Tokyo Detective

Chapter 416 Dare to treat me like a pawn?

Even though the Defense Minister knelt down again, the reporters were not going to let him off the hook. During the Q&A session, a barrage of questions erupted.

"I would like to ask the minister, according to the Youth Salvation Association, is it true that more than 200 members of the defense force died and 20 armored vehicles were lost? They even have video evidence."

"They're all fake. The videos are all special effects. You can tell just by looking at the visuals."

"I really can't tell."

"I just want to tell you that the words of an extremist group are not to be trusted. Next."

Kitada Shinji's expression was extremely cold, as if he wasn't the one who had just knelt down. He knelt down because he had made a big mistake, but that didn't mean anyone could ride roughshod over him.

Naoki Hanyu's old acquaintance, Mashiro Sasaki, asked a question.

"How is the investigation by the Youth Salvation Association progressing?"

"This is confidential and I cannot disclose it. However, I can tell the people of the whole country that the government has found preliminary clues and I believe there will be good news to tell everyone soon. Next."

Sasaki Mashiro pouted and sat back down. As expected, he was more happy to interview his idol; this guy wouldn't say anything.

Other listeners, unsure of the truth, could only reluctantly believe it, but Naoki Hanyu, as the instigator and participant in the investigation, couldn't hold back anymore. If they couldn't find anything, why were they saying this? Were they going to use the old methods again?
Fictitious case closure, fabricated victory, and you still say you're not Third Brother?

The press conference ended quickly, and Naoki Hanyu had to go back to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with Jiro Koizumi. They also had a very important press conference today.

Koizumi Jiro took a deep breath and walked onto the stage. He vividly remembered the scene of the Defense Minister bowing in reverence, so he would never become the Defense Minister who bowed in reverence, never.

Naoki Hanyu himself, acting as the bodyguard, also went up on stage, his gaze constantly scanning the crowd below. Although he knew that no one but himself had said they wanted to kill Koizumi Jiro, he still wanted to be careful.

As I watched, I noticed an interesting character: Koichi Yamano, the head of the farmers' association. It seems he's quite concerned about this too.

As the press conference began, reporters started pressing for answers.

"Minister Koizumi, you said some time ago that you would distribute 30 tons of Kukuku rice, but now more than a month later, less than 10 tons have been distributed. Is this because of the fire at the reserve warehouse last time? What measures will the government take to curb rice prices next?"

Koinujiro had been waiting for this kind of question.

"Please rest assured that in order to curb rising rice prices, the government has decided to cooperate with the Kanto United Agricultural Cooperative. They will provide 43 tons of new rice, priced at 4200 for 5 kg of first-grade rice and 3700 for 5 kg of second-grade rice. It will be sold in designated retail supermarkets nationwide starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow. More new rice will follow."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was surprised. Good heavens, this price is not right.

That company thought it made too much money and planned to earn less. You should know that at that time, the price of rice was already 5000 for first-grade rice and 4500 for second-grade rice.

The reporters who had been given the opportunity to speak continued to ask questions.

"Why did they lower the price? What conditions did the government agree to?"

"The government did not agree to any conditions. Like the farmers' association, they were just a group of patriotic farmers and businessmen."

Upon hearing this, Yamano Koichi, who was watching the show, turned grim. He had been busy selecting a new executive director and hadn't arranged for anyone to conduct a detailed investigation of the Kanto Union. He never expected that the other side would suddenly produce 430,000 tons of grain, enough to feed the entire country for two months.

It's important to know that the new grain from the Kanto United Agricultural Cooperative is also produced in Kanto. If the other side has a larger batch of new grain, their agricultural cooperative will have a smaller batch. Their grain exports this quarter are close to 130 million tons.

Most importantly, Koizumi Jiro actually said that Kanto United Farmers' Cooperative lowered prices out of patriotism. Then what is his Farmers' Cooperative? Unpatriotic? A profiteer?

"Damn it, does that brat even know what he's saying?"

Koinujiro and Yamano Koichi stared at each other across the distance. This was all the old man's doing. Knowing that an extremist organization was targeting him, the agricultural cooperative was still unwilling to back down. So don't blame him for being uncivilized. I'll fight until you negotiate.

As the press conference ended and the reporters left satisfied, they thought, "This news was really good. The war between the Kanto United Agricultural Cooperatives and the Agricultural Cooperatives is already in full swing."

"Hurry back, hurry! This news is shocking. I heard the head of the agricultural cooperative is the former prime minister."

"Go check online, the Minister of the Dogeza has also posted a video."

The reporter took out his phone and saw that it was indeed a press conference for Tanaka Juzo.

“Our cooperative does not intend to target or oppose the agricultural association. We simply want ordinary citizens to be able to afford rice and also want to increase farmers’ income. Therefore, our cooperative’s purchase price is adjusted according to market fluctuations and is twice as high as that of the agricultural association. Our cooperative does not care about making money; we just want everyone’s life to be better.”

Comments under the video surged rapidly in a short period of time, and the positive review rate rose like a tidal wave.

“I have wronged the kneeling minister, no, Mr. Tanaka.”

"Watch your mouth, upstairs. I'm waiting to buy rice."

"This is the kind of person the country needs. He's willing to forgo 800 billion yuan in profits for the sake of the people. He's a truly great person."

"I shouldn't have criticized him back then, and I apologize now."

On the other side, Koichi Yamano also blocked Koinujiro, and he disliked the man behind Koinujiro.

"Minister, I think we should discuss this."

Koizumi Jiro had considered waiting until the agricultural cooperative could ultimately collect a certain amount of rice before discussing it with the cooperative, but under Yamano Koichi's threatening gaze, he nodded in agreement.

He supported the rise of the United Farmers' Association in order to force the Farmers' Association to back down, and now he has barely achieved his goal.

Despite the agricultural cooperative's setback, it has many powerful figures behind it and controls products such as wheat, vegetables, and fruits.

The United Farmers' Cooperative collected over 40 tons of rice, which seems like a lot, but compared to the Agricultural Cooperatives in the broader agricultural sector, it was far inferior, at least in its early stages.
.
Naoki Hanyu and Koichi Yamano's bodyguards stood outside the door, while the two of them were talking alone inside. The soundproofing should have been excellent, but Naoki Hanyu could still hear their conversation.

Inside the meeting room, Koichi Yamano said in a deep voice, "Minister, what you just said will embarrass the agricultural cooperative."

"It was Mr. Yamano who made things more awkward for me, knowing full well the promises I, as a high-ranking minister, made to the people."

"You have your difficulties, and so do I. Does the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry really intend to part ways with the Agricultural Cooperatives?"

"."

Naoki Hanyu initially adopted a detached, "wait and see" attitude as they started arguing, until his tone of voice changed.

Koichi Yamano gently advised.

“We need to find common ground while reserving differences. I had already discussed this with the Prime Minister before talking to you, and he supports our agricultural cooperative.”

Prime Minister Kitahara Takashi had previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. That period was the honeymoon time between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Agricultural Cooperatives. Koizumi Jiro had no doubt that the Prime Minister would favor the Agricultural Cooperatives at certain crucial moments, even though he was the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and was theoretically the Prime Minister's man.

"Then let's talk."

The two then talked for more than 30 minutes and finally reached a conclusion.

“Farmers’ cooperatives are the tool I’ve used to get through this crisis. Next year, I will ask the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to reduce subsidies for farmers’ cooperatives. Then those farmers will know who to cooperate with. You also need to use your vote to help us win a few seats in parliament.”

"Of course, it's a pleasure to work with you."

"Pleasant to work with."

Naoki Hanyu, who was outside, smirked. Good heavens, he thought he was just sitting back and watching the fight, but it turned out he was being used as a pawn. He wasn't going to be a scapegoat.

When the door opened, Koizumi Jiro remained as enthusiastic as ever towards Hanyu Naoki, as if their conversation inside had never happened.

"Hanyu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's ok."

Time passed day by day, and November arrived, officially ending the harvest season in Japan.

The Kanto United Agricultural Cooperative collected 67 tons of rice nationwide, and its members owned 13 hectares of land, including 7.5 hectares of paddy fields and 5.5 hectares of other farmland, directly taking a piece of the agricultural cooperative's profits.

Unfortunately, the farmers' association reacted too slowly. By the time they realized what was happening, the United Farmers' Cooperative had already completed its tasks with paddy fields and rice, and began to take over dry land. However, the farmers' association later countered, which slowed down the process considerably.

Bags of rice were launched in designated supermarkets nationwide, and the supermarkets under the leadership of the agricultural association's vice president, Saeko Amamiya, were making a fortune. Not only did she borrow money from a certain man to open nearly ten new supermarkets, but she also gained many regular customers due to the stickiness of rice.

On the other hand, with the Youth Salvation Association's deadline of one week past, Koizumi Jiro relaxed. Perhaps those people were just bluffing and wouldn't actually assassinate him, or maybe his new actions had satisfied them?
Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Koizumi Jiro was elected as a member of parliament in Yokosuka, so his home is located there.

As the gate to the mansion opened, Koinujiro glanced at the temporary bodyguard and couldn't help but sigh. The results were in: 13 hectares was indeed a lot, but Japan's total arable land area was 423 million hectares, consisting of 223 million hectares of paddy fields and 167 million hectares of dry fields. The fields controlled by Hanyu Naoki were less than one-tenth of that.

As expected, he still can't compare to the farmers' association. It seems he really has to make a choice, since no one is going to assassinate him.

Koinujiro pushed open the door and extended an invitation to his bodyguard.

"Yuzuru, would you like to stay for a simple meal?"

"it's not good?"

"I didn't care, Kana did a lot today."

"Excuse me then."

Koinu Jiro pushed open the door and was greeted by a beautiful woman dressed elegantly and appropriately. She was a former mainstay of TV Tokyo and used to be called Mizusaki Kana, but now she is called Koinu Kana.

She is a tall, voluptuous woman with exquisite features, a true beauty, and her mixed-race features make her even more attractive.

“My dear, you’re back. And Mr. Yuzuru, thank you for taking care of my husband all this time.”

"Hello, sorry to bother you today."

Koinujiro took off his coat and handed it to his wife.

"Yuzuru is having a simple meal with us today, so please go and make the arrangements."

"Yes, please wait a moment."

In the living room, Koinujiro sat on the sofa.

"My family is certainly not as wealthy as a trillionaire like you, but please don't feel uncomfortable and just treat it as your own home."

“My family only has 10 billion, which is nothing compared to yours.”

So Naoki Hanyu enjoyed a delicious meal while watching the couple in front of him show affection. It was infuriating, considering one was in his forties and the other in his thirties.

Meanwhile, in a corner of Yokosuka City, a dozen men dressed in black began to organize their weapons before boarding a bus and heading towards their destination.

"Minister Kou, I've arrived."

(End of this chapter)