noveldepot Chapter 27 Meeting with the Shiraishi Brothers
Chapter 27 Meeting with the Shiraishi Brothers
"That's it, let's break up the meeting!"
Matsumoto Takahiro's voice fell.
The chair was gently pushed aside, followed by the sound of a folder closing.
When Iwakura stood up, she glanced at Kiryu Yaya.
"Kiryu-kun."
"Yes."
"Remember what you just said."
Tsuyoshi Iwakura tucked the folder under his arm, his tone cold and hard:
"Banks can bear the risks that arise from their business decisions, but they cannot bear the risks of losing control of procedures."
"If the case involving Shiraishi Refrigeration falls apart due to procedural issues, the debt management department won't go easy on you just because you're a newcomer."
Kiryu Yaya bowed slightly.
"I will remember that, Section Chief Iwakura."
Iwakura nodded and turned to leave the meeting room.
Kiyomasa Ogaki slowly stood up, picked up his teacup, and walked out, muttering to himself:
"These newcomers nowadays..."
It was impossible to tell whether his tone was one of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion) or 无奈 (wúnài, a feeling of helplessness).
After everyone left, only Matsumoto Takahiro, Yamada Masakazu, Chihaya Yuri, and Kiryu Yaya remained in the conference room.
Matsumoto Takahiro did not leave immediately.
He reopened the folder containing the white stone refrigerator, looked at the words "Urgent" in the upper right corner of the cover, and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Section Chief Yamada."
"Yes."
"The formal proposal should be prepared tonight. Put it on my desk before 9 a.m. tomorrow."
"clear."
"Chihaya, the section chief."
"Yes."
"Not a single condition for execution can be omitted. Especially Kuroda Shuichi's 30 million yen loan agreement. We must obtain the entire document."
Chihaya Yuri nodded.
"I will confirm."
Matsumoto Takahiro looked at Kiryu Yaya one last time.
"Kiryu-kun."
"Yes."
"You can inform President Shiraishi."
Kiryu Yaya was slightly taken aback.
Logically, even if the financing review at this level is only an agreement in principle, the section chief or department head should personally contact the client.
But Takahiro Matsumoto did not explain.
Masakazu Yamada understood what the branch manager meant.
In the case of Shiraishi Refrigeration, from Miyazawa Keiko's introduction to Shiraishi Ayako's request in the corridor, and then to the supply chain debt analysis at the meeting just now, Kiryu Yaya is no longer just an ordinary assistant investigator.
In a sense, he had become the most trusted bank window for the Shiraishi family.
It would be most appropriate for him to make this call.
Kiryu Yaya stood up straight.
"clear."
Takahiro Matsumoto added:
"Note the wording. It's not formal approval, but conditional consent in principle."
"Yes."
Matsumoto Takahiro nodded, picked up the documents, and left.
The conference room door closed.
Masakazu Yamada pushed the phone on the table in front of Yaya Kiryu.
"Go ahead and fight."
Kiryu Yaya sat down and opened the business card left by Shiraishi Seiji.
He pressed the number.
The phone rang three times before being answered.
"Shiraishi Refrigeration Co., Ltd."
"Hello, this is the Financial Review Department of Mitsubishi Bank Osaka Branch. This is Kiryu Yaya. Please transfer me to President Shiraishi Seiji."
The female employee on the other end of the phone immediately said:
"Please wait a moment."
A few seconds later, hurried footsteps and the sound of the phone being picked up came through the receiver.
"I am Shiraishi."
His voice was noticeably more tense than during the day.
Kiryu Yaya didn't beat around the bush.
"President Shiraishi, the internal review meeting for your company's and your personal joint financing plan has concluded."
The other end of the phone went silent.
Even their breathing became cautious.
Kiryu Yaya continued:
"The conclusion is that, provided all preconditions are met, Mitsubishi Bank Osaka Branch has agreed in principle to a conditional closed-end financing of up to 500 million yen."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
It had been so long that Kiryu Yaya could almost picture Shiraishi Seiji standing in his office with the phone in his hand and his eyes closed.
Then, a very low gasp came from the other end of the phone.
"……Really?"
"Yes."
Kiryu Yaya's voice remained steady.
"But please understand that this is not an unconditional loan, nor is it final execution. The formal proposal still needs to be prepared tonight, and the branch manager will confirm it tomorrow. Furthermore, several core conditions must be met before the funds can be executed."
"I understand, I understand."
Seiji Shiraishi's voice trembled slightly.
"Kiryu-san... thank you. Really, thank you for believing in Shiraishi Refrigeration."
"Now is not the time to express gratitude. Mr. Takao Shiraishi must come to Mitsubishi Bank as soon as possible."
On the other end of the phone, Seiji Shiraishi's breathing visibly faltered.
"Takao..."
"Yes."
Kiryu Yaya said:
"We need to confirm in person whether he is willing to transfer 28% of the shares to you. At the same time, we need to obtain the full text of the 30 million yen loan agreement for Kansai City Development. If it contains any clauses regarding pre-sale rights, delegation of decision-making rights, or high penalty clauses, these must be terminated before the funds are executed."
Seiji Shiraishi remained silent for a few seconds.
"Takao is very hesitant right now. Kuroda is offering him a higher price than I can offer."
"I know."
Kiryu Yaya said calmly:
"That's why we need to meet today."
"today?"
"Yes. The sooner the better."
Kiryu Yaya glanced at the clock on the wall.
4:40 PM.
"If Mr. Takao Shiraishi does not come to the bank today, Mitsubishi Bank cannot confirm whether the shareholding restructuring has a basis for execution. Even if the financing is agreed in principle, it cannot proceed."
Seiji Shiraishi said in a low voice:
"I'll give it a try."
"Please tell him that he came to the bank today so that he can clearly hear the real differences between the two plans."
There was silence again on the other end of the phone.
Then, it seemed that Seiji Shiraishi had finally made up his mind.
"I see."
"I'll contact Longfu right now."
"President Shiraishi."
"Yes."
"Please come to the bank immediately as well. Bring everything you can: the company seal, shareholder register, order confirmation for Shiraishi Refrigeration Equipment, and other documents required for the share transfer approved by the board of directors."
"it is good."
Seiji Shiraishi's voice was much more stable than before.
"Kiryu-san."
"Yes."
"Thanks."
This time, he didn't say much.
Just two words.
But Kiryu Yaya could tell that it contained the full weight of a business owner who had almost reached their limit.
The phone hangs up.
The meeting room fell silent.
Yamada Masakazu looked at Kiryu Yaya and suddenly smiled.
"You're starting to look more and more like an account manager."
Kiryu Yaya put down the receiver.
"Section Chief, I'm only assisting in the investigation right now."
"Come on."
Masakazu Yamada stood up, slammed the folder in front of him, and said with a smile:
"Let's see if our assistant investigator can solve this case."
……
5:40 PM.
Third meeting room on the fifth floor of Mitsubishi Bank Osaka branch.
Seiji Shiraishi arrived ten minutes earlier than agreed.
He changed out of his work clothes from the morning and into a dark suit, but his tie was tied crookedly.
Ayako Shiraishi followed behind him.
She shouldn't have been in this situation, but Seiji Shiraishi didn't let her go back.
Perhaps it's because she'll find out what happens next sooner or later.
Or perhaps it's because this family needs someone to witness it today.
Seiji Shiraishi bowed deeply to Masakazu Yamada and Yuri Chihaya.
"Thank you all for your help today."
Masakazu Yamada waved his hand.
"President Shiraishi, let's put aside the formalities for now. Where is Mr. Takao Shiraishi?"
Seiji Shiraishi looked up at the clock on the wall.
He said he would come.
"What did he say?"
Chihaya Yuri astutely grasped this word.
Seiji Shiraishi gave a wry smile.
"Longfu doesn't quite trust me anymore."
No one responded in the meeting room.
Another twenty minutes passed.
Five fifty-nine.
A series of slightly disordered footsteps echoed down the corridor.
The conference room door was pushed open.
Takao Shiraishi walked in.
He is a few years younger than Seiji Shiraishi, and they have similar facial features, but their temperaments are completely different.
Seiji Shiraishi carries the heavy burden of responsibility that a business owner has long been burdened with, while Takao Shiraishi retains the last vestiges of the bubble economy's extravagance and disarray.
He was wearing an expensive gray suit, but the cuffs were a bit wrinkled, his tie was loose, and his eyes were bloodshot.
It felt like I hadn't slept well for several nights in a row.
As soon as he entered, his gaze swept over Shiraishi Seiji, then landed on Chihaya Yuri and Kiryu Yaya.
"So, is Mitsubishi Bank going to put me on trial now?"