CHAPTER 715: CHAPTER 585: DISTINGUISH PRIMARY FROM SECONDARY, HELPING US ARMY BROTHERS TO PROGRESS

"Hey! Long time no see, my friend."

Xiu Xin Aoyama had just entered the private room when James put down his glass, stood up with a laugh, and went forward to give him a hug.

Aoyama Xiu Xin also opened his arms and hugged him back.

"Long time no see, James."

"Have a seat," James, releasing his embrace, pulled Aoyama Xiu Xin to the couch, poured him a glass of alcohol, and handed it over, "Let’s toast to our reunion."

"Cheers." Aoyama Xiu Xin took the glass with a smile, clinked it with James’s, and then tilted his head back to finish it in one gulp.

"Ah~ That’s strong!" After drinking, James let out a long breath, set down his glass, and launched into his own recent experience, "I’ve been so caught up in exercises and training, I haven’t had a chance to drink like this in a long time. So, Mr. Aoyama, you’ve got to keep me company until we can’t drink anymore!"

"Of course, James, your Japanese has improved again," complimented Aoyama Xiu Xin, giving a thumbs-up.

"Haha, really? Your approval means a lot to me, you being Japanese and all," James grinned, showing his big white teeth, grabbed the bottle to refill Aoyama’s glass, and joked, "After all, I might want to become the commander of the US military stationed in Japan in the future, so I must speak fluent Japanese, right? How else could I cooperate with you when you’re the Prime Minister of Japan? I can’t always expect you to accommodate me by speaking English, can I? What do you think, Mr. Aoyama?"

"Hahaha, yes, yes, I’ll be Prime Minister of Japan, you’ll be the commander, we both have bright futures ahead of us." Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily and then raised his glass, "To the future!"

"To the future." James also lifted his glass.

After the second round, Aoyama Xiu Xin started on the fruit platter on the table, feigning ignorance, "James, what brings you to Sapporo all of a sudden? Have you been training in Hokkaido recently, so you decided to grab a drink with me?"

"Can’t it just be because I missed Mr. Aoyama?" James quickly wrapped an arm around his shoulders, making a playful face like good buddies.

Observing his antics, Aoyama Xiu Xin felt amused, his expression a mix of a smile and a smirk.

"Alright," James let go, putting down his glass and said seriously, "Didn’t the Titan Gang get wiped out by you guys? So, I wanted to tell Mr. Aoyama that the thirty thousand US dollars you promised me each month, you don’t have to keep paying it."

As he spoke, James’s glance fixed on Aoyama Xiu Xin. His hand clenched into a fist, he dared not even breathe too loudly.

"James, what kind of a man do you take me for?" Aoyama Xiu Xin carelessly spat out a grape seed, feigning annoyance, "Did you think it was because of the Titan Gang that I gave you those thirty thousand dollars? No! It was because of you as a person! Whether or not the Titan Gang exists doesn’t affect the terms we agreed upon, thirty thousand as usual."

James’s suspended heart sank with relief. His previously tensed body suddenly relaxed, and somewhat sheepishly, he said, "This... is this really okay?"

The moment he had seen in the newspaper that the Titan Gang had been eradicated by the Hokkaido Police, he immediately wanted to call Aoyama Xiu Xin to ask whether the promise of thirty thousand dollars a month was still good.

But he came from a significant background and quickly calmed himself down, thinking it would look bad to ask too eagerly and that he should wait for Aoyama Xiu Xin to reach out to him.

However, to his surprise, he waited and waited but never received a call from Aoyama Xiu Xin, which made him worry that perhaps Aoyama was too busy and had forgotten about their arrangement.

That’s why he made the special trip today.

Although he had confirmed that he would still receive the thirty thousand dollars a month, it was very different from before.

Before, it was Aoyama Xiu Xin paying him thirty thousand to not endorse the Titan Gang, and he felt justified in taking the money.

But now, with the Titan Gang gone and Aoyama still giving him thirty thousand, it felt like it was for nothing. As an American who still somewhat cared about his dignity, the idea of taking free money made him feel embarrassed and guilty.

"What’s wrong with that? What’s our relationship? Friends! Friend!" Aoyama Xiu Xin wrapped an arm around James’s shoulders, speaking with vigor, "Don’t mention the meager thirty thousand a month. In the future, I might need to spend money to help you get promoted to commander!"

The latter half of his statement still sounded like a joke, but James couldn’t help but fantasize—what if it wasn’t a joke?

"If that’s the case, I won’t stand on ceremony with Mr. Aoyama. If there’s anything you need from me, just say the word!" James assured in a decisive tone.

"Don’t worry, I’ve never been shy with true friends," Aoyama Xiu Xin nonchalantly pushed the empty glass towards James, patted his shoulder, and said, "I will definitely ask for help when it’s time."

"I just love Mr. Aoyama’s straightforwardness," James quickly filled Aoyama’s glass, this time using both hands to hold the bottle, barely lifting himself off the sofa.

Eating someone’s food makes one soft, taking someone’s money makes one short.

Now that he was going to start receiving money from Aoyama every month without any strings attached, he unconsciously felt lower in status, unable to treat Aoyama with the same equity as before.

Aoyama Xiu Xin observed his reaction and, with a slight curl of his lips, emptied his glass and wiped his mouth, saying, "It’s not just about liking my straightforwardness."

"Hahaha! Hahahahaha!" James laughed uproariously, slapping his thigh as if he could laugh himself into unconsciousness, "Humorous! Mr. Aoyama, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard."

What a guy, this American’s getting the hang of it.

Now understood by Aoyama Xiu Xin, even if he told the coldest joke, James would burst into laughter.

That’s more like it.

Why hadn’t he contacted James about the thirty thousand after the Titan Gang was taken down?

Wasn’t it to wait for James to become impatient and reach out to him, so that he could take control of their interactions?

James’s background was impressive, and his starting point was high, but his family fortunes had dwindled, leaving him unsupported. With the right resources, he had great potential.

Aoyama Xiu Xin was interested in investing in him, but he didn’t want to let James, bolstered by his resources, to become complacent and turn the tables. He needed to establish who was the leader and who was the subordinate right from the start.

Of course, as he helped James climb the ranks, he had to progress as well, or else it was all over.

"Even the best joke requires an interesting audience to really shine, otherwise it’s just a waste of breath," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head as he swirled his wine glass and asked, "Are there any openings in the contingent stationed in Japan recently?"

"Mr. Aoyama, by ’openings,’ do you mean..." James’s heart skipped a beat as a guess suddenly popped into his head, but he wasn’t sure and feigned calmness.

Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled faintly, saying with insouciance, "A vacancy that a Lieutenant Colonel could fill."

"Ah!" James’s breath caught, his face quickly turning beet red. He tried to take a drink to calm his nerves, but his hand trembled, spilling the liquor, and he said with a shaky voice, "You mean, Mr. Aoyama, that..."

"I said I would help you become the Commander of the US military stationed in Japan, didn’t I?" Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a nonchalant smile, "Though a Lieutenant Colonel is far from being a Commander, there’s an old saying in China, ’A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ Take it one step at a time, right?"

"Mr. Aoyama!" As his guess was confirmed, James was overjoyed, hugging Aoyama Xiu Xin excitedly, then let go and said hurriedly, "Mr. Aoyama, you are my friend for life, a friend I would give my life for!"

What excited him wasn’t just that Aoyama Xiu Xin was willing to fund his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, but that Aoyama’s words about supporting his rise to Commander of the US forces in Japan were not in jest!

After all, with his background and starting point, he could at the very least make Colonel and retire, but no amount of enduring could make him a Major General, let alone rise to the rank of Lieutenant General and become the Commander of the US forces in Japan.

"A friend you would give your life for? Is that still a friend? That’s a comrade-in-arms," Aoyama Xiu Xin looked at James with a slight tilt of his head and said solemnly, "I hope we can be comrades-in-arms, advancing together on the battlefield of life, surviving, living spectacularly."

"Yes, sir!" James nodded emphatically, saying with conviction, "I’ll remember that, Mr. Aoyama."

He certainly understood what Aoyama Xiu Xin meant; the other was investing in him, expecting to harvest returns in the future.

James was not averse to this, for without Aoyama Xiu Xin’s investment, he would have no future, so he was also very grateful that the other would secure his future.

Even though he didn’t know what he could offer Aoyama Xiu Xin in return if he did become the Commanding Officer of the US forces in Japan.

But that wasn’t important.

"Sit down, let’s continue our conversation about what we were discussing just now."

James then sat down, saying, "There’s no vacancy for the time being, but as long as you have enough money, there will be enough vacancies, Mr. Aoyama, you should understand that."

The US military was already corrupt, not to mention these overseas contingents that were far from the Emperor, and therefore all the more rotten.

"Alright, you handle it on your own or use your family connections to make it happen, I’ll foot the bill for everything," Aoyama Xiu Xin said in a calm tone.

The value of money lies in its being spent, otherwise it’s just a string of numbers or a pile of worthless paper.

James swallowed hard and said earnestly, "You are the most charismatic person I’ve ever met."

Aoyama Xiu Xin’s heart tightened, and he quickly took a sip of his drink to calm his nerves, saying, "James, I like making friends with military men, so if you get a chance, introduce me to some of your comrades-in-arms."

Although James seemed like the most suitable investment at the moment, it was important not to only interact with him. It was necessary to buy over a few more, and also to keep him a little anxious.

"Of course, it would be an honor for them," James felt a twinge in his heart, subconsciously not wanting to share the support of Aoyama Xiu Xin, but then he quickly agreed.

Because refusal or procrastination would provoke Aoyama Xiu Xin’s displeasure, and Aoyama could easily get to know the young officers inside the US forces in Japan on his own initiative, without James’s introduction.

So it was best to be straightforward, to keep Aoyama Xiu Xin satisfied and to owe those comrades he introduced a favor, especially since he already had the advantage, he just needed to maintain his lead.

Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his glass, "Cheers."

"Cheers," James clinked glasses with him.

.................

Moving from Major to Lieutenant Colonel seemed like just one rank, but the difficulty was not small. James contacted his retired grandfather to try using his old military connections.

While promotions could be bought, there had to be a way to spend the money properly, or else it might either not be spent at all or be ineffective when spent.

He told Old James about being funded by his ’Sugar Daddy’ Aoyama Xiu Xin, and Old James shared his view: regardless of whatever Aoyama Xiu Xin was ultimately after, for now, it was best to take the offered benefit and worry about the rest later.

After all, Aoyama Xiu Xin couldn’t possibly one day expect him to lead a coup with the US forces in Japan or help counterattack the United States, could he? If not, then there was nothing to be too concerned about.

Once the right connections were made, and the money was spent, the results followed. A month later, James was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander for meritorious performance, while his former direct superior was dealt with for making a mistake.

In truth, that mistake had been made half a year ago, involving the indecent assault of a Japanese male student. He had not been dealt with at the time not because of his powerful connections, but because the unlucky student had no background, and at the time, there was no value in dealing with him. But now, removing him was very valuable.

Upon receiving news of the promotion, an elated James immediately called Aoyama Xiu Xin to report the good news. His demeanor on the phone was even more humble and respectful than usual.

As for his sudden promotion, some former colleagues were naturally envious, insisting on him treating them. Around a dinner table, he looked around and said with a secretive air, "Do you know why I got promoted?"

The room fell silent instantly, as a dozen junior and field-grade officers all turned to look at him at once.

Being stationed in Japan, without much chance to distinguish oneself in action, James’s inexplicable promotion already seemed somewhat odd.

"James, spit it out, don’t keep us in suspense."

"Yeah, if you’ve got a good channel, you must share it with us brothers!"

A few of the majors eagerly chimed in.

While the junior officers, subordinates of the few, dared not speak, their eyes were also incredibly fiery.

Everyone wanted to advance, after all!