The person who orchestrated and planned the Furuta case was...

Chapter 256 The person who orchestrated and planned the Furuta case was...

Yusuke Takagi hesitated for a moment.

Managing Director Nakajima is the big boss of his faction.

If Managing Director Nakajima values ​​Kiryu Yaya highly, then he needs to be extra careful in his treatment of this newcomer.

"right."

Takafumi Todo's voice regained its composure: "I didn't hear the specifics of their conversation myself. But according to the staff member on duty on the fifth floor at the time, the two talked for nearly half an hour."

Yusuke Takagi remained silent, and Takafumi Todo added, "Deputy Director Takagi should know Managing Director Nakajima better than I do. He always does things methodically and wouldn't meet with a branch office newcomer without a reason."

"Therefore, Kiryu Yaya's background may be much more complicated than we have seen."

Yusuke Takagi finally spoke, his tone regaining its previous composure: "I understand, thank you for your hard work, Toudou."

"It's no trouble at all. Once Vice Minister Takagi takes office, please feel free to ask if there's anything you need to assist with."

1"

The phone hangs up.

Yusuke Takagi put the receiver back on the landline, picked up the glass of whiskey that had gone completely cold, tilted his head back and drank it all, then leaned back on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Kouyuki Hiko's reminder, Todo Takafumi's description, and Nakajima Konosuke's private audience.

The combination of these three things made the outline of the newcomer named Kiryu Yaya become increasingly clear in his mind.

This newcomer is quite something.

Friday morning.

The office area was filled with an atmosphere different from usual.

Kenta Sasaki had just returned from delivering documents to the General Affairs Department. He put a stack of papers on the table, looked around, and said in a low voice, "I heard from the General Affairs Department that Branch Manager Matsumoto is holding a farewell party this afternoon and won't be coming next Monday."

0

Arima Kishou didn't even look up, and said indifferently, "You're only finding out now? The news spread last week that Vice Minister Takagi was taking over. Everyone in the branch office was talking about it."

Kenta Sasaki dragged a chair over and sat down: "That's true, but when the day actually comes, it feels a little different."

"Everyone knows the personality of the Matsumoto branch manager, but does anyone know what the new branch manager's personality is like?"

Arima Kishou finally put down his pen, pushed up his glasses, and said, "What kind of personality the branch manager has is none of our business. Just do your job."

Hearing their conversation, Yuka Nakamura, who was sitting not far away, put down the documents in her hand, turned her head, and whispered to Misaki Yamaguchi next to her, "The branch manager of Matsumoto has been transferred back to the main store. In name, he has been promoted to deputy director of the general affairs department, but I heard that this transfer is actually a demotion in disguise."

Misaki Yamaguchi became interested and asked in a low voice, "Really? Because of Minister Furuta's case?"

Yuka Nakamura nodded: "That must be the reason. Weren't Minister Kouyuta all over the headlines the past few days?"

Seat by the window, Wakako Kishiwagi held a teacup, her gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of several young employees before turning to Chihaya Yuri beside her: "Did you hear what they were saying?"

Chihaya Yuri, who was looking down at a post-loan tracking form, didn't even look up: "I heard you."

Kishima Wakako took a sip of tea: "With the departure of Branch Manager Matsumoto, the atmosphere inside the branch will definitely change, especially given the rapid changes in policy in the past two years. I wonder what Vice Minister Takagi's preferences are."

Chihaya Yuri's pen paused on the paper for a moment, but she didn't look up: "No matter who becomes the branch manager, the work of the financing review department will not change."

Kishigami Wakako looked at her for two seconds and chuckled softly: "That's what they say, but the work processes and methods are quite different from before. Some store managers focus on processes, some on formalities, and some on results—"

Chihaya Yuri resumed writing: "Panic is useless; it's better to do the task at hand well."

Wakako shook her head and didn't say anything more, but simply picked up her teacup and took another sip.

Friday evening.

The large conference room on the fifth floor of the Osaka branch had its tables and chairs moved aside, and was decorated to resemble a farewell party scene.

At 4:30 p.m., the general affairs department brought in several boxes of bottled tea and simple paper cups. They spread a dark gray tablecloth on the long table by the window and placed several plates of wagashi (Japanese sweets) bought from a convenience store.

There wasn't any formal setup; it was just a small farewell ceremony.

Takahiro Matsumoto stood at one end of the long table, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

He was also filled with emotion, feeling as if the day he first came to the Osaka branch was just yesterday.

Time flies.

"Yes, it's too fast."

Kiyomasa Ogaki walked slowly over and stood beside him, saying, "Now that you're leaving, my time will be coming soon too."

Matsumoto Takahiro laughed: "I'm just being transferred, and you're just retiring. You're making it sound like you're about to die."

Kiyomasa Ogaki smiled slightly: "A man without power is no different from someone who is dead."

Matsumoto Takahiro looked at him and nodded in agreement: "That's true, but sometimes you can't be too fixated on these things, or you'll be misled by them."

change."

Kiyomasa Ogaki hummed in agreement and asked, "How does it feel to have four years of hard work go up in smoke?"

Matsumoto Takahiro took a sip of his tea and looked out the window at the sunset: "Just like it."

Given his qualifications, if he were to be promoted to head office manager, he would have had a chance to become a board member before retiring.

However, due to the impact of the Kouyuda case, his professional resume has been tainted.

Moreover, given the timeframe, it's practically impossible for him to become a board member.

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Matsumoto Takahiro turned to look at Ogaki Kiyomasa, narrowed his eyes, and asked seriously, "Ogaki, do you know anything about Furuta?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki paused slightly.

"Branch manager, which aspect are you referring to?"

Matsumoto Takahiro didn't mince words: "At last week's meeting, you proactively suggested cutting ties with Koudahiko, which isn't like you at all—Minister Ogaki?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki chuckled softly and said, "As expected of the branch manager, it's not that I'm hiding anything, but even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

Matsumoto Takahiro responded with an "Oh," and looked at Ogaki Kiyomasa: "Chief Ogaki, how do you know if I believe you or not if you don't tell me?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki slowly said, "If I told you that the person who orchestrated and planned the Furuta case was Kiryu Yaya from our branch, would the branch manager believe me?"

Matsumoto Takahiro didn't say anything, just stared at him for a long time, and then the two of them burst out laughing.

Matsumoto Takahiro pointed at him and said, "Minister Ogaki, I'm about to leave and you still won't tell me the truth."

With that, he waved his hand and said, "Never mind, I'll just accept my bad luck."

Kiyomasa shrugged and said helplessly, "See? I told you, you wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

Matsumoto Takahiro chuckled: "Why don't you put the blame on Todo? I might believe you a little more then."

After saying that, he turned around and said, "Alright, Minister Ogaki, that's all for now. I need to go and prepare my speech for later."

"Take care, branch manager."

Kiyomasa Ogaki bowed slightly, but couldn't help feeling a little helpless.

Matsumoto, oh Matsumoto.

I'm telling the truth. The guy who ruined your path to advancement is none other than the newcomer Kiryu Yaya, whom you always trusted.

I wonder what you'll think when you finally see things clearly years from now.

4:50 p.m.

People gradually entered the venue.

Kiryu Yaya followed the members of the Financing Review Division into the farewell party.

A banner hung on the wall of the venue, which read: "Farewell Party for Matsumoto Branch Manager. Farewell parties in Japan are very interesting, with unique customs and traditions in everything from the process to the details."

When Kiryu Yaya and the other staff members entered, the department head and section chiefs were already seated.

Next came the department heads and directors, and other mid-level staff, such as Wakako Kishigami and Yuri Chihaya.

Although Kiryu Yaya had the title of acting temporary supervisor, he was essentially a regular employee, so he sat with Sasaki and Arima in the fifth row on the side.

Yuka Nakamura and Misaki Yamaguchi were sitting further forward, talking in hushed tones.

At 5:00 sharp, the meeting room door was pushed open.

Takahiro Matsumoto walked in.

He wasn't wearing a suit today, just a dark gray shirt and no tie.

This was an outfit he had almost never worn in his four years at the Osaka branch.

It was as if he had finally taken off the mask of a branch manager, revealing himself as an ordinary person about to leave.

Everyone in the conference room stood up.

Matsumoto Takahiro raised his hand to gesture for everyone to sit down, and then walked to the empty seat in front of the long table and stood there.

Thank you all for coming to see me off today.

"Four years is neither a long nor a short time."

"When I first came to Osaka, it was the spring of the first year of the Heisei era."

"Back then, land prices along Midosuji were breaking records every month, and clients on the phone were always asking if we could get a little more approval."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the long table: "Looking back now, the Osaka branch went through a lot during those four years."

"There are good ones and not so good ones."

"But no matter what, it has been an honor to have gone through this period with you all."

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "I know this transfer came somewhat suddenly. There are probably many speculations and discussions among you all. I don't intend to offer any explanation."

"In banks, personnel changes are never just personal matters; often, the head office has more important arrangements to make."

He smiled slightly, a hint of relief in his smile: "I can only say that I have done my best in the past four years to do what I was supposed to do. I have also not shirked any of the responsibilities I was supposed to bear."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Then Matsumoto Takahiro turned his gaze from the long table to the back row and said, "Before I leave, there is one more thing I would like to mention."

His gaze moved through the crowd, finally settling on a seat on the edge of the fifth row.

"Kiryu-kun."

Kiryu Yaya was slightly taken aback, then stood up.

All eyes followed Matsumoto Takahiro's gaze and fell on him.

"Come sit in the front."

His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire venue for a moment.

Kiryu Yaya did not refuse.

He squeezed through the gaps between the seats, walked to the long table, and stood at the spot indicated by Matsumoto Takahiro.

Matsumoto Takahiro looked at him and then said, "Kiryu-kun, you haven't been with the company for very long."

Today is the seventy-third day.

"But in these seventy-three days, you have been involved in several cases that could significantly impact the branch's performance evaluation and reputation."

"Fuji Metals' 30 million yen loan fraud, Shiraishi Refrigeration's 500 million yen control financing, Miyazawa Group's 8 billion yen debt risk, Higashi-Osaka Seiko's 800 million yen bad debt recovery —"

"You made outstanding contributions to every single one of them."

"As a branch manager, I've met many young people. Some are smart, some are hardworking, and some are lucky—"

"But I've never met anyone as down-to-earth and hardworking as you before."

At this point, Matsumoto Takahiro turned around and picked up a thick book from the long table behind him: "This book was a gift from my section chief. It's called 'The Banker's Responsibility,' a first edition published in 1950, and it's out of print now."

He glanced down at the book's cover, as if looking at an old object that carried many memories: "It contains many golden quotes that have given me the courage to move forward. Over the years, when I've encountered things I'm unsure about, flipping through this book has always given me some direction."

He handed the book to Kiryu Yaya, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment: "Kiryu-kun, you understood this sentence much earlier than many who have worked for ten years."

"So I'd like to give you this book."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

The branch manager gave a parting gift, but the recipient was a newcomer.

What an honor this is!

Kenta Sasaki held his breath upon seeing this.

At this moment, he desperately wished it were him standing in front of the branch manager; if only he could switch places with Kiryu Yaya right now.

He would be willing to give up ten years of his life.

Kiryu Yaya stood before Matsumoto Takahiro, his gaze fixed on the dark blue book. The spine was worn, and the corners were curled, clearly indicating it had been read countless times.

He accepted the book with both hands and bowed slightly: "Branch manager, this is too valuable."

Takahiro Matsumoto waved his hand: "The value of a book lies not in its paper and binding, but in the person who opens it. This book has fulfilled its purpose by sitting on my bookshelf. Now, it's your turn to read it."

Kiryu Yaya did not refuse again, put the book in his hands, and bowed again: "I will definitely read it carefully."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment before turning to the crowd: "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. The rest of the time is up to you all. I haven't finished my tea yet, so please feel free to help yourselves."

The atmosphere in the meeting room then became lively again.

Some people carried teacups toward Matsumoto Takahiro, while others chatted quietly in small groups.

Kiryu Yaya sat back down in his seat and glanced down at the book in his hand.

The gold lettering on the cover has faded somewhat, but the title is still legible.

The Banker's Responsibility.

He opened the title page, where a line of handwritten ink, now oxidized to a dark brown, read: "Spring of Showa 40 (1941), presented to Mr. Matsumoto Takahiro – Nakano Ryo."

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