Chapter 1181. Short Series A / Human Success Part 4

「 So far, you only evaluate people based on your instincts, saying that the other person is suspicious and the like 」

Jii-chan speaks to me.

「 Of course, instinct is valuable. I don’t trust people who my instinct says that they’re different, and I don’t let them get close to me again 」

「 Umu, that applies to me too 」

Kira, the old man who’s already 80 years old and is a monk, and yet, his white hair is still thick, nodded.

「 However, if it’s a person that’s introduced to you, then you need a clear reason to reject them. The referrer won’t accept the reason that you felt that they’re suspicious 」

Oh, I see.

There’s the honor of the referrer that says “please meet this person” to Jii-chan.

「 You have to make it clear to the other party why Yazawa did the meeting instead of me, and why he judged that they’re not good people. The referrer could’ve been deceived by that person as well after all 」

Oh yeah, bad guys could just go after Jii-chan’s acquaintance in the nobility, or enterprise managers and deceive them.

Then, expanding from that, they could make Jii-chan their next target.

「 You have to make it clear and easy to understand when conveying the problem with a person 」

Jii-chan said.

「 Otherwise, if the other party is a villain, they’ll spread their self-serving stories such as “The Kouzuki house are hard headed-people,” or “The person in charge was incapable of understanding my proposal,” or “They were jealous because I was too competent” 」

For bad guys, being able to contact the Kouzuki house can be used to advertise their skills.

Even if Jii-chan didn’t meet them and Yazawa-san kicked them off. They can tell people around them that the “Kouzuki house is stupid, they can’t understand what I’m proposing”

「 That’s why your assessment has to be distinct. “It felt suspicious,” can be translated as “It just happened that the person in charge in the Kouzuki house wasn’t feeling well”

I see.

「 It’s the same when it comes to subordinates 」

Old man Kira speaks up.

「 If you’re to own the Kouzuki SS, then you need to be clear with your instructions to the people in the company. Saying “That person is suspicious,” will only confuse your subordinates. You have to be clear what’s that suspicion you’re feeling 」

「 Indeed. If your instructions are unclear, your subordinates will ask “What do we do?” and become unable to decide 」

Jii-chan said.

「 Yeah got it 」

I replied.

「 By the way, the meeting time will be in fifteen minutes. Don’t take more than that. If the other party just wants to talk, then it’s a waste of time. 」

「 Umu, Kouzuki’s right. You can see what kind of person the other party is when you talk to them for fifteen minutes. No, you have to 」

「 If you don’t set a time limit like that, you’ll end up spending your life listening to people all the time 」

The two old men told me.

「 For now, you can sit together with Yazawa during the meeting. Whatever the circumstances may be, I won’t ask you to go in there alone 」

Oh, that helps.

It’s a little scary to have me, a high-school boy meet with people who want a meeting with Jii-chan by myself.

「 Please take care of me, Yazawa-san 」

I bow my head to Yazawa-san.

「 Please do, Yazawa 」

「 Yes, Kakka 」

Yazawa-san replied to Jii-chan

「 Then, go to the lower floor. There’s already a visitor requesting to meet me today 」

「 Umu, we’ll be watching here 」

Jii-chan and old man Kira said.

Normally, this is left to Yazawa-san. Jii-chan doesn’t go watch on the cameras.

I knew it. It’s a test.

「 Then, let’s go 」

Yazawa-san called me.

「 Yes, let’s 」

I bowed to the two old men and stood up.

「 Where are you going? 」

Agnes looked at me from the table near the window and said.

「 We’re about to eat parfait 」

「 I’ll go meet some guests on the lower floor. I’ll be back soon 」

I said.

「 Then, Agnes won’t eat parfait and wait 」

Err.

「 You’re only on the lower floor for fifteen or twenty minutes, right? So, we’ll predict the time the room service comes in so we can eat when you come back 」

Katsuko-nee said with a smile.

「 It’s not delicious unless we’re all together! 」

Agnes.

「 You want to eat the deluxe parfait too, right? Oh, should I ask for hot tea instead? It’s Shige-chan’s treat after all 」

Katsuko-nee asked Jii-chan jokingly.

「 Whichever pleases you, I’ll ask for coffee 」

「 Then, I’ll take coffee too 」

Old man Kira said.

「 Yes, certainly. Then let’s order together 」

Katsuko-nee goes to the phone in the room.

「 Sensei, should Luna and I go with you? 」

Yomi asked worriedly.

Well, having the girls with Miko power will be reassuring, but..

This is my test, so..

「 Thanks, But, you girls should stay here 」

I refused Yomi.

「 Uhm, Kuromori-sama. Good luck 」

Koyomi-chan told me.

「 Don’t be surprised, okay? 」

Hmm?

Oh right. Koyomi-chan already knew who Jii-chan’s making me meet up with.

Meaning, the other party is someone famous enough that this 12-year-old girl knows them?

「 Don’t. Koyomi-chan. That’s enough hints. Don’t hinder the fun of the two old men 」

Katsuko-nee says while taking the phone.

「 Anyway, we’re going. We’ll be back 」

I told everyone, then bowed to Jii-chan again.

Then I left the room with Yazawa-san.

◇　◇　◇

「 Still, you look so normal and yet, you’re so absurd 」

Yazawa-san smiled at me when we entered the corridor.

「 From our investigation, the girls with the blood of the Takakura shrine maidens are all mentally unstable. And yet, you stabilized them completely 」

Huh?

「 Seki-kun’s reporting to me periodically. So Kakka decided to sponsor those mentally stable girls, and that’s why he’s here today 」

He’s talking about the old man.

「 If not, that cautious man would never want the shrine maidens to be in the same room as him. It seems that he’s amusing himself with you 」

Meaning, that old man Kira came over just to watch this test?

Oh, I shouldn’t think about it now.

Let’s focus on what I have on hand.

Even this could just be a trap from Yazawa-san to distract me.

Yazawa-san’s coming with me to do the meetup with the person who wanted a meeting with Jii-chan, but..

He’s not my ally here.

Yazawa-san is also one of the examiners.

「 So, about this meeting.. 」

I asked Yazawa-san as he presses the button on the elevator hall.

「 Let’s see.. I’ll do the greetings firsts. Then, you can do what you want 」

Yazawa-san said lightly.

「 Well, you can’t assume how the other party will behave. So, do what you need. Just adapt to the situation 」

Right..

I’m the one meeting the person who wanted to see Jii-chan.

I can’t know the reaction of that person until I meet up with them

「 So, are you not going to ask me who are we meeting? 」

Yazawa-san looked at me.

「 Will you tell me if I asked? 」

「 I wonder about that 」

「 Yazawa-san smiled. 」

「 Then no need. I can assume that it’s a well-known person, but, I don’t want to be dragged y the image I already have on that person. I want to value that raw feeling from the time we meet after all 」

I replied.

If I know who the other person is, then I’ll make put myself on guard.

I’ll overlook a lot of things from the first impression stage already.

「 I see. Then I won’t tell you 」

The elevator’s arrived.

I followed Yazawa inside.

Yazawa-san pressed the button three floors below.

The elevator closed and went down.

Immediately after, the door opens.

Oh, this floor’s just like a normal hotel guest floor.

I don’t see any uniformed guards from Kouzuki SS>

I mean, there’s nobody in this brightly lit corridor.

「 Let’s go 」

Yazawa-san urged me.

Then, we arrived in front of one of the guest rooms.

You can talk to an intercom in this guest room it seems.

Yazawa-san pressed the switch.

『 Yes? 』

A voice comes from the intercom.

「 This is Yazawa from Kouzuki SS 」

historical

The door opened immediately.

Click.

「 We’ve been waiting 」

A man wearing a gray suit..I don’t know him.

Or rather, it’s not him.

I think he’s the secretary or bodyguard.

The person who wanted to meet Jii-chan is probably inside the room.

「 And this one is? 」

The secretary-like guy looked at me and asked Yazawa-san.

「 That’s not for you to know 」

Yazawa-san replied sullenly.

「 I’m very sorry. Come in 」

The secretary invites us to the room.

「 Excuse us 」

I said just in case. Then followed Yazawa-san the room.

Then, the door closed behind us.

Oh, this room isn’t even half the size of Jii-chan’s room upstairs.

This is a hotel guest room, and yet, there’s no bed.

But in exchange, there’s an executive table.

So, this is probably a private room for secret talks.

And now..

At the back of the room, a man wearing a blue suit is facing the window, turning his back on us.

Huh? I think I’ve seen this guy.

「 Sensei, Yazawa-sama from Kouzuki SS has come 」

「 Umu 」

This is a small room so he should’ve known that we’re here, and yet..

He’s the type who makes this kind of skit on purpose.

The man in a blue suit slowly faced us.

「 Thank you for coming today 」

He bows to Yazawa-san.

Oh, this guy..

If I recall, he’s a politician.

He used to be a cultural celebrity and a commentator on TV for some years..

Then, after that, he became a candidate for prefectural governor somewhere..

Err.

「 Ah, I’m Murata Hideo 」

Yeah, that. Murata Hideo.

Man, I’m glad I didn’t ask for any information before going in.

Governor Murata’s much smaller than he is on TV.

I didn’t care about it on TV, but that blue suit of his is quite high-class. The cloth is different.

His necktie is probably an Italian brand too.

Also, the stink.

What’s this? Hairstyle? No, that’s not it. I think that he’s poured some men’s perfume on him.

You can’t find something this raw on TV.

Also, he’s much older than he was on TV.

I mean, when you’re on TV, you can use make-up to make yourself younger.

If I recall, this guy’s in his mid-forties.

「 I’m Yazawa from Kouzuki SS 」

Yazawa-san greets with a straight face.

「 And, who is this boy 」

Governor Murata looked at me.

「 A relative of Kakka 」

Yazawa-san replied just that.

I intuitively thought that it’s better if I shouldn’t name myself.

It’s better not to bring the name Kuromori to a former entertainer turned politician.

「 Excuse me 」

I said and bowed.

「 I see. Hmm 」

Governor Murata looked at my clothes and shoes.

「 Well, it matters not. Come 」

We go to the table.

It looks like we’re visiting governor Murata’s office, but..

This hotel belongs to the Kouzuki house.

Governor Murata came from his hometown to meet Jii-chan.

Therefore, he’s actually the guest here.

「 Please take a seat. Relax yourselves 」

But, since governor Murata’s already sitting. He asks us to do the same

I see.

I can see his personality now.

He wants to bring everything to his pace, and he doesn’t think much if it’s rude to the other party or not.

「! 」

Yazawa-san took a seat without saying anything.

I also followed.

「 Err, do you want coffee or anything? 」

Governor Murata says, but..

「 No thanks 」

Yazawa-san refused.

「 Murata-sensei’s introduced by Kurosaki-sensei, the president of Ochiai transport, and he would like to meet Kakka, but.. 」

We’re brought to the topic right away.

It’s natural since the meeting only takes fifteen minutes.

「 Meetings with Kakka from the Kouzuki house goes through me first 」

「 Yes, yes, I heard that from President Kurosaki as well. He told me that Kouzuki-san trusts Yazawa-san a lot. That you’re effectively Kouzuki-san’s secretary 」

Governor Murata said with a smile.

「 My specialty is security, as you already know, Kouzuki SS doesn’t provide security not just for Kakka but for the entire political and business world of Japan 」

「 Yes, yes, yes, I know that. That’s why I feel lucky that I’m meeting with Yazawa-san today. Please allow me to get to know you better in many ways. 」

This guy is overly familiar.

His smile is disgusting.

「 And so, what kind of business does Murata-sensei have with Kakka that requires a meeting? That’s what I’d like to know first 」

Yazawa-san said.

「 Oh, I see. Well, I thought so. Oh well, I’ll speak to Yazawa-san honestly.. 」

Governor Murata smiled.

「 No, Yazawa-san, I think you already know my current situation. In fact, I, or rather, we, the younger generations of politicians are concerned with the current politics of Japan. And so we’re about to launch a new party for the next national election 」

This guy’s the prefectural governor currently, but..

He wants to become a member of the Diet?

「 No, of course, I’ll complete my term as the Governor. However, from now on, Japanese politics shouldn’t be centered in Tokyo, but they should also come from other local areas..I believe you can understand that, Yazawa-san 」

「 Is it political money to start a new party? Or do you want to lay the groundwork for influential politicians and businessmen? Or do you simply want Kakka to declare his support to your party? 」

Yazawa-san cut into the chase.

Right, governor Murata’s objective is..

Is it Jii-chan’s money?

Or, does he want to be introduced to the political and business circles?

Or maybe, he just wants a comment that says “I support governor Murata”?

「 No, no, no, what I want to ask is all of it 」

Governor Murata shows a malicious smile.

「 I want financial support, I want political support, and I want Kouzuki-san to bring his influence and entrust them all to me! 」

Meaning..

「 We, the younger generation of politicians are the ones who’ll create the future. We’ll crush the vested interests, and the rigid systems that are in place, or there will be no future for Japan! Isn’t that right?! I want you to believe in Murata..in my eyes!!! 」

Err..

「 No, I have been too honest that I’ve made enemies. No, the people who disagree with me are the ones who are firmly entrenched in the vested interests that need to be destroyed. That’s why they get so angry when I point it out, it pains me. I’m just a brutally honest person, not a bad person. That’s what all my allies say too 」

Can you trust someone who evaluates themselves and say “I’m not a bad person”

「 I believe Yazawa-san already knows, but, the latest poll shows that a total of 43% of the respondents say that they expect, or they may expect a new party from us. That’s higher than the current ruling party’s approval rating 」

No, using figures from a survey asking “Do you expect a new party” is just..

That’s just comparable to “Which party do you support,” right?

「 Our age has come for sure! That’s decided! It has to be the case! And it shall happen! If we don’t scrap and rebuild this country now, the country ruled by those with a vested interest will bring us to doom! We’re running out of time 」

Governor Murata’s getting passionate.

Yazawa-san looked at me.

「 What do you think? 」

I’m already introduced as Jii-chan’s relative so he asks me politely.

「 He will be meeting with Kakka later, and so if you talk to him instead of me, I’m sure that Murata-sensei’s hopes will reach Kakka 」

Yazawa-san, you’re going to pass the baton to me now?!

「 Oh, I see. You’re going to meet with Kouzuki-san? 」

Governor Murata looked at me with appraising eyes and said.

「 What do you think after hearing my story? What did you feel? What do you think? I’d like to hear the opinion of people of your age 」

Haaaaaa..

Err..

「 Look, I don’t really know much about politics, but.. 」

「 Oh, I see. It can’t be helped. Then that’s just poor education! Your school hasn’t taught you much about politics and the state! Don’t blame yourself 」

Governor Murata talks to me with an over-familiar attitude.

「 So, uhm, there’s something I just can’t understand about Murata-san’s story 」

「 I see. Which part of Murata’s talk was unclear to you? Could it be that it was too complicated for you? Oh well, tell me, what did you not understand? 」

Oh, this guy’s looking down on me.

His tone is starting to break.

「 Uhm, Murata-san talks about not being able to forgive the vested interests, and that you want to break them all, but.. 」

「 Oh, yes, vested interests! Vested interests are interests maintained by a particular social group for a long time due to historical circumstances. You’ll know that when you look it up on the internet 」

「 Well, I get that. But what I don’t understand is.. 」

I said.

「 Kouzuki house is a noble family, they have been the nobility ever since the Muromachi period. And such, they have the authority, they have a lot of companies, have a lot of assets, and they know a lot of politicians and businessmen in Japan today.. 」

「 You don’t need to tell me that, that’s the reason why I’m asking Kouzuki-san to support our political activities! 」

Hey, look. Murata.

「 So, your political campaign is to crush the vested interests, right? 」

「 Of course! Don’t you think that people with vested interests have to be taken down too, right? That’s just obvious 」

Ah.

「 Then talking about obvious. Kouzuki house is also one of those vested interests Murata-san is talking about 」

I said.

「 Murata-san, are you asking the Kouzuki house, a group of vested interests, to help you destroy those? 」

That’s what I don’t understand.

「 If we don’t do something about it, Japan will collapse. That’s how everyone feels!!! 」

Oh, he tried to pass it off.

「 Japan won’t collapse no matter what 」

I speak with a fed-up look.

「 Kouzuki house and the nobility are supporting it with their lives. As long as Kouzuki house is alive, Japan won’t collapse 」