Chapter 118: Driven to the Brink (Seeking First Subscription)

“...Who did this?” Hiroshi Omiya was stunned upon hearing it. Who would resort to such measures against Takeda Manufacturing?

“A reckless gang from the Chūkokubangzi society. You should pay attention—judging by the method, it seems like some real estate company that doesn’t understand the situation has blindly plunged into the whirlpool you mentioned.”

Omiya chuckled wryly. “The Chūkokubangzi society? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. As per your request, we have people watching there 24/7. It happened at 4 a.m., and Mrs. Takeda, who left for work in the morning, was so frightened she burst into tears on the spot.”

“...Really,” Omiya shook his head in helpless amusement. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Investigate this matter thoroughly, and keep an eye on what happens next!”

“I knew you’d say that. We’ve already started. Be quick—others are investigating them too. If we want faster results, it won’t be cheap.”

“...When have you ever been short of money?”

“I just have to report to President Omiya, after all,” Ichirō Byōdōji laughed heartily. “Now I have the confidence to send out more operatives.”

Not long after hanging up, Omiya picked up the phone again.

This time, he spoke quietly: “Accelerate the project on the land in Mogami Gokuraku Town as originally planned. Remember, if Ryū Inoue faces pressure and the Shindō Group escalates their tactics, deploy that long-buried pawn.”

A low voice replied on the other end: “Understood. We’ll leave one company untouched and let the Shindō Group handle them.”

Because of the intrusion of a force completely unaware of the dangers involved, the storm surrounding Takeda Manufacturing suddenly intensified...

Takenao Takeda’s heart seethed with rage, but outwardly he remained calm.

He stood at his front door, watching the workers he had hired scrape away the graffiti on the walls and clear the garbage from the entrance.

The factory was not far away, but he chose to wait here.

Whoever was behind this would eventually show themselves.

He didn’t believe it was Mitsubishi Bank, as he only owed them a loan.

Takeda Manufacturing had always operated on its own funds. Was deciding to take out a loan to build a new factory really a mistake?

Since then, nothing had gone smoothly.

“Yamami, go stay at your mother’s place for a while,” Takenao’s gaze darkened. “I have a bad feeling this incident is no simple matter. The Mitsubishi loan’s repayment date hasn’t arrived yet—someone must have ulterior motives.”

His wife, Komori Yamami, was anxious. “But what about Tarō?”

“I’ll make sure he stays at school as much as possible, maybe stays with classmates, goes to and from school with others,” Takenao clenched his fists until they cracked. “We absolutely must make those bastards pay!”

His cold eyes scanned the surroundings. The neighbors, curious onlookers, seemed embarrassed at first but then showed concern.

Yet Takenao’s gaze reached beyond them.

Throughout Tokyo, real estate companies large and small were buying up land and houses. He had encountered this firsthand—someone was trying to buy the land of his old factory, offering 3.5 billion yen.

Due to the appreciation of the yen, many small manufacturing factories reliant on exports were on the brink of collapse, their assets and skilled workers being acquired wholesale by large corporations. He had faced this too. TDK, Sony, Yamato... numerous big companies had approached him, with offers up to 7 billion yen.

Bank deposits were being withdrawn en masse, and financial officers responsible for corporate lending competed to find quality clients with land and stable income to extend loans. This was not happening to him. In fact, the opposite was true—last night, he had spent nearly a million yen chasing after Director Kondō, who slipped away.

Takenao had just rushed back after receiving a call from Kazuo Tanimura, bearing good news from the magnetic powder supplier Arimatsu, only to be informed of trouble at home that required his immediate attention.

He knew he needed to stay calm.

Too many problems had piled up before him, shrouded in uncertainty and confusion.

Why had Takeda Manufacturing suddenly encountered such grave difficulties?

Even after the doorway was cleaned up, no one came to see him.

Takenao returned inside and finally relaxed a little, sighing as he took a seat.

This nearly 150-square-meter detached house had been home for over twenty years, yet now its peace was shattered.

Perhaps tonight it would be littered with garbage again.

He gritted his teeth and began dialing: “Gorō, come to my house.”

Before long, his eldest nephew, Takeda Manufacturing’s finance director Gorō Takeda, arrived.

“Have you reached any conclusions? How much help can their proposals really offer us?” Takenao asked, weary.

He hadn’t slept all night and hadn’t even participated in discussions about the new terms from the magnetic powder supplier.

Gorō frowned. “The supply price has returned to previous levels, but they want us to purchase larger quantities. If we pay a deposit, production costs won’t rise, but...”

Gorō was also exhausted, but when Yamami entered with tea, he stood and bowed in thanks before continuing: “President, I’ve already run around all the banks in Tokyo this week, but there’s no progress. Even the credit unions with yakuza ties that used to lend to us are now demanding higher interest rates. What should we do?”

Takenao slammed his fist on the table in frustration. “Those bastards! Gorō, this is serious! I called you here to ask, from your financial perspective, why do these companies really want to acquire us? With the new factory’s production capacity, how much impact would our joining one side have on the market?”

“Joining Yamato Industrial would have the most obvious effect. But ironically, the highest bid comes from TDK, which has the strongest financial backing! Of course, if it’s a defensive move on their part, that makes some sense.”

“This is an industry the Takeda family has built over many years, and we’ve clearly rejected their offers, yet they’re still making things difficult!” Takenao paced the room, unable to suppress his anger. “But I don’t think that’s their real motive! Could it be, like the real estate companies, they’re just after the land we hold?”

“Either is possible,” Gorō said helplessly. “Real estate prices in Minato Ward have risen over 50% since last year. Someone willing to offer 3.5 billion yen was unthinkable two years ago. If we’d had that price back then, why would we have needed a Mitsubishi loan? You wanted to expand the factory, after all, but space here is limited.”

“That’s a different matter! At this point, we only need that crucial 1 billion yen. Isn’t it better to keep the land ourselves? These greedy bastards! Even if they offer 4 or 5 billion, I won’t be defeated so easily!”

“But what about raw materials? Director Kimura says we only have ten days’ worth left! If we can’t deliver to Kōwa Trading by the end of May, we won’t even get their final payment and will face penalties.”

“One thing after another!” Takenao seethed, utterly helpless.

Seeing his wife sitting nearby, quietly listening, he sighed and said to Yamami, “Pack your important things, Yamami. Stay at your mother’s place tonight.”

Distressed, she began gathering her belongings. Takenao’s face was dark as he growled, “Want me to give in? It’s just about money! Sign the contract with the magnetic powder supplier under the new terms!”

“But where do we get the money to pay now?” Gorō asked incredulously.

Takenao looked somberly at his house and smiled bitterly. “Since they’ve started piling garbage here, I’ll sell this house and live at the factory!”

Hearing his resolute voice, the bedroom floor was suddenly filled with the sound of things scattering. Yamami gasped.

Had it really come to selling the house to survive?

...

“That stubborn old man!” Hiroshi Omiya sat down grimly after hearing the news. “Takeda Manufacturing won’t sign with us until they fulfill their order with Kōwa Trading. They’d rather sell their house than pay the final installment and penalties?”

“The real estate companies that don’t understand the situation have already been invited for talks,” Kiyoshi Handa, specially assigned to assist Omiya’s plan, said. “Takenao Takeda is strategic—he even made a deal with the magnetic powder supplier first and immediately summoned those companies to negotiate under a strict payment deadline. If word leaks, he has no leverage.”

Omiya paced his office, stopping suddenly. “Do you think he’s guessed something and is using this as bait to expose someone inside Takeda Manufacturing who’s been bribed—or to find out who’s first to snap up his house?”

“But the contract is real,” Handa frowned. “If they can’t pay on time, they won’t get materials and must pay penalties. He’s probably backed into a corner. What do you think? Should we seize his house? It could be a bargaining chip later.”

“If he hands it over, we’ll take it!” Omiya smiled darkly. “But first we need to clear out those small fry. The Chūkokubangzi gang has crossed the line—surely Mitsubishi will intervene? The one offering 3.5 billion for that land is arrogant. If we eliminate the biggest gang among them, the others with some intel will think twice. No rush—we’ll wait two days. Takeda is desperate for money.”

News of Takenao’s plan to sell the house spread quickly; the first day saw a flood of real estate agents swarming in.

Meanwhile, Yamami packed while watching her husband negotiate over the price of their home.

Her feelings were understandable.

Still, she silently finished packing the most important items.

“Gorō will take you to your mother’s. I’ll arrange for a vehicle to move the rest to the new factory,” Takenao said, standing by the car as his wife wiped away tears. “It’ll get better. I’ll fix all this.”

“But how can you rest if you live at the factory?” Yamami sobbed.

“It’s fine. Let’s go; the journey will be long.”

Suppressing his own emotions, Takenao saw her off and returned to the house.

The packed boxes were stacked neatly.

The familiar home had changed completely. Ever since the garbage started piling up, everything had entered a new phase.

From this moment on, it was no longer just a business problem—it was a true fight against an enemy.

Takenao Takeda’s gaze was chilling, like a beast cornered and desperate.