Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 133 and the Optoelectronics Industry [Fourth Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The next morning.

The ginkgo trees on Midosuji looked exceptionally green in the morning light, and the wind blowing from the south at the end of May carried a touch of damp warmth.

Kiryu Yaya rode his Honda SuperCub50 all the way from Esaka to the Osaka branch of Mitsubishi Bank.

He parked his motorcycle in the underground parking lot, took off his helmet and hung it on the handlebars, and walked into the staff entrance with his briefcase.

The lobby on the first floor was already bustling with activity.

Kiryu Yaya went up to the third floor and just as he turned into the corridor, he saw a familiar figure walking towards him from the opposite side.

He wore a dark gray suit, had gray hair, and walked at a leisurely pace.

Ogaki Kiyomasa.

Kiryu Yaya did not stop walking, nor did his expression change.

He slightly turned to the side, making way for the right side of the corridor, then bowed his head and showed impeccable manners.

"Good morning, Minister."

Kiyomasa Ogaki's gaze fell on him and paused for a moment.

Those eyes were still cloudy yet gentle, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, like an old man who had been basking in the winter sun for a long time, without the slightest hint of aggression.

"Good morning, Kiryu-kun."

His voice was slow and deliberate, no different from usual.

Kiryu Yaya straightened up, took a slight step to the side, and let Ogaki Kiyomasa go first.

Kiyomasa Ogaki nodded and walked past him.

The sound of leather shoes stepping on the corridor floor gradually faded away, unhurried and unhurried.

Kiryu Yaya stood there, watching the figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, then turned his gaze away and walked towards the Financing Review Division.

Finance Department Director's Office.

The door closed gently behind me.

Kiyomasa Ogaki walked behind his desk, sat down, put his briefcase aside, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

He remained in that position, motionless, for almost a full minute.

-

Then he opened his eyes, picked up the intercom on the table, and dialed a number.

"Section Chief Yamada, it's me. Are you free now? Come to my office."

The person on the other end of the phone responded.

Kiyoshi Ogaki put the receiver back, placed his hands on the table, and stared at the closed door, his expression calm to the point of serenity.

Two minutes later, there were two knocks on the door.

Kiyomasa Ogaki called out, "Please come in."

Masakazu Yamada pushed open the door and entered.

Kiyomasa Ogaki looked up, smiled at Masakazu Yamada, and gestured for the chair opposite him.

"Please sit down."

Masakazu Yamada sat down opposite him, placed his notebook on his lap, and did not open it immediately.

"Minister, you wanted to see me?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki did not answer immediately, but instead picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

Then, he slowly began to speak.

"Section Chief Yamada, what's your take on what happened at yesterday's mid-level management meeting?"

Masakazu Yamada's fingers paused slightly.

He hadn't expected Kiyomasa Ogaki to bring up the topic so directly.

"The minister refers to—"

"The things Section Chief Iwakura and Section Chief Miki said to Kiryu-kun."

Kiyomasa Ogaki put down his teacup, placed his hands on the table, and looked at Masakazu Yamada.

I'd like to hear your opinion.

Masakazu Yamada remained silent for two seconds.

He was carefully choosing his words.

Kiyosuke Ogaki is the head of the financing department, his superior, and also Tsuyoshi Iwakura's direct superior.

If you ask for his opinion at this point, his attitude could be either left-leaning or right-leaning.

Masakazu Yamada looked up and met Kiyomasa Ogaki's gaze.

"Section Chief Iwakura and Section Chief Miki's concerns are to some extent valid. I do not deny that banks do need procedures and regulations."

He paused.

"But it is also a fact that every case Kiryu has handled since joining the company has made a substantial contribution to the security of the bank's claims."

After listening, Kiyomasa Ogaki neither nodded nor shook his head.

He simply looked at Masakazu Yamada quietly, as if digesting his words or waiting for him to finish.

Masakazu Yamada continued, "As the head of the financing review department, my attitude is: Kiryu-kun's abilities are commendable, but we will pay more attention to procedures in the future. We will follow all the required procedures without missing a single step and report on matters that need to be reported in a timely manner."

"This way, we can make the most of his strengths and avoid giving people the impression that he is unruly."

Kiyomasa Ogaki finally nodded slightly.

"Yes. Section Chief Yamada's attitude is very good."

He reached for the teacup on the table, took another sip, put it down, and continued, "I do not agree with what Section Chief Iwakura and Section Chief Miki said at yesterday's meeting."

Kiyomasa Ogaki spoke slowly, as if carefully choosing each word: "Kiryu-kun certainly rushed ahead too quickly, showing too much of his talent. But then again, what banks need most right now is capable people, isn't it?"

Masakazu Yamada remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"In the Higashi-Osaka Seiko case, if he hadn't found that lead, we still wouldn't have been able to close the 800 million yen hole."

Kiyomasa Ogaki paused for a moment: "To be honest, in all my years in the banking industry, I've rarely seen a newcomer like him."

These words, coming from Kiyomasa Ogaki, carry considerable weight.

Masakazu Yamada's expression relaxed slightly.

"So I want one."

Kiyoshi Ogaki looked at him earnestly and said, "Instead of letting Section Chief Miki and his ilk continue to gossip, why not give Kiryu-kun a chance to prove himself?"

""

Masakazu Yamada's brow twitched slightly: "What does the minister mean?"

"I have a case recently that I've been hesitating about who to assign it to."

Kiyomasa Ogaki picked up a folder from the table, opened it, and pushed it in front of Masakazu Yamada: "Wako Electronics Industry Co., Ltd., Sakai City. They do precision machining of electronic components, have stable orders, their customers are concentrated in a few large factories in the Kansai region, and their cash flow has always been good."

"This application for a 200 million yen equipment upgrade loan is not a large case, but it's not small either."

Masakazu Yamada looked down.

Heguang Electronics Industry.

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen it before.

"This case was ready to be approved, but I always felt that something was not right, so I kept it on hold."

Kiyomasa Ogaki's expression turned serious: "Kiryu-kun's performance in dealing with Section Chief Iwakura at the meeting yesterday made me think that he might be the most suitable person to investigate this case. As a newcomer, he doesn't have many preconceived notions and is more likely to spot problems."

Masakazu Yamada looked up at Kiyomasa Ogaki.

"Does the minister want Kiryu-kun to preside over this case?"

"right."

Kiyomasa Ogaki nodded: "And I want him to be in charge independently. I want him to truly review it from beginning to end. The audit report will be submitted directly to me, and I will personally oversee it."

He paused, a deeper meaning creeping into his voice: "If he can get this case off the hook, then anyone who says he's not following the rules or is too high-profile will be the first to speak up for him."

Masakazu Yamada remained silent for a few seconds, a vague feeling that something was amiss.