After being elected as the governor of Tokyo, he will debut as a band!

Exquisitely crafted, perfectly preserved, with the fish body intact and detailed!

"Good stuff!"

Aoyama instinctively picked up the thing and examined it closely, then felt a cold aura coming from behind him.

It's obvious that Yukino Yukinoshita is looking at me like I'm a criminal.

In other words, what happens next...?

"Boom boom boom!"

Yukino Yukinoshita stood up and took a firm step behind Aoyama, looking down at the "stolen goods" in his hands.

But when she saw that the so-called "good stuff" that Aoyama was holding in his hands was just a fish specimen, her clenched fist relaxed.

Although this thing is well-made, it doesn't feel like a priceless treasure. If it were a fossil specimen, Yukino might be more wary, but this fish doesn't look much different from those sold at Tsukiji Market (note: Japan's largest fish market, the one where tuna is auctioned in "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"). Therefore, it can only be understood that Aoyama just likes to collect this kind of thing.

Just like some people like to collect bottle caps, some like to collect candy wrappers, and some even like to collect animal teeth, these collectibles wouldn't normally fetch a high price on the market.

However, for the collectors themselves, these items offer an emotional value that other items cannot match.

Of course, ivory is an exception. Receiving ivory would definitely be considered bribery, and it would also constitute the crime of illegally selling precious and endangered wildlife products.

Aoyama was too lazy to argue with Yukino Yukinoshita, that hothead, but if he didn't reprimand her for her rude behavior, he would appear weak.

"What are you doing? Get out of the way!"

"I'm so sorry."

Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her lips and knelt back down in her original position.

She is completely in the wrong in this matter.

Even if Hachishio Renmi had given Aoyama a small trinket, or even if she had given Aoyama a priceless treasure in front of Yukinoshita, she shouldn't have commented on it—neither in her actions nor in her words.

Subordinates are not allowed to kiss their superiors!

This is an ironclad rule in Japanese workplaces, especially within the bureaucratic system!

What qualities are most important for someone who wants to achieve something in politics?

Reliable! Reliable! Reliable!

You, Yukino Yukinoshita, actually kissed Aoyama in front of outsiders! If word gets out, who would dare to employ you as a subordinate? Who would dare to promote you? After promoting someone, you turn around and betray them, sending dozens of people to jail. Which career path can withstand such treatment?

So even if Aoyama scolded her, or even if Aoyama slapped her twice, she wouldn't be wronged.

Back to topic.

So why would Aoyama attach such importance to a fish specimen?

Could it really be because he has a penchant for collecting fish specimens?

of course not.

As we all know, the person living in the Imperial Palace these days is a rather famous ichthyologist.

Meanwhile, this guy has been wanting to abdicate for the past few days, but neither the Imperial Household Agency nor the Prime Minister agrees, which is why it has dragged on until now.

Although under current law, that person can be molded and manipulated at will by the Imperial Household Agency like clay, if they are determined to abdicate, it's really impossible to stop them without a complete breakdown in relations...

And even though he's just a figurehead now, if he were to actually step down, he would still make the current cabinet uncomfortable for quite some time.

What is this Skoda softmouth fish? It was a type of fish that was only found in Lake Skoda, between Albania and Montenegro, and went extinct around 2006.

Because the area was in the midst of the Yugoslav Wars and Albania had been closed off for a long time before the fish went extinct, the number of Skoda softmouth fish specimens is quite rare. Skoda softmouth fish does not have a bright appearance, so the price of its specimens is not inflated. A counter-example can be seen in the Morpho davidii butterfly, which once sold for as much as $4 a single specimen because of its extremely gorgeous appearance (even more gorgeous than the butterfly that Kurata Mashiro imagined). Of course, Morpho davidii butterflies can now be artificially bred, so the price has dropped a lot.

However, while the commercial value of Scuttler is not that high, it has considerable scientific research value. This fish has forward-pointing canines at the corners of its mouth, which is a unique feature. At the same time, the adult Scuttler mainly feeds on benthic diatoms and detritus and does not have strong hunting ability. Therefore, there is still a lot of room for exploration in terms of its lifestyle and evolution.

As the saying goes, the most important thing about giving gifts is that they are "appropriate". It's like if someone goes to the toilet and there is no toilet paper, giving them a bottle of Moutai is not as good as giving them a pack of Xinxiangyin cigarettes.

As for the feudal remnants in the Imperial Palace, they have no pressure in their daily lives, and their careers have been over since the day they ascended the throne. If they can really make some recognized achievements in certain fields, it means that they truly love this profession.

If the current cabinet could give this thing to that person in the Imperial Palace, putting aside everything else, please ask him to hold on for another two years and then abdicate when the next cabinet comes to power, then there shouldn't be any problem.

However, this thing is really more useful when it comes to Aoyama. Other people can't get in touch with people in the cabinet, and they can't help with the tax investigation either. What, you mean, Minister of Finance?

Please, the Minister of Finance is a legitimate finance minister and a strong contender for the prime minister's position. He'd love for the current prime minister to step down (provided it has nothing to do with him). You're giving him this; he might just punch you on the spot.

In short, Aoyama accepted the Skoda softmouth fish specimen without hesitation.

But taking it for free is impossible. On the one hand, I don't lack the money, and on the other hand, there's some hothead watching me.

"Mrs. Hachio, this thing is very much to my liking. I wonder how much it costs? I'd like to buy it."

Aoyama put the items back into the box and closed the lid. He asked earnestly.

"It's just a simple gift, nothing expensive. I'm ashamed to hear you say that."

Japanese people have a tradition of giving a small gift to someone they've just met, especially someone of higher status (for example, a tenant giving a gift to their landlord). It's reasonable for Hachishio Renmi to say that.

"This box is enough as a gift; I'll pay for the specimen separately."

Qingshan insisted.

Actually, whether or not to pay is a minor matter; it's not the point for either party. So, in the end, Aoyama said he would pay the market price.

But this thing doesn't have a market price; everyone has their own price.

Qingshan wanted to give more so as not to give others a reason to criticize him.

Make way for me: 064 Violin note *snap*

After the payment issue was settled, Aoyama became curious about the origin of this item.

This item is extremely rare, has little ornamental or commercial value, and offers very little academic scope. It is the kind of obscure and highly sought-after item that is extremely rare.

The Nijrakitiyabha is a non-governmental organization with many customs and international trading groups. Where did they get this kind of thing from?

It's likely that even his own father's "Dongshan Holdings" is more likely to get this than Ni Jing Group, since Dongshan Holdings' main business is import and export trade.

However, Aoyama couldn't get any information about Hachishio Renmi about this, since she was just a middleman hired by the Nijōdan, and probably knew less about such internal secrets of the Nijōdan than Aoyama himself.

...Could it be that it was found directly in someone's suitcase during one of the deportations of illegal immigrants?

If that's the case, then it's truly a coincidence.

While Aoyama was lost in thought, Utsunomiya Takuya walked in with the document he had previously entrusted to him.

"Governor, Mrs. Yashio, excuse me. There are some problems with Secretary Arima's side when he was working with the members of the Budget Committee and his local colleagues in Chiba and Kamogawa to draft the budget."

As he spoke, he handed Aoyama a document that looked quite legitimate.

Aoyama glanced sideways at Utsunomiya, thinking to himself, "When I told you this before, I didn't tell you to backstab Arima Yo! I'll have Yukino go and spread some rumors about Arima Yo later; I can't let him suffer this in silence."

After taking the document, Qingshan glanced at it with feigned seriousness, but his face immediately turned ashen.

In reality, he was completely unmoved; changing one's expression is one of the essential skills of a politician.

As the saying goes, first-rate actors are in the cabinet, second-rate actors are in parliament, and third-rate actors are on Broadway.

"Let me briefly explain the situation."

"That's what Aoyama said."

"like

If the draft budget is prepared as originally planned, the overall budget deficit for this quarter may exceed the warning threshold, which could affect the commencement of new projects by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in the coming period, and may also lead to criticism from the Diet at the end of the year.

Takuya Utsunomiya's speech was quite plausible, but his words had little to do with the documents he handed to Mukashi Aoyama. It was something he improvised after listening to Akira Hosokawa's report, and the core idea was to complain about being poor.

But how could the Tokyo Metropolitan Government be short of money? If such a statement got out, its international counterparts would laugh their heads off. Even if it were truly short of money, it wouldn't matter; simply cut funding for Chiba City and Kamogawa City, as those two cities have decent economies, and getting them to cover the costs themselves wouldn't be too difficult.

But it's enough for an amateur like Hachishio Hasumi, and for newbies like Hachishio Rui and Yukino Yukinoshita.

Aoyama gave Utsunomiya a knowing look, while the latter remained outwardly unmoved, inwardly ecstatic.

Let's see how you fight me now, you old bastard.

Utsunomiya wanted to shout those words out loud right now.

“The Metropolitan Government’s funds should still be prioritized for the Boso Peninsula area, so…” Aoyama picked up the list of companies that Hachishio Renmi had given him earlier, and made a few marks on it with the pen that Utsunomiya handed him. “This plan to support street performances and small performance halls will be entrusted to these enthusiastic companies.”

The companies whose names he crossed out were completely beyond saving. They were either too closely involved with Hatsugoku Logistics and the companies owned by Hiroto Kawashima, or they had some irregular financial operations that the National Tax Agency had already caught them red-handed.

The only advice we can give is for the Ni Jing group and its financial backers to sacrifice pawns to save the king.

Renmi Yashio took the list without even glancing at it, and then instructed Rui Yashio to put it away.

This interview has now come to an end.

Next comes the time for... well, let's talk about music.

After all, Aoyama's skill in musical instruments is well-known in the political arena, and he and Hachishio Renmi have a lot to talk about.

For example, regarding the project that Hachishio Renmi openly proposed to compose music for film/anime works, she also suggested that Aoyama Muto could compose music for works he thought were promising, and that the promotional effect might be even better than that of musicians like them who were immersed in this field.

The only regret is that this is a temple lodging, and Aoyama is good at rock music, so it's inconvenient for him to perform live.

However, to increase their competitiveness, many Japanese temples these days have started playing rock music. For example, there's a temple abbot named Yakushiji Kanpo who formed a metal rock band, and the band's drummer just uses a wooden fish as a drum kit.

Since rock music isn't an option, let's explore some instruments related to symphonic music.

Aoyama has almost no knowledge of wind instruments (after all, the setting requires him to perform while wearing a mask, and I've never seen anyone play a trumpet while wearing a mask), and he only has a slight interest in the piano, but the violin is his forte.

Coincidentally, Rui Yashio's best instrument is also the violin.

Actually, it wasn't a coincidence. The reason why Hachishio Renmi brought Hachishio Ruichi to this meeting was partly to use the violin to build a bridge between the two of them.

Of course, this is based on Aoyama Mukai's excellent reputation. After all, Yashio Ruyu is her daughter. If Aoyama Mukai were a lecherous old man like Ishihara Taro, her predecessor, she would definitely bring other attendants. She can't just push her own daughter into a fire pit.

When it comes to musical communication, talking too much is useless; the most direct and effective way is to start playing.

Ruyu Hachishio is a junior, so she came first.

Her behavior in private is quite different from her performances on stage with the Butterfly Troupe, but her elegance remains undiminished.

It makes sense, since the violin's tone can easily clash with the vocals. Therefore, she would definitely have to find a way to control the violin's strong presence during a band performance to avoid putting too much pressure on the lead singer.

But solo performances don't require this worry; you can fully showcase your skills.

However... in the ears of this expert Aoyama, Rui Yashio's violin technique was still not perfect.

Pursuing technical skill without fully enjoying the music being played is misguided. A performer's emotions can resonate with the audience. If you yourself lack emotional depth, how can the audience or judges connect with you?

Look at how Lang Lang, the master of the zither, is when he plays the zither. If his feet weren't tied to the ground, he would have loved to jump as high as the sound waves could reach.

On the other hand, when she joined the Butterfly Band to perform, the emotions of her teammates, especially Kurata Mashiro's "overly abundant" emotions, made up for Yashio Rui's shortcomings, and produced a special effect.

After Rui Yashio finished her performance, Mukaya Aoyama picked up his violin and played a Haydn piece.

Seeing that familiar typhoon, Rui Hachishio became even more certain that Muto Aoyama and Mr. Hack from the band Sickhack were the same person.

Make way for me: 065 Will I be punished by heaven?

During the Yokohama concert, although Aoyama Koichi's seemingly rigorous theory fooled Yashio Rui, it still left many flaws.

Rui Yashio is the current student council president of Tsukimori Girls' School, a powerful figure at the top of the school!

What kind of people live at Tsukimori Girls' School?

A smiling tiger who treats people as tools to satisfy her own selfish desires and then discards them once the job is done.

On the surface, she is not good with words, but in reality, she can sow discord to the fullest extent with just a few cucumbers.

Dealing with these kinds of people all day long and still managing to keep them under her thumb, how could Rui Hachishio be so easily fooled?

Therefore, although she reluctantly accepted Aoyama's explanation at the time, her suspicions did not completely disappear. So, to be on the safe side, she maintained sufficient respect for Aoyama throughout the entire concert.

Even the members of the Butterfly Group who shared her feelings noticed something unusual. So, on the way back from the concert, they asked Kiritani Touko, who was better at "digging" into Rui Yashio's inner thoughts, to find out some information.

The next day, the other members of the Butterfly Clan made a point of giving the two of them a chance to be alone. Under Kiritani Touko's persistent and shameless efforts, they reluctantly voiced their suspicions.

Touko Kiritani could only express her shock at this.

"Impossible, right? The Governor of Tokyo participating in an indie rock band and performing on stage? That's like saying my grandma would perform stand-up comedy... If these words hadn't come from Rui's mouth, I would have thought she was joking."

"But verifying this suspicion isn't that difficult, since Ruyu is such a close friend. My family's kimono shop has even made kimonos for Governor Aoyama! They should have his detailed body measurements. I'll use that data to draw a anatomical diagram, and then put the kimono on him... Oh! Speaking of which, Mr. Hack's suit vest and trousers must have been custom-made too!"

"I can't say for sure which store it is right now, but if I had time to investigate carefully, I could definitely figure out which brand and which store made it (that's what you call professional)... In short, the custom-made clothes for that outfit weren't cheap. Although saying that might be a bit disrespectful to the Sickhack veterans, it's definitely not a price that ordinary indie band members can afford. So, Weiwei, your guess might be pretty close to the truth."

"What should we do? This is huge news! If we give it to the newspaper, tomorrow..."

"It'll definitely make the headlines, right, Weiwei?"