Chapter 397: Takiji Group

A certain high-end hotel.

Chen Che stood in the magnificent hotel lobby, the marble floor reflecting the brilliant light of the crystal chandelier. He looked up at the towering ceiling and muttered to himself, "These two grand dames really don't treat themselves poorly."

On the same day Chen Che took a private plane to Japan, two other young and beautiful women also set off.

However, after arriving here, they found a hideout for themselves to act as undercover agents.

Chen Che came to see them today mainly to meet up and prepare for future plans.

It was just that Chen Che had assumed they would choose a low-key place to hide; he hadn't expected these two grand dames to move directly into this hotel—the second most luxurious in the city after the one he was staying in—as their temporary residence.

As expected, one should always treat oneself well at any time.

Ji Xuan returned from the front desk and said, "It has been taken care of."

Chen Che nodded, then accompanied Ji Xuan into the sleek elevator to reach the presidential suite on the top floor of the hotel.

"Uh..."

The door opened slowly, but what met his eyes was an unbelievable mess.

Expensive furniture had been pushed aside at will, and all sorts of items were scattered across the floor, from high-end cosmetics to designer clothing, and even discarded champagne bottles; everything appeared chaotic and disorganized.

Particularly eye-catching were the stockings of various colors and styles thrown randomly in every corner; some hung on the back of the sofa, some were wrapped around table legs, and others were piled carelessly on the expensive carpet like forgotten works of art.

The disorderly placement of these stockings formed a sharp contrast with the hotel's luxurious atmosphere, leaving Chen Che feeling both surprised and confused.

Chen Che's brows furrowed tightly; he suddenly recalled the state of Lin Qingye's room—this place had a similar vibe.

He carefully picked his way through the living room, trying to find a path to the inner chamber amidst the chaos.

When Ji Xuan pushed open the door to the inner chamber, the scene before them left Chen Che completely stunned.

Song Jinhe and Cheng Kexin were sitting at an exquisite mahjong table, playing Fight the Landlord with a cleverly designed robot Puppet.

The robot Puppet's shell shimmered with a metallic luster, and its electronic eyes flashed with excitement, as if it were full of enthusiasm for the game.

"Watch my rocket!" Song Jinhe shouted excitedly, slamming her cards onto the table.

"Wait, I have a bigger one!" Cheng Kexin was not to be outdone, immediately following up by throwing out her own trump card.

The robot Puppet stood to the side, responding excitedly in its mechanical voice: "Player emotional surge detected, game entering climax stage."

Chen Che stood at the doorway, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Ji Xuan looked at Chen Che with a confused expression and asked, "Special Commissioner, are they the... partners you mentioned?"

Chen Che opened his mouth, swallowed the "I don't know them" that was on the tip of his tongue, walked into the room, and teased, "You two are quite comfortable!"

Hearing the voice, Song Jinhe and Cheng Kexin both looked over with pleasant surprise and greeted him:

"Little Junior Brother, you finally came! We were about to be bored to death!"

"Come, come, come, play cards! This lousy Puppet's AI is just not good enough; it's been dragging me down!"

"Yo! Is this Old Five's assistant? Perfect, just enough for a table of mahjong!"

Ji Xuan was full of confusion: "Old Five..."

"That's right, Old Five."

Song Jinhe stood up, "Oh right, I forgot to introduce you. We are sisters with Lin Qingye; I am ranked fourth, this is Lao Liu, and Lin Qingye is Old Five."

Cheng Kexin added, "Chen Che is the youngest."

Ji Xuan nodded in sudden realization.

Song Jinhe pulled Ji Xuan to sit at the mahjong table: "Come, let's talk while we play."

Chen Che rubbed his forehead; he decided to change the tone.

"Stop playing! I came here for serious business!"

Chen Che signaled to Ji Xuan, who took out a large blueprint and spread it on the mahjong table; it was the floor plan of the Mingzhi Shrine.

"Did you see Old Five? How is she?" Song Jinhe asked.

Chen Che looked grim: "About the same as you two."

Cheng Kexin looked at the marks made with a pencil on the blueprint and asked, "Is this the situation with the guards?"

Chen Che paused and nodded: "The layout of the Mingzhi Shrine and the deployment of the guards are all on here. Now let's think about the rescue plan we might implement if Japan refuses to release the person."

………

As night fell and the lights came on, the headquarters building of the Takiji Group was decorated like a brilliant palace.

A massive crystal chandelier cast a soft and gorgeous radiance throughout the golden hall, reflecting the luxury and refinement in every corner.

Tonight, this place would witness an unprecedented social event—the engagement party of Takiji Group Chairman Akiyama Fumio and his new wife, Miyanaga Rika.

Guests in evening wear moved through corridors decorated with fresh flowers and ribbons; the sound of their chatter, the crisp clinking of wine glasses, and the elegant melodies played by the live band intertwined, creating an atmosphere that was both extravagant and lively.

A champagne tower rose high, the golden liquid shimmering with an alluring luster under the lights, while waiters in tailcoats moved through the crowd, filling the guests' glasses.

In the center of the hall, a massive ice sculpture slowly rotated, carved with the logo of the Takiji Group and the names of the newlyweds, symbolizing their soon-to-be-linked fates.

The surrounding dining tables were set with exquisite silver and porcelain, and every dish was meticulously prepared by top chefs, making one's mouth water just from the sight of them.

Chairman Akiyama Fumio and his new wife Miyanaga Rika stood at the center of attention, their smiles appearing exceptionally dazzling under the brilliant lights.

The Chairman wore a custom-made black tuxedo with a red rose pinned to his chest, while his new wife wore a white high-end custom gown, the hem inlaid with tiny diamonds that sparkled with a charming light with her every movement.

As the engagement Ritual proceeded, the crowd's enthusiasm reached its peak. Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, dyeing the city's sky into a colorful canvas.

On this night, the luxury and power of the Takiji Group were displayed to the fullest, and this engagement party would undoubtedly become a hot topic in the city, talked about for a long time to come.

Chen Che paused in front of the champagne tower, looking up at this object that frequently appeared in business-war television dramas, his thoughts drifting.

Ji Xuan, wearing a sea-blue evening gown, leaned over, followed Chen Che's gaze, and asked, "Special Commissioner, what are you looking at?"

Chen Che said with a straight face, "I'm wondering... if I take the glass from the very bottom, will it collapse?"

"Pfft!"

Ji Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, actually following Chen Che's line of thought: "If you really want to know, why don't you give it a try?"

Chen Che turned his head to look at Ji Xuan and waved his hand: "Better not; the people from Akiyama are already annoying enough today, I shouldn't add to their troubles."

Ji Xuan looked puzzled and said, "How can you tell?"

Chen Che tilted his chin upward: "Look, those two siblings don't seem happy."

Ji Xuan followed Chen Che's gaze; Akiyama Tsuyoshi, the son of the Takiji Group chairman, was sitting in a corner with a gloomy face, ignoring all the guests, and even those who took the initiative to talk to him were shooed away; he just kept pouring drink after drink for himself.

His gloomy eyes were fixed on his young stepmother, who was standing with his old man and greeting guests in the crowd.

As for the current president of the Takiji Group, the chairman's eldest daughter Akiyama Minako, she did not have much expression on her face; although she was greeting guests out of courtesy, it was obvious she was not happy.

"A sixty-something-year-old dad finding himself a twenty-something-year-old stepmother and holding a grand banquet for it—if it were me, I wouldn't be happy either."

Ji Xuan sighed and shook her head, "Special Commissioner, but I think Akiyama Tsuyoshi's current state is a good time to fish for information; shall we go over now?"

Chen Che shook his head: "Don't you see the 'stay away' expression on this young master's face? If we go to ask him about President Lin now, he won't say anything."

"Then do we have to wait until the banquet is over? But I feel that even if the banquet ends, it will be very difficult to find an opportunity," Ji Xuan said.

Chen Che suddenly narrowed his eyes, and a burning fire of Eight Trigrams ignited within them: "We probably won't have to wait until the banquet is over... and I have a feeling we're about to see a good show."

Ji Xuan looked over suspiciously.

She discovered that the bride, Miyanaga Rika, who had just been in the crowd toasting guests, had already slipped away from the crowd.

Akiyama Tsuyoshi, who had been hiding in the corner drinking his sorrows away, was also gone, and the direction he had chased after was exactly the direction Miyanaga Rika had left in.

………