Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 141 Your Time Is Running Out [Second Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Masahiro Kazumitsu's forehead was pressed against the tile, and his shoulders were shaking incessantly.

Kiryu Yaya looked down at him without saying a word.

After about half a minute, he slowly opened his mouth.

"President Kazumitsu, bowing won't solve the problem."

"Kajiwara Shozo also knelt before me. After he knelt, he confessed what he needed to confess and signed what he needed to sign."

Masataka Kazumitsu's body stiffened for a moment.

Kiryu Yaya stated the facts.

"A Swiss account, investments in the Cayman Islands, real estate held in someone else's name, points from the Toseikai (Eastern Association) – this is the first asset concealment scheme designed for you by Kiyomasa Ogaki."

"Since I can name these things, it proves that I have mastered them all."

"7

Masataka Kazumitsu slowly raised his head, his face completely devoid of color.

He looked at Kiryu Yaya, his eyes filled with fear and despair, and a faint plea as if trying to grasp at the last straw.

"Kiryu-san—please save me, no matter what. I'm willing to do whatever you ask."

His voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

Kiryu Yaya did not answer immediately.

He stood up, walked to the window, put his hands in his pockets, and looked at the gray sky outside.

The industrial area of ​​Sakai City was unusually quiet in the afternoon, with wisps of white smoke rising from distant chimneys, which were dispersed by the wind and then gathered again.

"I want you to do something for me."

Masataka Kazumitsu's Adam's apple bobbed.

"What is it?"

"Hand over the evidence of the deal between you and Kiyomasa Ogaki."

Kiryu Yaya turned around and looked at him.

"This is your only way out."

After those words were spoken, the office remained silent for a full five seconds.

Kazumitsu Masataka knelt on the ground, looking up at the young man's back by the window, his eyes surging with intense emotion.

"You—you want to bring down Minister Ogaki?"

"It's not that I want to bring him down."

Kiryu Yaya turned around, looked at Kazumitsu Masataka, and smiled slightly.

"He asked for it."

Kazumitsu Masataka's lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Kiryu Yaya's next words cut him off.

"And do you really think that Kiyomasa Ogaki was helping you by designing this plan?"

Kiryu Yaya walked back to the sofa area and sat down on the chair opposite Kazutaka Mitsumitsu.

He helped you launder the company's money out of the country, turning it into your overseas assets, and then retrieved it under the guise of "the president's loan." On the surface, you seem to have gotten a good deal, but in reality—

""

His voice was lowered slightly.

"The 150 million yen short-term loan you owe to 8 Assets could become the last straw that breaks your back at any time."

Masataka Kazumitsu's pupils suddenly contracted.

This young man in front of me actually knows this?

"Yasuji is a company owned by Kiyomasa Ogaki's wife. The money you owe Yasuji is the same as the money you owe Kiyomasa Ogaki. If he's ever unhappy, he can use Yasuji to force you to repay the debt at any time."

Kiryu Yaya's tone was unhurried.

"When that time comes, will you repay it, or not?"

The last trace of color drained from Masataka Kazumitsu's face.

"So now you only have two choices."

Kiryu Yaya held up two fingers.

"First, continue to cover for Kiyomasa Ogaki and take all the blame yourself. When your loan application is rejected, the National Tax Service comes knocking, your company's cash flow breaks down, and it goes bankrupt and is liquidated."

"Then, Kiyomasa Ōgaki made a fortune by acquiring your collateral at a low price through Eight Assets. And you..."

He looked into Masataka Kazumitsu's eyes and said, word by word.

"Disgraced and left with nothing."

Masataka Kazumitsu's breathing became rapid.

"Second, hand over the evidence of the transactions between you and Kiyomasa Ogaki. The bank will initiate an accountability process against him, and your case will be reviewed again."

Kiryu Yaya paused for a moment after saying this.

"At least, you still have a chance to save the company."

Masataka Kazumitsu stared at him for a long time, with a final trace of hesitation still in his eyes.

"Kiryu-san————"

He finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"If I hand it over—would Ōgaki Kiyomasa—?"

"Will he retaliate against you?"

Kiryu Yaya finished the second half of his sentence for him.

Masataka Kazumitsu nodded with difficulty.

Kiryu Yaya was silent for two seconds, then chuckled softly.

"President Kazumitsu, do you think Kiyomasa Ogaki still has a chance to get revenge on you?"

Masataka Kazumitsu was stunned.

Kiryu Yaya leaned back in his chair.

"Kiyomasa Ogaki is 59 years old this year and will retire in less than a year. He has worked at the bank for nearly 40 years and has handled countless cases. If he is found to have abused his position to accept bribes, improperly approved loans, or disposed of bank collateral at a low price through a relative's company..."

He paused.

"It's not just that his retirement pension is gone."

Masataka Kazumitsu's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

"Article 247 of the Criminal Code, the crime of breach of duty. A person entrusted to handle the affairs of another person, who, for his own benefit or the benefit of a third party, violates his or her duties and causes property damage to the person who entrusted him or her, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than 500,000 yen."

Kiryu Yaya's tone was unusually calm.

"Kiyomasa Ogaki, as the head of the bank's finance department, abused his power to dispose of non-performing assets at low prices to companies controlled by his relatives, which is a typical example of dereliction of duty."

"If he accepts kickbacks or points, he may also be involved in the crime of bribery under Article 197 of the Criminal Law."

Even if there is insufficient criminal evidence, internal disciplinary action within the bank would be enough to ruin his reputation: forced retirement, confiscation of illicit gains, and a permanent ban from the financial industry.

He looked into Masataka Kazumitsu's eyes.

Do you think he still has a chance to get revenge on you?

Masataka Kazumitsu's breathing finally stabilized.

It wasn't because he had figured something out, but because he finally realized that he had no way out.

"I—I'll hand it over."

His voice was very soft, as if he had finally let out a breath.

"I'll give you the things."

Kiryu Yaya did not speak immediately.

He simply watched quietly as Masataka Kazumitsu continued.

Masataka Kazumitsu slowly stood up, his steps a little unsteady. He walked behind his desk, took a brown kraft paper envelope from the drawer, and then walked back, handing it to Yaya Kiryu with both hands.

"In here—are the transaction records of the Eastern Association. The points transaction between me and Kiyomasa Ogaki is on there."

Kiryu Yaya took the envelope but didn't open it immediately; he just weighed it in his hand.

"Anything else?"

Masataka Kazumitsu lowered his head, his voice even softer.

"And there's also the short-term loan agreement for 150 million yen with the Eighth Asset Management Company."

"Although Kiyomasa Ogaki's name is not on the contract, the actual controller of Eight Assets is Masami Ogaki, Kiyomasa Ogaki's wife. The flow of this money—is related to Kiyomasa Ogaki."

Kiryu Yaya nodded and put the second document into his briefcase.

"continue."

Masataka Kazumitsu took a deep breath, as if he were making his final mental preparations.

Then, he turned around and walked to the safe behind his desk, squatted down, turned the combination lock, and took out a black tape recorder from the bottom.

He held the tape recorder, stood there silently for two seconds, and finally turned around and handed it to Kiryu Yaya.

"There's also a recording."

Kiryu Yaya's brow twitched slightly.

"What recording?"

"Last autumn, I met Kiyomasa Ogaki at a ryotei in Kitashinchi through the introduction of the Toseikai."

Masataka Kazumitsu's voice was very low.

"The conversation concerned loan approval and asset concealment schemes. Kiyomasa Ogaki personally explained how to break up losses and hide them in prepayments, how to conduct off-balance-sheet lending through eight assets, and how to get the appraisal agency to inflate the value of the collateral."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with a resolute determination born of a "what's the use" attitude.

"I recorded it."

Kiryu Yaya took the tape recorder, twirled it gently in his palm, and then looked up at Kazumitsu Masataka.

"President Kazumitsu, you are smarter than you look."

Masataka Kazumitsu gave a bitter smile, a smile full of bitterness.

"I just wanted to have a backup plan. I never expected that I would have to use it here."

Kiryu Yaya didn't say anything more.

He tucked the tape recorder into the bottom of his briefcase, along with the two documents, gently fastened the clasp, and then stood up.

That's all for today.

He glanced at Masataka Kazumitsu, his tone returning to the standard politeness a bank employee displays when speaking to a customer.

"President Kazumitsu, I will contact you again if needed."

Masataka Kazumitsu opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just lowered his head and responded softly.

"—Please."

Kiryu Yaya didn't look at him again, turned around and walked out of the president's office.

The corridor was quiet, with the sound of leather shoes clicking on the floor, one step at a time, unhurried and gentle.

He walked out of the gates of Heguang Electronics Industry, stood by the roadside, looked up at the gray sky, and then let out a soft sigh of relief.

After a series of deceptions and tricks, they finally managed to get Masataka Kazumitsu to hand over the evidence.

The records of the East Association's points transactions, the 150 million yen loan contract of the Eight Assets, and the recording of Kiyomasa Ogaki personally designing an asset concealment plan.

All three bullets were loaded.

Kiyomasa Ogaki probably didn't expect this either.

His meticulously prepared trap ultimately became the very note that sealed his fate.

Kiryu Yaya switched his briefcase to his left hand, put his right hand into his pocket, and walked back to the station along the way he had come.

His steps were lighter than when he arrived, and a faint smile played on his lips.

Ogaki Kiyomasa.

Your time is running out.