Chapter 5: Reaching Consensus
Yumura Hideyoshi acted like a boss, quietly drinking tea on the side, occasionally casting a gaze full of authority and power.
Kenichi Koike then set the price for him.
"Considering your contributions, Yumura Society is willing to provide one billion yen as the patent transfer fee. In addition, after you graduate, you can choose to work at our company."
He waved his arms, emphasizing with an exaggerated tone, "You won’t be just an ordinary employee, your career will start from being a department head!"
Uesugi Kiyoshi almost laughed out loud.
"Do you have a different opinion, sir?" Kenichi Koike's voice suddenly turned cold when he didn't get the response he expected. "Are you not satisfied with the amount? Or the position?"
Uesugi Kiyoshi shook his head quickly.
Of course, he was not satisfied with either.
After all, Japan has a population of around 130 million, and protective clothing is a necessity. If the disaster continues, at least a billion pieces need to be produced each month to meet the basic needs of the people.
Even if only a modest patent royalty of 100 yen is charged per piece, it still amounts to a huge income of billions of yen.
Compared to this, a mere one billion yen is just like daylight robbery.
As for working at the Yumura Society, he wouldn't do it even if they offered him the position of a department head. He came all the way from across time, does he really have to be a corporate slave again?
Of course, Uesugi Kiyoshi knew that he had no choice.
He only submitted the application, still far from approval and acquiring the patent. If not for the other party trying to monopolize the patent, they could have ignored him completely.
Even if the patent application is successful, with Yumura Society's power, they could pressure the government or appeal to the patent office for a review, even to terminate or cancel the patent.
After all, this involves the well-being of the nation! Compared to the lives of millions of people, sacrificing an ordinary high school student means nothing.
The public would also readily vote in favor!
"No problem! Your conditions are very reasonable! However, I have another condition," Uesugi Kiyoshi replied with a smile.
"Please go ahead."
"I want to become famous."
"…"
Kenichi Koike subconsciously glanced at Yumura Hideyoshi, cleared his throat, and said. I'm sorry, what can I do for you?
"As the inventor of protective suits, it's rather unfair that no one knows my name until now!"
Uesugi Kiyoshi's gaze was very sincere.
"To have my name marked on the protective suits, so everyone knows me, and to appoint myself as the honorary director of the Yumura Society to enhance my reputation, is that too much to ask for?"
Yumura Hideyoshi stood up, a smile spreading across his face. He appeared kind and amiable, making people feel at ease and comfortable.
"Deal!"
He took the phone handed by Kenichi Koike, dialed a number, and said. "I apologize for the intrusion, Director Matsushita…"
This is Vice Director Koike from the Patent Office. With his permission, your patent can be approved quickly," explained Kenichi Koike with a smile, feeling Uesugi Kiyoshi's gaze.
"Mr. Yumura does have a wide circle of friends!"
"Not at all!" Yumura Hideyoshi hung up the phone and took over, "Director Matsushita is a fair and impartial person who never considers personal feelings when making decisions."
"What about it?"
"It will cost extra!"
Glancing at the clock, he warmly invited Uesugi Kiyoshi to dinner.
"It will take another hour or two to issue the certificate. Let's dine and wait. Please, Mr. Uesugi, no need to be polite!"
"Oh, not at all!"
Looking at the variety of dishes on the table, Uesugi Kiyoshi's mouth watered. After eating instant food for two weeks, his stomach was almost in spasms.
"Yumura, Dr. Noda from the research institute is still waiting for you," reminded Kenichi Koike.
"Noda? Haha!"
When this was mentioned, the originally smiling Yumura Hideyoshi suddenly looked unhappy.
"It's been two weeks since I last saw him, holding a huge amount of company funds, but achieving nothing! Compared to Director Uesugi, although he is from Tokyo University, he is far behind!"
"…You flatter me."
Uesugi Kiyoshi was not comfortable with such praise.
Being a professor at a world-class school like Tokyo University, his research capabilities alone were superior, something Uesugi Kiyoshi couldn't match. His only advantage was perhaps his foresight.
However, not seeing any results so far was unexpected for Uesugi Kiyoshi.
Could it be that the Head Balloon event was too strange, beyond current scientific understanding, leading to them questioning themselves and life itself?
Forget it!
Uesugi Kiyoshi stopped feeling confused and started enjoying the feast, as he had been eating instant food for two weeks already.
While signing the patent transfer contract and riding back to Nakasone's house in a special car, it was already late at night. Within the misty clouds, the faint moon was casting an eerie halo, reflecting a huge face in the sky, appearing and disappearing.
By the light of the car's headlights, Uesugi Kiyoshi noticed a GT-R parked at the gate, with a round light on the roof shining red, its body a mix of black and white, and three Chinese characters of "警视厅" written on the side.
Police?
He glanced at the roof and saw two more balloons there compared to before, each bearing a clear police emblem on their brims.
With personal safety secured, various government agencies were gradually resuming work, as Uesugi Kiyoshi knew. A day ago, order-keeping police had appeared on the streets, but why had they come here?
Uesugi Kiyoshi thought for a moment, took out the key, and gently pushed the door open.
In the living room, Nakasone Kazuko had tears in her eyes, holding onto the sleeve of a middle-aged bearded policeman.
"Uncle Inoue, could you please help by going there? Pretty please?"
The middle-aged policeman shook his sleeve but couldn't shake off the girl holding onto him tightly. He sadly looked at the girl with tears in her eyes and said. It's not that I don't want to help you, but that's Yumura Co., Ltd! Even if I'm a police officer, without an appointment, we can't just go in!
Only with solid evidence.
Acting solely based on the words of a little girl to rush in and save someone, he would have to resign the next day due to being forced to take the blame.
"Then, let's just go ask, okay, Uncle Inoue!"
Nakasone Kazuko looked at him with a pitiful expression, "Even if we don't go in, they might consider the police's reputation and show some restraint. Maybe, just maybe, this way we can save a life, right?"
The middle-aged policeman gave a bitter smile.
They don't have that kind of prestige.
But if it's just going through the motions at the entrance, it shouldn't be a big problem.
"Detective Sato?" he inquired, looking towards his young colleague beside him.
"I don't think we need to go!"
Nakasone Kazuko opened her eyes wide, glared angrily at the young policeman, and tears streamed down her face. He quickly took a few steps back, waved his hand, and pointed to Uesugi Kiyoshi at the entrance, saying, "After all, the person has come back, right?"
