Chapter 54: A Young Man Arrives from Osaka (Monthly Votes Requested)

"Uncle, would you be interested in investing in my newspaper office?"

"Before World War II, the Sumitomo Group already held shares in the *Mainichi Shimbun*."

"That was just a financial investment after all. It's not an exclusive mouthpiece belonging solely to the Sumitomo Group," Shoichi said.

Sumitomo Taro raised an eyebrow, not expecting Shoichi's newspaper to become the exclusive mouthpiece of the Sumitomo Group anyway.

After all, it was called the *Justice Daily*, not the *Sumitomo Daily*.

"Running a newspaper isn't easy. However, during the banquet, I can introduce you to some people from the newspaper distribution agencies. Whether you can get your newspaper circulated widely depends on your own efforts," Sumitomo Taro said.

"No problem," Shoichi nodded.

As long as he could connect with useful people, that would be enough.

Shoichi didn't need the family to do anything for him; he could rely on his own sincerity to reach a consensus with his business partners.

Ai followed closely behind Shoichi.

She didn't know a single soul here.

For some inexplicable reason, she had followed Shoichi to his ancestral home and met many of his older relatives.

First uncle, second uncle, first aunt, second aunt, along with several older male and female cousins.

Among the third generation, Shoichi was considered the youngest.

Shoichi kept dragging Ai around to introduce her to everyone, leaving her head spinning.

She hadn't known this many people even after spending over a decade in the organization.

Moreover, she was attending the birthday banquet of Shoichi's first uncle. Although the uncle had told her she could wear something simple, Shoichi completely ignored it.

He dragged her out to buy a mountain of clothes and chose a striking black evening gown for her.

On the day of the banquet, Shoichi and his older cousins stood outside the doors to welcome guests, while Ai stayed right by Shoichi's side.

She felt like she didn't belong here.

Whenever she had to interact with these people, she always felt completely out of her element. She had never depended on Shoichi this much before.

"I never expected you to return to Japan."

"With the Japanese economy in such a slump, of course I had to come back to save Japan," Shoichi said.

Ooka Momiji looked at Shoichi with a strange expression.

You certainly weren't like this when you were a kid.

"Very ambitious," Momiji awkward prevaricated.

Shoichi pulled Ai by the hand and said, "This is Ooka Momiji. Call her big sister."

"Big sister," Ai stepped forward and said softly and sweetly in a gentle tone.

"Who is she?" Momiji asked.

"Haibara Ai, my father's illegitimate daughter."

"If your uncle knew you were slandering his reputation like this, he would definitely be furious," Momiji said.

Shoichi looked at Momiji with utter indifference.

He was already rotting away in prison anyway, so a little casual slander didn't matter.

Shoichi slandered himself relentlessly, let alone his old man.

"After the banquet is over, would you like to have a Karuta match?" Momiji asked.

Shoichi shook his head. "Forget it. The things I loved as a child are mostly forgotten by now, but you can play with Ai."

"Ai, I actually used to hold this Momiji sister when we were little," Shoichi whispered secretly to Ai.

Only, his attempt at secrecy was rather loud.

You're only two years older than me, aren't you? We were clearly childhood friends, yet you make it sound like an older generation and a younger generation.

"When you were little, I held you too," Momiji huffed.

Noticing other guests arriving, Momiji didn't bother Shoichi any further and turned to walk into the banquet hall.

"Mr. Hattori, welcome, welcome."

Hattori Heizo also flashed a smile and said to Shoichi, "You must be Shoichi, right? I've heard your esteemed name for a long time."

"Just a minor reputation," Shoichi said nonchalantly.

It seemed his fame for treating people with sincerity had indeed reached Osaka.

The dark-skinned fellow standing behind Hattori Heizo kept observing Shoichi furtively, as if trying to peer straight into his sincere heart.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Hattori Heizo departed.

Only Heiji seemed somewhat reluctant to part ways with Shoichi, continuously looking back over his shoulder.

It took a sharp smack from Hattori Heizo to finally make that fellow rein it in.

Ai was gradually adapting to the atmosphere here and even teasingly said to Shoichi, "Do you get the feeling that everyone here is looking at you rather strangely?"

"Do they?" Shoichi hadn't noticed.

"Yes."

"Yet when we were in Tokyo, people looked at me no differently than these people do," Shoichi said quizzically.

Ai was left speechless, completely at a loss for what to say.

After standing outside for a long time, Shoichi and the others finally walked inside.

The banquet hadn't started yet, and the guests were gathered in small groups chatting.

Shoichi pushed Ai toward Momiji, telling them to go play together, and then went off to discuss business matters with his first uncle.

The person Sumitomo Taro recommended to Shoichi was the head of the largest newspaper distribution agency in the Osaka region.

However, this person's gaze toward Sumitomo Taro was exceedingly peculiar.

He didn't seem very willing to give face to this prominent figure of the Sumitomo Group.

Still, Shoichi didn't mind.

When conducting business, he had never relied on his status as a scion of the Sumitomo Group, but rather on his sincerity.

"Mr. Takahashi, I am Sumitomo Shoichi."

Upon hearing Shoichi's name, Takahashi couldn't even manage a polite expression.

Very well, refusing to bow to the powerful and elite.

Shoichi loved this kind of person the most.

Shoichi continued, "I've started a newspaper agency, and I plan to in Osaka—"

"You can give up on that dream. Not to mention that we have exclusive distribution agreements with the *Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun* and several major nationwide newspapers. Even if we didn't, I would never sell a newspaper from the Sumitomo Group," Hashimoto said angrily.

Not only did he reject Shoichi's sincerity, but he also added with malicious intent, "Furthermore, I'll contact other newspaper distribution agencies to ensure your paper doesn't sell a single copy in Osaka!"

Shoichi placed his juice glass down on the table and looked at Takahashi with a menacing expression.

Very well.

This went far beyond simply refusing to bow to the powerful.

This fellow simply harbored a pure, unadulterated malice toward the Sumitomo Group.

It even left Shoichi slightly bewildered.

Was this really still Osaka?

For someone to dare utter such words here in Osaka, they must have truly lost their mind.

There was no point in wasting words with a fellow like this. Shoichi walked over to Sumitomo Taro's side and said, "Uncle, some of my friends are also in Osaka. May I invite them to attend your birthday banquet as well?"

"Of course," Sumitomo Taro replied.

It was a banquet; having a few extra people didn't matter.

As long as they weren't here to cause trouble, it was fine.

"Alright," Shoichi nodded.

With his uncle's permission, Shoichi sent an email to Mouri Ran.

[My uncle is having his birthday today. Would you guys like to come over and hang out? My uncle is very eager to see my friends from Tokyo. ——Shoichi]

[But it's so sudden, we didn't prepare any gifts. ——Ran]

[It doesn't matter, your coming is the best gift of all. Send me your address and I'll send a car to pick you up. ——Shoichi]

Shoichi put his phone down with a deadpan expression.

Even though he had been so sincere, that fellow Takahashi remained completely unfazed.

Since you refuse to accept sincerity, then prepare to experience cold, hard truth instead.