Of more immediate concern was the trouble brewing within Fuchi. The Japanese families still simmered over the increased power Villiers had gained. Lanier’s return to the fold did nothing to improve the Japanese faction’s opinion of Villiers. Accusations of grand-standing covert operations concealed from the shareholders were flying fast and furious. The only thing keeping the Yamanas and the Nakatomis from trying to have Villiers removed outright was Lanier’s success in putting the brakes on Renraku. As far as everyone else was concerned, Villiers and Lanier were heroes who’d pulled off a masterful scam against Renraku and got away with it.