Broker-Chapter 187

Sonya settled into the seat at the table. It was an elegant room, not pointlessly overindulgent in its design but rather more modern. Something that fit her sensibilities quite nicely. Personally she would have preferred a cafe or something more casual but who was she to deny these guys a chance to set the tone. She smiled as Lillian sat down next to her, giving her a sidelong look. She winked at the girl who frowned at her.

“Bandit told us we’re doing dungeons,” she said a little testily.

“Never said you wouldn’t,” Sonya said with a smirk, “You’ll get your vacation time. I promised it to you and I have a bit of a thing about promises.”

Lillian relaxed and sighed, “Alright, I get it,” she said, “I know we need to stay sharp.”

“That’s not why I’m setting you up, Lillian, you’re a smart and observant girl but you don’t read between the lines when you should,” Sonya said patiently as the others began to sit down. She reached up and patted her on the shoulder, “Give it some thought. This is something I want you to learn from.”

“Why?” Lillian asked, shooting a glance at one of the politicians who was listening closely to the conversation.

“Villains don’t always take direct routes to getting what they want. You didn’t sign up just to fight monsters. You’re here for many reasons, not just to have a good time and go to the hotsprings with your lady friend,” Sonya teased.

Lillian furrowed her brows, searching Sonya’s face for a moment. She didn’t get flustered as she used to but took the comment in stride which was a good sign. Instead, something seemed to click behind her eyes. She huffed out a breath, “My friends and I have been looking forward to this trip ever since you mentioned it. I want them to have fun.”

“You care about them a great deal, I know,” Sonya said with a nod.

“We’re a team,” Lillian said, “If they’re not on board, I’m not.”

Sonya smiled, Now you’re getting it. She turned to look at the politicians arrayed around her. Two of them glanced surreptitiously at the other young heroes as Marta stepped in behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow but Marta shook her head. Sonya frowned at her and Marta just closed her eyes, holding her position. Fine fine, we’ll go to something more casual later. I won’t fill up.

I assume she wants the authentic experience, Ishtar commented.

Yeah, she’s like that, Sonya agreed as she returned her focus to the table. The waiter stepped in to begin taking orders. Sonya glanced idly down at the menu before looking away. It took her a fraction of a second to read it.

Lillian is growing, Ishtar observed, She picked up much quicker this time.

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Of course she is, she’s always been someone who thinks critically and tries her best to observe. Chunhua taught her to act on her instincts and she isn’t terrible at conversation. She just needs a little push here and there to get her to pick up a political mindset, Sonya said.

And you want that? Ishtar asked.

If she wants to achieve her dreams, yes, she’ll need to at the very least understand and communicate with people like this. I can’t be there guiding her all the time.

Are you sure you’re not trying to raise your own executioner? Ishtar pushed.

I’m not aiming her at myself and you know it. He plays the same kind of games I do. Or at least he did in the past.

A valid point. The waiter is here.

Sonya turned and smiled up at the man who looked down at her, “I’ll have the house special, please.”

–

Mister Kaguma set his chopsticks down on their stand, exchanging a look with the other representatives as he did so. Conversation throughout the meal had been light and focused mostly on Miss Chernovna rather than engaging the heroes. He had a feeling that had been a bit of a mistake but not one that couldn’t be recovered from. He only hoped that the men who had come with him to this meeting had picked up on it.

The others knew that his sole purpose in this dialogue was to observe the outcome on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Emperor. The men around him wanted to extract benefits from the young woman. Their goal was to ensure their own standing when it came to this new industry and the others she had her hands in. Miss Chernovna styled herself as a champion of the hero movement, but was an industrialist. She would be angling for her own benefits.

He kept his expression blank as he sat up and nodded to the others.

“Miss Chernovna, your young friends must be exhausted from their journey. Perhaps we can have a vehicle take them to their hotel while we talk?” one of the men, Mister Taiko from Suhei Media said, “I’m sure this conversation is of little interest to them.”

Sonya set her own chopsticks down and inclined her head to Mister Kaguma before turning her mechanical eyes on Mister Taiko, “I like to think they’re well trained enough that a little jet lag isn’t going to bother them, Mister Taiko,” she said politely. “I wouldn’t dream of denying them a chance to learn more about the inner workings of an industry they are a part of,” she turned to Crusader, “Your thoughts?”

Mister Kaguma watched the girl as well. The little conversation they’d had before dinner was an obvious but effective attempt to create a wall against a singular approach to the negotiations. Sonya clearly wanted to make this a teaching experience for Crusader and use her opinion to guide her own decisions on the matter. To make matters more complicated, Crusader had posited that she valued the opinions and treatment of her team and would seek their counsel.

Through Crusader’s love of her comrades Miss Chernovna has created a minefield for these men to walk through. He restrained a sigh. A minefield designed to trap old men who are used to getting their way and talking down to women and young people.

He glanced at Taiko, Taiko noticed and tried to diffuse the danger a little.

“I want to learn more, Miss Chernovna. If it’s no trouble for you, I think my team and I would like to stay. If that’s alright with you guys?” Crusader said, turning to the other three who nodded their assent.

“Of course, no trouble at all. Though it may be a bit boring for them, these topics are difficult to follow,” Taiko said.

Kaguma winced.

“Are you suggesting that these licensed heroes are children, Mister Taiko?” Sonya asked, “You are aware they’ve seen combat, right?”

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“Of course not,” Taiko replied with a twitch of his lip, “I simply wish to not burden them with unnecessary things.”

“These talks are unnecessary?” Sonya asked, a predatory smile spreading on her lips.

Kaguma shot a look at Taiko, Keep your mouth shut, fool.

One of the others pushed in to save Taiko. Mister Megumi was the representative of the post-pandora development firm, Nara. “I’d like to learn more about your plans for ASTA becoming involved in our part of the world, Miss Chernovna, if you’ll indulge me.”

Sonya turned to Mister Megumi, pulling her hair back over her ear and setting her hands in her lap. She blinked slowly as her mechanical eyes shifted and focused in her head. Kaguma could almost hear the faint ticking that came from her head. It was a little unnerving. “Japan has been a close ally of the United States for a long time and we’ve shared a lot of things,” Sonya began, “Technological advancement, media, culture, the list goes on. As you all are well aware I have a policy of not maintaining strict patents on the processes that ASTA utilizes,” she tilted her head a little, “I don’t share them either. It is up to my competitors to figure those things out for themselves if they want to compete.”

Megumi considered her for a heartbeat, “Are those processes on the table?”

“Well that entirely depends,” Sonya said with a light laugh, “ASTA certainly wants to expand into your market but we haven’t even got our foot in the door,” she shrugged, “Will the Japanese government allow ASTA to set up shop?”

Kaguma opened his mouth but Megumi responded first, “Miss Chernovna, you are a talented woman. This is business, though. You must understand that opening that door requires something from you first,” the man said, getting a few nods from the others, “Welcoming you to this meeting was a formality that we have observed.”

“Do you play poker, Mister Megumi?” Sonya asked curiously.

The man sat up a bit straighter and raised his eyebrows, “Hm? No I do not.”

“I wouldn’t start,” Sonya said with a chuckle and winked at him, she turned to Crusader, “You four talked about what you wanted to do while you were here, right?”

Crusader looked like she was put on the spot for a moment before relaxing, she scratched her neck, “Uh, well we did talk a bit. It’s a pretty packed schedule even with the dungeons we’ll be assisting in. I was thinking about asking Bandit if we could do some patrolling alongside the local guilds as long as we had time to enjoy the sights,” she said awkwardly before looking at the others, “Obviously don’t want to overdo it. This is our grace period after all.”

The sole man amongst the young heroes, BLF, frowned a little, “You sure that won’t cut into our time? There’s a lot we want to see. Handmaiden even helped us come up with the schedule.”

The blonde girl, Harbinger, shrugged, “We don’t all have to go on patrols, we can change off and see the sights we were specifically interested in. Pack the schedule even more. Heck, we could patrol near some of the tourist spots,” she said and met BLF’s gaze, “Maybe go in pairs?”

Kaguma restrained a frown as Sonya turned to meet his gaze. She’s saying she can pack their schedule to the point that we lose access to Crusader for the Emperor’s grandson. He’s already putting pressure on the Prime Minister to ensure the meeting, doting old man. She’s willing to play that card without a second thought. She still has another card to play, though.

“What is the-” Megumi began before Kaguma cleared his throat.

“I think we all agree that having ASTA’s presence here in our nation can only benefit the nation as a whole and provide healthy competition,” Kaguma said with a nod, “We’re here to discuss how that will look, not whether or not it is happening. We don’t want to waste the heroes time with endless negotiations. They should enjoy themselves during this break as much as possible.”

Sonya brandished a winning smile at him, “I appreciate you saying that, Mister Kaguma.”

Kaguma felt Megumi tense next to him but ignored it. Taiko hopped back in, “Then it goes without saying that ASTA will focus its agency services on connecting Japanese heroes to American companies, Suhei Media has already established its own agency department and has a strong connection with companies here. It would be better to let us handle such things.”

“And what about the heroes who sign with ASTA to represent them?” Sonya asked, “Won’t that make it difficult to get endorsed by Japanese companies?”

Taiko huffed, “Do you expect that many Japanese heroes to sign with ASTA over a native company?”

“You might be surprised,” Sonya said with a chuckle, “I wasn’t talking about them, though.”

Taiko frowned at her and glanced at the four young heroes who were giving him pointed looks. Kaguma wanted to grab the man by the back of the head and slam him into the table but held his temper. Sonya glanced his way and smiled at him a little, mischief twinkling in her eyes. It was like she was feeding on the man’s arrogance. I can understand Taiko’s concern. ASTA is well established and reliable. Some Japanese companies will happily work with her and many heroes will accept her contract over his own, especially given how draconian some of those representation contracts are. Black Companies… good grief.

“Mister Megumi,” Sonya said abruptly, shifting her attention away from Taiko, “I might be willing to share some of our experts in the field of optimizing post-pandora material processing. I think it would be beneficial to the people of Japan to ensure as many groups are handling the materials properly as possible. What can you and the companies you represent give to make that equitable?”

One of the other post-pandora manufacturer representatives who hadn’t spoken up put his hand on the table, “Miss Chernovna, I feel that you aren’t taking this conversation seriously. There is an expectation here that you make concessions if you want to do business in our territory.”

Kaguma had to close his eyes at that point, Don’t say the quiet part out loud you idiot! We already agreed that it’s happening. This is about give and take and staying on an even playing field, not extorting the woman!

Sonya turned her head in the man’s direction, “You might be surprised to hear that I already am making concessions, sir,” she said cooly.

He slammed his fist on the table, “You bring children to a serious conversation and expect me to believe you are taking it seriously?” he demanded, “Sitting here spouting nonsense about what we are willing to give when this is our land? You call yourself a businesswoman?”

Kaguma frowned, “Mister Kirihara.”

“This woman thinks that she can just come here and take over, no one is that powerful. She needs to surrender benefits to our companies and to the Japanese Government if this conversation is to continue!”

Kaguma exhaled, “Mister Kirihara.”

The man turned to Sapporo who had been quietly observing this conversation, “You can’t seriously be sitting there and allowing this nonsense! I know you respect this woman but you are the shield of our nation. You should be standing for what benefits us!”

Sapporo scowled, “I am a shield, not a sword, Mister Kirihara,” the big man growled, “I serve the people of this world, not just one nation. I will protect my home with all I have but you will show some respect to this person!”

Mister Kirihara was nearly red in the face, he jabbed a finger at the table in Sapporo’s direction, “Your role is to empower this nation, a role you have consistently snubbed in favor of outsiders! Do you have any idea-”

“MISTER KIRIHARA!”

A wave of pressure washed through the room, a heaviness that itched at the back of the mind. It slammed into Kaguma’s chest for a brief moment before vanishing. He looked up at Sapporo who’s expression had gone dark. Kaguma caught his breath as everyone else in the room fell still. Sapporo stared Kirihara down and the ranting man wilted, his skin going pale and clammy as that pressure seemed to mount. Something in the room cracked.

Takehara, who had been quiet throughout the conversation cleared his throat, “Sapporo,” he said flatly, “That’s enough, you’ve made your point.”

Kirihara let out a sudden gasp, catching himself and spun towards Kaguma, his expression wild with indignity. He then looked back up at Sapporo who was glowering at him and the young heroes who’s expressions had gone hostile. Sonya didn’t move an inch, sitting quietly at the table and waiting for the man to sit down. Kirihara sat slowly, shaking, and lowered his head towards the table. Kaguma let out a sigh and looked up at Sonya, meeting her gaze. “I suppose the dungeons are off the table now?”

“You knew?” Sonya asked.

“I looked into the owner of those plots of land, I had to go through a few shells to find you, but yes, I was aware,” Kaguma said with resignation.

Sonya gave him a sad smile, “I’m afraid they are for the moment, Mister Kaguma. I think we might be able to revisit them during the next round. We’re all tired, aren’t we? Why don’t we stop here with the agreement that ASTA will be entering Japan and local and foreign heroes will be allowed to choose their own representation. I will of course be happy to provide my experts as well to your material processing companies.”

Kaguma shot Megumi and Taiko a hard look and they both nodded reluctantly before scowling at Kirihara who flinched under their gaze.

“I think a break would be best, Miss Chernovna. Thank you.”