Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

The mother's voice was soft, but firm.

"Being able to see the kindness in others is kindness itself. Not everyone can see this."

Mizuna Yayoi pursed her lips and remained silent.

My eyes feel a little hot.

"Oh, right."

The mother's voice suddenly switched back to its usual tone:

"Do you have enough for living expenses? Do you need me to send you some more?"

Mizuna Yayoi quickly sniffed and answered in as light a tone as possible:

"That's enough. I still have thirty or forty million euros on hand, enough to last until the end of the month. Mom, you don't need to worry about me."

She said this in a very natural tone.

"Okay, Mom, I'm hanging up now. The section chief is in the office."

"Mina!"

Her mother called out to her. Her voice was still gentle, but there was something very light and faint in her tone, like the outline of distant mountains.

"If you encounter any trouble, be sure to tell your mother, and she will look into President Nakano's case."

"...I understand, Mom. But I will rely on myself."

A very soft sigh came from the other end of the phone, which sounded like a very soft laugh.

Then the call ended.

……

Kiryu Yaya sat at his workstation, looking at the system notification.

[World line converging - fork two selected]

[10 Red Bulls (Powerful) have been added to system storage]

[Red Bull Power]: It can keep you energized for 24 hours after drinking, with no side effects.

Having not rested all afternoon, Kiryu Yaya received his reward and couldn't wait to take out a can from his system space.

The bottle looks familiar, but the label is gone.

He picked up the Red Bull and gulped it down.

After finishing his drink, Kiryu smacked his lips.

How to describe it? It's a bit like Red Bull with mint.

However, after drinking it, the fatigue did indeed disappear completely.

Just then, the sound of high heels clicking away came from nearby.

Kiryu Yaya watched as Chihaya Yuri walked down the corridor.

"Chihaya-sama!"

Chihaya Yuri, her legs folded over in black stockings, moved with her usual brisk pace.

She stopped next to Kiryu Yaya's workstation.

"Kiryu-kun."

"Yes."

“I just called the equipment supplier at Fuji Metals, and the models and prices on the quotation are accurate. However, they said that President Nomura inquired about the price last month, but there has been no follow-up since.”

Kiryu Yaya relaxed his shoulders; it was just as he had predicted.

Kenichiro Nomura's original words were not like that; he said:

"Equipment suppliers are willing to offer discounts, so prices have dropped a little compared to last month."

If Kenichiro Nomura really intends to buy this equipment, he should have already entered into substantive negotiations with the equipment supplier.

But the equipment supplier said, "There was no follow-up."

In other words, Kenichiro Nomura never pushed forward with this deal.

So what does he want to do when he brings the equipment quote to the bank to apply for a loan?

The answer is obvious.

Chihaya Yuri said to Kiryu Yaya with a hint of admiration in her eyes:

"The section chief has suspended the loan. Tomorrow we'll go to Fuji Metals to assess the current value of the raw materials. If there are any problems, we'll immediately reject the loan application. If there are indeed problems, then Kiryu-kun, you've prevented a bad debt!"

Kiryu Yaya quickly stood up:

"Not at all, it's all thanks to the department head's proper training; as long as they haven't caused any trouble for the bank."

Chihaya Yuri was very satisfied with Kiryu Yaya's humble attitude and nodded in satisfaction.

But to their surprise, before they could even go to Fuji Metals to check the raw materials...

Kiryu Yaya's deeds had already spread throughout the bank.

Chapter 10 Mid-level Management Meetings

At 2:30 PM, the Osaka branch held its mid-level management meeting.

The meeting room was on the fifth floor, with department heads and section chiefs sitting on either side of a long table.

The chief manager is branch manager Takahiro Matsumoto.

Matsumoto Takahiro was in his early fifties, with gray hair, but it was neatly combed.

This branch manager, transferred from Tokyo, has been in office for less than a year, but his style has already left a deep impression on the entire Osaka branch.

Meticulous, rigorous, and uncompromising.

"This week's agenda."

The branch manager of Matsumoto didn't speak loudly, but everyone in the meeting room could hear him clearly:

"Progress in handling non-performing loans, and risk control for new financing. Please proceed."

The head of the sales department first reported on the collection situation this week, followed by the debt management section of the financing department, and then the financing planning section.

When it was time for the financing review class, Masakazu Yamada opened the folder in front of him.

"The Financing Review Division received a total of twelve new financing applications this week. Ten of them have passed the review and entered the signing process. One was rejected due to insufficient collateral. And one..."

He paused.

"Still under review."

The branch manager of Matsumoto's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Masakazu Yamada is a decisive person. The fact that he used such a vague statement as "still under review" speaks volumes.

Which one?

"Fuji Metal Industries. Automotive parts processing plant in Higashi-Osaka. Application amount: 30 million euros, for equipment upgrades."

“I remember this place.”

The branch manager of Matsumoto tapped his finger lightly on the table:

"I've been following this case for two months. The fundamentals should be fine."

"That's how it is from a fundamental perspective."

Masakazu Yamada carefully considered his words:

"But a new student in our class discovered some suspicious points."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

"Newbie?"

The sales manager sitting diagonally opposite looked up, his tone revealing undisguised surprise:

"A newcomer to the financing review department?"

"Yes, Kiryu. A new employee who joined in April, a graduate of the University of Tokyo."

Masakazu Yamada briefly explained the whole story.

From Kiryu Yaya discovering the anomaly in the raw material procurement amount, to drawing a hand-drawn cash flow chart, to receiving feedback from the equipment supplier that "I inquired about prices last month but haven't heard back since,"...

He spoke succinctly, but he covered every key point.

"Fuji Metals' purchases from its largest supplier over the past three years suddenly increased by 30 million yen in the fourth quarter of last year. Sales revenue did not show significant growth during the same period. And the equipment loan applied for this time is also exactly 30 million yen."

Masakazu Yamada turned a page of the documents in his hand.

"Kiryu believes there is a connection between these three."

No one spoke in the meeting room.