Zodiac Sigh!
Author's Note: --
Chapter 15 – Battle for Supremacy
Shizuru courteously gave way to the elderly woman who was entering the elevator. There is no point hurrying since she was fifteen minutes early. As she waited for another elevator to come, she detects that there is some commotion going on. A batch of journalists is waiting for the lift with their camera crew. She wonders what is going on. As the door opens, they all went inside until no space is available.
She could not breathe with all the people compressed inside the elevator. By the time it stops at the nineteenth floor, all of them passes out towards to the Purple Eye DBC office.
What are these people doing here?
There are two security guards blocking away the main entrance. She showed her identification card as they allowed the female employee to get in. She walked through the path when Eri greeted her.
"Oh my gosh, they're here." She asserted.
"They are here for what?"
"Haven't you heard? Purple Eye is suing Goliath Company for intellectual property infringement." She proclaimed.
"What? Since when did Goliath Company commit that?"
"Last Friday, it was all over the news this morning. In fact, Mr. Valdez sets up for today's press conference. We have a temporary break today."
Shizuru could not believe it but the media are indeed enthusiastic. They are preparing the cameras, lights, microphones and their questions. A few employees volunteered to assemble the chairs and table as both women extend their help.
At the boardroom, they aligned the tables horizontally. Each table has three chairs to sit on. One of their colleagues turns on the microphone in the podium. The lights shine moderately to accompany the brightness of the room.
Their vice-president, Goro, gave a signal to both security guards to open the main entrance. They followed his instructions as the media hurriedly went to the boardroom. All of them positioned themselves at the front as some of them get it. Unfortunately, late journalists set themselves at the back while the camera operators are rushing towards it. Tape recorders, microphones from the newscasters and video cameras were place above the table at the podium. A vacant seat in the middle indicates that Sakyo will be sitting there.
After ten minutes of preparation, Goro and Sakyo entered the boardroom with noises and buzz from the media. All of them are anticipating from his point of view regarding the crime that his main rival committed.
Both men sat down to their chairs along with the unidentified man. Mr. Hideo Arai became a temporary company arbitrator. His job is to point the journalists at random to ask important questions to the executive men.
They began with a brief introduction, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please refrain yourselves from talking. We will formally begin the press conference."
"The woman with the red jacket, please ask your question right now." He pointed out.
The female reporter proceeded, "How did you found out about Goliath Company's illegal downloading activity?"
Sakyo replied, "It is through my program that I discovered their illegal activity."
One man raised his hand as Mr. Arai gave him the permission to ask.
"May we know what kind of program that you are talking about?" he called.
This time, Goro answered his question, "It was Sakyo's self-made program called 'shadow skill'. It was there that it traced the illegal activity that the hacker created."
"Did you have the intention to trap the hacker?" one of them shouted.
Sakyo counter back, "It is my intention since the hacker corrupted my company's stocks. Not only that, he also manage to steal some important passwords that leads to important documents, stole my employees' money and lastly, he used a cheap trick to win over me."
"What are your future plans?" a female reporter asked from far behind.
"We will definitely sue them." Goro answered confidently "we have here our chief legal counsel, Mr. Taro Yamada. He will handle all those affairs."
"According to the police reports that one of your employees stole the device that contains the program 'master key'. Do you know that person?"
It was Sakyo's turn to answer, "Yes, however, I will not reveal that employee's identity for now. You will find out when this case goes to court."
A lot of buzzes and noises dominate the room, as the three men did not discuss further the details of their demands. However, they extend the conference for another hour. The media were joyful as they continued to ask more questions.
At the other side of the room, Shizuru and Eri are listening over the thin walls that divide them. All they can hear are murmurs and inaudible questions. Only the top executives have the right to get in the boardroom and no one else.
"I wonder what will happen next." Eri wondered.
"It could be the court but I don't know exactly when." Shizuru predicted.
"Do you have any idea how many millions or billions will our company sue the rival one?"
"I don't know in exact amount but definitely, it will be worth billions."
"Surely, the Goliath Company will go down and meet its end." Eri concluded.
"Maybe you are right considering the damages it caused." Shizuru commented.
"I got an idea! We can turn on the TV in the lounge room. I'm sure this conference is on the news." Eri suggested.
"Nice thinking, we are going to that room right away." Shizuru said as both of them proceeded to the lounge. However, they are not alone. Their colleagues are already watching the press conference with their eyes stuck on the television.
All of them are either sitting on their chairs, sipping their hot coffee, calling their relatives to watch the news or discussing what will be the future of their own company. This is such an intriguing day for all as Shizuru concentrated herself on the screen. The conference continued.
"How many millions will your company sue the Goliath Company?"
"According to the calculations from our lawyer, it would be worth billions considering it affects all of the company's profits." Sakyo retorted.
"Do you have any idea why Mr. Butajiri commits such thing?"
"In my opinion, it is because he had a difficult time dealing with his company's worries."
"Why did you create 'shadow skill' in the first place?"
"I created that program in order to fix the problem in case this happens. Surprisingly, it does and I had a choice to save my employees from deadly destruction." Sakyo defended.
"Do you have plans to market that program?"
"No, I don't have plans to sell it."
As the conversation goes, it tells a lot of revelation that her former employer desperately wanted to be on top again by using all means and that includes dirty tactics. In business world, it is illegal to use it and unfortunately, it became the easiest solution to acquire it.
A final sentence came from the lawyer's mouth.
"This case will be the end of their corporation."
This astounding news spreads all across the newspaper stands as it occupies the whole story in every channel shown in TV. Shizuru was fortunate enough that Sakyo invited her to go with him. The media were now outside of the court waiting from both powerful men with different business styles. As Sakyo came out from his luxury car, journalists flocked the young executive as he refrains himself from talking. There were spontaneous flashes from the cameras. Fortunately, both of them are wearing sunglasses as it screens their eyes from temporary blindness. Meanwhile, Shizuru followed him from behind as she struggles to get into her way. They entered the courthouse as the security guards barred the horde of media men from entering.
Mr. Butajiri and his associates followed next. Police officers who encircle them to protect the defendants walk along with them. They are all wearing sunglasses to hide their identities. They felt the shame that the media gives them. They all know that this news will be broadcasting nationally on TV.
They entered the courthouse as the showdown finally begins.
The courtroom had a crowd with a few distinct journalists, company's respective lawyers, court reporter, court clerk, a group of people sitting in the jury box and of course, the defendant and the plaintiff. Shizuru's heart was beating wildly as it was her first time to witness the verbal war. She can see at the far end of the corner where her boss, Mr. Butajiri, and two unfamiliar figures sitting beside him.
The other figure was so familiar with its looks but she was not sure.
The judge entered the room as all of them rise up from their seats. He went to the raised desk known as 'the bench.' He wears a long plain black robe. He bangs the gavel and all of them sat down as the court hearing begins. The defendant, Goliath Company, represented by its lawyer, Eichi Suzuki, stood up from his seat. He started to debate in favor of his client on why he is innocent. An hour of discussion follows next.
After his session, the plaintiff, Purple Eye Company, represented by its lawyer, Taro Yamada, was his turn to give his client a perspective on why the defendant is guilty of all accounts of graft, corruption and intellectual property infringement. He stated all evidences available from the traced illegal downloading activity. Eichi raised his hand to object but the judge hinder him to do so. He let Taro Yamada to discuss further with his findings.
After that, Eichi was his turn to object Mr. Valdez's activity on why he created the program 'shadow skill' in order to invade his client's privacy. This time, Taro objected to his reasoning but the judge ruled out that Eichi should finish talking his findings. He rationalizes that he, too, must face a penalty for invasion of privacy. Somehow, both teams have their strategies to counterattack their claims.
The judge ordered cross-examination of the defendants as the first person to do it is Mr. Jin Ito. Before he sat at the witness area, he pledges himself in front of everybody to speak the truth before God and men. He solemnly agrees as he sits in a lone chair. Mr. Yamada began to ask questions regarding his past working history with Purple Eye Company. He admitted that he did work there. However, he made a clear statement that he did not steal anything. Mr. Yamada questioned his previous malicious activities during his employment. He defended that those activities are relatively internal company conflict only.
He ended his session while the judge proceeds to call on the third person. It stood up from its seat as Shizuru got herself astounded by the lone female defendant…
…it was Moriko Endo.
Her appearance gave Shizuru a shocking moment where in fact, Sakyo was calm and quiet. He did not find it surprising. She approaches the stand with the usual pledge of truth before God and men. Mr. Yamada cross-examines the scared client. He asked questions regarding on how she stole the 'master key' program from her employer. She confessed that she wanted to extract revenge to her rival employee, which she identified as Shizuru Kuwabara.
What?
She further discussed that she got jealous of her when her boss, Sakyo Valdez, displays his attention unto her. Additionally, she took the advantage of stealing the said program while her boss was in New York to accept his award. She went to the company's rival, Goliath, in order for her, Jin Ito and Mr. Butajiri to download the passwords and important informations illegally. She admitted that she does know Jin Ito personally but in an outside of the company's premises in order to avoid suspicion.
This woman needs treatment from mental institution.
Taro Yamada concluded his reasoning as it was Eichi Suzuki's turn to cross-examine Sakyo Valdez. The young CEO stood up from his seat as he pledges before the judge that he would tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. By the time he sat down, Mr. Suzuki wasted no time to interrogate him.
His first question was on why he created the program, 'shadow skill'. He defended himself by stating that he creates that 'antidote' to his program. He anticipated that someone would steal programs from him. Mr. Suzuki, again, asked him if he created the program 'master key'. He firmly insists that the program 'master key' was an experimental project. He does not intend to use it against anybody. Additionally, he does not have plans to market it. He proudly boasts his credentials that his ethics are unblemished.
Mr. Suzuki stopped interrogating the man seated. However, he still firmly believes that he ruled out that the creation of the program 'master key' is dangerous as he convinces the judge that it is very destructive when it falls to the wrong hands.
Mr. Butajiri is the last person in line to defend himself. The judge called his name to give himself his perspective. As he stood up, some audience shouted back claiming he is guilty. The magistrate ordered the audience to remain silent inside the courtroom.
He lowly bowed his head, showing that he felt ashamed of himself. Taro Yamada proceeded with his interrogation. He asks what did motivate him to steal the device in order to corrupt his rival's informations. The veteran CEO yielded that he has hatred towards the young lad. He could not believe a person like him would triumph in this competitive business. He ran out of ideas in creating for his company so he decided to steal from him. In this way, his aging corporation will survive…somehow.
Sakyo just shook his head in disappointment. Shizuru can tell that he was not playing fair in this cyber clash between the techno titans. Taro added his question about bribing some lobbyists in the Parliamentary House in Japan. He spoke the word, 'yes' as he began to describe in details on how he did so.
He wanted to allure them just to keep him safe from the criminal acts that he committed in the past. Additionally, he sought their help in building his company by avoiding abundant government taxes.
The judge ordered five minutes recess and after that, he will declare his verdict. As he banged his gavel, everyone in the courtroom started to chat about the lawyers' rational reasons.
Five minutes break is like five hours in waiting. She can tell that Sakyo is confident of the outcome, as his face has no trace of surrender and fear. On the other hand, she can see Mr. Butajiri bends his head low as if he was facing the toughest time of his life. All she can do is to wish her former employer could stay true to his words. However, he was a ruthless man and it was too late for him to change.
The room went into deep silence as the judge entered the room once again. This time, they will be hearing his verdict unto the defendant. It was the most intensifying moment where the fate of all the accused will be determined.
He passed the papers to the court reader. She adjusted her voice and began to speak.
Shizuru's fingers were all crossed as this blitzkrieg was about to end.
Whatever happens, I still love you.
-To be continued-