Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

She looked at everyone in the conference room and calmly announced:

"Closed-loop procedures".

At that moment, Seiji Shiraishi seemed to relax completely.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Masakazu Yamada, Yuri Chihaya, and Yaya Kiryu.

"Thank you."

Ayako Shiraishi also bowed.

Thank you everyone.

Takao Shiraishi stood to the side, remained silent for a few seconds, and then lowered his head.

"Thank you."

Masakazu Yamada waved his hand.

"I'll express my gratitude later. President Shiraishi, corporate financing is debt, and loans obtained through personal equity are also debt."

"Mitsubishi Bank helped Shiraishi Refrigeration protect the Dojima Cold Storage today, but Shiraishi Refrigeration must prove with its operating results that this judgment was correct."

Seiji Shiraishi raised his head and nodded vigorously.

"I see."

Masakazu Yamada said:

"If Shiraishi Refrigeration runs into operational problems, the people in the Bank Debt Management Division won't be any gentler than Kuroda."

Seiji Shiraishi gave a wry smile.

"I will remember that."

Kiryu Yaya looked at Shiraishi Seiji.

This man preserved the company his father left behind.

But the story doesn't end when the bank lends out its funds.

It has simply turned from a battle for control into a long-distance race of managing and repaying debts.

For Seiji Shiraishi, this is an even more difficult and longer road.

Chapter 30 Notice from the Human Resources Department

After the meeting, the Shiraishi family left the bank.

Before the elevator doors closed, Ayako Shiraishi looked back one last time.

Her gaze fell on Kiryu Yaya, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded slightly.

Kiryu Yaya bowed slightly.

The elevator doors closed.

The fifth-floor corridor fell silent again.

Masakazu Yamada let out a long breath and loosened his tie.

"It's finally over."

Chihaya Yuri looked down at the folder in her arms.

"Not yet. The case closure report, enforcement review, guarantee registration acceptance confirmation, and post-loan inspection plan have all been completed."

"Chihaya."

Masakazu Yamada glanced at her:

"Sometimes you really don't leave anyone with any lingering impression."

Chihaya Yuri raised her head, her expression indifferent.

"The lingering effects of banking issues often turn into problems for debt management departments."

Yamada Masakazu was momentarily speechless, then laughed.

"That's true."

He turned to look at Kiryu Yaya.

"Kiryu."

"Yes."

"You've had a hard day."

The phrase "Thank you for your hard work" is very common, but in Japanese workplaces, you hear it countless times every day after get off work.

But when spoken by Section Chief Masakazu Yamada, the weight of the words was entirely different.

Kiryu Yaya stood up straight.

"It's all thanks to the excellent guidance from the section chief and Head of Department Chihaya."

Masakazu Yamada waved his hand.

"Come on. Being humble when you should is a good thing, but being overly humble can seem hypocritical."

Kiryu Yaya knew that the section chief was encouraging him, so he couldn't help but smile.

When I returned to the financing review office on the third floor, the air in the office was noticeably different from usual.

As soon as Kiryu Yaya walked in, the previously scattered conversations quieted down for a moment.

Several employees near the corridor looked up at him, then quickly looked down again.

Next to the photocopier, someone whispered:

"I'm back."

"it's him?"

"The 500 million Yen case involving Shiraishi Refrigeration?"

"I heard they persuaded Section Chief Iwakura!"

"A new employee? They only joined in April?"

"Dongda University".

"The University of Tokyo can't be this outrageous..."

The voice was kept very low, but the office was already quiet, so no matter how low it was kept, some of the echoes could still be heard.

Kiryu Yaya remained expressionless and placed the document back on the table.

There's no such thing as a secret that can be kept hidden in the banking system, especially a financing deal of 500 million euros, which is of such a special nature.

The procedures were completed at 3:20 PM, and the financing department already knew by 3:40 PM. Around 4 PM, different versions of the rumors would likely start circulating in the business department, international department, general affairs department, human resources department, break room, and cafeteria.

By tomorrow morning, even the female office worker at the first-floor window might know:

That new student from the University of Tokyo in the Financing Review Division participated in a €500 million control defense financing deal, which not only influenced the entire case's trajectory but also persuaded the head of the Debt Management Division.

These are normal.

The bank's offices are, in essence, a silent exchange of power.

It's not just money that's being traded; it's also evaluation, impression, faction, and future.

After Kiryu Yaya sat down, he had just opened the case closure report template when he heard the familiar sound of high heels stop beside him.

Chihaya Yuri stood beside his desk.

She placed a can of coffee on his desk; the cans were black and slightly sweetened.

Kiryu Yaya was taken aback for a moment.

"Chihaya Section Chief?"

"I bought too much from convenience stores."

Chihaya Yuri spoke very plainly.

Kiryu Yaya glanced at the still slightly warm can of coffee and naturally assumed it was a reward for his hard work over the past few days.

"Thank you, Department Head."

Chihaya Yuri did not accept his thanks, but simply tapped the documents on his desk with the end of her pen.

"Submit the report as soon as possible."

"Yes."

She paused again before turning around.

"Kiryu-kun."

"Yes."

"You did a good job today."

After saying that, Chihaya Yuri walked back to her seat as if nothing had happened.