America: My Time

Chapter 529 Dilemma
Chapter 529 A Dilemma
Morgan is caught in a dilemma. An internal struggle has put them in an awkward position. Although they know some things, they cannot act rashly for various reasons. The current situation makes them uneasy, and they feel it is necessary to talk to John.

Talking to John is no easy task. There are countless people watching him now. Just as Jimmy said, one wrong move could ruin the other party's plans. Not only would it not resolve the previous conflict, but it would also deepen it and make the other party think that he was deliberately trying to sabotage things.

"Jimmy, so tell me, what should we do now? I don't believe that someone as intelligent as you wouldn't have noticed the problem. In over a year, that little fox John hasn't done any major expansion. With so much cash on hand, no one would feel at ease. Do you believe he has no plans? The situation in Japan gives me a bad feeling. He's already started laying the groundwork. We don't even know who his target is yet. This won't do!"

Jimmy was well aware of what his boss was saying, but it was better to remain still than to act now. There were too many people paying attention, and the plan had already begun, most importantly in Japan. This left Jimmy feeling powerless. Japan was not their territory. Was the plan in Japan aimed at these guys in Japan?
"It's difficult, really difficult. He's in Japan now, and he knows those guys there have problems. Could this be targeting Japan, or perhaps the actions of those Japanese guys have alerted this little fox to something? If I remember correctly, John has tens of billions in loans from major Japanese banks. With so much money in his hands, could it be that he's heard something? Could it be that those Japanese banks have some designs on him? Quantum Mining, Western Energy, Hughes Aerospace, and so on—they're all very tempting. If those guys in Japan want to seize these, perhaps loans are the best way!"

At this moment, Jimmy thought of loans. John's loans from various banks in Japan could make this little fox so cautious and careful, with so much money in his hands. Now, knowing that those guys in Japan have problems, he still hasn't left. Perhaps the problem lies with Japan, and this little fox is targeting Japan.

"That's possible, but our understanding of Japan is still limited. However, it's also possible that these Japanese guys are eyeing Quantum Mining and Western Energy, given their huge demand for resources. Quantum Mining is an industry giant, and Western Energy also controls a considerable amount of resources, which Japan urgently needs!"

"Boss, there's some news that might be important, related to all of this. Japan has a huge demand for iron ore and steel. The shipbuilding, automobile, heavy industry, and real estate boom have created a massive demand for steel. And now, Quantum Mining, which John owns, is one of the giants in the iron ore industry!"

"You mean those guys in Japan are eyeing Quantum Mining? They're way too arrogant. It's not something they can get their hands on. If Quantum Mining were so easy to acquire, they wouldn't have a chance at all. Those old guys would have already made their move. Quantum Mining isn't an ordinary company. John, that little fox, has already arranged everything. Even if outsiders wanted to interfere, it would be very difficult."

“The Japanese have always been arrogant, especially when their economy is booming. These guys have lost their sense of propriety. The Toshiba incident is the best proof of this. It’s not impossible that these guys are so crazy that they want to take over Quantum Mining. We have to be careful. If possible, we can remind John, that little fox.”

Upon hearing this, Morgan shook his head and said, "No, it's not suitable, and we can't do that. We can all sense the problem, but John, as the person involved, wouldn't be unaware. Furthermore, if everything is as we suspect, those guys in Japan must have already taken action, and John discovered it beforehand, which led to this change, allowing him to control such a large cash flow in the financial market—all to prepare for any potential crisis. If everything is true, John is now waiting for those guys in Japan to make their move, and those bastards in Japan understand the danger of doing so, so they dare not act rashly."

"Boss, do you think there are other forces involved? How dare these guys from Japan be so arrogant? John is also a member of an American conglomerate and holds absolute power. If they anger this little fox, the difficulties they will face will be even greater than the Toshiba incident!"

"You mean those old guys, or those oil-rich people? If it's them, then it might be true. But the fact that these guys are ganging up on John, this little fox, makes things complicated. John's scheme isn't as simple as it seems on the surface. It could even be a crisis. How could such a conflict suddenly escalate into something big?"

Morgan was having a terrible headache. The situation in Japan left them at a loss. Although the current situation seemed calm on the surface, undercurrents were surging, and they didn't know when it would explode.

Tokyo is indeed far from peaceful, and as many have suspected, the elite agency is in turmoil. Anyone with a modicum of sense is trying to capitalize on the big boss's interest in the Phoenix Group's consolidation to gain recognition and favor. Even the most charismatic individuals are eager to curry favor with the big boss. The longer one stays in this circle, the more one understands its darkness and terror. These days, almost every agency in Japan has ties to the Yakuza, except for a few exceptionally famous and high-ranking ones. The most aloof, of course, is the elite agency, because with warnings from various powerful figures, no one dares to cause trouble. Although those Japanese are after John, they won't allow anyone to alert him with something as trivial as a small matter at the agency, lest they ruin their grand plan.

Just as the agent said, there were others in the agency who were also making moves. When Kikuchi Momoko went to the top floor, she found that someone else had the same idea. This person was none other than Nakayama Miho from the agency. It seems that this beautiful woman, whose career was going smoothly, was also feeling the pressure and had some ideas of her own.

Miho Nakayama's success and current situation owe much to the strong support of her agency. However, this support also brings her immense pressure. The longer she's been in the industry, the more she understands the terrifying dangers of not having a powerful backer. She has witnessed countless actresses being forced to accept directors' offers for roles. This has become almost the norm in the Japanese entertainment circle. Initially, she didn't feel the pressure as much, nor did she fully understand it. But now she does. After all, like Momoko Kikuchi, her singing skills aren't particularly outstanding, and she primarily focuses on acting, so the pressure she faces is even greater.

Her childhood experiences left a deep impression on her and fostered a rebellious spirit. She developed a desire to become stronger, which led her to join an elite agency and become an idol. She understood that this was her only chance to change her destiny, and that once she missed it, it would be gone forever.

Because of her family's poverty, she was terrified of being poor, so unlike other idols, she chose to give up her studies. Her choice earned her the support of elite entertainment companies, and with their support, coupled with her beauty and luck, she quickly became famous. However, this also allowed her to see a more cruel side of the industry.

Faced with the cruel reality of the entertainment industry, she had no way out, because she understood that retreat meant destruction. To have more freedom and live a more comfortable life, she had to move forward boldly. Only by making money for the company could she gain more protection and more resources, a fact evident from her own choices.

As a smart girl, Miho Nakayama could clearly sense the difference in the level of importance placed on her by her agency. In contrast, Yui Asaka, who debuted at the same time as her, also had a lot of resources, but those were merely resources within the company's rules, representing the maximum support the company initially gave to each artist. Miho herself, on the other hand, had many more resources available. Therefore, from the very beginning, a distance was created between them – this was the result of their different choices.

However, precisely because Miho Nakayama had access to so many resources, and precisely because she chose to abandon her studies, she faced even greater dangers. As she gained access to a large number of resources, she also had more contact with this industry and was able to understand more clearly how dark and terrifying it was.

As her body matured, Miho Nakayama felt the increasing number of unfriendly glances. Her beauty had become her ticket into the entertainment industry, but it could also be a source of disaster. When she chose to abandon her studies, her identity became problematic, initially unnoticed, but now gradually surfacing. Too many malicious and greedy eyes were fixed on her, making her realize that while her choice had contributed to her idol career success, it had also left behind some hidden dangers. A woman who abandoned her studies could gain the favor of a powerful boss, and the rumors circulating within the agency were beginning to threaten her.

It was precisely because she understood all of this that she chose to take this step, only to unexpectedly encounter the senior figure, Momoko Kikuchi. This surprised Miho Nakayama, but she could also understand it to some extent. Considering her own situation and crisis, and then considering the current predicament of this senior figure, she could understand the other's choice. Once you step into this industry, there is no turning back, unless you are unnoticed and lack the beauty that others desire.

(End of this chapter)