#chairman and board of directors

[pharmaceutical-company-in-india]

Understanding the Role of a Board of Directors and a Closer Look at Zuventus Healthcare’s Leadership

Understanding the Role of a Board of Directors and a Closer Look at Zuventus Healthcare’s Leadership

Every successful company relies on a strong leadership team to guide its vision, growth, and corporate governance. At the heart of this leadership lies the board of directors, a body of individuals entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the company’s overall direction, ensuring ethical operations, and protecting shareholder interests. In this blog, we will explore what a board of directors does, why it is important, the different types of board members involved, and how this plays out in one of India’s reputable pharmaceutical companies—Zuventus Healthcare Ltd.

What is a Board of Directors?

A board of directors is a group of individuals elected to represent shareholders and oversee the activities and direction of a company. They act as the governing body of an organization and are primarily responsible for corporate governance, strategic decision-making, and ensuring the company complies with legal and ethical standards. This board can be composed of internal executives and external professionals, balancing deep company knowledge with outside perspectives.

Key Roles of a Board of Directors

The chairman and board of directors play a pivotal role in defining the company’s policies and strategic goals. Their key functions include:

Hiring and evaluating the performance of the CEO and other senior executives

Setting strategic goals and objectives

Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

Approving annual budgets and financial plans

Protecting the interests of shareholders and stakeholders

The company chairman often leads board meetings and ensures that the board functions efficiently and in accordance with its objectives.

Types of Board Members

To maintain balanced decision-making, most boards include various types of directors, each bringing unique value to the table. These include:

1. Board Member

A board member is any individual who serves on the board of directors, whether executive or non-executive. They may participate in meetings, vote on policies, and help shape the company’s long-term strategies.

2. Independent Board Member

An independent board member is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company and has no material relationship with it. These members bring impartiality and are essential for unbiased oversight and decision-making.

3. Non Executive Directors and Independent Directors

Non executive directors and independent directors play a critical role in offering guidance without being involved in the company’s daily operations. Their outside perspectives allow them to contribute effectively to strategy and governance.

4. Non Independent Directors

These are members who may have a material relationship with the company or are part of its executive team. Non independent directors typically possess an in-depth understanding of the company’s operations and help align execution with strategy.

5. Chairman and Managing Director

The chairman and managing director is often a combined role in Indian corporate governance. The chairman leads the board, while the managing director handles the company’s daily operations. In some companies, these roles are held by one individual, providing a strong leadership anchor at both strategic and operational levels.

Importance of a Well-Structured Board

A high-functioning board of directors ensures long-term sustainability and ethical management. Their strategic oversight can mitigate risks, drive innovation, and ensure that the company adheres to regulatory and stakeholder expectations.

Companies with a balanced mix of independent board members, non executive directors, and experienced executives often outperform those with limited governance structures. This balance is key to maintaining accountability and transparency in business operations.

Zuventus Healthcare Ltd: Strong Governance and Leadership

Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., a leading name in India’s pharmaceutical landscape, exemplifies strong corporate governance through a well-composed board of directors. The company, known for its innovative health solutions and ethical business practices, is steered by experienced professionals with a clear focus on sustainable growth.

The Zuventus Board of Directors

The chairman and board of directors at Zuventus bring a rich blend of industry expertise, leadership skills, and strategic foresight.

·  Satish Ramanlal Mehta – Chairman As the company chairman, Mr. Mehta provides strategic direction and leadership, ensuring the board functions effectively and aligns with the company's vision.

·  Prakash Kumar Guha – Managing Director As the managing director, Mr. Guha oversees the company's daily operations, implementing the board's strategies and ensuring operational excellence.

·  Namita Thapar – Director Ms. Thapar brings valuable insights and experience to the board, contributing to strategic decision-making and corporate governance.

·  Sanjay Rajanikant Mehta – Director Mr. Mehta plays a crucial role in shaping the company's policies and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

·  Mr. Shreekant Bapat – Non-Executive Director As a non-executive director, Mr. Bapat provides independent oversight and guidance, contributing to the board's objectivity.

·  Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar – Independent Director Dr. Ayyangar, an independent board member, brings an unbiased perspective, ensuring decisions align with the best interests of all stakeholders.

·  Mr. Vijay Gokhale – Independent Director Mr. Gokhale, also an independent board member, offers strategic insights and governance expertise to the board.

Zuventus' Commitment to Ethical Governance

Zuventus Healthcare’s emphasis on a diverse and balanced board of directors underscores its commitment to robust governance practices. The inclusion of multiple independent board members ensures unbiased decision-making, while the presence of seasoned non independent directors bridges the gap between strategic vision and practical implementation.

By upholding a transparent and accountable board structure, Zuventus fosters investor confidence and organizational integrity—two critical pillars for long-term business success.

Conclusion

The board of directors is more than just a governing body—it is the strategic compass that ensures a company stays on course amidst ever-changing market dynamics. From setting policies to overseeing executive performance, the chairman and board of directors influence nearly every facet of an organization’s journey.

Zuventus Healthcare Ltd. stands as a testament to how effective governance through a well-composed board can empower a company to reach new heights. With a strong mix of independent board members, non executive directors and independent directors, and a visionary chairman and managing director, Zuventus exemplifies how leadership excellence drives sustainable success.

For any organization aspiring to thrive in today’s complex business environment, the role of the company chairman and the board of directors cannot be overstated. Their wisdom, oversight, and direction remain the bedrock of corporate resilience and responsible growth.

[wojakgallery]

Title/Name: Francis Albert Sinatra, popularly known as ‘Frank Sinatra’ or simply ‘Sinatra’, (1915–1998). Bio: American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century. Sinatra is among the world's best-selling music artists. Country: USA Wojak Series: Bloomer (Variant) Image by: Wojak Gallery Admin Main Tag: Sinatra Wojak

[tenth-sentence]

As a result of its selldown to a 'portfolio' rather than 'strategic' investor, Lend Lease chairman Stuart Hornery resigned from the Westpac board.

"Westpac: The Bank That Broke the Bank" - Edna Carew

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Neal had been dogged by his statement in the 1991 annual report that 'there are signs that the worst of the bad debt experience may now be behind us'. Neal wrote to the ASA:

These words were drafted by the management of the back for inclusion in the annual report. The chairman's section of that report was reviewed by management, the chairman and the board. The directors did not change those particular words of the management of the bank. It is appropriate for me to express the view that, based upon the information provided by management to the board in the period leading up to the signing of the director's statement and the policy [of property provisioning] the non-executive directors would have had no reason to question the words referred to. You may therefore be assured that neither I, nor any of my fellow directors knowingly misled the bank's proprietors . . . In conclusion, since I became chairman in late January 1989, my board colleagues and I have had the very unenviable task of resolving the many problems arising from the mid to late 80s and have devoted enormous effort to the task.

"Westpac: The Bank That Broke the Bank" - Edna Carew

[nomorekyriarchy]

It's paywalled so here's the article:

Royal Ontario Museum board director steps down after links to deportation flights surface

The director of the Royal Ontario Museum's (ROM) board of governors has stepped down after Canada's National Observer asked about his business’ links to deportation flights by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Caitlin Coull, the vice-president of communications for the museum's Board of Governors, confirmed in an email Wednesday that Christopher W. Jamroz has left his role with the board. Jamroz remains on the museum's list of honorary trustees, but the page listing his bio and photo have been removed from the ROM website. Jamroz joined the board in 2010, according to a news release at the time, and later donated $1 million to the museum. The links were initially reported by independent journalist Rachel Gilmore. Jamroz states on his website that he "has been a tenured mentor to students at Schulich School of Business" at York University. Yanni Dagonas, advisor and deputy spokesperson at York University wrote in an email the university can "confirm that Mr. Jamroz is not and was never employed by the York University Schulich School of Business in any capacity. He does not have any current relationship with the university." He added that he cannot speak to the term "tenured mentor" Jamroz uses on his website and that it "is not one that is used at York," but that Jamroz was "a mentor, a volunteer position, but not for several years." Jamroz is the executive chairman of GlobalX, a Miami-based charter airline that operates across the US, Caribbean, Europe and Latin America. Last year, 74 per cent of ICE's 1,564 deportation flights were on GlobalX planes, according to data collected by Tom Cartwright, an immigration activist. CSI Aviation, ICE's main aviation contractor who subcontracts to GlobalX, received in February a contract worth up to $151 million for "the deportation of aliens placed in federal custody." Jamroz is the executive chairman of GlobalX, a Miami-based charter airline that operates across the US, Caribbean, Europe and Latin America. Last year, 74 per cent of ICE's 1,564 deportation flights were on GlobalX planes. On March 15, ICE used three Global X flights to deport, without a hearing, more than 238 foreign nationals the Trump administration alleges belong to the Tren de Aragua gang and 23 alleged members of the MS-13 gang to El Salvador and Honduras. Those flights have become a touchstone of the controversy surrounding the administration's approach to immigration. Judge James E. Boasbag of the Federal Court of Washington issued a court order blocking the flights, but whether the order was issued in time is being debated by the government. The Trump administration has cited the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify the removals without giving the alleged gang members a hearing.

[reality-detective]

New Development in the Helicopter Crash 👇

This gets more interesting 👇

Her social media has been scrubbed 👇

A White House aide for Biden 👇

Graduated with a Biology degree in 2019 from North Carolina Chapel Hill... Where the gain of function that created Covid started.

Let's löök at her parents 👇

REBECCA LOBACH was the DAUGHTER of DAVID LOBACH (Duke University Medicine; Elimu Informatics; HHS) and ELIZABETH LOBACH (New Regency).

DAVID FRANKLIN LOBACH

*DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Chief of Division Clinical Informatics, Associate Consulting Professor

*DUKE FAMILY MEDICINE PROGRAM, Endocrinology Consultant

*ELIMU INFORMATICS, VP of Health Informatics

*CDSiC PROJECT, Elimu Informatics (Co-Investigator)

💥NOTE 1: Duke University is run by Trustees Chairman and Mossad asset, Laurene Sperling, who is also the Chairman of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and is married to Thermo Fisher (PCR TESTS) Lead Director, Scott Sperling. Thermo Fisher = Temasek (Singapore).

💥NOTE 2: Duke University School of Medicine is led by Dean, Nancy Andrews, who is the Chairman of Wellcome Burroughs (Wellcome/Farrar), who sits on the Board of Directors at Novartis and is a Senior Advisor to NIH Executive Leadership (Anthony Fauci).

💥NOTE 3: Duke Kunshan is a PARTNERSHIP between Duke University and Wuhan University and it officially opened its doors in 2013, which is the SAME YEAR that DAVID RUBENSTEIN (Duke Capital Partners, Carlyle Group, Booz Allen Hamilton, CFR, Brookings, etc.) became the CHAIRMAN of the DUKE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

*Both David Rubenstein and Laurene Sperling are CURRENTLY on the ADVISORY BOARD of DUKE KUNSHAN UNIVERSITY in WUHAN, CHINA.

Duke University is arguably the MOST IMPLICATED SCHOOL IN AMERICA with regard to the COVID PANDEMIC CONSPIRACY and the CREATION & RELEASE of COVID… and COVERUP of COVID’S ORIGINS.

Her Mother 👇

ELIZABETH LEE LOBACH

NEW REGENCY PRODUCTIONS (Development), Writers’ Assistant, Office Assistant, Analyst & Script Editor

*TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX (Post-Production), Office Assistant, Research & Analysis.

💥NOTE: New Regency Productions was FOUNDED by ISRAELI SPY, ARNON MILCHAN, one of NETANYAHU’S CLOSEST OPERATIVES and ISRAEL’S MOST LEGENDARY SPIES. He was involved in helping ISRAEL STEAL AMERICAN NUCLEAR SECRETS several decades ago.

Moving on 👇

This is the man that founded the company where helicopter pilot, Rebecca Lobach’s mother works…

Nothing to see here 👇

Rebecca Lobach was still in ROTC training in 2018.

How is she flying government continuity missions in a Blackhawk in Washington DC 6 years later as a captain? And how did she afford a $520,000 house two years into the military? 👇

Rebecca Lobach, involved in DCA crash, served as a White House social aide under Biden.

She escorted Ralph Lauren through the White House when he was among those awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former fake President Joe Biden. 👇

This is a screen grab from the FAA’s Airman registry which is available to the public it shows that Rebecca Marie Lobach did not currently hold an FAA medical which is required to have military certificates converted over to FAA certificates meaning she lost her medical…? 👇

Not sure what she ‘destroyed’.. but she doesn’t look fit to me! 👇

A statement from:

Art Halvorson @ArtHalv....

As a former military instructor, I'll tell you that Rebecca Lobach in NO WAY should have been the pilot in command on that flight.

500 hours in 5 years is Inconceivable! 👇

I think there’s more to this tragic incident than DEI hiring, but it was because of DEI policies that Rebecca was on board that helicopter and there are now 67 people dead. 🤔

[meerey]

What key Ferrari people actually think about Sir Lewis Hamilton(since everyone wants to act obtuse):

Vice chairman, board member of Ferrari, and actual son of Enzo, Piero Ferrari:

Benedetto Vigna, CEO:

John Elkann, Executive Chairman:

Lapo Elkann, member of the board of directors of Ferrari N.V.(and John's brother):

Fred Vasseur, Team Principal:

[mariacallous]

JD Vance, the US vice-president, was booed by the audience as he took his seat at a National Symphony Orchestra concert at Washington’s Kennedy Center on Thursday evening.

As the normal pre-concert announcements got under way, the vice-presidential party filed into the box tier. Booing and jeering erupted in the hall, drowning out the announcements, as Vance and his wife, Usha, took their seats.

Such a vocal, impassioned political protest was a highly unusual event in the normally polite and restrained world of classical music.

Vance ironically acknowledged the yelling and shouts of “You ruined this place!” with a smile and a wave.

Audience members had undergone a full Secret Service security check as Vance’s motorcade drew up at the US’s national performing arts centre, delaying the start of the concert by 25 minutes.

After news of the reaction to Vance at the concert emerged, Richard Grenell, interim director of the Kennedy Center who was recently appointed by Trump, said the crowd was “intolerant”.

In February, Donald Trump sacked the chairman of the Kennedy Center board along with 13 of its trustees, appointing himself the new chair, bringing in foreign policy adviser and close ally Richard Grenell as interim leader, and naming new board members – among them, Usha Vance. She was on the board of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 2020 to 2022.

“So we took over the Kennedy Center,” the president said at the time. “We didn’t like what they were showing and various other things. We’re going to make sure that it’s good and it’s not going to be woke. There’s no more woke in this country.”

The new board members have recently been given their first tour of the centre, which is home to the Washington Opera as well as the National Symphony Orchestra and hosts about 2,000 performances a year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Thursday evening’s concert programme – Shostakovich’s second violin concerto, with Leonidas Kavakos the soloist, followed by Stravinsky’s Petrushka – got off to a slightly shaky start before settling into its stride.

Audience members nervously joked during the intermission about the apposite all-Russian programme, given Vance’s brutal dressing-down of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during an Oval Office blowup in February that played directly into the hands of the Russian ruler, Vladimir Putin.

Resistance to Trump’s takeover of the traditionally bipartisan Kennedy Center has begun. The producers of the hit musical Hamilton have withdrawn from a run at the institution, due to take place in 2026, and a number of individual artists have also cancelled appearances.

A group performing on the Millennium Stage in the centre’s foyer – traditional musicians Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman – had banners onstage with them reading “reinstate queer programming” and “creativity at the Kennedy Center must not be suppressed”.

In a 2016 interview with the New York Times, Vance said he had not realised that people listened to classical music for pleasure as he reflected on his rise through the American class system after the overnight success of his memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

“Elites use different words, eat different foods, listen to different music – I was astonished when I learned that people listened to classical music for pleasure – and generally occupy different worlds from America’s poor,” he said. “Unfortunately, this can make things a little culturally awkward when you leap from one class to the other.”

But the public anger at Vance was brought on by the culture war that he and his allies have unleashed on Washington’s cultural institutions, especially the Kennedy Center.

Vance has staked out a reputation as a cultural conservative and leaned into criticisms of “cancel culture”, saying that modern society was crushing the spirit of young men during an on-stage interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) in February.

“I think our culture sends a message to young men that you should suppress every masculine urge, you should try to cast aside your family, you should try to suppress what makes you a young man in the first place,” he said at Cpac.

“My message to young men is don’t allow this broken culture to send you a message that you’re a bad person because you’re a man.”

Trump tweeted in February, in relation to the his takeover of the centre, “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA – ONLY THE BEST.” On Saturday, drag artists rallied outside the Kennedy Center to protest against the attacks on their work.

In February The Kennedy Center announced the cancellation of a Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC concert scheduled to coincide with May’s Pride celebrations.

[pharmaceutical-company-in-india]

Meet the Board of Directors: Driving Strategic Growth at Zuventus

Meet the Board of Directors: Driving Strategic Growth at Zuventus

At Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., strategic growth is deeply rooted in the vision and leadership of a dynamic and experienced board of directors. This esteemed panel of leaders brings together expertise across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and business strategy, playing a pivotal role in propelling Zuventus towards its mission of delivering quality healthcare solutions.

The chairman and board of directors at Zuventus are entrusted with overseeing corporate governance, setting long-term goals, and ensuring the company operates with integrity and excellence. Each board member contributes uniquely to the company’s strategic growth, with diverse experience and deep commitment.

Key Members of the Board of Directors

Satish Mehta:

As the Chairman, Satish Mehta provides visionary leadership. With decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he guides the strategic direction of Zuventus, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation.

Sanjay Mehta:

Serving as Director, Sanjay Mehta is actively involved in operational strategy and execution. His leadership in managing key functions contributes to the seamless functioning of Zuventus.

Prakash Guha:

As a Managing Director, Prakash Guha offers valuable insights into corporate governance, risk management, and compliance. His independent stance helps maintain objectivity in decision-making.

Namita Thapar:

A well-recognized leader in the healthcare industry, Namita Thapar is also an Director who brings in fresh perspectives, especially in innovation and market expansion.

Shreekant Bapat:

A senior industry expert, Shreekant Bapat adds strategic depth as an Non-Executive Director, offering his experience in financial planning and operational efficiency.

Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar:

As an Independent Director, Shailesh Ayyangar lends his expertise in pharmaceuticals, regulatory affairs, and leadership development.

Vijay Gokhale:

With a strong background in public service, Vijay Gokhale serves as an Independent Director, contributing to Zuventus' growth through policy insights and external affairs.

Board Structure and Governance

Zuventus operates with a well-balanced mix of non executive directors and independent directors and non independent directors, ensuring a healthy blend of internal knowledge and external perspectives. This structure enhances the board’s ability to make well-rounded decisions that align with shareholder interests and corporate ethics.

The presence of experienced non independent directors such as executive directors allows for operational insights, while non executive directors and independent directors maintain transparency and accountability.

Driving Strategic Growth

The board of directors plays a critical role in formulating strategies for market expansion, research and development, and operational excellence. Their decisions directly influence Zuventus’ ability to innovate, expand, and uphold its reputation as a trusted name in healthcare.

By fostering collaboration, upholding ethical standards, and encouraging innovation, the chairman of the board of directors and fellow board members drive the organization forward.

[martiandmichelle]

Now it's settled.

I had reported a few weeks ago that I was gaining weight to fit what Roxy and I saw for a character I'm playing in an adult video series - a matronly woman. I usually set my upper weight limit at 150 pounds (from my usual 135) but decided to go a little higher, maybe 155.

Being very partial to my tits, I liked how I looked and felt at 155 as my boobs had increased to an X cup from the usual W. I let my weight drift up to 160 and became a Y cup. I LOVED it. But, being in entertainment - sexual entertainment at that - I wanted to know what others thought. The ladies here at Mountain Media supported me though some worried about what the extra weight was doing to me health-wise. The guys here at the studio were, not surprisingly, all for it, but the real test was what the Board of Directors (BOD) thought. Dana brought it up to them and, by a surprisingly lopsided vote (13-2) they went all in on my new weight. (Note: We now have 15 board members to improve investments.) There was one last test: medical.

Just after Hurricane Helene, the BOD added on on-site physician to "protect their investments." The physician's name is Shannon, a very lovely and sexy lady in her late 50's. She came to us by recommendation of one of the board member's wife. Shannon had recently retired from practice; her late husband was very wealthy and when he passed Shannon herself became wealthy on top of her successful practice (a cardiologist). Shannon went over my records and gave me a thorough physical, lab tests, and a few x-rays and MRI studies and declared me fit to handle the weight. She worked with Dana (a women's health therapist prior to being our onsite manager), Gail (a nutritionist before becoming a model and our house manager), and Gina (a nurse practioner) to set up healthy weight gain and maintenance.

I'm all set to go to 170 and see how I feel - and how big my tits become!

Then, this morning, I was on a phone call with our CEO and Board Chairman, Bas, and with Dana. I try to stay out of the business side of this thing, but they wanted to talk to me. The October earnings statement was finalized and, in terms of income, October blew away all other months. (It was also the best "bottom line" month but after adjusting income for expenses the difference was still the best yet even if spending was way up on construction and hiring.) Willow and Emily continue to do very well and Maria seems to hit a home run every time - so congratulations to them! But, and I'm embarrassed to say, my earnings were, well, way above expectations. "It's the bigger tits," Bas mused. (I give Roxy a lot of credit for some great scripts, Lin kudos for her fantastic camera work, and the rest of the support team for all they do.) "Maybe," Bas said. But in his typical Dutch no bullshit manor he repeated. "It's the tits."

So get used to seeing a heavier, larger-busted Marti. You'll still see some of my more glamorous photos from the last year and some of the older stuff, too. Hope you all agree that bigger tits is the way to go for me?!?

Marti

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

David Horsey, Seattle Times

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

February 7, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Feb 08, 2025

Maya Miller of the New York Times reported today that the congressional phone system has been jammed with tens of millions of calls from outraged constituents contacting their representatives to demand that they stand against President Donald Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk as they unilaterally dismantle the United States government and gain access to Americans’ private information. The Senate phone system usually gets about 40 calls a minute; now it is up to 1,600.

On Wednesday, Nicole Lafond of Talking Points Memo reported that Senate Republicans were not especially concerned about Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team rampaging through the federal government, figuring that Musk won’t last long and that the courts will eventually stop him. Today, Musk posted on X: “CFPB RIP,” with a tombstone emoji. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recovered more than $17 billion for consumers from fraudulent or predatory practices since it began in 2011.

Trump seems willing to let Musk continue to run amok through the government while he becomes a figurehead. Today he posted on his social media site that he has fired the chair and members of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center, saying they “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” He promised to announce a new board, “with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” “For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” he wrote.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols, who was appointed by Trump in 2019, is less impressed with the direction of the Trump administration. Today, he blocked it from placing more than 2,000 employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on paid leave. Trump and his allies have claimed—without evidence—that USAID is corrupt, but Steven Lee Myers and Stuart A. Thompson of the New York Times reported today that the disinformation making those claims on social media posts, for example, comes from Russia.

Senator Angus King (I-ME) took his Republican colleagues to task yesterday for their willingness to overlook the Trump administration’s attack on the U.S. Constitution. King took the floor as the Senate was considering the confirmation of Christian Nationalist Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought, a key author of Project 2025, believes the powers of the president should be virtually unchecked.

King reminded his colleagues that they had taken an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic” and noted that the Framers recognized there could be domestic enemies to the Constitution. “Our oath was not to the Republican Party, not to the Democratic Party, not to Joe Biden, not to Donald Trump,” King said, “but…to defend the Constitution.”

���And…right now—literally at this moment—that Constitution is under the most direct and consequential assault in our nation's history,” King said. “An assault not on a particular provision but on the essential structure of the document itself.”

Why do we have a Constitution, King asked. He read the Preamble and said: “There it is. There's the list—ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” But, he pointed out, there is a paradox: the essence of a government is to give it power, but that power can be abused to hurt the very citizens who granted it. “Who will guard the guardians?” King asked.

The Framers were “deep students of history and…human nature. And they had just won a lengthy and brutal war against the abuses inherent in concentrated governmental power,” King said. “The universal principle of human nature they understood was this: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

How did the Framers answer the question of who will guard the guardians? King explained that they built into our system regular elections to return the control of the government to the people on a regular basis. They also deliberately divided power between the different branches and levels of government.

“This is important,” King said. “The cumbersomeness, the slowness, the clumsiness is built into our system. The framers were so fearful of concentrated power that they designed a system that would be hard to operate. And the heart of it was the separation of power between various parts of the government. The whole idea, the whole idea was that no part of the government, no one person, no one institution had or could ever have a monopoly on power.”

“Why? Because it's dangerous. History and human nature tells us that. This division of power, as annoying and inefficient as it can be,… is an essential feature of the system, not a bug. It's an essential, basic feature of the system, designed to protect our freedoms.”

The system of government “contrasts with the normal structure of a private business, where authority is purposefully concentrated, allowing swift and sometimes arbitrary action. But a private business does not have the army, and the President of the United States is not the CEO of America.”

In the government, “[p]ower is shared, principally between the president and this body, this Congress, both houses…. [T]his herky-jerkiness…this unwieldy structure is the whole idea,... designed to protect us from the…inevitable abuse of an authoritarian state.”

Vought, King said, is “one of the ringleaders of the assault on our Constitution. He believes in a presidency of virtually unlimited powers.” He “espouses the discredited and illegal theory that the president has the power to selectively impound funds appropriated by Congress, thereby rendering the famous power of the purse a nullity.” King said he was “really worried about…the structural implications for our freedom and government of what's happening here…. Project 2025 is nothing less than a blueprint for the shredding of the Constitution and the transition of our country to authoritarian rule. He's the last person who should be put in the job at the heart of the operation of our government.”

“[T]his isn't about politics. This isn't about policy. This isn't about Republican versus Democrat. This is about tampering with the structure of our government, which will ultimately undermine its ability to protect the freedom of our citizens. If our defense of the Constitution is gone, there's nothing left to us.”

King asked his Republican colleagues to “say no to the undermining and destruction of our constitutional system.” “[A]re there no red lines?” he asked them. “Are there no limits?”

King looked at USAID and said: “The Constitution does not give to the President or his designee the power to extinguish a statutorily established agency. I can think of no greater violation of the strictures of the Constitution or usurpation of the power of this body. None. I can think of none. Shouldn't this be a red line?”

Trump’s “executive order freezing funding…selectively, for programs the administration doesn't like or understand” is, King said, “a fundamental violation of the whole idea of the Constitution, the separation of powers.” King said his “office is hearing calls every day, we can hardly handle the volume. This again, to underline, is a frontal assault of our power, your power, the power to decide where public funds should be spent. Isn't this an obvious red line? Isn't this an obvious limit?”

King turned to “the power seemingly assumed by DOGE to burrow into the Treasury's payment system” as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with “zero oversight.” “Do these people have clearance?” King, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee asked. “Are the doors closed? Are they going to leave open doors into these? What are the opportunities for our adversaries to hack into the systems?... Remember, there's no transparency or oversight. Access to social security numbers seem to be in the mix. All the government's personnel files, personal financial data, potentially everyone's tax returns and medical records. That can't be good…. That's data that should be protected with the highest level of security and consideration of Americans' privacy. And we don't know who these people are. We don't know what they're taking out with them. We don't know whether they're walking out with laptops or thumb drives. We don't know whether they're leaving back doors into the system. There is literally no oversight. The government of the United States is not a private company. It is fundamentally at odds with how this system is supposed to work.”

“Shouldn't this be an easy red line?” he asked.

“[W]e're experiencing in real time exactly what the framers most feared. When you clear away the smoke, clear away the DOGE, the executive orders, foreign policy pronouncements, more fundamentally what's happening is the shredding of the constitutional structure itself. And we have a profound responsibility…to stop it.”

King’s appeal to principle and the U.S. Constitution did not convince his Republican colleagues, who confirmed Vought.

But today, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker took a different approach, trolling Trump’s claim that the Gulf of Mexico would now be called “the Gulf of America.” Standing behind a lectern and flanked by flags of the United States and Illinois, Pritzker solemnly declared he was about to make an important announcement.

“The world’s finest geographers, experts who study the Earth’s natural environment, have concluded a decades-long council and determined that a Great Lake deserves to be named after a great state. So today, I’m issuing a proclamation declaring that hereinafter Lake Michigan shall be known as Lake Illinois. The proclamation has been forwarded to Google to ensure the world’s maps reflect this momentous change. In addition, the recent announcement that to protect the homeland, the United States will be purchasing Greenland, Illinois will now be annexing Green Bay to protect itself against enemies foreign and domestic. I’ve also instructed my team to work diligently to prepare for an important announcement next week regarding the Mississippi River. God bless America, and Bear Down [a reference to the Chicago Bears football team].”

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[tenth-sentence]

Conroy took up several board positions, becoming a director, then in 1994 chairman, of Howard Smith Ltd, chairman of the Federal Airports Corporation and a member of various inquiries.

"Westpac: The Bank That Broke the Bank" - Edna Carew

[catboyfics]

How to be a Hunter [part I]

ALRIGHT!!! finally getting this going! I know i've gotten some notes n stuff on my posts for sung jinwoo x m reader so come get your cake (and eat it too, if you want). this is going to be cannon compliant (with maybe a second part) and WILL contain spoilers for solo leveling. I will also be spelling sung jinwoo without the hyphen throughout the fic. hope you enjoy it!!

You're Go Gunhee's grandson, and Korea's only secret S-rank hunter. After his death, you became the assistant of the new President of the KHA so that you could learn about the position you may be succeeding. While helping out, you meet Sung Jinwoo.

𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻

𝑭𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑴: Solo Leveling

𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮: Sung Jinwoo x m!reader

𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑹𝑬 & 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺: fluff, slight angst; male reader; major spoilers, death, slightly ludicrous timing

𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑫𝑺: 4k

The room was somber, silent as people filed in and filled the seats of the table. You sat to the left of the President's chair, the only chair in the room which would stay empty. You fought to keep the tears in your eyes from spilling, needing to stay strong. You could not be suffering at a time like this, a time when the world was in grave danger.

You grandfather's words replayed over and over in your head. 'I would like to pass the KHA on to you, but you need to be ready.' He had said, his crows feet wrinkling sincerely. But you knew that you were not ready.

Finally, the grand doors slammed shut and the room was plunged into silence like no other. A man cleared his throat, the man sitting across from you. The KHA's vice president. His voice sounded out through the room, though it was shaky and filled with sadness.

"The seat of the Korean Hunter's Association has been empty for a week now. Now, we need to choose someone to assume the position. Before we start, I feel it necessary to read out an excerpt of Mr. Go Gunhee's will to honor his wishes. Paraphrasing, it says that he wishes for his grandson, Go (name), to become the next head of the Korean Hunter's Association if Mr. Go (name) feels that he is ready." His voice was unsteady, hands shaky as he lifted the paper from the table. He squinted as he read over the page, his face contorted into the expression of a tortured man.

The eyes of the room turned to you, sitting silently at the table. Nobody was particularly surprised, it seemed, but the Vice President's voice rang out once more.

"Go (name), do you believe that you are ready to take on the responsibility of this position?" He asked, looking you in the eye. You looked up, returning his gaze through your tears. Shaking your head no, you spoke with a hollow voice.

"No, I don't believe that I'm ready." It was quiet, and you weren't sure if the Vice President heard it, but he nodded solemnly.

"If that's the case, I will continue reading the President's will. I'm paraphrasing, but he wishes for Go (name) to act as the assistant for the new President until it seems he is ready. From here, we have the power to choose who will assume Mr. Go Gunhee's position." The man said as he looked around the table, taking in the faces in the room.

"Having an S-rank hunter has been symbolic of the Korean Hunter's Association. Without a central power to control the five big guilds, they will be impossible to regulate." The VP continued.

Another man spoke up, one with a wrinkled face but equally sad eyes. "Are you suggesting that we recruit an S-rank hunter?" He asked, looking warily at the Vice President. "Despite the influence of a top-rank hunter, bringing in an outsider as the Chairman would be dangerous."

The man continued, looking to the man in the seat next to you. "After a thorough discussion, the Board of Directors and I have decided that the next President of the association would be Section Chief Woo Jinchul."

You looked to the man sitting next to you, with long blonde hair and a surprised expression. Despite the Board's decision, he hesitated as he spoke.

"But... why me?"

"Chief Woo Jinchul, as the President's closest advisor and friend in the association, you have been learning firsthand how things work. You have the power to lead the hunters." One of the directors answered.

"There is no rule that the President must be an S-rank hunter, just that he must be someone with influence over the hunters. Someone that the hunters are afraid of.

"As someone who works in the Surveillance Department, arresting hunters and helping regulate, you are the most suitable for the job."

When you looked over at the Section Chief, he seemed very conflicted. You knew of him, but never knew him well. You didn't work in the Surveillance Department, and despite your relationship to your grandfather, you didn't spend much time with him at work.

"In that respect, I am lacking in many ways. I am, by no means, the one in the highest position here, and I am also quite young. You could choose the Vice President, or any of the directors, as well as all the regional directors gathered here today."

He hesitated, glancing at you before lifting his head again and glancing around the room. "Why would you want me to be President Go Gunhee's successor when there are so many here more qualified than I am?"

There was a pause hanging in the air after the Section Chief's words. You felt that the Board of Directors' choice was the right one. From what your grandfather hand told you, he was a very sage and dedicated man, who was only a few years your senior. If he became the President, you felt the KHA would be in good hands.

"The other Directors and I don't have the power to lead the Korea's best hunters, but you do. You have good relationships with the Big Five guilds, and are on good terms with hunter Sung Jinwoo."

There was that name again. Sung Jinwoo. You swore you knew it, and you definitely remembered your grandfather mentioning him a lot, but you didn't remember exactly who he was. You had never been good with names, which was why you didn't end up in the Surveillance Department.

"We may have crossed paths often, but I'm not sure that hunter Sung Jinwoo would feel the same way." The Section Chief interjected, looking down at his hands. He was clearly very affected by your grandfathers death, and you resonated deeply with him.

One of the Directors sighed. "We cannot force our decision on you, but will you please consider this carefully?"

The Section Chief nodded slowly, and the meeting was over.

After the meeting, you ran slightly to catch up to the Section Chief. You had already forgotten his name, but you figured it would be fine if you just addressed him by title.

You tapped him on the shoulder, feeling slightly guilty as he flinched. You spoke quietly, with a somber voice and much respect.

"Section Chief, sir..." You trailed off, finding your words. "I know it is not my place to say this, but I think you would be a good fit as the President of the KHA."

He looked at your gratefully, though you noticed the crease between his brows. To him, you probably seemed like some weak B-rank hunter as it was marked on your Hunter's License. Very few people knew that your grandfather had insisted you keep your true rank a secret.

He thanked you quietly before returning to silence. You hesitated for a second, but walked off in the end. If there was anything more that you wanted to pursue, you would have to wait. So, you exited the KHA building and returned home.

You had been resting at home for a while when the home phone rang. You picked up, hearing the voice on the other end asking for you.

"Yeah, I'm him. What is it that you need?" You asked, a smile in you voice as you tried to be polite.

"This is the Korean Hunter's Association. Please go to the President's office tomorrow at 8:00. Thank you very much." The attendant said before hanging up promptly. You wondered why you had been called, but you planned to go.

You walked into the living room, planning to tell your mother that you would go to work early tomorrow morning when you saw her staring at the TV with tears streaking down her face. On the TV, the Korean news station was talking about the new President of the Korean Hunter's Association.

Woo Jinchul. Your new boss, the one who replaced your grandfather. You didn't know how to feel, but you knew that it was the right decision.

You mother turned around and looked at you, eyes full of betrayal as she pointed at the TV. On the screen was none other than Woo Jinchul, who you'd just been thinking about. Your mother's voice broke through her spilling tears as she cried out.

"They're replacing your grandfather! Replacing him with some useless youngster!"

You tried to calm her down, to console her, but nothing was working. She couldn't understand that Korea would not function if the KHA had no president. She kept babbling about how they were replacing your grandfather, taking away his pride and joy.

You walked back to the house phone, dialing your father's number. You told him what was happening, with your mother, and that you had to go to work tomorrow. Your voice was empty and sad as you spoke, and he only replied with a sigh, muttering a quiet, "okay..." before hanging up.

What had happened spoiled your appetite for dinner, so you told your mother that you were going back to your room from across the house and shut the door heavily behind you.

You needed to think about work, though. It wouldn't be easy, and you would eventually need to reveal that you were actually an S-rank hunter. Now that your grandfather was gone, even fewer people knew your secret. It made you feel guilty using your connections to falsify your rank, but Grandpa had wanted to protect you from a life of publicity. You figured you probably wouldn't have been able to continue your education if it was revealed that you were an S-rank hunter.

The night was, tense. You father eventually came home and comforted your mother, but she was too distraught to do anything but go to bed. You were worried about what would happen at the Association, and you father worried for your mother. It was a night very full of worry.

The morning was hardly any different. You father worried for your mother, enough to stay home from work. Despite your father being Go Gunhee's biological son, your mother had a better relationship with your father's father than your father himself. You, on the other hand, to a shower before forcing on a relatively plain suit. You always hated the Association's dress code, but it was one of the few things Grandpa insisted on.

You didn't live far from the Association, living a few blocks away. You mother always wanted to stay close to Grandpa, and you father worried for his health. It ruined them that even though you were so close, they couldn't do anything to save him before it was too late.

You walked through the summer heat, sweating down your back as you tore your blazer off. It was too hot in the summers to wear suits. After about five minutes of walking, you arrived at the building. You had been going to the Association's building since you were a kid, so it was a very familiar building to you. It felt different, though, now that your Grandfather was no longer there.

You made you way up to the top floor, stepping into the elevator and greeting the people in there. They waved politely, but the ride was otherwise silent. They all got off before you did, hurrying to their respective desks, and eventually, you were alone with your thoughts. Sadness clouded your mind, but you were determined to push through it. You had duties you needed to complete.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, bringing you to the top floor. It consisted mostly of meeting rooms where the Board of Directors would meet, as well as a few higher ups offices. That's also where the President's office was. You walked down the hall, slowly making your way to the very end. As you approached, you lifted your hand to knock on the door, but it swung open without you even touching it.

Standing in the doorway was Woo Jinchul, the new President. You bowed your head to him, greeting him.

"Hello, I am Go (name), your new assistant." You introduced, looking up as he chuckled softly. There were bags under his eyes, though he looked cleaner. His cheeks were hollow, as if he had been forgetting to eat.

"No need for such a formal introduction, welcome in." He said, gesturing for you to follow him. The inside of his office was decorated with a grand desk on one side of the room. In the middle, there was a large table with many seemingly comfortable chairs. He stepped around the table and sat down in one of the chairs at the head of the table, and gestured for you to sit down opposite him.

You sat down, and the man cleared his throat. He crossed his legs and set his hands in his lap.

"As you know, right now, Hunters all over the world are in great turmoil because of the killings of the most powerful hunters. Korea is no different. I will be having a meeting with hunter Sung Jinwoo, and you will be there as my assistant."

You nodded. Sung Jinwoo again. He must've been quite famous if Grandpa and Woo Jinchul both talked about him. Though, there was something else you wanted to ask.

"May I ask what my responsibilities are as your assistant?" Though it seemed simple, you didn't exactly know what your new job entailed. You knew you would be helping out around the KHA, but you didn't know what your explicit responsibilities were.

"Organizing my schedule, speaking with reporters on my behalf when necessary, and giving me advice are mostly it. There are a few other things, but they hardly matter and would make me feel guilty if I had you do them."

It seemed like a rather menial job. You were fine with that, though. There was a reason you didn't want to become a hunter. Thinking about it, though, now that you had finished university, there wasn't anything stopping you. You sighed and shook your head, waving it off when Mr. Woo Jinchul asked you what was wrong.

After a bit more talking about your new job, you discovered you also had an office on the top floor and was lead there. It was a nice office, quite big with a few arm chairs and a nice desk. You thanked the President before he left, and started your day.

It was no wonder he needed an assistant, his calendar was a mess. You had to make a lot of phone calls about timings to clean everything up. After a few hours of work, there was a notification that popped up on your desktop.

"Hunter Sung Jinwoo is arriving in 20 minutes. Please come to Meeting Room #1803 as soon as possible." The email had been sent by Woo Jinchul. You nodded to yourself, planning to go there very soon.

Ah, yes, Hunter Sung Jinwoo. You would Google him. You felt it would be important to know who he was. When the search results did pop up, you were a bit surprised. They said he might be the strongest hunter in Korea. Apparently, he even beat Thomas Andre. You let out a big sigh. You couldn't believe you forgot who he was.

You sat up, turning off your computer and grabbing your blazer from the coat rack by the door before making your way down the hall to the meeting room.

As you stepped inside, you said hello to the President and taking your place behind his chair.

"When he comes in, the front desk will phone the room and I'll need to you get him from the first floor, if you don't mind." You nodded contently as he spoke. You wondered what it would be like to meet him. Despite being with the association, you had never actually met another S-rank hunter except for your grandfather, so you weren't sure how they carried themselves.

Suddenly, the phone rang and you walked over the the small table to pick it up. "This is Go (name) speaking, what do you need?" You asked, expecting that hunter Sung Jinwoo would be arriving.

"Hunter Sung Jinwoo is here. He has an appointment. Can someone come down to pick him up?" The voice on the other end of the phone asked. You nodded, saying that you would be down in a second before nodding meaningfully to Woo Jinchul and making your way to the elevator.

The ride down was quiet, most people working without moving between floors. It was at most a minute before you arrived at the first floor, the elevator doors opening with another ding as you stepped out. You had a clear view of the lobby but you couldn't see the President's guest until you walked further in.

"Hunter Sung Jinwoo, please come with me. I will take you to President Woo Jinchul." You said firmly, seeing a black haired man stand up. He was wearing a black jacket over a pristine white shirt, and a black pair of slacks.

Despite his skinny appearance, his presence was overwhelming. You could hardly breathe standing near him, but you struggled through it. You cleared your throat gently as you started walking to the elevator. You cheeks dusted with pink from embarrassment. You were a grown man, but he still towered over you. You were even an S-rank hunter!

"My name is Go (name), I'm the President's assistant." You introduced, turning towards him but not looking him in the eye. This guy was seriously powerful. It would be difficult to have to be in the elevator with him all the way to the top floor.

He nodded, remaining quiet but for a few words.

"Sung Jinwoo."

You cleared your throat as the elevator doors opened and you stepped inside, looking back to make sure he followed you. You looked up to his eyes and looked down to the floor again, letting out a defeated sigh. You felt his gaze bearing into you and you tried to stammer out something, anything at all.

"Uh, so, um, we're going to meeting room #1803." You forced out, cringing internally at yourself. You had never been good in awkward situations. Hunter Sung Jinwoo must've found you funny, or something, because he looked at you with a strange expression.

After what felt like a lifetime in the empty elevator, the doors finally opened and you hurried to step out. You could feel Hunter Sung Jinwoo's gaze on your back as he followed you, albeit slower. You paced down the hall to the meeting room, almost feeling sick with the amount of power swirling through the air. He followed behind you, not struggling to keep up but wondering why you were walking so quickly.

You emerged through the large wooden door and inhaled a deep breath. Finally, somewhere where he was not. And then, he followed right after you and your mood was soured right again. You gestured to the chair across the from the President before muttering a few words.

"Excuse me." You choked out, footsteps rushing to exit the room and get a break from the power flowing through the air. Finally, as the door shut behind you, you took a deep breath and let the fresh air fill your lungs. So that was Hunter Sung Jinwoo. He seemed to be deserving of the title of 'best hunter'.

After a few seconds standing outside the door, you heard them start talking. So far, it was nothing important, just greetings. They interacted like friends, and you recalled that President Woo Jinchul knew the hunter quite well.

Then, you heard the topic of their conversation shift to you.

"What was up with him? He seemed really uncomfortable?" You heard Sung Jinwoo ask and you cringed. You tried to come off as calm and collected, but you always had trouble around other S-ranks. You found their overflowing power suffocating.

"Oh, Go (name)? He's... sensitive around S-rank hunters." The President answered, hesitating as he came up with a word to describe your aversion to them.

"So he's Mr. Go Gunhee's grandson..." Sung Jinwoo trailed off, the tone of the conversation turning darker with the sorrowful edge to the S-rank's words.

"Yes, but he has been handling the former President's death quite well." Woo Jinchul answered back, managing to maintain his professional air despite the personal turn of the discussion.

Eventually, the conversation turned back away from you and you heaved out a sigh of relief. Even if it wasn't bad, it embarrassed you when people talked about you.

After a few more minutes of waiting, letting yourself recover, you walked back into the room, that overwhelming pressure crushing you again. You choked on a breath but slowly made your way to the wall at the back of the room. President Woo Jinchul turned around to look at you, brows furrowing with concern at your pale face.

"Are you alright?" He said quietly, looking you over to make sure you weren't sick. "If you're sick, it's okay to go home."

You shook your head, leaning down as you answered. "No, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern."

He nodded, though the wrinkle between his brows didn't disappear before returning to his conversation. It wasn't exactly a necessary conversation, more of a cordiality to introduce assets of the KHA to a new President.

It wasn't long before the conversation was over, but during the entire time you had to focus on controlling your breathing with a pale face. The intense pressure in the room that only you seemed to be able to feel pushed the air out of your lungs at every chance it got. You wondered why it never felt this way with your grandfather, despite him being an S-rank. You could still feel his power, but instead of forcing you down, it welcomed you. It felt... like a warm hug.

The power of the other S-rank hunters... whenever you were in the same room as them, it felt as if some otherworldly being was trying to force you to your knees. It was suffocating and engulfed you entirely. You could only withstand it because you, too, were an S-rank.

As the President's guest's footsteps echoed down the hall, you let out a breath.

"So that's Sung Jinwoo, huh?" You chuckled, color slowly returning to your face as you let your eyes close. You were leaned back against the wall, reveling in the weight off your shoulders. It felt like you had been born anew.

Woo Jinchul nodded, smiling gently to himself.

"He's quite something." The man agreed.

"He's incredible. I've never felt an aura like that before." You muttered under your breath, looking up at the ceiling with bewilderment. "As suffocating as it is, I'd like to meet him again."

Then, the President said something that made you pause.

"You know, it's weird that you're so sensitive to power. I've never seen a hunter as sensitive as you are. Even in S-ranks, they can usually only feel it if there's a fight."

You flinched, slightly, chuckling as you scratched at your nose.

"Don't worry about it. It's just some weird anomaly."

He accepted your answer, nodding disappointedly. Before long, you were back in your office, working away at fixing his broken schedule.

Suddenly, a huge influx of calls rang to your phone, overwhelming you. Apparently, a huge gate appeared over the skies of Seoul. You walked to your window, looking up at it with wonder.

You didn't know yet, but you would be seeing a lot of Sung Jinwoo in the coming days.

Whoo! Finally finished. There is going to be a second part of this, and quite possibly a third, but that will come in a while. If you would like me to put you on a tagging list in the coming parts, leave a comment please!

I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. I think I captured Sung Jinwoo's character pretty well, but let me know what you think. I hope you guys like this shot! Remember to drink water!

reblogs > likes <3

Banners from @cafekitsune

[patroxlos]

home base . ch8

"friends who are for the people" - 6.7k words

ultraman: rising (2024). kenji sato x reader

master post. ao3 link.

previous: ch7. "friends who use their phones in bed"

next: [SOON]

When you said you were busy with your own things, you meant it.

You have your own fun when Kenji is not around.

---

Dr. Onda has a special ability to be the most imposing person in the room.

Even in front of a long panel of the most important figures in Tokyo, he intimidates with the glare from his shades and his permanent frown. His second-in-command is much more approachable with his youthful face and calm but reliable demeanor, but Captain Aoshima can only do so much with his digestible powerpoint slides and well-crafted charts to lessen the heavy air of the room.

“...and you can see in this graph, that with your help, the KDF has managed to expand our fleet to tackle airborne kaiju. Our aviators have suffered less injuries due to the fortification of our aircrafts, and we are able to more efficiently terminate kaiju with our updated munitions. Any questions?” Captain Aoshima glances around the room to check whether the board was following.

They only nod, some casting glances towards Dr. Onda as he stood at the side to monitor his assistant’s presentation. The KDF’s board is composed of some of the most decorated war veterans, politicians, and arms dealers in the country, yet all are wary towards the senior researcher.

All except you.

“Captain, I have a question,” You say. You look up from the comprehensive board report they had passed around earlier, neat inside a plain black folio. “You discussed that the updated munitions arming the refurbished planes are necessary for more efficient ejection of projectiles, correct?”

“Yes, Director.”

You swallow.

You don’t think you earned the title compared to the others seated at the long table–this being your first board meeting, after all–but you let it go. They will sense weakness if you do not appear more confident. You continue your line of inquiry. “The report states that we have not introduced new projectiles in the armory within the quarter, yet based on the most recent kaiju attack, I have noticed that your fleets utilized non-lethal tranquilizers on the target. I reviewed the previous reports from the past five years and there has not been any mention about the research and development of such. May I ask why there was this omission?”

Murmurs broke out amongst your fellow board members. You keep your eyes trained at the commanding captain. He does not seem fazed at all by your question; he merely turns to look at Dr. Onda, who nods back, for permission to answer.

“Yes, Director. The tranquilizers were not mentioned in the quarterly review because they were not a recent development nor acquisition. They have been archived in our inventory for a better part of two decades. However, I can assure that our aviation ordnancemen checked prior to its use whether they are still effective as they were when they were first developed.”

You cross-check the provided digital database, manipulating the holographic screen. The inventory displays the potent tranquilizers. You skim over the document, pausing momentarily when you catch a line of text stating ‘Developer: Dr. Emiko Sato.’ You swipe away from the tab.

“Why take out old tranquilizers from storage for this specific kaiju?” You inquire.

“It was imperative for us to take this Kaiju alive.”

At the corner of your eye, you notice the Chairman of the Board stand up from his seat. Of course, as he is also Japan’s Minister of Defense, he has the most interest in increasing the KDF’s productivity. “And for what reason did you feel it was necessary to keep that kaiju alive?! I thought we agreed that the infrastructural costs outweigh the necessity to study these monsters?”

With a flick of his wrist, the Minister pushes one of the holographic screens to the center of the room. It plays the footage of that abnormally small, pink kaiju that ran through the streets a week prior. You see yourself on the screen get picked up, and you get phantom pains on your body as you remember how constricting the hold of that kaiju was. The stares of the other directors stab into your skin as they also recognize you from the footage.

Before anyone else can make a comment, Dr. Onda steps forward. The Minister falls back down on his chair, startled that the man has decided to finally speak after two hours in the boardroom.

“Captain Aoshima, thank you. I will take over the presentation for now.” He commands attention despite not raising his voice. Even if his eyes are covered, even you can feel the wuthering stare he sends towards the Minister. “Minister, while I respect your position as Chairman of the Board, I don’t think it is part of your responsibilities to scold my subordinates. Let your grievances out towards me.”

While the panel is silenced due to fear, you instead are stricken with respect for the older man. You appreciate how he takes care of his workers. Although, you still have your own job to do.

“Very well, Dr. Onda,” you speak up and everyone’s focus is now back on you. “Does this kaiju have anything to do with your current updates on Project Surrogate?”

He actually looks impressed, and you try not to look too pleased about his nod of approval. “Yes. I will move the presentation along towards it.”

The screen in front of you now presents a concise, bulleted summary of action points that Project Surrogate aims to achieve. This isn’t new to the panel, and the project needs no introduction. After all, it has been in development for the past five years, and most of taxpayer money being invested in the KDF has went towards it.

Project Surrogate’s main objective echoes that of the KDF’s original purpose: to locate Kaiju Island. It is hinged on the long-standing theory that Kaijus exhibit homing behavior towards their island of origin. Since it has been notoriously difficult to track adult Kaiju to the island, Project Surrogate hypothesizes that infant Kaiju might make it easier. The KDF has spent nearly half a decade trying to find proof of juvenile kaiju, until they finally stumbled onto a nest.

You have studied all of the declassified information on the project, yet even with your clearance level, you and the Board are kept out of the loop from Dr. Onda’s plans.

“We have seen this slide before,” you say, a bit frustrated as you stare at the screen. “Can we skip towards the project’s developments?”

Bowing slightly to your direction, he acquiesces to your request and switches to the photo of Gigantron, Queen of the Kaiju. Stepping forward, he begins his presentation. “Project Surrogate has made large progress since we have discovered the nest of Gigantron at the town of Oshima, by its coast. It has confirmed for us that kaiju, or in particular Gigantron, do not necessarily lay eggs nor reproduce exclusively in their island. The evidence in the surrounding area suggests that this is not the first time Gigantron has laid her eggs there.”

“Is it possible that Gigantron has natal homing?” You ignore the murmurs of confusion around you, but you do spot a few board members rolling their eyes at your display of proficiency.

You’re trying too hard to impress others, they think. Everything you do is performative. At your core, you’re just as dumb and vapid as everyone says you are.

“Indeed,” Dr. Onda nods your way. “This display of migratory behavior brings us closer towards finding Kaiju Island, as the infant would soon be instinctively motivated to fly away from our territory.”

The slide changes to the baby kaiju, and the pieces begin falling in place for the Board. The egg had hatched, and the kaiju has been alive for a few months at the moment. You raise another question. “Has the child been in KDF custody this entire time? Can you explain why it was allowed to roam the streets of Tokyo?”

“Unfortunately, the egg was stolen from us by Ultraman, and it had hatched under his control.”

Loud, outraged murmurs broke out amongst the board. Ultraman? Isn’t he supposed to be on our side?

 “Wait, Dr. Onda,” the Minister says. “So, even after the Tokyo fiasco, Ultraman still has custody over the kaiju?”

“Yes.”

A gruff-looking general shouts “Then doesn’t that mean Project Surrogate is a bust?”

“Hardly.” Even at the face of angry investors, Dr. Onda keeps his cool. He simply changes the slide to show an image of Ultraman cradling the kaiju against his chest while he hangs from the side of Tokyo Tower. Chills run down your spine. It is as if Ultraman was in the room himself, staring down everyone with a righteous fury.

Like a mother holding her child close, baring her teeth at the dangers that creep near.

“Due to Ultraman letting the kaiju loose on the streets, we have learned that the baby is capable of echolocation. It is possible that adult kaiju use echolocation at a frequency our sensors fail to pick up, but this child uses it as clear as day. Once we recapture the kaiju from Ultraman, we can set it free to the ocean and follow it towards Kaiju Island.”

As Dr. Onda finishes relaying the plan to the room, murmurs of approval soon broke the silence. The plan is reasonable, but you still remained unconvinced that he is telling you everything. You open the quarter report again, this time towards the expenditures for Project Surrogate.

“The plan does not seem clear to me yet, Dr. Onda. How sure are we that the KDF will be able to track the kaiju as it navigates through open waters?” You probe.

“I’m afraid I cannot disclose that for now,” He dodges your question.

“And what about the amount of lithium and uranium in the itemized budget? If you wanted to make bombs I would prefer it if you declare it.”

“We are making bombs, that is nothing new at the KDF. That is as much declaration I can make,” he dismisses your concern.

“So you do have a more thorough plan that you are not telling us about?”

“For two decades, the KDF and its Board of Directors have operated together with a strong sense of trust. You might not be familiar with it now, since this is your first meeting with us as a board member, but soon you will be.”

“But—” Shit. You are getting a little frazzled as he points out your inexperience. “Okay, that’s beside the point. What about Ultraman? The continuation of this project hinges on the KDF tracking his location, but he remains an elusive figure to the Japanese people.”

Dr. Onda gestures towards the Minister of Defense. “We will double down our efforts into tracking him, and we are encouraging the people to send to our tip line any sightings of the vigilante. Our chairman has been most helpful in declaring Ultraman persona non grata.”

“With much public backlash,” the Minister comments.

Another board member pipes in. “Ultraman is seen as a Japanese icon. The favorability of KDF has been declining steadily in the past several months, but it has been crashing to the gutter ever since the announcement that Ultraman is wanted.”

The meeting is getting derailed as the Board grows restless with the lack of direction in the KDF, exposed by you. You are starting to wonder whether you should have just sat there and listened like the others were.

Soon it ends, and everyone begins to shuffle out of the board room. You personally bow to each of the board members before they leave, half of them sizing you up but the rest giving you their blessings for being part of the team. Either way, your stomach turns.

You approach Captain Aoshima, and do the same bow towards him. “Thank you for that presentation, Captain. I look forward to seeing more of you in the future.”

“Likewise,” he returns the courtesy, though after he rises from his bow he fiddles with his pockets. “Actually, before you leave, ah– sorry, this is a bit unprofessional.”

You already have a feeling on what he is going to ask, but it still humors you slightly that he is breaking a bit of his respectful decorum that you know him for. You glance around the room, and the only people left are you, the captain and Dr. Onda. At least no one else is there to make fun of what you’re about to do. “Sure, we can take a photo.”

Aoshima brightens significantly. “Thank you, my daughter would be thrilled. Is it okay if you record a greeting as well? It’s her birthday soon.”

“She knows who I am?” Your eyes widen.

He thinks you’re being too modest. “She used to follow you before you deleted your accounts.”

“Then, it’s no problem! Sorry if I might seem a bit awkward. I haven’t done this in a while so I’m a bit rusty,” you laugh nervously.

You take his phone from his hands, angling the camera for a self-photo with him at your side. The recording goes just as smoothly, with you giving a small pep talk on how his daughter should focus on her studies. Captain Aoshima bows in gratitude, glowing with the excitement of a father who will do anything in the world for his kids.

Dr. Onda watches as his assistant leaves the room, leaving you and him alone. Swallowing your nervousness, you turn to the man and give a respectful bow. “Thank you for the meeting, Dr. Onda. The KDF remains safe in your hands.”

His silence makes you a bit more nervous. It is one thing for you to conduct a thorough interrogation during a quarterly board meeting, it is another making small-talk.

“I’ll…be going?” You try to have a smooth exit, but he raises his hand to signal you to stay.

“I was never fond of businessmen meddling with the organization,” he says, matter-of-fact.

“Well…Motsubishi prides itself in our social involvement—”

“Spare me the sales pitch, your father has done a lot of that when he served on the board,” he interrupts you. “I doubt you believe weapons development equates to welfare.”

“We only make it to the KDF,” you immediately rebut.

“Not fond of the dirtier sides of the business? Isn’t this what you’ve studied?” He raises an eyebrow at you.

You pocket your hands into your slacks. “I’m not entirely fond of profiting from war.”

“Would you call our fight against kaiju a war?”

“...You’re testing me.” You click your tongue. “Please, Dr. Onda.”

“You used to call me ‘Uncle’, when you played with Akiko.”

The room grows a little colder.

“Have you seen Hayao lately?” He changes topic, turning away from you.

“Can’t say I have, but I’ve seen him a couple of times since the incident,” you admit.

He gives a hum of acknowledgement.

“His knee is getting better, not that you asked,” you inform him, stepping forward to stand by his side. You look ahead as you speak. “I think…I think Kenji is taking care of him? Not sure, I didn’t get to confirm, but Emiko…before she disappeared…she told me that he flew all the way here just to take care of the Professor. It took a bit but I think they’re finally talking.”

It’s quiet again, for a moment. “And…Ultraman?”

“I…I don’t know who it is now, I’m sorry,” you don’t know why you are apologizing.

Dr. Onda merely sighs.

You turn to face him properly. “He doesn’t blame you, you know. For his knee.”

“I never asked for his forgiveness.” His face is steel, not betraying a hint of emotion. You see your worried face in the reflection of his shades. “Nor do I feel any sort of guilt.”

“You didn’t know he was Ultraman—”

“And even if I did, I still would have ordered the shot.”

You suck in a breath through your teeth.

“And I don’t make it a habit to shoot at superheroes. Ultraman was interfering with an official KDF extraction. It was necessary.” He remains stone-faced.

“You let him go.”

He walks away from you to another side of the room as he dismissively waves you off. “A mistake.”

“Admit it. You saw his crumpled body on the ground and you just let him go.” You follow, hot on his heels.

You nearly ram into him when he briskly stops in his tracks to turn to you. “I saw the crumpled body of my daughter’s killer and decided I wouldn’t stoop down to his level.”

“He is only one man.” You run a hand through your hair.

“Ultraman is not my enemy, but if he proves to be a nuisance that hinders us from achieving some peace in our shores, then I am not against making him one,” he booms. The conviction of his words might have shaken you, but you notice his shoulders sag slightly, defeated.

You cross your arms, tucking them close to your torso. “That’s…that’s one thing I agree on.”

“...Thank you.” You can tell he means it.

“The new Ultraman…he still needs to grow on me,” you divulge. “He kind of acts like some young hotshot. Seems pretty immature.”

“It’ll be easy to track him down then. But Hayao…he must have taught his new protégé all he knows about how to hide himself.”

“Doctor, you know that I am dedicated to help the KDF in anyway I can,” you affirm.

He raises an eyebrow at you. “Even if it means going against your tutor?”

“I think we and Ultraman have the same goal,” you answer. “We all want to be able to keep the people of this city safe. I don’t know how useful I can be to Ultraman’s cause but I know that I can affect real change here in the KDF. Like how Emiko used to.”

He’s a bit unsatisfied with your reply, but his lips almost twitch into a smile at your, as he calls it, misguided idealism. “You should also go by Doctor, then.”

You wince at the title.

“I’ll pass.” Even if you did recently graduate, it feels like a brag. It does not help that most of the internet thinks you’re lying when you discuss your educational background.

“Receiving a doctorate at 26 is no easy feat. You deserve to be acknowledged for it,” he coolly praises you. The flattery is getting to you a bit, but you still avoid letting it seep in.

“Doesn’t seem to matter much to others,” you dismiss his words. “I’ve tried so hard to distance myself from my old image. I deleted all my social media. I have placed full attention into preparing myself for what I’m about to inherit and I’m still…It still isn’t enough.”

Dr. Onda pushes his shoulders back. “The media play against you has been rampant since you were younger. It is hard to push back against such schemes.”

At eighteen, you formally entered society.

At eighteen, you had the world at your fingertips.

At eighteen, your father officially named you as his successor. He did not have much of a choice, given that you were his only one.

At eighteen, you made enemies who to this day are intent that you stay far away from the title Chief Executive Officer.

“My dad’s officially retiring within the month.”

“I’ve received the invitation to your welcoming gala,” he states. “Congratulations. While I’m not fond of public outings, since your father personally requested my appearance, I cannot say no.”

“I need a win.” Your arms fall to your sides, hands balling into fists. “I refuse to be driven out of the company my family built.”

His shades reflect a small flash of light. “Is this the purpose of our chat?”

“Project Surrogate. I need this to work. If the KDF can get stronger public approval I can solidify my position.”

“I can’t guarantee anything,” he warns you. “And I’m not doing this to satisfy anyone’s greed for power. This is for the people.”

“Because of the kaiju, I got separated from my best friend.” You place a hand over your heart. “And he grew up without a father. Believe me. My ambitions are here but I am fully committed to making this work.”

His hands clasp behind his back. “All I ask is for trust— an understanding, that I am using your investments for the greater good.”

You grin. “Where do I sign?”

A/N: hello … I’m not dead :D

And yes you are pro-KDF for now :D I think Dr. Onda is such a cool and well-written antagonist. DYK in early Ultraman he actually does just straight up kill the kaiju. From a utilitarian standpoint, kaiju are an invasive species. They’re not inherently bad but they don’t belong in the environment they are in. (I watch a lot of those lion fish exterminator tiktoks…)

If you saw on my Tumblr I posted a WIP snippet of what was supposed to go into this chapter, but ultimately I decided that maybe having a portion that focused solely on adding more context to who the reader is would help push the story forward. You go by a lot of different names around these parts! But next chapter would have too much Ken to make up for his absence here! The WIP I posted will be moved to ch10 as well :>

Since I’ve already finished a portion of the next chapter and it’s ready to publish in no time, as it’s a direct continuation from chapter 8’s flashback, here’s a snippet of its introduction so you know what’s in store!

——-

You hear a rapid knocking on the door.

You don’t register it at first, your head pounding from waking up too early. The only thing you can sense is Ken’s warm back against your bare chest, your hands around his waist. You press your face against the back of his neck, groaning at the hour. “Kenji, S’noisy.”

You feel his body shift, and he shrugs you off. “Y’face too cold…”

You just bite his shoulder and tug him closer. He lets you.

Soon, the knocking stops, but Kenji’s phone rings from the bedside table. Groaning, he blindly reaches for it to take the call, and you whine when he shifts in your hold. You realize that you won’t be able to get any sleep, so your eye cracks open to check the clock.

2:17 AM.

Now who—

“Kenji? Kenji are you awake? I’m outside your door. Please let me in.”

You both bolt up when you hear Emiko Sato’s voice from the phone. You slap his back to get him moving. “The sofa,” you hiss, lowering your voice.

Both of you struggle to keep quiet as you rush to find your clothes. Ken quickly pulls out the sofabed, and tosses rumpled blankets onto it to give an illusion that he’s been there the entire time. You find the bra he tossed away earlier on top of a nearby lamp. He grabs an air freshener can to spray lightly across the room— not too much for it to be obvious.

Ken opens the door just after you dive back into the covers, pretending to be asleep.

---

lmk if u want to be on the taglist for future chapters ty!

[bill-augatesm]

Hoo boye, you’re one of those. But sure, I’ll entertain. This is also good for an Apple thread cause I’ve been wanting to make a little quote timeline for a while now, incoming…

First off, Sculley did NOT fire Steve Jobs, steve was demoted “Gassée would take over control of Job’s beloved Macintosh(…)He told Jobs that he could stay on with the title of board Chairman and be a product visionary with no operational duties.” -PAGE 190 STEVE JOBS/WALTER ISAACSON

And he later resigned cause it was a dead-end role :”Once again, national magazines like Newsweek would put him on the cover. Steve would resign. And Apple would sue him.” -becoming Steve Jobs. While, cruel, the situation could’ve been resolved better, but you need to know how irrational Steve was, it was costing the Team, it was costing the company, and it was costing himself, it took a second demotion after he was trying to sabotage Sculley before he even get there: “After a few weeks, Steve decided that he wouldn’t accept the demotion. Instead, he tried to get Sculley fired.(…)a nonexecutive role as chairman, with no one reporting to him. It was Steve’s second demotion” -Becoming Steve Jobs

I said Steve was spewing money on the Mac, I was not saying that was THE reason. But, it was part of it, Steve was hard to control, he had a mindset of “doing whatever the hell he wants” — “The board of directors, (…) was beginning to see that neither its CEO nor the head of its most important product division had a clear plan forward. As the pressure grew on Steve and Sculley, the two spent less time together, less time finishing each other’s sentences and singing each other’s praises. And that spelled trouble for Steve.” — Becoming Steve Jobs. He didn’t have a plan, he was in the “reality distortion field” so to say, and Sculley couldn’t enable it any longer. Now on with Steve’s irrationality with Money:

”You can't have it both ways. Without the money, there is no advertising and no event."

"We've got to have an event," Steve insisted.

"Then, it's going to cost S2,495."

Or how about “When word got out that we had spent nearly 1.6 million on a single sixty-second commercial, irate share-holders began firing off letters. They asked what right I had to take the company's money and plow it into something that no one at Apple had any experience with.” - Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple.

Also no, no one here genuinely thinks John Sculley or Bill Gates or, whatever the fuck, Al Gore made out with Steven P. Jobs, live a little. You’re being more parasocial than you should — also the “woman” you mentioned is Tina Turner, if you claim to be that huge of a fan and really stooping there, I’ll bite.

Listen, I understand the Culture shock, with Internet anonymity and shipping and slash culture, it’s hard to toe the line, on where someone is being delusional and fucking around. But I assure you, I respect Steve Jobs on a humanity level, I respect his characteristic and I value studying about him and Bill Gates, I’m inspired by their techs and innovation, their personalities that clashes and Collides. In fact, I know someone/are friends with someone who has met and work with Steve/ had lunch with him, Steve’s an incredible, deeply flawed man. But seriousness aside, just enjoy the Aspen shipping <3

— ODYSSEY PEPSI TO APPLE

[estavionpira]

Handsome Jack Slash, CEO of Slaughterhouse and chairman of its 9-man board of directors, is here to recruit driven, creative, and motivated individuals to fill a missing slot on the team. That means you, Undersiders!