Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 181 I saw Hongzi get into Zhengyi's car
"sleepy."

Zheng Yi rubbed his eyes.

It was almost noon, and Curaçao had already gone to pick up Ai from school.

"Is this breakfast prepared for me?"

"Yes."

Hongzi stared at Zhengyi expressionlessly.

She had originally planned to give Zheng Yi his medicine with breakfast, but Zheng Yi was sleeping too much.

The only option is to add the medicine to lunch.

Zheng Yi got out of bed, leaving Hong Zi aside, and went to wash up and change his clothes.

After tidying everything up, Zheng Yi began to examine the lunch that Hongzi had brought.

Hongzi is a really nice person.

They can drug him and also give him lunch.

"What drug did you give me?"

“You’ll know once you try it,” Hongzi said.

Zheng nodded.

Hongzi's magic and potions have no effect on him; he probably wouldn't know their effects even if he tried them.

After watching Zheng Yi finish eating.

Hongzi asked, "How are you feeling?"

"It tastes good and is very filling," Zheng Yi said.

Hongzi frowned deeply.

I added a lot of things, so it's normal to feel very full.

"Don't you see that I feel anything?" Hongzi continued to ask.

Zheng Yi shook his head.

I had no feelings for you before you became my employee.

Hongzi tightened her grip on the chopsticks.

It had no effect.

Hongzi gritted her teeth and packed up all the leftovers.

It may not have any effect on Shoichi, but it might have an effect on Kaito.

Give these to Kaito to try.

Zheng Yi pressed his hand down on Hongzi's lunchbox.

"You're not planning to give the rest of these things to Kaito, are you?" Shoichi said.

"Can't you?"

"Can't you make a new one for Kaito?" Shoichi asked.

Being too frugal is not a good thing.

Kaito is also his employee, and Shoichi should think about his employees.

You should not let your employees eat leftovers.

"Aren't you worried that your potion might have gone wrong this time?" Zheng Yi asked.

"I won't make a mistake," Hongzi said confidently.

Zheng nodded.

maybe.

Zheng Yi said, "I feel that your understanding of charm is not quite enough."

"What do you mean?"

“You’re not charming enough. The way you’re presenting yourself right now isn’t making you look attractive,” Zheng Yi said.

Without turning her head, Koizumi Akako elegantly hummed, "Charm is an innate power of mine."

Everyone loves me; this is an unshakeable truth.

Zheng Yi chuckled.

Koizumi Akako looked at him with a dangerous gaze.

Are you mocking my charm?
But a rare lack of confidence was evident in Koizumi Akako's eyes.

Because of her charm, it never worked on Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi removed his hand from the lunchbox.

"If a luxury item with lavish packaging is told that it is priceless, then everyone will flock to it."

"But have you ever tried tearing off the labels and selling it on a street stall?" Zheng Yi said.

Koizumi Akako asked, "What do you mean?"

"You lack charm."

"Ridiculous! My charm comes from within myself, the magic mirror can attest to that!"

Zheng Yi said, "Magic Mirror? Isn't it just a praise machine that only repeats the preconceived notions in your mind?"
Look, you've lost your own confidence. You need a magic mirror to prove you're attractive.

Koizumi Akako's voice turned cold: "Are you trying to provoke me? Do you know what happens to those who question my charm?"

"I'd love to know."

Zhengyi looked at Hongzi with curiosity.

What do you want to do to me with your magic?
Hongzi conjured her own broom, swept it across the ground, and then covered Zhengyi with it.

You got my clothes dirty!

Zheng Yi took a step back in a bit of a panic.

That despicable witch has actually learned to use physical attacks.

He took off his soiled clothes and said to Hongzi:

"It seems I need to help you discover true charm."

"You?" Hongzi looked at Zhengyi with disdain.

Do you really understand charm?

She wasn't some reclusive witch who didn't read newspapers.

You're someone almost everyone hates. Do you really think you're charming?
"Come on, let me show you what everyone thinks."

"What do you mean?" Hongzi asked.

"Go outside."

Zheng Yi called a driver to take him and Hongzi to the busiest shopping mall.

Outside the Zheng family.

Hakuba Saguru, carrying a schoolbag, stared blankly at Masakazu's car.

He thought he saw Hongzi sitting in the car.

Has Akako already conquered Shoichi, or has Shoichi already...?

Hakuba Saguru didn't think about it any further.

Seeing such a big thing, he wanted to notify Kaito as soon as possible, but his hand froze when he pressed the button.

On Zheng Yi's car.

Zhengyi and Hongzi sat in the back row, and Hongzi watched Zhengyi draw a portrait.

“You have only shown me less than one ten-thousandth of my beauty,” Hongzi said.

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow.

He believes his painting skills are quite good.

Hongzi raised her eyebrows slightly.

Zhengyi seemed to have taken her words to heart, realizing that his skills were insufficient to showcase Lady Hongzi's beauty.

So you've started describing it in words?

Phrases like "the most beautiful woman" and "a beauty seen once in a millennium" appeared on the back of the portrait.

Then, Zheng Yi drew several ugly women.

Besides women, he also painted several men.

"Which man do you think is the most charming?" Zheng Yi asked.

"Why are you asking this?" Hongzi asked.

"I'll help you correct your misconceptions about charm," Zheng Yi said.

"Hehe." Hongzi didn't think she was wrong.

Zheng Yi said, "You haven't answered my question yet."

“No,” Hongzi said.

How can ordinary, mundane people possess any charm?
"How's Kaito doing?" Shoichi asked.

Since Akako didn't reply, Shoichi assumed she thought Kaito was charming.

Kaito's image quickly appeared on the drawing paper.

Below, the descriptions remain straightforward, such as "the most handsome high school student" and "exceptionally intelligent".

These descriptions made Hongzi frown.

She thought she was special, which was why Zheng Yi used such straightforward language to describe her.

After arriving at the mall, Zheng Yi randomly grabbed a woman.

The woman was suddenly grabbed, her brows furrowing.

But after seeing Zheng Yi's face, his expression improved, and after receiving Zheng Yi's money, he showed a kind and understanding smile.

"Would it be convenient to do some social practice?" Zhengyi asked.

"of course can."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "Thank you, please try to give the most truthful answer possible."

“No problem,” the woman said.

Zheng Yi didn't believe this woman would tell the truth when questioned, so he gave Hongzi a wink.

Hongzi nodded, immediately understanding Zhengyi's meaning.

He placed his hands behind his back and used magic.

Shoichi first took out a portrait of Kaito and asked the woman, "Do you think this person is charming?"

"Yes." The woman nodded.

Kaito's appearance is quite good, meeting the aesthetic standards of most women.

Zheng Yi then took out a portrait of an ugly man and asked the woman, "So, which of these two do you think is more attractive?"

"he!"

The woman chose the ugly man without hesitation.

Hongzi's eyes widened.

It was hard to believe what the woman said; she even began to question her own magic.

Shoichi then took out a portrait of an ugly man and compared it with Kaito's.

The woman chose the ugliest one without hesitation.

"What exactly is going on?"

Hongzi incredulously snatched Zhengyi's portrait.

Those two portraits were quite ugly, and the descriptions of Shoichi below them weren't as detailed as those of Kaito.

But it's straightforward enough.

Below one of the portraits was written 'Net worth three hundred million US dollars'.

Below another portrait is written 'Great baseball player, $800 million a year'.

Kaito's description, however, seems very weak.

The terms "most handsome high school student" and "exceptionally intelligent" sound like children playing house.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Zheng Yi smiled at the woman and let her leave.

And Hongzi's magic against her immediately lost its effect.

Throughout this process, the woman did not realize that anything was wrong with her.

Zheng Yi said to Hong Zi, "Isn't this quite unexpected?"

"No."

“I can already tell from your expression,” Zheng Yi said.

I can tell you why you're still asking.

Zheng Yi said, "This is what I meant. Your understanding of charm is incorrect, and your self-presentation is wrong."

"Humph~"

Hongzi said stubbornly with a straight face, "I don't need to care about what those women think."

I just want all the men in the world to succumb to my charm.

Women don't need to be conquered.

“Then I’ll just pick any man,” Zheng Yi said.

A hint of panic flashed in Hongzi's eyes.

Before he could stop them, Zheng Yi had already grabbed someone.

Zheng Yi used the same trick again, taking out a portrait of Hong Zi and asking, "Do you think she's charming?"

The man in black nodded.

The girl in the portrait is indeed very pretty, and she is a high school student.

The man then looked at Hongzi, who was standing next to Zhengyi.

The real person is much more captivating than a portrait.

A slight smile curved at the corners of Hongzi's lips.

That's the charm of Lady Akako.

But soon, Zheng Yi produced another portrait.

It's time for the confrontation that Akako hates the most.

"Who do you think is more charming?" Zheng Yi asked.

Hongzi wanted to use magic to do something, but her pride as a witch made her hold back.

"this."

As Hongzi expected, the man did not choose her.

The man was looking at another portrait, seemingly mesmerized, his eyes fixed on it.

Hongzi walked up to Zhengyi and snatched the portrait.

The woman in the painting looks familiar; she's a woman with brown hair appearing in a mirror within the mirror maze.

The following description of her is also very straightforward.

An 18-year-old prodigy biologist and chemist.

'The heir to a trillion-dollar conglomerate.' 'A vulgar mortal,' Hongzi said through gritted teeth.

Zheng Yi said, "Should we ask a few more people?"

“No need,” Hongzi said.

She looked at Zheng Yi and said, "I don't need to care about the opinions of ordinary people."

"Are you really not bothered?" Zheng Yi asked.

Zheng Yi stared into Hongzi's eyes.

You seem to care a lot.

Kaito wasn't swayed by your charm, so you kept harassing him.

I wasn't swayed by your charm either, and you started harassing me, even drugging my lunch.

Zheng Yi said, "I don't deny that you are very charming."

“Of course,” Hongzi said.

“But you’re still missing something,” Zheng Yi said.

"what?"

“Some real packaging,” Zheng Yi said.

"Packaging?" Hongzi frowned.

How should it be packaged?

Are they packaged up like the idols in your entertainment company?

still is……

“You need money and a certain social status,” Zheng Yi said. “After you have those, you can rely on your beauty, magic, and personal charm.”

I find it hard to imagine anyone more charming than you.

Hongzi raised her eyebrows.

As he said these words, Hongzi could sense that Zhengyi was very excited, even somewhat elated.

"How can I acquire these?" Hongzi asked. "Should I seduce politicians or businessmen and get them to do things for me for free?"

This was the most direct solution Hongzi could think of.

Zheng Yi's eyes lit up.

Hongzi is truly a genius.

“I’m afraid that won’t work. Even a witch should have some restrictions,” Zheng Yi said.

If we let you do whatever you want, Japan is doomed.

Hongzi's eyebrows furrowed, as if she remembered her mother-in-law's advice, and she nodded reluctantly.

Witches must also integrate into normal social life and not disrupt the normal order.

“You can get these through your own abilities,” Zheng Yi said.

"Oh?"

Hongzi asked doubtfully, "Can I?"

“Of course, you are the omnipotent Lord Hongzi,” Zhengyi said.

"Hiroki, tell us your analysis."

"Ok."

Hongzi looked curiously at Zhengyi's phone, on which was the image of a child.

Hiroki said, "Through my analysis and observation, I discovered that Koizumi Akako's magic is more focused on the heart and emotions."

Biopharmaceuticals have made significant achievements in the field of central nervous system diseases and can collaborate with Akako Koizumi.

The fusion of mystical magic and rigorous science can produce wondrous results.

Hongzi looked curiously at the little boy on the screen and asked, "What is this?"

“Hongshu, a genius,” Zhengyi said.

Hiroki continued speaking:

"The profound understanding of attraction in the magic of red balls is transformed into a formulation that influences affinity and trust in interpersonal perception."

As an exploratory psychosocial support mechanism, it can be used to help patients who have become socially withdrawn due to trauma rebuild their confidence.

It also has some other functions.

For example, some drugs that regulate emotions can be developed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression, and can also be used to treat emotional deprivation.

Add a little magic, a little AI, and a little Ai.

Zhengyi could already sense that Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals was about to take off.

He is witnessing the rise of a powerful pharmaceutical company.

Hongzi frowned and nodded slightly.

If it weren't for that little boy, Hongzi herself wouldn't have known that she could do so many things.

Hiroki said, "If you cooperate with Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals and develop these drugs, you will not only gain fame, but also money."

If Zheng Yi has a good enough conscience, you can get money.

However, this last sentence was forced to be hidden by Zheng Yi during the initial analysis.

Zheng Yi asked Hong Zi, "So, how about it? Do you want to cooperate with me?"

Hongzi said, "All my potions are magical."

The drugs you produce are required to be mass-produced.

If she had to use magic to prepare all the medicines, it would exhaust her.

"That's why you want to cooperate with me," Zheng Yi said. "Let's work together to develop medicines that don't require magic."

There was some unease in Hongzi's eyes.

Does having social status and money truly make one attractive?

Zheng Yi said gently, "It's not that you've become more charming because of money and status, but rather that you're just lacking those two things in your image."

“Lord Hongzi is perfect enough and charming enough, but she lacks these two external things.” Zhengyi said, “People are all vulgar and value external things too much.”

Hearing Zheng Yi's words.

Unconsciously, Hongzi twirled a strand of curly hair beside her ear with her index finger, gently tugging at the end, as if tying a knot in magic.

"Are these the only two things I'm missing?"

“That’s right,” Zheng Yi said. “Once Lord Hongzi completes these two things, it will become perfect.”

Everyone will submit to the perfect Lady Akako, including Kaito.

"Does that include you too?" Hongzi asked, looking into Zhengyi's eyes.

"Of course." Zheng Yi nodded.

When Hongzi uses magic, she can make everyone submit to her charm.

But this does not include Shoichi and Kaito.

If she also manages to win over these two people...

“Kaito doesn’t seem to care about money or status,” Akako said.

“He was faking it all,” Zheng Yi said seriously.

He took out several photos.

There are photos of the employment contract signed with Kaito, some bank card transfer records, and the tasks that Masaya assigned to Kaito.

“I have already conquered Kaito, something even Akako-sama couldn’t do,” Masakazu said.

Hongzi stared blankly at the photos.

She picked up a photo of Kaito with his head down and a meek look on his face.

Is this really Kaito?
Zheng Yi said, "My charm is far inferior to that of Lady Hongzi. The only reason I can get Kaito to obey is through money and status."

"So, what do you think, do you want it...?"

“I need to think about it some more,” Hongzi said.

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow.

"Being indecisive is not Lady Hongzi's style."

"Hehe, I'm just giving you some time to draft the specific details of the cooperation," Hongzi said.

Zheng Yi snapped his fingers.

"I've already drafted it."

He pulled out a contract that was dozens of pages long, with various clauses written on it.

Hongzi picked them up and looked at them; these things were a bit beyond the scope of a witch's abilities.

“If you agree, sign your name on it,” Zhengyi said.

"can."

Hongzi pretended to be calm.

Of course, the all-powerful Lady Akako can understand these things.

After glancing at each page of the contract, Hongzi took the pen Zhengyi handed her and signed her name on it.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lady Hongzi," Zhengyi said with a smile.

"You are welcome."

Hongzi raised her eyebrows.

Zhengyi's words made her feel comfortable.

A gift?
They really know how to position themselves well.

Hongzi's decisiveness also made Zhengyi feel comfortable.

They don't even read the details of the contract before signing it. It's fortunate that Zheng Yi is a conscientious person and wouldn't cheat Hong Zi.

"Well then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation," Zheng Yi said with a smile.

Hongzi raised her head slightly and shook Zhengyi's outstretched hand.

Zheng Yi said, "By the way, you are still a student, so your working hours are after school every night and during holidays."

“No problem,” Hongzi said.

Although she could have chosen not to go to school, Zheng Yi had considered things thoroughly enough, so she decided to follow his arrangements.

……

At the entrance of Ekoda High School, Hakuba Saguru watched as Akako stepped out of a familiar car.

He stepped forward and said, "That car looks like a Zheng Yi."

"Yes."

"then you……"

“I reached some cooperation agreements with him,” Hongzi said.

Bai Ma Tan was stunned.

Cooperation?

Hakuba Saguru's gaze was drawn to a nameplate on Akiko's clothes.

"Oh, I forgot to take this off." Hongzi took it off.

This was given to her by Zheng Yi; it's not appropriate for her to wear it at school.

Although Akako was taken down, Hakuba Saguru had already clearly seen the words on it.

Sumitomo Pharmaceutical

'director'

'Koizumi Akako'

Hakuba Saguru had no idea how Akako, a high school witch, could become the director of a pharmaceutical company.

Is Zheng Yi going to produce magic potions?
"you……"

“I will no longer investigate Shoichi,” Koizumi Akako said.

"He didn't actually do that many bad things, did he?"

Those rumors about murder are just rumors.

When she asked Zhengyi, his eyes were very sincere, and he didn't seem to be lying.

"So they've started defending Shoichi?" Hakuba Saguru sighed.

This is already a sign of being a lackey of the Zhengyi sect.

"Is it for the money?" Hakuba Saguru asked.

Hongzi frowned.

It really is because of money.

Does she look like she's short of money?
Masakazu said she lacked social status and money, and Hakuba Saguru also said it was because of money.

“That’s right.” Hongzi nodded.

"Ha~"

Hakuba Saguru was deeply saddened.

That nameplate must be the identity that Zheng Yi used to pay Hong Zi.

……

They were at home.

Ai picked up the note that had fallen to the ground.

"I have to go out on business. You and Curaçao can have lunch together. — Zheng Yi"

Ai pouted.

What era are we living in? Why are we still using notes?

Couldn't you just call me and tell me directly?

When Ai arrived at the table, she stared blankly at the pink lunchbox on it.

Why would there be something like this in my house?
Did my sister make this for me?

When Ai opened the food box, she found that it contained leftovers that had gone cold.

The food tasted strange; it felt like a lot of random spices had been added.

"But who did it?" Ai asked.

“I don’t know.” Curaçao shook her head. “When I went out to pick you up, it wasn’t there yet.”

Ai nodded.

So, who sent this?

The person eating must be Zheng Yi.

Curaçao looked at Ai and asked, "Do you want to eat?"

“Of course we have to eat,” Ai said.

I have school to attend in the afternoon and work to do in the evening, how can I skip meals?

Curaçao cleared the lunchboxes from the table and set out the lunch prepared by the chef.

Xiao Ai kept her head down as she ate.

(End of this chapter)