Chapter 296
He wanted to become a politician, to stand at the top of this country.
For this, he spent countless years navigating the political arena, becoming a tool in the hands of others for an unimaginable duration, pouring his entire life's blood into it.
For that one purpose only.
He had almost no formal education, and his physical condition was extremely mediocre. He was neither a hard worker nor did he possess any astonishing perseverance.
There is only one of each.
Ambition.
Perhaps it was because he was abandoned by his parents when he was young, or perhaps he unknowingly chose to work as a hostess after graduating from high school.
Unbeknownst to him, the incense of power had already permeated his entire being.
He wanted to become a politician.
Therefore, what is needed is savings.
With over a decade of work and savings, as long as one has election deposits and can casually shout out catchy slogans, one could easily become a politician and enter the political arena.
This was the initial mistake.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi believed that only by aligning himself with the right party could one gain a foothold on the chessboard.
Even if it means becoming a pawn in someone else's game, he still wants to become a politician.
But simply echoing others is not enough; merely seeking refuge will not earn people's trust.
So he took on the dirty work.
They did all sorts of dirty work, from the most conceivable to the most unimaginable, walking the line between the underworld and the law.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi gradually gained the trust of Naoe Jin'nosuke, the faction he had aligned himself with.
... Do you trust them?
Perhaps it wasn't trust, but simply seeing him as a useful tool.
But even if it's a knife, it doesn't matter. Even with a knife, as long as he climbs upwards, he can—
He was ordered to take on an important task.
Talent Development Program
For Japan, talent is needed and essential; every politician who comes to power will proclaim this.
Everyone wants to achieve something from this.
Because someone has already achieved the greatest result.
'Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School'
This achievement allowed the party, led by Kijima, to grow in power and influence incredibly rapidly.
Naoe wanted to seize that achievement.
I want to be a representative of the talent development program.
For this reason, Ayanokoji Atsuomi was given an important responsibility.
Project White Room has begun.
This is an absolutely necessary plan; it's a plan that must produce results and requires our full commitment.
To this end, he even found a bar hostess he knew and, in exchange for money, got her to give him a 'child'.
'Ayanokoji Kiyotaka', this child is proof that he was able to devote himself entirely to him.
It has to be this way; only in this way can people believe that he will give his all.
The plan for the White Room was a success.
It doesn't matter which morally corrupt individuals banned from the industry the mentors in the White Room come from, nor does it matter which back alleys the children trained in the White Room are bought from.
At least in terms of results, the figures are definitely impressive and worthy of presentation.
That's right, numbers.
All I need are numbers; as long as the numbers look good, that's enough.
He could succeed; as the complete mastermind behind the White Room project, he could use this as a political achievement to advance his career!
It took him fifteen years to get here.
If this is used as a political achievement to propel Naoe to power, perhaps next time, and the time after that, in his lifetime, he too will be able to sit in that position.
But all of that was destroyed.
Naoe surrendered.
He withdrew from the election, he conceded defeat, and he pleaded with Ayanokoji Atsuomi...
Behave yourself
What is this? What does this mean?
I've been abandoned?
Such a clear signal, such a decisive letting go.
To be discarded.
It was him.
His ambition burned wildly.
One must not submit to others, nor be controlled by them.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi wanted to prove himself and wanted to reach the highest position.
However, the Naoe faction could no longer be relied upon.
In the past decade or so, apart from the White Room project, he hasn't devoted any time or effort to maintaining any relationships.
He only has White Room left.
Since he, Kijima, could Advanced Nurturing, why can't I, Ayanokoji Atsuomi, achieve my own success through the White Room?
Ambition burns brightly, and conviction remains unwavering.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi arrived today.
The White Room is a talent development program that uses the suppression of emotions as its fundamental logic and cramming education to artificially create geniuses.
Those receiving education will grow through a comprehensive and multi-faceted curriculum.
First comes physical fitness, then knowledge, and then miscellaneous studies.
Among these, the one hailed as the 'greatest masterpiece' achieved the greatest success and is the finest finished product of the White Room.
It was his son, the son he had personally sent into the incubation facility.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
As long as he's there, as long as he can be used to prove the success of the White Room.
He can turn the tide and make a comeback!
Therefore, planning began.
To calculate, prepare, devise a plan.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka successfully enrolled in Advanced Nurturing as a first-year student.
As his greatest masterpiece, he will likely soon make waves on campus with his abilities.
Showcase your own talent in this enemy's talent development facility, and let your masterpiece overwhelm the talent of others.
Isn't this the best example of the success of the White Room?
The advantages of White Room will be fully demonstrated over the next three years.
... What?
You said Kiyotaka was assigned to the worst Class D?
Isn't this exactly what I wanted? Only the worst class, the lowest starting point, can show the greatest shock when they turn the tide and crush their opponents.
... What?
You're saying Kiyotaka is still in Class D almost a year later?
No, it's alright. I still have other methods. He just hasn't received instructions and lacks the motivation to act. As long as I give him a slight push along the plan, he will act smoothly.
For example, well, take advantage of the parent-teacher meeting to put pressure on him directly!
He missed the Sports Festival, but he wouldn't miss the opportunity to meet with college counselors.
Although first graders don't need any college counseling, they come to the school for face-to-face interviews under the guise of college counseling.
It's still fine.
No!
Before him stood his son, whom he hadn't seen in over a year, but despite his own roundabout, suggestive advances, the son simply spoke calmly.
"I can't win."
There is no need to fight a battle that is destined to be lost.
"If you want me to drop out of school, then so be it."
He refused.
He then pushed open the door to the meeting room, prematurely ending the talks.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi: "..."
It seems I've left him out for too long.
Ayanokoji Atsuomi thought to himself.
It has started operating again.
Sakayanagi Narimori was temporarily removed from office, and the Acting Chairman named Tsukishiro did not fully implement his ideas, adding a Special Exam to the school.
Class Vote.
I'll give you a knife.
You quickly stab the strongest person in this school.
Time flows on.
The Class Vote ended quietly.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained motionless.
He seemed to have adopted a passive, indifferent attitude, doing nothing at all.
Are you expecting to just drift through three years like this?
Don't even think about it!
Ayanokoji Atsuomi was somewhat anxious. For a whole year, his greatest masterpiece had been in the bottom-ranked Class D.
The threat of expulsion was useless to him, and he couldn't possibly make Kiyotaka drop out of school.
Why is that?
The enemy was too powerful? But that person showed utter contempt for the school, saying he wanted to drop out—that was already incredibly humiliating for Advanced Nurturing!
Regardless of whether he ultimately backs out or not, if he doesn't, I'll find a way to make him back out!
The rest are all losers who were defeated by that student. If you defeat them too, you can prove that you are on the same level as him, or even stronger! Because you didn't drop out! You can do even better and achieve even more!
Because you don't have any cards in your hand? No problem, no problem.
I'll send it to you right away!
The right age, the right person.
As a new first-year student.
The White Room, 5th Generation.
Amasawa Ichika.