Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 208 Ogaki: This young man has a somewhat complicated background.

Kouyuhiko did not respond.

But through the rearview mirror, Kouyu's expression told Ushio Takeo that the young man's words had indeed made him uncomfortable.

"Minister, please don't take it to heart. I've seen plenty of these arrogant newcomers."

Ushio Takeo's voice carried an air of self-assurance: "All you need to do is call the manager of his Osaka branch and say that this kid doesn't know the rules."

"In a few days, he'll realize his mistake, and it's quite possible he'll cry his eyes out and kneel before you begging for forgiveness."

Upon hearing this, Kouyu Tianyan chuckled softly: "—You're right."

"I should make a call."

He took a black mobile phone from the inside pocket of his suit and flipped it open.

Kouyuta went through the candidates in his mind, and then pressed Ogaki Kiyomasa's number.

Beep beep beep—

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Feed?"

The slow, deliberate voice of Kiyomasa Ogaki came through the receiver, tinged with surprise: "Minister Furuta? It's so late, what brings you here—"

"Senior Ogaki, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Gu Yutian's words carried a familiar smile, his manner perfectly measured—neither overly warm nor too distant.

Back when he was the head of the financing department at the Osaka branch, Kiyomasa Ogaki was already the head of the financing department.

He has now risen from section chief to executive manager of the Tokyo main store, while Kiyomasa Ogaki is still in the same position and will retire in a few months.

In terms of position, Kouyuhiko has already taken the lead, but in terms of seniority, Ogaki Kiyomasa is, after all, his senior.

Therefore, Kouyuda's language was relatively respectful.

For Kiyomasa Ogaki, although Kouyu was once his subordinate, Kouyu has now risen through the ranks to become the head of the bank, so he naturally cannot refuse to give him face.

So Kiyomasa Ogaki smiled and said, "Please speak, Minister Kouda. I will definitely help if it is within my ability."

Kouyu nodded and stated his request: "Tell that new guy named Kiryu Yaya in your branch's financing review department to give him a heads-up and let him know that working in a bank requires following the rules and knowing where to draw the line."

He did not give a reason.

Given his status and position, it goes without saying that he would send a branch manager to reprimand a newcomer.

With his influence, it wouldn't be difficult for him to send Kiryu Yaya to Southeast Asia with a single transfer order.

But now that he holds a high position of power, many people are watching his every word and action, including those from opposing factions.

Therefore, having Kiyomasa Ogaki step in first is the cleanest approach.

Then look for an opportunity to crush Kiryu Yaya, that little ant, with a single finger.

But there was silence on the other end of the phone.

A few seconds later, Kiyomasa Ōgaki finally spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation that Kouyuu had never heard from him before: "Kiryuu—Yasu?"

"right."

There was another moment of silence.

Then Kiyomasa Ogaki spoke up: "Minister Kouda, this—I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle."

Kouyuki frowned: "What did you say?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki paused slightly on the other end of the phone, as if considering his words, before speaking.

"This young man has a rather complicated background."

Kouyuhiko's brows furrowed even deeper.

"What's his background? He's an orphan, got into Tokyo University, and got into Mitsubishi Bank on his own merit. He doesn't have any special connections."

There was another two seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then Kiyomasa Ogaki's voice rang out again, this time faster than before, as if he had finally made up his mind: "This Kiryu Yaya, he's only been with the company for less than two months, and the cases he's handled are getting bigger and bigger."

"Shiraishi Refrigeration, Miyazawa Group, Higashi-Osaka Seiko —"

"Each of these cases involved the security of hundreds of millions or even billions of yuan in debt, yet he, a newcomer, managed to handle every single one of them."

"Minister Kouda, do you think an ordinary newcomer could accomplish these things?"

Kouyuhiko's eyelid twitched.

He understood the unspoken meaning in Kiyomasa Ogaki's words.

This is an implication that Kiryu Yaya has someone backing him.

"You mean—"

"I have no evidence."

Kiyomasa Ogaki interrupted him, his tone still mild: "But some things can be felt without evidence."

"Minister Furuta, that's all I can tell you. I can't help you with this."

"If you really want to teach him a lesson, I suggest you try a different approach."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

Then, Kiyomasa Ogaki's voice regained the politeness characteristic of a veteran banker: "Department Head Furuta, I'm getting old and will be retiring in a few months. There are some things I don't want to get too involved in."

.

Please understand.

The phone hangs up.

A short busy tone came through the receiver.

Kouyu Tianyan held the phone, maintaining that posture for a full five seconds without moving.

The car was so quiet that you could hear the low rumble of the engine.

Ushio Takeo glanced at him in the rearview mirror and cautiously asked, "Minister—what did Ōgaki-senpai say?"

Kouyuhiko did not answer.

He certainly didn't believe that Kiryu Yaya was someone with a very important background.

But Kiyomasa Ogaki's attitude made him suddenly realize that he had probably underestimated this young man and his methods.

Kouyuhiko closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes, tapped his knees lightly with his fingers, and then slowly opened them.

"After returning to Tokyo, please make an appointment with Mr. Komori, the head of the General Affairs Department, for me."

Ushio Takeo immediately nodded: "Understood."

The black sedan slowly came to a stop in front of the hotel.

According to the funeral schedule, they will also attend Miyazawahara's farewell ceremony tomorrow morning.

A night-long farewell ceremony combined with a funeral service is the proper way to send someone off on their final journey.

Meanwhile.

Ogaki Qingzheng is at Ashiya's residence.

-

He was sitting on the sofa, still holding the phone that had already been disconnected.

Kiyomasa Ogaki wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and put the receiver back on the landline.

Then he let out a long breath, leaned back in the sofa, and raised his hand to rub his temples.

"Kiryuuya————"

"How did you manage to mess with Kouyuu Hiko?"

As Kouyu's former superior, Kiyomasa Ogaki naturally knew about this man's methods.

He rose through the ranks from section chief at the Osaka branch to department head at the Tokyo main branch in just five years.

How could an old guy like him, who is about to retire, possibly mess with such a person?

If it weren't for Kiryu Yaya—

He would never refuse Koudahiko's request.

Refusing Kouyuhiko's request is almost equivalent to taking sides in the banking system.

But the direction he was standing in was that of a new employee who had been with the company for less than two months.

This is absurd.

It was so absurd that even he himself found it unbelievable.

But what could he do?

Kiyomasa Ogaki closed his eyes, and the image of Kiryu Yaya standing in front of him in the department head's office that day, looking down at him with those eyes, flashed through his mind.