Kyoko exhaled a faint smoke ring, looked at Ryuzaki Makoto, and said, word by word:
"My request is very simple: I need to own 20% of the original equity in all the future development projects on Wuming Street."
"In exchange, I will mobilize all the resources of the Sasaki family to help you win the bid for the development of the nameless street."
"At the same time, throughout the entire development cycle of the nameless street, no matter how much funding is needed, I will continue to invest until the project is completely completed."
After saying these words, Kyoko's eyes, as deep as an ancient well, calmly gazed at Ryuzaki Makoto.
She was waiting for his reply, waiting for this young man she had high hopes for to make an important decision in his life.
Ryuzaki Shin did not answer immediately.
His brow furrowed slightly, as if he were weighing the pros and cons.
Just then, the long-silent system notification sound suddenly rang out clearly in his mind.
[Ding! Detected that the host is facing an important life decision; the God-level Choice System has been activated!]
[Option 1: Accept the offer readily, demonstrating sincerity in cooperation and achieving a strategic partnership with the Sasaki family. Reward: Sasaki Kyoko's personal favorability +20, Host's personal charm +1.]
[Option Two: Firmly refuse, telling them that the Sasaki family is nothing but a fallen phoenix, and if they want to curry favor with the thriving True Dragon Society, they should provide unconditional, free financial assistance. Reward: Obtain the title "Sigma Man," with the effect of granting absolute mental immunity to all women. No woman, even a celestial being, can interfere with your rational judgment in any matter. Increases your chances of being forever single by 50%.]
[Option 3: Teasing Kyoko, telling her that women don't just talk about cooperation so easily, and that this equity distribution is too insincere. How about we try a more interesting offer? If you're willing to be my woman, I'll give you 100%, not just 20%. Reward: Obtain the title "Peerless Madman," with the following effects: Overbearing Aura +99, Intelligence -99, and the skill "100% Accuracy," making any attack unavoidable.]
Ryuzaki Makoto looked at the three options that appeared in his mind, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Lately, the system has been acting like it's dead, barely appearing at all. He was starting to think that it might have quietly unbound itself and run away while he wasn't looking.
However, upon closer reflection, Ryuzaki Makoto understood.
The reason the system "went into hiding" was entirely because all of his recent plans and operations were under his control. Every step was the result of careful consideration, and he had never encountered any truly difficult choices that required the system to resolve.
Now, faced with Kyoko's proposed collaboration, it's truly time to make a decision.
Ryuzaki Makoto quickly analyzed the three options in his mind.
From a rational perspective, for the True Dragon Society, forming a deep partnership with the Sasaki family is not only not impossible, but the best option they could ask for.
Prior to this, he had realized that although the True Dragon Society was strong and well-equipped and had made a name for itself in the underworld, it had a fatal weakness—its foundation was too weak.
Especially in terms of cash flow.
It seems that the True Dragon Society has a large territory and many businesses, making a lot of money every day. However, if they want to leverage a super urban construction project like the nameless street renovation project, which is worth hundreds of billions, their little money is like children playing house, and is simply not enough.
Although he has a trump card, as long as he gets the land in Wuming Street, he can legitimately mine the huge underground diamond deposits.
But that's a story for another time. The prerequisite is that he must first be qualified and have the money to bid for and acquire the land.
Without conquering Wuming Street, all our plans are nothing but castles in the air, illusions and mirages.
Therefore, the True Dragon Society only has two paths ahead of it.
Either stockpile grain and delay declaring yourself king.
Like a rat lying in the ground, they slowly lie dormant, accumulating initial capital over several years and gradually developing.
But this is clearly not in line with the character of a ruthless and ambitious man like Ryuzaki Makoto, nor is it a speed he can accept.
Alternatively, there is only one shortcut: find a powerful enough partner and use their resources to your advantage.
Before coming here, discussing cooperation with the Sasaki family was actually on Ryuzaki Makoto's list of alternative options, and even a high-priority option.
Now that Kyoko has taken the initiative to make this suggestion, it's exactly what he wanted.
As for the 20% equity offered by the other party, is that too much or too little?
From the perspective of those penny-pinching misers, giving up 20% of the original shares is practically like cutting off a loss.
However, from the perspective of modern business investment, this asking price is so reasonable it's outrageous, and could even be described as "too little".
It's important to understand that in the business world, many startup founding teams, in order to expand their operations and survive in fierce market competition, have their equity diluted drastically by investment institutions during Series A and B funding rounds, and may even be kicked out in the end.
The Sasaki family's bid to win the contract and subsequent development involved a massive investment of not just tens of billions of yen, but a staggering flow of hundreds of billions of yen.
Ryuzaki Makoto knew very well that this amount of money was not a large sum for the Sasaki family, which was now in a slightly impoverished state.
However, one should not be so shameless.
You can't assume that just because someone is rich, they deserve to be taken advantage of, or that their money comes from thin air and should be given to you for free.
Business cooperation is all about mutual benefit; only win-win situations can lead to long-term success.
As for option two, the "Sigma Man," Ryuzaki Makoto scoffed at it.
He was already rational and calm enough. Even when faced with a woman as stunning as Kyoko, he was able to maintain absolute composure in that ambiguous atmosphere and not let her beauty cloud his judgment.
This is already a very high level.
Further up?
Do they really have to turn into emotionless stone people?
Besides, there are so many temptations in this world, and what can interfere with his judgment is never women, but interests.
Option three is out of the question; it's suicide.
He wasn't some harem male protagonist from a romance novel who could instantly turn a well-informed and discerning young lady like Kyoko into a lovesick fangirl with just a tremor of his body and an aura of dominance.
As for making Kyoko his woman?
Ryuzaki glanced at the rewards attached to option one: Kyoko's favorability +20, and his own charm +1.
From now on, we'll be all in the same boat, living together day and night, with shared interests. As long as I demonstrate enough strength and charisma, winning over Kyoko won't be an impossible task.
By then, we will be intertwined, and there will be no need to distinguish between "yours" and "mine."
Thinking about this, Ryuzaki Makoto felt more and more that, apart from a few brainless idiots, most of these true elites from wealthy families and well-educated individuals do indeed have a different perspective and outlook.
Kyoko's terms were straightforward and decisive, without the petty haggling and bargaining of a small-time vendor. It was more like she was showing him sincerity and an investment attitude that she was optimistic about his future.
Ryuzaki Makoto took a deep breath and silently said in his mind, "System, I choose one."
After making his choice, Ryuzaki Makoto did not immediately answer Kyoko's question directly, expressing either agreement or refusal.
Instead, he looked intently at Kyoko and asked a question that seemed unrelated to the collaboration itself.
"Is it because Xiaoyou works for me and treats me like one of her own that you're offering me such a preferential price?"
Ryuzaki Makoto was genuinely puzzled as to why the other party was being so "generous".
Kyoko didn't seem surprised when she heard the question.
She smiled slightly, a smile that lacked her usual aloofness and instead conveyed a sense of openness.
Kyoko looked directly into Ryuzaki Makoto's eyes and said in a calm but serious tone:
"Mr. Ryuzaki, I think you've misunderstood. Although I love Yu very much, business is business and feelings are feelings."
"With the current wealth of our Sasaki family, no matter where Xiaoyu goes or what kind of life he wants to live, even if he just lies around spending money every day, I can guarantee that he will be well-fed and clothed for several lifetimes."
This statement is not arrogant; it is simply stating a basic fact.
She was telling Ryuzaki Makoto that the decision was made entirely based on business judgment and her regard for Ryuzaki Makoto personally, and had nothing to do with Yu.
Ryuzaki Makoto raised an eyebrow, still seemingly puzzled.
Upon seeing this, Kyoko smiled slightly, a smile as beautiful as cherry blossoms blooming in early spring, instantly stunning the world.
She said softly:
"Because you said that you could touch the sky with just a wave of your hand from now on."
"As for me, I just want to take advantage of the fact that things haven't changed yet, to get a good spot under your big tree, and look at the white clouds and green mountains in the sky, and the wisps of smoke rising from the human world."
After hearing this, Ryuzaki Makoto couldn't help but smile.
This Kyoko is quite interesting to talk about. She not only has a broad perspective but is also a shrewd person who knows how to assess situations.
However, Ryuzaki thought about it carefully. He had investigated before and knew that the Sasaki family had lost power in the brutal political struggle in Tokyo. In order to avoid disaster, they had to sell most of their property and move to a rural place like Toaru.
Through Kyoko's gentle smile, he could actually sense that beneath this woman's calm face lay a hint of resentment and ambition.
After arriving in Toaru, Kyoko didn't just sit idly like those rich kids who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. Instead, she actively made plans and even took the initiative to contact herself, a rising star in the underworld.
It seems that this young lady does not want the Sasaki family to simply fade into obscurity.
This made Ryuzaki think of a possibility—the Sasaki family probably still wants to return to the world of fame and fortune in Tokyo.
So, for Kyoko, this investment might be a gamble.
I bet that Ryuzaki Shin is not only the king of Toaru, but also the key figure who can lead the Sasaki family back to Tokyo and regain their peak.
This is a two-way choice, and even more so, a mutual courting.
Ryuzaki Makoto is not averse to this kind of approach with ulterior motives.
Humans, living in this world, are inherently about mutual exploitation.
Only when you truly possess value will you attract attention and investment from others.
Nobody invests in a piece of junk.
Cooperation is a mutually beneficial endeavor.
Ryuzaki Makoto would never be content with merely ruling over this small town of Toaru.
His gaze had long since moved beyond the city, settling on the bustling yet cruel Tokyo.
Sooner or later, he will take the banner of the True Dragon Society and conquer that land.
Having an ally like the Sasaki family, with their deep roots and extensive connections, by his side would be a tremendous asset to his development in Tokyo.
But that's a story for another time.
The most important thing now is to get the things in front of us done well.
Ryuzaki Makoto stood up, nodded slightly to Kyoko, and said:
"In that case, I'll take this deal. Miss Kyoko, it's getting late, I should be going."
Kyoko also stood up, and then she looked up and gazed intently at Ryuzaki Makoto.
How should I put it?
With the system's blessing taking effect and the addition of that little bit of charm value, Ryuzaki Makoto, who was already good-looking and had an outstanding temperament, looked even more heroic, extraordinary, handsome and resolute in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The confidence he exuded in every gesture actually made Kyoko, who was usually indifferent and used to seeing all kinds of talented young people, feel a strange sense of closeness and goodwill.
She had intended to politely watch Ryuzaki Makoto leave, but the words that came out of her mouth inexplicably turned into:
"Let me see you off..."