Nana..." Ueda Shiro uttered, pausing a moment before asking, "Dinner... have you eaten?"

"Yes, Father," Ueda Nana replied coldly before walking over to the telephone.

Ueda Shiro silently listened as she called Tao Daro, informing him that her father was home and inviting him to return the call at his convenience, her tone polite and ordinary.

Then, her daughter called out to him: "Father, he has time right now."

Ueda Shiro nodded, pushed himself up from the floor with his hands, and walked quietly over.

"Good evening, Tao-jun," Ueda Shiro greeted, watching as his daughter walked straight toward her room without looking back.

"Lord Ueda," Tao Zhiming greeted in return, but then asked, "Did you require Nana to act this way?"

"... " Ueda Shiro didn't know how to reply, nor did he know what Ueda Nana had done. After a long moment, he softly asked, "What has... Nana done?"

Tao Zhiming let out a long sigh. "Lord Ueda, in front of me, she has completely discarded her pride, acting as though she's going mad."

Ueda Shiro's heart trembled, his gaze fixed straight upon his daughter's bedroom door.