Shibata stared at him coldly for a few seconds.
"Mr. Sugimoto, did you invite me here just to tell these stories meant to scare children?"
"You are overthinking it."
The smile on Sugimoto's face faded quickly.
He put the two documents back into the bag, then pulled out a folded map from the very bottom and slowly spread it out on the table.
The reclaimed land, the harbour, the roads, and the Waterfront Sub-center currently under construction occupied the most prominent position in the centre of the map.
Sugimoto's finger landed on Odaiba.
"I just want Mr. Shibata to understand that Saionji will know about our meeting today sooner or later."
"There is no point in continuing to hide from her, and you cannot escape her anyway."
His finger moved along the roads on the map, passing by the Saionji Group headquarters, the planned site for Saionji Tower, the computing centre, the port storage area, and several commercial plots whose purposes had already been marked.
"Saionji Construction, logistics, energy, and telecommunications have all entered."
"After Seibu bowed down, hotels, conventions, businesses along the railway lines, and stadium-related services were also integrated into this system."
Shibata looked down at the map.
"Odaiba was originally part of the Waterfront Sub-center plan. It is better that someone is willing to continue investing money right now than to have all the construction sites shut down."
"Of course Saionji will let the construction of Odaiba continue, and she will also hand over some of the projects to companies in Tokyo."
Sugimoto's finger moved along the roads on the map, finally stopping at several unfinished public facilities in the Waterfront Sub-center.
"But Saionji's own projects are already ahead of the Metropolitan Government's supporting infrastructure. When the roads are connected, when the harbour facilities go into operation, and which areas get electricity, water, and telecommunications first—all these matters must go through the Metropolitan Government."
Shibata looked up at him.
"So what?"
Sugimoto pulled another sheet of paper from the file bag and placed it next to the map of Odaiba.
"These are the companies that Naonori Isomura's office has been in contact with over the last two weeks."
Shibata looked down at it.
Listed on the paper were several city banks, large construction companies, Seibu Group, and several trading companies participating in the Waterfront Sub-center project. Next to each company, the meeting time, attendees, and policy areas discussed were noted.
"Mr. Isomura is running for Governor of Tokyo, so it is normal for him to meet with companies to discuss economic policy."
"It would be normal to meet with any one of them individually."
Sugimoto reached out and tapped a few names on the list.
"But these companies have historically had different stances and rarely prepare policies for the same candidate simultaneously. Yet in the last two weeks, they have all successively submitted proposals for small and medium-sized enterprise financing, coastal projects, and employment placement to the Isomura office."
Shibata continued to read down the list.
Sugimoto's finger moved to the contact personnel column.
"And the person responsible for relaying messages between these companies is from the external affairs department of the Saionji Group."
"Several closed-door meetings were arranged at The Club, and the secretary of Seiichiro Isokawa also attended two of them."
Shibata's gaze lingered on those lines.
"Saionji is organising financial support for Isomura."
"Now, funds, companies, and policy personnel have all begun to concentrate on his side."
Sugimoto said.
"Besides that, the Saionji Group has also prepared a set of engineering plans for the Waterfront Sub-center. As long as Isomura adopts them, he can publicly promise during the campaign which roads will continue construction, which companies can receive financing, and how many jobs can be provided."
Shibata looked back at the Odaiba map.
"So Saionji wants to send Isomura to the Metropolitan Government so that the supporting infrastructure for the Waterfront Sub-center proceeds according to their plan."
"This is the first benefit they can secure."
Sugimoto nodded.
"After Isomura is elected, the coordinating body, annual budget, and work sequence of various departments for the Waterfront Sub-center will all be readjusted. Saionji has already lined up the hotels, conventions, businesses, logistics, and construction projects; next, they just need the Metropolitan Government to connect the roads, harbour, and public facilities."
"At that time, which area gets priority for construction and which companies can enter the project will all be influenced by Saionji's overall plan."
Shibata said:
"That does not mean small and medium-sized construction companies will not get projects."
"Of course they will."
Sugimoto looked at him.
"Companies that can finish on time and are willing to accept Saionji's management style might even get more orders."
"But once those member companies get used to going directly to Saionji for projects and financing, will they still come to the Tokyo Construction Association first when they run into trouble?"
Shibata's expression gradually darkened.
Sugimoto took another map of Tokyo out of the file bag and spread it out next to the Odaiba map.
"Over the past year, Saionji has already sent factories, stores, warehouses, and restructuring projects into quite a few electoral districts. Many lawmakers who previously relied on factional funds to operate can now maintain their support groups through these investments and jobs."
"Once Isomura enters the Metropolitan Government, Saionji will be able to coordinate corporate investment and Tokyo's public construction together."
"Which area gets new projects, which company receives financing, and which unemployed workers get rehired—all of these will become resources for Saionji to expand her local influence."
Sugimoto's finger moved from Odaiba to the Tokyo map.
"They are starting from Odaiba now."
"In the future, it will affect all of Tokyo."
Shibata looked at that map of Tokyo, remaining silent for a long time.
After a long while, he picked up his teacup and finally took a sip.
The Gyokuro tea had steeped a bit too strong, but the temperature was just right.
"You have said so much, what does this have to do with the Seiwakai?"
"The Takashina family has just fallen."
Sugimoto's gaze did not leave him.
"They touched the Isokawa Family on behalf of the Seiwakai, and Saionji immediately sent Takashina Masaomi to the Special Investigation Department. The Seiwakai could only cut him loose; they could not even say a word for him."
"Yet Saionji announced at the Seika Academy graduation ceremony, in front of so many families, that she would continue to expand."
Shibata had, of course, heard of that graduation ceremony.
Many people in Tokyo's financial circles had children attending Seika Academy, and Satsuki's speech had long since spread through their dining tables and conference rooms. Some felt it was just the confidence of a young heiress, while others heard a more explicit political meaning in it.
Sugimoto held up two fingers.
"The fate of the Takashina family tells others that she has the ability to protect those who follow Saionji."
"And she has the ability to eradicate those who provoke Saionji."
Sugimoto's tone gradually became grave.
"If she manages to get the Governor of Tokyo elected this time as well, she will prove another thing."
"Following Saionji can also lead to new positions."
The living room fell silent, with only the sound of the quartz clock on the wall ticking, striking Shibata's nerves with each beat.
In reality, Saionji's expansion would not directly harm the interests of those small and medium-sized companies.
The volume of work in Odaiba was large enough, and Saionji Construction did not have the capacity to take on all the projects alone. As long as the prices were reasonable and payments were timely, more and more people in the association would be willing to accept Saionji's orders.
But the problem was that the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises could not be equated with the interests of the Tokyo Small and Medium Construction Association. If they all followed Saionji, what would be the point of their association?
So, was he representing the interests of local companies, or the interests of the association itself?
Shibata's breathing became a little hurried.
Sugimoto continued:
"In the future, who can start work, who can get bank extensions, and who can get the next project will all be decided by Saionji."
"The sign for the Tokyo Construction Association will still be hanging, and the board of directors can continue to meet. But when members run into trouble, the first call they make will be to the Saionji Group."
He looked at Shibata.
"By that day, who will Mr. Shibata still be representing?"
This statement was clearly more uncomfortable for Shibata than the speculations about SIS earlier.
He put down his teacup, the bottom of the cup landing on the wooden table with a soft click.
"What does the Seiwakai want us to do?"
"We will not discuss that today."
Shibata narrowed his eyes.
"Then why did you invite me here?"
"To confirm one thing."
Sugimoto folded the map back up, his movements very slow.
"When Saionji is prepared to integrate the Metropolitan Government into her own system, where is the Tokyo Construction Association prepared to stand?"
Shibata did not answer immediately.
He watched Sugimoto fold the map back to its original size and press it under the kraft paper file bag.
After a moment, he said:
"Tokyo's projects should be decided by Tokyo."
"Companies in the association can cooperate with Saionji, and they can accept Saionji's orders."
"But one company does not have the qualification to decide for all of Tokyo who can stay and who should disappear."
Sugimoto nodded.
"That is enough."
Shibata stood up from the sofa.
"I did not come representing the entire association today."
"I understand."
"And do not think the Seiwakai can make the Tokyo Construction Association charge to the front for you with just a few words."
"Of course."
Sugimoto remained seated, not getting up to see him out.
When Shibata reached the door, he paused again.
"Mr. Sugimoto."
"Hmm?"
"If you really are one of Saionji's people, then this performance was well-acted."
Sugimoto was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.
"Thanks for the compliment."
The door closed again.
Only Sugimoto was left in the living room.
"One of Saionji's people, huh..."