Ch. 47: The False Tycoon
3:30 PM, July 12th, 1921, Kyōbashi District, Tokyo, Japan
The Kyōbashi District of Tokyo was a perfect example of Japanese modernization. While still dotted with several older traditional wooden buildings, the many multi-storied Western-styled brick buildings and shops that lined the streets were the most noticeable structures. Many people, dressed in either traditional-Japanese or Western-style dress, constantly walked up and down the long promenade of shops and businesses. Trolleys, automobiles, and some carts could be seen traversing the long streets. The street was also lined with power lines that were linked to practically all the buildings.
One building that stood out was a three-story high Victorian-style brick building. Each floor was lined with multiple decorative window frames while a metal fence surrounded the entire building. The only spot that wasn't fenced in were the brick stairs that led to a set of large wooden doors. Instead a metal gate and railing separated the building from the sidewalk.
Two Japanese businessmen, who were walking past the building, starting talking about rumors they had heard.
"I don't remember this metal fencing always being here." said the first man.
"That's because it wasn't there until recently." answered the second man. "Apparently some wealthy Westerner by the name of Mr. Lamperouge bought the building and converted it into a personal residence."
"Any idea on who he is along with his background?"
"No. In fact no one exactly knows who he is." the second man explained. "Supposedly Mr. Lamperouge is from America or Canada and he makes his money via large scale investments in various industries."
"Wonder why he would be living in Japan?" asked the first man.
"Rumor has it that it is because he's is here to oversee and invest large amounts of money into the silk and fabric industry. Another rumor is that he is primarily a banker and he's here to negotiate a massive loan to the government."
"Surprised that's all we really know about this guy." said the first man. "I mean wouldn't someone that wealthy been widely known by now?"
"One would think so. However even though Mr. Lamperouge has only appeared into the spotlight recently, his investment firm and overall organization have been existing much longer." the second man explained.
While the two men continued walking and talking with one another, Seo Dong-sun, wearing a trench coat and flat cap, walked past them and approached the metal gate. He unlocked the gate and proceeded to head towards the large doors. Using the same key he used to unlock the gate, Seo unlocked the wooden doors and proceeded to enter the building.
Upon entering, one could see the foyer was well decorated and filled with various luxury items such as chairs, cabinets, and paintings. Connected to the foyer on the first floor was the kitchen and the lounge room. A staircase lined with hand-crafted wooden banisters led to the second floor.
Seo walked up the stairs and walked down the hallway on the second floor. Various different apartment rooms for "housekeepers and servants" filled the second floor. After walking down the hallway, he walked up the stairs leading to the third floor. Like the second floor, the third floor was filled with many rooms. He then approached one of the doors and proceeded to knock.
"Ze-...I mean Mr. Lamperouge. It's me." Seo said.
"Come in!" said a voice on the other side of the door."
Seo opened the door and entered an office that had green carpeting, silk drapes lining the window, a chandelier, file cabinets, several chairs, and a large desk. Lying on the desk was a brass inkwell and a telephone.
Sitting behind the desk was Lelouch Lamperouge, who was wearing a three-piece suit and in the process of filling out bank forms and financial papers.
"Just received some more intel from several sympathizers Mr. Lamperouge." said Seo as he pulled out a large envelope from inside his coat pocket.
Lelouch grabbed the envelope and opened it to examine its contents. Inside were various photos of Prince Fumimaro Konoe and Prince Yamagata Aritomo.
"You weren't kidding when you said finding them in public would be difficult. A few of the photographers were almost caught trying to get one photo of them in the distance."
"Apparently these guys are either camera shy or doing something that they don't want others to know." Lelouch said as he repeatedly flipped through all the photos.
"Do any of these photos reveal anything sir?" Seo asked.
"Sadly it seems to only reveal stuff we already know. Just shows them either talking with officials walking with them or entering places of recreation."
"What will you do now sir?"
"I want you to continue surveillance on these guys. They have to make a twitch eventually. I also want you to transfer more money from our oversea holdings to here." instructed Lelouch.
"More money? I'm sorry to say this once again, but I'm a little unclear how this massive concentration of money here has anything to do with this operation."
"Things will be much clearer as time goes on Seo. Just leave the money issue to me."
"Very well." Seo replied before exiting the office.
10:27 AM, July 30th, 1921, Kojima HQ, Marunouchi District, Tokyo, Japan
The Marunouchi District, which was known for being Tokyo's financial district, was dotted with many Western-styled buildings, each one housing a different corporation or bank. The Kojima Group's headquarters resided in a large, multi-storied, neoclassical-style stone building.
Sitting on a chair outside of the corporate boardroom was Prince Fushimi Sadanaru, who was wearing a clean single breasted suit, a waistcoat, and a tie. As he waited for the corporate meeting inside the boardroom to be finished, Sadanaru decided to read the daily newspaper to pass the time. One of the articles he read was titled "HITLER NAMED FÜHRER OF NAZI PARTY".
"Yesterday in Munich, Germany, Adolf Hitler, Chairman of the National Socialist German Worker's Party (aka Nazi Party) has been given the title of Führer. This development comes about one day after Hitler was almost unanimously appointed to the position of Party Chairman, therefore replacing Anton Drexler, founder of the German Worker's Party, the antecedent of the current Nazi Party. Known for his oratorial skills by contemporaries, Hitler's ascension to the top undoubtedly will affect the future growth of the Nazi Party."
Suddenly the doors leading into the boardroom swung open and several men wearing suits walked out. Upon seeing Sadanaru, each one of the men stopped and bowed their heads slightly before proceeding to continue walking. Once the crowd left, Sadanaru walked into the boardroom.
The boardroom consisted of a long wooden table with various chairs positioned around it. Sitting at the opposite end of the table was Ichiro Kojima, a thick mustached, well-dressed man in his late 40's.
"Your Highness, I apologize for the wait." said the man as he got up and bowed.
"Don't apologize." Sadanaru responded. "Anyway you said on the phone earlier that you wanted to talk about something that could potentially threaten our plans?"
"That is correct. Recently a wealthy foreign man by the name of Lelouch Lamperouge has bought a luxurious home here and is bringing more and more money to Japan from bank accounts in America, Hong Kong, British India, and French Indochina. Lately he's been investing a fortune in bonds and numerous small manufacturing industries." answered Kojima.
"How exactly does this threaten our upcoming plans?"
"Well nobody really knows anything about this Mr. Lamperouge. I've had my private investigators dig up any info on him and they came back mostly empty handed." explained Kojima. "However they did find some records showing large flows of money moving between here and banks in Shanghai."
"Shanghai, the capitol of the so-called Korean government in exile and the Black Army." Sadanaru mumbled to himself. "Are you therefore suggesting this Mr. Lamperouge fellow is acting as a financial backer for both groups?"
"That is correct sir. I even managed to contact the Kojima Bank Shanghai-branch to watch over any supremely large monetary flows from Japan and what they found was that it would always be withdrawn the next day by representatives of various Christian charity organizations, which are probably front organizations."
"Well I can see how Mr. Lamperouge could be a threat to us. Since he's operating here in Japan, I should be able to charge him of conspiracy of funding enemy insurgents and arrange an arrest warrant on him." Sadanaru replied.
"With all do respects I think that might not be the best idea."
Sadanaru then looked at Kojima with a confused look on his face.
"Though we know Mr. Lamperouge is investing money here in Japan and sending some of the profits to Shanghai, we still don't know where is he getting the money to make the investments in the first place. We don't even have direct proof he is funding the Koreans and Black Army." explained Kojima. "And if we arrest an innocent individual for simply making business transactions, then this nation's reputation when it comes to economic policy will surely be sullied."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Sadanaru asked.
"I think we should approach Mr. Lamperouge and become more acquainted to him. Once he has our trust, we can probably extract whatever info we want out of him without the risk of damaging this nation's image to overseas businesses and investors." Kojima replied.
"You make a very good point. I shall contact my associates as soon as possible. Meanwhile I want you find a location where you can interact with Mr. Lamperouge without external interference."
"Perhaps my country estate can fulfill that requirement." said Kojima. "A day full of leisure with him should allow me to gain his trust and therefore the opportunity to find out his true motivations."
"Make it quick. We don't have much time until the first phase of our plan is put into action."
"Of course your Highness." said Kojima as he bowed.
3:45 PM, August 2nd, 1921, Kyōbashi District, Tokyo
Lelouch was writing in his journal as he sat in a luxury armchair inside the lounge room. A partially eaten sandwich along with a teapot of tea was on a silver platter laying on a table adjacent to the armchair.
"It has been months since we have set up our base of operations here in Tokyo. No signs of the authorities being suspicious of our activities. Dietrich and his team have really done a good job maintaining our false identity. Seo, Roh, Park, and Jeong are also doing a great job performing their roles as my personal assistants and servants. Nobody suspects them of also gathering intelligence. Meanwhile Kae, as my "secretary", has been really keeping everything organized.
So far none of my actions have gotten any response. Due to the Japanese elites' control over much of the businesses and banking, the massive spending, transactions, and investments I have deliberately left out in the open should've caught their attention by now. With the intelligence gathering only producing low value information, my only shot towards finding out Hirohito's plan is by becoming part of the elite. If I don't come up with anything soon, I fear the Provisional Government will stop funding this operation, therefore threatening the operation along with the Black Army's reputation." Lelouch wrote in his journal.
"Mr. Lamperouge, sorry to interrupt but a letter has arrived for you." said Jeong as he walked into the lounge.
"Just leave it on the platter."
Jeong then placed the letter on the platter as instructed and proceeded to exit the room. Lelouch then stopped writing in his journal. He then proceeded to open and read the letter.
"Dear Mr. Lelouch Lamperouge,
I have noticed you have been heavily investing in Japanese bonds and industries. The Greater Japanese Empire couldn't be any more thankful for your decision to choose us to do business with. Various factories have grown and more of Japan's citizens have jobs thanks to your investments.
It is also my knowledge that you just arrived here from overseas within the past few months. It would therefore be an honor to introduce you to Japan and its citizens. I have an estate out in the countryside where we can formally introduce ourselves to one another. I was also thinking of using this as an opportunity to work together. I hope you accept my invitation for cooperation I believe is the best for the both of us.
-Ichiro Kojima, Chairman of the Kojima Group"
"Jeong!" Lelouch yelled.
"What is it sir?" asked Jeong as he entered the lounge once more.
"Tell Kae to cancel anything I had planned for tomorrow. I'll be out in the countryside doing some investigation of my own." said Lelouch as he gave a sinister look on his face.
Author's Notes: I deeply apologize for the long wait. I have been working a lot and have been partially working on a potential novel. I thank all those who have decided to follow this.
Anyway we see Zero pretending to be Lelouch Lamperouge, wealthy investor of mysterious origins while the Zero Division is pretending to be his staff. Due to the massive economic activity that he has done in public along with Japan's elite fearing any form of potential competition, Lelouch finally has gotten the Japanese elite to approach him, giving him the potential chance to infiltrate the Japan's inner circle.