Kazuya, meanwhile, had got up from his throne and descended the dais slowly. He'd noticed the Russian delegation standing nearby. He knew social niceties were not his forte, and he intended to try and not cause trouble for a potential alliance, but at the same time, surely this military man the Russians had sent might appreciate that he was not one to take an insult lightly. He clasped his hands behind his back and inquired with a cold smile of the Russian general:
"So the whole of the Russian Federation sends its sympathies, does it? Was that also the purpose of that JACK robot you entered into my father's tournament?"
When they noticed Kazuya coming toward them, General Svetozar Molchalin and his staff respectfully bowed to him again. The general kept a serious face as he listened to Kazuya and replied,
"We had to test who we would do business with. And test our JACKs. What better place to do so than that tournament? Now that you've proved you were worthy, we do hope our relations will be cordial and beneficial for both our country and your corporation."
"Proved I am worthy?" Kazuya said mildly. He locked eyes with the general. "Are you in the habit of testing all your business colleagues in such a manner? Perhaps I should institute some tests of my own to ascertain the worth and integrity of my potential associates."
"Not really. But I heard your corporation had that habit, so I guess it does have its reasons, your corporation has been successful for years, so, since you won, it means you are worthy and deserving of both the Mishima Zaibatsu and our respect," said the general, as he kept his serious face.
Kazuya narrowed his eyes. For a moment there was quiet as he considered how he wished to respond to that. Then his expression became lighter. "You are correct that martial superiority demonstrates worth and a good reason to show respect. I agree with you on this. In fact, your robot performed well in the tournament, far better than that lame entry my father entered. I suppose it must be down to the Mishima Zaibatsu-built programming it's running off, am I right?"
"The Mishima Zaibatsu had a good robot but despite this, it was still at the stage of prototype. Its inventor stayed in Russia to help his motherland. I guess the prototype will help you go into your own direction but our inventor has years of knowledge on robotics." The general then added, "But I have no doubt you will succeed in improving it."
Kazuya gave an amused smile. "I don't care at all for robotics. Frankly I think machinery can only ever be as good as those programming it. The real secrets lie in unlocking the codes in our biology. Organisms are far more complex computers than those we can currently build." Kazuya received a glass of champagne from a waiter and sipped at it. He returned his attention to General Molchalin. "I'm curious about this inventor though. What is his name?"
The general looked a bit relieved when Kazuya mentioned that he didn't care about robotics - the Mishima Zaibatsu may not try to steal their robots anymore... He nodded in approbation at Kazuya's statement about biology. Yet he did get a bit distrustful once Kazuya asked the name of the inventor... But technically it was not like the Mishima Zaibatsu didn't know about him... They stole his first prototype, so they knew... And besides, he was proud to have such a scientist serving his country...
"You've certainly heard of Doctor Bosconovitch? He is very renowned."
"Bosconovitch?" Kazuya had heard of him. He'd even met him once. The man was a strange one, with brilliant but unorthodox ideas. His ideas could certainly be streamlined under the careful guiding hand of the Mishima Zaibatsu, however. "Yes, I remember him. I wasn't sure if he'd retired. Well, I shall have to invite him to come here on a short research visit. I'm most keen to hear of his recent exploits. This will be a good opportunity for the Russian Federation to show their goodwill towards the Mishima Zaibatsu."
"You could indeed send an invitation to the Politburo to organise a research visit. I shall put in a word to my superiors about it. Though the doctor is indeed very old... We shall have to see..." the general said, who stood stiffly like all of his staff.
"Perfect. I hope you will personally oversee this and make it happen, General. I'm sure you're a very influential gentleman and that the Russian Federation are serious in their intention to have good relations with me." Kazuya set him with a steady gaze. "See that the good doctor is sent to me as soon as you get back."
"I can assure you that I shall talk about your invitation as soon as I am back in Russia, Mishima-sama," General Svetozar Molchalin said with a slight nod. Yet he didn't look too enthusiastic about the idea...
Kazuya gave a smirk, pleased with the response, and even more pleased by the unhappy expression the general wore. "Then I think we shall get along just fine, General. You seem like a fine person after all, and I didn't even have to challenge you to personal combat to test your worth." His eyes twinkled as he said that.
The general still didn't really appreciate the reply, he felt he looked like a coward but then his orders were to have good relations with the Mishima Zaibatsu, so he tried to say nothing that would spoil those relations for now... He only said, "I am glad we are getting along, we will then be able to peacefully exchange many technologies and help each other..." His country needed the Mishima Zaibatsu on their side, the enemy must not have them as allies... The Mishima Zaibatsu was too powerful to neglect...
Kazuya enjoyed the way the General continued reluctantly agreeing with him. Perhaps this wasn't going to be such a dull memorial after all. He considered drawing out the moment and enjoying the stiff-lipped humiliation of the man before him, but he decided against it. The backing of the Russian Federation was no small thing, even in this day and age, and there was no need to make a fast enemy of the General, whose company Kazuya much preferred to some others present at the memorial... His eyes strayed around the room and found de Rochefort, the pacifist oil baron, in animated conversation with his father's old business partners, Yamamoto and Maeda. Kazuya gave a huff of a sigh.
"As much as I would like to stay and talk technology with you, General, there are some others, less deserving of my time, but more in need of it. Thank you for attending my father's memorial. Please convey my appreciation to your superiors. The Mishima Zaibatsu is happy to continue doing business with you, and I'm sure we can increase our business opportunities together in future."
The general bowed once more and said in his still serious tone, "I understand. Please do. It has been a pleasure talking to you, Mishima-sama."
Lee, meanwhile, had been talking to some minor business partner, when he noticed Kazuya was talking to people... Just to contradict him when he'd said Kazuya was too shy... But it was also a good thing, Lee wouldn't have to talk to everyone around... The commissioner and his friend may have been polite but Lee still yearned to go back home as soon as possible...
Kazuya nodded to General Molchalin and took his leave. He moved idly, taking his time to drift through the crowd with his champagne glass.
"Mishima-sama!" A young woman in a formal black kimono but with a large camera and a press card about her neck stopped in front of him. "Could I get a few words for-"
"Speak to my secretary." He pointed his hand rudely in her face, directing her attention towards Lee's silvery head a few paces away. He strode off before she could say anything more. The journalist blinked for a moment, then she hurried up to Lee and immediately said to him,
"So the rumours are true, Lee-san? You're Mishima-sama's brother, but he's made you his secretary?
Lee had just finished speaking with those guests when he noticed Kazuya pointing at him and the journalist suddenly coming toward him. Her questions made him freeze in embarrassment for a moment. He looked at her with a troubled gaze, not expecting those questions to his face so quickly. Then he politely bowed to her and said, trying to look calm and elegant,
"In a manner of speaking. If you'll excuse me, I have to take care of something..." He then turned his back on her and began walking as fast as he could amidst the crowd to lose her. He definitely could not stay here now... He could not face this public humiliation... He quickly took a door and went outside before he looked to see if he lost her or not.
The journalist, one doggedly persistent Matsuo Megumi, tried to keep up with Lee as he walked.
"Wait, Lee-san!" She cursed as she stumbled with her heels on the hem of her mourning kimono. When she looked back up, Lee seemed to have vanished. She looked around wildly, trying to find him. She gave a huff. These Mishimas were surprisingly hard to pin down. She resolved to stalk the room trying to find him.
Kazuya watched the exchange from a distance, mildly amused by this. He meandered his way to de Rochefort, and his father's business partners.
"Mr Mishima!" de Rochefort greeted. The man didn't know Japanese, so was conversing in English. "I was just explaining to Mr Maeda here that you and I first met some time ago, but hahah, it turns out Mr Maeda and Mr Yamamoto here have known you even longer! Since you were a boy even!" Kazuya's expression became cold. He looked at de Rochefort with hateful eyes. De Rochefort withered before the look, and an uncomfortable silence fell between them.
Meanwhile Maeda Saburou noticed how Kazuya greeted Mr de Rochefort and his expression showed that he wasn't very surprised. That Mishima Kazuya was such a bully... So unlike his father... When Mishima Heihachi had sent his son on one of his first business assignments, Maeda remembered how that violent Kazuya had dared attack him and backhand him across the face. He'd even beaten his vice-president... At least Mishima Heihachi, who was a civilized man, had apologised for his uncontrollable son, but Mishima Kazuya didn't seem to have changed much from all he heard about him and the way he now greeted Mr de Rochefort… He turned toward him and slightly bowed but his expression didn't look very warm...
"Yes…" Maeda said, "We told Mr de Rochefort that we knew you as a boy because Mishima Heihachi has been an esteemed associate for such a long time... Your father was such a noble man... We are very sad for his departure... My sympathies, Mishima-sama... I shall really miss your father..."
Yamamoto stood in his fur-lined coat with his arms folded, nodding at the scene. "Indeed. I knew Heihachi for decades, he was always noble at heart and a ruthless businessman, as all good businessmen should be."
Kazuya could feel a faint prickle of anxiety as he confronted the three men before him. He was beginning to wish he'd kept Lee at his side for moments like these. He looked at Maeda and remembered the way this man had easily crumpled when he'd hit him. It somehow helped him feel in control of the situation.
"Your sympathies are much appreciated," he said to Maeda, with no effort to mean it at all. "But you needn't miss my father. I'm here to take his place, and everyone who benefited with him will be taken care of by me." He left that sentence deliberately ambiguous and gave a faint, cold smile.
Maeda noticed the coldness in Kazuya's words and the threats hidden in those somehow enraged him. "You sound a bit cold while addressing the topic of your dead father... But I guess it is still the surprise of it... It happened so fast... We all lost him so fast, I cannot blame you for being under the shock... I hope you feel better soon..."
Kazuya's eyes narrowed. That Maeda was certainly accusing him of something. "You deign to pass judgement on how a son mourns his father?" De Rochefort looked uncomfortable and intertwined his hands together anxiously. "I'm beginning to think you didn't know my father at all, Maeda-san," Kazuya continued. "I am exactly what Mishima Heihachi intended me to be: his heir, schooled from childhood to have no fear and no time for weakness. I will rule the Zaibatsu in his image - with an iron fist. And everyone who still stands by what my father built up and supports me will see their profits doubled - quadrupled even. And those that oppose me..." He let his eyes linger on the cheek he'd struck Maeda on when he'd been sent to make him compliant. He gave a cold smile.
Maeda Saburou regretted his words almost as soon as he said them. But he still didn't hold Mishima Kazuya in his heart... That man was still a bully... He certainly didn't act like his father... Mishima Heihachi would never have hit him in the face like his son did... He was like Yamamoto said: noble at heart and a ruthless businessman... But ruthless didn't mean being a brute... He now didn't really know how to get out of this. He could very well see the trouble he was causing Mr de Rochefort but he could not back away... Yet he also remembered how Kazuya treated him and his vice-president... "I knew your father very well, and I do hope you will turn out to be like him... You've barely begun your reign... I wish you the best for it..."
Kazuya could see fear now, so he seized on it in an effort to bring all three men under his control. "Oh, I'm sure you will find me very like him." He gave another fractional smirk. "I fully intend to keep building up the Zaibatsu and growing its influence. To do that, I will need the full support of my father's business allies. I will honour all the existing contracts he made with all of you, and I expect to open new contracts with each of you as well."
There was another awkward pause, before de Rochefort quickly inserted nervously: "Well, haha, I'm not legally even permitted to rescind on my contract, and I certainly don't intend to." Then in an effort to look more supportive, he added, "The Mishima Zaibatsu has made me very wealthy and I have full confidence in you, Mr Mishima."
Osamu Yamamoto frowned and looked more thoughtful at this. "You are very direct, Kazuya-san, but to the point. I like to see strength in a business proposition, and you certainly have confidence, I'll give you that. I hope you also have a good business head on your shoulders, but I am hardly concerned about that, since, as you said, Heihachi raised you himself." Yamamoto turned to Maeda. "Mishima Kazuya has been taught even the most secret styles of the Mishima Family Karate, you know, I have no doubt Heihachi fully invested in his abilities in both business and fighting - those were his two passions in life, you know. Well," Yamamoto gave a small laugh, "That and bears. I wonder where Heihachi-sama's dear old bear went..." He looked around the room as if expecting a bear to be walking around the memorial.
Maeda listened to Kazuya talking about honouring their contracts but he also thought he would never renew his contract with that man or accept anything new. Kazuya was a bullying brute. Yet he was relieved that Osamu Yamamoto took the attention since he wasn't sure what expression he was actually pulling and didn't want to bring Kazuya's fury on himself... But still he would never accept to ally with him. Yet the mention of Kazuya knowing the Mishima Family Karate made him nervous again... He knew it too well... But again the bear in the conversation changed the subject and Maeda decided to concentrate on this and not on the renewal of their contracts...
"Oh, yes, Kuma! His beloved bear... He is so intelligent... I am amazed by Heihachi's love for animals... How he cared so much for his bear... It was so touching to see them together..."
Kazuya's lip twitched at all this talk of Kuma. He'd tried to have that cursed bear rounded up and taken to a laboratory, but so far his staff were too afraid or incompetent or both to catch the creature. Kazuya hated the idea of it roaming feral somewhere on his estate. He was glad to hear de Rochefort's support though, and especially Yamamoto's, since if Yamamoto was persuaded by the stability of Kazuya's leadership, many others would follow suit. Those many others were unlikely to include Maeda. Maeda looked like he was deliberately dodging the topic of contracts. Somehow Heihachi was ruining Kazuya's plans even from beyond the grave. He'd sent him to beat sense into Maeda, and likely neglected to mention the order had been his. Kazuya wasn't stupid enough to admit to intimidation tactics in a room full of people, even if it was to absolve him of responsibility for the act. Anyway, who would listen to him over the great, late Mishima Heihachi. He gave Maeda a cold smile. He'd just have to use Lee to bring this man around later. A little charm and flattery, and Maeda was sure to fall in line like everyone else. Talking of Lee... Kazuya glanced around the room. Lee was usually easy to spot in a crowd. He better not have left , Kazuya thought to himself darkly. He'd have a thing or two say about it if his brother had dared to leave.