Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 160 Member ID [Fourth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

That's what they say.

Shuichi Kuroda leaned back in his chair: "But without your mediation, I wouldn't have been able to acquire Rokko so quickly."

He paused, then continued, "So, I've decided to give you a thank-you gift tonight."

"A thank-you gift?"

Kiryu Yaya couldn't help but wonder.

Shuichi Kuroda did not answer immediately, but instead took a black envelope from the inside pocket of his suit.

It's exactly the same as the one I delivered to the bank today.

Dark black with gold foil emblem, and no sender information.

He placed the envelope on the table and pushed it towards him.

"Open it and take a look."

Kiryu Yaya picked up the envelope.

The opening wasn't sealed completely; it was just folded twice.

He tore open the seal and pulled out a dark black card.

The card is slightly thicker than a bank card, with a smooth texture and fine gold lines embossed along the edges.

The front is printed with that circular emblem, and the character "东" (East) in the center gleams with a dark golden luster under the light.

The back features a line of small print: "Regular Member of the Tokyo Assets Consolidation and Research Association".

Member ID: TKS-0S-00876

"Family name: Kiryuya"

Kiryu Yaya's gaze lingered on his own name for a moment.

"This is----"

"A formal membership card of the Dongzheng Association."

Shuichi Kuroda leaned back in his chair, twirling a wine glass in his hand: "Congratulations, Kiryu-kun. From now on, you are a full member of the Toei Association."

Kiryu Yaya looked up at Kuroda Shuichi, a hint of doubt in his voice: "President Kuroda, aren't there asset requirements for members of the Toseikai?"

Shuichi Kuroda smiled, a smile that reflected his worldly wisdom.

"Is Kiryu-kun worried that he's not good enough?"

Kiryu Yaya did not deny it, but simply looked at him calmly.

Shuichi Kuroda leaned forward, clasped his hands on the table, and explained, "The entry requirements for the East Association are indeed quite high."

"The membership threshold is a personal net worth of over 200 million yen, or a company's annual revenue of over 1 billion yen. This is a rule set by the secretariat and written in the bylaws."

He paused.

"But besides this way of joining, there is another way to join through a guarantor."

Kiryu Yaya's brow twitched slightly.

Shuichi Kuroda held up two fingers.

"First, you need a guarantor from a current member. Second, you need to pay a membership fee of 20 million yen."

"With this membership application method, the secretariat will not examine the applicant's own financial situation —"

Kiryu Yaya's gaze froze slightly.

Twenty million yen.

This number is nothing short of astronomical for him now.

His current savings amount to just over a million yen, which isn't even a fraction of what he has.

"President Kuroda."

Kiryu Yaya put down his wine glass, his tone sincere and restrained: "A membership fee of twenty million yen, with my current income, I'm afraid—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already quite clear.

Shuichi Kuroda leaned back in his chair, watching Kuroda's hesitant expression, and suddenly chuckled softly.

"Kiryu-kun, are you worried about money?"

Kiryu Yaya did not deny it, but simply looked at him calmly.

"I really can't come up with that money right now."

"I know."

Kuroda nodded, his tone still relaxed: "So, I've already covered it for you, consider it as the annual salary I promised you."

Kiryu Yaya frowned slightly. He then remembered that Kuroda Shuichi had promised to poach him with an annual salary of 20 million yen in the reception room of the Osaka branch.

Surprisingly, he has actually kept his promise.

"President Kuroda—"

Don't rush to refuse.

Kuroda Shuichi raised his hand to interrupt him, leaned forward slightly, and placed his hands clasped together on the table.

"Kiryu-kun, let me finish speaking first."

The private room fell silent for a moment.

Shuichi Kuroda's gaze fell on his face, his tone becoming more serious than before.

"Twenty million yen is no small sum. It's normal for a newcomer like you, who has only been with the company for less than two months, not to be able to come up with it."

"But have you considered whether this card is worth twenty million?"

Kiryu Yaya did not answer.

Kuroda Shuichi smiled and said, "Once you join the association, you'll be able to see a portion of the East Association's membership list."

"Banking, securities, real estate, judiciary, taxation, politics—the core resources of the Kansai region are all contained within it."

"Information flows within the Dongzheng Association at least half a month faster than outside."

"Which bank is tightening credit? Which project is going to run into problems? Which piece of land is going to be disposed of?"

"Being inside, you'll know sooner than those outside."

"Finally, and most importantly—"

'

He picked up his glass and took a sip.

"Credit."

Kiryu Yaya's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Credit?"

"right."

Shuichi Kuroda put down his glass: "Membership in the Toseikai is itself a form of credit endorsement. When you go out with this card, people will look at you differently."

He paused.

"Kiryu-kun, your biggest problem at the bank right now is your lack of seniority and limited network."

"You have the ability, the judgment, and the courage."

"These things can help you achieve results in a short period of time, but they are not enough to give you a foothold in the bank."

"Because banks don't just look at ability, they also look at connections, factions, and whether you're in that circle."

He looked into Kiryu Yaya's eyes.

"The East China Association is one of the steps that helps you get into that circle."

"6

Kiryu Yaya remained silent.

Because he could sense that what Kuroda Shuichi said was indeed the truth.

Kuroda Shuichi leaned back in his chair, his tone returning to its usual relaxed and casual manner: "Kiryu-kun, you know what? Before deciding to give you this thank-you gift, I thought about many things."

Kiryu Yaya looked up at him.

Shuichi Kuroda tapped his forehead: "House, car, woman—I've considered them all."

But he immediately shook his head: "But then I thought about it and realized that none of these things were quite right."

"You're not that kind of vulgar person."

"So, I've finally chosen this to repay your kindness."

Kiryuya too:

59

Hey buddy, you didn't even discuss this with me.

I feel like I'm pretty ordinary.

The house is nice, the car is nice, and the woman—

He can forget about that, but he really doesn't mind the first two things.

However, having said that much, he couldn't very well refute it.

That's so embarrassing.

Kiryu Yaya nodded and tapped his finger on the black card: "Since President Kuroda has said so, then I shall accept it without further ado."

Shuichi Kuroda leaned back in his chair, looking at him with a deeper smile.

"So, you accepted it?"

Kiryu Yaya nodded: "I'll take it."

Shuichi Kuroda laughed heartily: "I like Kiryu-kun's personality. He takes what he should take and keeps what he should keep, without being pretentious."

Kiryu Yaya smiled.

"President Kuroda, you flatter me. I just feel that since you have already made your decision, it would be disrespectful for me to refuse."

Moreover, he does need this membership card to obtain more information from Dongzhenghui.

That's exactly what I mean.

Shuichi Kuroda reached out and gently tapped the table, then, as if remembering something, looked at the clock on the wall.

8:25.

He looked up at Kiryu Yaya.

"Sit a little longer and have a cup of tea. Once it's 8:30, I'll take you to see what a real Dongzheng Association is like."

Kiryu Yaya's brow twitched slightly.

"The real Dongzheng Association?"