The first round of testing for the Jade Box finished earlier than scheduled.
The number of online nodes on the console had been stable for over ten minutes, and the temperature, communication, and power supply data were all maintained within safe ranges.
The engineers in charge of the equipment area were finally able to relax a little, leaning back in their chairs to stretch their stiff shoulders.
However, the two people sitting at the very front had no intention of stopping at all.
"Connect another sixteen groups."
Emi stared at the data constantly refreshing on the screen, her fingers already moving toward the start command for the next set of nodes.
Shimomura Tsutomu reached out and pressed down on the keyboard.
"The test plan for today ends here."
"All data is normal right now; continuing to add nodes is the perfect way to test communication bandwidth."
"The cooling system has only just stabilized."
"That is exactly why we should take advantage of this moment to test it."
"We can test it tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is for testing the storage system."
"Then the day after tomorrow."
"The day after tomorrow is for fault-tolerance testing."
Shimomura Tsutomu looked at her.
"So you plan on finishing everything today?"
"Since everyone is here and the machines are already running, what is the harm in doing a little more?"
"It matters. The people responsible for power and cooling have been working for over a dozen hours straight."
"Then have them switch shifts."
"There is no second shift in the test plan."
"Add one now."
"Do you think changing a test plan is the same as ordering food?"
"You can add pudding to an order, so why can we not add nodes to a test?"
The two argued across the console.
Shimomura Tsutomu tried to place the printed original plan in front of Emi, but Emi pressed her node status diagram right on top of it.
Several engineers nearby glanced at each other, but no one dared to intervene.
Satsuki stood outside the observation window, watching the two trade barbs back and forth, and could not help but laugh.
"It looks like they get along quite well, does it not?"
Chizuru looked in the direction she was pointing.
Shimomura Tsutomu was tapping the test plan with a pencil, while Emi had already pushed his hand aside and started calculating the heat generated by adding more nodes on the terminal.
"Miss Suzuki does not seem to think so."
"Mr. Shimomura probably would not agree either."
Satsuki watched for a moment longer and realized the two had moved on from arguing about how many nodes to add to arguing about who would stay in the server room to work the night shift.
She did not go in to disturb them and turned toward the elevator.
"Let them keep arguing."
"Are you not going to wait for the second round of testing, My Lady?"
"The machines are already running; I will leave the rest to them."
Satsuki paused and looked back into the isolation room.
"But remind the cafeteria staff to prepare two extra meals for the evening. At this rate, neither of them will be going home today."
"Understood."
The elevator traveled all the way up from the underground computing area.
A large number of floors inside Saionji Tower were still unfinished, and as the elevator passed each section, different construction sounds drifted in from outside.
The lower levels were filled with the roar of vehicles and equipment; in the middle sections, one could hear the sounds of metal being cut and the hammering of curtain wall installation; further up, the surrounding noises were gradually replaced by the wind at high altitudes.
Satsuki transferred to a construction elevator on one of the completed high floors, finally arriving at the temporary observation deck beneath the tower crown.
This was still some distance from the very top of Saionji Tower, and one could still see the steel structure supporting the crown overhead.
The side facing Tokyo Bay had already been fitted with full glass panels, while other areas were partitioned off with metal railings and heavy protective boards, used primarily by project managers and senior Group executives to check on construction progress.
Satsuki stepped out of the elevator, and the first thing she saw was still Tokyo Bay.
Looking out from here, most of the buildings in Odaiba fell below her line of sight.
The Rainbow Bridge, currently under construction, spanned across the sea, while the high-rises of Shibaura and Minato Ward clustered on the other side of Tokyo Bay.
Ships moved slowly along the shipping lanes, leaving long wakes in the sunlight.
The headquarters building, hotels, and construction sites below Saionji Tower, which already looked quite massive, seemed much smaller from up here.
Satsuki walked to the edge of the observation area, her gaze quickly crossing over the buildings below the tower and landing on the area near the coast.
That stretch of shoreline had completely changed its appearance.
Two breakwaters under construction extended into the sea, enclosing the water in between to form the rough shape of a harbor basin.
A temporary quay wall had been built on the side near the land, with several construction barges moored alongside, and vehicles moved in and out along roads that had not yet been paved.
The permanent berths were still under construction.
Rows of piles had been driven into the water, and lifting equipment was transporting steel beams and prefabricated components to the shore.
The storage yard behind it had been roughly leveled, and while only the main structures of a few warehouses had been built, the dedicated roads leading to Saionji Tower and the logistics center had already taken on their full outline.
Once everything here was completed, Saionji Group would have a coastal harbor in Tokyo Bay that served both industrial and civilian purposes.
Heavy equipment, construction materials, power units, and precision instruments could be brought directly into Odaiba by sea, significantly reducing costs associated with intermediate transfers and urban road transport.
Then, employee commuter ferries and business passenger ships would also use the berths on the other side, connecting Shibaura, Harumi, and Odaiba together.
In the future, as the hotels, convention centers, and commercial facilities in Odaiba opened, Saionji could also integrate the passenger transport section into Tokyo's water transit network.
The money the Group invested would flow back in along those various berths.
"My Lady, are you looking at the harbor area?"
Eguchi Tokuhiro noticed Satsuki had been gazing at the coast and immediately walked to her side.
"The project is currently on schedule. The warehouses, lifting equipment, and harbor scheduling system have already been procured, and some of the equipment has already been delivered to Odaiba via the Group's internal logistics. Once the main body of the berths is completed, we can begin installation."
He did not look through the documents in his hand, clearly having memorized the key dates long ago.
"The permanent industrial berths are expected to be operational before the end of the year. The engineering for the passenger section will be slightly later; according to current arrangements, it can be completed next year."
Satsuki nodded.
"Continue at the current pace."
She took another look at the construction vessels working inside the harbor basin.
"The year-end deadline cannot be pushed back any further. The computing center has large equipment coming in later, and a significant amount of the power center's units, as well as the elevators and air conditioning equipment inside Saionji Tower, also need to be transported by sea."
"Transferring via Yokohama and Shibaura, then trucking them into Odaiba, would increase both time and costs. Once the dock is operational, we can have ships dock directly here."
"Understood."
Eguchi lowered his head.
"Saionji Logistics is already contacting shipping companies. Once the first batch of permanent berths is completed, we will first arrange for the second phase of the power center's units to enter the port. The tower equipment will also be transported in batches according to the installation sequence."
"Very good."
Satsuki raised her hand and pointed to the several plots of land still empty behind the harbor area.
"Do not pave over the entire storage yard; leave space for future expansion. The roads between the passenger area and the industrial area must also be separated. Once general passengers start using it, we cannot let them mix with transport vehicles."
"A separation corridor has already been reserved on the planning map. However, based on the current land usage, if we continue to add berths in the future, we may need to apply to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to expand the shoreline usage area."
"Let us get this part done first."
Satsuki smiled.
"As long as there are actually ships queuing up to dock here, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will be more anxious than we are."
Eguchi laughed along with her.
Odaiba was currently still consuming a massive amount of public funds, and many plots of land remained stalled due to the bursting of the bubble.
However, as long as Saionji could prove that this harbor area could bring in businesses, cargo, and a steady flow of passengers, it would be difficult for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to refuse further expansion.
At this moment, Chizuru walked over from behind.
She did not speak immediately; waiting until Eguchi had stepped back half a pace, she whispered into Satsuki's ear: "My Lady, the people from Salomon Brothers have arrived in Odaiba."
Satsuki turned her head, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"If I remember correctly, the meeting was in the evening, right?"
"Yes, the original location was the Group headquarters."
Chizuru also felt this was somewhat sudden.
"Mr. Gutfreund and his party have already arrived at the headquarters ahead of schedule. The secretary's office told them you were still inspecting Odaiba and asked them to wait for a while, but Mr. Gutfreund insisted on coming to find you directly."
Satsuki raised an eyebrow.
"How is it that the esteemed CEO of Salomon Brothers is acting like a second-rate debt collector, chasing me all the way to a construction site?"
Several Saionji Construction managers nearby lowered their heads, pretending they had not heard that remark.
"Should we arrange for them to go to the meeting room downstairs first?"
Satsuki thought for a moment and looked back at the harbor area in the distance.
"Since Mr. Gutfreund is so anxious, let him come straight up."
"Here?"
"Since he is willing to chase me all the way to the construction site, I cannot very well stop him from seeing the site."
Chizuru nodded in acknowledgment and turned to arrange security and the elevator.
About ten minutes later, the elevator on one side of the platform opened again.
John Gutfreund walked out first.
Following behind him were Williams, the Chief Risk Officer of Salomon Brothers, the head of the Tokyo branch, and several entourage members carrying briefcases.
Everyone was still wearing formal suits, only now they each held a hard hat for entering the construction site.
Having walked all the way through the temporary passageway, a thin layer of dust had already settled on the uppers of their expensive leather shoes.
Gutfreund himself, however, could not have cared less.
Satsuki walked up to him with a smile.
"Mr. Gutfreund, welcome to Odaiba."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment.
"I hope the dust from the construction site will not soil your suit."
Satsuki took a second look.
"Single-breasted, one-button, with a beautifully tailored shoulder line... Huntsman?"
Gutfreund glanced down at his lapel, then smiled and took Satsuki's outstretched hand.
"A sharp eye. This was made for me at Number 11."
As he spoke, he lightly adjusted his cuff.
"And if it helped me meet a beautiful lady, then this suit has fulfilled its purpose."
Gutfreund paused, his smile deepening.
"Especially a beautiful lady who can also make me seven billion dollars."
"Hearing you say that puts me at ease."
Satsuki let go of his hand and walked side-by-side with Gutfreund toward the viewing area.
"If I have made Mr. Gutfreund feel that this trip was worth it, then I suppose I am a passable client."
She glanced at the man beside her.
"But that seven billion dollars was something you secured yourself at the negotiating table. Is it not a bit too polite to attribute all the credit to me?"
"Anyone who can help me take home that kind of money is certainly worth being polite to."
Gutfreund's tone was entirely candid.
When he had initially proposed the twenty percent condition, it had indeed been bordering on highway robbery.
Yet, the financial markets never blamed the people who provided the access just because the price was high.
At the time, Saionji needed Salomon Brothers' clearing capabilities, Wall Street connections, and compliance protection, and Salomon Brothers had accurately seized that opportunity.
Seven billion dollars was the price both sides had accepted.
"Then I will accept that compliment."
Satsuki replied with a smile.
The two of them had reached the viewing platform.
"But since you have come all the way to Odaiba instead of sipping tea at headquarters, I assume you have brought something more valuable than just compliments?"
"Of course. Disappointing a beautiful lady is hardly the behavior of a gentleman."
Gutfreund took a document from his entourage but did not hand it to her immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the coastline.
"Is that pier also owned by Saionji Group?"
"The industrial berths will open at the end of the year, and the passenger section will have to wait until next year."
"Are you planning to enter the shipping industry?"
"I am just ensuring my own cargo can enter smoothly first."
Satsuki leaned against the railing of the viewing platform, her tone quite casual.
"As for whether the ships carry Saionji's cargo or someone else's in the future, that depends on who is willing to pay."
Gutfreund laughed after hearing this.
"Miss Saionji always manages to find a way to turn an expense into a profit before the work is even finished."
"That is why Saionji has the money to pay seven billion dollars."
Satsuki looked back at the document in his hand.
"So, what is the money-making method Salomon Brothers has brought today?"
Gutfreund finally handed over the document.
"Of the business currently handled by Salomon Brothers, the first batch of thirty-five billion dollars in options has been fully settled."
Satsuki took the document.
She opened the cover to find the settlement details, escrow accounts, and fund flow records compiled by Salomon Brothers.
Gutfreund continued, "According to the original agreement, Salomon Brothers receives twenty percent of that. The remaining twenty-eight billion dollars has been deposited into the designated S.A. escrow accounts as per your request."
Satsuki flipped through two pages.
The accounts, amounts, and settlement dates were all correct; Frank's team had clearly verified them beforehand.
"You did not come all the way to Odaiba just to deliver a receipt, did you?"
"Of course not."
Gutfreund walked closer to the viewing platform, looking out toward Tokyo Bay in the distance.
"The Nikkei index is still falling."
"Your remaining put options are continuing to appreciate. But market conditions are different from last year; the capital capable of absorbing these contracts is becoming increasingly cautious, and regulatory and clearing agencies are monitoring every large fund movement."
He turned his head.
"If you rely solely on S.A.'s own accounts to exit slowly, it will drag on for a very long time. If you concentrate the actions even slightly, you might draw the attention of the clearing center again."
He paused, then said solemnly, "Salomon Brothers is willing to continue handling the subsequent liquidation."
Satsuki raised her eyes.
"And the price?"
"Four percent of the profits."
Gutfreund answered quickly.
"Additionally, for the next three years, S.A.'s large-scale clearing business in the U.S. market will be prioritized for Salomon Brothers."
Satsuki did not speak immediately.
She lowered her head again and found the item Gutfreund had mentioned in the agreement.
Four percent.
Compared to the initial twenty percent, this figure was quite cheap.
Salomon Brothers had bought into the potential of Saionji's future with seven billion dollars, and Saionji had used that seven billion dollars to secure a financial channel that could bypass various obstacles.
Now, both sides knew each other's value.
Gutfreund naturally would not offer the same price as their first meeting.
Satsuki raised her head, looking at him with a faint, enigmatic smile.
"From twenty percent down to four percent—has Mr. Gutfreund suddenly become generous?"
"Last time, Salomon Brothers built you a road that did not exist before, so the price was high."
"And this time?"
"The road is already built."
Gutfreund said with a smile, "And I hope that, from now on, every vehicle passes through here."
Satsuki looked back at the agreement.
She seemed to be genuinely considering it.
Gutfreund did not rush her, waiting quietly.
In his view, this was a mutually attractive partnership.
S.A. needed to continue exiting its remaining positions, and Salomon Brothers could use this to lock in a top-tier client that had already generated seven billion dollars for the firm.
Over the next three years, as long as Saionji remained active on Wall Street, clearing, financing, acquisitions, and cross-border capital management could all become new sources of fees.
Gutfreund had reason to come to Odaiba in person.
However, what Satsuki was considering was slightly different from what he imagined.
Salomon Brothers currently still looked incredibly glorious.
The massive revenue of seven billion dollars was enough to make any investment bank on Wall Street jealous, and Gutfreund remained the man known as the "King of Wall Street."
Yet, inside Salomon Brothers, someone had already reached for something they should not have touched.
It would not be long before the irregularities in the U.S. Treasury market were exposed.
When that time came, the man before her would leave his office, and Salomon Brothers would transform from Wall Street's most ferocious trading machine into an asset waiting for others to decide its price.
Four percent was certainly attractive.
Three years of priority rights were even more attractive.
Because Salomon Brothers might not even last those three years.
However, Satsuki did not intend to agree too readily.
An overly smooth negotiation would make Gutfreund re-examine the contract and make him suspicious of why Saionji would be willing to accept such a long-term constraint.
Only by negotiating for terms could this agreement look like a normal business deal.
Satsuki closed the file.
"Priority is fine, but exclusivity is not."
A faint flicker passed through Gutfreund's eyes.
"Was Salomon Brothers' service last time unsatisfactory to you?"
"Very satisfactory."
Satsuki held the file in her hand and turned to look at the unfinished port area in the distance.
"But while a bridge can collect tolls, it should not also lock the city gates."
Gutfreund was silent for a moment.
He clearly was not prepared to give up just because of one refusal.
However, he also knew that Saionji's willingness to grant priority rights already meant that Salomon Brothers held a significant advantage in future competition.
As for the exclusivity clause, it was originally just a bargaining chip.
"Miss Saionji is very cautious."
Gutfreund smiled again.
"But Salomon Brothers does not dislike cautious partners."
Satsuki handed the document to Chizuru.
"Have the legal departments of both sides revise the contract. Under identical conditions, Salomon Brothers will have the right of first refusal for a term of three years."
"Four percent commission."
"Settled based on the actual profit realized per batch."
Gutfreund added.
"Of course."
Satsuki extended her hand to him again.
"Then, happy to work together?"
"Happy to work together."
The two hands clasped together again.
Both of them had smiles on their faces.
Gutfreund had secured a path to S.A.'s subsequent business, while Satsuki, looking at this man still standing at the pinnacle of Wall Street, had already calculated the price for when that road came to an end.
Outside the viewing platform, a barge loaded with equipment was slowly sailing toward the unfinished temporary berth.
The port area was still under construction.
However, the first ship had already arrived.