Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 220 Poor Tom, Manipulated at Will (5k words)

A night breeze rustled the willow branches on the bank.

Listening to Kiryu Yaya's story.

Shuichi Kuroda didn't speak, but his expression showed that he had taken it all to heart.

Stocks and real estate are essentially the same thing.

Buy, hold, wait for the price to rise, then sell to cash out.

Leverage is an accelerator; it can amplify both gains and losses.

He has invested nearly 4.2 billion yen in Rokko, from the initial division to the integration.

Of the 3.2 billion, it was bank loans, and the other 1 billion was his own capital.

The monthly interest payment is nearly 100 million yen.

If land prices continue to fall to a certain critical point, banks will reassess the value of the collateral.

Once the assessed value falls below the loan balance, a notice to request additional collateral will be sent to Kansai Urban Development.

If he cannot raise the funds, the bank will forcibly dispose of his assets.

Shuichi Kuroda has worked in the real estate industry for over twenty years, and he knows these things better than anyone else.

"Kiryu-kun."

Shuichi Kuroda finally spoke, his voice lower than before.

"You're right, I am indeed a bit like those gamblers who keep adding leverage at the peak of the bubble."

He raised his eyes and looked at the blurry neon reflection on the river in the distance, and Ziguang moved slightly.

"But have you ever considered that some people choose to stay at the poker table because they no longer have enough chips to leave with dignity?"

He paused, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice.

"You said the market doesn't lack winners, it lacks people who can stay at the table."

"7

"That's very well said, and I completely agree with it."

"But I've already staked everything on this. If I back down now, it's like admitting defeat. In business, there's no such thing as surrendering and losing half your investment."

Surrender and you lose half —

Kiryu Yaya twitched the corner of his mouth.

However, he knew that Kuroda Shuichi was telling the truth.

Given the scale of urban development in the Kansai region, securing the Rokko development project is already an incredibly risky gamble.

Trying to persuade Shuichi Kuroda to abandon this project now is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Seeing that he still insisted, Kiryu Yaya didn't say anything more: "I understand President Kuroda's thoughts."

"However, if one day, President Kuroda finds himself in trouble, he might as well come and bother me."

Shuichi Kuroda chuckled softly.

He casually tossed the bamboo skewer in his hand into a roadside trash can, put his hands in his pockets, took two steps toward the end of the riverbank, then stopped, turned around, and looked at Kiryu Yaya.

"Okay, I've remembered your reminder tonight."

The two walked along the Dojima River for a while longer, and neither of them mentioned the real estate again.

When they reached the end of the embankment, the two stopped in front of a small bridge.

"We're waiting for your news in Lingkong City."

"Okay, it should be in the next few days."

The two didn't say much. Kuroda Shuichi turned and walked towards Kitashinchi, where his Mercedes was still parked.

Kiryu Yaya stood there, watching his silhouette disappear into the night, then walked back along the Dojima River, heading towards the tram station leading to Ezaka.

The last tram hasn't arrived yet.

A few people were scattered on the platform; some were leaning against pillars reading newspapers, while others were yawning and carrying convenience store bags.

Kiryu Yaya found a bench and sat down, stretching his legs out naturally, while mentally sorting out what he had gained that evening.

Seiichi Takatsukasa had already nodded.

This means that Kouyuki Hiko has entered the countdown to his death, but he himself is currently unaware of it.

Imagine him still in his Tokyo headquarters office tomorrow, sipping tea, flipping through documents, and plotting how to expel Kiryu Yaya from Mitsubishi Bank.

He thought he was in control of the chessboard.

In reality, the game had already changed hands the moment Kiryu Yaya decided to lay his cards on the table.

He wouldn't have gone all out against Kouyu Tianyan if he wasn't absolutely certain of victory.

The two milestones that have been achieved so far are convincing Yutaro Kamiya and Seiichi Takaji to agree to the Rinko Castle project.

In Kiryu Yaya's view, these two points are natural and not difficult at all.

It's just going with the flow.

He leaned back in his seat, a slight smile curving his lips, but he quickly wiped it away.

The tram is here.

He got on the bus and got off the bus.

I walked back to my apartment along the familiar street and went into the bathroom.

He took a 15-minute shower, letting the warm water wash over his shoulders, neck, and back, slowly relaxing the muscles that had been tense all day.

Back in the living room, he changed into a clean gray T-shirt and shorts, and sat back down at his desk.

Just then, a system notification popped up:

[The world line has converged—you have chosen branch two]

[Item Obtained: Truth or Dare Card]

[The "Truth or Dare" Card: After using this card, the first question you ask the target must be answered truthfully by the other person.]

Truth or Dare cards, as the name suggests.

Although Kiryu Yaya already possesses two skills that allow him to explore the mind: "The Manager's Obsession" and "Mind Perception".

However, the former is limited to business owners, while the latter is limited to women.

While the "Truth or Dare Card" is a one-time use item, it has no limitations and can be considered a good supplement.

The reward that convinced Seiichi Takatsukasa to agree to the Rinko City project was the Mercedes-Benz 600SEL experience card.

In 1990s Japan, this car was practically a symbol of top-tier status.

Although you can only experience it for three months, it's still the Mercedes three-pointed star.

He said he was ashamed to admit that in his previous life, after struggling for more than ten years, he only managed to drive a Mercedes-Benz E300.

The only time I get to ride in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class is when I'm discussing projects with clients.

Thinking about this, Kiryu Yaya couldn't help but feel a little tempted, but he quickly realized a problem.

He is now————

Although I can drive, I haven't taken the driving test yet.

He previously obtained a basic driver's license, which allowed him to ride the Honda SuperCub50, but driving a four-wheeled vehicle requires a regular driver's license.

Kiryu Yaya mentally went through the process of getting a driver's license: driving school registration, coursework, skills training, and the exam—it would take at least two months.

Even if he can drive, he can only shorten the process to one month.

After all, in Japan at the end of the bubble economy, getting a driver's license required queuing.

He shook his head, suppressing the thought for the time being.

The most important thing right now is to approach the empty city.

It's not too late to take the driving test after things settle down in Lingkong City.

He was about to pour himself a glass of water when the phone on the table suddenly rang.

The ringtone sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

He walked over and answered the phone.

"Kiryu-kun."

The voice of Keiko Miyazawa came through the receiver, carrying a hint of obvious fatigue, but her tone was still gentle.

"It's nothing, I just got home not long ago. What's wrong, didn't you get enough rest?"

Keiko Miyazawa chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, a laugh tinged with a hint of helplessness, as if she were saying to him:

You can tell just by looking at my voice.

"I was busy with my uncle's funeral arrangements during the day, and then I had a phone call with Director Kamiya for over an hour in the evening."

He said he was getting old and didn't want to repeat himself, but what he implied was that he hoped I could handle things well in Lingkong City.

Kiryu Yaya leaned back in his chair and helped her clarify her thoughts: "Since Director Kamiya has already given his approval, there shouldn't be much resistance at the board level."

"There's only one problem left."

Keiko Miyazawa hummed in agreement and continued, "Push this decision to the board meeting."

"Mr. Uesugi has already prepared the assessment data for me. According to the procedure, we can hold an emergency group meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss the disposal plan for the Rinko City plot."

"Several core directors will be present, including Director Matsubara, Director Inoue, and several inspectors who don't usually show their faces."

She then asked, "Kiryu-kun, could you come and sit in on the class tomorrow afternoon? I'd feel much more at ease if you were here."

"What time tomorrow afternoon?"

Two points.

Kiryu Yaya thought for a moment and said, "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go and listen in as an ordinary employee."

This meeting is different from the last extraordinary board meeting.

Previously, he still held the title of Acting Director of Risk Review at the Miyazawa Group, but now, after so much time has passed, the situation has changed.

Therefore, Kiryu Yaya decided, "Keiko, in your capacity as president of the Miyazawa Group, send a formal letter to the Osaka branch of Mitsubishi Bank, inviting the bank to send a representative to attend the ad hoc group meeting tomorrow afternoon."

"The land in Rinko City is the core asset of the Miyazawa tourism development and one of the important guarantees for the 8 billion yen credit line of Mitsubishi Bank. It involves the disposal of a large amount of assets, and as the main creditor bank, the bank has the right to know the situation."

"If you send a letter through official channels, the Osaka branch must send a representative to attend, and it must be someone from the financing review department."

"For meetings at this level, Section Chief Yamada will most likely attend in person, and I'll ask him to bring me along."

After listening, Keiko Miyazawa nodded: "I see—I understand."

As expected of Kiryu-kun, his mind works so fast.

"See you tomorrow, Kiryu-kun."

"See you tomorrow."

The phone hangs up.

Kiryu Yaya breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, reporting the Miyazawa Group's decision to sell Rinko City to the Mitsubishi Group had a significant effect beyond simply being able to attend the meeting.

That's luring the snake out of its hole.

Just then, another system notification popped up:

The third act of the main storyline "The Avengers"—"The Siege of the Empty City"—has begun.

[Mission Requirements: Utilize the Miyazawa Group's impromptu group meeting to lure out the enemy and force Kouyuu Hiko into the Rinko Castle project.]

[Task Rewards: Depends on Completion Rate]

Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM.

Miyazawa Group Headquarters, President's Office.

Keiko Miyazawa stood in front of the desk.

Akio Uesugi stood opposite her, holding a brown paper envelope, carefully folding and stuffing the letter inside.

"President, this is fine."

Akio Uesugi sealed the envelope and pushed it in front of Keiko Miyazawa: "The letter is addressed to the Financing Review Division of Mitsubishi Bank Osaka Branch."

"The content states that the Rinko City plot is a core asset of the Miyazawa Tourism Development project, involving a credit guarantee of 8 billion from our bank. The bank is required to send a representative to attend the temporary group meeting at 2 pm today."

Keiko Miyazawa said to Akio Uesugi, "Mr. Uesugi, please deliver this to him personally."

Akio Uesugi responded and took the envelope: "Understood, I'll set off right away."

9:40 a.m.

On the fifth floor of Mitsubishi Bank Osaka Branch, the branch manager's office.

Takahiro Matsumoto was sitting behind his desk, reviewing the notification about the adjustment of the credit policy sent by the store.

There was a knock on the door, but he didn't even look up: "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and the secretary strode in, holding an already opened manila envelope: "Branch manager, the Miyazawa Group just sent us a formal letter."

Matsumoto Takahiro looked up from the documents, glanced at the envelope in his secretary's hand, then took it, pulled out the letter inside, and read it from beginning to end.

"Disposal of the Lingkongcheng land parcel..."

"6

His brow twitched slightly, then he put down the letter and leaned back in his chair.

Is the Miyazawa Group going to sell Rinko City?

That's the most valuable piece of land in Miyazawa Tourism Development's hands.

Putting everything else aside, once the Kansai International Airport opens in the future, the land there will be a cash cow.

What is Keiko Miyazawa thinking?

Matsumoto Takahiro shook his head, unable to figure it out.

But this matter has little to do with him; in fact, he is quite happy about it.

After all, banks are under great pressure from debt, and if Miyazawa Group can sell land to repay its debts, it can also alleviate the pressure on bank loans.

Takahiro Matsumoto picked up the internal phone and dialed the extension for the Financing Review Division.

The phone rang once and was answered.

"Financing Review Division, Yamada."

"Section Chief Yamada, come to my office."

Three minutes later, Masakazu Yamada pushed open the door and walked in.

Matsumoto Takahiro pushed the letter in front of him: "Take a look at this."

Yamada Masakazu took the letter, his gaze sweeping over its contents, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Is the Miyazawa Group going to dispose of the Rinkongcheng plot?"

"Yes, there's an emergency group meeting at 2 PM today."

Matsumoto Takahiro leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together on the table: "The Miyazawa tourism development is the core borrower of our bank's 8 billion yuan credit line, and the Rinko City plot is one of the important collaterals for this credit line."

"As creditors, we must be aware of the Miyazawa Group's plans to dispose of this land."

He paused, then looked at Masakazu Yamada: "You'll go and sit in on the proceedings this afternoon. Kiryu Yaya has been involved in the Miyazawa case; have him go too."

Masakazu Yamada nodded: "Understood."

Watching Yamada Masakazu's retreating figure, Matsumoto Takahiro fell into deep thought once again.

The disposal of the core collateral of the 8 billion yuan credit line is, from any perspective, a decision that a branch office cannot fully absorb.

The Miyazawa Group can decide internally whether to sell, to whom to sell, and at what price, but Mitsubishi Bank, as a creditor bank, must provide a formal response in terms of procedure.

Matsumoto Takahiro picked up the internal phone and dialed the extension for the General Affairs Department: "Have the Planning Department compile a summary of the credit file for the Miyazawa tourism development and send it up, including a list of collateral and the most recent post-loan assessment, within twenty minutes."

"clear."

He hung up the phone, leaned back in his chair, glanced at the date on the letter again, then picked up another phone and dialed a number.

That's the line for the finance department of the Tokyo headquarters.

The phone rang twice before being answered.

"Finance Department, Fujiwara."

"Fujiwara-kun, this is Matsumoto from the Osaka branch. There's something I need to report to the head office."

"Please speak, Matsumoto Branch Manager."

"Miyazawa Tourism Development Co., Ltd. formally informed our company this morning that its parent company, the Miyazawa Group, will hold an extraordinary group meeting this afternoon to discuss the disposal plan for the core plot of Rinku City."

"This plot of land is one of the important collaterals for the Miyazawa Tourism Development's 8 billion yen credit line project with our bank. It involves a large amount of asset changes, and our branch has reported it to the head office's financing department in accordance with procedures."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of pages turning.

"The Rinko City plot...the land owned by the Miyazawa Group?"

"right."

"Are they planning to sell it?"

"Currently, the decision-making direction seems to lean towards selling."

Fujiwara remained silent for a while on the other end of the phone, as if processing the information.

Then he spoke, his tone more serious than before: "Matsumoto Branch Manager, this matter is significant. Although in principle the branch has the right to handle it within its scope of responsibility, given the major changes involving eight billion yen in credit collateral, it would be best to have a formal record made at the head office as well."

"I've already had someone prepare the written materials. A formal report will be submitted after the meeting this afternoon and sent to the head office today."

"That's good. I'll make an internal memo here first, and then file it when the official document arrives."

"Thanks for your hard work."

The phone hangs up.

Matsumoto Takahiro put the receiver back, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window towards Midosuji.

The idea that the Miyazawa Group is going to sell that piece of land in Rinko City seems rather strange no matter how you look at it.

10:15 a.m.

Tokyo.

-

Mitsubishi Bank Headquarters Building.

Executive Director's Office.

Just as Kouyu Hiko opened the office door, preparing to deal with the documents that had piled up on his desk for two days, Ushio Takeo strode in.

"Minister, an urgent message has come from Osaka."

Kouyuki placed his briefcase on the table without looking up: "Speak."

Ushio Takeo lowered his voice: "This morning, the Miyazawa Group sent a formal letter to its Osaka branch, saying that it will hold an emergency group meeting this afternoon to discuss the disposal plan for the Rinku Castle site."

Kouyuhiko's hand froze in mid-air.

He slowly turned around, looked at Ushio Takeo, and his expression suddenly froze: "What did you say? Rinku Castle?"

"Yes, the Miyazawa Group wants to get rid of that land."

"Whose idea was this?"

"I don't know, it's said that Keiko Miyazawa personally pushed for it."

Kouyuki's breathing became noticeably more rapid.

He stood there, his gaze fixed on the Tokyo sky outside the window, but his mind was racing.

The land of Lin Kong City.

Keiko Miyazawa actually offered to sell?

That's not right.

Why would she sell the most important asset her father left her?

"Ox tail".

"exist."

"What time exactly is the afternoon meeting?"

"The letter says 2 PM."

Kouyuhiko glanced at the clock on the wall.

It's 10:20 now.

The fastest Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Osaka takes at least two hours.

If we leave now, we can still arrive before the meeting starts.

Without any hesitation, he instructed Ushio, "Cancel my appointment with General Affairs Department Director Komori tonight. Also, book two tickets for the next Shinkansen train to Osaka."

After hanging up the phone, he turned to Takeo Ushio: "You go too."

Ushio Takeo paused for a moment: "But Minister, you just returned from Osaka yesterday, those documents..."

""

"We can review the documents when we get back, but the matter of Lingkong City cannot be delayed for even a moment."

Kouyu Tianyan had already picked up his coat and was walking quickly toward the door.