Chapter 58: The Butterfly’s Wings

From a distance, Tao Zhiming saw a taxi parked by the roadside. He glanced in that direction and noticed the car starting up. Only a few minutes had passed since they left home. Yosuke Shino stood quietly to the side and whispered, “That’s the one!”

Tao Zhiming shifted his gaze back but said nothing. The car pulled up before them, and the driver leaned out to ask, “Are you waiting for a ride?”

“Yes,” Tao Zhiming replied with a smile, “but someone is coming to pick us up. Thank you.”

“…I see.” The driver looked rather helpless and drove off.

Tao Zhiming glanced at the license plate with a playful gleam in his eyes. Appearing so precisely before him—how interesting. It seemed the North City Society had invested quite some effort. Observing his front door from some concealed room was normal, but to notify this driver? There must be some sort of mobile communication device, perhaps an intercom system.

Clearly, he would need to make more preparations tomorrow, and be wary of possible setups inside the car.

Yosuke Shino felt a rush of excitement. “Do you think they realize we’ve spotted them?”

“…Let’s not talk about this out here, going around in circles. Mr. Honchi will arrive soon. Once we get there, listen carefully and learn well.”

“Understood!”

After Tao Zhiming’s vivid description last night, Yosuke Shino was already full of anticipation for the future.

Early that morning, Tao Zhiming called Honchi Kamiki to say he’d finished the planning proposal and needed to report to President Kinoshita, asking if he could come pick them up.

Bringing Yosuke Shino along wasn’t just for him to observe and learn—it was also a test. Would the North City Society still make a move if there was another target present? As it turned out, they did. Their resolve was even stronger than he’d imagined.

Taking Yosuke Shino with him, how would he handle things afterward? Or perhaps, was there some way to send Yosuke Shino off unsuspectingly and leave himself alone?

Tao Zhiming couldn’t quite figure out this puzzle.

As for the point Yosuke Shino raised, it was simply the difference between the overt and the covert. Hiroshi Omiyama and the North City Society naturally believed they were operating from the shadows. They wouldn’t imagine that Yuta Irie, prompted by the drunken provocations of their own small fry, would start to suspect something, nor would they expect Tao Zhiming, having opened the whole map, to quickly identify Hiroshi Omiyama as a suspect through the lens of financial maneuvering by conglomerates in the grand era.

So, from Yosuke Shino’s perspective, the other side was a little too brazen, boldly approaching them.

In reality, if Tao Zhiming hadn’t noticed Nara Yuma’s odd behavior earlier, he wouldn’t have suspected anything about this taxi now.

Before long, Honchi Kamiki arrived in his car.

As soon as they got in, Tao Zhiming said, “This is my classmate Yosuke Shino. We live together. He’s heard about my plan and is very interested in Mogami Holdings. He’ll join me in presenting the proposal to the president. Is that alright?”

“Oh? Is he a classmate of Tao from Tokyo University?” Honchi Kamiki replied with an exaggerated smile. “Of course, no problem. The president will be delighted. Yosuke, Mogami Holdings is a fine choice—why didn’t you attend our briefing?”

“…I had other commitments that day, unfortunately. But now isn’t too late, is it? I can meet the president directly.”

“How exciting! Yosuke, living with Tao, you must be quite the genius yourself!”

Yosuke Shino felt a bit embarrassed.

He used to be, but now… ever since Tao Zhiming rescued him, everything had been turned upside down.

The three chatted as they drove, while on the other side, Hiroshi Omiyama was receiving a phone call.

“…Picked up by Honchi Kamiki from Mogami Holdings’ planning department?” He pressed the desk with his fingers, releasing the tension in his heart. “I understand. Anyway, finish the task as soon as possible.”

He hung up and stared at the television in his office.

He had heard from the chairman that today’s news would announce a rate cut, so he had been waiting.

Would this rate cut stimulate the economy? Because of the Plaza Accord, the Neon Yen’s exchange rate had risen so much. He sincerely hoped this rate cut would help stabilize the currency.

If so, not only would the future of Tomoharmony Trading be a bit easier, but the chairman and his circle… probably wouldn’t profit much from this and subsequent foreign exchange market fluctuations.

Hiroshi Omiyama knew, though, that the chairman still believed the Neon Yen would appreciate further.

But no one knew where the peak lay.

Ordinary people could only get information from public channels, guided by news and the pronouncements of prominent figures, always steered toward the side that would get harvested.

Now, the exchange rate scrolling across the TV was much more stable than yesterday and the day before, even returning to levels last seen half a month ago.

Hiroshi Omiyama wasn’t sure whether, after the news aired, the rate cut would create enough pressure to immediately drive the exchange rate even higher, or if the intervention would actually boost confidence and stabilize the market.

After all, his focus was on trade, not finance.

Just then, the news finally began to broadcast.

…

When Tao Zhiming arrived at Shufeng Kinoshita’s office, he too saw this news.

He felt genuinely happy. At least for now, the butterfly storm had not begun. Neon, as in his memory, had cut rates right on schedule.

This time, from 4.5% to 4%.

That meant, on the path to achieving his ambitions, he would likely be able to exploit his knowledge of global financial trends a few more times.

But who could tell what unpredictable changes his arrival might bring?

He, after all, was the greatest variable on this timeline.

Therefore, he couldn’t rely solely on financial market windfalls; he had to think long-term.

Today marked the first step in that direction.

…

Yosuke Shino had asked about his future plans, but Tao Zhiming hadn’t said much.

The coming internet era was unimaginable to people at this time. Tao Zhiming had plenty of time to prepare, so he started with something fun.

Being reborn abroad had given him a unique opportunity. From the moment he was looked down upon by Hiroshi Omiyama, a seed had been planted in his heart.

How about spending thirty years to gain the power to shape minds across the world?

And when he possessed it, what sort of surprise could he deliver to the world?

That would surely be a most exhilarating thing.

So, beginning from the bubble-era Tokyo, where entertainment reigned supreme, Tao Zhiming resolved first to acquire the power to shape young people’s memories of their youth.

And at this moment, the first to sense the fluttering of butterfly wings was Shufeng Kinoshita.

“I am truly amazed!” President Shufeng Kinoshita of Mogami Holdings pointed at the television. “Last time, you told me that to respond to the current situation, there would certainly be a rate cut soon, and that it would happen in mid-March. I thought you’d gotten some advance news. But your family background makes it clear you couldn’t know what I know. Now, just as you said, it’s been announced today.”

Tao Zhiming had chosen this day for precisely this reason. Seeing how much Shufeng Kinoshita appreciated him, Tao Zhiming responded humbly, “Because I manage my own finances, I pay attention to macro policies and made this judgement. I was lucky. Now, the company’s financing costs will drop further—good news.”

“For us, of course it’s good news, or I wouldn’t have had the courage to start developing that plot in the port district.” Shufeng Kinoshita didn’t ask Tao Zhiming and the others to take seats, but went straight to the point. “I heard you’ve finished the proposal?”

“Yes. After so much time, I can finally fulfill my promise.” Tao Zhiming switched to a confident demeanor. “I believe the president will find it very interesting—this proposal represents the future.”

“Is that so? I can hardly wait. Honchi, is the conference room ready?”

“Yes!” Honchi Kamiki bowed. “The department heads are already waiting.”

“Then let’s go!” Shufeng Kinoshita clapped his hands. “Tao, you said you wanted to give this project a theme, something that would set it apart. For the sake of this quality you spoke of, everyone in the planning department has racked their brains. I wonder if what you’ve brought will be as eye-opening as last time!”

“I won’t let you down.” Tao Zhiming walked with him toward the conference room, saying as he went, “This time, I’ve staked my own future on it, giving it everything I have.”

“How exciting!”

Yosuke Shino held his breath and followed closely. When Honchi Kamiki pushed open the conference room door, the three entered at his invitation.

Inside, neatly dressed people of all ages stood up and nodded respectfully at Shufeng Kinoshita.

He merely acknowledged them with a slight gesture, then shifted to a warm smile. “Tao, please have a seat here and introduce your proposal to everyone.”

Yosuke Shino saw Tao Zhiming calmly express his thanks, then confidently took the first seat on this side of the table.

Directly opposite him sat the planning director of Mogami Holdings.

Tao Zhiming smiled at everyone and said, “The overall proposal is rather lengthy; shall I present it seated?”

“Of course! Please, Tao!”

Yosuke Shino observed the expectant look in Shufeng Kinoshita’s eyes, the confidence of Tao Zhiming, and the cautious demeanor of the company’s senior staff. He could not help but feel directly the poise Tao Zhiming showed before high-level executives at other company briefings.

He had to admit—even though they were both students at Tokyo University, Tao Dalang… had already become a remarkable figure.

“Well then…” Tao Zhiming glanced first at Shufeng Kinoshita, then swept his gaze across the room, and spoke in a deep voice, “Let me present to you the proposal for Mogami Gokurakucho…”

Though the butterfly storm had not truly begun, now was the time to start beating its wings.