"Minister, there are several individuals you should pay special attention to during this meeting."
Before entering the elevator, Deputy Chief Akira Fukuda handed a document to Daichi Fujiwara, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
"Oh, right." Daichi Fujiwara blinked and accepted the file, scanning its contents.
"This first one is the profile of the SDS Operations Department Director, Kirika Tachibana. I believe you're already familiar with her."
"The second document contains intelligence on Luo Shu, Director of the SDS Hidden Management Department. As his department was recently established, information about him is limited. When dealing with him, it's best to speak minimally or let me handle the conversation."
"Ah, this one details Onmyou Agency representative Ms Natsuki Minamiya. However, this lady is likely just attending as a formality, so there's little need for concern."
Daichi Fujiwara couldn't help but chuckle at this:
"Even in these representative assemblies, some people just go through the motions?"
"Indeed. Much like yourself, Minister."
Fukuda continued unfazed by Daichi's exasperated expression, handing over another file:
"Next is the profile of Tokyo Yokai Supreme Commander Nurarihyon, along with Metropolitan Police Department Bujin-shū Commander Takayanagi Dōgen."
Flipping through the documents, Daichi remarked in surprise: "There's an unusual amount of personality analysis for these two?"
Fukuda replied calmly: "Because they're the most likely to start arguing during the meeting."
"Finally, we have Asato Ichijo, First Elder of the Vampire Elder Council, and Kotoko Iwanaga, representative of the island yokai."
"These two generally won't voice strong opinions unless your statements threaten vampires or yokai as a whole."
After hearing this and reviewing the documents, Daichi looked up at his deputy chief with bewilderment:
"With so many troublesome faction representatives to handle, why send an economics-trained Agriculture Minister instead of someone from the Foreign Ministry?"
Fukuda responded with a refined smile: "Minister~"
"As you know, the Foreign Ministry always prioritises being hospitable to foreigners. The Prime Minister prefers this meeting to be... an exception."
Daichi paused, then asked in surprise: "But apart from Mr Luo Shu, aren't all the others on this list our own citizens?"
"But they don't pay taxes," Akira Fukuda said with a smile.
"Don't pay taxes?!" Daichi Fujiwara was stunned. "Nationality doesn't count? Paying taxes makes you a citizen?"
"Of course," Fukuda nodded matter-of-factly. "The Ministry of Finance has been trying hard to get those yokai, vampires and the Bujin-shū to disclose their financial situations and pay income and asset taxes. But they've consistently refused."
Daichi asked curiously, "What gives them the right not to pay?"
Fukuda replied calmly, "It's not that they refuse to pay. They demand that the SDS department pay taxes first."
"Then make the SDS pay taxes," Daichi instinctively responded.
Fukuda then gave a polite smile:
"Minister, we've actually tried that before. But usually after doing so, we end up spending ten times the amount to purchase a bunch of scrap metal from America."
"At that point, not just the Self-Defence Forces, but the public would protest too. If they found out which minister proposed this policy, the voters' ballots..."
"Oh, by the way, do you know why the last Prime Minister resigned?"
Daichi immediately became alert. Voters' ballots were life-and-death matters. Making the SDS pay taxes got a Prime Minister replaced? Better not push for that then.
He instantly changed his expression to a kindly one:
"Actually, not paying taxes is quite normal. Many tax-evading enterprises exist, and some even seem aligned with national economic policies. So we really don't need to focus solely on these few who serve the country."
Hearing this, Fukuda smiled: "Minister, you and the Prime Minister think alike."
"The Prime Minister..." Daichi finally became wary. "What instructions does the Prime Minister have?"
Fukuda scratched his cheek with a finger and entered the already open elevator. Realising, Daichi quickly moved closer until they were practically touching, whispering:
"What does the Prime Minister want me to do?"
Fukuda then whispered:
"The Prime Minister hopes you can be firm with the SDS, but without provoking their displeasure."
"Preferably, this operation against Ghouls could be commanded by our people, with them covering part of the expenses."
"But how could I possibly be firm with them without making them resentful?"
Daichi asked with complete confusion:
"Do you want me to kneel on the ground while giving them orders?"
Fukuda quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no, normally you would indeed be kneeling on the ground. Except it wouldn't be you giving orders - it would be them giving orders."
Daichi: "???"
After a moment of speechlessness, Daichi asked again: "What exactly does the Prime Minister mean?"
Fukuda said calmly, "The Prime Minister means eliminating Ghouls is fine, but he hopes someone else can cover the expenses. Preferably the SDS."
Hearing this request, Daichi couldn't help but laugh:
"Heh, if I could make that happen, who knows who'd be Prime Minister then."
Realising his slip, Daichi quickly covered his mouth, while Fukuda pretended not to hear.
After looking around and seeing all nearby bureaucrats pretending not to notice, Daichi finally whispered:
"Mr Fukuda, you should know this. While the SDS claims to be a jointly operated department between us and the garrison, they're essentially just the garrison's overseers for us. How are we supposed to obtain funding from them for Ghoul extermination?"
Akira Fukuda put on an innocent expression and replied, "Minister, I'm merely a common administrative vice-minister who only follows your orders. Shouldn't you be the one providing the answer to this question?"
"Me giving you the answer?"
Daichi Fujiwara was dumbfounded. After a moment's pause, he stroked his chin and said:
"Should I be preparing my resignation letter?"
At this point, Fukuda spoke quietly:
"Minister, your elder brother should be getting parole soon, shouldn't he?"
"You mean the Prime Minister and my old man... oh, is that it?"
Daichi instantly understood. There was no way they'd get the funding - the previous cabinet had been replaced precisely for demanding funds. So he was destined to resign and take responsibility.
The reason for such a heavy price was that the Prime Minister had struck a deal with his family's patriarch to secure his brother's release from prison. His brother, who'd previously served as state minister and insisted on taxing special population groups domestically, was being positioned for the next cabinet.
After all, the Fujiwara family's resources had always been allocated to pave the way for the elder brother - he was the true politician the family had groomed. Daichi was merely keeping the seat warm while his brother was incarcerated.
When given the choice, trading one ministerial term for his brother's release seemed quite worthwhile.
At least in the old man's eyes, it was very worthwhile indeed.
"I see... I understand." Daichi Fujiwara sighed: "Well, at least I can finally take Chika and the others on holiday this summer."
Akira Fukuda smiled and nodded at this: "Minister, I'm glad you understand."
Hearing this, Daichi couldn't help but retort:
"So Fukuda, you're probably about to welcome the thirteenth minister in your career, aren't you? Honestly, when it comes down to it, you permanent secretaries are the real department heads."
"You're right... I mean, you jest." Fukuda's expression changed as he quickly caught his slip of the tongue, nodding with a smile.
The elevator doors opened.
Daichi turned and stepped out first, followed closely by Fukuda and then a group of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries staff responsible for meeting arrangements.
Once outside, Daichi immediately put on his most harmless smile.
And then, he spotted Luo Shu's group standing nearest to the elevator.
"Ah, if it isn't Director Tachibana? What a pleasant surprise." Daichi greeted her with beaming enthusiasm.
"It's you, the Fujiwara family's second son." Kirika Tachibana eyed Daichi suspiciously, unable to fathom what game he was playing.
The Fujiwara political clan bred nothing but cunning schemers, male or female.
This sudden friendly greeting had Kirika thoroughly confused.
'Has this kid figured out it was me who hinted to his father that his ministerial seat could be traded for his elder brother's release?'
'But that didn't make sense - how could he be so cheerful about losing his ministerial position? Were the Fujiwara brothers really that close?'
Seeing Kirika's lack of reaction didn't surprise Daichi. After all, his elder brother had previously clashed with the SDS, so the cold shoulder was expected.
He quickly shifted targets and greeted Luo Shu instead:
"This must be the SDS's Director Luo? Such remarkable achievements at such a young age!"
"A pleasure, Minister Fujiwara." Luo Shu extended his hand politely with a smile.
Daichi was pleasantly surprised to see Luo Shu initiating the handshake.
'What's going on? Is the SDS trying to mend relations after the conflict caused by my brother?'
"Not at all, not at all!" Daichi enthusiastically shook Luo's hand using both of his own - the formal handshake reserved for superiors and distinguished guests.
However, unlike Daichi's assumption of reconciliation, Luo's thoughts were actually about Daichi's daughter, Chika Fujiwara.
How on earth did this man raise such a daughter?
After the handshake, Luo watched as Daichi politely greeted each representative in turn before addressing Kotoko Iwanaga, who was using her petite stature to hide behind him:
"Why are you hiding behind me?"
Kotoko adjusted her beret and grinned: "Survival tactics for small yokai - stay unnoticed, voice no opinions, avoid being press-ganged."
Here, she glanced meaningfully at Meer, her smile turning teasing:
"Though I must admit, my acting isn't quite as good as Meer's."
Luo glanced at Meer upon hearing this. Kotoko wasn't wrong - in official records, Meer was probably just listed as an information dealer connected to the SDS. No one would guess she was actually the Director of Intelligence.
'Come to think of it, apart from Verde, the SDS's directors were all rather young...'
Just as Luo Shu was pondering, the elevator doors opened again, revealing a group of menacing-looking individuals in dark blue suits.
Among them, Luo Shu spotted Kiyonaga Matsumoto in the corner.
"The committee members have arrived, too," Kotoko Iwanaga remarked with a sigh.
The landlords of the Metropolitan Police Department, the direct superiors of the Bujin-shū and the Public Safety Commission, which reports directly to the cabinet.
Noticing this, Kirika Tachibana, beside him, pointed towards the conference room door and said to Luo Shu:
"Since the landlords have arrived, we should enter too."
"Let's hope everything goes smoothly."