Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The night is getting darker.

The bar was dimly lit.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of whiskey and tobacco.

In a corner booth, a man sat alone.

He wore a well-tailored black trench coat, and a black top hat pulled low, almost completely obscuring his face.
The waiter put down the wine glass and left promptly.

I don't want to disturb Gin's time alone.

The organization's affairs are becoming increasingly less demanding, giving Gin plenty of time to relax at the bar.

By colluding with Zheng Yi, the organization no longer needed to resort to low-level methods to make money.

Gin doesn't need to do those petty things like kidnapping and extortion.

Even the research and development of that drug was entrusted to Zhengyi.

Shoichi's political influence in Japan meant that the organization didn't need to be in such a hurry to recruit people.

However, this is not without its downsides.

The organization seemed to have become a legitimate entity.

His position within the organization was ridiculously high.

The organization's influence in Japan is so great that almost everyone listens to Masakazu.

Otherwise, if something goes wrong with Zheng Yi, the organization will be ruined in Japan.

"Brother, Zheng Yi has been making trouble again recently."

Vodka placed a newspaper on the table.

Vodka's main job now
Besides being Gin's driver, his job was to gather information and updates on Shoichi's movements.

After all, it is just as important as the organization.

Gin's gaze lingered on the newspaper on the table, his eyes cold.

Cigarette ash was scattered on the ground.

He was somewhat dissatisfied.

Vodka, that guy, was tasked with investigating Zheng Yi's news and movements.

So he just went to the newspaper?
Doesn't that mean they got the news later than those damn media outlets?

And this is only what Zheng Yi wants others to know?
But Vodka didn't seem to notice Gin's dissatisfaction.

He continued, "That guy Zhengyi gathered a lot of writers to write his autobiography."

Vodka looked at the numbers in the newspaper with great envy.

Zheng Yi is too willing to spend money.

Why do those guys who just scribble something on paper make so much money?

Vodka, his eyes red, said, "Shoichi promised that he would give the writer one billion yen as long as he could write an autobiography that satisfied him."

"Even those who were just there to make up the numbers in the past will get 50 million yen."

Zhengyi seems to be very demanding when writing his autobiography.

Many well-known Japanese writers were invited to help.

However, for the sake of stylistic consistency, only one person is needed to write this book.

Vodka couldn't understand the mentality of the wealthy.

He felt that Zheng Yi was sick.

Vodka pointed to the word 'billion' on the newspaper and said:
"Zhengyi has gone mad; he has no idea what his purpose is in doing this."

"What's the purpose? Probably to improve their reputation," Gin said with a sneer.

They have been keeping an eye on Zheng Yi.

Although Ito's case has been closed, its lingering effects continue.

Moreover, the impact is intensifying.

The words Ito said before he died were "leaked" from the police.

This has led many people to focus on the assets left behind by Ito.

But Zheng Yi ate extremely quickly.

Before Ito's body was even cold, he sent people to discuss the ownership of those properties.

This has caused a great deal of public outcry.

Perhaps it's because Zhengyi's company is getting bigger and bigger, and they're starting to care more about their image.

It's also possible that he wants to go global.

So, wanting to project a more virtuous and upright image, he began to limit the spread of his bad reputation.

Thus, this autobiography incident came about.

The Cointreau served by the waiter on the table smelled of oranges.

Gin glanced at the newspaper.

The hype surrounding Shoichi's autobiography was already immense, not to mention that he spent one billion yen to invite a very famous Japanese writer to write it.

Nowadays, not many people talk about Ito anymore.

Vodka frowned and said, "But when has Zheng Yi ever been so generous?"

“One billion yen! I feel that rather than giving it to those writers, Shoichi is more likely to use it to build himself a villa.”

One billion yen.

He's so generous, unlike Zheng Yi.

Gin sneered: "Perhaps he never intended to pay this money in the first place."

"Uh? What do you mean, brother?" Vodka asked.

Gin said, "Given that guy's style, he'll definitely have those writers murdered by some enemy after they finish their manuscripts."

Want to get money from Zheng Yi?
What a dream!

That person is incredibly stingy.

To be able to pluck a single hair from him would be an extraordinary achievement.

Want to steal 1 billion yen outright?

Zhengyi would probably be happy to exchange Japanese yen for ghost money.

Gin glanced at the names on the newspaper.

Several well-known writers have already received invitations from Zhengyi.

These guys are brainless.

They actually dared to go.

Do they really think Zheng Yi will pay up?
"With so many famous writers dying, the impact must be significant, right?" Vodka said quietly.

"Who knows."

……

Vodka wasn't the only one envious of Zheng Yi's extravagant spending.

Ai stared at the newspaper, unable to sleep for nights on end.

She felt,
I think I was infected by Zheng Yi.

This made her very particular about money.

One billion yen!
How many designer handbags could you buy with that?
This way, she and her sister can run away together, right?

If she had one billion yen when she was first found by Shoichi.

She had already dumped Zheng Yi and gone on vacation to Hawaii with her sister.

"click~"

The villa door opened, and Curaçao came in, while Zheng Yi patted the snow off his shoulder from behind.

I had just come in and warmed up for a while when I saw Ai's eyes were redder than her face.

Zheng Yi thought she was looking for him because she wanted a hug.

So he crouched down, smiled, and hugged Ai.

Ai was startled when she was hugged.

By the time she realized what was happening, Zheng Yi had already let go of her and gone to change his clothes.

After changing his clothes, Zheng Yi sat on the sofa in the living room and picked up a novel that had no educational value to read.

There was also a cup of hot tea poured by Curaçao on the table.

Ai took the initiative to come closer again.

"What? Do you want another hug?" Zheng Yi asked.

"No."

Xiao Ai shook her head.

She's not a real child; she'll ask adults for hugs on her own initiative.

"Bah~"

He pulled Ai into his arms and kissed her on the cheek.

After leaving drool on his face, he put it down again.

"Okay."

After completing the above actions, Zheng Yi resumed reading his book as if nothing had happened.

Ai blinked.

Now her face is finally redder than her eyes.

She suspects that Zheng Yi took advantage of her, and she has evidence.

She looked at Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi was sitting on the sofa, reading a book with his legs crossed, his toes shaking back and forth.

There was nothing unusual on his face.

It seems that what I did just now was merely out of enthusiasm for a little girl.

But Ai is extremely suspicious.

Zheng Yi harbored extremely sinister intentions towards her.

First, they were very affectionate towards her when she was a child, and then, once that affection became normal, and she returned to her original state, they...

"Whoo~"

Curaçao, sitting on the sofa next to him, picked up her hot tea and blew on it vigorously.

The sound of the wind successfully drew Ai's attention away for a moment.

She deliberately made noise when she drank water.

Zhengyi and Shirley were not familiar with each other at all.

After the two met once, Sherry became Ai.

Then Shoichi started living with Ai.

Even knowing that Shirley was eighteen, with that child's body, Zheng Yi couldn't possibly treat her completely as an adult.

Therefore, the behavior just now was perfectly normal.

It was just a way of showing affection to a small child.

Ai decided to put up with it for now.

Since there was no big fuss, let's just assume that Zheng Yi's mistake was unintentional.

The blush on her face faded, and she pressed the newspaper against Zheng Yi, asking:

"You're going to spend a billion yen to hire writers to write your autobiography?"

"Yes."

"That's such a waste of money," Ai said.

Xiao Ai felt very upset thinking about the wages that Zheng Yi owed her.

That's all my money.

Ai placed her hand on Shoichi's book, drawing his gaze away from the book and onto her.

She said, "Why don't you ask me to write a book for you? I only need 900 million yen."

"You?" Masakazu looked at Ai with a disgusted expression.

He placed Ai's hand inside the book without saying a word, his rejection quite obvious.

If it were you, then I'd be happy to get it for free.

"My writing skills aren't bad," Ai said.

"If you don't trust me, I can write some short stories for you to read."

"Moreover, none of those people understand you as well as I do. Only I can write the most authentic autobiography, the one that you are most satisfied with."

Based on my understanding of you.

It can absolutely vividly depict your evil, filth, ugliness, greed...

Let everyone know what kind of person you are.

No one knows you better than me, not even yourself.

Ai's eyes sparkled.

She seemed very eager for the job.

As Zheng Yi opened and closed the book in his hand, holding Ai's hand between his fingers, he said casually:

"If you were this dedicated and proactive in researching the antidote, you would have grown up long ago."

Xiao Ai blushed.

That's different.

That's work, and it's very annoying.

Moreover, even if you put in the effort, you may not achieve anything.

But this time it was extra income, a full 1.9 billion yen.

“Alright, then I’ll give you a chance to compete,” Zheng Yi said.

Ai's eyes lit up.

He took the pen hanging on his chest and put it into Ai's hand.

He looked at Ai and said, "Then you should write me a few love letters first."

"Huh? A love letter?"

Ai's eyes widened, and she took a few steps back.

Looking at Zheng Yi is like looking at a pervert.

Disgusted~
Who asks someone for a love letter?
Shoichi didn't feel any shame at all; he rubbed Ai's head.

"Someone as perfect as me would definitely fall in love with me if someone of the opposite sex wrote my autobiography."

"Therefore, I need to pour love into every word."

Zheng Yi is a bit narcissistic when he speaks.

Ai's eyes showed even more disdain.

She was tempted to refuse.

Masakazu held Ai's hand and took a card out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Then he said softly, "I have one million yen in my card, here you go first."

"If what you write satisfies me, I'll give you a chance to compete with those great writers."

"Even if you lose the competition, I will still give you 50 million yen."

Ai looked at the bank card in her hand.

He paused, taken aback.

I haven't done anything yet, and you're already giving me one million yen?

This is so generous, it's unlike Zheng Yi's usual style.

She looked at Zheng Yi, suspecting that the core inside had been replaced.

Or is it that there isn't a single penny in the bank card?
Shoichi knows what kind of image he has in Ai's heart, and of course he also knows what Ai is thinking.

He said to Ai, "You can go to the bank and check for yourself; there's definitely money in there."

"I believe you."

Xiao Ai quietly put the bank card into her pocket and zipped it up.

It's as if Zheng Yi will take the money back soon.

Ai looked at Shoichi and said, "No matter who you are, don't get off Shoichi."

"Ow~"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ai got hit on the head.

The familiar feeling... it's definitely Zheng Yi himself.

Xiao Ai rubbed her forehead.

She asked in a low voice, "You're being so generous to write your autobiography?"

“I’m not a stingy person,” Zheng Yi said.

Seeing Ai's disdainful look, Shoichi raised his other hand.

The disdain in Ai's eyes vanished quickly, as if it had never existed.

Zheng Yi raised his hand, tidied his hair, and said seriously:

"I have always had great respect for literature and art, and I am not stingy with money if I can write an autobiography that satisfies me."

Of course, it's an autobiography that I'm satisfied with.

Ai felt that she already knew what Masakazu's satisfactory autobiography was.

This narcissistic guy wants others to praise him.

Simple flattery doesn't bring him any pleasure; he needs sophisticated flattery.

"Alright, are you going to write it or not?" Zheng Yi asked.

“Write!” Ai said.

Money is hard to make and shit is hard to eat.

One million yen has already been given, in order to earn tens of millions and hundreds of millions in the future.

What's wrong with writing love letters?
Masaru released Ai's hand, patted her shoulder, and said:
"Go ahead, I look forward to your masterpiece."

Zheng Yi patted his pocket, and the sound of coins clinking inside could be heard.

Let me make you look forward to my money too.

Ai nodded and said, "Okay, I will write it down."

Clutching her bank card, she walked upstairs, already preparing to earn money from Zheng Yi.

Looking at Ai's slightly lighthearted figure, Zheng Yi couldn't help but shake his head gently.

How naive...

He sighed inwardly, realizing that he had ultimately been blinded by the money before him.

Zheng Yi thought about it in his heart.

When have I ever been generous?

Even for the sake of so-called art, I've never really been generous, have I?
He picked up the still-warm cup of tea from the table, moving slowly.

He slowly took a sip.

He put down his teacup, his gaze returning to the direction where Ai had disappeared, leaving only a barely audible sigh.

This time, you came to me on your own.

That's none of my business.

Back in her room, Ai was already thinking about how to spend the royalties.

I'm not sure about the 900 million, but I'm sure I can get tens of millions.

First, we went on a shopping spree at a designer handbag store, and then I took my sister on a trip.

Yeah, don't tell Masakazu when you go out.

Her phone was also turned off, preventing Zheng Yi from disturbing her and her sister.

Ai sat on the chair, her little legs swinging back and forth, in a very good mood. (End of this chapter)