America: My Time

Chapter 214 The war begins

Chapter 214 The Great Battle Begins

"What do you think this kid is up to? Is he really willing to give up the investment from Japan, or is he just trying to intimidate us?"

"It's hard to say. For this kid, Japan's assets are nothing. The most valuable thing is Phoenix Comics. But even if he wants to give up Japan, he can simply transfer the company. He might suffer some losses, but the consequences are still within his tolerance range. Giving up the rest wouldn't be a big deal either. But if it really comes to that, it won't be good for Japan as a whole. So he can openly threaten us. This time he's really angry. Perhaps it's related to the reactions of Mitsui and Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. Although Mitsui hasn't officially participated in this turmoil, his actions can be considered a betrayal of his allies."

"Yes, we all underestimated each other. Akio Morita is right. He's a little fox. How could a little fox that can develop so rapidly under the pressure of so many conglomerates in the United States be completely unprepared? Someone is making plans, and he is making plans as well. Just as he said, who will have the last laugh depends on their respective methods."

"This little fox chose to stay in Japan under these circumstances, which seems to indicate that he is very confident. I just don't know what kind of plan would give him such confidence. Although the current turmoil in the United States is aimed at Japan, this is only the beginning. The final storm will inevitably target this little fox. We are just the ones being dealt with by them. This little fox is their real target. Perhaps we are just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire."

"We can't say it like that, much less think like that. If we think that way, we'll easily fall into an even greater disaster. This might all be a conspiracy by those Americans, whose goal is simply to wipe us out along with this little fox. Right now, they're just targeting us. Come to think of it, we really miscalculated this time. We underestimated the Americans' ruthlessness and viciousness. But this storm is not simple, and we still need to be cautious."

"It's no use talking about this now; it's too late. If we can't quickly quell the Americans' conspiracy and let this storm in the US take hold, all major Japanese companies will suffer heavy losses. They're specifically targeting all Japanese companies. We can't give up the US market, or Japan's economy won't be able to withstand the impact! Especially if this little fox stays in Japan, it won't be good for us either; it might even make the situation worse!"

"For us, we can only endure for now and see what other tricks this little fox has up his sleeve. Since he wants to go to war with Warner, he will definitely not go back on his word. Let's wait and see, let these Americans have a big battle among themselves, and it won't be too late to join in after they decide the winner! As for the situation getting worse, it doesn't matter. When those Americans are scheming against us, our situation will not be good. In that case, we should just endure for a while longer."

That night, many people in Japan couldn't sleep. They were all pondering countermeasures, deeply affected by John's words. Perhaps even those bastards in the US who plotted against John hadn't anticipated this situation. After all, it all happened so suddenly, John's change was so drastic, catching them off guard. However, it was too late for regrets now. The storm had begun, and everything was out of their hands. Since they were involved, they had to accept the impact of this storm.

It's begun, the great battle has begun. Just as John had suspected, this storm had perhaps been brewing since he left the United States. With the Hong Kong Telecom scandal, the decline of Chinese investment, and Sikorsky's acquisition, all of this was merely the beginning of the storm. The turmoil in Japan simply ignited it prematurely; perhaps this was the old foxes' true scheme. As for the outcome, that depends on their individual abilities!

John wasn't entirely in control of the situation, and he didn't know the final outcome. He was facing not only those old guys, but also much greater forces. He had underestimated the greed of capital and the impact he had on the world. He had quite a few enemies; those bastards were waiting for him to make a mistake, wanting to tear a piece of his flesh and plunder the profits they desired. That was the greed of capital.

Especially at times like these, one must remain calm and composed, and avoid being careless or giving the enemy an opportunity. Of course, this doesn't mean one can't do anything; rather, one must do things more skillfully, leaving no chance for the enemy, and acting more recklessly so that the enemy cannot fathom one's plans.

As the saying goes, even a novice can defeat a master with a flurry of punches. Now that the enemy has made their move, John can't just sit idly by. He needs to accelerate his efforts in Japan and seize the initiative, even though this might prematurely trigger a real estate bubble and cause unforeseen changes. John isn't worried about that now, nor is he concerned about his own interests being affected. In this real estate investment, he's determined to exit before the bubble bursts and reap the profits he desires.

John couldn't rush back to the US, because his return would mark the beginning of the final battle. He wasn't ready yet, the enemy wasn't fully trapped, and going back now would only get him into more trouble. Those bastards would instantly turn against him and his companies. After returning home from the party, John felt much more relaxed. Now it was up to Sanhe and Sony to act, to see if they could quickly complete their real estate strategy, and how many other real estate companies would participate. He had only so much bait; how they distributed it depended on their individual abilities.

Will Akio Morita put aside his grievances and accept Mitsui Fudosan's involvement? And will Mitsui Fudosan accept his goodwill? John himself is not sure. After all, these guys in Japan have their own schemes and calculations. It's not as simple as him wanting to push for a real estate boom.

Although the information I have is good, it can still be completed if the other party is willing. Just as I told Akio Morita and Miyuki, it is only a matter of timing. If we cannot complete the layout in the shortest time, more 'enemies' will flood into the real estate market, making the Japanese real estate market uncontrollable.

This is Japan, not the United States, and everything is beyond my control. If these Japanese guys don't get involved, it will be very difficult for me to push things forward, even if I want to. There will be a lot of resistance.

"Akiko, what are your plans for the future? Do you want to work at TV Tokyo or Phoenix Comics? Elite Agency is fine too, or even any other company in Japan. It's all up to you." After sitting down, John thought of the arrangements for Hitomi Kuroki.

"I choose to go to TV Tokyo!" Although Hitomi Kuroki originally wanted to join the entertainment industry and become an actress, she now understands that such a decision is not a good one. After Naoko's incident, she realized how cruel this industry is. So many artists are affected, and their fate is not in their own hands. Now she doesn't want to suffer like that anymore.

“Alright, TV Tokyo needs someone to look after it, so you’ll take the job!” John nodded in agreement with Hitomi Kuroki’s choice. Compared to her, his other businesses in Japan were really not suitable for her, whether it was Elite Agency, Phoenix Comics, or even the clothing under Eternal, none of them were a good fit. TV Tokyo was much better!

Although the time was short, both Hitomi Kuroki and Naoko were shocked by this storm in the Japanese entertainment industry. What was originally a trivial news report in their eyes had triggered such a dramatic change, making them deeply aware of how insignificant they were in the face of capital. Without John's protection, Naoko's situation would likely not have been good.

In the past few days, both Naoko and Hitomi Kuroki have felt the changes in their friends, which has made them realize that their own identities have truly changed. Hitomi Kuroki's feelings are more profound than Naoko's. Before, she had no autonomy at all and was forced to accept the pressure of reality. Now she finds that this result is not a bad thing. At least she no longer has to worry about being forced to do things she doesn't want to do, and she no longer has to worry about her own safety.

Naoko also realized that her identity was truly different. She hadn't felt it before, but now, after this incident, she understood Riko's teachings, which made her somewhat uneasy. In this respect, Kuroki Hitomi was much better; she quickly adapted to the change in her identity and also underwent a transformation.

While entertainers may seem glamorous, their status in Japan isn't high. Therefore, she no longer harbors the same thoughts as before and has proactively chosen to participate in the management of TV Tokyo, becoming a rule-maker rather than an entertainer whose fate is controlled by others! In Hitomi Kuroki's view, choosing TV Tokyo means becoming John's assistant, a useful person, instead of being abandoned when her looks fade, leaving her in a difficult or even desperate situation.

Once her beauty fades and she is abandoned, her later years might be incredibly bleak. The thought alone is terrifying, sending chills down Kuroki Hitomi's spine. Such cases are not uncommon in Japan; countless beautiful female public relations professionals end up in dire straits, enduring unimaginable pressure. This is a fate Kuroki Hitomi is unwilling to accept, which is why she made a change. She no longer wants to continue down the path of an entertainer but wants to take control of her own destiny!
(End of this chapter)