wavenovel Chapter 57 The Godfather
Chapter 57 The Godfather
(First of all, a huge thank you to "Master E of the Imperial City Square" for the King of Gifts! Thank you for your support! Also, thank you to "Looking Forward" for the God-level certification! Thank you to "Mrs. Qin Who Loves Garlic Fish" for the God-level certification! Thank you to "Bai Zhongqi Who Likes Passion Fruit" for the God-level certification! Thank you to "Cafe Rimeng" for the 20 consecutive update reminder tokens! Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard, and there will be two extra chapters today~)
Tuesday, October 20, 1987.
The sky in Tokyo was a blindingly blue.
The typhoon passed completely last night, taking away all the clouds and leaving behind a cloudless morning. The sunlight shone unhindered on the glass curtain wall of Marunouchi, reflecting a dazzling light.
But in Kabutocho, where the Tokyo Stock Exchange is located, this bright sunshine felt like a vicious mockery.
8:50 a.m.
There are still ten minutes until the market opens.
Inside the enormous trading floor, the air was thick with a pungent, suffocating stench of sweat and adrenaline. More than two thousand floor traders in red vests were crammed into the narrow batting box, their faces etched with terror.
The giant electronic display screen on the wall was still completely black, like the closed eye of a monster.
But everyone knows what it will see the moment it opens its eyes.
A few hours earlier, on the other side of the world in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 508 points, a drop of 22.6%.
That was a preview of the end of the world.
"bell--!!!"
Nine o'clock sharp. The opening bell rang.
This sound, which usually represents the flow of wealth, now sounds like a funeral bell.
"Sell! Nippon Steel! 50,000 shares! Sell at market price!"
"Sell all 100,000 shares of Toyota Motor!"
"Price doesn't matter! As long as the deal goes through! Sell! Sell! Sell!"
Almost at the exact same second the bell rang, a roar erupted like a blast wave, shaking the entire hall. Countless hands waved in the air, making the famous "sell" gesture. Telephones rang incessantly, like thousands of cicadas chirping simultaneously.
However, there were no buyers.
All those greedy purchases from the past have vanished today.
The electronic screen lights up.
There is no red. Not a single red speck of light.
The screen is entirely green (in the Japanese stock market, green indicates a decline).
Nikkei Index: -1000 points.
-1500 points.
-2000 points.
The numbers were jumping around so fast it was dizzying. The concept of "decline" was insufficient to describe it; it was freefall. It was trillions of yen in wealth evaporating in an instant, turning into meaningless electronic dust.
A young trader stared blankly at the screen, the receiver slipping from his hand and crashing to the ground with a "thud".
"It's over..." he muttered to himself, tears streaming down his face without warning. "It's all over... the clients' deposits... my house..."
Around him, some people were screaming, some were crying on the phone, and some even fainted due to extreme lack of oxygen and panic and were carried out on stretchers.
This was a massacre without gunfire.
The entire town of Kabuto has been transformed into a screaming hell.
……
At the same time.
Azabu Juban, Ananban.
The heavy cast-iron gate slowly closed, completely isolating the collapsing world outside.
The Club.
Under the warm and ambiguous amber light, the only aromas in the air are the rich scent of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and the faint pine fragrance emanating from a burning top-grade Havana cigar.
It's so quiet here, it feels like another time and space.
There are an unusually large number of people in the Deer Cry Hall today.
Normally at this time, these important figures would be holding meetings in the council building in Nagata-cho or reviewing documents in their offices in Otemachi.
But today, they all came.
There were about twenty people, scattered around the dark leather sofa area.
Among them are high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Finance's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics who control the national budget, presidents of the largest trading companies, secretaries-general of the most powerful faction within the Liberal Democratic Party, and several real estate tycoons with assets worth tens of billions of yen.
They did not speak.
All eyes were focused on the huge Sony color television that had been specially brought to the front of the hall.
On the screen, an NHK presenter is incoherently reporting on the disastrous state of the stock market. The scene then shifts to the Kabutocho area, which has now become a scene of chaos resembling a battlefield.
"Sizzle—"
An elderly man dressed in an elegant three-piece suit picked up a bone china coffee cup and took a small sip.
He is Tanaka, the managing director of Sumitomo Bank.
His hands were steady, even carrying a sense of relief, as if he had survived a close call.
"Three thousand points."
Tanaka put down the cup, and the silver spoon struck the saucer, making a crisp "ding" sound.
"It has already dropped by 3,000 points."
He turned his head and looked at the man sitting on the sofa next to him—Vice Minister Sato of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
"Sato-san, if I remember correctly, you redeemed all your stock funds last Friday when you played golf, right?"
Vice-Minister Sato was peeling a grape. He nodded, a complex, bitter smile on his face.
"Yes. It's been redeemed."
He glanced at the stock market investors on TV who were crying and wailing.
"Last Thursday night, I came here for a drink. Mr. Shuichi specially opened a very good bottle of Romanée-Conti and chatted with me about his vacation in Karuizawa."
He said, "Sato-san, it's been windy lately, you might catch a cold. Why don't you put down what you're carrying and go stay in the mountains for a few days?"
Sato put the grape in his mouth.
"I was still hesitant at the time. After all, NTT had risen so much."
"But Mr. Shuichi also said: 'Sometimes, holding cash is the best investment.'"
"I believed it. I sold them all first thing Friday morning."
Sato sighed deeply, his tone filled with relief.
"If I hadn't sold it... I'd probably be writing my resignation letter by now."
Several people nearby overheard their conversation and gathered around.
"Me too!"
A real estate tycoon wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
"Last Wednesday, Mr. Shuichi had Ms. Satsuki deliver a box of tea to me with a note that simply said: 'It's better to have it in your pocket than to have it in your pocket.'"
"At the time, I thought the Saionji family was too conservative. But now it seems..."
He pointed at the television screen, his voice trembling slightly.
"That box of tea saved my life..."
Everyone looked at each other.
They discovered an astonishing fact.
All twenty-odd people present received a "hint" from the Saionji family before the collapse.
Whether through Shuichi's casual conversation, through Satsuki's small gifts, or through The Club's butler's gentle reminders.
The methods may differ, but the core principle remains the same: running.
Moreover, look around at the people who haven't come.
President Suzuki, who always boasts about his fully leveraged portfolio, didn't come.
The congressman Tanaka, who clamored to buy the Empire State Building, didn't come.
Those present are all "survivors".
They were passengers chosen by the Saionji family's ark.
A strange yet strong bond was forged in the hearts of these men who held power in Japan in that instant.
They realized that this was more than just luck.
This demonstrates the Saionji family's terrifying ability to predict and control.
First, they made a fortune from the Plaza Accord two years ago (rumored), and now they have accurately predicted the US stock market crash.
Does this family really possess a crystal ball that can predict the future?
"It seems we all owe the Saionji family a huge favor."
"I am deeply moved," said Managing Director Tanaka.
"This isn't just an ordinary favor," Vice Minister Sato said in a low voice. "It's a life-saving debt. If the Saionji family ever needs anything in the future..."
He didn't finish speaking, but everyone understood.
Just then.
The door was suddenly kicked open.
"Bang!"
A man with disheveled hair and a crooked tie stumbled in.
His face was ashen, his eyes were bloodshot, and his suit was soaked with sweat, making him look utterly disheveled.
The president of Daito Construction, Gondo.
He was a member of The Club, but he was also the one who didn't listen to advice.
Last week, when Xiu Yi hinted that he should reduce his holdings, he not only ignored the suggestion, but also made a large-scale margin purchase on Friday, attempting to buy at the bottom.
Now, we've bought him outright.
"Shuichi! Mr. Shuichi!"
Ignoring everyone's gaze, Gondo rushed into the hall like a madman, looking around frantically.
"Save me! Please save me!"
His voice was hoarse and choked with sobs.
"Banks are withdrawing loans! Brokerages are liquidating my positions! My Dadong Construction... my stocks... it's all gone!"
He saw Shuichi slowly walking down the stairs from the second floor.
"Thump."
Gondo immediately knelt down, his knees slamming onto the carpet with a dull thud.
He crawled over on his hands and feet and grabbed Xiuichi's leg.
"Mr. Shuichi! You must have a way! You're so rich! Lend me 5 billion! No, 3 billion will do! As long as I can cover the deposit..."
The hall was deathly silent.
The powerful and wealthy people, holding their coffees, watched this scene with indifference.
There was no sympathy in their eyes. Only disgust and a sense of superiority that said, "Luckily I obeyed."
In this cruel capitalist world, fools who ignore the warnings of the prophets deserve to die.
Xiu stopped in his tracks.
He was wearing a dark gray kimono today, which made him look exceptionally refined and approachable.
He looked down at Quan Teng, who was weeping bitterly at his feet, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deep calm.
"Gonto-san."
Xiu bent down and reached out to help him up.
"This is a club, everyone here is a respectable person. Let's talk things out."
"I won't get up! I won't get up unless you agree!"
Gondo clung tightly to Shuichi's clothes, like a drowning dog grasping at the only piece of driftwood.
"Mr. Shuichi, for the sake of our family's friendship... I shouldn't have disobeyed you! I was blinded by greed! If you save me this time, Daito Construction will be your dog from now on!"
Shuichi sighed.
"Mr. Gondo, this isn't about money. In the current market, who dares to go against the trend and take over?"
"But……"
"We can save you."
A cool, clear voice came from behind Shuichi.
Satsuki came out.
She was holding a thin document in her hand.
She walked up to Gondo and looked down at the man who was forty years her senior.
"Daito Construction's debt ratio has exceeded 80%. The bank will freeze your assets this afternoon. By this time tomorrow, you will lose everything, including your mansion in Setagaya."
Satsuki's voice was soft, yet it precisely dissected Gondo's wound.
"However, the Saionji family cherishes old friendships."
She threw the documents on the carpet in front of Gondo.
"This is the investment agreement for SA Investment."
"We will invest 5 billion yen to help you repay the deposit and part of the bank loan."
Gondo's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had grasped at a lifeline. His hands trembled as he reached for the document.
"but."
Satsuki's voice turned cold.
There is only one condition.
"SA will hold 60% of Daito Construction's shares and gain absolute control of the board of directors. Although you will retain the position of president, all major company decisions, including finance, personnel, and project development, must be approved by SA."
"Also, transfer that piece of reclaimed land you hold in Odaiba to Saionji Industrial Co., Ltd. free of charge."
Gondo was stunned.
This isn't a rescue; it's blatant annexation!
With a 60% stake, Daito Construction would henceforth be owned by Saionji. And that piece of land in Odaiba was his last trump card, a chance to turn things around.
"This...this is too much..." Gondo raised his head, his eyes filled with despair.
"You think it's too harsh?"
Satsuki shrugged indifferently.
"Then forget it."
She made a gesture as if to take the documents back.
"You can walk out now. I bet the bank's clearing team is already waiting for you at the door."
"No! No! I'll sign!"
Gondo screamed and threw himself onto the document.
Compared to bankruptcy and suicide, compared to being utterly disgraced, at least being a dog means you can still live.
Moreover, being able to serve as a dog for the Saionji family in this collapsing world might be considered a kind of luck.
"A pen...give me a pen..."
A waiter next to me handed me a pen.
Gondo lay on the carpet, his hands trembling as if he were shaking, and he signed his name crookedly.
At that moment, he signed a contract to sell his soul.
"very good."
Satsuki put the document away and glanced at the signature on it.
"Someone will handle the subsequent transfers. You can leave now, President Gondo."
"Remember to go back, take a shower, and change your clothes. You're being very rude right now."
Gondo nodded blankly, got up from the ground, bowed deeply to Shuichi and Satsuki, and then walked out like a ghost, looking lost and dejected.
The hall returned to silence.
But the atmosphere changed.
If everyone felt awe towards the Saionji family just now, now their feelings are tinged with fear.
In this lively club, they witnessed a bloodless takeover.
The Saionji family not only foresees disasters, but also reaps the benefits from them.
But none of them felt there was anything wrong with it.
The law of the jungle prevails; that's normal.
The winner takes all, and the same principle applies to them.
Xiu looked around.
He saw the fawning in Managing Director Tanaka's eyes, the dependence in Vice Minister Sato's eyes, and the submissiveness in the eyes of those tycoons.
He knew that the die was cast.
"Everyone."
Xiuyi walked to the center of the hall and stood under the huge crystal chandelier.
His voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"The storms outside are fierce. Many people will lose their wealth, and many people will lose their dignity."
"But at The Club."
Shuichi raised the glass of soda water in his hand.
"As long as everyone sits together, this ship will be stable."
"The Saionji family will always be your most loyal friends."
"Splash—"
Everyone stood up.
These big shots, who usually wield power in Nagatacho and spend lavishly in Ginza, now looked at the gentle and refined man in the center of the hall with less of their usual scrutiny and reserve, and more genuine respect.
Managing Director Tanaka of Sumitomo Bank was the first to break the silence. He looked at the precipitous green curve on the television screen, then at the steady cup of coffee in his hand, and took a deep breath.
"Saionji-kun."
Tanaka did not use the honorific "Your Excellency" or the unfamiliar "Sir," but instead used "Your Excellency," which signifies closeness and equality within this circle.
He raised the bone china cup in his hand and gestured slightly in Shuichi's direction.
"Thanks to your suggestion last week to 'go play golf in Karuizawa.' Not only did it save my pension, it also saved my reputation on the board."
Managing Director Tanaka gave a sincere, bitter smile, an emotion he only showed in front of "his own people".
"Sumitomo Bank will remember this favor. If the Saionji family ever needs any financial assistance in the future, they can do so with just one phone call, as long as it's within my authority."
This statement carries immense weight.
This means that the Saionji family will have a green channel within the Sumitomo Foundation in the future.
"yes."
Vice Minister Sato from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry also came over. He straightened his cuffs, which had been wrinkled from watching the news, and regained the composure and demeanor of a high-ranking bureaucrat.
"In this age where information is life, it is our good fortune to have a friend with such keen insight as Saionji-kun."
Vice-Minister Sato looked around, his gaze sweeping over the bigwigs who also wore expressions of relief.
"No matter how big the storms outside are, as long as we're in this room and can take care of each other, there's no obstacle we can't overcome."
He turned to Shuichi, nodded slightly, and spoke solemnly.
"Mr. Xiu, if you have any questions about industrial policies in the future, feel free to come to my office for tea anytime. In these turbulent times, we also need to hear the voices of visionary entrepreneurs like yourself."
The other members also raised their glasses.
"I admire Saionji-kun's foresight!"
"A toast to The Club!"
"To all of us—good luck!"
Everyone maintained the dignity and arrogance befitting their status as the powerful and wealthy. But beneath this facade, an invisible yet solid contract had been formed.
They acknowledged the central position of the Saionji family within this circle.
It's no longer because of bloodline, no longer because of history, but because of strength—the kind of hard strength that can lead everyone to avoid death and share prosperity.
From today onwards, Shuichi Saionji will no longer be just a "club owner" who provides the venue, but a "leader" they truly recognize, someone they can talk to on equal terms with, and even look up to slightly.
Shuichi looked at his allies who were raising their glasses to him.
He smiled, raised his glass of soda water, and gently returned the gesture.
"You flatter me."
Shuichi's voice was humble and appropriate, perfectly capturing the sense of "keeping one's achievements hidden".
"We're all friends. It's only right for friends to remind each other."
"As long as everyone trusts the Saionji family, The Club's doors will always be open to you."
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
The crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed through the Deer Cry Hall.
At this moment, the atmosphere in The Club reached an unprecedented level of harmony.
The relationship that was originally somewhat loose due to the bond of interests was reforged by fear and relief during this financial catastrophe in the outside world, and transformed into a community of shared interests.
On television, the Nikkei index continued its dramatic decline, and the announcer's voice remained filled with despair.
But that doesn't matter anymore.
For the people in this room, they had safely reached the shore. And they knew that as long as they followed this man, they would have the most accurate nautical chart in the turbulent waters off Tokyo.
……
On the second floor, deep in the shadows of the corridor.
Satsuki leaned against the railing.
She looked down at the group of wealthy and powerful people chatting and laughing, and saw her father surrounded by them in the center, like a highly respected conductor.
"Do you feel awe?"
Satsuki commented softly.
"This is more effective than surrender."
"Surrender will backfire. But reverence and human kindness are the longest-lasting chains."
She turned her head and glanced at the blue sky outside the window.
"Phase one, clearing completed."
"Father has secured his position."
"Next..."
Satsuki's fingers gently manipulated the Rubik's Cube, scrambling the colors that had just been restored.
"It's time for us to go to those ruins and scavenge some junk."
During this Black Monday that shocked the world, the Saionji family not only made astronomical sums of money on Wall Street, but also established a small but influential circle in Tokyo through a perfect psychological war.
Starting today.
In Tokyo's high society, a new figure has emerged—the "Godfather," who can not only foresee the future but also lend a helping hand in times of crisis.