Before Saburo Arasaka took over, Arasaka had been nothing more than a small manufacturing company.
Now, banking, security, and manufacturing were the three pillars of Arasaka's business. The once-small manufacturer had become one of the most powerful corporations in the world.
"Yes, I did it. Unfortunately, I don't have much time left."
Goro Takemura was startled. "Lord Saburo..."
Saburo Arasaka raised a hand.
He stopped Goro Takemura from saying anything further.
"I know my own body."
Despite all the advanced medical technology he had employed, his body was still declining inexorably.
That feeling had been especially pronounced lately.
The conversation had suddenly taken this turn.
Goro Takemura didn't know what to say.
In truth, the members of Arasaka's board had shown their dislike of Saburo Arasaka in private more than once.
They felt that Saburo Arasaka was too controlling. He had lived for more than a hundred and fifty years, yet still refused to relinquish power.
Besides, even compared with the longest-lived actual emperors, Saburo Arasaka had lived far too long.
More than once, they had secretly wondered how many more years Saburo Arasaka would live before he finally loosened his grip on the throne.
As for Saburo Arasaka's children, fortunately, aside from Raijin Arasaka, his daughter Hana Arasaka and granddaughter Michiko Arasaka had never once expressed dissatisfaction with their father or grandfather.
"The more clearly I feel the merciless passage of the years, the more I regret Yorinobu's choices. He's still so young. He still has endless possibilities ahead of him, and yet..."
As Saburo Arasaka spoke, something about his tone struck Goro Takemura as very strange.
It didn't seem to be merely a father's frustration with a rebellious son.
There was also resentment toward a son so much younger than himself...
And a desire to possess and replace