Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 251: Should I be wary of a newcomer? [Basic Update]

Kiryu Yaya stood at the door of the Financing Review Division and took the newspaper from Sasaki Kenta.

The headline on the front page was eye-catching: "Former Mitsubishi Bank Executive Director Hiko Furuta is formally indicted by the Osaka Regional Investigation Bureau for bribery and unfair competition."

He quickly glanced down at the main text.

The report states that the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department formally filed a public prosecution against Hiko Furuta last Friday.

The charges include bribery under Article 197 of the Criminal Code and aiding and abetting unfair competition under the Monopoly Prohibition Act.

The indictment alleges that during his tenure as executive director of Mitsubishi Bank, Kouda Hiko accepted a 200 million yen reward from Takahashi Taishi, an agent of a shell company, in the bidding process for the Miyazawa Group's Rinko Castle land plot. He also provided Takahashi with non-public guarantee assessment information and bidding strategy advice.

The prosecution believes that this behavior seriously undermines the fairness and transparency of financial transactions.

According to the Japanese criminal procedure, after the prosecution files a public indictment, the case will proceed to the trial stage in the district court.

Generally speaking, it takes three to six months from filing a lawsuit to the first-instance judgment.

The process will involve several rounds of trial preparation, evidence disclosure, and witness questioning.

If the defendant pleads guilty, the process will be expedited; if the defendant continues to deny the charges, it may take longer.

Kouyuki is currently in custody. Prosecutors believe he poses a risk of destroying evidence or colluding with others, and therefore have not granted him bail.

He will be detained at the Osaka Detention Center pending a formal verdict.

If convicted, the standard sentence is usually between five and ten years.

Given the amount of money involved and the level of the official positions involved, the prosecution is likely to seek a severe sentence.

Kiryu Yaya folded the newspaper again and handed it back to Sasaki Kenta.

"That's it?"

Kenta Sasaki took the newspaper, somewhat surprised: "Don't you want to take a closer look? This is the front page headline, the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department is directly prosecuting a case of this magnitude, which might not happen even once in ten years."

Kiryu Yaya patted him on the shoulder and said, "This isn't exactly a glorious thing for our bank."

Sasaki said "Oh," and thinking about it, he realized that if others had overheard what he said, they would have thought he had a problem with the bank.

He sighed heavily: "Working within the system is such a hassle. I feel like my true nature is being suppressed."

Kiryu Yaya smiled but didn't say anything, and walked into the office area with him.

However, to be fair, the litigation process in Japan is indeed tedious.

The prosecution is just the beginning; there is still the preparation for a public trial, the disclosure of evidence, the questioning of witnesses, the debate between the two sides, and the deliberation of the judges.

Each step has a fixed deadline and procedure.

It will take three to six months to reach a first-instance verdict. If Gu Yutian refuses to plead guilty, it could drag on for even longer.

Three to six months is already considered fast.

If Kouichi Kou's legal team is tough enough, they could drag it out for a year and a half just by applying for the exclusion of evidence, requesting a postponement of the trial, and demanding a change of judge.

Furthermore, if one is dissatisfied with the first-instance judgment, there are appeals and petitions.

It will take at least three or four years to go through the three-stage review process.

During this period, Kouyuhiko will remain in the detention center.

Of course, this refers to the general situation.

With the involvement of Hanayama-in Taki and Takatsukasa Seiichi, Kiryu Yaya thinks it won't be long before we see news of Koudahiko's confession.

Kouyuhiko's fate was sealed the moment Hanayama-in Taki walked into the fifth-floor conference room.

Kiryu Yaya sat back down at his workstation, put his briefcase away, and his gaze fell on the glass outside the window, blurred by the rain.

It's still raining.

At 8:40 a.m., the morning meeting of the Financing Review Department began on time.

About twenty people sat in a circle around a long table, with Masakazu Yamada standing at the head of the table, holding an internal notice that had just been delivered from the General Affairs Department.

His expression was more serious than usual.

"Before we begin today's discussion, I'd like to read a formal internal bank announcement."

He unfolded the paper, glanced at the words on it, and then looked up: "Regarding the case of former Executive Director Kouyu Tianyan, the head office officially issued an internal notice to all branches and departments last Friday afternoon."

"The report confirms the following facts: During his tenure as executive director, Kouda Hiko has been formally indicted by the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department on suspicion of accepting bribes and assisting in unfair competition."

"Internal disciplinary procedures have been initiated simultaneously. Kouyu Hiko has been removed from his post, and his personnel file will be transferred to the disciplinary committee for further processing."

Masakazu Yamada closed the notice, his gaze slowly sweeping across both sides of the long table: "This matter has only been going on for a week. But for Mitsubishi Bank, it concerns the reputation of the entire banking system and the image of every bank employee in the eyes of society."

"You may think that this kind of thing is far removed from your own lives, but I want to tell you that in banks, many big problems start from a small thing."

"A gift that shouldn't have been accepted, a loan that shouldn't have been approved, a phone call that shouldn't have gone through."

"These things seem insignificant until they happen. But by the time you realize it, it's too late."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "So I hope everyone remembers that no matter how long you work in the bank, no matter what position you hold, there are some bottom lines that you can never cross."

"This isn't for the bank, it's for yourself."

There was a two-second silence in the conference room.

Then Yamada Masakazu placed the notice on the table, his tone slightly softening: "Alright, that's enough with the announcements. I'll now proceed with outlining this week's key tasks—"

The morning meeting ended shortly afterward.

The staff of the financing review department stood up in twos and threes. Some whispered about the contents of the internal notice they had just received, while others carried their teacups toward the break room.

Kiryu Yaya closed his notebook and was about to get up and leave when Yamada Masakazu called him back.

"Kiryu-kun, Chihaya, you two stay behind for a moment."

Masakazu Yamada was still sitting there, looking at the two of them, and said, "The branch manager of Matsumoto received an internal inquiry letter from the head office's personnel department last Thursday, which concerns personnel adjustments after the branch manager's term expires."

Chihaya Yuri frowned slightly: "Term expired? Isn't the Matsumoto branch manager still six months away? Could it be because—"

"As is customary, the term of office for branch managers is usually four years. However, the head office has the right to adjust it earlier based on the actual situation."

Masakazu Yamada lowered his voice: "What I've heard is that the Matsumoto branch manager will be transferred back to the Tokyo main store this week."

Kiryu Yaya's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Reassigned back to the main store? Is that a promotion?"

Masakazu Yamada was silent for two seconds, then slowly shook his head.

"Nominally, it's a promotion to Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department. But as you all know, the branch manager was originally a top candidate for department head, but this time he's only been promoted to deputy director, specifically deputy director of the General Affairs Department. It's more like a demotion in disguise."

Kiryu Yaya sighed from the bottom of his heart: "It seems that the Matsumoto branch manager has been greatly affected by the Kouuda case this time."

In a bank's head office, a person typically becomes a branch manager only after reaching the level of deputy manager, and then is promoted to department head.

This means that Vice Minister Matsumoto Takahiro's visit and subsequent departure essentially amounted to a wasted three years.

Masakazu Yamada did not deny it.

"Although the main responsibility for Koudahiko's case lies with Kouda himself, the Rinku Castle bidding meeting took place in the Osaka branch's conference room. As the person in charge of the Osaka branch, the Matsumoto branch manager cannot escape responsibility no matter what."

"The head office didn't directly hold him accountable; instead, they removed him from his position as branch manager through a transfer, which was already a relatively dignified approach."

Chihaya Yuri was silent for a moment, then asked the most crucial question: "Section Chief, is there any news about who will take over?"

Masakazu Yamada nodded: "It's most likely Yusuke Takagi, the deputy director of the head office's business operations department."

He paused slightly as he said this.

"Takagi Yusuke is a member of the Nakajima faction. He has worked at the head office for more than ten years and is very senior, but he has never had any experience working in a local branch."

"This transfer to the Osaka branch as the branch manager is a crucial stepping stone for him."

Kiryu Yaya silently memorized the name Takagi Yusuke.

It turns out he's from the Nakajima management faction.

Konosuke Nakajima had already spoken with him and made his position clear.

Yusuke Takagi, as a member of Managing Director Nakajima's faction, arrived at the Osaka branch at this juncture, which had implications for the branch's operations.

The word "control" also implies the possibility of purging and reorganizing Kouyuhiko's old subordinates.

"Section Chief, Deputy Chief Takagi..."

"

Chihaya Yuri carefully chose her words: "What kind of person is he?"

Masakazu Yamada gave a wry smile.

"I've never dealt with him directly, but according to the head office, he's the kind of person who's very reliable and never leaves any dirt on you. You have to be extremely careful working under someone like that."

He finished speaking, stood up, and picked up his teacup: "In short, this matter is still in the internal planning stage. The official notification may not come for another few days."

Meanwhile, at the Osaka Detention Center.

A single cell, about six feet in size.

Kouyuhiko sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a light gray prison uniform.

His hair was much grayer than it had been a week ago, and his hairstyle was also slightly messy.

He remained in that position for a long time.

He has barely slept since he was formally charged last Friday.

He didn't understand why everything was fine.

It suddenly turned out like this.

He thought of that night at Miyazawahara's funeral, when Kiryu Yaya said to him, "I will repay you a hundredfold or a thousandfold."

And on the day of the auction, when he was taken away by Hanayama-in Taki, Kiryu Yaya slit his throat.

But even now, he still can't understand how Kiryu Yaya managed to persuade Kuroda Shuichi and Takaji Seiichi.

Could it be that I, the CEO of Mitsubishi Bank, am not even as valuable as a newcomer?

It seems this brat really has some background that he doesn't know about.

It was at this moment that...

Footsteps came from outside the cell, followed by the sound of a metal lock being turned.

The iron gate was pulled open.

A guard stood at the door: "Gu Yutian, someone is visiting."

Kouyuhiko slowly stood up and followed the guard through the corridor into the visiting room.

He saw his wife through the glass.

She was wearing a dark gray coat, her hair was a little messier than when we last met, and her eyes were slightly red.

She sat across the glass, holding a white envelope in her hand. When she saw him approaching, her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Kouyuhiko sat down in the chair and picked up the microphone.

...You've arrived.

His wife's voice came through the receiver, slightly hoarse: "You've lost weight."

Kouyuhiko didn't respond to that question, but instead asked, "How are things at home?"

"Everything is fine. The lawyer is making progress, so you don't need to worry."

After she finished speaking, she was silent for a moment, then lowered her voice as if she remembered something important: "By the way, there's something I need to tell you. Last Friday, the head office made a decision: Deputy Manager Yusuke Takagi will be transferred to the Osaka branch as branch manager."

Kouyuhiko nodded: "Takagi—"

...He's a smart man. He's worked at head office for over ten years, but hasn't found a suitable opportunity to be transferred elsewhere.

"The location of the Osaka branch is a great springboard for him."

He and Yusuke Takagi have always had a good personal relationship.

Although Yusuke Takagi was not in the same department as him when they were at the Tokyo headquarters, the two often met at drinking parties and training sessions, and they knew each other quite well.

Kouyuki's wife then asked, "He sent me to deliver a message: you're most familiar with the Osaka branch area. Is there anything he needs to be aware of?"

Kouyuhiko was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Tell him to be careful of a newcomer named Kiryu Yaya."

The wife kept those words in mind and didn't ask any further questions.

She reached out and gently pressed her hand against the glass.

"I will pass on the message to Vice Minister Takagi."

"Take care of yourself."

Kouyuhiko did not answer.

He simply sat there, looking at the tired face across the glass, and nodded.

He knew he might not see her for a long time.

Visiting hours have ended.

His wife stood up, nodded slightly to him, and then turned and left the visiting room.

The iron gate slowly closed behind them.

Outside the Osaka Detention Center.

It's still raining.

Gu Yutian's wife walked out of the gate with an umbrella and quickly walked towards a black sedan parked by the roadside.

The car door was pushed open from the inside.

She bent down and sat in the passenger seat; the sound of the door closing sounded particularly muffled in the rain.

A man was sitting in the driver's seat.

He was around forty years old, wearing a dark gray shirt, giving off a distinctly elite vibe.

He is Yusuke Takagi.

Seeing Kouyu's wife sit down, he gently took her hand and asked, "Mai, what did he say?"

Mai Kouda frowned, seemingly also somewhat puzzled, as she relayed Hiko Kouda's words.

Upon hearing this, Takagi Yusuke burst into laughter: "What? He actually told me to be careful of a newcomer?"

"Kiryuu Yaya? I'll remember that name."

But I have to say, this is the most ridiculous thing Takagi Yusuke has ever heard in his life.

He smiled and said to Kouyuu Mai, "No wonder Kouyuu Hiko was brought down. With his cowardice, even if he didn't step down this time, he would have had to step down sooner or later."

Kouyuu Mai hummed in agreement, looked at him tenderly, and nestled in his arms: "Yusuke, you're all I can rely on now."