Tokyo Barrister: Start the law firm bankruptcy

Chapter 828 The storm rises again

Kitahara didn't expect to see clues related to Nippon Steel in Niwa. According to Eriko, the next action plan of the extremist organization is the bankruptcy of Nippon Steel. Although their purpose is not clear, they undoubtedly want to make a big move.

The bomb attack in Eriko happened just a few days ago.

Could it be that Niwa's network disk was only recently cracked because the organization happened to be taking action during this period?

It's possible.

Niwa turned around and asked the lawyer next to him, "What's wrong? Is there anything unusual about the relationship between Nippon Steel and Kyoto University's research and development company? I've read this document before, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong."

"Click it and let me take a look."

Niwa tapped the touch area of ​​his laptop.

Then, the document opened.

The above is the strategic plan of Sinosteel and Kyoto University's industrial research enterprise.

All I saw was that the proposed project was a research and development project on alloy materials.

Alloys used to enhance the strength of building structures in response to extreme weather or disasters.

The plan lists in detail the R&D personnel of Nippon Steel, the researchers of scientific research institutions, the R&D schedule, the planned investment in human and material resources, experimental sites, experimental partner companies, etc.

It looks very neat and beautiful.

It is a rigorous plan.

Niwa had seen it before and didn't think there was anything wrong. Especially for a super-large enterprise like Nippon Steel. Niwa thought that the problems of industrial and research enterprises should be concentrated on those unknown enterprises. It is precisely those enterprises that appeared out of nowhere that are most likely to abuse the research funds of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and universities.

As for a large enterprise like Nippon Steel, it is hard to imagine that it would be involved in the corruption of scientific research funds.

"You think there's something wrong?" Niwa said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with this project. Especially since the research funding is provided by the company. This is a project that the company pays for itself and does not receive any funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology or other public research funds. I don't see anything unusual."

Kitahara raised his hand and pointed at the screen.

“Look at this place.”

But where Beiyuan pointed was a line of words that read:

"Total project budget: 2 billion yen for research and development."

"Let me ask you," Kitahara said, "Hasn't Nippon Steel been in financial trouble in recent years? Why would such a company spend 2 billion yen to research so-called new alloy materials? Isn't this too abnormal?"

Kitahara's words flashed through Niwa's mind like a bolt of lightning.

The veil covering the material that was originally normal was suddenly lifted.

The tricks were revealed.

Just one simple sentence revealed the major anomaly of this project.

Yes! Niwa just woke up from his dream at this time! He actually forgot about this matter! ! When he investigated the production and research enterprises before, he fell into a fixed mindset. That is, he assumed that the production and research enterprises were all here to get subsidies. However, he did not think about whether these projects could be used to get the company's own funds.

That is, in the name of R&D investment, the investment funds of enterprises are taken out. These funds can not only flow into the pockets of certain people.

Moreover, the huge R&D expenses can be used as tax deductions, greatly reducing the company's tax burden.

This is really a two-birds-with-one-stone thing!!

Niwa couldn't help but look back at the lawyer next to him. Although Niwa was young, he was definitely an excellent talent in the field of investigative journalism. Niwa didn't expect Kitahara to have such a sharp vision and could immediately find something wrong with the materials in front of him.

You know, I have been tracking down production and research companies for nearly half a year.

It can be said that I know everything about it by heart.

But even so, Kitahara just stood by, watching himself scrolling the file window, and quickly found something unusual in the titles of a pile of documents.

Niwa looked at the lawyer next to him. He looked to be about 25 or 26 years old. He was about the same age as Niwa. However, Niwa had devoted himself to investigation work since college. It could be said that Niwa had been involved in major and complex cases much earlier than his peers. For some reason, Kitahara looked so experienced.

"Do you know about Nippon Steel?" Kitahara asked suddenly.

"There was a work-related accident at Nippon Steel before. It was big news at the time, and I was involved in it," Niwa said. "That was when I started to learn about Nippon Steel. I had the impression that this large company was struggling and was unable to cope with the fierce competition at home and abroad."

"This 2 billion yen R&D expenditure is extremely abnormal," Kitahara said, "but it still happened. We heard that Nippon Steel seemed to be on the verge of bankruptcy, and even the cabinet held several special meetings to urgently discuss rescuing it. The company was in such a desperate situation, but it was still generous enough to pay 2 billion yen."

"Tell me, is there such a possibility?" Kitahara looked at Niwa and said, "Use your intuition as a reporter. In addition to these 2 billion, are there other 2 billion? A 2 billion here, a 2 billion there, if they keep adding up——"

Niwa listened to Kitahara's words, and his inner surprise continued to grow. "Mr. Kitahara, you mean to say..."

Kitahara's voice sounded:

"Nippon Steel is a company that has been hollowed out by termites."

“Maybe that’s why it’s facing bankruptcy.”

Niwa was speechless after hearing the lawyer's bold guess. This lawyer Kitahara was really bold. Yes, it was like this since the first time I met him. A lawyer turned an ordinary traffic accident case into a class action lawsuit against the highway company. And now it is the same. This lawyer actually questioned the real reason for Nippon Steel's bankruptcy.

You know, Nippon Steel is a symbol of Japan's past economic boom.

If such a company with a great history was emptied by someone inside and outside, what a shocking effect it would have. It would be a case of the century! !

Niwa couldn't help but stare at the strategic plan in front of him.

A huge sum of 2 billion yen was spent just like that.

Just like splashing water, I don't feel sorry for the money at all.

Behind this attitude, there is indeed only what this lawyer Kitahara said -

This money went into someone's pocket -

That is, those who are in charge of Nippon Steel.

That's why they don't mind spending money.

This national-level enterprise - maybe it really was hollowed out by termites!

(End of this chapter)