Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

Kiryu Yaya could hear the ease in Matsumoto Takahiro's tone.

He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to make the Deputy Minister of General Affairs so happy.

Kiryu Yaya replied:

"Deputy Minister, I'm in my office now."

Matsumoto Takahiro hummed in agreement:

"Then don't move, I'll come down and find you right now."

Kiryu Yaya put away his phone and glanced at Kazama Toru.

He was looking down at the moment, seemingly unaware of the phone call he had just received.

But Kiryu Yaya keenly noticed that Kazama Toru's ears were clearly standing up.

He was clearly paying close attention to his every move.

A few minutes later, Takahiro Matsumoto pushed open the office door.

He went straight to Kiryu Yaya's side.

"Kiryu-kun, I need to come out with you. There's something I need to do."

Kiryu Yaya knew that many things in the office were not easy to talk about, so he didn't ask any questions, picked up his briefcase, and followed Matsumoto Takahiro.

The two walked out of the office one after the other. Kiryu Yaya followed Matsumoto Takahiro and turned into the stairwell at the end of the corridor.

I watched as the fire door closed behind me.

Kiryu Yazai asked Matsumoto Takahiro:

"Deputy Minister, what happened?"

Takahiro Matsumoto turned around.

"We've received news from Osaka."

Kiryu Yaya narrowed his eyes.

At this moment, the only news from Osaka that could excite Matsumoto Takahiro so much was from one person.

Kiryu Yaya asked:

"Takagi Yusuke?"

"Yes."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded, clearly somewhat surprised:

"Kiyomasa Ogaki just called and said that Yusuke Takagi is willing to cooperate with the investigation team."

Kiryu Yaya thought through the cause and effect of the matter in his mind and finally understood the reason behind it.

Konosuke Nakajima has just fallen from power.

Yusuke Takagi expressed his willingness to cooperate with the investigation team.

These two things are clearly related.

Kiryu Yaya chuckled to himself.

When they went to Osaka before, Yusuke Takagi didn't tell them anything.

He was betting that Konosuke Nakajima would help him.

But now Nakajima himself has resigned in a sorry state.

Having lost his backer, Yusuke Takagi couldn't possibly be unaware that he had lost another gamble.

So now he has changed his tune and chosen to cooperate with the special investigation team's actions.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to quickly hand over what I had in my hands in exchange for leniency from the investigation team.

At this point, Takahiro Matsumoto said:

“Kiyomasa Ogaki wants us to go there as soon as possible. Yusuke Takagi is currently at the Osaka branch. Ogaki is worried that if we delay any longer, Yusuke Takagi will change his mind again.”

Kiryu Yaya nodded.

This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly.

He glanced at his watch; it was exactly 11 a.m.

Kiryu Yaya said:

"Shall we set off now?"

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded:

"I've already notified the General Affairs Department in advance and booked the tickets. You need to bring the necessary materials, such as the evidence summary for the Nakajima case, Takagi Yusuke's previous statement, and the two photocopies of Chiyoda's documents. Bring them all."

"Ok."

Kiryu Yaya returned to his office, organized all the materials that Matsumoto Takahiro had given him, and put them into his briefcase.

At that moment, Chihaya Yuri raised her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with a hint of doubt.

"What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Kiryu Yaya lowered his voice, glanced in Kazama Toru's direction, and said very briefly:

"News has come from Osaka that Yusuke Takagi is willing to speak up. I'll go there with the Vice Minister right now. You can stay in Tokyo, and contact me anytime if anything comes up."

Chihaya Yuri quickly nodded.

She clearly realized the importance of the matter, and said:

"This is of great importance, go and come back quickly. Leave Tokyo to me."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her, smiled, and said:

"With a senior like you here, I can rest assured."

After saying that, Kiryu Yaya picked up his briefcase and walked out of the office.

Takahiro Matsumoto was already waiting at the elevator entrance.

The two took the elevator to the first floor and exited through the side door of the lobby.

A government car was parked outside, and the driver was already waiting.

Matsumoto Takahiro got in and instructed the driver:

Tokyo Station.

The official vehicle entered the traffic flow.

Kiryu Yaya leaned back, watching the buildings recede into the distance outside the window, his mind racing with thoughts of Takagi Yusuke.

What does Yusuke Takagi have in his hands?

Kiryu Yaya thought of the previous situation report.

It's clear that someone above Takagi Yusuke has made arrangements.

At the time, Kiryu Yaya only thought that this person was Nakajima Konosuke.

But now Nakajima has already fallen from power.

If Takagi Yusuke can only provide information about Nakajima, then his cooperation will be meaningless.

Therefore, this time when he goes there, Yusuke Takagi will most likely reveal something else.

And among them, there might be something that could be used against Kenichi Sato.

……

On the Shinkansen (bullet train).

The view outside the window has changed from the dense buildings of Tokyo to rolling hills and low-rise factories.

The outline of the Osaka Plain was already appearing before my eyes.

When the train stopped at Osaka Station, it was already 1:40.

When Kiryu Yaya and Matsumoto Takahiro stepped off the platform, the Osaka branch's official car was already waiting at the exit.

After getting in the car, the official vehicle drove straight to the Osaka branch.

2:10 PM.

Osaka branch, fifth floor.

Kiyomasa Ogaki was already standing at the entrance of the corridor, waiting for them.

Seeing the two of them come out of the elevator, he quickly went to greet them:

"Matsumoto-no-Chapter, Kiryu-kun, you must be tired from your journey."

Matsumoto Takahiro looked at him and quickly asked:

"Where is Takagi Yusuke now, Branch Manager of Ogaki?"

Kiyomasa Ogaki replied:

"I've arranged for him to be in the meeting room next door. He's currently in a relatively stable emotional state. He just mentioned wanting to see you."