The lower-ranking members of the Future Society dispersed as ordered, but the senior members remained. Several key leaders sat around the serious-faced Ishiwara Kanji, working to finalize the list of those who would travel to the Northeast.

Unlike Ishiwara Kanji and his group returning from Europe, the Kwantung Army officers couldn't leave whenever they wished. Only those on rotation leave or who could request time off could leave their posts temporarily.

Major Kishida listed out the eligible members, and Ishiwara Kanji immediately said: "Add Yamagami Tomonari to the list."

Yamagami Tomonari currently had duties; making time for him would require bending some regulations. Major Kishida thought it over, then agreed. Still, he was puzzled: "Why is it essential to bring Yamagami?"

Ishiwara Kanji felt like losing his temper but held back. Steadying his emotions, he continued: "Kishida, many of our comrades don't seem to truly understand the Future Society's real ideology. The enemy within Japan is the upper class—the true upper class. But many comrades still believe the upper class has simply been misled, that the true upper class sees us as human beings. This thinking is wrong! Yamagami doesn't think this way. I believe he's an excellent comrade."

Hearing Ishiwara Kanji speak this way, Major Kishida and the other senior members fell silent. Naturally, the upper class would discuss matters of the upper class. Ishiwara Kanji's position was radical—he believed the Emperor had not been misled by bad actors at all. Though Ishiwara didn't elaborate further on this point, the Future Society's leadership understood clearly: if his view were extended, only one conclusion remained—the Emperor was in league with those bad actors; the Emperor was their leader.

For Japanese people, even thinking about such questions was unbearable, let alone discussing them. So everyone responded with silence and said nothing at all.

Ishiwara Kanji knew his comrades couldn't fully accept his views yet. He moved on to other pressing matters: "After I return to Tokyo, I'll sell all the stocks. You probably won't be able to attend the meeting, so I'm informing everyone now."

The leadership of the Future Society's Kwantung branch was shocked by this news. Everyone stared at Ishiwara Kanji, not knowing what to say.

Accumulating membership dues had indeed helped Future Society members. But that small amount of dues money was truly meager. It was Ishiwara Kanji who had bought stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and made real money during the European war's stock surge—money that could actually help his comrades.

Ishiwara Kanji had strictly forbidden putting in extra money. As the fund's founder, he could enforce this, and though everyone complained, they obeyed. Now hearing that Ishiwara intended to sell all the profit-generating stocks, Kishida immediately questioned: "Why?"

Having to explain, Ishiwara Kanji felt both grief and indignation. He couldn't help clenching his fists. "Because, based on political-economic analysis of business cycles, the stock market is about to crash. We need to pull this money out and buy grain and other supplies—that's the only way to help our comrades' families weather the coming economic recession!"

"Economic recession?" Major Kishida's eyes went wide. It wasn't just Major Kishida—the other officers were equally shocked and fearful.

Ishiwara Kanji nodded helplessly. "During my time in Europe, besides observing the war, I also studied the European economy. The situation turned out just as Senior He predicted—the war has exhausted not only Europe's national strength but also its consuming power. The war can't last much longer; it will likely end this year. European orders will drop rapidly, Japan's exports will plunge, and economic recession is imminent."

Hearing Ishiwara Kanji mention He Rui, Major Kishida suddenly felt the prediction was both believable and not quite believable. After thinking for a moment, his expression changed. He probed: "Ishiwara, was Senior He happy when he made this prediction?"

Ishiwara Kanji was immediately furious. He slapped his thigh and stood up, shouting: "Bakayaro! How could Senior He be such a petty person?!"

Major Kishida was startled but not frightened. He tried to reply calmly: "Ishiwara, you yourself have said that Senior He believes a great Sino-Japanese war is inevitable. If Japan's economy declines, wouldn't that be his opportunity?"

Ishiwara Kanji momentarily didn't know how to explain—because while the starting point of this reasoning might not be wrong, the perspective was far too narrow. Finally, he patiently explained: "If Senior He were to go to war, he would only fight a war he could definitely win. Right now, Senior He has only 120,000 men. Could he defeat Japan?"

Major Kishida had only been thinking aloud. After a moment's reflection, he realized He Rui couldn't win, and shook his head. "He couldn't win."

Ishiwara Kanji continued: "If he were defeated, what would happen next? Wouldn't we enter Manchuria and Mongolia?"

"Of course we would!" Major Kishida immediately followed the logic.

"Then why would Senior He attack Japan at such an opportunity?" Ishiwara asked.

"...Perhaps Senior He wants to recover Shandong?" Major Kishida still found an answer.

Ishiwara Kanji found this absurd. "Recovering Shandong is the Beiyang government's affair. Senior He only controls Manchuria and Mongolia—he hasn't taken control of China. Even if he sent troops alone, does he have a navy? Once we blockade the Bohai Sea, how would he reach Shandong? Go all the way around the Bohai Gulf? Then he'd have to fight the Beiyang government first!"

Major Kishida had actually been shaken by the prediction of economic recession, especially hearing it came from He Rui—a man known for his mastery of economics. In his heart, he already believed it. His foolish question had been a panicked reaction. After Ishiwara explained, Major Kishida had nothing more to say.

The other senior Future Society members weren't as flustered. One asked: "Ishiwara, will the situation really become that bad?"

Ishiwara Kanji paused, then answered helplessly: "Yes. It will definitely become that bad."

The other leaders exchanged glances, then asked anxiously: "What should we do?"

Ishiwara Kanji shook his head. "There's only one thing we can do: protect our comrades and educate them, helping them see clearly who Japan's true enemies are. Also, this visit to Senior He is to let everyone see what Manchuria and Mongolia look like under his governance. Even if a great war breaks out between China and Japan, we must learn what's excellent about Senior He. As for whether Senior He's path is the future path for Japan—our comrades will naturally have ideas after seeing for themselves!"

The meeting of the Future Society's Kwantung branch leadership ended in this atmosphere of unease and anticipation. Ishiwara Kanji returned to his lodgings with a heavy heart. As he approached, he heard many voices in conversation from the Japanese-style room at the inn. Sliding open the door, thick cigarette smoke hit him. The room was packed with people, nearly everyone holding a cigarette, their expressions showing varying degrees of anxiety.

One man stood—Senior Colonel Satō—and cut straight to the point: "Ishiwara, you're planning to visit Senior He next, aren't you?"

Ishiwara didn't hide it. "Senior Satō, I plan to depart tomorrow."

Colonel Satō smiled. "The juniors here in the Kwantung region all greatly admire Senior He. Since Senior He has taken the lead in implementing the plan to unify Manchuria and Mongolia, let us all go together to congratulate him. What do you say, Ishiwara?"