Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 207 The Main Story of Life: The Avengers

"What?"

Keiko Miyazawa's eyes widened in surprise.

"You want me to sell Lingkong City?"

Her voice was filled with obvious disbelief.

"The land in the empty city is the most important asset that my father left to the Miyazawa Group. When my father bought that land, he put in a lot of effort, and he has always treated it as the foundation for the next twenty years."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her but did not answer immediately.

He knew what this request meant to Keiko Miyazawa.

That was the wealth her father had built up over half a lifetime.

In the eyes of the group's senior management, that was the most valuable asset the Miyazawa Group would have over the next twenty years.

But he still spoke up.

"Keiko, I know this request is hard to accept."

"But that's precisely why I hope you'll seriously consider this: that piece of land in Lingkong City is now a death warrant."

"With the Miyazawa Group's strength, it is not enough to save it."

"Since Seiichi Takatsukasa has already set his sights on this land, he won't let it go easily. They can use Rokko to cripple Miyazawa Kankan, or they can use other means to force you."

"You can hold out for a while, but not forever. Rather than waiting for them to make their next move, you might as well defuse this mine now."

Keiko Miyazawa's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She could tell that Kiryu Yaya was stating a fact.

"And even from the perspective of the group's interests, you should take action."

Kiryu Yaya changed his perspective, his tone softening slightly: "Keiko, do you remember my views on land ownership?"

Keiko Miyazawa naturally remembered what he had said on the phone earlier: "You said that land prices are very likely to plummet—"

Kiryu Yaya nodded: "That's right. Even though the location of Rinku City is good, the Kansai Airport project is still in the land reclamation stage, and it won't be completed until at least the year after next, let alone open to air traffic. In the context of overall declining land prices, it is destined to be just a depreciating piece of real estate."

"Why insist on holding onto an asset that is depreciating? Since Takatsukasa Seiichi wants it, just give it to him and let him bear the loss. Let him get annoyed first."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly: "And I will use this opportunity to take care of Kouyu Tianyan first."

As for Seiichi Takatsukasa—

Kiryu Yaya paused for a rare moment at this point.

"To be honest, we don't have the strength to take revenge on him right now."

There was silence under the eaves for a few seconds.

A night breeze blew from the direction of the funeral home, causing the white curtains to sway gently.

Keiko Miyazawa lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground, as if she were processing what she had said.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse: "But even if I agree, the directors in the group won't agree, especially Director Kamiya—"

Kiryu Yaya said directly, "I'll figure something out later."

"Keiko, you just need to tell me your attitude first."

Keiko Miyazawa looked up and her gaze met that of Yaya Kiryu. There was no hesitation in her eyes: "Kiryu-kun, although I don't know what land prices will be like in the future, I trust your judgment."

"If you say this land will depreciate, then it definitely will."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her for two seconds, then nodded slightly.

He didn't say many words of gratitude or promises.

Saying those kinds of things at this time would seem vulgar.

Kiryu Yaya nodded: "Alright, let's try to persuade Director Kamiya first."

As soon as he finished speaking, a system notification sounded in his ear:

Branch 1 has been selected.

[The first act of the main storyline, "The Avengers," has begun—]

[Mission Requirement: Persuade Yutaro Kamiya to accept the land sale proposal for the Rinku Castle plot]

[Task Rewards: Depends on Completion Rate]

Kiryu Yaya looked at the system panel and let out a soft breath.

The night was deep.

When Kouyu Tianyan walked out of the funeral home, most of the gloom on his face had disappeared.

But his complexion still looked bad.

He walked much faster than when he went in.

The black leather shoes made a dull sound as they stepped on the gravel in the parking lot.

A black sedan was parked in the outermost parking space.

A middle-aged man of medium build, wearing a dark gray suit, was standing next to the car.

He had a buzz cut, was slightly overweight, and round, which was somewhat similar to his face shape.

He held his hands down in front of him, his posture so respectful it was almost obsequious.

-

Ushio Takeo.

Deputy Head of the Financing Department at Tokyo Mitsubishi Main Store.

His position was higher than that of a section chief, and was considered to be between a section chief and a department head. He was a capable assistant that Furuta had brought from the Osaka branch to the Tokyo main store.

Upon seeing Kouyuki Hiko emerge, Ushio Takeo immediately stepped forward and opened the back door for him.

"Minister, you've worked hard."

Kouyuhiko did not get into the car immediately.

He stood by the car door, glanced up in the direction of the funeral home, and let out a soft hum.

"minister?"

Ushio Takeo noticed his unusual behavior and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Kouyu Tianyan withdrew his gaze and bent down to sit in the back seat.

Seeing that the minister did not speak, Takeo Ushio quickly walked around to the driver's seat, started the engine, and the black sedan slowly drove out of the parking lot.

The car merged into the traffic on the street.

One streetlamp after another swept past the window, casting flickering light on Kouyuu's face.

He leaned back in his seat, his hands clasped on his knees, and remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke.

"Ushio, do you remember five years ago, when we were at the Osaka branch, there was a case involving Kiryu Metals?"

Takeo Ushio gripped the steering wheel, his gaze lingering on the road ahead for two seconds before he nodded.

"Remember."

"The factory president later committed suicide."

"His wife also passed away, leaving behind a son who was only seventeen years old at the time."

As he said this, he glanced at Kouyu Hiko in the rearview mirror, his tone slightly probing: "Why did you suddenly bring this up, Minister?"

Kouyuhiko did not answer immediately.

He looked up, his gaze falling on the blurry lights at the end of the road ahead.

"That child is currently in the financing review department at Mitsubishi Bank's Osaka branch."

"He was sitting next to me at the funeral home just now."

Takeo Ushio frowned slightly.

"Kiryu Metal—could it be that amazing newcomer you mentioned before, Kiryu—Yaya?"

Kouyuki closed his eyes: "Yes, it's him."

Takeo Ushio paused, then glanced at the rearview mirror again: "So, he knows about what happened back then?"

Kouyu Tianyan gave a cold snort.

"Know."

"Not only did he know, but he also told me to my face that he would repay me a hundredfold or a thousandfold for what happened back then."

Ushio Takeo chuckled, his tone clearly contemptuous, yet also as if he were speaking up for his superior: "A hundred times, a thousand times?"

"A new employee who's been with the company for less than two months dares to say something like that? Minister, do you think he's insane?"