America: My Time

Chapter 895 Boundless Pressure

Chapter 865 Boundless Pressure
"Riko, are you sure those guys at Toyota used a honey trap?" When he received Riko's notification, the old man Akio Morita's face revealed a hint of anger. Although he had expected this, he still couldn't help but be annoyed when it actually happened. It was like slapping himself in the face.

"Yes, I can confirm it. This information came from Hitomi Kuroki. She has already met the other party, and Toyota not only used a honey trap but also offered a house, which was previously sold by Hitomi Kuroki and her group."

Riko knew all this because of Hitomi Kuroki's reminder, which could be considered repaying a favor, and of course, all of this was with John's tacit approval. John was also very curious about how the old man Akio Morita would react after learning all this, and also wanted to know how fierce the internal struggle within Mitsui was. Toyota's operation this time was his best opportunity.

Without John's tacit approval, how could Hitomi Kuroki have dared to do this? After all, it was a major taboo. No one would accept a woman who betrays them. It was precisely because of John's consent that Hitomi Kuroki was able to do this, and that Riko was able to obtain so much information, allowing her to overcome the current difficulties.

At least Riko's ability to obtain such information is a significant help to Akio Morita, and it also indirectly reflects Riko's importance. It also lets Akio Morita know how good the relationship is between Riko and the women around John, so her existence is still very necessary and she cannot be abandoned in a hurry.

Even though Naoko wasn't there, Riko was still able to get such important information in time, which demonstrates her ability. Not everyone has this ability, nor can everyone do it, so it's something that Akio Morita should take seriously.

As for what John discussed with those guys at Toyota, that's not important, at least not now. What's causing Toyota's anxiety is undoubtedly the automotive sector, which doesn't have a significant impact on Sony. However, things will change if things continue like this. If Toshiba gets involved, things will become much more complicated. And this is just the beginning. Once Toyota starts, more guys will soon follow suit. If he waits any longer, he might end up with nothing.

Aren't Mitsubishi nervous? Aren't they taking this seriously? Mitsubishi has even more in the heavy industry sector. With Toyota making this move, they will inevitably follow suit, as will Subaru. You have to know that Nissan's situation isn't too good. At least with the bursting of the real estate bubble, Nissan's situation has also been severely affected. And this is just the beginning.

"John, do you have time?" Soon, Akio Morita had no choice but to get moving, to have a conversation with John, or to host a cocktail party, so that he could at least prevent the 'interested party' from making a move again.

“Yes, others may not have time, but you, Mr. Morita, do!” John was not surprised when he received Akio Morita’s call. Although only a few hours had passed and it was not yet evening, the old man Akio Morita had already made a decision, but this did not surprise John.

The situation in Japan isn't great right now, because they were all involved in real estate, and the bursting of the bubble had a huge impact on them. They won't be able to recover anytime soon, and Sony is no exception.

"Then let's find some time to talk!"

“Sure, I have no problem with that. You can arrange everything. I’ll wait for your news!” John wasn’t too concerned about this matter. As long as Akio Morita made a move, his opportunity would come. Those guys in Japan would become more nervous and speed up their actions, and he would have more opportunities.

At this moment, Hitomi Kuroki and Momoko Kikuchi had already left, leaving only the beautiful Norika Fujiwara by John's side. John didn't ask Fujiwara to leave Akio Morita's side; it wasn't important, and it was a small test to see if this beauty had any 'mission' on her mind. "Start having Australian shipping negotiate with the three major ports of Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka!" Port arrangements were crucial, and having Australian shipping handle it was the best choice at this time. Of course, this was just the beginning. Why only three ports, and not to fully participate in the control of Japan's ports and wharves? The reason was simple: the Kobe earthquake would occur in a few years, and getting involved in ports like Kobe at that time would be asking for trouble. Moreover, for Australian shipping at present, Osaka port was already sufficient for their needs; there was no need for excessive expansion.

While John was arranging the expansion of shipping in Japan, Hitomi Kuroki and Momoko Kikuchi took separate actions, not to do anything else, but to meet with Yasuko Sawaguchi and Miho Nakayama.

"Jingzi, now you need to think this through carefully. This is what he asked me to tell you: ten years. You should know what that means. Perhaps you won't be as beautiful as you are now in ten years, but do you think you can continue to survive in this industry? Or do you think those people will let you go? The ten-year consideration is just an excuse, merely a period of protection for you!"

"Sister Zhaozi, I understand. I didn't expect things to turn out this way either. I didn't expect things to change like this. I didn't want it to be like this either!" At this moment, Yasuko Sawaguchi's expression was somewhat agitated. This sudden change had put a lot of pressure on her and had a significant impact on her.

"No, it's not that you haven't thought about it, but that you've been avoiding it. I've reminded you more than once, but you just won't listen. Maybe you feel like you're having a smooth life without any pressure, and that you can do whatever you want, but you haven't thought about where your freedom comes from. You're too self-righteous. Maybe you think your beauty is your best weapon, but beauty has a limited shelf life. You haven't really listened to Riko's advice that beauty can't be maintained. You've been unwilling to change. Maybe it's because you're unwilling to bow your head. You want dignity, but do you know how you got everything you have now? You should reflect on this!"

"Sister Akiko, what should I do? What should I do now?" Yasuko Sawaguchi was starting to panic. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way, nor had she imagined she would be under such pressure. Without John's protection and the elite agency's safeguards, she knew perfectly well what fate awaited her.

Ten years seems like a good time, but as she moves further down the social ladder, will she still have any freedom during these ten years? Without a powerful backer, who will care about her? Perhaps because she is still by John's side, no one will make a move. But when the ten-year period comes, everything will be different. The longer she is suppressed, the more terrifying their madness will become.

Yasuko Sawaguchi actually has another major problem: Yoshiaki Tsutsumi of the Seibu Group. Although he's not in a good position right now—the bursting of the real estate bubble has dealt a huge blow to the Seibu Group—it doesn't mean her troubles are over. Without his protection, Sawaguchi knows the dangers she'll face. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi is an incredibly ruthless and insidious man!
"You need to change. Ten years was just the last period of protection. If you can't learn to change and regain recognition, this friendship will gradually fade away. You've been in this circle for quite a while now. You should wake up from that ridiculous vanity. Everything you've gained comes from his protection! I won't lie to you, someone made a move again today. You've heard rumors in the circle before. He has another woman by his side, but she's not from the circle. She's a college student. It's Toyota's arrangement. Think about it yourself!"

This news had been circulating within the industry for a while, but nothing ever came of it, so everyone gradually let it go. However, this sudden turn of events has put pressure on Yasuko Sawaguchi. The saying "new talent replaces the old" is not just a casual remark, and how long her current success can last is uncertain.

Without the support of her agency, without resources, and without attention, the Japanese entertainment industry is extremely competitive, not only for idols but also for actors. Therefore, Yasuko Sawaguchi is under tremendous pressure right now.

"Sister Zhaozi, I want to change too, but I don't know how. Please help me!" Panicked, Yasuko Sawaguchi was already somewhat flustered. She knew Japan very well, and if she lost her protection, her future would be terrible. Moreover, when she lost her approval, how many people would still stand by her side? It was an incredibly realistic circle.

Not everyone can reach Kuroki Hitomi's level, and not everyone is willing to help her like Kuroki Hitomi did. At this moment, Sawaguchi Yasuko realized how ridiculous and ignorant she had been. Perhaps this was the result of success coming too easily. Things that were too easy to obtain made her think they were unimportant. But when she was about to lose everything, she realized how wrong she had been. If she really lost it, the consequences would be unimaginable, and her end would be as miserable as could be.

At this moment, Yasuko Sawaguchi suddenly realized that the only person she could talk to and rely on was Hitomi Kuroki. Her arrogance had reduced her relationships with others to mere nodding acquaintances. Even the kind-hearted Naoko was someone she had no real connection with. This made Yasuko Sawaguchi realize how arrogant and self-righteous she had been. When faced with such a big event, she found that she had no friends to rely on!
(End of this chapter)