Chapter 126: Industry Consolidation (Please Subscribe)

By the time Tokita Ohma and his two companions arrived at the address provided by Wakatsuki Takeshi, a considerable crowd had already gathered. Within the war-torn ruins of Tokyo, this small parking lot stood in stark contrast, filled with rows of pristine, luxury vehicles that seemed untouched by the surrounding decay. The men in tailored suits acted as if the devastation of the city outside were merely an illusion. Middle Eastern oil tycoons, CEOs of major arms conglomerates, members of the Thai royalty—the crowd engaged in casual pleasantries.

"Yo! Chairman Nogi! Long time no see!" Tokita Ohma stepped out of his vehicle, greeting his ally with enthusiasm.

Hideki Nogi, still dressed in his signature suit and vest, was chatting with Katahara Metsudo, who had just returned from abroad. The two appeared to be on excellent terms, showing no signs of the friction between a rebel and a deposed tyrant. An outsider would have easily mistaken them for close friends.

"Ah, young Master Tokita," the gaunt Katahara Metsudo said, stroking his beard. "You've changed even more than you did in the videos; youth truly makes for rapid growth. Has my shelter been comfortable for you?"

"I was just about to bring that up," Ohma said, walking toward them with a smile. "I broke it, and I was hoping to buy it off you."

"A trivial matter. Do as you please."

The frail old man dismissed the shelter—worth roughly thirty billion yen—as a mere trifle. He then pivoted back to his conversation with Nogi. "What is your take on my proposal for corporate mergers, Mr. Chairman?"

"You mean to take businesses with overlapping operations within the Kengan Association, use Kengan-style matches to determine the industry leader, and then have the Bank of Japan provide loans to facilitate industry consolidation?" Nogi’s expression turned somber.

The Kengan Association was the largest capital alliance in Japan. To consolidate a single industry within this organization was effectively to consolidate that industry across the entire nation. It was a move of staggering proportions. But was such blatant monopolization truly acceptable?

"Don't worry, Nogi." The old fox, having spent decades navigating the business world, easily saw through Nogi’s reservations. A predatory, sinister grin spread across his aged face. "Who do you think begged me to come here and speak with an annoying fellow like you? The consequences of monopoly? The Japanese economy has to survive first. Otherwise, the next generation will be left in a broken, impoverished world, forced to imagine Tokyo’s former prosperity through old, faded magazine clippings."

"In other words, this is the Cabinet's will as well."

Nogi, now privy to the inside information, remained deep in thought. Ohma, however, having grasped the situation, appeared jubilant. "That’s perfect!" the youth said eagerly. "I heard the president of Fujima Express died that night. Let’s integrate his assets into Tokita Warehousing and Logistics! And all those other storage and transport companies—I can swallow them all!"

Ohma behaved like a low-life who had finally stumbled upon a fortune, desperate to rake in the cash. "What do you think, Chairman? You’ll support me, right?" As he spoke, he draped an arm over Nogi’s shoulder with practiced familiarity.

Before Nogi could respond, Katahara Metsudo offered the youth a smile. "With such a massive enterprise, can you truly digest it all so suddenly, young Master Tokita? Shall I recommend some professional managers for you?"

"That would be great! My thanks!"

"Then it is settled, heh heh!" The gaunt old man turned and walked away, acting as if the matter were entirely concluded.

Once Katahara was out of earshot, Nogi looked at Ohma with a stern expression. "You don't just grab money like that, Tokita! Your company simply isn't equipped to handle Fujima Express!"

"That’s what Katahara's help is for, isn't it?" Ohma replied with an indifferent smile.

"You call that help?" Nogi clutched his head, momentarily tempted to just walk away and abandon this naive ally. "The talent he gives you will be his own people. When the time comes, will the company be yours or the Bank of Japan's? Have you even thought about that? Do you really think you can strike up a friendship with that old monster after knowing him for a short while?"

But just as Nogi began to worry about his ally’s mental state, Ohma’s voice returned, calm and steady. It was a stark contrast to the eager, money-hungry persona he had displayed moments before. He placed a hand on Nogi’s shoulder again. This time, however, Nogi felt no warmth; instead, the air around them seemed to grow heavy and viscous.

"Chairman, look—the powers of this world are authority, money, and fists." The youth counted them off on his fingers, his tone soft and gentle, as if they were merely two old friends chatting.

To Nogi, however, the words struck like thunder.

"To be honest, I couldn't care less how many of his people he plants in the company. Because authority and money are merely tools to make my life more convenient." The hand on Nogi’s shoulder tightened slowly, clenching into a fist that seemed to crush the very air around it. "After seeing the power of something like Godzilla with my own eyes, I understood—as long as I have this," the youth shook his fist with a smile, "no matter how many people they plant in the company, in the end, they will all be mine."

*Do you think a mere pair of fists can compare to Godzilla or defy the laws of capital in human society?* Nogi’s worldview, forged over decades in the business world, made him desperate to utter these words. Yet, strangely, as if his body refused to allow him to protest, Nogi’s throat constricted. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, but he found himself unable to speak.

Just then, the greeter from Kureishi Pharmaceuticals appeared.

"We thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to visit our cutting-edge laboratory."

The host was a familiar face, often seen at Kureishi Pharmaceuticals' product launches. He guided the politicians and wealthy elites from around the world through the gates with professional ease. Nogi seized the opportunity to distance himself from the youth, who had already withdrawn his oppressive presence.

Ohma didn't mind. After all, if he didn't intentionally restrain his aura, even a seasoned tycoon like Nogi wouldn't be able to stand beside him so casually. He had, after all, embarked on a journey to transcend humanity. Being isolated by the sheer weight of one's own power was, in a way, a trait of the new Japan.

Everyone present was either privy to the secrets of this laboratory or qualified to know them, so the host spoke without reservation. He led the VIPs directly underground. Several representatives of pharmaceutical companies in the crowd nodded to themselves. Likely, only an underground laboratory could have survived the Tokyo where two Godzillas had run rampant, while still maintaining the capacity for high-precision medical research.