Chapter 76: After All, You Are No Devil (Please Vote)

Suzuki Daiki gazed at him intently. "You truly surprise me. But actually, President Kinoshita probably doesn't know yet that Inoue Ryu took his funds and handed over a hundred million yen to you for financial investment. After learning of Kinoshita's connection with Chief Ishii, do you still not think that Moshimo Real Estate is a company worth joining? Or do you believe the financial investments you're pursuing have even greater prospects than the proposal you made to President Kinoshita yesterday?"

Tao Zhimin asked with interest, "Could it be that you also wish to invest some funds and let me try my hand?"

Suzuki Daiki paused, then burst into hearty laughter. "Yuuta was right—you are indeed a peculiar fellow. Was this, too, your purpose in coming today?"

Tao Zhimin replied earnestly, "I can offer you even better terms than I gave to President Inoue."

Suzuki Daiki's eyes sparkled with amusement. "That's exceedingly generous."

Tao Zhimin sighed, "Once you enter the game, you have no choice but to keep throwing in more chips. From now on, I will surely have many things that require your guidance and assistance."

The smile lingered on Suzuki Daiki's face for a moment, then his gaze grew sharp. "What if the chips are five hundred million? Do you dare accept?"

Tao Zhimin was taken aback, then delighted. "Suzuki-sama, what remarkable boldness!"

Suzuki Daiki saw his reaction and paused again, unable to help but exclaim, "What an extraordinary young man!"

Tao Zhimin said seriously, "With five hundred million yen, I can promise you a fifteen percent return, monthly."

Suzuki Daiki looked at him with a complex expression.

What, in his mind, did the underworld truly represent?

Why did he show no hesitation in closely cooperating with an organization like ours?

But Suzuki Daiki was not Irie Yuuta. He understood well that in a society like Japan, real heavyweights always possess clear awareness: whatever direction they develop in, is there truly a single prominent figure who is wholly unconnected to the underworld?

To such figures, the underworld is merely a tool to conveniently accomplish many things.

Tao Zhimin, of course, understood what the underworld was. He did not underestimate characters like Suzuki Daiki, and had already discerned his needs.

The so-called underworld, every layer of the organization, needs money to function. Otherwise, how are these young men without legitimate or stable jobs to survive?

The money Yuuta Irie earned from him all had to be handed over. A little pocket money was fine, but for real amounts, the organization kept close watch.

No matter how much the boss doled out, the underlings could not complain. This was the usual form of the underworld.

Faced with the present situation, Tao Zhimin chose mutual benefit.

Moreover, Suzuki Daiki's willingness to invest five hundred million yen for a share showed sufficient resolve. That courage, no doubt, was spurred by the shock of newly acquired information.

As for Ueno Yosuke's worries about being hacked to death if he lost money ... Tao Zhimin was fully confident.

The only concern was that after this surge in the yen's value, the currency market would be less lucrative, and a twenty percent return could not last.

By then, he would be a different man, having laid other foundations.

Tao Zhimin knew well that once he had amassed wealth, as Tao Dailang, rootless in Tokyo, he must foster ties with certain influential groups.

The Shindo Group, since he had already established a preliminary relationship with the decent Irie Yuuta, was worth his attention.

Suzuki Daiki had not yet replied when Tao Zhimin said, "Your willingness to offer five hundred million yen must be because you heard that Brother Shuufuu agreed to lend me one and a half billion yen, right?"

"Indeed..." Suzuki Daiki thought, otherwise how could I risk the reserve tribute money?

"In fact, that one and a half billion yen has other purposes. Today, I mainly came to seek your advice about it." Tao Zhimin set aside the matter of the five hundred million yen and spoke seriously, "The Shindo Group is planning to establish some legitimate businesses, isn't it?"

Suzuki Daiki was startled. "That's right. Headquarters sent word that new laws targeting the underworld might soon be enacted, so we're told to prepare."

Seeing he wasn't treated as an outsider, Tao Zhimin smiled. "Now, I have two ideas I think we could cooperate on. One is perfectly legitimate. The other, though on the fringe, does not break any laws."

Suzuki Daiki recalled his manner, sat upright, and said solemnly, "Please, enlighten me!"

Tao Zhimin then spoke, "Brother Yuuta is steady and intelligent. I'm planning to open a disco club in Minato Ward, but it's inconvenient for me to manage it directly. With Brother Yuuta overseeing it, things would be secure. Of course, I'd need you to arrange a suitable way to take charge, ensuring the industry's safety and order."

"The club's annual turnover will not be less than one billion yen—I am quite confident of that. As for investment, one hundred million yen per establishment will suffice. I must retain decision-making power, for the business model depends on me. You may participate with up to thirty-three percent."

Suzuki Daiki asked, "And the other?"

"The other..." Tao Zhimin smiled, "The other, I won't be involved at all, just a suggestion. Of course, I guarantee I can help with sales afterward, and assure you this is a long-lasting, profitable path."

"Is it because it's more marginal?" Suzuki Daiki grew curious. "What kind of approach is it?"

Tao Zhimin recalled what was perhaps the Japanese industry he knew best, his tone becoming slightly ambiguous. "Nowadays, video tape shops, both for sale and rental, are mushrooming everywhere. There's a certain kind of tape that's extremely popular. But, probably because they don't yet understand the law, they don't know there's a path called 'export for reimport.' The Video Ethics Association's censorship can't reach America..."

Suzuki Daiki listened in astonishment as he explained the 'F-B-I warning' trick, scarcely believing such words could come from a dignified University of Tokyo student.

No wonder he said he wouldn't take part, yet could guarantee lasting sales and profits.

Simply set up a company in America, shoot the original material in Japan, complete production and distribution in America, then import it back for sale—thus sidestepping domestic censorship.

Japan allows imports of foreign films, so despite the special nature of these 'works' and the troubles they would still encounter, compared to those still struggling with local censors, this method provided a window of opportunity.

Moreover, the channels would be so scattered as to be impossible to stamp out completely.

After Tao Zhimin finished, Suzuki Daiki was thoroughly convinced, and couldn't help asking, "Tao, why are you so knowledgeable about these things?"

Tao Zhimin looked a little embarrassed. "After all... I'm a young man, full of vigor. With such a strong demand, I figured there must be business potential, so... I did a little research..."

"A little..." Suzuki Daiki muttered, then composed himself. "These matters... I don't really understand. Let's talk about the disco club first. What special management method gives you confidence in a billion yen annual turnover?"

"Ah! Now that you mention it..." Tao Zhimin became animated, launching into a torrent of talk about atmosphere, marketing strategies, interior design—so much so that Suzuki Daiki's head spun, unable to grasp the brilliance.

Eventually, he raised his hand to stop him. "What? Paying attention to whether there are handsome, talented young men among your staff, so they can perform on stage and become stars?"

Tao Zhimin replied earnestly, "Of course! Becoming a star is a promising career. If you have such subordinates, helping them pursue this path is a radiant future. You're no devil—why would you let these young people waste their potential?"

Suzuki Daiki was genuinely bewildered, unable to respond at all.