Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

She flipped through the pages from the first to the last, reading every single word, her expression remaining completely unchanged.

When I turned to the page with the suggestions, my gaze lingered for two seconds longer than before.

After turning the last page, she closed the report, looked up at him, and then...

"Well written."

"The case details are clear, the chain of evidence is complete, and the conclusion is accurate. I didn't expect you to write that last part about debt restructuring. That's not something a newcomer would usually consider."

Kiryu Yaya bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Section Chief Chihaya."

Chihaya Yuri tucked the report into her folder and looked up at him.

"I'll report this directly to the section chief, who will then report to the branch manager. The Fuji Metals case is now officially closed."

As she spoke, she took a palm-sized brown paper envelope from the drawer, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards him.

"Here's your bonus."

Kiryu Yaya was taken aback for a moment.

"bonus?"

"According to the bank's internal regulations, the reward for exposing loan fraud is one-thousandth of the amount involved, which is awarded to prevent bad debts from occurring. One-thousandth of 30 million is 30,000. In addition, there is an extra bonus specially approved by the section chief, making a total of 50,000 euros."

Kiryu Yaya took the envelope, and was momentarily stunned.

This was the first time he had ever heard of this regulation.

However, upon reflection, it makes sense. Without substantial rewards, everyone would be focused on performance and wouldn't bother to identify problems.

Wouldn't that cause a massive increase in non-performing loans for banks?

Kiryu Yaya ran his fingers over the rough surface of the parchment paper, silently doing some calculations in his mind.

There's over 90,000 in the bank account, plus this 50,000, making it almost 150,000 euros.

Although we are still far from paying off the loan of more than four million yuan, at least we no longer have to worry about rent and food expenses every month.

"Thank you, Section Chief Chihaya. Thank you, Division Chief."

Chihaya Yuri waved her hand.

"You deserve it."

After saying that, she lowered her head and continued looking at the documents on the table.

Kiryu Yaya bowed and took his leave, returning to his workstation. He put the envelope containing the bonus into his briefcase, and the weight on his shoulders seemed to lighten a bit.

Just then, the sound of leather shoes came from the direction of the corridor.

The air in the financing review office area seemed to be held still by an invisible hand; the sounds of talking and turning papers all fell silent within half a second.

The older employee sitting in the front looked up first, then immediately stood up as if he had been burned by something:

"Section Chief."

"Section Chief!"

"..."

Yamada Masakazu strode down the corridor, smiling and nodding to everyone, but without stopping, he went straight to Kiryu Yaya:

"Kiryu."

"Section Chief."

Kiryu Yaya stood up and subconsciously straightened his tie.

Masakazu Yamada nodded and said:

“Come with me.”

Kiryu Yaya's first thought was the Fuji Metals case, but the review report had just been given to Chihaya Yuri.

He then thought about the issue of departmental affiliation.

Could it be that the section chief was worried that he lacked resolve and wanted to try to persuade him?

But Yamada Masakazu's next words made him pause slightly:

"A customer wants to see you, and the branch manager is there too."

Kiryu Yaya was stunned.

guest?

What's going on? How come he doesn't know anything?

"Don't keep the guests waiting. Let's talk as we walk."

After finishing his sentence, Masakazu Yamada turned and left, taking long and quick strides.

Kiryu Yaya could only hurry to catch up.

Chihaya Yuri, who had overheard the entire conversation, couldn't help but look up at Kiryu Yaya's back and frown slightly.

Weird.

Why would a customer, accompanied by the branch manager, specifically request to meet a newcomer?

In the corridor, the sound of Yamada Masakazu's leather shoes came from the front, followed by Kiryu Yaya's leather shoes, one heavy and one light, alternating on the terrazzo floor.

"Section Chief, what kind of guest is it?"

Masakazu Yamada did not turn around.

"You'll know when it arrives."

The elevator stopped on the fifth floor and the doors opened.

The corridor on the fifth floor is completely different from that on the third floor.

The floor was covered with a thick, dark gray carpet that made almost no sound when you stepped on it. Several reproductions of ukiyo-e prints hung on the walls, depicting actors by Tōshūsai Sharaku, with sharp compositions and heavy ink.

There was a faint scent of sandalwood in the air, very faint, as if it were drifting from a very far place.

Kiryu Yaya suddenly realized something.

Fifth floor.

VIP reception area.

The VIP reception area at Mitsubishi Bank's Osaka branch is not open to just any customer.

He had heard Section Chief Chihaya mention once that the guests who could be received there were either major clients with deposits exceeding one billion yen, or representatives of large enterprises with strategic partnerships with Mitsubishi Bank.

But why would someone like that specifically ask to see me?

Could it be that he doesn't know about my background?

Chapter 19 Shiraishi Refrigeration

Kiryu Yaya followed Yamada Masakazu through the thick carpeted corridor.

At the end of the corridor was a dark wooden door.

There was no sign on the door that said "Reception Room," but there was a small brass plaque embedded on the side of the door that read "First Reception Room."

During Kiryu Yaya's onboarding training, someone in the HR department mentioned that the use of the first reception room on the fifth floor required the branch manager's approval.

Masakazu Yamada stopped, straightened his tie, and then gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

The voice of the branch manager of Matsumoto came from inside.

Masakazu Yamada pushed open the door.

Kiryu Yaya followed him inside.

The first reception room is much larger than the regular reception room.

A traditional Chinese ink painting hangs on the wall, depicting a Kyoto temple in the rain.

In the center of the room stood a dark brown reception table, its surface polished so smooth it reflected a person's image. In the corner sat a celadon vase, holding a few newly opened white lilies.

Takahiro Matsumoto sat in the main seat.

There were three people sitting opposite him.

Kiryu Yaya saw Miyazawa Keiko first.

She was wearing a light beige coat over a white shirt, and her hair fell smoothly over her shoulders. Her eyes lit up when she saw Kiryu Yaya enter.

Then there was the young woman sitting next to her.

She was twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with long chestnut hair, exquisite but understated makeup, and a dark blue suit. She looked like a young lady who had just graduated from university.

Finally, it was a man around fifty years old.

He was of medium build, with a gentle face, and dressed in a well-tailored suit, but there was an undeniable weariness between his brows.