Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 964 Tit for tat

At this point, Xiong Chang paused and said, "I must go meet Mitsui Kazuki in person to hear what bargaining chips he has. If these chips are really in our favor, then we will be able to gain the upper hand in future games."

The deputy director wanted to persuade him again, but seeing Xiong Chang's unquestionable look, he finally chose to remain silent. He knew that once Xiong Chang made a decision, it would be difficult to change it.

"Go and make an appointment with Mitsui Kazuki immediately," Xiong Chang ordered the staff, "Tell him that I will visit him in person."

The staff nodded and turned away. Xiong Changze fell into deep thought again, silently calculating the possible situations and coping strategies in his mind. He knew that this meeting was full of unknowns and dangers, but he also understood that sometimes, for the greater good, one must take a risk.

As night fell, the streets of Kyoto were filled with a depressing and tense atmosphere. Xiong Chang, dressed in casual clothes, quietly left the office building of the Operations Department with a few capable followers and rushed to the place where he had agreed to meet with Mitsui Kazuki.

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight was sparsely sprinkled in the quietness of the suburbs. The villa of the Mitsui family was hidden in the depths of this tranquility. Outside the villa, a tall wall isolated the noise of the outside world, leaving only a private space belonging to the Mitsui family. Inside the wall, the bamboo forest swayed and the stream gurgled, forming a sharp contrast with the tense atmosphere of the outside world.

Xiong Chang, dressed in a dark suit, walked steadily towards the gate of the villa. His eyes were sharp and calm, as if he could see through the night and see everything in front of him. As he approached, a servant in traditional clothes walked out from the shadows, with a respectful and distant smile on his face, as if he had already anticipated Xiong Chang's arrival.

"Under the moonlight, the Wind Walker is here." The servant whispered a secret code. Although the voice was light, it was firm and unquestionable.

Xiong Chang was slightly startled, and then a faint smile appeared on his lips. He quickly searched for the corresponding code in his mind, and after a moment, he responded in a deep voice: "Where the clouds are hidden, the wise are waiting."

When the servant heard this, a hint of imperceptible respect flashed in his eyes. He nodded slightly and stepped aside to make way: "Please."

Then, a butler in kimono came up to greet them. He had a gentle smile on his face, as if he could dispel all the haze: "Director Xiong Chang, the master has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me."

Xiong Chang nodded, followed the butler, and stepped into the courtyard. Inside the courtyard, the lights were dim, and every detail revealed the profound heritage and extraordinary taste of the Mitsui family. On both sides of the stone road, there were neatly trimmed bushes and occasional wild flowers, which quietly told of the peaceful years.

Passing through an exquisite moon gate, Xiong Chang arrived in front of the reception room. In the reception room, Mitsui Kazuki was sitting cross-legged on an exquisite tatami, with a low table in front of him, on which steaming hot tea had been prepared, the fragrance of tea filled the air, making people feel relaxed and happy.

Seeing Xiong Chang coming, Mitsui Kazuki smiled slightly. He slowly stood up and greeted Xiong Chang in a manner that was neither impolite nor overly enthusiastic: "Director Xiong Chang, welcome. Please sit down, let's drink a cup of tea and talk about the changes in this world."

Xiong Chang nodded, and he also sat cross-legged on the tatami, facing Mitsui Kazuki. He picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip. The fragrance of the tea bloomed on the tip of his tongue, as if it also took away a trace of fatigue in his heart.

"Mr. Mitsui, you invited me here so late at night, so you must have something important to discuss. Why don't you just speak frankly? I'm all ears."

Mitsui Kazuki smiled slightly and slowly put down the teacup in his hand, as if at this moment, the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders: "Director Xiong Chang, I asked you to come here today because I have something to discuss. This matter concerns the future of Fuso and the fate of our two countries. But before that, I would like to hear your opinion. What is your opinion on the current situation?"

In the reception room at night, the lights were dim and warm, but it was hard to dispel the tense atmosphere in the air. Xiong Chang and Mitsui Kazuki sat face to face, their eyes meeting in the dimness, as if they were engaged in a silent contest.

Xiong Chang spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "Fusang is now on the decline. Under the continuous advance of the Chinese army, this once glorious island nation could fall into an irretrievable situation at any time. Fusang, this castle in the air built on bubbles, is destined to collapse and become the dust of history."

Xiong Chang's eyes were sharp, as if they could penetrate Mitsui Kazuki's inner defenses and look directly into his soul.

However, Mitsui Kazuki was not shaken by Xiong Chang's words. He put down the teacup in his hand heavily, and the teacup and the low table made a crisp collision sound, as if he was venting his inner dissatisfaction. His expression became a little gloomy, and his eyes flashed with an unyielding light.

"Director Xiong, your words are too arbitrary." Mitsui Kazuki's voice was low and powerful. He spoke slowly, as if to defend his country. "Although Fuso is an island country, our emperor has worked hard to lead the people of the country to strive for strength. In just 30 years, Fuso has risen from the ruins of war and become the leading military power in Asia. Our navy, air force, and army all have strong combat effectiveness. Although China's military force is unstoppable now, Fuso is not as bad as Director Xiong said.

Xiong Chang's eyes were like torches, and he continued, "China, this ancient yet young country, has now shown unprecedented vitality and vigor. Whether it is economy, industry, education, or military strength and scientific and technological strength, we have achieved rapid development. And these are incomparable to Fuso. Although Fuso is still strong today, it has lost its former glory in front of China. In terms of military strength, our navy and air force have formed an absolute crushing trend against Fuso; in terms of scientific and technological strength, our innovation ability and research and development strength are far superior to Fuso. Therefore, I can say without exaggeration that Fuso's failure is doomed. The moment the war burned to Fuso's homeland, Fuso's fate was irreversible."

There was an unshakable confidence in Xiong Chang's words, and his voice echoed in the reception room, like a heavy hammer, hitting Mitsui Kazuki's heart.

However, Mitsui Kazuki was not intimidated by Xiong Chang's words. He sneered and slammed the teacup in his hand on the table, splashing the tea everywhere, as if venting his inner dissatisfaction. His eyes flashed coldly, and his voice was low and threatening: "Director Xiong, you are too confident. Do you think that you can change the fate of Fuso with just your one-sided words? Don't forget, this is Fuso, it's our territory. Aren't you afraid that I will call someone to arrest you and send you to the Prime Minister's Office?"