21st Century Necromancer
Chapter 85 85 Chapter: Attending a Banquet at the Ryotei

Kojo Kyoko's sudden arrival, although a headache for Chen Yu, became merely a minor episode in his life after Kyuuzai Ryousen properly settled her in.

In fact, for Chen Yu, the so-called service of Kojo Kyoko held little significance. He might indeed need some people to help him with tasks, but he required subordinates like Tsuchimikado Yoshiharu and Kyuuzai Ryousen, who could handle all sorts of trivial matters and stand on their own, not an ordinary kendo girl like Kojo Kyoko.

Though both are Transcendents, Kojo Kyoko is even a Formal Rank Transcendent which, theoretically, would make her significantly stronger than the two apprentices, Tsuchimikado Yoshiharu and Kyuuzai Ryousen.

But in terms of handling affairs, one cultivated by a prestigious family like Tsuchimikado, and the other, the son of the president of a large pharmaceutical enterprise like Kyuuzai Pharmaceuticals—neither could be compared to an ordinary woman like Kojo Kyoko, who had known nothing but academics and kendo since her childhood.

To Chen Yu, Kojo Kyoko's greatest value was that she was a Formal Rank Transcendent who could directly train in the Dark Warrior Cultivation Method. After training herself to become a Dark Warrior, she could simply be turned into a Death Knight by Chen Yu.

But Chen Yu was not King Wumeow, nor was Kojo Kyoko a filial son from Lordaeron, and Chen Yu had no interest in forging a katana-shaped Frostmourne. Such matters were utterly inconsequential to him.

Instead of fussing over such trifles with the time he had in Azeroth, he'd rather thoroughly research that long-named, irritatingly noisy Divine Artifact Book in his possession to see if any necromancy knowledge could be transformed into modern medical research achievements.

Even if he couldn't win the Nobel Prize twice by himself, there were still other medical research awards in this world, weren't there?

However, taking some other factors into consideration, Chen Yu still agreed to let Kojo Kyoko stay in Tokyo, after all, a Formal Rank Transcendent could be quite useful.

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Inside a ryotei in Tokyo's Ginza district, Chen Yu and Professor Kube were attending a banquet. Previously, Chen Yu had asked Professor Kube to introduce him to pharmaceutical companies, and they were being hosted tonight by one such company.

Although he had approached Kyuuzai Pharmaceuticals himself, and Kazama Pharmaceuticals had reached out to him through Yamamoto Hisae's connection, Professor Kube's introductions hadn't fallen short either.

"Mr. Chen Yu, this is Executive Sato from Shunten-do Pharmaceuticals. Shunten-do has a long and deep connection with our University of Tokyo Medical School. You should really get to know Executive Sato," Professor Kube introduced the person hosting them that evening, the implication in his words being that Chen Yu should take good care not to neglect this individual.

Having graduated from the University of Tokyo Medical School, Chen Yu knew somewhat about the relationship between Shunten-do and the medical school.

The University of Tokyo Medical School was originally founded by Shunten-do's third-generation proprietor, Sato Hisacho. At its inception, 20 out of 22 professors at the Medical School came from Shunten-do, which resulted in a situation where basic research was done at the University of Tokyo, and clinical research took place at Shunten-do.

While Shunten-do now has its own university and hospital, the relationship with the University of Tokyo Medical School had not severed. It is precisely because of this connection that they could approach Chen Yu through Professor Kube.

"So it's Executive Sato, what a pleasure to meet you." Understanding the underlying meaning of Professor Kube's words, Chen Yu naturally wouldn't exhibit an attitude that kept others at arm's length.

Although he had already planned to entrust the first phase of the clinical trial to Kazama Pharmaceuticals and Kyuuzai Pharmaceuticals separately, it did not prevent him from getting to know the people from Shunten-do.

In a sense, the more people there are dividing the cake, the more his interests could be protected under mutual constraints.

"Professor Chen, it's an honor." Executive Sato extended his hand to Chen Yu with a friendly gesture, and only when Chen Yu grasped it did he cordially say, "I've long admired your renowned name and have always wanted to meet you, Professor Chen. Unfortunately, I was inspecting factories abroad until recently and have only returned to Tokyo a few days ago. I'm sorry for that!

I should have hosted you for a banquet earlier."

"You flatter me, Executive Sato. You're a busy person with significant responsibilities, and Shunten-do is such a large enterprise; I imagine you must have a lot of work to keep you occupied?" Regardless of how sincere Executive Sato's words were, his attitude made Chen Yu feel comfortable.

It was neither obsequious nor overbearing, and the touch of scholarly elegance he possessed inevitably made one feel kindly towards him.

"Haha, I'm just toiling away for a bit of money, how could that compare to your research, Professor Chen, which has the potential to benefit humanity?" Executive Sato complimented Chen Yu and was also careful not to neglect Professor Kube sitting beside them, smiling at him and saying, "Professor Kube, you must be very gratified to have such an outstanding student, mustn't you?"

"Haha, it's all thanks to Mr. Chen Yu's own brilliance. Honestly, I didn't really teach him much; he was already working on this research while still in school. I must say, he truly is young and talented!

When I was his age, I was just a regular doctor in a hospital, following a professor in surgeries!" Professor Kube, of course, was very pleased with his accomplished student and his remarks were full of praise.

As for the praise from Professor Kube, Chen Yu appeared quite modest, but he did not say much in response.

"Let's enjoy our meal and chat at the same time; the cuisine at this restaurant is quite good." After the initial pleasantries, Executive Sato signaled to Chen Yu and Professor Kube and then clapped his hands.

The sliding shoji doors of the room were immediately opened, and a landlady in a deep purple kimono along with female attendants brought in the exquisitely prepared dishes.

Ryotei originated during the Edo Period, initially because during the Tokugawa Shogunate, it was necessary for the feudal lords to travel to Edo for sankin-kōtai (a policy requiring feudal lords to reside in Edo), and to avoid the eyes and ears of the Shogunate and rival parties for clandestine alliances, the lords would often send their subordinates to have secret meetings in places like ryotei, giving rise to their existence.

Since ryotei could provide absolute privacy for its guests, they gradually became the venue for political and business meetings and discussions.

Once the dishes were served, the attendants retreated from the room, and the landlady, who knelt by the door, closed the sliding doors after introducing the dishes.

"I heard that Professor Chen had been looking to collaborate with pharmaceutical enterprises; may I ask if there has been any progress on that?" After some wine and enjoyable conversation, Executive Sato broached the primary purpose of inviting Chen Yu that day.

"Oh, regarding that..." Chen Yu picked up an extremely thinly sliced piece of sashimi and put it in his mouth, savoring the fish's freshness before answering, "Director Kazama from Kazama Pharmaceuticals did mention a collaboration when he invited me to dinner last time.

I couldn't resist Director Kazama's earnest request, so I agreed to outsource a part of the first clinical trial phase to Kazama Pharmaceuticals.

Besides, my assistant Ryousen Kyuuzai's family seems to run a pharmaceutical factory, and he said that his father could help, so I've also commissioned a part of the clinical trials to their Kyuuzai Pharmaceuticals. Why, Executive Sato, are you also interested in this?"

Having said that, Chen Yu looked at Executive Sato with a smile and raised his glass, draining it in one gulp.