103: Chapter 103 The Pyramid Scheme in an Island Nation

Inside the Prime Minister's study, the scent of sandalwood curled in the air, intertwining with the fragrance of cherry blossoms drifting in from the window, creating a strangely eerie harmony.

Suzuki Shiro had just taken off his crisp Prime Minister's uniform and changed into a comfortable kimono, his face still flushed with the excitement of his election; Suzuki Tomoko was personally whisking matcha, the porcelain-white teacup turning in her hands, its glaze reflecting the smile in her eyes.

Lin Long sat upright on the tatami opposite them, his fingertips brushing against the warm teacup. Watching Suzuki Shiro’s high-spirited demeanor, a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“Congratulations, Uncle Suzuki and Auntie. You've finally achieved your heart's desire.”

“Haha, this is all thanks to you, Lin Long!”

Suzuki Shiro slapped his thigh, the hem of his kimono fluttering into fine folds.

“If it weren't for your maneuvering behind the scenes, how could those old foxes have yielded so readily? Speaking of which, it's time to put your wedding with Sonoko on the agenda. Once the political situation stabilizes, we'll hold the grandest wedding in the entire island nation!”

Suzuki Tomoko pushed the matcha bowl toward Lin Long, a speck of emerald tea froth clinging to the lustrous rim of the glazed bowl.

“Indeed, Sonoko has been talking about you constantly these past few days, saying she wants to wear a furisode wedding dress.”

Her tone was gentle, but a hint of shrewdness was hidden in her eyes—she had to hold onto this great tree that was Lin Long.

Lin Long picked up the tea bowl and took a shallow sip. The slight bitterness of the matcha dissolved on his tongue, leaving a crisp, sweet aftertaste.

He looked up at the Suzuki couple, his smile fading slightly.

“There's no rush for the wedding. Let's handle the current mess first.” His tone shifted, becoming more solemn. “Uncle Suzuki, let me emphasize what I said earlier—your smooth ascent this time was due first to the tacit approval of the Americans, and second to the other Zaibatsu giving me face. When it's time to divide the cake, don't be too greedy. You must concede the profits that need to be conceded.”

“Uncle Suzuki, let me emphasize what I said earlier—your smooth ascent this time was due first to the tacit approval of the Americans, and second to the other Zaibatsu giving me face. When it's time to divide the cake, don't be too greedy. You must concede the profits that need to be conceded.”

The smile on Suzuki Shiro's face faltered slightly as he exchanged a look with Suzuki Tomoko.

He naturally understood Lin Long's meaning. The so-called “giving face” was merely the other Zaibatsu not wanting to make an enemy of Lin Long for the time being. If they were truly pushed too far, it wouldn't be impossible for them to unite and flip the table.

“Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.”

Suzuki Shiro set aside his lightheartedness and became serious. “For the upcoming meeting, I've already had my secretary draft a list. Core figures from the Ooka and Mitsui families will be appointed as Vice Ministers in the Cabinet, taking charge of departments with real power.”

Suzuki Tomoko added, “We've also reserved some positions in the military and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Doesn't the Tanaka Family's son have experience studying at West Point? Let him go to the Ministry of Defense as a Division Chief; it's a perfect match.”

Lin Long finally nodded.

“That would be for the best. I have no interest in the government of this island nation. Just handle things steadily and don't let any chaos break out.” He put down his tea bowl and stood up. “I'll be heading back. As for Sonoko... give her my regards.”

Watching Lin Long's retreating figure, Suzuki Tomoko said softly:

“This young man... his thoughts are unfathomable.”

Suzuki Shiro gave a snorting laugh:

“It's better that they are deep. As long as we follow his lead, we're guaranteed to profit.”

His eyes sharpened. “Let's prepare for the meeting. Let those old-timers see who the new masters of the island nation are.”

The Suzuki Zaibatsu's secret manor was hidden deep within the dense forests of Hakone. Two stone lions stood before the European-style main building, but they held Japanese bronze bells in their mouths. When the wind blew, they emitted a dull ringing sound, much like a proclamation of power.

Inside the conference hall, the long mahogany table was polished to a shine, reflecting the crystal light from the ceiling lamps.

The heads of established Zaibatsu like Ooka, Mitsui, and Mitsubishi sat on both sides. Before each of them lay a gold-embossed list—the “spoils list” drafted by Suzuki Shiro.

Suzuki Shiro wore a high-end bespoke suit instead of his earlier kimono, with the Prime Minister's badge pinned to his lapel. Sitting at the head of the table, his aura was entirely different.

He tapped the tabletop, his metal ring clashing with the mahogany to produce a crisp sound.

“Gentlemen,”

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a power that pierced through to the heart. “I have invited you all here today, first to celebrate, and second to distribute the rewards.”

“I, Suzuki Shiro, am not one to keep everything for myself. As I said, I will not enjoy this glory alone!”

He picked up the list on the table and read slowly:

“Ooka Tadashi, proposed appointment as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, overseeing automobile industry subsidy projects—this is the lifeblood of your family's car company. You understand what I mean, right?”

Upon hearing this, Ooka Tadashi immediately leaned forward:

“Prime Minister Suzuki, you've gone to great lengths. In the future, regarding the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, you need only say the word!”

He knew clearly that this position meant the Ooka Group could secure at least thirty percent of government orders.

“Mitsui Yuichi,”

Suzuki Shiro continued reading, “Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, responsible for the Shinkansen expansion project. Your family's construction company had better keep a close eye on it.”

Mitsui Yuichi adjusted his glasses, his grin widening from ear to ear. “Rest assured, I guarantee the Shinkansen will be as secure as our Mitsui vaults!”

He read the list for a full half-hour, from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from the Self-Defense Forces General Staff to the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Every Zaibatsu was allocated a “cake” matching their strength—positions of real power, government projects, tax breaks... every single one hit the mark.

Tanaka Masao, the head of the Tanaka Zaibatsu, felt his fingers tremble with excitement when he received the appointment for Division Chief in the Ministry of Defense. His family's defense company was currently in dire need of government orders; this position was practically tailor-made.

“Prime Minister Suzuki,”

The old chairman of Mitsubishi suddenly spoke. His hair was white, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's.

“We have no objections to these arrangements, but... those established Cabinet Ministers probably won't step down easily, will they?”

This question hit the nail on the head.

Everyone present was an old fox. They all knew that the bureaucrats in the government who had climbed the ladder through seniority looked down on them, the “money-grubbing” Zaibatsu, the most.

Suzuki Shiro smiled and threw a stack of documents from a drawer onto the table with a loud “thwack.”

“This is evidence of their bribery and the buying and selling of offices. I had Lin Long's people look into it. If anyone dares not to step down, these will be sent to the Public Prosecutors Office tomorrow.”

The seals on the document envelopes hadn't been broken yet, but they seemed to have eyes, making every Zaibatsu's heart skip a beat—to be able to get dirt on Cabinet Ministers, Lin Long's power was even more terrifying than they had imagined.

“Furthermore, regarding the military and the police,”

Suzuki Shiro dropped another bombshell. “I have already arranged for direct descendants of the Suzuki Family, as well as the personnel recommended by all of you, to be stationed in batches.”

“In several of the main divisions of the Self-Defense Forces, the division commanders are now our people. In the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, everyone from the rank of Division Chief and above has been replaced.”

“Although these aren't very high positions yet, with my support, they can slowly climb up. One day, our Zaibatsu members will completely replace those filthy political players.”

The conference hall was dead silent, with only the sound of heavy breathing. They had originally thought Suzuki Shiro was just a puppet who rose to power through Lin Long, but they hadn't expected his methods to be so ruthless and his planning so meticulous.

Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Suzuki Shiro felt a surge of exhilarating satisfaction.

He stood up, walked to the wall, and suddenly pulled back the heavy curtain—

Behind it was a massive map of the island nation, circled with dense red markings: ports, factories, oil fields, television stations... all the core industries of the Zaibatsu.

“Gentlemen,”

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a near-fanatical excitement.

“In the past, we made our living under the government's nose, eating at the whim of bureaucrats!”

“But from today on, we set the rules!”

“The government is our tool, the military is our bodyguard, and all the resources of the entire island nation must revolve around us!”

He took a glass of red wine from a waiter's tray and held it high above his head. “I announce—”

All the Zaibatsu stood up with him, raising their glasses, their eyes burning as they looked at the man at the head of the table.

“From now on, the island nation enters our Era of the Zaibatsu!”

Suzuki Shiro drained the wine in one gulp, the liquid trickling down the corner of his mouth and dripping onto his badge, looking very much like the color of blood.

“A toast to you all!”

“A toast to you all!”

Dozens of voices merged into a torrent, making the glass windows of the conference hall hum.

Some excitedly slammed their glasses onto the table, some embraced each other, and others took out their phones to photograph this historic moment.

Click—

The photographer pressed the shutter, freezing this scene forever:

The men behind the long mahogany table, some in suits and some in kimonos, all with faces full of ambition and excitement, against the backdrop of the map of the island nation circled in red.

When the photo was developed, Suzuki Shiro specifically added a line of text in the corner: “Taisho Year 15, the First Year of Zaibatsu Rule.”

He placed the photo on the top shelf of his bookcase in the Prime Minister's office, next to the katana Lin Long had given him—the scabbard was engraved with four characters: “Supreme Power.”

Outside the window, cherry blossoms covered the ground, like a thick layer of snow.

No one knew where this “new era” led by the Zaibatsu would take the island nation.

But at least at this moment, everyone in the conference hall firmly believed that their era had arrived.