Chapter 117: Escalating Actions (Seeking First Subscription)

With his body heat still lingering, Tao Zhiming stood bare-chested before the bedroom window.

"Still not sleeping?" Runa Onodera asked with the utmost gentleness, reaching out to knead his neck as if to reward him for his recent exertion.

"There are very important matters coming up soon, so I can't sleep. I want to sort out my thoughts."

Tao Zhiming was pondering the upcoming battle for Tokyo real estate.

Zhao Yuanxi was helping him handle the structure of his offshore companies, Yosuke Ueno was gaining experience working at a bookstore, and Runa Onodera had followed his instructions to keep those housewives on the edge of their seats, hungry for more. His original plan would not be derailed by that piece of land Takeda Manufacturing was involved in. Of course, now that he had an appetite for a slice of this Tokyo land war, Tao Zhiming would not let the opportunity slip by.

It was suspected that Yuwa Trading had already made a move; those in the know could easily guess their strategy. It was nothing more than relying on their core business of export trade to trap Takeda Manufacturing and gain an extra bargaining chip. Under these circumstances, how would Henghe Trading—Takeda Manufacturing’s core partner—and the powers behind them react?

Tao Zhiming held a card to use against Hiroshi Omiya. Henghe Trading would be interested—very interested—in that card.

...

Takanao Takeda did not make a decision under financial pressure as quickly as Hiroshi Omiya had imagined.

It was late at night, and Takanao Takeda gritted his teeth as he walked to the nightclub’s cashier to pay the bill. There wasn't much money left in the company’s accounts, but to secure new loans, some expenses were unavoidable. The drinks from the night and the girls who kept them company would cost over 600,000 yen.

"That guy can really drink!" he thought. They were all expensive bottles of champagne at 100,000 yen each; how did four people manage to finish four bottles?

Takanao Takeda couldn't fathom it. At this moment, wasn't it easy for everyone else to get a loan? There were even instances of loan officers begging people to borrow money. Yet, for Takeda Manufacturing alone, these people had endless excuses. Why were the loan officers specifically responsible for Takeda Manufacturing being transferred one after another, requiring handover periods before things could be processed?

Takanao Takeda had only one conclusion: perhaps the cassette tape production capacity of the new factory was enough to sway the market share of those major corporations. This was unfair competition! Were these large corporations demanding that their primary and secondary partner banks delay loans to Takeda Manufacturing to facilitate a takeover?

"Those despicable scoundrels!" Takanao Takeda refused to accept it. After hearing the news his Finance Minister, Goro Takeda, brought back, he took a car directly to Aichi Prefecture. Small banks here wouldn't have any dealings with those guys, right?

Takanao Takeda returned to his seat, only to find that the small bank’s finance manager was missing.

"Where is Kondo-kun?" Takanao Takeda asked the two girls still at the table, a sense of foreboding gripping him.

The two girls in silk dresses were still visibly shaken. One of them said, "Kondo-kun said... he had a sudden emergency at home and had to rush back to handle it..."

"An emergency?" A surge of anger rose in Takanao Takeda’s chest. When he left, he didn't even say a word to him at the cashier? After spending so much money all night, he just ran off?

With a livid face, he rushed out to chase after him, but there was no sign of anyone on the street. Fury filled his heart. How far were those people planning to push Takeda Manufacturing?

Meanwhile, in a car driving down the road, Manager Kondo, now sobered by fear, sat like a trembling chick. On either side of him sat a yakuza. The man in the passenger seat turned around and said with a smile, "Kondo-san, that guy owes us a lot of money. If you grant him a loan, it will be frozen immediately, and we won't get a single yen. So, you can't lend him anything."

"I understand... I understand..."

"Take a leave of absence tomorrow. Take your wife and your 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter on a trip. That way, he won't be able to find you."

"I understand!" Manager Kondo shivered. "Without my signature, no loan will be issued to him."

"That’s it, then. You’ve had too much to drink, so we’ll take you straight home."

"...Th-thank you for your trouble!"

His heart was in turmoil. He had been happily drunk when the man sitting next to him suddenly leaned in and whispered his wife’s name. Before he could get angry, the man recited the names of his two children and said, "For their safety, let's step outside and chat." After asking the girls to pass a message to President Takeda, they had brought him here.

What could he do against two yakuza, especially when the safety of his family was in their hands? Damn that President Takeda! Borrowing money from the yakuza and then trying to swindle loans here? Were the big orders, the major corporations, and the real estate talk all a lie? Why would a Tokyo company come all the way to Aichi for a loan?

When the group dropped him off at his doorstep and sped away, Manager Kondo was still trembling with lingering fear. These people had known his address the moment he got into the car. He rushed to his front door, his pale face startling his wife. "What happened?"

"No one broke into the house, right? No one?"

"...No, what is going on?" his wife asked, even more panicked.

"That’s good... that’s good..." Manager Kondo let out a sigh of relief, then realized something. He had only met this President Takeda today. How could those people know his family information so quickly? The more he thought, the more terrified he became. He quickly said, "Quick, pack our bags! We’re going to the countryside for a few days!"

"What on earth is going on?" his wife’s voice was filled with tears.

"Don't nag!" came his roar. "Pack!"

A peaceful home was thrown into chaos, all because of Takanao Takeda’s arrival...

...

"He told me everything! Did he really make 1.3 billion?" Late at night, in an izakaya, Nick Sata and Ichiro Kawasaki had not yet returned home.

Ichiro Kawasaki shook his head firmly. "It’s his business that he told you! I cannot say!"

"Can't you say it now? He’s already a bit annoyed with you. What if he finds out you're doing this again and demands the company punish you?" Nick Sata teased him. "What will you do? Tao-kun is my client too. Should I tell him?"

Ichiro Kawasaki sighed and drank, looking miserable. "It’s that kid, Chora Kudo. He wants to suck up to Tao-kun, so he gets excited and lets things slip. When he’s questioned, he doesn't know what should be said and what shouldn't."

Nick Sata shook his head. "That’s what I can’t stand about this. Why blame him for your problem, senior? I’m definitely telling Tao-kun."

"...You’re right, it’s my fault. I’m only telling you this because you asked, and I’ve had too much to drink and wanted to vent." Ichiro Kawasaki tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol. "But I’ve paid the price. There will be absolutely no bonus. Because of this mistake, any hope of being promoted to Deputy Manager is completely gone."

"Are you trying to find Tao-kun to ask him to put in a good word for you or to ask for the company’s understanding?"

"It’s useless. I just want to find Tao-kun to explain the reasons myself and ask for his personal forgiveness," Ichiro Kawasaki looked exhausted. "Whether Tao-kun expresses understanding to the company or not is no longer important. The important thing is that there are many competitors. In a massive firm like Nomura Securities, even for a small branch, there are hundreds of people qualified for a deputy manager position. My past contributions have been completely ignored. Even if the manager wanted to promote me, he couldn't in the face of accusations from others. Last time, those housewives were just too terrifying; they made such a huge scene."

Nick Sata could only pat his shoulder. "That’s why I quit. You and your internal factions. The management style of American companies is much freer. So, what do you plan to do next?"

"What can I do? I’m almost 40, and Nomura is still a major firm after all," Ichiro Kawasaki said despondently. "But if, after this fund period ends, those housewives don't forgive me and continue to entrust their money to me, the future will be pitch black. So, the most important thing is that they make money!"

"Will you be transferred to places like Shikoku or Hokkaido?"

Ichiro Kawasaki shuddered and gritted his teeth. "No more drinking! I’m going home to get some sleep! The manager said that starting tomorrow, we are preparing for a week-long, 24/7 round-the-clock shift. I’m betting my fate on this too!"

...

"Chairman, something is wrong! The magnetic powder supplier for Takeda Manufacturing suddenly gave in and said they are open to negotiations..."

"Hiroshi!" Watanabe Akira’s voice on the phone was sharp. "This matter was never going to be easy! If it were easy, would we have had to pay such a high price? Just keep an eye on it for now; I’m busy!"

"..." Having received the news early in the morning, Hiroshi Omiya was left speechless by the dial tone after reporting to Watanabe Akira. For Yuwa, what could be more important than the massive cake of the National Railway reform? Only the Financial Technology Department he had been focusing on, perhaps.

Hiroshi Omiya sat down, brow furrowed. Why did the supplier, who had refused to budge, suddenly agree to talk? If they had sufficient raw materials, Takeda Manufacturing might be able to fire on all cylinders, complete the order for Henghe Trading in time, and collect the final payment. Although that payment wouldn't be enough to cover the principal, interest, and employee salaries Takeda Manufacturing owed, the boost in morale could not be underestimated.

It seemed that Takeda Manufacturing’s upstream suppliers, downstream trade partners, and financing channels had almost all been cut off. The power behind the magnetic powder supplier must also be one of the major conglomerates.

As Hiroshi Omiya was still thinking, the phone rang again.

After he picked up, Ichiro Heijoji’s voice came through. "President Omiya, there’s a new development."

"Please, go ahead!" Hiroshi Omiya perked up.

"Takanao Takeda’s house has been piled high with trash at the entrance; the scene is quite amusing," Ichiro Heijoji laughed heartily. "Someone glued a torn woman’s kimono to the wall by the door and wrote next to it: 'Pay up! Pay back the money!'"