Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 329 Deputy Minister, Let's Start a War!

The call was connected.

When the staff member on weekend duty in the financing department answered the phone, there was a hint of hesitation in his voice: "Financing department, Inoue."

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"This is Matsumoto from the General Affairs Department. The investigation team needs to retrieve external payment records since the establishment of Kanto International Development, focusing on consulting, advisory, and research expenditures exceeding ten million yen. The sooner the better."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of typing.

"Mr. Matsushita, this search scope is quite broad—Kanto International Development has had extensive dealings with our bank over the past five years. If we want to conduct a full investigation, it may take some time."

"Investigate as much as you can. Make a preliminary list and send it to the investigation team this afternoon."

"—Understood. I'll begin now."

The phone hangs up.

Matsumoto Takahiro put down the receiver, turned around, and his gaze fell on Kiryu Yaya.

"We should have a preliminary list by this afternoon at the earliest."

Kiryu Yaya nodded without replying.

He could sense that Matsumoto Takahiro's emotions were gradually calming down from the excitement of discovering the sealed files, and he was entering a more cautious waiting phase.

"After the list comes out this afternoon, we'll go through it first. If there are any suspicious targets, we'll start by examining the foreign contracts of Kanto International Development to confirm whether there are any genuine business dealings."

Matsumoto Takahiro returned to his desk and sat down, then looked at Kiryu Yaya: "Kiryu-kun, how much time do you think we have left?"

Kiryu Yaya was silent for a moment.

He understood the true meaning behind Matsumoto Takahiro's question.

Today they retrieved the sealed files. Although only three people knew about this, secrets don't stay hidden forever in the bank.

Konosuke Nakajima might not realize it immediately.

However, if Kazama Toru discovers after Monday that the investigation team's focus has shifted, the news will quickly reach Nakajima.

"If Kazama Tetsuichi has already noticed our movements, then we have at most two days left."

Kiryu Yaya said, "But if he had discovered it a few days later, our window of opportunity would have been longer."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The office fell silent.

The sunlight outside the window was slowly creeping over the dark green canopy of trees in the direction of the Imperial Palace, bathing the entire late summer of Tokyo in a light golden glow.

Summer is almost over.

Around 3:30 pm.

Kiryu Yaya and Matsumoto Takahiro waited patiently.

The financing department called to say that the list had been drawn up and could be faxed to the investigation team's office.

Takahiro Matsumoto agreed.

A thin sheet of fax paper was then ejected.

Matsumoto Takahiro took the paper and scanned it down from the first line. Kiryu Yaya stood beside him and looked at it together.

This list isn't long.

Over the past five years, Kanto International Development has made 31 consulting and advisory expenditures under the guise of external payments, each exceeding 10 million yen.

Most of them are documented:

One is a tax accountant firm in the Kansai region, which charges a fixed tax advisory fee twice a year, with a stable amount.

One is a law firm in Tokyo, handling legal service fees related to several contract disputes.

These are all fairly normal types of demands, and their amounts and quantities do not match the scope they previously defined.

Pass directly.

After repeatedly checking the remaining companies, Kiryu Yaya pointed to the list and said, "Two companies on this list are relatively suitable."

"The first one was the North Kanto Comprehensive Development Institute. Between 2011 and 2014, it received five payments from Kanto International Development, totaling 430 million yen."

"The contract states that the purpose of the transaction is market research and regional development feasibility analysis. The amount for a single transaction ranges from 70 million to 100 million, with payment intervals of approximately three to four months."

He paused, then moved his fingertip to another line.

"The second company is Chiyoda General Planning. From Heisei 1 to Heisei 3, there were a total of 7 payments, totaling 810 million yen."

"The contract states that the purpose of the transaction is policy analysis and investment consulting. The amount for each transaction is over 100 million, and the payment intervals are even shorter, sometimes as short as two months."

"If there are transit points, the characteristics of these two companies are more obvious."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded and said, "Kiryu-kun, thanks to your elimination, our investigation targets have been greatly narrowed down."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and said, "I just happened to think of this idea."

Matsumoto Takahiro chuckled, "Being able to accurately find such a precise and effective method among so many ideas is not something an ordinary person can do."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and said, "You flatter me, Vice Minister."

However, Matsumoto Takahiro was already used to the surprises Kiryu Yaya brought him, so he didn't say much. Instead, he turned to look at the two companies and muttered to himself, "Which of these two companies should we start investigating first?"

Kiryu Yaya analyzed, "Deputy Minister, the North Kanto Comprehensive Development Research Institute seems more like a legitimate research institution. The five payments, totaling 430 million yen, are made at relatively even intervals. From the contract terms to the payment schedule, everything seems reasonable."

"But Chiyoda General Planning is different."

Kiryu Yaya paused slightly before continuing, "These seven payments, totaling 810 million, were concentrated between Heisei 1 and Heisei 3. Each payment averaged over 100 million, with the shortest interval being only two months."

"This time interval is a bit too close together. From the perspective of real estate industry policy analysis, such a high frequency is absolutely unnecessary."

Takahiro Matsumoto took the fax paper, looked at it for a few seconds, and then put it down.

"Chiyoda General Planning... I feel like I've seen that name somewhere before."

Kiryu Yaya did not respond.

He knew that Matsumoto Takahiro was in a state where he vaguely felt something was wrong, but hadn't yet grasped the key point.

In this situation, the best approach is to let him walk along that line on his own.

Kiryu Yaya only needs to give him a push at crucial moments.

Takahiro Matsumoto will make the decision he wants.

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Matsumoto Takahiro put down the fax paper, sat back in his chair, and placed his hands clasped on the table.

His gaze fell on the words "Chiyoda Comprehensive Project" on the paper, as if he had finally put the last piece of the puzzle in the right place.

"If Chiyoda General Planning really is that transit point, then its bank statements should be able to directly prove where the funds ultimately went."

"There's not even a need for accounts from the Kanto International Development."

Kiryu Yaya thought to himself, "Someone like Kurosaki Kengo probably wouldn't be of much use even if he got his hands on the Kanto International Development ledger."

Thinking this through, he finally said, "As long as we can get the transaction details of Chiyoda General Planning, we can confirm its financial relationship with Kanto International Development, whether it is a transit point, and whether it has financial dealings with Managing Director Nakajima and Managing Director Miyamoto."

"If this can be verified, then it is a complete logical loop."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded, then reached for the internal telephone on the table.

A phone call was made.

He hung up the phone and frowned, saying, "Kiryu-kun, things have gotten complicated."

"Chiyoda General Planning's bank is not Mitsubishi, but Tokyo Metropolitan Bank, so we have no way to directly access its transaction records."

Kiryu Yaya knew what Matsumoto Takahiro was talking about.

Although the special investigation team has the highest level of authority within the bank, access to account information across banks is not within its scope of authority.

If other banks are required to cooperate with the investigation, then it must be done through public channels.

If they take this route, the news will reach Nakajima Konosuke in less than half a day.

Kiryu Yaya narrowed his eyes.

This problem is indeed troublesome for the special investigation team.

He had considered non-public methods since public channels were not feasible.

Just like the previous investigation of Yusuke Takagi.

But the problem is, this time Chiyoda General Planning is different.

Yusuke Takagi is an insider at the bank, and a single investigation order from the special investigation team is enough to get Taki Hanayama to cooperate with the investigation.

However, Chiyoda General Planning is not a customer of Mitsubishi Bank, so they do not have the authority to check its bank account statements.

Including Hanayama-in Taki, he wouldn't rashly help the investigation team do such an illegal inquiry without authorization.

So now that the target has been preliminarily identified, how can we obtain Chiyoda General Planning's bank statements without alerting others?

This became a matter of utmost importance.

But after much deliberation, Kiryu realized they had entered a dead end.

The investigation has progressed to this point.

Why try to avoid attracting attention?

Just as he had a flash of inspiration, Matsumoto Takahiro looked up at him, noticed the expression on his face, and couldn't help but ask, "Kiryu-kun, do you have something on your mind again?"

When he asked that question, Takahiro Matsumoto himself didn't have much hope.

But Kiryu Yaya raised his head and calmly met his gaze.

"Deputy Minister, let's start the war!"

The office fell silent for a moment.

Matsumoto Takahiro stopped moving.

His gaze lingered on Kiryu Yaya's face for a few seconds, as if to confirm he hadn't misheard: "You mean—"

Kiryu Yaya's eyes were unusually determined: "We'll take the public route, get the official letter from the special investigation team, and send a request for information directly to the bank where Chiyoda General Planning has an account."

Matsumoto Takahiro frowned slightly: "But this will soon be known to Managing Director Nakajima."

Kiryu Yaya let out a soft sigh, his thoughts becoming clearer: "We're not afraid of him finding out!"

"If Managing Director Nakajima knew that we had found out about Chiyoda General Planning, he would panic, but he wouldn't have time to take any substantial action."

"Because once the official letter is sent, the bank's retrieval process is initiated. It's impossible for him to erase seven or eight years' worth of transaction records in half a day."

Takahiro Matsumoto nodded.

He sat in his chair, his gaze fixed on the fax paper on his desk, pondering the feasibility of the proposed solution.

Use open channels.

This means a complete breakdown in relations, it means bringing the investigation from the shadows into the open, and it means that Konosuke Nakajima's side will launch a full-scale counterattack.

But it also means that they can lock down the most crucial link before their opponents can react.

But the problem is, the Chiyoda General Planning —

Is it really that transit station?

etc----

Takahiro Matsumoto realized that his thinking had also reached a dead end.

If Chiyoda General Planning isn't that transit point, then even if it's publicly accessed, Managing Director Nakajima won't do anything about it.

But if that's the case, then it's just as Kiryu Yaya said.

Once they obtain Chiyoda Corporation's bank statements, they will likely be able to secure evidence of Managing Director Nakajima's fund repatriation.

Therefore, the conditions for starting a war are now ripe enough!

Matsumoto Takahiro suddenly opened his eyes, then stood up, bracing himself on the large desk. He looked up at Kiryu Yaya in front of him and made his decision: "Alright, let's begin!!"

Upon hearing this, Kiryu Yaya let out a soft breath.

He knew what this decision meant.

From this moment on, the war between the investigation team and the faction centered around Konosuke Nakajima is about to begin in full force!

Matsumoto Takahiro didn't say anything more. He picked up the phone on the table and dialed the extension for the General Affairs Department's duty room this time: "Prepare a formal letter for me, addressed to the Business Management Department of Tokyo Metropolitan Bank."

"Content: The Mitsubishi Bank Special Investigation Team has requested assistance in obtaining all account transaction details of Chiyoda General Planning Co., Ltd. from the first year of the Heisei era to the present."

The voice on the other end of the phone said, "Received."

The call was then disconnected.

Matsumoto Takahiro put down the receiver and looked at Kiryu Yaya: "The letter will be sent out first thing tomorrow morning. After Tokyo Metropolitan Bank receives it, it usually takes three to five business days to complete the retrieval and response. However, if they are cooperative, it might be possible to reduce it to three days."

"Three days."

Kiryu Yaya repeated the number.

Three days is enough time for Konosuke Nakajima to do a lot of things.

But as he just said, Chiyoda General Planning couldn't erase all the traces of seven or eight years of history within three days.

In this battle, they launched an attack.

It remains to be seen how Konosuke Nakajima will handle this.

Kiryu Yaya closed his eyes, considered the possible consequences, and then said to Matsumoto Takahiro, "Deputy Minister, after sending the letter, we have a few things to do."

Matsumoto Takahiro's eyes flickered slightly: "You speak."

Kiryu Yaya reminded him, "After sending the letter, you should personally inform President Nakano verbally so that the new direction of the investigation team can be formally recorded in advance."

"If anyone brings up this retrieval procedure later, the bank manager will at least already be aware of it."

Matsumoto Takahiro nodded slowly: "Okay. After the letter is sent tomorrow morning, I will go directly to the bank manager's office."

Kiryu Yaya nodded and continued, "Kazama Toru will definitely ask us what we did over the weekend after he goes to work on Monday."

"There will be no need to hide it or take the initiative to explain it when the time comes."

"Just tell him: He did two things over the weekend. One was to retrieve old files from 1957 (Showa 57), and the other was to send a letter to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank to retrieve the financial statements of the Chiyoda General Planning Company."

"Now that we've decided to go through the open, let's put everything on the table."

After listening, Matsumoto Takahiro walked to the window.

The daylight outside the window is gradually dimming.

The late summer evenings in Tokyo carry an inexplicable sense of melancholy, like the brief calm before a storm.

Then Matsumoto Takahiro turned around and said, "You're right."

"Now that the decision to go to war has been made, there's no need to hide it anymore."

"This battle is a fight to the death!"

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