Crossover: Becoming Japan’s Prime Minister?

In the early summer courtyard of Kyoto, there was an ancient, tranquil stillness in the air.

Birds chirped in the courtyard, and past the entrance, inside the open Japanese-style room, the heads of Kyoto's two major political families sat facing each other.

On the nanmu tea table sat two antique porcelain cups, worn with age, and a faint aroma of tea rose from them.

What Daoka said made Old Master Fujiwara quite tempted.

However, he remained calm on the surface, unmoved, and said faintly, "The engagement between the Fujiwara family and the Shinomiya family was decided by both of us."

"If we break off the engagement, it will damage the Fujiwara family's reputation."

Daoka secretly cursed the old man. He could still endure it at this point, and he was already used to the veiled words of Old Master Fujiwara, who was a politician just like himself.

So Daoka was not impatient and said unhurriedly, "Looking back, the engagement between the Fujiwara family and the Shinomiya family was indeed in the interests of both sides."

"Although the Fujiwara family does not lack money, it still needs a strong financial group that can fully support it."

"The Shinomiya family was originally just one of the Fujiwara family's branch families. Because of good luck, they became rich in the middle of this century and accumulated astonishing wealth, but they have a huge lack of political resources in Japan."

"One side provides economic resources, and the other provides political resources. It benefits both families."

"But the premise of all this is that Toru, this child of the Fujiwara family, is only an outstanding ordinary person."

"And the result must have exceeded your expectations. That kid Toru is too outstanding, so outstanding that he doesn't need any of these things at all."

Old Master Fujiwara listened calmly to Daoka's words. After a long while, he sighed softly. "Toru is too outstanding, completely outside the Fujiwara family's plans."

"The Fujiwara family's original plan was to wait until Toru graduated from university, then use the family's resources to help him build prestige and gain the capital needed for election."

"With some luck, by the time he was twenty-five or twenty-six, he might become a Kyoto councilor with the Fujiwara family's help, then slowly climb upward from that position."

Kyoto, the oldest city in Japan and once the capital of Japan, is very closed off, and the people here are also relatively exclusive.

Because of that, it is very difficult for outsiders to make a name for themselves in Kyoto.

And the Fujiwara family is a thousand-year-old family in Kyoto, with enormous connections. Every member of the Fujiwara family who enters politics begins from Kyoto.

This is the Fujiwara family's base.

"But today's Toru doesn't need any of that. With his current prestige, even if he directly ran for councilor in Tokyo, becoming a district mayor would be more than enough. If he weren't too young, even directly running for Governor of Tokyo would not be impossible."

"Alas, Daoka, can you understand the Fujiwara family's current troubles? Having descendants who are too outstanding is also a burden. It makes us old folks seem completely useless."

Old Master Fujiwara wore a troubled expression as he complained to his old rival, Daoka.

Daoka smiled on the surface, but cursed in his heart.

Look at that face of yours, smiling like a chrysanthemum. You're deliberately trying to annoy me, aren't you!

Show-off!

Heh, if our Daoka family had such an outstanding descendant, it would be your Fujiwara family shamelessly sending your daughters and granddaughters to propose marriage.

After cursing inwardly, Daoka became dejected again.

He should stop fooling himself. Those were all fantasies. The reality was that he was the one begging the Fujiwara family.

Pretending not to notice the smugness of the old Fujiwara, he continued with renewed effort, "If the head of the Shinomiya family were still that old man, Gan'an Shinomiya, then there would be nothing wrong with the union of your two families."

"Although Gan'an is not especially talented and lacks ambition, he is at least capable of preserving what he has."

"Unfortunately, his health is too poor, and now he is gravely ill. He could pass away at any moment."

"The current Shinomiya family is controlled by his eldest son, Oko, a fool who has gained power. If the Shinomiya family is lucky under him, it may preserve some of its strength. If not, he may ruin the family in a single generation."

"The Shinomiya family is too traditional, even more traditional than your Fujiwara family. With a business of that scale, they do not choose modern trusts and fund management, but still insist on controlling everything themselves."

"The advantage is that if the descendants are smart enough, they will prosper. The disadvantage is that if the descendant is a fool, the family can be destroyed."

Daoka took a sip of tea, then said, "...At that time, it was your Fujiwara family that made the engagement with Ganan Shinomiya."

"He is an honest man who understands how to weigh pros and cons, but if Oko takes over, that fool is both incompetent and dishonest, and he is very likely to harbor malicious intentions toward your Fujiwara family."

"This is less a union between two families and more your Fujiwara family inviting trouble onto itself."

"Moreover, this so-called engagement was arranged by you and the Shinomiya family without authorization. Toru-kun doesn't know about it. With the ability Toru-kun has already shown, if he is unwilling, would the Fujiwara family really turn against its outstanding heir over such a small matter? That would be a laughingstock."

Daoka's words made sense.

The reason young people listen to their parents is not only because of filial piety, but also largely because they cannot be financially independent and still need their families' support.

The same is true for great families, and even more rigidly so.

Whether someone wants to enter politics or do business, the simplest path is to receive support from the family.

But Toru had broken this tradition because his excellence had gone beyond imagination. He truly did not need the family's support at all and could accomplish everything by himself.

In that case, the Fujiwara family stood in the weaker position when facing Toru.

It was the Fujiwara family that needed Toru, this outstanding descendant, to support the family's future, not Toru who needed the Fujiwara family's resources.

Seeing that the old Fujiwara was tempted, Daoka brought out his trump card. "Old man, don't tell me you've really retired and now just stay home without paying attention to outside affairs."

"This incident has exposed the Shinomiya family's problems. You must be keeping an eye on the Shinomiya family's stock issue. Behind it are America's giant capital forces."

"Back then, the Shinomiya family betrayed the Shijo family, and now they are about to suffer the consequences. Who would have thought that the Shijo family could rise again, directly sell out their former main family, and return with a group of real monsters."

"It's true that your Fujiwara family has a long history in Japan and enormous connections, but those people from America don't care about any of that."

"If you are accidentally dragged into this turmoil, who knows what the result will be. Believe it or not, that fool Oko will soon push for the marriage, hoping Toru-kun and the Shinomiya family can marry as quickly as possible."

"The Shinomiya family wants to tie the Fujiwara family to their riddled chariot. Even if the Shinomiya family survives this crisis, they will definitely be severely weakened and will no longer be qualified to form an alliance with the Fujiwara family."

Old Master Fujiwara slowly sipped his tea. Of course, he knew that what Old Man Daoka said was right, and he had even been thinking about breaking off the engagement a few days ago.

The Fujiwara family did not want to get caught up in the struggle between the Shinomiya family and Wall Street. No matter the outcome, the Fujiwara family would lose. It was only a question of whether the loss would be great or small.

However, as an old politician, how could he be easily persuaded by a few words?

He said with a smile, "The Fujiwara family can break off the engagement with the Shinomiya family, but that doesn't necessarily mean we have to arrange another engagement with the Daoka family."

"Besides, my Toru may not necessarily like your granddaughter."

Daoka cursed inwardly. Truly, this old fox would not release the hawk until he saw the rabbit.

He said gloomily, "Tell me, what position does the Fujiwara family want? You have so many branch families, there must always be one or two capable ones who can move up. I'll help make it happen."

"As for whether my Momiji likes that kid Toru, you don't need to worry about that."

Old Master Fujiwara teased, "I think it's your Momiji who has fallen for Toru, so deeply that she can't pull herself out."

Old Man Daoka held his breath.

Damn it, this old man actually guessed right.

Old Master Fujiwara asked again, "Is she pregnant?"

"You really can't expect anything decent to come out of your mouth!"

"Ah, it would be wonderful if she were pregnant. Then you'd have to kneel and beg me."

"Even if she really were pregnant, that would still be a Fujiwara child!"

Old Master Fujiwara burst into hearty laughter.

This old fellow, he had fought with him his whole life. Although both sides had wins and losses, overall, Old Master Fujiwara had been the one at a disadvantage.

The second generation of the two families had only average ability, so they had not really fought each other.

But by the third generation, the Daoka family had lost completely.

It felt wonderful!

Old Master Fujiwara wished Toru were standing right in front of him now. He could not be more satisfied with this grandson.

"As for what the Fujiwara family wants, we need to think about it."

Old Master Fujiwara's words put Daoka at ease.

An old political family like the Fujiwara family, once willing to cooperate with you, would not be stupid enough to make outrageous demands.

They would definitely make you pay a certain price, but one within a range you could accept.

"Then what about the engagement with the Shinomiya family?"

"You don't need to say it. I was already planning to personally go to the Shinomiya family and dissolve the engagement. We don't want to get involved in America's messy affairs."

"Heh, I just wonder whether that old man Gan'an will die from anger."

"What does it matter to us whether he dies or not?"

The two old men looked at each other and both laughed heartily.

"Alright, what else do you want, old fellow? Just say it directly."

Daoka's expression turned serious. He said, "The current Prime Minister cannot continue. This time, the Special Investigation Department made a big mistake, and the matter of me being investigated by them will be dropped."

"Oh? You want to make a comeback?"

"What do you mean, make a comeback? I haven't retired yet. I was only forced out. I refuse to accept that."

Daoka rubbed the cup in his hand, his eyelids slightly lowered, and said, "...If our two families join forces, and if Toru-kun builds momentum for me again, then I am determined to become the next Prime Minister."

"Once I regain the position of Prime Minister, both of us will benefit!"

(To be continued.)