Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 343 Everything is ready, only the east wind is lacking

Tokyo National Tax Bureau.

These five large characters struck Hiroki Arai's heart like a hammer, causing his hand holding the phone to tremble and his whole being to momentarily daze.

He simply couldn't understand why things had developed to this point.

Why is the IRS involved?

And they've gotten involved so blatantly.

While cursing Hanayama-in Taki, Arai Hiroki was mentally processing the current situation.

The fake bank statement he forged has been sent to Mitsubishi Bank.

The data retrieved by the National Taxation Bureau was naturally the original data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank, which was genuine and accurate transaction data.

Once the two transaction records are compared...

Those deleted records of hundreds of millions of yen, those three months of blanks filled with cash deposits, and those receipt numbers that were skipped.

Everything will be completely exposed!

Chiyoda is finished with Mitsubishi Bank.

If the IRS were to investigate further, then there's no need to say more.

etc----

Things haven't gotten to the worst point yet.

Hiroki Arai took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He can only pray now that the IRS has retrieved this material for some other purpose and that it has nothing to do with Mitsubishi Bank.

The two documents will not come into contact.

Otherwise, things would become a complete disaster.

Hiroki Arai sighed softly.

It's not a pleasant feeling to hand over your fate to someone else.

But there is no way.

After thinking for a moment, Hiroki Arai dialed Shinnosuke Nakajima's number.

This time, as soon as the call connected, Hiroki Arai spoke up: "Managing Director Nakajima, Taki Hanayama from the Tokyo Tax Bureau went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank today. They retrieved information from Chiyoda Heisei..."

Complete account transaction details from January of the first year to the present.

"Tokyo Metropolitan Bank has confirmed that there is no way to stop it, and the transaction records will be handed over before today."

Konosuke Nakajima was slightly taken aback, clearly also caught off guard by the news.

The IRS’s sudden intervention clearly shattered his expectations.

He asked, puzzled, "Why would the IRS investigate Chiyoda's bank statements, especially at this crucial time?"

Unlike Hiroki Arai, Konosuke Nakajima had already keenly sensed that something was wrong.

He knew about Taki Hanayamain, a young and promising talent from the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office.

Because of his excellent handling of the Koudahiko case, he was transferred from Osaka to the Tokyo National Tax Bureau.

But why would Hanayama-in Taki request Chiyoda's bank statements at this crucial juncture?

As soon as Mitsubishi Bank received Chiyoda's falsified data, the National Tax Agency immediately followed suit.

With the timing so precise, Konosuke Nakajima couldn't possibly be naive enough to think the two were unrelated.

But who could it be?

Thinking of this, Konosuke Nakajima prepared to reassure Hiroki Arai first, while Chiyoda couldn't afford to panic: "Arai, don't panic."

"It's the IRS's business to retrieve bank statements. As long as we don't cooperate, it will take them time to verify them."

"Besides, they are investigating tax issues, which is different from our internal investigation at Mitsubishi Bank. There's nothing to worry about."

"But----"

Before Hiroki Arai could say anything more, Konosuke Nakajima swiftly cut him off: "There are no 'buts'!"

"Please double-check all related contracts and accounting vouchers over the next couple of days."

"If the IRS contacts you, just cooperate and don't say anything else."

"Leave the rest to me."

Hearing Konosuke Nakajima say this, Hiroki Arai breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Understood!"

After saying that, Konosuke Nakajima hung up the phone.

He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with thoughts.

He has been in the banking system for thirty years.

I've seen the bubble inflated to its maximum, and I've also seen the land price collapse followed by a mountain of bad debts.

In those years.

Konosuke Nakajima witnessed far too much.

He also believed that as long as he stood high enough, the storms wouldn't reach him.

But this time...

His feelings were completely different from before.

Chiyoda, that's the most crucial link in his funding channels, and it's been locked up to this extent.

This made Konosuke Nakajima feel a little flustered, and he could no longer maintain his previous calm.

After thinking for a moment, he picked up the phone and dialed Kenichi Sato's number.

"Executive Director Sato, I have something to report to you."

As soon as the phone rang, Konosuke Nakajima relayed the information he had just learned: "This morning, the Tokyo National Tax Bureau went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank, and Taki Hanayama personally led a team to retrieve all the bank statements from January of the first year of the Heisei era in Chiyoda to the present."

Upon hearing this news, Kenichi Sato frowned.

"What!?"

"Didn't you hear a single thing beforehand that Hanayama-in Taki went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank to retrieve bank statements?"

Konosuke Nakajima responded as before: "No, Taki Hanayama's actions this time were very sudden. Even the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank only found out after he blocked their door."

"I even got the information from Arai."

Kenichi Sato raised his hand and tapped the table a few times.

"Don't we have anyone with us at Tokyo Metropolitan Bank?"

"Yes, but what Huashan Taki brought was an official retrieval letter from the National Taxation Bureau. With this retrieval letter, no one dared to stop him."

Kenichi Sato also sensed the difficulty of the problem.

"In other words, Chiyoda's actual cash flow has already reached the National Tax Agency."

"Yes."

"What about the fake one?"

"It has been delivered to Mitsubishi Bank and should now be in the hands of the special investigation team."

Trouble.

Ken Sato was completely baffled.

However, he suddenly realized something was wrong and asked Nakajima Konosuke, "You mean, the National Taxation Bureau went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank as soon as the investigation team obtained the fake bank statements?"

"Aren't these two moving at a bit too in sync?"

Konosuke Nakajima cautiously asked, "What do you mean?"

After a moment's thought, Kenichi Sato concluded definitively: "Hanayama-in Taki and the Special Investigations Team are in cahoots!"

"Kiryuu Yaya negotiated with Hanayama-in Taki to stop. Now, Hanayama-in Taki has suddenly started investigating Chiyoda, and the timing is just right."

After the special investigation team sent a letter to Tokyo Metropolitan Bank, do you think this was a coincidence?

Konosuke Nakajima's pupils contracted slightly: "You mean, Yaya Kiryu is teaming up with Taki Hanayama?"

Takeru Satoh nodded slightly: "That's the most likely possibility."

Konosuke Nakajima remained silent for a moment, realizing once again how troublesome this young man was. He thought for a moment and asked, "Executive Director Sato, should I transfer Kiryu Yaya out of the Special Investigations Team now?"

Kenichi Sato shook his head: "It's too late."

"Kiryu Yaya just found out something and you transferred him away. Your actions are too obvious."

Konosuke Nakajima was at a loss for what to do: "So what do you mean?"

Kenichi Sato pondered for a moment: "Who do you think the Special Investigation Team's ultimate target is?"

Konosuke Nakajima thought for a moment, then lowered his voice: "It should be me."

Kenichi Sato gave an affirmative answer: "That's right."

"The investigation team traced Yusuke Takagi to Chiyoda, and then from Chiyoda to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank. The end of this line is you."

"And for the special investigation team, bringing down a managing director is clearly a great achievement."

Upon hearing this, Konosuke Nakajima slumped in his chair, his vision blurring.

His voice became hoarse: "Executive Director Sato, what should I do now?"

During the phone call, Kenichi Sato did not give an immediate reply.

The sound of fingers tapping on the table rang out again and again.

"Nakajima, how many clues did you leave behind along the Chiyoda line?"

Konosuke Nakajima fell silent instantly.

Sometimes silence is the answer.

Kenichi Sato knew the answer and sighed.

"Nakajima, you have two things to do now."

Konosuke Nakajima quickly responded, "Please speak, Executive Director Sato."

Kenichi Sato pondered for a moment and said, "First, you must cut off all contact with Chiyoda right now. Do not continue any communication with Hiroki Arai, whether by phone or in writing, and do not meet with him."

Konosuke Nakajima froze: "But—"

He wanted to say something, but Kenichi Sato didn't give him the chance.

"Secondly, you need to be prepared to separate Chiyoda's accounts."

"If the IRS finds that Chiyoda's bank statements are problematic, you need to make sure they can only find Chiyoda."

Konosuke Nakajima understood what Kenichi Sato meant.

Abandon Chiyoda!

Konosuke Nakajima's voice was tinged with bitterness: "Executive Director Sato, Chiyoda has been my channel for ten years, and you're just going to give up like this—"

"So what if it's ten years!"

Kenichi Sato's voice rose considerably.

"Nakajima, you've worked in the banking system for thirty years."

"You should know better than I do that chess pieces are meant to be discarded."

Konosuke Nakajima closed his eyes.

"But there's just too much stuff going on in Chiyoda. What if the National Tax Agency discovers those financial transactions—"

Kenichi Sato interrupted Konosuke Nakajima again: "That's why I said we need to cut ties."

"Hiroki Arai is a smart man; he knows what to say and what not to say, so there's no need to worry about Chiyoda."

o

"What we need to do now is to pull you out of Chiyoda."

Konosuke Nakajima sighed, "I understand. I'll resolve it as soon as possible."

"Thank you for your guidance, Executive Director Sato."

Tokyo Metropolitan Bank Headquarters.

Reception room of the Business Administration Department.

Hanayama Inoki leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest, feeling utterly bored.

The reception room was large and decorated in a warm and inviting style.

But no one seems to care about this IRS official, which is quite intriguing.

for a long time.

Deputy Chief of Staff Manabe pushed the door open again and walked in, his voice ingratiating: "Prosecutor Hanayama, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"The printing schedule for Chiyoda from January of the first year of the Heisei era to the present has been arranged, and the printing has now begun."

"The second sales team is doing the final check; it should take about twenty more minutes."

Hanayama-in Taki didn't look at Vice Minister Manabe, but instead raised his wrist to glance at his watch, then frowned and scolded, "Too slow!"

Vice Minister Manabe immediately bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle: "I'm very sorry, I'll go and urge them again for you."

Hanayama-in Taki tapped his fingers lightly twice on the sofa.

When Deputy Chief of Staff Manabe entered the reception room for the second time, his forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and his voice still carried a fawning tone: "Prosecutor Hanayama, the printing press has been completed and is currently undergoing final binding. I have arranged for someone to deliver it to this reception room once it is bound."

Hanayama Inoki looked up and glanced at Vice Minister Manabe.

He then glanced at his watch to check the time.

Then, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Vice Minister Manabe."

"Yes."

Hanayama-in Taki glanced at the empty reception room.

"I will record the cooperative attitude of Dumin Bank in the investigation report as factual."

Vice Minister Manabe's ingratiating expression froze.

Hanayama-in Taki glanced at Vice Minister Manabe one last time, then leaned back on the sofa.

He closed his eyes, having no intention of communicating with Vice Minister Manabe any further.

Five minutes later.

A young employee strode into the reception room carrying a brown paper file bag, placing his hands on the coffee table. The file bag was sealed with the official seal of the Second Section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank.

"Prosecutor Hanayama Inoki, the entire printout has been completed, totaling sixty-seven pages."

Hanayama Inoki slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the junior employee for a moment before moving to the file folder on the coffee table.

He stood up after taking the file folder in his hand.

That's all for now.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Manabe immediately stood half a step behind Taki Hanayama, escorted him to the elevator, and bowed, saying, "Take care, Prosecutor Hanayama."

Kayama Inoyu did not turn around.

Sitting in the elevator, feeling its slow movement, a smile curved at the corner of my lips.

His gaze fell on the file folder in his hand.

After leaving the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank, Taki Hanayama did not get into the car immediately.

Instead, he stood on the steps and dialed Kiryu Yaya's number.

"Kiryu-kun, I got the stuff."

"I'll have someone deliver it to you this afternoon."

"You have two items together, how do you plan to use them?"

Things went smoothly, and Kiryu Yaya smiled happily, saying his thoughts: "First, compare the results, then determine the breakthrough point."

"Prosecutor Hanayama, leave the rest to me."

"It's good that you know what's going on."

"But before that, there's something I need to remind you of."

"Please speak."

Hanayama-in Taki recalled his recent experience: "When I went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank to check my bank statements today, Vice Minister Manabe was clearly stalling for time. Someone at the Tokyo Metropolitan Bank had given me advance notice regarding the Chiyoda issue."

Kiryu Yaya was not surprised.

"It's most likely Nakajima Konosuke."

Kayama-in Taki warned, "We've already alerted them; you don't have much time left."

"Once Konosuke Nakajima confirms that the funds are in your hands, he will definitely be well prepared and may even turn around and bite you."

Kiryu Yaya verbally expressed his gratitude.

Hanayama-in Taki said with a smile, "If you want to thank me, give me more big cases."

Kiryu Yaya did not refuse.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely let you know as soon as I have any news."

The phone hangs up.

Half an hour later, the real flow chart of Chiyoda, which had been obtained by Hanayama-in Taki, was delivered to Kiryu Yaya's desk.

Kiryu Yaya held the document, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Everything is ready, except for the final push.