Alinea

The International Business and Economy Conference formally commenced, the morning of Wednesday. The objective of IBEC was to offer a setting for intellectual debate among educators and businessmen. It aimed to deliver a platform to evaluate the tactical challenges faced by firms, educators, governments, and other institutions in the international arena.

Each year, different countries hosted the IBEC; the previous one was held in Rouen, France, and Bangkok, Thailand hosted it two years prior. This year was the second time Japan would be hosting such a huge event.

It was held in the capital's grandest exhibit hall to accommodate delegates from different parts of the world. All the movers and shakers of the business world in the country were present, led of course by Japan's top company, Homura International.

Suzuki Raiden Group, of course, was also in attendance. The young and promising tycoon, Suzuki Aki was one of the most popular young businessmen in this era, along with Kazehaya Gin of Homura International, and many had been eager to make connections with him.

However, the biggest commotion in the business world that day was not when Suzuki Aki made an appearance, but when they found out that the representative of Homura International for the opening day was not its CEO, but the heir of Homura International himself: Homura Ryuu.

It was not an exaggeration to say that the hall was filled with gasps when the Koutaishidenka of the Homura House made an appearance. His tall frame and striking manifestation, with those pair of intense ice blue eyes, made people that dared look back's knees weaken in awe.

Everyone in the circle, of course, knew that behind the already genius Kazehaya Gin was a more brilliant mind of the true heir. But the latter hated going out in public, that was why it was Kazehaya who was managing the business.

So, now that the heir made a very rare appearance, many people took this opportunity to build connection and so they had flocked over to greet the young man, delaying the start of the program, giving trouble to the organizers. The latter couldn't fault the people however since they too wanted to go over and do the same.

Suzuki Aki of the Raiden Group, on the other hand, didn't bother to stand up from his seat. He just smiled and looked over at the crowd.

"Aren't you going over to greet him?" the Vice President of the Suzuki Raiden Group who was a middle-aged man asked.

Their company had a partnership with Homura International after all. It was only polite for Aki to go and greet Ryuu. But, the President shook his head.

"I'll greet him later. If I go over there, then it would drag more time, and delay the conference further."

The Vice President contemplated for a while before shrugging his shoulders. If the President said so, then he wouldn't go there anymore even if he badly wanted to. He was just worried that the people from Homura would think they're rude. But what Aki said made sense, and so he let it go.

Soon, the organizers approached the throng, trying to make people go back to their seats politely; however, it proved to be a challenge. But, in that instant, Homura Ryuu himself told them that the conference would start and he wanted to go to his seat, so the people had no choice but to go to their respective places as well.

The organizers gave him a grateful smile and thanks, and the conference finally started.

There were several different focuses to be discussed at the three-day conference. For the first day, topics included international business environment, marketing strategies, international strategy, import and export management, and world markets and global competition.

On the second day, topics such as organizational behavior management, management philosophy, health management issues, human resources strategies, management of education, expatriate management, business education, international entry strategies would be the themes.

On the last day, issues such as transfer of technology and knowledge, cross-cultural consumer behavior, international logistics, information systems, operations management, international finance, international accounting, intercultural management, and trade policies would be the focused subjects.

All participants were encouraged to submit company case studies that others would be able to see and analyze. This was a total learning experience for different businesses throughout the world.

"President, it's time for dinner," Asou Chiaki, Suzuki Raiden's CEO/ President's Secretary stated, and the executive management of the company headed by Suzuki Aki rose from their seats to head to the dinner place.

The first day of the conference had ended, and just like lunch, the organizers invited everyone for an evening meal.

The staff had set up another hall with several long buffet tables lined with several international and local dishes so guests could eat and drink whatever they wanted. There were several tables and chairs as well without labels, so participants could mingle freely with whoever they wanted. This was a great platform to form business alliances with each other.

Aki and his group were on their way towards the hall when someone intercepted them near the entrance. The Suzuki Raiden Group paused as their eyes locked with an elderly man they all knew too well: Suzuki Daizo, Suzuki Akihiko, Aki's father's older brother.

He was the former CEO of the Suzuki Raiden Group when Aki's father died, but the young man immediately unseated and replaced him, as well as chased him out of the company. Also, he was the one whom Aki had to fight tooth and nail with to keep Ara.

"Are youngsters these days so rude as to forget to greet their elders when they see them?" Suzuki Daizo asked mockingly as he stared at his nephew.

Aki, on the other hand, returned the gaze coolly. "Nah, they just know who to give it to – and it's obviously not to someone like you."

"You –"

Suzuki Daizo was visibly upset with his nephew's counter, but he decided to let it slide. He was after all here for a different matter other than to attend the conference. After he was chased out of Suzuki Raiden Group, the elder was taken in by another company as its executive, and so he was able to attend this summit.

"I came here on behalf of your future in-laws," Suzuki Daizo announced, and the mockery in Aki's eyes vanished almost instantly replaced by a hard, icy stare.