"Hey! Long ti no see, my friend."
Xiu Xin Aoyama had just entered the private room when Jas put down his glass, stood up with a laugh, and went forward to give him a hug.
Aoyama Xiu Xin also opened his arms and hugged him back.
"Long ti no see, Jas."
"Have a seat," Jas, releasing his embrace, pulled Aoyama Xiu Xin to the couch, poured him a glass of alcohol, and handed it over, "Let’s toast to our reunion."
"Cheers." Aoyama Xiu Xin took the glass with a smile, clinked it with Jas’s, and then tilted his head back to finish it in one gulp.
"Ah~ That’s strong!" After drinking, Jas let out a long breath, set down his glass, and launched into his own recent experience, "I’ve been so caught up in exercises and training, I haven’t had a chance to drink like this in a long ti. So, Mr. Aoyama, you’ve got to keep company until we can’t drink anymore!"
"Of course, Jas, your Japanese has improved again," complinted Aoyama Xiu Xin, giving a thumbs-up.
"Haha, really? Your approval ans a lot to , you being Japanese and all," Jas grinned, showing his big white teeth, grabbed the bottle to refill Aoyama’s glass, and joked, "After all, I might want to beco the commander of the US military stationed in Japan in the future, so I must speak fluent Japanese, right? How else could I cooperate with you when you’re the Pri Minister of Japan? I can’t always expect you to accommodate by speaking English, can I? What do you think, Mr. Aoyama?"
"Hahaha, yes, yes, I’ll be Pri Minister of Japan, you’ll be the commander, we both have bright futures ahead of us." Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily and then raised his glass, "To the future!"
"To the future." Jas also lifted his glass.
After the second round, Aoyama Xiu Xin started on the fruit platter on the table, feigning ignorance, "Jas, what brings you to Sapporo all of a sudden? Have you been training in Hokkaido recently, so you decided to grab a drink with ?"
"Can’t it just be because I missed Mr. Aoyama?" Jas quickly wrapped an arm around his shoulders, making a playful face like good buddies.
Observing his antics, Aoyama Xiu Xin felt amused, his expression a mix of a smile and a smirk.
"Alright," Jas let go, putting down his glass and said seriously, "Didn’t the Titan Gang get wiped out by you guys? So, I wanted to tell Mr. Aoyama that the thirty thousand US dollars you promised each month, you don’t have to keep paying it."
As he spoke, Jas’s glance fixed on Aoyama Xiu Xin. His hand clenched into a fist, he dared not even breathe too loudly.
"Jas, what kind of a man do you take for?" Aoyama Xiu Xin carelessly spat out a grape seed, feigning annoyance, "Did you think it was because of the Titan Gang that I gave you those thirty thousand dollars? No! It was because of you as a person! Whether or not the Titan Gang exists doesn’t affect the terms we agreed upon, thirty thousand as usual."
Jas’s suspended heart sank with relief. His previously tensed body suddenly relaxed, and sowhat sheepishly, he said, "This... is this really okay?"
The mont he had seen in the newspaper that the Titan Gang had been eradicated by the Hokkaido Police, he imdiately wanted to call Aoyama Xiu Xin to ask whether the promise of thirty thousand dollars a month was still good.
But he ca from a significant background and quickly cald himself down, thinking it would look bad to ask too eagerly and that he should wait for Aoyama Xiu Xin to reach out to him.
However, to his surprise, he waited and waited but never received a call from Aoyama Xiu Xin, which made him worry that perhaps Aoyama was too busy and had forgotten about their arrangent.
That’s why he made the special trip today.
Although he had confird that he would still receive the thirty thousand dollars a month, it was very different from before.
Before, it was Aoyama Xiu Xin paying him thirty thousand to not endorse the Titan Gang, and he felt justified in taking the money.
But now, with the Titan Gang gone and Aoyama still giving him thirty thousand, it felt like it was for nothing. As an Arican who still sowhat cared about his dignity, the idea of taking free money made him feel embarrassed and guilty.
"What’s wrong with that? What’s our relationship? Friends! Friend!" Aoyama Xiu Xin wrapped an arm around Jas’s shoulders, speaking with vigor, "Don’t ntion the ager thirty thousand a month. In the future, I might need to spend money to help you get promoted to commander!"
The latter half of his statent still sounded like a joke, but Jas couldn’t help but fantasize—what if it wasn’t a joke?
"If that’s the case, I won’t stand on ceremony with Mr. Aoyama. If there’s anything you need from , just say the word!" Jas assured in a decisive tone.
"Don’t worry, I’ve never been shy with true friends," Aoyama Xiu Xin nonchalantly pushed the empty glass towards Jas, patted his shoulder, and said, "I will definitely ask for help when it’s ti."
"I just love Mr. Aoyama’s straightforwardness," Jas quickly filled Aoyama’s glass, this ti using both hands to hold the bottle, barely lifting himself off the sofa.
Eating soone’s food makes one soft, taking soone’s money makes one short.
Now that he was going to start receiving money from Aoyama every month without any strings attached, he unconsciously felt lower in status, unable to treat Aoyama with the sa equity as before.
Aoyama Xiu Xin observed his reaction and, with a slight curl of his lips, emptied his glass and wiped his mouth, saying, "It’s not just about liking my straightforwardness."
"Hahaha! Hahahahaha!" Jas laughed uproariously, slapping his thigh as if he could laugh himself into unconsciousness, "Humorous! Mr. Aoyama, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard."
What a guy, this Arican’s getting the hang of it.
Now understood by Aoyama Xiu Xin, even if he told the coldest joke, Jas would burst into laughter.
That’s more like it.
Why hadn’t he contacted Jas about the thirty thousand after the Titan Gang was taken down?
Wasn’t it to wait for Jas to beco impatient and reach out to him, so that he could take control of their interactions?
Jas’s background was impressive, and his starting point was high, but his family fortunes had dwindled, leaving him unsupported. With the right resources, he had great potential.
Aoyama Xiu Xin was interested in investing in him, but he didn’t want to let Jas, bolstered by his resources, to beco complacent and turn the tables. He needed to establish who was the leader and who was the subordinate right from the start.
Of course, as he helped Jas climb the ranks, he had to progress as well, or else it was all over.
"Even the best joke requires an interesting audience to really shine, otherwise it’s just a waste of breath," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head as he swirled his wine glass and asked, "Are there any openings in the contingent stationed in Japan recently?"
"Mr. Aoyama, by ’openings,’ do you an..." Jas’s heart skipped a beat as a guess suddenly popped into his head, but he wasn’t sure and feigned calmness.
Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled faintly, saying with insouciance, "A vacancy that a Lieutenant Colonel could fill."
"Ah!" Jas’s breath caught, his face quickly turning beet red. He tried to take a drink to calm his nerves, but his hand trembled, spilling the liquor, and he said with a shaky voice, "You an, Mr. Aoyama, that..."
"I said I would help you beco the Commander of the US military stationed in Japan, didn’t I?" Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a nonchalant smile, "Though a Lieutenant Colonel is far from being a Commander, there’s an old saying in China, ’A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ Take it one step at a ti, right?"
"Mr. Aoyama!" As his guess was confird, Jas was overjoyed, hugging Aoyama Xiu Xin excitedly, then let go and said hurriedly, "Mr. Aoyama, you are my friend for life, a friend I would give my life for!"
What excited him wasn’t just that Aoyama Xiu Xin was willing to fund his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, but that Aoyama’s words about supporting his rise to Commander of the US forces in Japan were not in jest!
After all, with his background and starting point, he could at the very least make Colonel and retire, but no amount of enduring could make him a Major General, let alone rise to the rank of Lieutenant General and beco the Commander of the US forces in Japan.
"A friend you would give your life for? Is that still a friend? That’s a comrade-in-arms," Aoyama Xiu Xin looked at Jas with a slight tilt of his head and said solemnly, "I hope we can be comrades-in-arms, advancing together on the battlefield of life, surviving, living spectacularly."
"Yes, sir!" Jas nodded emphatically, saying with conviction, "I’ll rember that, Mr. Aoyama."
He certainly understood what Aoyama Xiu Xin ant; the other was investing in him, expecting to harvest returns in the future.
Jas was not averse to this, for without Aoyama Xiu Xin’s investnt, he would have no future, so he was also very grateful that the other would secure his future.
Even though he didn’t know what he could offer Aoyama Xiu Xin in return if he did beco the Commanding Officer of the US forces in Japan.
But that wasn’t important.
"Sit down, let’s continue our conversation about what we were discussing just now."
Jas then sat down, saying, "There’s no vacancy for the ti being, but as long as you have enough money, there will be enough vacancies, Mr. Aoyama, you should understand that."
The US military was already corrupt, not to ntion these overseas contingents that were far from the Emperor, and therefore all the more rotten.
"Alright, you handle it on your own or use your family connections to make it happen, I’ll foot the bill for everything," Aoyama Xiu Xin said in a calm tone.
The value of money lies in its being spent, otherwise it’s just a string of numbers or a pile of worthless paper.
Jas swallowed hard and said earnestly, "You are the most charismatic person I’ve ever t."
Aoyama Xiu Xin’s heart tightened, and he quickly took a sip of his drink to calm his nerves, saying, "Jas, I like making friends with military n, so if you get a chance, introduce to so of your comrades-in-arms."
Although Jas seed like the most suitable investnt at the mont, it was important not to only interact with him. It was necessary to buy over a few more, and also to keep him a little anxious.
"Of course, it would be an honor for them," Jas felt a twinge in his heart, subconsciously not wanting to share the support of Aoyama Xiu Xin, but then he quickly agreed.
Because refusal or procrastination would provoke Aoyama Xiu Xin’s displeasure, and Aoyama could easily get to know the young officers inside the US forces in Japan on his own initiative, without Jas’s introduction.
So it was best to be straightforward, to keep Aoyama Xiu Xin satisfied and to owe those comrades he introduced a favor, especially since he already had the advantage, he just needed to maintain his lead.
Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his glass, "Cheers."
"Cheers," Jas clinked glasses with him.
.................
Moving from Major to Lieutenant Colonel seed like just one rank, but the difficulty was not small. Jas contacted his retired grandfather to try using his old military connections.
While promotions could be bought, there had to be a way to spend the money properly, or else it might either not be spent at all or be ineffective when spent.
He told Old Jas about being funded by his ’Sugar Daddy’ Aoyama Xiu Xin, and Old Jas shared his view: regardless of whatever Aoyama Xiu Xin was ultimately after, for now, it was best to take the offered benefit and worry about the rest later.
After all, Aoyama Xiu Xin couldn’t possibly one day expect him to lead a coup with the US forces in Japan or help counterattack the United States, could he? If not, then there was nothing to be too concerned about.
Once the right connections were made, and the money was spent, the results followed. A month later, Jas was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander for ritorious performance, while his forr direct superior was dealt with for making a mistake.
In truth, that mistake had been made half a year ago, involving the indecent assault of a Japanese male student. He had not been dealt with at the ti not because of his powerful connections, but because the unlucky student had no background, and at the ti, there was no value in dealing with him. But now, removing him was very valuable.
Upon receiving news of the promotion, an elated Jas imdiately called Aoyama Xiu Xin to report the good news. His deanor on the phone was even more humble and respectful than usual.
As for his sudden promotion, so forr colleagues were naturally envious, insisting on him treating them. Around a dinner table, he looked around and said with a secretive air, "Do you know why I got promoted?"
The room fell silent instantly, as a dozen junior and field-grade officers all turned to look at him at once.
Being stationed in Japan, without much chance to distinguish oneself in action, Jas’s inexplicable promotion already seed sowhat odd.
"Jas, spit it out, don’t keep us in suspense."
"Yeah, if you’ve got a good channel, you must share it with us brothers!"
A few of the majors eagerly chid in.
While the junior officers, subordinates of the few, dared not speak, their eyes were also incredibly fiery.
Everyone wanted to advance, after all!
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