My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 268: A Late-Night Plea for Help and the Cabinet's Indifference!

The hour hand of the clock in the VIP lounge of Tokyo City TV had already pointed to midnight.

The night scene of Tokyo outside the window was thick. The glow of neon lights cast mottled shadows on the floor through the slits of the blinds, just like Tanaka Mikami's shattered state of mind at this moment.

He slumped alone on the sofa. His once meticulously combed hair stuck messily to his forehead, his suit jacket carelessly thrown aside. The collar of his shirt was open, revealing saggy skin, and he no longer possessed his past majesty.

The lounge was deadly silent, leaving only the sound of his heavy breathing and the ticking of the clock on the wall.

The shadow of defeat submerged him like a tide. The daytime hysteria had long exhausted his strength, and at this moment, only panic and unwillingness that penetrated the marrow remained.

He knew that once the election was lost, what awaited him was not only the end of his political career but also the retaliation of those political enemies who had been lying dormant for a long time, as well as the betrayal of interest partners such as Sato Tokugawa.

"I can't just lose like this—absolutely not—" Tanaka Mikami muttered to himself, a gleam of madness flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly stood up from the sofa, staggered to the desk, and grabbed the landline phone on the desk.

His fingers trembled slightly due to excessive nervousness as he struggled to dial a string of numbers memorized by heart—it was the private number of a senior minister in the Cabinet, and also his last life-saving straw.

The busy tone before the call connected hit Tanaka Mikami's heart like a heavy hammer.He gripped the receiver tightly, his knuckles turning white from the exertion, muttering continuously: "Must answer—must answer—"

"Hello?" From the other end of the phone came a cold and impatient voice, carrying the anger of being disturbed late at night.

"Your Excellency the Minister! It's me, Tanaka Mikami!" Tanaka Mikami's voice instantly became flattering and eager, completely devoid of his former arrogant attitude. "I am truly sorry for disturbing you late at night, but the situation is urgent, and I—I need your help!"

"Tanaka Mikami?" The voice on the other end paused, the indifference in the tone becoming even more pronounced. "It's so late. Is there anything that can't wait until tomorrow? Don't you know I'm already resting?"

"Your Excellency the Minister, it's about the election!" Tanaka Mikami said hurriedly, his voice carrying a trace of weeping. "Right now my approval rating is lagging far behind Shimazu Yoshihiro. If this continues, I will definitely lose the election! You also know that if I lose, it won't just be my personal loss. Those real estate development projects and urban expansion plans we agreed on before will all go down the drain!"

He tried to move the other party with common interests, adding urgently: "Your Excellency the Minister, those projects can bring you enormous profits! That old thing Shimazu Yoshihiro is dead set on engaging in some economic transformation and opposes real estate development. If he is elected, your industries in Tokyo City will also be affected!"

Silence fell on the other end of the phone for a moment, followed by a meaningful sneer: "Tanaka Mikami, you still have the nerve to talk to me about this? I warned you back then not to be too obsessed with real estate and to pay more attention to people's livelihood, but did you listen? You single-mindedly pushed up housing prices and squeezed ordinary citizens. Now that you've been abandoned by the voters, you finally remember to ask me for help?"

Tanaka Mikami's face instantly flushed red, shame and anger intertwined. Yet, he dared not flare up and could only defend himself submissively: "Your Excellency the Minister, at the time I was also trying to stimulate the economy as quickly as possible. I didn't expect—I didn't expect it to turn out like this. Please just help me one more time. As long as you can make me win the election, I will definitely listen to you in the future and fully cooperate with your work!"

"Help you? How do I help you?"

The minister's tone remained icy. "The public opinion is already very obvious now. Shimazu Yoshihiro's approval rating is leading by so much. Even if I wanted to help you, I am powerless. Half the people on the Election Commission are Governor Koike Ryuichi's men. They will not allow any irregularities to occur. Moreover, the attention on this election is too high. Any small trick could be exposed. When that time comes, not only will I be unable to save you, but it will also drag me down."

Tanaka Mikami's heart sank bit by bit. He still wanted to make a final struggle: "Your Excellency the Minister, you are extraordinarily capable;

there must be a way! For example—for example, exerting pressure from the Cabinet level, or—or finding an excuse to postpone the election? As long as we can buy a little time, I can definitely salvage the situation!"

"Postpone the election?"

The minister's voice suddenly rose, carrying a note of reprimand. "Tanaka Mikami, are you crazy? Postponing the election violates the election law! Do you think I'm an immortal? Capable of ignoring the law and public opinion? Let me tell you, impossible!"

He paused, his tone full of disappointment: "I originally thought you were a promising talent who could help me stabilize the situation in Tokyo City. I didn't expect you to be so disappointing! Only knowing to rely on real estate, short-sighted, and now you've pushed yourself into a dead end and still want to drag me along to take risks! I am too disappointed in you!"

The word "disappointed" slammed into Tanaka Mikami's heart like two heavy hammers.

He knew that the other party had completely given up on him.

A chill shot up from his soles straight to the top of his head, making his entire body cold, and dense cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

"Your Excellency the Minister—" Tanaka Mikami's voice trembled, still wanting to say something more.

"Alright, I'm tired and need to rest." The minister interrupted him impatiently. "I will ask around for remedial measures, but don't hold out too much hope. In the future, if there's nothing important, don't call me on this number again."

After speaking, there was a "click" from the other end of the phone, and it was ruthlessly hung up.

Tanaka Mikami held the receiver, frozen in place. The busy tone coming from the receiver echoed in his ears like mocking laughter.

He slowly put down the phone, his body swaying, almost collapsing to the floor.

The cold sweat on his face dripped down his cheeks, soaking the collar of his shirt, and his heart was filled with unprecedented despair.

The abandonment by his backers in the Cabinet meant that his last hope was also shattered.

He knew that the other party's so-called "asking around for remedial measures" was merely perfunctory words. He had been completely abandoned.

Tanaka Mikami stood blankly for a long time before he recovered his senses.

He felt a wave of dizziness, his throat severely dry. The tension and fear just now had nearly caused him to collapse.

He walked over to the sofa, sat down weakly, and shouted hoarsely toward the door: "Someone!"

The servant outside the door had long been scared out of his wits. Hearing the call, he hurriedly pushed open the door and quickly walked in with his head lowered: "Mr. Tanaka, what are your orders?"

"Bring me a hot towel." Tanaka Mikami's voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of exhaustion. "And pour me a glass of warm water."

"Yes, Mr. Tanaka." The servant dared not speak further, hurriedly turned around and retreated. Soon he returned holding a tray with a warm towel and a glass of warm water on it.

Tanaka Mikami picked up the hot towel and applied it to his face. The warm touch slightly alleviated his tension and exhaustion, but the chill in his heart did not diminish in the slightest.

He closed his eyes, and the Cabinet minister's "I am too disappointed in you" as well as Shimazu Yoshihiro's calm and unhurried appearance at the debate repeatedly echoed in his mind.

He violently pulled the towel down, the flame of madness reigniting in his eyes.

"I can't lose—even if everyone abandons me, I still cannot lose!" he said through gritted teeth, already having a desperate plan in mind.

He looked at the servant, his tone freezing cold: "Go tell Sato Tokugawa to come see me right now. Just say—there is an important matter to discuss with him that concerns the future of us both."

Seeing the madness in Tanaka Mikami's eyes, the servant felt a chill in his heart and quickly nodded: "Yes, Mr. Tanaka, I will go contact Mr. Sato right away."

After the servant left, the lounge fell back into dead silence.

Tanaka Mikami picked up the warm water and took a sip, attempting to calm the turbulent waves in his heart.

But his hands were still trembling. The water in the glass splashed out onto his pants, yet he remained completely oblivious.

He knew that what he was about to do next carried extreme risks. Once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But he already had no way of retreat. Either he would win, or be completely destroyed.

About half an hour later, the door to the lounge was pushed open, and Sato Tokugawa ran in panting heavily.

He was wearing pajamas with a jacket thrown over them. His hair was messy, and his face was full of panic and unease. Evidently, he had been summoned urgently, his heart filled with apprehension.

"Mr. Tanaka, what important matter is there for you to call me over so late?" Sato Tokugawa asked carefully, his gaze dodging, not daring to look directly at Tanaka Mikami.

He vaguely had a bad premonition in his heart. An urgent late-night summons was definitely nothing good.

Tanaka Mikami looked up at him. His icy gaze was like a winter lake, causing Sato Tokugawa to involuntarily shiver.

"Sato Tokugawa, sit." Tanaka Mikami pointed to the sofa opposite him. His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Sato Tokugawa dared not disobey and hurriedly sat down on the sofa, sitting ramrod straight with his hands placed on his knees, like a prisoner awaiting a verdict.

"As you know, the current situation is very bad." Tanaka Mikami spoke slowly, his tone terrifyingly calm. "My approval rating is lagging far behind Shimazu Yoshihiro's, and the Cabinet side has also abandoned me. If there are no surprises, I will undoubtedly lose this election."

Sato Tokugawa's face instantly turned deathly pale. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Tanaka Mikami raised a hand to stop him.

"If I lose, it will bring you no benefit whatsoever."

Tanaka Mikami continued, his tone carrying a hint of threat. "Most of your real estate projects in Tokyo City were only pushed forward smoothly because of my support. If I fall from power and Shimazu Yoshihiro takes office, your projects will definitely face suppression, and might even be forcibly halted. When the time comes, the massive funds you've invested will all go down the drain."

Sato Tokugawa's body trembled slightly. What Tanaka Mikami said was the truth. His real estate empire had been built almost entirely on Tanaka Mikami's political resources.

Once Tanaka Mikami fell from power, what he would lose was not only a political backer, but the foundation of his entire business empire.

"Mr. Tanaka, how—how do you want me to do?" Sato Tokugawa's voice trembled. He knew that what Tanaka Mikami was going to say next was absolutely nothing simple.

Tanaka Mikami stared into his eyes, his tone icy yet resolute: "I need your help. I know you have some connections in the underworld and also some covert methods. Now, I need you to employ these methods to create some chaos before Election Day."

"Create chaos?"

Sato Tokugawa's face instantly turned ashen. Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead and dripped down his cheeks. "Mr. Tanaka, you—what do you mean?"

"I want you to send people to cause trouble near the polling stations in a few key constituencies." Tanaka Mikami's voice was kept very low, but carried a trace of madness. "It doesn't have to be too serious;

as long as it can cause panic and prevent the voting process from proceeding smoothly, that's enough. It would be best to manufacture some negative news framing Shimazu Yoshihiro's supporters, so that voters feel disgust towards him."

He paused and continued: "Additionally, send people to spread rumors saying that Shimazu Yoshihiro colludes with the yakuza and his policies are all for personal gain. As long as it can confuse the voters' minds, leading them to give up voting or cast their votes for me, then it's a success."

Sato Tokugawa's heart pounded wildly. More and more cold sweat poured down his face, and the back of his shirt was soaked through.

The things Tanaka Mikami spoke of were all illegal.

Once exposed, not only would Tanaka Mikami be damned beyond redemption, but he himself would have his reputation ruined and might even face imprisonment.

"Mr. Tanaka, this—this is too risky!" Sato Tokugawa's voice carried a weeping tone. "The Election Commission is checking very strictly right now, and there are reporters and cameras everywhere. Once we're found out, we are completely finished!"

"Risky? Do we even have any other choice now?" Tanaka Mikami roared, the madness in his eyes growing even thicker. "If we don't take risks now, we will be finished sooner or later anyway! Rather than sitting and waiting for death, it's better to fight it out! As long as we can win the election, all risks are worth it! When that time comes, once I become mayor, I can suppress this matter. No one will be able to do anything to us!"

He stared dead at Sato Tokugawa, his tone ruthless: "Sato Tokugawa, think it through clearly! This isn't just helping me, it's also helping yourself! If you don't help me, and I lose, don't you dare think you'll have a good time either! We are in the same boat;

we either win together or die together!"

Looking at Tanaka Mikami's crazed eyes, Sato Tokugawa's heart was filled with fear and struggle.

Agreeing to Tanaka Mikami meant stepping onto a path of no return.

But if he didn't agree, his business empire would collapse instantly, and years of painstaking effort would go down the drain.

"I—I understand." After a long silence, Sato Tokugawa finally spoke with difficulty, his voice carrying despair and helplessness.

He slowly lowered his head, not daring to look at Tanaka Mikami's eyes again. "Mr. Tanaka, I—I will do as you instruct."

Hearing his answer, a ferocious smile appeared on Tanaka Mikami's face.

Sato Tokugawa no longer had a choice and could only follow him down this dark path to the very end.

"Very good." Tanaka Mikami's tone softened a bit. "This matter must be done secretively, leaving absolutely no traces. It's best you personally select reliable manpower, and give them enough benefits afterward so they keep their mouths shut."

"I know, Mr. Tanaka." Sato Tokugawa's voice still carried a tremble.

"Alright, go." Tanaka Mikami waved his hand, his tone carrying a trace of exhaustion. "Act as soon as possible, there isn't much time left. Report to me immediately if anything comes up."

Sato Tokugawa felt as if he had been granted amnesty. He hurriedly stood up and almost fled the lounge.

When he reached the door, he couldn't help but look back. Tanaka Mikami was sitting on the sofa, staring blankly ahead like an empty shell without a soul.

Sato Tokugawa felt a chill in his heart.

From the moment he agreed, his fate was tightly bound to this madman, unable to break free ever again.

He didn't know if this was good or bad.