"Sakanayagi's biggest problem now is that the money owed to the bank can't be repaid, and the land can only be forcibly auctioned."
"A debt of several hundred million dollars is no small matter, but with Sakanayagi's high-quality assets, banks and companies should be willing to lend your family money and earn interest. After all, this is a deal that guarantees profit."
"However, the zaibatsu groups that shorted Sakanayagi aren't people regular folks dare to offend, so there's no way they'll step in to help."
"The Shinomiya family can provide this money. They'll receive twenty percent of the real estate, the other zaibatsu groups get thirty percent, and your Sakanayagi family retains the remaining fifty percent. Chairman Sakayanagi, what do you think?"
"You see, this way, the financial problem is also solved."
The reason for still giving the other zaibatsu thirty percent to divide is because this is a massive deal involving billions of dollars.
Capital says that when profits exceed 300%, capitalists will trample all laws.
Faced with such massive wealth, those capitalists would definitely risk everything.
When doing things, one must always leave a way out and not push things too far. If someone really tried to ruin a multi-billion-dollar deal, even that idiot Oko Shinomiya would likely stay out of it. He wouldn't dare to completely offend so many people.
But as long as no one pushes things too far, Oko would fight for his share, and the zaibatsu groups that schemed against Sakanayagi would also compromise.
Toru took his time, picking up the teacup and sipping gently. He smiled at Arisu, "Your tea-making skills are quite good, Sakayanagi-san."
Arisu smiled modestly.
At that moment, the first-year high school girl seemed to have matured.
If it were the old her, she might still feel bitter. Wouldn't the Sakanayagi family still lose half of their assets?
But now, she suddenly understood. This is society, this is reality.
If the Sakanayagi family took a single misstep, they would be forced to swallow the consequences.
From being torn apart and forced to sell off their assets at a low price, to merely losing half and still earning seventy percent of the market value, this was already a lifeline.
She believed her father would agree.
As expected, Narumori gave a small nod. "In principle, I agree to this clause. For Sakanayagi, this is already the best possible outcome."
"However, I think besides this, Fujiwara-kun must have other conditions, right? After all, Fujiwara-kun only represents the Shinomiya zaibatsu, yet hasn't gained any benefits for himself."
Toru smiled. "Chairman Sakayanagi thinks too highly of our Fujiwara family. While we do have considerable assets, most of them are inherited treasures like antiques and calligraphy."
"In terms of tangible property, our Fujiwara family can't compare to your Sakanayagi."
Damn it, real estate really is the most stable and fastest way to make money aside from finance.
Look at what Sakanayagi did. They didn't do anything, just bought land early, and now they're rich.
Those entrepreneurs who worked themselves to death to build billion-dollar companies must be crying in frustration.
"Fujiwara-kun, you're joking. Comparing Sakanayagi to Fujiwara is like comparing the earth to the sky."
Narumori gave a bitter smile.
Is money useful? Of course.
But at their level, pure money isn't useful anymore. It has to be converted into power.
The Fujiwara family is a thousand-year-old political clan with high-ranking officials in every generation. That's something real estate developers like Sakanayagi can't compete with.
"Our Fujiwara family can't provide that much money, but naturally, we also have demands."
"Chairman Sakayanagi has deep ties in the education sector, staying in contact with many universities and having good relationships with several professors."
"All we hope is that Chairman Sakayanagi will stand with us when needed."
Narumori sighed. As expected, Fujiwara was after their education-world connections.
Politics and economics are deeply intertwined, but the education sector is its own world. The Sakanayagi family's resources in education are just as valuable as land.
Toru's intention was for Sakanayagi to completely side with Fujiwara. When needed, they'd have to publicly support Fujiwara in the education sector.
This was a massive, invisible fortune.
Could Narumori refuse? No.
But from another perspective, Narumori actually felt somewhat relieved.
This was equivalent to finding a backer for the family. In the future, they wouldn't have to fight alone.
Of course, the most important part was that Narumori thought highly of Toru.
To be this capable at such a young age, the future head of the Fujiwara clan, and with secret connections in America, his potential was immeasurable.
Narumori would treat this as an investment.
Thinking this, Narumori immediately said, "It's our honor that Fujiwara-kun values the Sakanayagi family."
Toru smiled.
Perfect. Everything he wanted, he had now gotten.
This was something only Toru could do—integrating resources and connections from all parties, effortlessly wrapping up a multi-billion-dollar acquisition case.
Toru secured Sakanayagi's loyalty, and as the future head of Fujiwara, this was a clear win.
The Shinomiya family obtained twenty percent of the Sakanayagi land at a low price, and Toru was Kaguya's fiancé. He would definitely make her the heir in the future. This was essentially obtaining the land himself—a double win.
In addition to these future values, Toru would also earn real profits.
He would register a company under the Japan CIA branch and affiliate it with the American CIA.
The Tokyo District Prosecutors Office director would get a share as well. Whether it was the Shinomiya family or the other zaibatsu, they would all agree.
By then, he would keep part of the profits himself and report the rest to HQ. The CIA earns a large amount of gray income like this every year.
As for how much to keep, it would have to be at least a hundred million dollars.
That made it a triple win.
A hundred million dollars, earned so easily. At this level, when you control policy and real power, money becomes a byproduct.
With this hundred million dollars, I can directly establish a pharmaceutical company.
Originally, I just wanted to buy medical equipment for Haibara, but the pharmaceutical industry is too complex to handle at home. It needs a real lab.
Toru already had plans for how to spend the hundred million.
With this triple win, he didn't even need to offend the other zaibatsu and become their enemy. Let Oko do the offending instead. It was practically a massive profit with no investment.
This feeling of holding power, integrating resources, and steering the situation could be summed up in one word—exhilarating.
Suppressing that excitement in his heart, Toru said to Narumori again, "Chairman Sakayanagi, besides those basic conditions, I have one personal request."
"Please speak, Fujiwara-kun."
"Your daughter is highly capable, but still lacks experience. How about I hire Ms. Sakayanagi as my assistant?"
"This... Arisu is still just a high school student. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Narumori looked uneasy.
His instinct was to refuse.
He had already guessed that Toru was likely part of the CIA, and he didn't want his daughter involved with such an agency.
Once someone enters that world, there's no getting out. No matter their status, if anything goes wrong, their life becomes worthless.
But if he refused...
Narumori was caught in a dilemma.
He wasn't a greedy man and didn't want to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of the family.
However, before he could respond, Arisu spoke.
"Father, I think Fujiwara-kun is right. What I lack now is experience."
"I want to learn the things textbooks can't teach me, so I can help ease your burdens in the future."
"Arisu, you..."
Narumori still wanted to say something.
But faced with Toru's calm gaze and Arisu's determined expression, he finally nodded with difficulty.
"Since Arisu says so, then I'll listen to her."
"Fujiwara-kun, my daughter may be somewhat capable, but she's still young. If she makes mistakes, please be patient with her."
Toru smiled. "Chairman Sakayanagi, you're worrying too much. I won't ask Sakayanagi-san to do anything too demanding. She'll just be an intern, helping me with some routine tasks."
"Just an intern? That's good. That's good..."
Narumori murmured.
What he feared most was Arisu getting exposed to too much confidential information.
Once that happened, there'd be no turning back.
The agreement was finalized just like that. No written contract was needed, nor could there be one.
Only after Toru contacted the Shinomiya zaibatsu and reached an agreement with them would they take the lead, along with the other zaibatsu, to sign a new contract with Sakanayagi.
After this, no one would care what teaching philosophy Advanced Nurturing High School followed. No one would interfere if Sakayanagi continued to build his school community. In fact, they might even support him.
Advanced Nurturing High School itself wasn't important. Its teaching philosophy wasn't important either. What everyone truly valued were its land resources—worth up to ten billion dollars.
The school office building was silent. It was the weekend, and the teachers had all gone home.
When Toru left, Arisu personally came to see him off.
The two of them walked to the corner. Then Arisu, leaning on her cane, suddenly stopped.
Under Toru's gaze, she set the cane aside and slowly lifted her skirt, revealing her soft, pale thighs and her cute, white, slightly marked underwear.
"Sakayanagi-san, what are you doing?"
Toru asked calmly.
Arisu showed no shame. With an expression like a martyr offering herself, she said, "Fujiwara-kun, didn't you want me to be your assistant so you could do these kinds of things? Just like what you did to Yukinoshita-san in the sports equipment room?"
"There are no cameras here. As long as you can save the Sakanayagi family, do whatever you want with me. I won't resist."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)