Chapter 585 Casually Doing a Bit of Business

Shuichi’s expression changed slightly.

Satsuki didn’t look much different and calmly continued,

“Father, think about it.”

“We at Saionji have Mr. Dojima, SIS, and so many specially trained security personnel.”

“Even with conditions like ours, we almost failed to block that attack.”

“What about them?”

Shuichi fell silent.

“They probably wouldn’t even survive the first round of attacks.”

“That’s right.”

Satsuki nodded.

“Even Saionji almost had an incident, what makes anyone else think they’ll be safer than me?”

“Do they have the SIS?”

“Do they have someone like Mr. Dojima?”

“Do they have a guard team capable of engaging professional armed personnel?”

“I’m afraid most people don’t even know if their bodyguards have received real combat training, do they?”

Listening to this, Shuichi nodded approvingly.

Indeed.

Although the managers of those large Japanese enterprises were all wealthy, they didn’t necessarily possess the same security guarantee capabilities as Saionji.

Furthermore, over the past few decades, Japanese society had generally been quite safe.

For the vast majority of business executives, hiring a few bodyguards, equipping a few luxury cars, and maintaining good relations with the local police were already enough to deal with most dangers in daily life.

Originally, they didn’t have much motivation to establish a professional armed security system.

But after the June 27 Incident, the situation obviously changed.

“At first, they were just scared.”

Satsuki continued.

“So last summer, many companies began to re-examine their security plans.”

“Adding bodyguards, replacing bulletproof cars, installing better alarm systems for residences, and some companies simply hired overseas security consultants.”

“These things were actually already happening.”

She thought for a moment and added another sentence.

“I remember that in September last year, someone from Keidanren specifically inquired about our security training system.”

“They want to learn?”

“They want to learn part of it, I suppose.”

Satsuki shrugged slightly.

“But after learning it, they will quickly discover a problem.”

“What is it?”

“Money can’t solve everything.”

She looked at Shuichi.

“Suppose you are the chairman of a large enterprise, willing to spend one billion yen a year to protect yourself.”

“You can buy bulletproof cars, hire dozens of bodyguards, and invite the best experts to formulate security plans.”

“However, if the government does not allow them to carry firearms, no matter how much money you spend, those bodyguards cannot legally carry guns.”

“And you can’t possibly ask the Metropolitan Police Department to send dozens of armed police officers every day to follow you twenty-four hours a day.”

Satsuki spread her hands.

“So what happens in the end?”

Shuichi already understood.

“Amend the law.”

“That’s right.”

Satsuki nodded with satisfaction.

“And they will be more active than us.”

“Because Saionji at least already has a functioning security system. For us, the new law is mainly to make the existing system more stable and expand future room for activities.”

“But for other enterprises, this might be their first opportunity to obtain legal armed protection capabilities.”

“So…”

She turned to look at the television.

“Of course they hope to strive for more at once.”

“It would be best if they could equip pistols and long guns, expand the security scope a bit more, and simplify the approval procedures a bit more.”

“Anyway, the law hasn’t passed yet, so let’s put forward the demands first.”

Speaking of this, the corners of Satsuki’s mouth curved up again.

“What if it really passes?”

After hearing this, Shuichi couldn’t help shaking his head.

“Then you previously demanded such high qualification thresholds, they probably won’t be happy either, right?”

“Of course.”

“That’s another issue.”

Satsuki extended her finger and tapped lightly on the coffee table.

“Although these enterprises all support expanding private security privileges, what they want is not completely the same.”

“Saionji hopes the law will establish a strict and stable designation system.”

“Because we already have a crisis command center, a professional training system, and long-term cooperation experience with the police.”

“The clearer the standards, the more favorable it is for us.”

“But what about other enterprises?”

Satsuki tilted her head.

“If a company can only spare hundreds of millions of yen a year for security, how could it build a twenty-four-hour crisis center by itself?”

“It also wants to obtain firearm qualifications, so naturally it hopes the government will relax the application conditions.”

“As for those truly large conglomerates…”

She looked back at the television.

“They do have money and the ability to build their own system.”

“So what they care about is not just whether they can obtain qualifications.”

“Rather, how much power they can actually possess after obtaining the qualifications.”

Shuichi nodded thoughtfully.

“So, that lawmaker just now…”

“There should be several large manufacturing enterprises and financial institutions behind him pushing it.”

Satsuki took over the conversation.

“Those enterprises have their own important facilities and executives that need protection.”

“For them, since they are prepared to spend a lot of money to build a professional security team, naturally they don’t want to end up with only a few pistols.”

“However, Father doesn’t need to worry too much.”

“Why?”

“Because the one who ultimately decides what weapons to approve is still the government.”

Satsuki pointed to Shiokawa Masajuro sitting in the government seats on the television.

“Look, Mr. Shiokawa’s expression is already not looking too good.”

…

Shiokawa Masajuro on the television had indeed furrowed his brows.

The lawmaker’s proposal just now to further open up permits for long guns and even automatic weapons had clearly exceeded the scope the government was originally prepared to accept.

When the speaker announced that the government would respond, Shiokawa picked up the documents in front of him and slowly stood up.

“Regarding the opinions put forward just now, the government understands the security guarantee needs within them.”

“However, allowing private business operators to possess automatic weapons will involve issues far more complex than general security permits.”

“Especially in terms of weapon management, personnel training, and use liability, a sufficiently mature system has not yet been formed.”

“Therefore, the government believes that at the present stage, priority should be given to establishing a special security system centered on pistol permits.”

He paused slightly.

“As for the licensing issues of long guns and other special equipment, the government believes it is still necessary to undergo sufficient professional research. Currently, there is no plan to include automatic weapons in the scope of this licensing.”

Such an answer clearly could not satisfy the lawmaker from earlier.

He sat in his seat, bowed his head to talk with his colleagues for a few words, but did not continue to press.

Anyway, his purpose had at least been partially achieved.

The issue of long gun and automatic weapon permits had now been formally brought into the Parliament’s discussions.

And although the government did not accept his demands, it did not deny the necessity of establishing a special security system because of this.

Satsuki looked at the television, touching her chin thoughtfully.

The demands made by that lawmaker just now were indeed bolder than she had anticipated.

However…

Wanting the government to approve private enterprises to be equipped with automatic weapons was probably not that easy.

Even the National Police Agency, which had already accepted the special security system, would definitely not easily compromise on such an issue.

At least not at the present stage.

However, what that lawmaker said just now reminded her of one thing.

Since other enterprises had begun to eagerly hope to improve their security levels, then…

“Father.”

“Hmm?”

“I suddenly have an idea.”

Shuichi turned his head.

Satsuki was already seen standing up from the sofa and walking towards the desk nearby.

“Chizuru, help me connect to Nagatacho.”

“Okay, Miss.”

Chizuru immediately put down the documents in her hand.

Shuichi was a bit surprised.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Satsuki turned back to look at him, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

“I just suddenly realized that since someone took the initiative to help us build up the momentum, it seems we can casually do a bit of business.”

“…Business?”

Shuichi was stunned.

Wasn’t this discussing legislation?

How did it suddenly drag back to doing business?

However, he was not in a hurry to press further.

After all, every time his daughter showed this expression, she mostly thought of something new.

A moment later, Chizuru had connected the phone.

“Miss, the liaison office on the Parliament side has been contacted.”

“Hmm, give it to me.”

Satsuki took the receiver.

“It’s me.”

Respectful greetings immediately came from the other end of the phone.

“Miss Saionji.”

“You have the speech list for today, right?”

“Yes.”

“Help me confirm which of our people are scheduled to speak next.”

The sound of flipping paper came from the other side of the phone.

After a while, the other party reported a few names.

After hearing this, Satsuki thought for a bit.

“Good.”

“Contact their secretaries and have the lawmakers preparing to speak slightly adjust their content.”

“I have a new suggestion that I hope can be raised before today’s meeting ends.”

“Please go ahead.”

Satsuki turned around and glanced at the television screen in the distance.

“Someone complained just now that the weapon permissions are too small, and the opposition party is worried that only large enterprises can enjoy special protection, right?”

“When our people go up later, there’s no need to follow along and argue about the issue of long guns and automatic weapons. On this issue, just directly support the government’s cautious attitude.”

The rustling sound of paper and pen recording came from the other end of the phone.

“Focus on qualification accreditation and scope of business.”

Satsuki said unhurriedly:

“Do not relax a single requirement in the bill regarding the all-weather crisis management center, professional training system, and encrypted communication equipment.”

“However, following the debate just now, a ‘compromise plan’ can be proposed to the government—”

“If an enterprise indeed faces serious security risks and lacks the ability to independently establish a crisis management center, it should be allowed to obtain corresponding armed protection by entrusting an institution that has already obtained special security qualifications.”

She paused.

“After all, it’s a temporarily added topic, and Minister Shiokawa’s first reaction will definitely be to drag it out. So before our people take the stage, send someone to the government seats to pass a word to Minister Shiokawa, letting him know this is my intention.”

“In addition, have our people immediately prepare the formal amendment text.”

“The content doesn’t need to be written too complicatedly; it just needs to clearly allow business operators who have obtained special security qualifications to provide entrusted armed security services to other enterprises under the condition of obtaining additional permits. Leave the specific firearm management and responsibility division to subsequent implementation rules.”

Satsuki paused slightly.

“The number of co-signers shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Of course not, Miss Saionji.”

“That’s good. Have the people from the House Legislative Bureau confirm the text as soon as possible, and strive to officially submit it to the speaker before today’s vote.”

“Also, communicate with Minister Shiokawa and the Parliament Steering Committee in advance. We don’t need the government to formulate all regulatory details on the spot, we just need them to accept this principle.”

“Once the amendment gets government support, have our people request a vote. Make arrangements ahead of time with other lawmakers as well.”

“Understood, Miss Saionji!”

“Hmm, thank you for your hard work.”

Satsuki hung up the phone, handed the receiver back to Chizuru, and then walked back to the sofa to sit down again.

Holding his teacup, Shuichi listened to her arrangements from beginning to end.

After his daughter was seated securely, he spoke with some amusement:

“The business you mentioned just now refers to this?”

“That’s right.”

Satsuki picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip.

“Father, look at those two people just now.”

“One complained that pistols weren’t enough, wishing he could equip his bodyguards with long guns the moment he walked out tomorrow; the other complained that the review standards set by the government were too high, afraid that the enterprises behind him wouldn’t be able to get qualifications.”

“The lawmaker demanding long guns definitely has several large enterprises as backers behind him. The reason they jumped out and made such a big fuss was originally to force the government to untie themselves.”

Shuichi nodded: “That’s natural. They wouldn’t go on stage and pound the table just to help us at Saionji fight for permissions.”

“So, I simply borrowed their momentum and combined these two matters for them.”

Satsuki put down her teacup and raised a finger:

“Since the government is afraid it can’t manage it all, we will firmly support the government in maintaining the highest review standards. A crisis command center, dedicated communication network, actual combat training system, medical rescue capability—not a single one can be missing.”

She raised a second finger:

“And since other enterprises are in a rush for people to protect them and cannot build such a complex system themselves, let’s allow them to spend money to purchase special security services from institutions that have already obtained qualifications.”

“In this way, the National Police Agency preserves the bottom line of strict supervision, the chairmen of large enterprises can immediately get ready-made armed protection, small and medium-sized enterprises have a legal channel to seek help, and even the Social Democratic Party’s worry that ‘any factory owner can take a gun to bully workers’ won’t hold water.”

Speaking of this, she spread her hands with a smile:

“Everyone is satisfied, how wonderful.”

Looking at the innocent smile on his daughter’s face, Shuichi couldn’t help asking back:

“Everyone is satisfied, then how many enterprises in all of Japan currently possess an all-weather crisis center, dedicated communication network, actual combat training system, and medical rescue helicopters at the same time?”

Satsuki tilted her head, bending her fingers and counting seriously:

“Hmm… It seems there is only our Saionji.”

Shuichi laughed in spite of himself and shook his head.

This girl.

Saying on her lips that she was sharing worries for the government and solving troubles for peers.

As a result, after turning around in a circle, she actually turned the legal right to bear arms originally used for self-defense directly into an exclusive business monopolizing Japanese top society.