Chapter 95: Kinichiro Takeda Arrives

Before coming, Zhang Tianfeng had already considered the possibility of exposure. After all, facing a large machinery factory like Okamoto, they were bound to conduct thorough investigations. But so what? The initiative was in his hands now!

If Okamoto wanted to survive, they would have to rely on foreign capital, and the Huo family was the perfect pretext to leverage. So, even if they suspected, what did it matter? He wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

He continued smoking, not forgetting to pull out his pager and send a message. The content was meant for domestic transmission: the copyright and peripheral business for the comic had been settled, so the factory could start operations and prepare for profit.

The young woman waited until Zhang Tianfeng finished sending his message before extending her hand and saying, “Mr. Zhang, may I introduce myself?”

“If you bypass your superior to talk to me, aren’t you afraid of being dismissed?” Zhang Tianfeng asked, recalling how she had just seated herself.

“Not at all. My name is Huida Ichiran, daughter of Okamoto Company’s third-largest shareholder. Technically, I am Yuyama Yuxi’s superior.”

Well, he had just fished out a big catch.

According to the information Li Qing had provided, Okamoto Machinery Research Corporation currently had six shareholders, with the top three holding the most power, as all three were on the board of directors.

For the daughter of the third shareholder to personally step in for business negotiations sent a clear signal to Zhang Tianfeng: there might truly be internal strife within Okamoto.

“So your background is even more impressive.” Zhang Tianfeng nodded and asked, “What do you want to say?”

“I’m not particularly interested in you, Mr. Zhang. What I value is the strength of the gentlemen from the Huo family.” Huida Ichiran said, “I want to cooperate with them, but I don’t have a direct channel to reach them, so I’d like you to pass a message on my behalf.”

“If Mr. Huo is willing to help me, once I regain the shares rightfully belonging to my father and control the entire company, I will grant Mr. Huo a portion of original shares.”

“As for your reward, Mr. Zhang, for delivering the message, as long as it’s within my power, you may ask for anything.”

This woman was formidable: frank, direct, and with an undeniable air of pride about her.

But what displeased Zhang Tianfeng was her disregard for him.

Thinking this, he put on a roguish face and said, “I want you.”

“That can be arranged. Mr. Zhang, you’re quite handsome, strong, and capable. Giving you my first time wouldn’t be out of the question.”

Goodness, all the women he encountered were hardly easy to deal with.

“Don’t be so hasty. I haven’t finished yet.” Zhang Tianfeng said, “I want a full set of equipment for a toy factory, to be paid in installments, and you must provide the necessary technical staff—I want to train my own mechanical engineers.”

For a machinery factory, such a request was tantamount to digging into their foundations.

But Zhang Tianfeng did it deliberately. She underestimated him, so he naturally had to return the favor.

“No problem. As long as you can pass the message to Mr. Huo and facilitate the deal, everything you ask will be taken care of, including myself.”

“All right. Give me some time, I need to contact my associates first.”

“Fine, I’ll give you one day. Here’s my contact information. Call me when it’s done.”

Handing over her business card, Huida Ichiran turned and left.

Zhang Tianfeng watched her figure in silence for a long time.

A few minutes later, Yuyama Yuxi left the conference hall with his assistant, and before departing, gave Zhang Tianfeng a friendly smile.

Next came Li Qing and Gao Ran.

“Yuyama Yuxi suddenly got a call and left, saying there will be another cooperation next time. Did we fish too aggressively?”

“No, we just encountered a master. Let’s go, we’ll talk more back home.”

On the way back, Zhang Tianfeng explained everything about Huida Ichiran. The two young women were shocked, mouths agape, especially Li Qing.

On the Little Japan Island, the Huida family was a powerful force, involved in finance, factories, and rumored to have royal connections.

In this era, Huida Ichiran was regarded as one of the most formidable women on the island. Stories of her building an empire from scratch and securing billions of yen in investment circulated widely; a book had even been published detailing her journey. She was the idol of most young women on the island, including Li Qing.

“Seriously? She’s your idol, and you don’t even know what she looks like?” Zhang Tianfeng teased.

“Nonsense! She’s not an actress, earning money by showing her face. It’s perfectly normal not to recognize her,” Li Qing retorted, rolling her eyes.

“All right, the plan needs adjusting. You two rest for a bit while I contact some friends.”

For a company as big as Okamoto, offering original shares—even the Huo family should seize the opportunity, since the value would only increase. At the same time, they could help verify Huida Ichiran’s true identity, which might yield useful information.

After sending the message, Zhang Tianfeng sat on the balcony smoking.

Soon after, a sudden screech of brakes rang out.

He stood up to look, and found Ding Yan had returned. He got out quickly, with those trailing him appearing a bit flustered.

It seemed... something had happened.

Stubbing out his cigarette, Zhang Tianfeng returned to the living room. Before he could speak, there was a knock at the door.

“You two go to the backyard, take your documents.”

“Madman, what happened?”

“Don’t ask, just go.”

He glared and sent Gao Ran and Li Qing to the backyard, locked the door, then went to open it.

“Bro, why did you take so long to open the door?” Ding Yan’s tone was less than friendly.

“I was just writing, what’s up?” Zhang Tianfeng replied, feigning indifference.

“Oh, don’t even mention it. I went to attend a banquet held by the Mountain Top Group, and it was a total embarrassment.”

Ding Yan barged in, slumping onto the sofa. “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s out shopping, hasn’t returned yet.”

“Good. Let me smoke first, then I’ll tell you.”

At the banquet, Ding Yan heard people talking about stocks and boasted that he knew a young stock genius who single-handedly changed the course of the Hong Kong stock market.

Those Mountain Top Group big shots who disliked him accused him of lying and demanded he share insider tips and analyze a few stocks. Ding Yan had nothing to offer, stuck awkwardly in place, which became the root of everyone's ridicule.

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, that’s it. What I hate most is being crushed and laughed at in a field I’m not good at.”

“Brother, you have to help me next time, vent my anger for me.”

Damn, that was terrifying.

When he opened the door, Zhang Tianfeng imagined two possibilities: either Ding Yan was coming for him, or he’d gotten into trouble outside.

But it was a wake-up call—time to leave!

Staying here felt unsafe. Ding Yan’s factory connections weren’t needed for now, so it was best to distance himself from this source of trouble.

“All right, I’ll help you next time.”

“Good, that’s all I need to hear. I have to go out again, probably won’t be back until tomorrow or the day after. Sorry, brother, but once I’m done, I’ll help you properly.”

“Go ahead, I’m not in a hurry anyway.”

After Ding Yan left, Zhang Tianfeng called Gao Ran and Li Qing out, grabbed the important documents, and left immediately.

Just as they drove about a kilometer, a car suddenly caught up.

The window rolled down, and Takeda Kinichiro stuck his head out, shouting wildly.

“Li Qing, your boyfriend’s looking for you!”

“He’s not my boyfriend; he’s a complete lunatic,” Li Qing said, frowning with concern. “I think we’re in trouble today.”

“Relax, with me—the Akina Mountain veteran driver—at the wheel, we’ll be fine.” Zhang Tianfeng gripped the steering wheel. “Hold on, I’m going to speed up.”