America: My Time

Chapter 1233 Akio Morita's Scheme

Chapter 1223 Akio Morita's Scheme
Miho Nakayama, Yasuko Sawaguchi, and Chisato Moritaka were all invited. Is there really no scheming involved? That's probably impossible. It's just that these Japanese guys are hiding in the shadows, not pushing things along. They've simply invited them, and the outcome is none of their business. They've given them the opportunity, and how they choose is up to them.

While it's possible that Chisato Moritaka couldn't see through the underlying scheme, could Yasuko Sawaguchi really be oblivious? What was she planning by calling Chisato and Miho Nakayama to this corner? Did she have some ulterior motive? Until she spoke, no one knew her true thoughts. However, the four of them couldn't remain silent forever; that would only create an awkward situation!

Finally, Yasuko Sawaguchi spoke first: "Miho, it's been a long time. I didn't expect to run into you here. It seems like we haven't sat down together to talk since we parted ways. So much time has passed. How are you and Shinobu doing?"

At this moment, Yasuko Sawaguchi's voice sounded somewhat weary, which didn't match her age, but it also revealed that she wasn't doing too well. Years ago, she resolutely left John's side, but didn't find the life she wanted; reality was vastly different from her expectations. Now, Yasuko Sawaguchi has no support, completely lacking her former brilliance, and the resources available to her are limited.

“Indeed, we haven’t sat together since we parted ways. If it weren’t for an opportunity like today, I believe it would have been difficult for us to sit together. We both have a lot on our minds, and it would have been almost impossible for us to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk.” As she spoke, Miho Nakayama couldn’t help but sigh. Although her situation was much better than Yasuko Sawaguchi’s, it wasn’t by much!

"You must be wondering why I invited you over, right? This wasn't my idea, and I didn't have such thoughts. It's just that Sister Akiko had someone inform me that she wanted to sit down with us!" At this moment, Yasuko Sawaguchi revealed the true reason for inviting Miho Nakayama over. It wasn't her arrangement, but rather Hitomi Kuroki's.

At this moment, Miho Nakayama suddenly realized why Chisato Moritaka had invited her; this was how things had turned out. Even if they hadn't left back then, they would have had to bow down to Hitomi Kuroki; now, it was even more so. Only by leaving did they realize the cruelty of reality, and only by experiencing its cruelty did they understand how wonderful their past life had been. Humans are such creatures; they only know regret and the value of things after they've lost them!

"Don't rush, Sister Zhao will be here soon after she finishes dealing with things. Let's sit here and wait!" Seeing that Nakayama Miho was a little excited, Sawaguchi Yasuko comforted her. Although she was also a little excited, Sawaguchi Yasuko had experienced more than Nakayama Miho, so her expression didn't change.
Being at the party, Yasuko Sawaguchi knew her every move was being watched. Those who had invited her, along with Miho Nakayama and Chisato Moritaka, were all observing their every action, hoping something would happen. But they were disappointed; John never made the move they wanted. Their schemes failed, their illusions shattered. Even Shizuka Kudo could see through it; how could these guys not? It wasn't that they couldn't see through it, but rather that they still clung to a sliver of hope for their own gain.

When John adopted a distance-free attitude, none of the Japanese dared to approach. Even Suo Ikuo, a bigwig in the "burning" industry, wasn't qualified. The difference in their status was too great. Only a tycoon from a conglomerate could sit before John, and Suo Ikuo clearly wasn't qualified, especially in this setting. Although he wanted to go forward, he ultimately gave up. If something went wrong, it would be difficult to handle, and he would be dealt with by the conglomerate himself.

To put it nicely, he's a big shot in the entertainment industry, but that's only because the chaebols give him some face. Compared to a big shot like Akio Morita, he's utterly insignificant. Their status and position are worlds apart, not to mention their relationship.

There's no opportunity; we need to create one. But it's not someone like Suo Ikuo, but rather that old guy Morita Akio. Although he's retired successfully, it's not a good thing that John's side has remained so quiet. It will only cause the relationship between the two sides to continue to deteriorate. There's no way to resolve this, and unfortunately, there are very few people who can sit down and talk to John right now! Almost all the bigwigs in Japan's conglomerates have had conflicts with John, although none of it has come to light. It's just that under these circumstances, they can't very well step forward and speak up.

"Riko, go and have Mao Daichi and Hideki Saijo meet with John. If things continue to be so quiet there, this party will become a joke, a slap in the face for everyone, and it won't be easy to explain to the authorities. Although it doesn't directly concern you, doing this will benefit you in the future!"

Since a direct confrontation wasn't feasible, the old man Akio Morita decided to take a more indirect approach, using personal connections to open channels of communication. With Riko's involvement, neither Hideki Saijo nor Mao Daichi could refuse, and both were familiar with John, thus breaking the current awkwardness of the party. Despite her changed status, Riko remained extremely respectful in front of Akio Morita, daring not to show the slightest hint of arrogance. Unlike Yasuko Sawaguchi and her ilk, she had experienced the harsh realities of society and deeply understood the power of influential figures. Even though Akio Morita had retired, he was still someone she couldn't contend with.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it right away!" Without hesitation, Riko immediately took action, quickly finding Daichi Mao and Saijo Hideki, explaining the implications to them. This was no ordinary matter; doing it well would bring hidden benefits to all three of them, and would also bring considerable advantages within their respective circles.

If this is handled well, it will not only gain favor with the authorities but also the approval of the conglomerates, which will bring some benefits. However, these are not the most important things; the hidden favors and connections gained are the best reward.

"Sit down, don't be shy, and don't have any thoughts. I know you were also arranged to come here. Morita-san, you're very thoughtful!" When he saw Riko, Hideki Saijo, and Mao Daichi appear, John smiled calmly. He immediately saw through the scheme behind it and knew who was behind it. In Japan, only Akio Morita would dare to make such an arrangement.

Although the three men's appearance disrupted John's thoughts, he didn't care. John was no longer concerned with the situation in Japan, but rather with South Korea. After this party, those guys in Japan would make a decision soon enough; no matter how much they struggled, it was useless—the initiative had never been in their hands.

Akio Morita, that old fellow, has a keen eye for people. Although this matter seems insignificant, there's a lot hidden behind it. The appearance of Riko, Hideki Saijo, and Mao Daichi not only makes those guys in Japan owe him a favor, but also makes me appreciate the old man's kindness. As long as I get the three of them to sit down, I'll have to accept his favor.

Although he didn't need to repay it himself, the favor did exist; it was used to offset the favor that old man Akio Morita owed him. It has to be said, that old man's wisdom was astounding; to be able to do this in such a short time—his grasp of human nature and human emotions was truly remarkable!

Seeing that John had Riko, Hideki Saijo, and Mao Daichi sat down, Akio Morita's face revealed a satisfied smile. This was the time for him to retire successfully. After witnessing all this, the old man did not stay any longer but quietly left without disturbing anyone, departing with a carefree and elegant air.

At this point, Akio Morita no longer needed to scheme. Doing too much would only bring unnecessary trouble, or even backfire. He was well aware of the importance of knowing when to stop, and there was no need to tell those guys who were discussing countermeasures. After the party, they would all owe him a favor, and that would be enough. There was no need to add anything unnecessary and cause uncontrollable accidents.

As for sending John away, Akio Morita had even less to worry about. With Riko around, he didn't need to say anything more. He trusted that Riko would handle everything perfectly. He just needed to wait for Riko's call at home. There was no need for him to waste any more time or energy!
As people age, they don't have as much energy to waste. Akio Morita knew his own condition; if things continued this way, he might collapse at any moment. It was precisely because of his health that the old man passed away so peacefully, without any further scheming. His departure didn't affect the party in any way. Although some people saw him, no one paid any attention. After all, Akio Morita's status and position were not something they could inquire about.

However, when they saw Riko, Hideki Saijo, and Mao Daichi sitting in the corner with John, the savvy people in Japan breathed a sigh of relief. If things had continued to be so quiet, they wouldn't have been able to explain themselves to the big bosses. Now that the matter was resolved, they no longer needed to worry about being criticized by the big bosses after the party. If they had a choice, no one wanted to face the big bosses' criticism; it was no small matter and would affect their future careers. If they couldn't even handle such a small thing, how could they expect the big bosses' approval?

(End of this chapter)