บท 161: CHAPTER 157(Of Hearts and Mind Pt-2)
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CHAPTER START---
Sitting at his favorite table in his main restaurant. On the roof of his hotel, looking out at downtown Tokyo, Law Matani was enjoying a drink.
He wore a black suit with a gold undershirt, the top two buttons were undone to show off the tattoo on his chest. And the shoulders had the familiar intricate heart sigils on them, just like his shoulder had them tattooed beneath his clothes.
He sat at a table beside the railing, separating him from the 60-story drop to the pavement below, his back was to the railing, giving his guests a better view while he made it difficult for anyone to get behind him.
And the roof was currently filled with men and women enjoying lunch, some working, some seemingly getting together with friends. But all enjoying their meals.
"Really?" Law asks, he was currently on the phone with Sero.
"Yeah, apparently Edgeshot called UA to offer me a work studies position, pretty cool right!"
"Yeah, but I was hoping for someone that would operate more in the spotlight. But I guess the camera in your visor can make up for that."
"Oh yeah, didn't even think of that. But yeah I never thought I'd be working with a top pro. This is all thanks to you, thanks man!"
"Don't mention it, just do your best and don't embarrass me."
"Uh, right," Sero says nervously.
Law sees the three men he was waiting for enter the outdoor dining area a moment later, "I gotta go, I'll talk to you later," he hangs up as the men notice him.
"Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you all," Law says as he gets up and gives each of them a handshake.
And for the first time in a while, he mentally curses All For One.
Usually, when meeting someone he would simply Scan them, but now activating a Room causes his eyes to continuously glow, so he couldn't even do subtle things like that.
"The pleasure is ours I assure you," Koku says as they all take their seats. "Its nearly impossible to get a table at this restaurant, even for me."
"Well, quality attracts quantity," Law says. "Now, I know you said you'd be bringing two important people Mr. Hanabata---"
"Please, call me Koku."
"Right, Koku, but I don't recognize these men," Law says, a necessary lie. He of course recognized Slide N Go from his research on the Hearts and Mind party.
"Well allow me to rectify that, this is Tomoyasu Chikazoku, he sits on the board of directors for the Feel Good Inc Pharmaceutical company."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Skeptic says.
"Likewise," Law nods politely.
"And this," Koku gestures to Slide N Go, "is Tatuyuki Tokonami, but the public knows him as the Pro Hero, Slide N Go."
"A Pro Hero, sitting at my table, well I'm flattered."
Slide N Go chuckles and rubs the back of his head shyly, "honestly I feel a bit out of place at a meeting like this..."
"Oh you don't have to worry, I'm not that uptight," Law says as he signals a server to come to them. "In fact, me not being so uptight is why I haven't been able to get a foot in the door of any political party in Japan. Let's just say the old money families that run things don't want someone that's only half Japanese involved in shaping the country."
"And you've made it clear you cannot be controlled," Koku says. "But that's exactly why I reached out to you, I believe we can do great work together..."
As the server comes over. Law orders just a simple steak meal with some mashed potatoes, Koku orders a sashimi platter, Slide N Go orders the same steak meal as Law, and Skeptic orders a bowl of Miso Soup.
As the server leaves them, Law puts his phone face down on the table.
"Alright, so let's get down to business, I've got somewhere to be this afternoon, as much as I'd love to spend all evening partying with you men."
"I believe I should go first," Tomoyasu -Skeptic-, says. "Feel Good Inc is currently in search of some space leading up to the launch of a new medication we just to the patent for."
"Alright," Law nods along.
"Well, I noticed that you've been doing all you can. Such as the 200 Million you donated to the police pension and relief fund. Or the 200 Million you donated to the fire fighters pension and relief fund. And I can't help but wonder, are these because you perhaps want people to forget certain things?" Skeptic glances down at Law's hands, at his tattoos.
Law raises his hands to show off the hand and knuckle tattoos, "honestly no, I did that because I don't like speeding tickets. And I own a lot of properties so I don't want the people I depend on to respond to emergencies to not like me after all."
"Oh, I'm---"
"You're fine, and for the record, our fortune didn't come from anything illegal. We made good investments in the healthcare industry that paid off very well," he says. "And I'm fully aware of how most of the world, and especially Japan views tattoos like mine. But I'm not Yakuza. This is more of a family tradition," Law says. "From the other side of my family..."
"Ahh, you mentioned being half Japanese, so what's the other half?" Slide N Go asks.
"Italian..."
The table got immediately tense, as all three men come to the conclusion that they may be sitting across from a mafia billionaire. Until Law burst that bubble.
"I'm not mafia, but I do get that a lot," he chuckles. "But hey, the ladies love it, so I won't complain."
"Right, but back to what I was saying," Skeptic refocuses the conversation. "You've been more successful than most political parties in buying good will in Japan. Despite the rumors circulating around you, the public supports you.
Even after your unfortunate kidnapping, people doubted the rumors that it was over some sort of criminal involvement. And when it turned out to just be thugs looking to hold a wealthy man for a ransom, they only loved you more."
"Legacy building," Law says. "That's the goal."
"Precisely why I'm here to offer you a subsidization contract with the new drug. The news headline would get certain leaked documents about you subsidizing the cost of the drug so the consumer and government won't have to pay as much in this time of great need, and you look like a champion of the people. The Matani family shines even brighter."
"Hmm, I'll have to look over the details of the drug," Law says. "What's my estimated cost?"
"125 Million, you'd be eating most of the cost of this contract between yourself, Detnerat, and a few other companies."
"Right, but you'd also be getting my goodwill built up with the public," Law says. "And I assume this information would be leaked in a tasteful way..."
"Of course," Skeptic says. "Boasting about how much you help people doesn't look good after all."
"Alright, send my lawyers the details later, I'll give you an answer by tomorrow night."
"And of course, I'll keep you informed on any future moves in the pharmaceutical industry here."
"Perfect," Koku -Trumpet-, says. "Now with that out of the way, shall we get to what I contacted you about?"
"Right, you're the only one of the 12 parties willing to let me into politics in Japan, why is that?"
"Well aside from the fact that we're currently ranked 6th and could greatly use the publicity boost from having you support us, as well as funding for the upcoming regional elections across Japan, I believe our beliefs align enough to work together," Koku says.
"And what policies might that be?" Law asks as their food arrives.
"Well for one, you're being oppressed for something you cannot control. For being half Japanese instead of fully Japanese you're being excluded from part of our society, that isn't right at all. That's one thing we're already solving by simply being here."
"True, go on..."
"The next I believe would be your policy of expression."
"Expression?" Law asks.
"Self-expression," Koku says. "You're a man who isn't afraid to show the world what he stands for and all that he is, correct?"
"Mhm," Law nods.
"And in regards to Quirks. Most of the population aside from the Pro Heroes aren't even allowed to express that part of themselves, a part which they are born with. I'm sure you can relate, yes?"
"No," Law says. "My Quirk just makes me look younger, not much expression in that. But I'm sure if I could fly it would be a different story, so I see your point."
"Thank you," Koko says. "Most people truly can't even be bothered to try to understand if it doesn't affect them directly. I'm glad you're smarter than those people.
But the Hearts And Mind party focuses on the aching hearts of all the oppressed people, under one collection thought process.
'We want freedom,' that is the thought. That's why 'Hearts' is plural but 'Mind' is singular. You already have the love of the working class, the most oppressed of them all. If you join us, we could change the future of Japan for the better."
Law mulls it over for a second, then looks at Slide N Go, "Pro Heroes are frowned upon if they promote any politics, especially something like this which promotes a direct conflict with the existing system. Is this really what you believe in."
"With all my heart, I want my fellows to be free to live as they wish," Slide N Go says.
"Right, and what's your Quirk?"
"I can remove the friction between myself and any surface I touch, allowing me to slide freely."
"Right, I should have guessed that," Law leans back into his chair, looking between the three men. "I need a minute to think this over..."
Looking around while the three men are silently eating, waiting for a response, Law sees Horizon tower in the distance.
'This policy is chaos, I barely trust regular people with cars, now we're gonna let them use quirks as they please. This is the same shit I explained to---' and suddenly it all snaps together.
'Rikiya runs Detnerat, he funds this political party and was spouting nonsense about Quirks needing to be free to use. Then these idiots in the political party are spouting the same bullshit. Plus Chitose mentioned this in her interview with me, and she's Rikiya's girlfriend in secret...is this some bigger conspiracy.'
And just like that he put all the pieces together, that these leaders of the Meta Liberation Army were in fact working together, but he didn't have the pieces that filled in the 'army' part of their movement just yet.
"This is chaos," Law says, pulling their attention toward him.
"Chaos is good for Pro Heroes since they get to make lots of money," he looks at Slide N Go.
"It's good for people who sell medicine since lots of people get hurt," he looks at Skeptic.
"It's good for people who sell Quirk Support Items because they have a lot of customers. And it's good for the leader because he has people desperate for instruction," he looks at Koku for that final statement.
"But it's not good for the people doing the fighting, and it's definitely not good for me. I've invested in businesses that do well during peaceful times, not this kind of business. I don't even trust people with the freedom they have now and I'm supposed to trust them with a Quirk that could kill me...no way."
"Are you saying you won't support us?"
"Sorry, but I won't," Law says. "You're all in positions to profit from this movement, but it'll only hurt me---" Law's phone beeps a few times, and he lifts it up to glance at it.
He looks to his left, to the table of people sitting behind Slide N Go, then puts his phone down.
"Sorry about that, but yes as I was saying. Chaos doesn't really benefit me, but I'm hoping you three can point me toward some good investments to prepare for this chaotic future we'll have..."
And just like that, all three men give him hopeful smiles.
Completely oblivious that their fate just took a turn for the worse...
END CHAPTER---
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