"Mr. Cyphers, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Yashida Shingen fervently grasped the young man's hand, his stern and rigid face forcing out a stiff smile...
As the eldest son of the Yashida family, he normally wouldn't need to lower himself or adopt such an ingratiating attitude toward anyone.
But the man sitting across from him, Sean Cyphers, was crowned with countless dazzling accolades; founder of Umbrella, a favored guest of the Department of Defense, a rising star with extensive connections and a bright future.
No matter how high Yashida Shingen's status was in Japan, putting on airs in front of this man was simply out of the question...
"I assume Mr. Yashida knows why I'm here." Sean didn't beat around the bush, cutting straight to the point, "My good friend, Harry Osborn, has been missing for nearly forty hours. After attending the pharmaceutical exhibition hosted by your company, the Oscorp private jet returned, but its owner never boarded. It's all very... peculiar..."
"Before Mr. Cyphers arrived in Tokyo, we were already informed of this grave news. We immediately notified the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, reviewed surveillance footage along the route from the hotel to the airport, and contacted both civil aviation and air defense authorities... I deeply apologize for our oversight in allowing such an incident to befall Mr. Harry Osborn. But rest assured, the Yashida family will spare no effort to deliver a satisfactory resolution."
Yashida Shingen spoke with earnest sincerity, his hands pressed firmly on his knees as he delivered this solemn promise...
From a procedural standpoint, the eldest son of the Yashida family had handled things impeccably, leaving no room for Sean to exploit any lapses.
As the heir to one of Japan's most powerful financial conglomerates, he had already lowered himself to this degree. If Sean were to press further, he would lose the moral high ground. After all, Harry hadn't disappeared during the exhibition, he had vanished afterward.
Frankly, the Yashida family bore little responsibility.
As long as they prevented U.S. government intervention, the matter could be downplayed. At worst, it was the abduction of Oscorp's CEO; at best, it was just another brazen kidnapping in a world full of reckless outlaws.
Even Kennedy had been shot, hadn't he?
"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Yashida. I won't forget this friendship." Sean didn't elaborate.
He knew Yashida Shingen might genuinely be unaware of the truth. In the original timeline, this man had been nothing more than a tragic figure... a victim of his delusional father's madness, left with nothing in the end.
To prolong his life, Yashida Ichirō had secretly funneled billions into a joint laboratory with Hydra, purchasing vast quantities of Adamantium through covert channels, all behind the backs of company shareholders.
If exposed, it would undoubtedly tarnish the family's reputation and jeopardize corporate operations.
As his son, Yashida Shingen was fully aware of this but chose to help his father conceal the truth, believing such filial devotion would secure his inheritance of the family empire.
Little did he know that Yashida Ichirō, in his desperate quest for immortality, had already chosen his daughter, Mariko, as his successor, callously casting aside his dutiful son without a shred of familial sentiment.
Sean knew all this, which was precisely why he had singled out Yashida Shingen as his collaborator...
The man had legitimate succession rights yet posed no real threat.
Once Hydra was dealt with, the Hand could seamlessly take over, placing Japan's largest financial conglomerate firmly under Sean's control...
"I'll be staying in Tokyo for a few days while awaiting results." After some brief pleasantries, Sean addressed Yashida Shingen as the latter rose to leave.
"My father is gravely ill and currently unable to receive guests. I hope Mr. Cyphers will understand... Oh, and try not to go out at night. Tokyo hasn't been very safe lately." Yashida Shingen hesitated before offering this warning.
"What a shame. I was rather curious about Japan's entertainment culture and nightlife. Seems I won't get the chance to experience it."
With this feigned lament, Yashida Shingen exited the room, his expression dark... Deep down, he prayed his father hadn't orchestrated this.
No matter how much influence the Yashida family wielded in this country, provoking Oscorp and Umbrella would exact a devastating price...
Kidnapping Harry Osborn? If word got out, the entire family would crumble!
He couldn't stand idly by while his deranged father dragged both family and nation into an abyss of ruin.
Though he didn't know exactly what Yashida Ichirō was plotting, the diversion of company funds and the recent spate of cannibalistic "monster" incidents in the news suggested nothing good.
"Father..." Yashida Shingen's face twisted with unease.
....
~Yashida Estate~
"Dr. Green..." The elderly man in the intensive care unit called out weakly.
The private physician in the white coat approached the bedside, removing her mask to reveal a strikingly beautiful face.
Her emerald-green eyes gleamed like precious gemstones...
"Did you retrieve the Human Enhancement Serum formula from Harry Osborn?" Yashida Ichirō asked.
"No. That fool knew nothing about Umbrella's actual operations or research projects. But fortunately, Sean Cyphers has delivered himself to our doorstep." The alluring doctor replied softly, her eyes brimming with a sultry charm as she grasped the old man's withered arm, "Don't worry, Mr. Yashida. You'll soon regain your health."
Yashida Ichirō seized the doctor's wrist with surprising strength, "You said the same thing half a year ago!"
Every day, he lived in terror of death... his body, like an ancient tree, hollowed out by the relentless spread of cancer. What use was boundless wealth and prestige if he couldn't enjoy any of it?
"I refuse to watch the empire I built crumble. Shingen is a rigid fool, clinging to outdated notions of duty and patriotism. And Mariko... she's far too young..." Yashida Ichirō muttered to himself, his clouded eyes suddenly flashing with manic intensity as he glared at the smirking Dr. Green.
"To survive, I've made deals with devils like you, forsaking both family and nation. I don't want bioweapons, I want the elixir of immortality!" A hoarse roar erupted from his frail body.
Yashida Ichirō had lost all patience, no longer willing to endure the torment of waiting for death.
Dr. Green's lips curled into an enchanting smile as she slowly withdrew her hand from his grasp, "I can suppress that wolf's healing factor, strip him of his gifts, and transfer them to you. The plan has long been set. What are you still afraid of, Mr. Yashida?"
Gazing at the old man driven half-mad by illness, she spoke in a soothing tone, as if comforting a petulant child, "Obtaining the healing factor is just the first step. Then we acquire Umbrella's Human Enhancement Serum to synthesize the perfect genetic enhancing agent. Once Yashida Pharmaceuticals launches this new product, the financial losses will be recouped in no time."
Under the lull of her voice, the agitated Yashida Ichirō gradually calmed...
With a faint smile, Dr. Green turned and strode away.
Only once out of sight did she pull a handkerchief from her pocket, scrubbing her hand with visible disgust, "Disgusting old fool..."