"You see, this is much better. If you had done this earlier, we wouldn't have to go through so much trouble," Aoyama Xiu Xin chuckled, stood up, and patted Jack on the shoulder before raising his glass in a toast, "However, I thank you for introducing me to a new friend like James. Cheers."

Jack had the look of someone whose mother had just died and mechanically bent down to pick up his own glass to clink it with Aoyama Xiu Xin's, then silently downed it in one gulp.

He wasn't drinking alcohol, he was drinking the bitterness of life.

"Alright, you can go after you settle the bill," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, waving his hand dismissively.

Not wanting to stay a moment longer, Jack put down his glass and hypocritically said, "Okay, then I won't disturb Minister Aoyama and Major James any further. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening and have a good drink."

"Jack, I'm already having a great time, hahaha," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily and then turned to ask James, "James, are you having fun?"

He loved to torment people's souls the most, since his joy often came at the expense of others' pain.

"Hahaha, I'm extremely happy, meeting a friend like Minister Aoyama is the happiest thing for me this year," said James, grinning from ear to ear.

Watching this pair of jackals and leopards, Jack's face twitched along with the corners of his mouth. Could you keep your joy down a bit? You're drowning out my loneliness.

He felt wronged, oh so wronged!

Strangers bullied me; my own people also bullied me!

The worst part is, it's the bastards that I paid for myself who teamed up with strangers to bully me!

Inviting wolves into the house, inviting wolves into the house indeed.

He silently turned and left, closing the door behind him.

"Fuck you squid!"

After he got outside, he turned back and cursed fiercely at the two men still inside before storming off with a dark expression.

"Ts, it seems our poor Jack won't be able to sleep well tonight," Aoyama Xiu Xin shrugged at James, plumping himself back into the sofa and pouring another drink. "But we will sleep well."

"I think so, I will definitely sleep sweetly and soundly tonight," James shrugged back at him.

After getting rid of the excess person, the two of them clinked their glasses and chatted about everything under the sun, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Colluding together, their conspiracy was in full swing, Aoyama Xiu Xin inquired about James' personal life, "James, you look to be only about thirty years old, yet you're already a major. Your future must be boundless."

When a person holds a status beyond their age, it signifies that they either have robust abilities or a strong background. Either quality proves they are valuable.

Valuable people are worth maintaining relationships with.

"I wish that were true, but who knows?" James said disinterestedly, shaking his head as if he didn't want to discuss his future further but instead began to flatter Aoyama Xiu Xin, "It is Minister Aoyama, however, who will certainly become not only a big name in Japan but – oh no, a worldwide celebrity. I am honored to know you as you are now."

"Then I'll take your auspicious words," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied, lifting his glass for a drink. After finishing, he pushed the glass towards James for a refill, while saying, "I've heard Americans are very arrogant and don't understand humility, but it seems that's not entirely true. At least you, James, display humility. A thirty-year-old major is rare in any country, isn't it? I imagine you must have many military achievements and exceptional military performance. I've always admired soldiers. I hold profound friendships with the Land Guard, and have some acquaintance with the Sea Guard. I really appreciate a military role model like you."

"It's not humility, it's just a clear understanding of myself. Without my father and grandfather, I might have died in Operation Desert Storm, let alone repeatedly distinguished myself with honors..." James, now flushed from drink, let his guard down and began to talk freely.

Aoyama Xiu Xin would occasionally throw in a jest to encourage him to divulge more, and soon, he figured out everything about James.

A wretched capitalist successor!

His grandfather and father had both served in the military, with his grandfather having participated in several wars and retiring as an Army Major General, while his father, though less distinguished, died in combat as a Lieutenant Colonel over a decade ago.

With his poor academic performance, James joined the army right after high school, and with his grandfather's support, took part in various military operations where he rode on coattails for honors. Before retiring, his grandfather used his connections to secure James a promotion to major.

The future would be difficult. His background could allow him to climb the ranks, but he would need either achievements or money.

Unfortunately, his family didn't have much money, only enough to ensure they lacked for nothing.

Hoping to blast a path upwards with money was not feasible.

As for achievements, the fastest way to earn them would be on the battlefield, but without his grandfather's protection, participating in military operations wouldn't land him in safe positions – he'd have to charge headfirst into the line of fire, a risk he wasn't willing to take.

So, in the best case scenario, by accumulating years of service and banking on his grandfather's remaining influence, it would be decent if he could reach the rank of colonel before retirement. The rank of general was beyond hope.

That's why when Aoyama Xiu Xin complimented him on having a limitless future, he showed little interest in delving into that topic because one's own family knows their own affairs best.

After revealing his true circumstances, James was thoroughly drunk, his gaze foggy, his body reeking of alcohol, babbling inarticulately as he slung an arm around Aoyama Xiu Xin's neck, "So now I'm not thinking about achieving anything on this path. Having a stable place to eat is good enough. Being stationed in Japan is great, or even Korea. I take any girl I want here, drink whatever I want, beat up anyone on the street who annoys me. I don't want to go back, I just don't want to go back."

In this joy, he didn't think of the United States.

For some US military members who lack ambition or have no way to climb the ranks, being stationed abroad is like a celestial assignment – abroad, they can act like emperors.

"Alright, then let's not go back. When I become the Prime Minister of Japan, and you, James, become the commander of the US military stationed in Japan, we can enjoy the good life together here, do whatever we want, and have whomever we want," Aoyama Xiu Xin joked, hugging him back.

But inside, he seriously contemplated the matter.

James came from a distinguished background.

He was already a major with connections in the military through his family. If he put forward the money to pave a grand path for James, coupled with his experience in Japan, and with further financial maneuvering, it wasn't impossible that, in the future, he could be promoted to major general and become the commander of the US military in Japan.

In the United States, there's nothing money can't do!

Commanding the Land Guard, influencing the Sea Guard, and if the US military in Japan were to take his side with the unofficial consent or at least the tacit approval of the US government, he could do whatever he wanted in Japan.

Not just becoming the Prime Minister, but even brazenly dreaming of spending a night in the Dragon Bed and debauching the harem wasn't out of question.

He inherited the ambition of the Prime Minister, which meant he needed to have the substance of a Prime Minister, referring to Dong Zhuo, the Minister of State.

James was completely drunk, and when he heard Aoyama Xiu Xin's words, he burst into laughter, slapping his shoulders forcefully, "Good, but my wife can't be involved, she can only be... be my own angel!"

"Don't worry, I've never been interested in other people's wives," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile.

"Let me show you my wife." James burped, fumbled for his wallet, opened it, and handed it to Aoyama Xiu Xin with a silly smile, "Pretty... pretty, huh?"

Aoyama Xiu Xin casually leaned in to take a look.

Suddenly, he sat up straight.

Wow! You've got to admit, she's really damn beautiful.

The wallet contained a wedding photo of James and his wife, in which the wife's smile was sweet, her skin was snow-white, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and most importantly, a big, bold conscience that looked as if it could jump right out of the photo.

"She's too beautiful, like a match made in heaven with you, James," Aoyama Xiu Xin praised profusely before asking, "Is she in Japan too?"

"No, she's in the United States; she has to look after the kids," James replied with a smile as he tucked away the photo and shook his head.

Upon hearing this, the light in Aoyama Xiu Xin's eyes faded immediately; after all, it was well known that white people generally have a shorter shelf life, particularly after having children.

That evening, the two drank cheerfully to their hearts' content, their conversation ranging from ruling Japan as kings to dominating outer space.

Late into the night, James started to clamor for women.

Aoyama Xiu Xin called two for him.

...

The next morning, James woke up with a splitting headache. As he rubbed his forehead and tried to recall the events of the previous night, his memory was fragmented and incoherent. Looking around, he noticed two women still lying in bed.

Glancing at the time, his expression changed, and he hurriedly pushed aside the two, scurrying out of bed to get washed and dressed.

After putting on his clothes, he tied his tie and stormed out the door. Fumbling in his pocket, he found Aoyama Xiu Xin's business card and dialed his number.

"Minister Aoyama, this is James."

"Hey, James, you're up. Let's continue drinking tonight; you can really hold your liquor. It's great drinking with you," Aoyama Xiu Xin, already at the office, said cheerfully on the other end.

"Oh no, no, no," James quickly refused, his voice filled with regret, "As happy as I am to drink with you, I'm sorry, but I have to hurry back. There's a military exercise this afternoon, and my battalion is participating. As the deputy commander, I can't be absent, or I'll be punished."

There was a military exercise that afternoon, and he dared to go to Sapporo the day before to make some extra cash, even staying drunk all night.

Aoyama Xiu Xin thought to himself: Seeing that even the US Army's discipline is decaying, I feel relieved.

For him, he didn't need an army on his side that was strong in combat; as long as they could help him suppress any dissenters, that would suffice. In fact, the worse the discipline, the more likely he could lure and use them.

Because a well-disciplined army would not engage in reckless behavior with him; instead, they would first use force to suppress his rash and chaotic rebellion.

"Oh, alright, then it'll have to be another time that we drink until we drop, and we can also discuss how to help you become the commander of the US military stationed in Japan," Aoyama Xiu Xin sighed.

James chuckled, "Buddy, I'm sober now, so let's not joke about that anymore. It's only a wish I can fulfill in my dreams."

He vaguely remembered discussing this last night, but it was all drunken nonsense. There was no need to bring it up now that he was sober.

"You think I was joking with you?" Aoyama Xiu Xin's tone was serious with a hint of puzzlement.

James was taken aback, replying in a tone that was both absurd and amused, "What else? Surely you were, right?"

"James, my friend, you clearly don't understand me well enough," Aoyama Xiu Xin said before swiftly changing his approach, "Okay, I was indeed joking. After all, it's not like I could really spend hundreds of millions of US Dollars to buy you that position, ha ha ha ha. Alright, I wish you a smooth journey and success in the exercise. Until next time, goodbye, James."

With that, he ended the call.

He had admitted it was a joke, but on the other end, James's heart began to stir uncontrollably, struggling to calm for a long time, because with a few hundred million US Dollars, it really was possible to buy him the position as commander of the US military stationed in Japan.

And more importantly, Aoyama Xiu Xin had the money!

Whether he was joking or not, he certainly had the ability to turn that joke into reality.

And perhaps he wasn't joking after all?

His tone didn't seem to suggest that at all.

The more James thought about it, the more it seemed like it wasn't a joke.

"This damned, pointless exercise! The Soviet Union is already finished, who else are we supposed to be guarding against? Wouldn't it be better to go out and have a few more drinks with that time?"

James cursed through clenched teeth. If it weren't for the exercise that he had to rush back to, he really would have liked to stay in Sapporo to deepen his bond with his brother, Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Even if there was just a slight possibility, it was still hope. And the worst thing is to be without hope.

His heart was already in turmoil.

Aoyama Xiu Xin wanted to befriend James and establish a close partnership, but he didn't want to be too eager and insist on it. So, he had to entice James to come to him while always maintaining control.

He intended to learn more about and control James as he drew closer, before deciding whether to invest.

After all, men are the best at enticing men.

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