RPAGF Chapter 211 Feasting for Guests
Chapter 211 Feasting for Guests
(Some readers pointed out that I used to state the time and place at the beginning of every chapter, which was too formulaic. I tried a different way of starting each chapter, and I wonder if everyone is satisfied with it?)
"Buzz—"
The dull, low-frequency vibrations traveled continuously from the warm, smooth North American black walnut wood flooring underfoot to the hard soles of the genuine leather shoes.
The vibration originated from a matrix of heavy-duty oil-fired boilers deep underground, which were operating at maximum power exceeding their design limits.
In mid-December, Niseko in Hokkaido experienced its most violent blizzard since the beginning of winter.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi sat upright in the panoramic suite on the top floor of Gokurakuten-no-kami, a suite originally reserved for members of the Saionji family. He wore a perfectly tailored deep red velvet suit and held a large Cuban Cohiba cigar in his left hand.
On the marble desk in front of me lay a thick financial statement, fifty pages long.
Final Financial Statements for the First Month of Operations at the Paradise Pavilion.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi extended his right hand, his index and middle fingers holding the pure gold paper cutter. The sharp blade moved extremely slowly across the edge of the thick paper, leaving a straight, visible indentation.
His gaze first bypassed the complicated categories and went straight to the expense summary column.
Even the commander of the Western Wu Empire, who was used to astronomical figures, couldn't help but increase the pressure on the pure gold hilt of his sword when he saw the figure representing the energy and infrastructure maintenance costs.
The tip of the paper cutter pierced the paper with a short "sizzle" sound.
The cost of maintaining a constant tropical climate of 28 degrees Celsius within this massive glass dome is embodied in a series of deficits that could bankrupt any medium-sized enterprise instantly. This includes the daily consumption of hundreds of tons of special heavy oil, the industrial electricity consumed by the de-icing system and the artificial wave hydraulic press, plus the expenses of thousands of service personnel and a specialized plant maintenance team.
This poisoned apple, regarded as a "financial black hole" by the elders of the Saionji family, indeed defies the common sense of security in traditional commercial real estate by devouring cash at a speed that goes against the norms of security in commercial real estate.
Kensuke, that stubborn old man, probably trembles even in his sleep when he sees these densely packed deficits.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi chuckled to himself.
He casually placed the paper cutter on the edge of the crystal ashtray. Then, his fingers flipped through the thick pages until he reached the final summary of revenue and net profit.
The dark red sparks at the tip of the cigar suddenly brightened a few degrees.
At this moment, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's breathing rhythm became extremely erratic. His chest rose and fell more, and the collar of his expensive shirt was stretched taut.
The influx of newly rich from across the country, manufacturing giants from the Kansai region, and a very small number of wealthy overseas individuals into this man-made spectacle in the first month completely shattered all actuaries' predictive models with an almost retaliatory consumption pattern.
The roulette casino on the ground floor of Paradise Palace devours chips stained with desire at an incredible rate every day; the Michelin-starred restaurants and pure gold leaf spa on the middle floor are booked until next spring; and at the very top of the building, the hidden joint auction hall is an unfathomable money-sucking black hole, where tycoons who try to flaunt their class with European antiques and Impressionist paintings squander billions of dollars with every bid and hammer fall; and the top-tier luxury villas hidden in the fir forest on the outskirts are monopolized by various tycoons at ten times the original price.
This extravagant cash flow not only perfectly and easily covered the seemingly terrifying energy consumption bill, but also left an astonishing excess net profit at the bottom.
A miraculous figure that allowed Seibu Estate to artificially inflate its valuation several times over when it listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
"madness."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi stared at the number, his deep voice echoing in the quiet suite.
No, we can't say those elders were stupid. If it weren't for them, the Seibu Group would have had a very difficult time getting such a great deal.
He stood up and strode to the 360-degree panoramic curved glass.
Outside the glass, a gale-force wind of minus twenty degrees Celsius, accompanied by heavy snow, relentlessly tore at the massive building. The snow and ice slammed against the specially heated glass, instantly turning into boiling steam.
On the inside of the glass, Yoshiaki Tsutsumi looked down at the artificial rainforest shrouded in golden and deep blue light.
On the pristine white sand beach, guests dressed in the latest haute couture swimwear sipped chilled cocktails and laughed heartily as the artificial waves crashed against them. Money had granted them the privilege of basking in the Hawaiian sun amidst this hellish cold.
The old fogies of the Saionji family, in order to maintain their so-called "zero debt" bottom line, actually handed over such a perfect money-printing machine, along with the class privileges it created, to the Seibu Group for a mere 350 billion yen.
They were blinded by the enormous consumption of heavy assets, but they couldn't understand how much spending power people could unleash in this feast in order to buy "privileges" and "vanity".
Moreover, Japan's economy will continue to rise in the foreseeable future, and people's spending power will inevitably become stronger.
It's already so profitable at the very beginning; in the future, it will likely be an astronomical figure.
"Shimada".
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi turned around.
Secretary Shimada, who had been standing quietly near the door, immediately stepped forward, his posture upright and his hands hanging naturally at his sides.
"Is everything arranged for tonight's celebration banquet?" Tsutsumi Yoshiaki asked.
"Everything is ready, President."
"The circular theater on the middle floor of Paradise City has been completely cleared out and is temporarily closed to the public. Tonight, it will only be open to core executives of the Seibu Group and specially invited close friends from the political and business circles. The Broadway theater company will begin its first performance in half an hour."
"very good."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi picked up the suit jacket draped over the back of the chair and put it on deftly. He walked to the full-length mirror and stared at the man in the mirror, a man at the pinnacle of power.
Having secured this sweetest fruit, the Seibu Group's dominance in the entire Japanese real estate industry and even the entertainment industry has reached an unprecedented level.
"Let's go. Let's go see our territory."
……
The third level of the Paradise Guardian.
Inside the double-height circular theater, the magnificent Baroque dome radiates a mesmerizing glow.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of French black truffles and the fermented fruitiness of aged champagne.
The seats originally placed in the center of the theater for individual spectators have been completely removed. In their place are a series of deep red velvet sofas arranged in a semi-circle around the main stage.
In the very center of the hall, a massive champagne tower made of hundreds of Baccarat crystal glasses reflects the spotlights from the stage.
Dozens of core executives from the Seibu Group, along with several powerful members of Congress, were gathered in small groups, holding wine glasses.
Their faces were filled with undisguised ecstasy and pride.
The elevator's brass indicator light emitted a crisp "ding" sound.
The elevator doors slid open to both sides.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi stepped out of the elevator.
The previously noisy conversations in the theater fell silent for a moment. Then, a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted. All the executives and guests turned to face the commander who had rendered unparalleled service to the Seibu Group.
"President! Congratulations on securing this wonder of the world!"
The head of development at Seibu Land was the first to step forward, holding a wine glass in his hand, his face plastered with almost fanatical flattery.
"I reviewed the financial summary this morning, and the net profit figures for the first month are simply miraculous! Only you in all of Japan possess the vision and foresight to see the true value of this achievement!"
"That's right! Those old fogies from the Saionji family were scared out of their wits by a little infrastructure expenditure, and actually handed over this money-printing machine." A cabinet member next to him also chimed in, "Chairman Tsutsumi's move of winning without bloodshed is truly brilliant. From now on, the entire Hokkaido will be Seibu's backyard."
"Yes, yes, President Tsutsumi is truly unprecedented and will likely never be seen again..."
The compliments came in like a tidal wave.
"Hehe, you flatter me. This is just going with the flow."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi smiled. He didn't stop to exchange pleasantries with anyone individually, but instead walked steadily through the path that the crowd had parted to make way for him. Listening to these effusive compliments, the arrogance and smugness in his eyes grew even stronger.
He walked straight to the main sofa set in the center, which had an excellent view.
But he did not sit down immediately.
For a tyrant who has just completed a century-long conquest, the throne is certainly comfortable. But before he can enjoy the fruits of his labor, he needs a coronation ceremony that will command the respect of all his subjects, to push his personal prestige to its peak.
He turned around and looked at the huge champagne tower in the center of the hall, made up of hundreds of Baccarat crystal glasses.
"Please, Chairman Tsutsumi, personally inaugurate this wonder you have created!"
The head of development at Seibu Land Corporation made a shrewd suggestion, pointing excitedly to the center of the hall.
"That's right! Let Chairman Tsutsumi pour this first toast of victory!"
"Please, President, open the champagne!"
The surrounding executives and politicians immediately erupted in agreement, and thunderous applause once again filled the circular theater.
A waiter in a pure white uniform respectfully approached the champagne tower, carrying a freshly opened bottle of 1982 Dom Pérignon champagne in both hands.
Shimada strode forward, took the heavy bottle of champagne from the waiter, and presented it to Yoshiaki Tsutsumi with both hands.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi extended his right hand and grasped the cool, dark green bottle with one hand. He looked around at the pairs of eyes filled with awe and longing.
This champagne tower, with its tiers overflowing from the top down, is practically a perfect replica of the power structure of the Seibu Empire.
Only when I stand at this highest point can everyone below be entitled to the leftovers.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi arrogantly enjoyed this sense of dominance in his heart.
His wrist tilted slightly.
Golden liquid poured down from the highest crystal glass.
The liquor overflowed the rim of the glasses, cascading down the tiered walls like a waterfall, eventually filling every glass at the bottom. Tiny bubbles rose and burst wildly under the lights, producing a continuous hissing sound. This sound echoed under the empty dome, intensely stimulating the senses of everyone present.
"good!!!"
The head of development immediately led the applause. The room was filled with continuous applause, completely ignoring the fact that their hands were already red from clapping.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi casually handed the empty wine bottle to the waiter beside him. Shimada picked up two glasses of champagne from the bottom shelf and handed one of them to Yoshiaki Tsutsumi.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi gripped the cool stem of the stemmed glass.
He turned around and faced everyone present.
The applause immediately subsided, and everyone pretended to listen attentively.
"Gentlemen."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's deep voice penetrated the soothing background symphony in the theater.
"For the past few months, there have been rumors that our Seibu Group has taken a risky step by spending huge sums of money to take over this mess in Hokkaido. They say we will be dragged into a quagmire by this huge energy consumption."
He raised the champagne in his hand, the golden liquid in the glass swirling slightly.
"However, the financial statements released this morning have already given us a resounding rebuttal to the doubts of those ignorant people."
"The Saionji family has poured countless efforts into laying this incredible foundation. But their old stomachs simply cannot digest this top-quality fruit."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi's gaze swept over the group's directors in the front row, whose faces were radiant.
"They retreated out of fear. We, however, triumphed because of greed."
"From today onwards, Seibu's territory will extend northward from Tokyo's steel network, across the rolling mountains of Karuizawa."
"In this frigid northern land, the Seibu Group is also the undisputed king."
"The era of paying homage to Seibu!"
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi raised his glass high.
"Respectfully, Chairman!"
"Kai Seibu!"
Dozens of voices converged into a torrent, erupting with a deafening echo beneath the dome of the circular theater.
Crystal wine glasses clashed and collided in mid-air, producing a series of crisp sounds.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi tilted his head back and downed the chilled champagne in his glass in one gulp.
The carbonated bubbles, mingled with the rich aroma of the wine, traveled down his throat to his stomach, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. He casually handed the empty glass to the waiter beside him and turned to sit down on the velvet sofa in the main seat.
The sofa's soft cushions sank deeply under his weight.
The stage lights suddenly dimmed, and two blinding white spotlights shone in the center. Broadway's top dance company, moving to the beat of energetic jazz music, began tonight's exclusive carnival performance for the Seibu Empire.
A senior cabinet member sitting next to Yoshiaki Tsutsumi came over.
This politician, who belonged to the old ruling faction and had been severely suppressed by the Saionji family and Ichiro Osawa in last year's political reshuffle, slammed the crystal glass in his hand heavily on the coffee table.
"Chairman Tsutsumi, it's truly gratifying to see the Saionji family suffer such a huge setback." The councilor's face was full of flattery, and his tone revealed the satisfaction of getting revenge. "Those guys used to cause trouble in Nagata-cho because they had plenty of money, but now their finances have been ruined by the infrastructure project. Even that arrogant little girl doesn't dare to show her face at the salon lately."
Then he lowered his voice.
"However, the land they hold in Odaiba is in a prime location. Since they can't even keep Gokurakukan, their finances must be in serious trouble. Should we take this opportunity to put some pressure on them regarding the transportation planning in Odaiba?"
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping slowly on the armrest of the sofa.
"No rush."
He looked at the dancers on the stage, dressed in gorgeous feather costumes and kicking their legs with all their might, his eyes reflecting the colorful stage lights.
"The Saionji family has already poured tens of billions of yen into that deep-sea crater in Odaiba. They're now pinning all their hopes on that tower that's still just on the drawing board. If we push too hard now, this wounded lion will fight back desperately, which will only cause unnecessary trouble."
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi turned his head, his gaze passing over the senator's shoulder to look at the huge floor-to-ceiling glass window on the outside of the theater.
"Let them keep burning money in the sea off Odaiba. Let them burn through all the cash they got from selling the buildings, and let the Ministry of Finance really strangle them with its credit gates."
His lips curled upwards into an ambitious arc.
"At that time, they will respectfully present the half-built tower in Odaiba to my desk, just as they do today."
The fervor continued to build within the theater.
High-vintage champagne and top-quality Bordeaux red wines are being continuously supplied to executives and politicians, like free tap water.
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi sat quietly on his throne, holding a freshly filled wine glass.
His fingers gripped the slender stem of the wine glass so tightly that he almost crushed the fragile glass.
The deafening jazz music and the unrestrained laughter of his subordinates echoed in his ears.
At that moment, several jets of high-pressure dry ice smoke suddenly shot out from the edge of the stage.
White mist instantly filled the entire circular theater.
The golden champagne liquid swayed gently in the crystal glass. The liquid reflected the light from the huge crystal chandelier overhead, casting dappled and constantly distorting golden shadows on the dimly lit walls of the private room.
But beyond that highly deceptive layer of special glass.
The night in Hokkaido was as dark as ink. A raging blizzard howled tirelessly, and countless icicles slammed into the transparent dome, gradually burying the enormous, faintly glowing crystal ball into a chilling white abyss.
He was hosting a banquet for his guests.