Zongman: Becoming Prime Minister in the Conan Universe

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Fujiwara Toru walked into the room and saw an old man with a spirited demeanor sitting on a tatami mat, sipping tea. Upon seeing Fujiwara To

Fujiwara Toru walked into the room and saw an old man with a spirited demeanor sitting on a tatami mat, sipping tea.

Upon seeing Fujiwara Toru, the old man's eyes lit up. He quickly put down his tea and beckoned to him, "Toru, come over, come over. Let Grandpa take a look at you."

Fujiwara Toru walked over. Although he wasn't used to kneeling, he followed the local custom and knelt on the tatami mat.

The old man sized up Fujiwara Toru for a few moments, his liking for him growing with each glance.

Perhaps due to his advanced age, Old Master Fujiwara was no longer as stern as he was in his youth, but had become as lively as a child. He said, "Come, Toru, this tea is all good stuff, rarely seen."

Saying this, Old Master Fujiwara prepared to pour tea for Fujiwara Toru. Then, he slapped his forehead again and said with chagrin, "Look at me, getting old this year, my memory is bad."

"You young people nowadays don't like to drink tea. If you want to drink something else, I'll have someone get it."

With that, the old man prepared to call for a servant.

Fujiwara Toru shook his head, "No need to trouble yourself, tea is just fine. I quite enjoy both coffee and tea."

Seeing this, Old Master Fujiwara busily poured a cup of tea and passed it over.

When the old man came with the tea, Fujiwara Toru also respectfully received it with both hands and took a light sip.

This tea was indeed top-grade, with a sweet and mellow taste. Especially, the person who brewed the tea had excellent skills, and the tea's aroma lingered without dissipating.

Seeing Fujiwara Toru drinking tea in a proper manner, Old Master Fujiwara's smile deepened. After Fujiwara Toru put down the teacup, he asked casually:

"How are you doing, living alone in Tokyo?"

"Hmm, I'm living quite well. That Western-style hotel is not bad, quite comfortable."

After a pause, Fujiwara Toru added, "...I'm not living alone right now. My younger sister from America has come to Tokyo, and she's currently living with me."

Old Master Fujiwara nodded and said, "Is it that little girl who was with you? Is she going to school? Does she need the family to help her with enrollment procedures?"

"How about going to Shuchiin? You also attended school there for a year."

Fujiwara Toru had come over with Ai Haibara, and the butler had informed the old man early on.

"She's not familiar with this place yet. I'm currently looking for a tutor to educate her. It won't be too late for her to go to school after she gets familiar with things."

Fujiwara Toru used this excuse to brush it off.

However, in reality, Ai Haibara had no interest in going to elementary school; that would be too much of a waste of time.

"In the Fujiwara family, you also have an older sister and two younger sisters. Their personalities are all quite good. You should get closer to them too."

"Are you talking about Chika and the others? I met them just now. Their personalities... hmm, are quite good."

Fujiwara Toru's expression was slightly odd.

The old master knew his granddaughter's personality like the back of his hand. He smiled and said, "Their personalities are a bit eccentric, but they are all good girls."

Fujiwara Toru acknowledged this point.

As young ladies of the Fujiwara family, none of the three girls had any of that unpleasant arrogance or willfulness, which showed the strictness of the Fujiwara family's upbringing.

"After you graduate from Todai, what are you planning to do?"

The old master asked tentatively, with great care.

Fujiwara Toru was, of course, planning to go directly into politics. If possible, he would pave the way for entering politics during his university phase.

However, he couldn't say this directly. Instead, he needed to make Old Master Fujiwara feel that he was doing it for the family, to go into politics.

Only in this way, with the Fujiwara family already owing him a great deal, could he be entrusted with the messy affairs of such a family.

"After graduation, I originally planned to return to America—"

As his words fell, the old master's eyes dimmed.

Immediately after, Fujiwara Toru changed his tune, "...However, if the Fujiwara family needs it, I can also do other things. I'm still used to life in Neon."

The old master immediately felt it was effective. He chuckled and said, "There are still three or four years before you graduate. We'll talk about it then, we'll talk about it then."

As long as he could get a guarantee from Fujiwara Toru, that would be enough for now. He didn't want to press too hard.

Then, the old master, as if intoxicated, changed the subject and asked tentatively, "Toru, the family might arrange a marriage for you."

"Don't be in a hurry to refuse. This marriage is just a formality. If you already have someone you like, you can continue to be with the person you like after marriage. The Shinomiyas won't mind."

"Oh, the Shinomiya family is the family you are to be allied with through marriage. As long as you can have offspring with that girl from the Shinomiya family, you will have completed the marriage task. Moreover, your family's face and the Shinomiya family's dignity must be preserved."

"I've also discussed this matter with your adoptive father, Mr. Spencer, and he has agreed."

Fujiwara Toru fell silent. He furrowed his brow, feigning dissatisfaction, "I don't want the family to arrange everything for me, not doing anything and just meekly complying. Otherwise, people will think I'm weak and easily bullied." Although Fujiwara Toru himself agreed to this marriage, he also needed to use this to express his own opinion, so that Old Master Fujiwara would care more about his choices.

"No, no, the family won't arrange too many things for you. Aren't we also seeking your opinion now?"

The old master immediately softened.

Mainly because Fujiwara Toru was truly very capable. Even without the Fujiwara family, he was more than capable of making a good life for himself.

More importantly, if Fujiwara Toru was dissatisfied, he could very well leave Neon and return to America, where he would still flourish.

"Do you have a photo?"

Fujiwara Toru's words made the old master pause for a moment. Then, the old master reacted and said to the housekeeper, "Bring that girl from the Shinomiya family's photo."

The housekeeper went out quickly. After a while, he came back with a mobile phone, scrolled through it, and showed it to Fujiwara Toru.

The photo showed a beautiful girl with fair skin and an elegant demeanor, as cool and pure as an orchid.

The old master asked with a grin, "What do you think? This girl is quite good-looking, isn't she? The family can't marry you to an ugly duckling. What if the children born are too ugly?"

Fujiwara Toru was also amused by the old master's words.

Shinomiya Kaguya was more than just "not bad"; she was an absolute great beauty. Especially when her hair was let down, her temperament was noble, like a princess in a deep palace.

"What do you think? Do you agree?"

"I can."

"The Shinomiyas will also come over tomorrow. The family will arrange for you to meet then?"

"Alright."

Fujiwara Toru agreed to this marriage succinctly.

The old master was even happier. He drank several cups of tea in succession and was still muttering there. If he weren't too old, this would have called for a drink.

Fujiwara Toru accompanied the old man, chatting with him for an afternoon, making the old man laugh so hard he couldn't close his mouth.

That evening, the Fujiwara family held a family banquet.

Fujiwara Toru sat beside the old man.

At the family banquet, Fujiwara Toru chatted quite a bit with his uncle, who was also Chika and the others' father, Fujiwara Tsukasa.

Fujiwara Tsukasa was different from Fujiwara Yoshitaka; he was gentle like a scholar and had no political ambitions.

Therefore, as the eldest son, he did not inherit the Fujiwara family's political resources but merely became a foreign diplomat, while Fujiwara Yoshitaka became an important cabinet minister.

Fujiwara Toru was prepared to get along well with the Fujiwara family. Naturally, being a smooth operator, he easily set the rhythm of the family banquet.

As for his biological father, Fujiwara Toru's attitude towards him also softened somewhat.

And it was this slight softening of attitude that made Fujiwara Yoshitaka overjoyed, as if his goddess had chatted a few more sentences with him. He excitedly drank several cups of wine in a row and was finally carried away.

The old master knew that Fujiwara Toru still harbored resentment towards Fujiwara Yoshitaka. This was indeed Fujiwara Yoshitaka's fault. Who was to blame for him abandoning Fujiwara Toru and his mother when he was young? No matter how Fujiwara Toru treated him, he deserved it.

Because of this, at the banquet, the old master repeatedly reprimanded his second son, and Fujiwara Yoshitaka could only meekly agree. The old master was thus venting Fujiwara Toru's anger.

...

The next day was Old Master Fujiwara's birthday.

The entire Fujiwara family's old residence was decorated with lights and festoons. The streets of Kyoto were also filled with luxury cars. Dignitaries from Neon all came to Kyoto on this day to participate in the Fujiwara family's birthday banquet.

On this day, Fujiwara Toru wore a haori and hakama, and followed beside the old man, accompanying him to meet with dignitaries from all over the country.

"...Toru, this is Governor Yamada of Kyoto Prefecture. This is Governor Oyane of Osaka Prefecture. Because Osaka Prefecture has an important meeting, he couldn't come, only his secretary came."

"This is my grandson, Fujiwara Toru. You should all know him."

"Haha, Fujiwara-kun is now well-known to everyone in Neon. We are not out of touch with the world. How could we not know Fujiwara-kun, this 'Neon Hero'?"

"So Fujiwara-kun is actually the old master's grandson, a member of the Fujiwara family. Truly a young hero."

In the main hall, all the guests were arranged according to their official positions. Those who came to meet Fujiwara Toru were mostly governors.

Kyoto Prefecture was local, and Osaka Prefecture was not far, so the current governors both came in person to visit.

Tokyo, on the other hand, was too far because of the Inner Cabinet Director, so he sent his secretary.

Although the status of the kazoku was abolished in the 1950s, these old aristocratic families have been passed down to this day, and their roots in Neon's homeland are extremely deep.

Even if the so-called privileges have been eliminated by law, everyone knows that the networks of these old aristocratic families are still there.

It's like in America; it's said to be a so-called election, but if you want to be an official in (good) places, you must have the support of those American political families. Otherwise, you can't even set foot in the Senate.

Besides these current governors, local Kyoto city councilors and members of the House of Councilors also came to visit in large numbers.

And those who could be personally received by the old master were naturally the Fujiwara family's political chips. This time, the old master bringing Fujiwara Toru to meet them was also a kind of initial exchange of resources.

This round of introductions by Old Master Fujiwara told the officials who had intricate connections with the Fujiwara family that the head of the Fujiwara family's third generation had already been chosen. From now on, you can interact with him more and continue to weave this network of connections.

After conversing with these current high-ranking officials, the old master prepared to meet the next wave of people. He said in a low voice beside Fujiwara Toru:

"The Shinomiyas have also arrived, but they are not the most important people from the Four Great Houses. Although their family has abundant assets, their political and military foundations are still shallow."

"Before you meet the Shinomiyas, I'll first take you to meet another prominent local family. Although they are not kazoku, they have been very influential in Neon's political circles for these past few decades."

"You should also know this family. That old fellow just retired from the position of Prime Minister not long ago."

Fujiwara Toru immediately understood that the old master was talking about the Daizu clan of Kyoto.

The head of this Daizu clan was precisely the recently retired Neon Prime Minister.

It was just that his retirement wasn't glorious. The Daizu clan was also facing some rather tricky troubles at the moment.