Tokyo Soft Rice King.

“Amin, I’m not exactly a big shot. If you expect me to succeed, you’re dreaming. With my skills, I can only make a living off the leftovers of big companies. There’s no way I can build my own team.”

"What I need is not only your skills, Uncle Yong, but also your vision... because you and I are both time travelers, and only you can fully understand what the future will look like!"

"Hmm... Tell me your thoughts first, Amin. You should know that there's no shortage of ideas in this world. Let's see if your ideas have the potential to 'turn lead into gold'."

"learn."

This pressure is no joke. I have to say, Uncle Yong is a boss after all... It reminded Kuroba Akira of the scene when he was giving a report in a meeting in his previous life, and his memories of being a working man were suddenly brought back.

However, Kuroba Akira was not a real high school student, nor was he a workplace novice. His ability to organize his thoughts was still online. Although he did not make a PPT this time, he was still able to explain his ideas and prospects in a clear, logical, and precise manner. Moreover, he also conveyed a kind of emotional power, making the prospects seem bright and the future promising!

Perhaps because after meeting the class president, Kuroba Akira's sharp tongue played a significant role in various events and was honed, his eloquence actually became better than in his previous life.

After listening to Kuroba Akira's vision, especially after learning that this world was fifteen years behind the original world in terms of technology, Hijikata Yuya showed a look of sudden realization, as if he had figured out many things.

"So that's how it is... No wonder I'm fifteen years younger in this world. It turns out the whole world is fifteen years behind... It does feel quite backward compared to the previous world, but I never expected it to be for this reason. I was also confused by the years."

"I only just figured it out myself. I came to this conclusion after considering the situations of myself, Sister Hong, and Uncle Yong."

"That makes a lot of sense. If it were around 09, this level of technology wouldn't be surprising... So that's why you thought of taking advantage of the current situation to develop the internet and video websites, and then you thought of me, a programmer?"

"Yes."

"To be honest... I'm actually a little persuaded by you, Amin. You weren't in sales before, were you? Your sales pitch is quite impressive."

"Actually, I write copy. I had already prepared my speech before coming to see you, Uncle Yong, so I was able to deliver it smoothly."

"If my former subordinates had even half of your persuasive skills, I'd be laughing in my sleep... Ha..."

However, Hijikata Isamu finally sighed and shook his head.

"But, I'm sorry, Amin, I can't work with you."

"Huh? Why? Is there a flaw in my idea?"

"No...you're fine, and your prepared remarks are fine too. Although many things are missing, those things can be filled in...the problem lies with...myself."

"Uncle Yong, what's wrong? I'll do my best to help you!"

Kuroba Akira extended a helping hand to him with incredibly sincere eyes.

But Hijikata Isamu shook his head, a bitter smile on his face, but fear in his eyes.

“I’m so scared, Armin… I really don’t want to die again.”

What does this have to do with dying again?

That was my first thought, but Kuroba Akira immediately understood what Hijikata Isamu meant.

If a startup fails, it's really no different from being dead.

Because Hijikata Isamu had succeeded before, he knew how great the price of failure was.

"I told you before, Ah Ming, that when I first transmigrated here, the person in this world was trying to hang himself. I was lucky to survive... Do you know why I chose to commit suicide in this world?"

Kuroba Akira recalled his conversation with Hijikata Isamu and said.

"It's probably because of debt."

"That's right, it's debt. So why do you think I'm in debt in this world?"

"Uh...it can't be gambling, can it?"

"It's almost like gambling. I'm the same in this world. I took a gamble and started a business, and the result of the failure was that I was left with a mountain of debt."

"Uh……"

“The most crucial point is, Armin, ‘I’m not wrong. Every thought and every decision I made in this world was flawless. I would have done the same. But… he still failed. Do you think that makes sense?”

"..."

"So that's how it is," Kuroba Akira suddenly realized where Hijikata Isamu's fear came from.

He wasn't afraid of failure, nor was he afraid of death; he was afraid of the 'unpredictability of fate'.

"We did the same things, but the results were completely different... This made me realize that my success in starting a business in my previous life was not because I was particularly capable, but simply because I was lucky. I benefited from the era and rode the wave of the times... But in a different world, this could be a direct express train to hell."

"Uncle Yong..."

"I'm sorry, Amin, I can't meet your expectations. I'm really scared... And even if I succeed in starting a business, so what? So what if I become rich? In my past life, I was quite wealthy, but what was the result? I didn't have a good ending... I was betrayed by the person I trusted most, driven out by the business empire I built from scratch... and finally stabbed by the woman I was keeping. It was a truly pathetic death..."

Fang Yong's past life was filled with too many experiences. He died at the age of fifty and had experienced all sorts of ups and downs in his life, so he eventually came to terms with it.

He never expected to live a second life, but he felt so defeated and pathetic in this world that he resigned himself to his fate.

It wouldn't be bad to just continue living a peaceful and uneventful life like this.

Once the debt is slowly paid off, maybe I can go back to...

His emotions as 'Higashikata Isamu' were overflowing, and he shook his head once again to suppress his 'delusions'.

“Amin, I’ve hit rock bottom. I can’t afford to gamble with my life anymore. There’s no room for failure again. I can’t afford to incur any more debt.”

It wasn't that he didn't trust Kuroba Akira. After spending so much time together, he also thought Kuroba Akira was a very reliable person, and this idea was indeed excellent, but...

However, he could no longer be 'selfish'.

“Amin, we’re both adults now, so you should know that no matter how good the idea is, starting a business is always risky. And with just the two of us starting from scratch without any connections, we might end up being played by big capital…”

"..."

While listening to Hijikata Isamu's words, Kuroba Akira was thinking about other things.

He wondered what Hijikata Isamu's weakness was.

After hearing his reasons for refusing, Kuroba Akira could understand his fear of the unpredictability of fate, but he couldn't understand why he chose to 'submit to fate'.

Since we're already in such dire straits, shouldn't we take a gamble?

Is it better to live a miserable life than to die a good death? No, Tsuchikata Isamu is definitely not that kind of person. The fact that he would embark on the path of entrepreneurship in both worlds shows that he is a daring pioneer.

What reason could there be... that would make him hesitate, unable to be 'barefoot'...?

Having just resolved the conflict within the Takanashi family today, and recalling Akiko Takanashi's thoughts, Kuroba Akira instantly grasped the key point.

It's family!

He remembered that Grandma Kobayashi had mentioned before that Hijikata Isamu in this world had a family!

He doesn't want to start a business again and doesn't want to take risks because he's afraid of dragging his family down!

So it's possible that his wife and children didn't abandon him and run away, but rather that he let them leave his side to prevent them from being harmed by debt collectors, and then chose to shoulder everything himself.

Because of Grandma Kobayashi's help, he was not forced by the underworld to work on a fishing boat as a fugitive to pay off his debts, which is why Uncle Yong was so grateful to Grandma Kobayashi.

We've found something to use against them!

In order to bring Hijikata Isamu to his side, Kuroba Akira didn't hesitate to use this leverage.

After listening to Hijikata Isamu's series of reasons for rejecting him, Kuroba Akira once again invited him like a fool.

"So, let's start a business!"

"Hey... are you even listening to me?"

Hijikata Yu was puzzled. Kuroba Akira didn't seem like the type to ignore what others said. He had rejected him so bluntly. He should have given up, but Kuroba Akira said something else.

"Uncle Yong, don't you want to see your wife and children again?"

The way he said it made it sound like he was the gangster, threatening Hijikata Isamu with his family.

"Amin, you bastard...!"

Hijikata Yuya was terrified, his jaw trembling with anxiety.

"Although Grandma Lin told me not to talk about this in front of you, I'm starting to wonder, did your wife really leave you and run off with someone else?"

"Well……!"

"Although on the surface it seems that your wife cheated on you and ran away with the children, this is just an act for the gangsters. It's a way for you to sever ties with your wife and children and prevent them from being targeted by Yakuza."

Yakuza refers to people who are involved in yakuza or organized crime, specifically those who are registered with the police. In short, they are officially recognized thugs.

In the gaming world, this is the English translation of a game, while the Chinese translation is quite imposing: "Like a Dragon".

"This was arranged by... Hijikata Isamu of this world. It has nothing to do with me. In my previous life, I was not married and had no wife or children. What does my wife and daughter in this world have to do with me?"

"This is different from what you said last time. Uncle Yu, have you forgotten what you told me last time? You were also influenced by Hijikata Yu and inherited his emotions, so you've essentially merged with him? Admit it! Right now, what you care about most is your family in this world!"

"Well……!"

Hijikata Yuu appeared to be in a difficult position. After being exposed by Kuroba Akira, he could no longer come up with any other excuses. He was afraid that if he did not agree to Kuroba Akira's request, Kuroba Akira would threaten him with his family.

"Don't worry, Uncle Yong, I didn't bring up your family to threaten you. What I just said was just what it sounded like... Don't you want to see your family?"

"What exactly does that mean?"

Kuroba Akira answered questions with questions.

"Uncle Yong, how much money do you owe?"

"Around ten million... not Japanese yen, but RMB."

He then added.

"However, the RMB exchange rate in this world has appreciated considerably, so the actual conversion should be less than ten million..."

"Are you really planning to spend decades paying off this debt?"

"...Twenty years. With my abilities, I can pay it off in twenty years."

Although it's a large sum, as long as he has enough liver power, Hijikata Yu estimates that he can pay off all his debts within twenty to thirty years.

Then I can go back to my family.

How many children do you have? Boys and girls? How old are they?

"I only have one daughter, she's six years old this year... Why are you asking this?"

"So, in twenty years you'll be twenty-six... Do you think your daughter will still acknowledge you then?"

"...!"

"That's twenty years! And if your wife really did go with another man during that time, you'd have no home to go back to, let alone reunite with your daughter. She'd probably be calling someone else 'Dad' by now."

"Gurgle...!"

Although Kuroba Akira's words were harsh and almost malicious, they were not unfounded.