Chapter 123: Akatsuki Trading Company -1-

1913 A.D., the 2nd year of the Taisho Era.

The Akatsuki Trading Company was the largest corporation and enterprise in Japan.

They were a company that represented Japan, with a name known even across the seas.

Because of this, the Akatsuki Trading Company was the most heterodox group in Japanese history.

Japan has a culture called Wa (Harmony). Simply put, it prioritizes the community over the individual, no matter what.

It was a Japanese custom established well over a thousand years ago.

A logic where everyone lives in peace if each class performs its role within its designated position without crossing the line.

On the surface, it sounded plausible, but it was a vice disguised as tradition.

In the past, people had to wear their status as a nameplate, leading historians to say it resembled a caste system more than a general class system.

A rule that a family running a soba shop must do nothing but run a soba shop for generations.

Furthermore, because one must not cause trouble for others, even if a soba shop was highly successful, a second branch was forbidden.

One could not open a soba shop where one already existed. While that might make sense in terms of commercial ethics, the severity was such that there shouldn't even be two soba shops in the same village, let alone nearby.

It was a culture so strict that there were eras where one could be punished for rashly changing occupations.

The fact that the Kamado family lived only as charcoal burners for hundreds of years was due to such regulations, traditions, and deeply ingrained perceptions.

Though it is said to have relaxed in the current era, that perception remains strong.

The rule that 'we are a pottery family, so we must only make pottery.' Even if one had no talent for it or wished to do something else, the moment they refused, they were treated as a sinner.

Is Japan not often called the land of 'Ijime' (bullying)? The community members would scold and treat those who stood out as criminals.

They even reached the level of 'Murahachibu,' treating a person as if they were invisible.

Of course, in Joseon, death row inmates who suffered 'Paenghyeong' were treated similarly.

Though technically boiled to death in a cauldron, in reality, they were rarely killed; they merely performed the act. The person was legally declared dead, their family held a funeral and built a grave, and thereafter, they were treated as an invisible person.

However, that was something reserved for criminals of the death row level. In Japan, they would do this to innocent people simply for doing something disliked or for breaking tradition.

Though the ancient world had Ostracism, such things usually only lasted until the Middle Ages. For this to occur in a developed nation in the modern era was an incomprehensible evil custom.

In a place where such things were natural, the Akatsuki Trading Company, which expanded into diverse businesses like an octopus, naturally received cold looks starting from Kyoto.

But they were different.

They crushed those evil customs with power. By providing overwhelming quality and service, and selling superior products, they pierced the hearts of the commoners with a 'won't you buy it even then?' mindset.

This was the reason Akira paid particular attention to food culture.

Even the old-fashioned 'kkondues' who clicked their tongues saying the company lacked tradition or disturbed harmony fell in love with the taste of the company's food.

'Shouldn't do it?' Their mindset was that 'they do it in the West, and you are the ignorant ones for not doing it.'

In a Japan that deeply admired the West at the time, this approach couldn't fail.

It was especially welcomed by many merchants.

The eldest son of a soba shop family hated soba and did not want to inherit the family business.

Such a person was given an opportunity by the Akatsuki Trading Company.

The company's professional team personally visited his home to provide consulting, used silver-tongued persuasion on the elders, and allowed the individual to do the work they desired under the company.

The eldest son, who loved woodworking more than making soba, was able to realize his dream by running a woodworking shop as a member of the company.

That’s right. The Akatsuki Trading Company was currently a field of opportunity for the younger generation.

There was another reason why the Akatsuki Trading Company grew so much within such a stifling Japanese culture.

It was equality and welfare.

Japan was in a surge of rapid modernization, but behind that brilliant growth lay harsh working conditions, poverty, and deep-seated discrimination against the colonies and Joseon people whom they exploited.

Even though they were fellow workers, they were paid less than a quarter of a normal worker's wage and treated worse than slaves simply because they were from the colonies.

The nation had grown by increasing labor and decreasing expenditures through this method.

However, the Akatsuki Trading Company's 1st Logistics Warehouse, located on the outskirts of Tokyo, looked like a world from a different dimension.

5:00 AM, before the crack of dawn.

In an ordinary factory, this would be a time filled with smoke, mechanical noise, and the coughs of workers exhausted by fatigue, but the air here was different.

The light from the streetlamps glowed warmly between the massive red brick buildings, and from somewhere, the smell of freshly baked bread and the fragrant aroma of coffee beans wafted through the morning mist.

“Hey, Mr. Bak! Over here, over here!”

“Brother Kim! You’re looking good today. I heard you had a day off yesterday?”

The expressions of the employees preparing for unloading at the freight carts were overflowing with vitality.

A significant number of them were Joseon people who had crossed the sea. At that time, being a Joseon laborer meant it was natural to be treated worse than an animal in the dirtiest and most dangerous places.

But the Joseon employees here were different.

They weren't wearing rags soaked in grease; they wore clean, sturdy uniforms embroidered with Akatsuki's red moon logo in gold thread.

On their feet were not straw sandals, but leather safety boots with thick soles.

“Did you see today's breakfast menu? They said it's unlimited white rice, beef radish soup, and rolled omelets.”

“Is that right? Haha, I used to only eat things like that on my birthday back home, but here I eat it every day… Our Chairman must really be the son of the Dragon King or something.”

The staff-only cafeteria provided in one corner of the workspace boasted a level of cleanliness comparable to high-end restaurants. No, it was actually at a level of cleanliness and hygiene that couldn't be found elsewhere in this era.

The trays were filled with steaming mounds of rice and glossy side dishes. It was white rice and meat that the common people of Japan could hardly afford to eat their fill of at the time.

That wasn't all. The welfare system of the Akatsuki Trading Company was decades ahead of its time.

Wages were 300% compared to those in the same industry. Overtime and hazard pay were provided separately.

Free use of the company hospital, including not only the employee but also their immediate family.

For housing support, a state-of-the-art dormitory for singles and a housing complex for married couples were provided.

In particular, the housing complex was called 'Akatsuki Village' and was an object of envy.

The houses, which were a mixture of Western-style structures rather than traditional tatami rooms, were warm even in winter. Within the complex, there was even a separate area for crock pots so Joseon employees could make kimchi.

“Have you heard the rumor? They say the blood of Joseon is mixed in our Chairman's veins. That's why he takes such good care of us.”

“Aye, of course. Otherwise, there’s no way he would treasure us simple laborers like this. The Chairman is… a living Buddha.”

Among the employees, the faceless chairman, Akira, was already an object of worship. To them, the Akatsuki Trading Company was not just a workplace, but a unique sanctuary and paradise without discrimination or sorrow.

Chairman Akira was like a king and a parent in their hearts.

This applied to both the Joseon people, who were destined to be dragged off for forced labor, and the Japanese people, who were impoverished and struggling to survive as the lowest class of society.

At the Akatsuki Trading Company, they were given the best treatment as precious human resources, workers, and family members.

2:00 PM, Ginza—the symbol of Japan's bustling districts. The Akatsuki Department Store, which stood tall in its center, was a holy land for the Modern Boys and Modern Girls of the era.

The cosmetics and perfume section on the first floor glittered dazzlingly under crystal chandeliers.

A woman named Lee Su-jin, an employee from Joseon, was greeting customers in a neat uniform.

Recognized for her sales ability, fairly fluent Japanese, and more-than-diligent attitude, she had been placed in the first-floor shop, known as the face of Akatsuki.

“Welcome, customer. Is there a specific scent you are looking for?”

She bowed politely. Before her stood a middle-aged man with oily hair and an expensive suit.

He looked around the shop arrogantly before glancing sideways at Su-jin.

“Is this a new item? Let me have a smell.”

“Yes, it is a premium rose perfume brought in from Grasse, France.”

The moment Su-jin sprayed the perfume on a test strip and handed it to him, the man—Tanaka's—brow furrowed.

“Wait. Your pronunciation was strange just now. Your accent when you said rose… are you a Chosenjin (Korean)?”

Instantly, the air in the shop froze. Su-jin was flustered but answered calmly with a smile.

“Yes, I am from Joseon, but I have completed the official training of the Akatsuki Trading Company—”

**Crash!!

The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed. He had swiped the expensive perfume bottle Su-jin was holding onto the floor.

A thick scent of roses scattered across the floor along with the shards of glass.

“Filthy!! How unlucky!”

As he yelled at the top of his lungs, the eyes of the surrounding shoppers shifted all at once.

“Is this all the Akatsuki Department Store amounts to? How dare you! In the middle of Ginza, the sacred center of Japan! A Chosenjin wench is selling goods? How is this any different from pouring sewage over my body!”

“Cu-customer… please calm down. If I made a mistake—”

“A mistake? You standing here is the mistake! Your very existence is pollution!”

He roughly shoved Su-jin's shoulder.

Su-jin stumbled and hit the corner of a display case, and her held-back tears suddenly burst forth. Humiliation and fear swallowed her whole.

“That is quite a… disgusting noise. I feel as if my eardrums are rotting.”

Just then, a chilly, low voice was heard, seeming to cut through the noise of the chaotic shop like a blade.

The crowd of onlookers parted like the Red Sea. Along that path came a security unit wearing red hakama, sleeveless black kimono, and swords at their waists.

Members of the Gekkatai lined up, and from their center, Ushigozen walked out.

There was no sound to her gait, but her presence was overwhelming.

A cold, expressionless face and lifeless eyes. She looked once at Su-jin, who was slumped on the floor, and then fixed her gaze on the man.

It was a gaze as if she were looking at filth.

“Wh-what? Who are you? Are you the head of security? Good! Drag this girl out right now! How dare a Chosenjin talk back to a Japanese—”

“Shut your mouth, monkey.”

The words that came out of Ushigozen's mouth were short, but the murderous intent contained within them sent shivers down Tanaka's spine.

“Wh… what? Monkey?”

“Our Akatsuki Trading Company loathes pre-modern discriminators like you the most. We do not look at nationality or origin, but only at ability and loyalty. This employee is a talent who passed our company's rigorous entrance examination and is our precious family.”

Ushigozen took a small notebook from her breast pocket and slowly flipped through the pages. The sound of the paper turning felt exceptionally loud.

“The price for touching our family is harsh. No matter who you are.”

“Hah! Are you threatening me? Do you know who I am? I am the president of Tanaka Trade! I am a most important customer of your department store!”

“I know. Tanaka Kenji. Age 45. Resides at Setagaya-ku 2-bancho, Tokyo. Main trade items are textiles and miscellaneous goods. One son and one daughter.”

Ushigozen began to recite his personal information like a soulless machine.

“Last week, you ordered two custom suits made of British fabric at a tailor belonging to our affiliate. And yesterday evening, you had dinner with your wife at our hotel restaurant. Your son, Tanaka Hiroshi, is a second-year student at a private middle school sponsored by the Akatsuki Foundation, and your daughter is currently waiting for surgery for congenital heart disease at a university hospital that collaborates with our company.”

Instantly, Tanaka's face turned as white as a sheet.

“H-how….”

“Shall I recite more? Tanaka Precision, run by your younger cousin, is a tertiary subcontractor for our company. Your brother-in-law submitted an application to our logistics team. Even the house where your mistress lives is owned by our real estate affiliate.”

Ushigozen closed the notebook with a snap. That sound echoed like a judge's gavel.

“As of today, the Akatsuki Trading Company permanently bans you, your family, your relatives, and even your distant in-laws from all transactions and entry to all affiliates.”

Ushigozen made the announcement bluntly while maintaining a faint smile.

“W-wait!! What do you mean by that!”

“Your son will be expelled from school, and your daughter will be discharged from the hospital. You should look for another hospital. Although, it will be difficult to find a hospital that doesn't use our company's medical equipment.”

“No! My daughter will die if she doesn't get the surgery! Please! I was wrong!”

Tanaka tried to grab the hem of Ushigozen's pants. However, the members of the Gekkatai lifted him up like a piece of luggage with arms as strong as iron clubs.

“Your reckless tongue has severed your daughter's life thread. If you wish to resent someone, resent your own wretched character.”

Ushigozen scolded him coldly and snapped her fingers.

“We do business with civilized people. We do not trade with squealing monkeys like you. Drag him out.”

Tanaka was dragged away by the Gekkatai members.

“Wait, we must leave a record with a photograph.”

At Ushigozen's command, a dedicated photographer approached and set off the flash.

Tanaka's pathetic appearance, covered in snot and tears as he was dragged away by the Gekkatai, was vividly captured on black-and-white film.

Flash! Flash!**

“This photo will be posted tomorrow morning on the walls of all our branches in large print. Under the title, ‘The End of a Beast Who Could Not Adapt to the Civilized World.’ You will never be able to trade with the Akatsuki Trading Company again.”

Watching Tanaka being dragged out, the customers nearby began to whisper.

“Oh my, look at that man. How unsightly.”

“Why act so low-class? I'm ashamed to be a fellow Japanese.”

“That family is finished now that they’ve gotten on the Akatsuki Trading Company's bad side. Tsk tsk, what did the daughter do to deserve this?”

The group exclusion characteristic of Japanese society, 'Murahachibu,' had begun.

Now, Tanaka would not be able to trade with anyone and would wither away in total social isolation.

Once the situation was settled, Ushigozen approached Su-jin.

The murderous intent from moments ago was nowhere to be found, replaced by a polite and soft attitude. She took out a handkerchief and wiped Su-jin's tears.

“I am sorry, Ms. Lee Su-jin. The company should have protected its employees more thoroughly; I have no excuse for letting you experience such an unpleasant event.”

“Ah… ugh… no… thank you… truly thank you….”

Su-jin sobbed as she held Ushigozen's hand. It was not mere gratitude.

It was a feeling of being protected, a feeling one might only feel from a parent, washing away the sorrows experienced in a foreign land in a single blow.

“This is a special consolation fund prepared in advance by the Chairman. And to help you compose your startled heart, you will be given a week's paid leave starting tomorrow. There are also Akatsuki Hotel vouchers inside, so go and rest comfortably with your family.”

The thick envelope Ushigozen handed over. The eyes of the surrounding employees looking at it burned with awe.

‘This company… is the real deal.’

‘They don’t see us as consumables. They protect us to the end.’

‘I… will give my life for this company too.’

That day's incident spread like wildfire to all branches, factories, and logistics centers of the Akatsuki Trading Company.

The employees gained even more blind loyalty toward the company.

This massive corporate empire created by Akira was not a simple means of making money.

It was an impregnable fortress united by thorough merit-based rewards and punishments, overwhelming welfare, and a yakuza-like loyalty of not letting anyone touch their 'family.'

And Akira, at its apex, reigned as a parent and a god to the employees, far beyond a simple employer.

That Akira spoke.

“Ushigozen. Take the girls from the Gekkatai and wipe out and absorb all the yakuza in Tokyo. Shouldn't we make the underworld of Tokyo perfectly ours as well?”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

He was moving to make the entire underworld his own.