America: My Time

Chapter 1230 The scapegoat

Chapter 1220 The Scapegoat

Nowadays, there are very few people in Japan who can speak to John. The Japanese families think carefully and realize that they have really offended John to the extreme in the past few years. If they had gained any benefits, they could accept it, but they have not gained any benefits and have even suffered retaliation, which is unacceptable to them.

Although the old guys were discussing countermeasures, many people at the party were still keeping a close eye on John and Akio Morita, not daring to be careless for the slightest mistake, lest they miss something and anger their backers. Even Momoko Kikuchi, Hitomi Kuroki, and Nanako Matsushima had people surrounding them, and the usually low-key Nanako Matsushima was finally being noticed.

Originally, Sony's targeting of Phoenix Media Group made many Japanese artists afraid to take sides, fearing they would be dragged into it and used as a target for their own gain. However, now that Akio Morita has appeared and is discussing the matter with John, some people are tempted, as many are eyeing Phoenix Media Group's resources.

Japan's economy is currently facing problems, and celebrities are also affected, so it's perfectly normal for them to have such thoughts. However, not everyone can do this, and not everyone has the opportunity to be associated with such a powerful figure.

John isn't as 'friendly' as he used to be. Even those bigwigs in the entertainment industry who wanted to discuss collaborations with him weren't qualified. Whether it was the "Burning" faction or anyone else, they could only keep their eyes on Hitomi Kuroki, Momoko Kikuchi, and Nanako Matsushima. At this point, no one dared to play tricks anymore, and besides, their status was different now!

Finding a corner, Akio Morita and John sat down and watched the lively party. Akio Morita sighed, "It's been a long time since I've attended a party like this. I'm a little out of sorts now. It seems I'm really not as energetic as I used to be.

John smiled calmly at Akio Morita's sigh. If this guy wasn't old, then something was wrong. Besides, the old man was working so hard, which meant he was wasting his remaining life.

"Mr. Morita, it's time for you to let go of everything. Sony has its own future to look after, and you can't keep watching over it forever. When it's time to let go, let go. Don't have so many worries. I just handed over 'Seishin Bank' to Momoko Kikuchi and completely relinquished all assets in Japan. You feel old, and I feel old too. We've known each other for almost twenty years. Time really flies. I still remember the first time we met, and I also remember the first time I met Naoko! To be honest, I never imagined things would turn out like this. It all feels like a dream!"

When John mentioned their first meeting and Naoko, Akio Morita sighed, a look of nostalgia in his eyes. How many twenty-year periods does one have in a lifetime? Who could have imagined that the boy from back then would have such a status and such amazing achievements?

"John, I've had a question since you mentioned Naoko. Why did you send her to China, and even sent Martin Jr.? Wasn't it good for her in Japan?" Akio Morita was up to no good. This wasn't a simple question; if you weren't careful, he could easily outmaneuver you!
“It’s not that staying in Japan is bad, but she needs to help me take care of my family. As people get older, they all want to see their children and grandchildren around them. There’s no way around it. If she doesn’t go, I’ll be in a real bind. Not everyone has Naoko’s mindset. Speaking of which, I have to thank you for your matchmaking back then. She’s always wanted to thank you, but she hasn’t had the chance. After having Martin, she’s become busy again! Originally, she wanted to visit you this time, but since you’ve retired, it wouldn’t be appropriate to bother you!”

When they started chatting about everyday things, John and Akio Morita reminisced about the past, which surprised the guys who had been watching them. They hadn't expected the two big shots to sit together and talk about family matters instead of business. This left them confused and a little bewildered.

Is this just ordinary conversation? It's playing the emotional card. The seemingly ordinary words have a deeper meaning behind them. Some people won't understand, but true "experts" can. However, those who don't know the relationship between John and Akio Morita, or Naoko's story, won't be able to understand any of this.

If anyone could understand all this, perhaps besides Akio Morita, it would be Riko. After all, Riko and Naoko had been friends for nearly twenty years, and Riko knew how John and Naoko had gotten together. Suddenly, Akio Morita asked, "John, how many more days can you stay in Japan? When are you leaving? I want to see you off. I don't know when we'll meet again after this parting. You're right, I really should let go of everything. I've done what I could. From now on, Sony doesn't need my involvement anymore. This is my last act of service to Sony. As a friend, I don't think you'll refuse!"

Upon hearing Akio Morita's words, John's mind raced. Was it really just about sending him away? What was this old man, Akio Morita, up to? What was he plotting against him? After much thought, only one possibility came to mind: personal connections. This old man wanted to use this method to show everyone how close his relationship with him was, thus easing the pressure on Sony.

I have to admit, this old fox could even think of something like this, and once he asked, I really couldn't refuse. After all, it was a symbol of friendship, and I couldn't bring myself to refuse him directly.

"Isn't it a bit too impolite of you to ask me to see off a junior like myself? It wouldn't be good if others saw this. Those who have a problem with me would say I'm arrogant and conceited. You've really given me a difficult problem."

"Is it difficult? Actually, you're overthinking it. Things aren't as dangerous as you think. This is just normal social interaction. Who knows when we'll meet again? Perhaps this farewell will become a beautiful story. With our friendship, there's no need to pay attention to what others say. Those who understand will know."

That's true, but all the good things went to that old guy Akio Morita, leaving John to face some pressure. But seeing how insistent Akio Morita was, John could only nod and sigh, "Alright, then I'll leave it to you. I hope this will become a good story, rather than be used by those with ulterior motives to spread rumors."

"Don't worry, I'll have someone keep an eye on things. No matter how arrogant those guys are, they can't go too far. They'll have to pay the price. To be honest, countless people hate that guy. He'll pay a heavy price for his stupidity!" John knew perfectly well who Akio Morita was referring to, but he couldn't say it directly, as it would take some time. This decision by Japan was also within John's expectations. It seemed they were sacrificing this guy to satisfy their own desires. These guys were just too insidious.

"Actually, I've always had a question: is it worth it for him to do this? I don't think I have any conflicts with him, not even business matters. There's no need for him to keep targeting me. If it weren't for being impolite, I'd like to meet with him and sit down for a talk. To be honest, everything he's done has left a bad impression on me. If Japan hadn't been so reckless, perhaps the bubble economy wouldn't have been so crazy back then. However, as the Japanese economy weakens, this guy's troubles will only get bigger and bigger, and he'll never have a chance to recover."

John sighed. "Even a pig can fly if it's standing in the right place at the right time," he said. That guy certainly had foresight, but he was too greedy, and ultimately he met a tragic end. It seemed the Japanese wanted to sacrifice him to give themselves an explanation, but it was all a facade, even a ploy to use his reputation to achieve their own ulterior motives. Even without his questioning, the Japanese would have dealt with him anyway; after all, he had been too reckless back then.

Dealing with this guy would benefit everyone. Not only would it give them an explanation, but those who clashed with him back then could breathe a sigh of relief, and the public could finally vent their anger. It was truly a win-win situation. Who could refuse so many benefits from sacrificing a pawn?
Although John saw through everything behind it all, he couldn't say it aloud. He had to remember this favor, after all, this is a society based on personal connections. If he directly exposed it, he would offend Japan to the core, which is not the way of a wise man. It's better to be a little oblivious in such matters so that everyone can save face.

"This might be related to his personality. After all, his leadership of Xiwu wasn't exactly orthodox, so he was naturally somewhat tyrannical, which is understandable. If he hadn't been so arrogant and conceited, and had known when to stop, he wouldn't have ended up like this. At least people wouldn't be targeting him like this. It just goes to show that personality determines everything. He went too far, and that's how he got such a backlash!"

John couldn't accept Akio Morita's words. He saw any talk of backlash as baseless; it was all just empty rhetoric. Frankly, the Japanese wanted to use him as a scapegoat to appease the public and allow others to remain hidden. He argued that the bubble economy wouldn't have been such a huge uproar if the Japanese hadn't been behind it. Essentially, they were looking for a scapegoat—because this guy had been the most vocal and offended the most people back then.

(End of this chapter)