CH 41: UNDERESTIMATED? (2)
------[KOICHI SHIDO POV]
Koichi stood up after Akira entered the room and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Hello, Akira-Kun, I hope we aren't bothering you." adjusting his glasses, he turned to face Gasai who was still seated with a steely expression on his face.
"I don't think I need to introduce myself, but I have come because I needed to discuss it with you."
Koichi was trying to steer and control the direction of the conversation from the get to go. He had already met Akira once during a party organized by the Busujima, and couldn't understand why everyone was so wary of this little brat.
As such, he was surprised when all Akira did after hearing his greeting was to-
"Heh!"
-sneer mockingly before going to take a seat on the sofa.
The room they were currently in was one used to accommodate guests. As such, the different chairs were positioned in such a way that there was no obvious hierarchy between the guests and the master of the place.
"Gentleman! As I said, your arrival was rather sudden. How could I say that? The most common courtesy would have been to at least ask for a meeting before barging in my home right?"
Koichi didn't lose his smile at this dig and continued, "Akira-"
"Please, do not call me so. I cannot have the heir of the great Shido call me in such an intimate way."
Koichi's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before he continued without any ounce of shame.
"Indeed, I mean, Karino-San, I am sorry for not having called you in advance. It's just that time waits for no one. I am here and now as the Spokesperson of Gasai-San to understand your intentions."
He was a little surprised that Akira rejected his way of calling him.
'Did he catch my little trick?'
It wasn't anything particularly noteworthy. The way of calling each other was something very important for the Japanese.
Koichi using Akira's first name denoted a certain closeness or a certain power over Akira. If Akira didn't stop him from calling him by his first name, after this meeting, Koichi could have begun using rumors of his "friendship" with Akira.
Silence settled in the room as Akira looked at him with an impassive glance before finally speaking, an even brighter smile on his face.
"Please could you be a little more clear? I admit that your words lost me. What do you mean by intentions?"
'Tch'
Another little trick he avoided. Koichi thought with a sour feeling. This one was more important.
He knew that recently the Gasai were being attacked by different fronts. He didn't know who was the spearhead, but from his information, he knew that the Karino clan was heavily connected to the current situation.
'Well, no way it's this brat who is the cause. Most likely he is being manipulated by the other participants.'
He knew the terror of old clans. Even his father, despite being part of the government, had to be careful around them.
'Well, doesn't matter. Today is just a probing. Let's get it out fast.'
"Very well," He took out a file from his bag, "Let's not talk about this anymore then. As you must know, the Gasai family is currently in a pinch. So, if as you say you have nothing to do with the current situation why don't you take a look."
Akira didn't bother moving from his place as Ram did it in his place. Taking the document, she slightly looked at them before a frown formed on her face as she passed them to Akira.
Once Akira took the document, he began reading it for a while before letting out a hollow chuckle.
"So let me get this straight. Gasai is selling me 10% of the Gasai corporations out of the 30% he still has, and in exchange, he wants 40% out of the 70% I have on the main business of my family?"
"Indeed, you should know that in the market, Gasai bank brings a hundred times more profits than the private hold on different dungeons the Karino family has. 10% for 40% is still a loss for us. You should also know that the market for mana core and jewelry is still relatively limited and the Karino has lost some of their elite team of hunters. It's a win-win for us. Don't you think?"
"Seriously?"
Of course not. In appearance, the value of Gasai bank was indeed superior to Karino corporations. But the reality was that Gasai Bank was a listed company while Karino corporations was a privately held company. The concept of the two was completely different.
Any swing in the stocks could make Gasai Bank go bankrupt. But, as long as people need mana cores and other such materials, the Karino family will never fall. Even more so since Akira held such an overwhelmingly large percentage of the company.
"Of course, as a minor, it's impossible for you to sign such a document without the permission of your legal tutor. But we all know that you are the one who makes the final decision right? You wouldn't let a woman decide in your stead."
Koichi was now betting on the pride all children had. Children always thought they knew better than adults, what more, since he knew Mamako for less than a year their relationship shouldn't be totally solid yet.
As he thought, Akira eyes lit up with glee as he said,
"Indeed, so are you serious about giving me those 10%? It's a bank! Shouldn't a bank have large amounts of money?"
'Such a stupid child. He might have some intelligence, but in the end, it's just limited to petty tricks.'
He smiled sweetly as he continued, "Of course. The current situation is mainly because of some slight difficulty. The annual result of the Gasai bank is nothing to scoff at. By the way, here is another document. Even though it's impossible to sign the documents without your tutor's permission, why don't you transfer your bank account to the Gasai bank? You could also ask the different teams under you to do the same."
"Oh! I see. Well, I will sign it."
Just as he was about to do so,
"Akira-sama !"
Ram took the pen from his hand and threw a glare at Koichi.
'Tch!'
"Ram! What are you doing?!"
Akira got up with an expression of rage on his face.
Ram on the other hand took two steps back and bowed with a fearful expression on her,
"I am sorry Akira-sama. I just thought, I just thought that it would be better to wait for a while, at least let your lawyer inspect it."
Koichi grounded his teeth in frustration, he was so close, he couldn't let this fish go. Of course, he knew that documents signed by a minor had zero legal bindings. But what mattered was the significance.
Akira as a child would be dissatisfied if his authority was rejected and his allies would understand that Akira was just a stupid child. It would create a crack in their relationship. What more he could become closer to the child and play the counselor.
If he was careful he could become like the first minister of the empire who controlled everything from the dark and used the emperor as a puppet.
Gasai was nothing more than a stepping stone. He was easy to control but he was currently too weak.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed his frustration as he said,
"Karino-San, while it pains me, your maid is right. It was indeed reckless of my part and you aren't yet ready to enter the adult world. If you permit we could meet each other on another day."
When catching a fish, one shouldn't be in too much hurry. I already posed the base for a better relationship. Sooner or later, he will fall into my trap.
He could see Akira think a little before nodding.
Happy with the answer he obtained, he stretched his hand and clasped it with Akira's own. The two having a happy smile on their face.
----[RAM POV]
Ram, now alone with Akira exhaled a little before snickering,
"Why did we have to do such a play?"
"Don't you think the feeling of being underestimated by your enemy is seriously the best?"
Looking at the mocking smile on his fa ce, and remembering how Shido acted as if everything was according to the plan, she had to admit that it indeed felt good.