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s some sort of new weapon and that 315 might be a date … March 15。 While they had no direct evidence for this； the fact that Okami had directed them to Avalon Ltd。 gave the assumption a good deal of weight。
Nicholas knew that Okami wanted him to track down and eliminate those responsible for trying to assassinate him。 Did the way lead here to Saigon where a Yakuza posing as Vincent Tinh's brother and an employee of Avalon Ltd。 has picked up the corpse of the murdered man？ Why give the firm's name … and particularly that firm？ Was Nicholas again being subtly manipulated by the Kaisho？ This was another pelling reason for him to e to Saigon himself。
Nicholas could not surrender the suspicion that Okami； in directing him toward Avalon Ltd。； was also directing him toward Torch 315。 It was a vital piece of the puzzle the Kaisho meant him to solve。
Nicholas saw a figure heading across Nguyen Trai Street is a direct fine for the entrance of the Ann Dan Hotel。 He put down his beer bottle； automatically glancing at his watch as he turned away from the window。 Midnight。
〃There's no more time for argument。 Get out of here； Shindo。 Now。〃 His man was here。
Naohiro Ushiba； striking a familiar pose； faced the massed fights； cameras； and questions that had bee a fixture at his ministry ever since the scandals of 1992 had ripped apart the tightly bound weave of Japan's political； economic； and bureaucratic infrastructure。
Ushiba was Daijin； chief minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry； Japan's single most powerful economic…political entity。 It had been MITI that had fueled and directed Japan's postwar economic miracle through its policy of high…speed growth。 MITI had targeted which industries it deemed would benefit Japan the most； using rebates； discounts； and tax incentives to make it beneficial for the large keiretsu … conglomerates … to switch into these industries。 With new scandals unfolding almost every week … the latest being the agonizing reformation of political power lines … the political； business； and financial infrastructure of Japan was ing apart at the seams。
The world had changed considerably in the thirty…nine years since the Liberal Democratic Party was formed。 Then； it had stood for the future of Japan； the only alternatives were the munists and Socialists。 A succession of LDP prime ministers had joined with the Daijins of MITI to build Japan into the economic colossus of the present But the LDP had grown fat and corrupt beneath the burden of almost four decades of unchallenged power； and now； in the most recent elections； they had been brought to their knees。 Perhaps； Ushiba thought； it was time。
Now the inevitable had happened： it was MITI's turn to be racked with extreme pressure and public scrutiny。 Two of its senior ministers had been indicted in a puter…software kickback scheme that involved several manufacturers who had been granted an excess of dispensations from the ministry。
Ushiba； who was determined to hold the moral center in the firestorm of scandal and controversy； had dismissed the offending ministers with alacrity。 Even the predatory press had been impressed with the speed and thoroughness of his internal investigation。 However； damage had been done； and a cloud still hung over MITI； as evidenced by frequent newspaper editorials and magazine pieces。
As a result； every question today seemed to be excruciatingly difficult。 〃How can you explain away MITI's involvement in the artificial real estate boom of the 1980s that has now turned into a disaster for our economy and our banks in particular？〃 asked one reporter。
〃The idea behind the upward prices of Japanese real estate was sound and was researched thoroughly before being put forward；〃 Ushiba said smoothly。 〃In the eighties； the yen was so strong that our economy was being crippled by spending overseas。 Raising real estate prices at home was an excellent way to regain investment in Japan。〃
〃Daijin； what can you tell us of the stories we've heard lately of Yakuza involvement in our economic politics？〃 another reporter asked。 〃Specifically； what about Akira Chosa； who seems to be moving into the power vacuum left by the disappearance of Mikio Okami？〃
Ushiba cleared his throat。 His lean； muscular body was surmounted by a head whose beautiful features might be termed effeminate。 Unlike Western cultures； the Japanese had a history of such men being heroes。 Bishonen； they were called； exquisite young men who existed under the aegis of an older individual。
〃As you gentlemen of the press know； Akira Chosa is oyabun of the Kokorogurushii； This clan name is ironic and quite typical of the pathetic mentality of Yakuza。 Kokorogurushii means 'painful。' The word Yakuza is made up of the numbers in a losing hand at gambling； there is； always； within the Yakuza an undercurrent of a kind of self…flagellation； a sense of having to pay a penalty for living a life outside the law。〃
Ushiba looked around the room； his dark eyes liquid in the TV lights。 〃Having said that； let me also state that the Yakuza have been more active of late。 In fact； we have uncovered a systematic pattern of ethically questionable business relationships between individuals within the Yakuza and certain major equity and financial firms。 Chosa is； indeed； exerting some muscle； but I can assure you that MITI and the Tokyo prosecutor's office are working together to see that these extralegal connections are ended once and for all。〃 Ushiba leaned forward a fraction to emphasize his next words。 〃Chosa is just one of the oyabun whose business is like a poison in the blood of Japan。 It must be expunged as rapidly as possible。〃
〃Can you tell us what exactly is being done； Daijin？〃 a third reporter queried。 〃The Japanese economy is in bad enough shape without Yakuza clans draining it still further。〃
〃I agree pletely；〃 Ushiba said。 〃I assure you that we at MITI are on a crusade to curb all illegal activities of any nature。 We must； at all costs； restore public confidence in our way of life。 I needn't remind you that over the decades MITI has been the staunch watchdog in our country's phenomenal but often difficult and painful economic growth。 MITI never once flinched from its duties。 Now we see our mandate as expanding。 You can count on MITI to protect the interests of the people of Japan。〃 He went on to give them an impressive list of statistics his ministry beads had piled on areas of corruption that had been cleaned up or were currently under investigation； answered several more questions； then turned the press conference over to a dark…faced man of impressive countenance； Tanaka Gin； the most renowned member of the terrifying Tokyo prosecutors with whom Ushiba had been liaising for months。
Back in his office； Ushiba ran a hand through his hair and found it wet。 With distaste； he went into his private washroom； swallowed a pill。 He pushed a towel over his hair； then splashed cold water on his face。
Though be had initiated these press conferences； he found them to be an increasing burden。 However； he was locked into them。 He had bee like a poster boy or a talento。 His brainchild had given him a kind of instant celebrity； and since