Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 180 The Madam's Request [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The relationship between the Yayoi family and the Toseikai ends with the disappearance of Yayoi Masato.

At first, Yayoi Kazuko was unaware of these things. She pieced together the truth little by little through the information and notes left behind by Yayoi Masato.

Kiryu Yaya looked at the melancholy on Yayoi Kazuko's face and lowered his eyes to look at the black card on the table.

He knew that since Yayoi Kazuko had told him so much, she must have something she wanted his help with.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Madam."

He looked up at Yayoi Kazuko.

"What do you want me to do?"

Yayoi Kazuko put down her teacup, placed her hands folded on her knees, and remained dignified in her posture, but there was something new in her self-aura that she hadn't felt before.

She lowered her eyes and whispered, "Kiryu-kun, for someone your age to be able to join the Toei Association means your family background is not simple."

Kiryu Yaya's lips twitched slightly.

Indeed, he's quite remarkable. He lost both his parents at the start of the story and was born into an orphanage.

Yayoi Kazuko continued, "After Masato went missing, I asked people to investigate, but it didn't yield much result."

"Sometimes I've thought about applying to join the East Correction Association to find out what's going on, but I gave up in the end because of Mizuna's safety."

She looked up at Kiryu Yaya.

"But after learning today that Kiryu-kun is a member of the East Society, the hope that I shouldn't have had has been rekindled in my heart."

"Kiryu-kun—

""

She lowered her head, her forehead almost touching the table.

"If you hear any news about Masato within the East Society, even just a clue, please be sure to tell me."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her.

A woman in her forties, dressed in an elegant kimono, kneels on the tatami mat, bowing her head to a twenty-three-year-old man in pleading for her husband who has been missing for many years.

Kiryu Yaya sighed but did not answer immediately.

Just then, a semi-transparent interface popped up in front of him.

[New life options have been triggered]

[Yayoi Kazuko recounted the history of three generations of the Yayoi family to you and earnestly requested that you use your status as a member of the East Seikai to help keep an eye out for news about Yayoi Masato.]

This is both a mother's plea and a family's entrustment.

At this moment, you have three choices.

[Fork in the road 1: Agreeing, indicating that they will help keep an eye out to the best of their ability, but without making any guarantees.]

(Reward: Bank deposit increased by 10 yen; Yayoi family's trust)

[Branch Two: Politely decline, stating that they are just a newcomer to the Eastern Organization and have limited abilities, so they are afraid they cannot be of help.]

(Reward: Bank deposit increases by 10 yen; Yayoi family's favorability decreases)

[Branch Three: Proactively proposing further cooperation. Not only did they agree to help keep an eye out for information, but they also expressed their willingness to use their position as bank employees to help the Yayoi family sort through the old accounts and documents left behind by Yayoi Masaki and Yayoi Masato, searching for clues within them.]

(Reward: Skill "File Smell" allows you to quickly identify unusual records and key related information when browsing paper or electronic files; the deep trust of the Yayoi family)

Kiryu Yaya's gaze swept over the three options.

The second branch is directly excluded.

The reward for Branch 3 is very tempting; the "File Smell" skill sounds like it was tailor-made for digging up old accounts.

But with my current abilities, am I really confident that I can get caught up in such a huge vortex?

Masaki Yayoi died in a car accident, and Masato Yayoi is missing.

Two generations, one dead and one missing, both because they touched on the core of the Dongzheng Society.

Kiryu Yaya had already experienced the depth and influence of the East Association last night.

Such a massive underground organization is far beyond the reach of a small-time organization like Miyazawahara's.

Kiryu Yaya is well aware that he does not yet have the resources to contend with the power of the Toei Association.

So after much deliberation, he still did not succumb to the temptation of his "file-sense".

Kiryu Yaya spoke, his tone earnest: "Madam."

"I've remembered what you said. I'll keep an eye on things with the East Association for you. If there's any news about Mr. Yayoi Masato, even if it's just a rumor, I'll let you know as soon as possible."

Yayoi Kazuko raised her head, a glimmer of light in her eyes.

After thinking for a moment, Kiryu Yaya continued, "But I can't guarantee you that I'll find anything. The Eastern Association is a very complex organization, and I'm just a newcomer. My access to information is very limited."

Yayoi Kazuko nodded gently.

"That's enough. I'm already very grateful that Kiryu-kun agreed."

Suddenly, footsteps came from the other end of the corridor, and the two quickly stopped talking.

The shoji door was gently pulled open, and Yayoi Mizuna poked half her body inside.

She was still wearing a light blue apron, the sleeves rolled up to her forearms: "Mom, the dishes are washed, and I've cleaned up the kitchen too. Is there anything else I can help with?"

In fact, given the Yayoi family's background, chores like washing dishes are not something that Yayoi Mizuna, as the eldest daughter, needs to do.

However, out of some concern for the future, Yayoi Kazuko has been cultivating Mina's ability to live independently.

She was worried that one day, Yayoi Trading Company would collapse and she would be gone, but would Yayoi Mizuna still be able to live on her own?

Thinking of this, Yayoi Kazuko felt a little flustered, and her eyes reddened slightly.

Mizuna Yayoi keenly sensed that her mother's mood was off and cautiously asked, "Mom? What's wrong?"

Yayoi Kazuko smiled at her daughter, shook her head, and said, "It's nothing. I was just chatting with Kiryu-kun about some things from the past."

Mizuna Yayoi looked at her mother's face, her lips moved as if she wanted to ask something, but in the end she didn't.

She gave a soft "hmm" and then looked at Kiryu Yaya.

"Senior, would you like another cup of tea?"

Kiryu Yaya shook his head.

"No need, thank you."

He stood up, looked at Yayoi Kazuko, and bowed slightly.

"Madam, I apologize for disturbing you today. Lunch was delicious, thank you for your hospitality."

Yayoi Kazuko also stood up and returned the greeting.

"Kiryu-kun, you're too kind. You can come to Kyoto anytime you have time."

Kiryu Yaya nodded, turned to Yayoi Mina, and smiled, "Mina-san, it's getting late, why don't you get ready and head out? We have an event this afternoon."

Mizuna Yayoi paused for a moment, then looked down at her apron and her still-wet hands, feeling somewhat flustered.

"Ah, okay, senior, please wait a moment while I go change my clothes."

She turned and strode quickly out of the restaurant, her hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor, along with the sound of the shoji doors opening and closing.

As Yayoi Kazuko watched her daughter's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Mina, thanks to Kiryu-kun's care at the bank."

Kiryu Yaya shook his head.

"It's not a matter of taking care of her. Mizuna-san works very hard and is making rapid progress in the sales department. Section Chief Takei has praised her several times."

Yayoi Kazuko nodded slightly, her gaze shifting from the direction of the corridor to Kiryu Yaya's face.

"Kiryu-kun, please take to heart what I said today."

"

Kiryu Yaya knew what she was referring to.

"I will."