"Excuse me, junior. I'll step out to make a phone call."
Although Haneda Ichiro was still new to the company, over a year of training at Kogyo Bank had cultivated in him a decisive and precise character.
Fearing that delays could lead to complications, he immediately called his superior.
Of course, the primary reason he, an unknown bank newcomer, dared to make such a bold decision was because...
His immediate superior, Uno Noriyuki, the branch manager of Kogyo Bank's Shinjuku branch, also graduated from Waseda University.
As for his high-ranking relative in the cabinet, that was completely unrelated.
Takeshita Masato nodded in understanding: "No problem, please feel free."
"Okay, sorry!"
With that, Haneda Ichiro quickly left the restaurant, found a public phone booth nearby, and began calling the branch manager's office.
His senior was a diligent and hardworking 'involution' fanatic. Unless he needed to go out for networking, he would never leave the office before midnight.
'No business, no business, no business...'
Haneda Ichiro quickly dialed the number, while stomping his foot and softly cursing his immediate superior.
"Hello! This is the branch manager's office. May I ask who is calling?"
"Hello, Secretary Watanabe. This is Haneda Ichiro from the Business Department. I have a very important matter I need to report to Branch Manager Uno."
Hearing the voice of the branch manager's secretary, Haneda Ichiro's heart immediately settled.
According to his understanding, his senior always brought his secretary with him when he went out. It wasn't for any office romance, but because he needed the secretary and driver to help him leave social gatherings when he was drunk.
A capable adult male needs to protect himself at all times.
"Okay, sorry, please wait a moment. I will report to the branch manager immediately."
"Okay, thank you, Watanabe-san."
Haneda Ichiro was a favored subordinate of his branch manager, so Watanabe Misato didn't dare to delay at all and immediately hurried towards the meeting room.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Please come in!"
"Sorry to interrupt!"
Watanabe Misato ignored the smoke-filled office, first apologized to the branch's senior executives, and then walked quickly to the branch manager's side.
"Haneda Ichiro-san from the Finance Department has an important matter he needs to report to the branch manager over the phone."
"Important matter?"
Uno Noriyuki thought of his junior's connections in the high levels of government and wondered if the government had another plan in motion? Or perhaps, his junior had used his government connections to help the bank secure a large order?
Uno Noriyuki dismissed his wild thoughts, and an apologetic expression appeared on his face: "Sorry, then today's meeting will temporarily end here. I have something I need to attend to right now."
"It's a small matter, Branch Manager, please go ahead."
"No delay, you're too kind."
The senior executives of the Shinjuku branch all expressed their loyalty to their branch manager; no one dared to show dissatisfaction.
"Ichiro, this is Uno. Go ahead, what is it?"
There was a 20-year age difference between Haneda Ichiro and him, so Uno Noriyuki usually took great care of his junior from university. He always greeted him with a kind face and felt very relaxed.
After all, in Japanese society, which values seniority, a 20-year age gap meant that Haneda Ichiro could basically not pose a threat to Uno Noriyuki's position and would only be a helper.
"Good evening, Branch Manager Uno. I'm very sorry to bother you so late. I have a great piece of good news here. However, it's a bit inconvenient to discuss over the phone. Could you possibly come to Room 306 at Dokunomi restaurant next to Shinjuku?"
"Dokunomi 306? Hmm, no problem, please wait a moment."
"Yes, okay."
Haneda Ichiro's decisive style was learned from Uno Noriyuki, so after hearing his junior's serious and excited voice, he directly told his secretary: "Watanabe, go to Dokunomi in Shinjuku immediately."
"Yes, Branch Manager Uno, I'll call for a car right away."
"No need, we'll go downstairs together."
The decisive and efficient Uno Noriyuki soon arrived at Dokunomi with his driver and secretary.
"Watanabe, Noguchi, you two can eat something on the second floor first. The usual."
The 'usual' meant that if he hadn't come out after two hours, the driver and secretary should go check on the situation. Besides that, it meant they could order dinner costing no more than 50,000 yen, which the company would reimburse.
"Yes, thank you, Branch Manager!"
"Thank you, Branch Manager!"
Watanabe Misato and Noguchi Kenichi were already used to their branch manager's ways. After thanking Uno Noriyuki, they quickly found a private room downstairs and sat down.
"Watanabe-san, is there something good happening?"
Uno Noriyuki had been worried about the bank's lending business recently. Although he didn't show it at work, he couldn't hide it from his closest secretary and driver.
Tonight, he suddenly seemed completely at ease.
Noguchi Kenichi knew that something good must have happened.
"I'm not entirely sure, but Haneda Ichiro-san from the Financing Department said there was great good news."
A leader's secretary and driver usually maintain a close relationship, which makes it easier to share information and thus take better care of the leader's life.
"Oh, I see. That should be good news. Haneda-san is the branch manager's junior from university."
"Yes, there should be good news."
While the branch manager's secretary and driver were gossiping about their boss, Uno Noriyuki himself arrived unhurriedly at Room 306 of Dokunomi.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Please come in!"
"Good evening, Senior Uno. Sorry, I wasn't able to come outside to greet you."
Seeing his senior arrive, Haneda Ichiro quickly stood up apologetically.
"It's alright, why be so polite between us? And who is this?"
Uno Noriyuki looked at the handsome young man in the private room, knowing he was the key person tonight. He figured the great good news his junior mentioned must be related to this young man.
He just didn't know how big the benefit was and whether it could help him complete the tasks assigned by the head office.
There had been too many troublesome things at the bank lately.
If tonight could truly help him solve some problems, he would give Haneda Ichiro the top credit.
"Hello, Senior Uno. I am Takeshita Masato, a third-year student at Waseda."
Haneda Ichiro had mentioned that his branch manager, outside of work hours, liked to address Waseda graduates by their senior/junior titles, having a very strong awareness of the school's hierarchy.
Although Takeshita Masato was the stronger party, his own strength was relatively weak, so it was best to follow his senior's style of conduct.
"You're also from Waseda, so we're family then. I'm Uno Noriyuki, please take care of me from now on!"
Takeshita Masato was tactful, and Uno Noriyuki naturally returned the favor. He immediately regarded Takeshita Masato as a partner in the same camp, and his tone was very equal and gentle.
"It is I who should ask for Senior Uno's care."
Takeshita Masato quickly shook hands with Uno Noriyuki, his tone a bit apprehensive. He hadn't expected that Senior Uno, who held great power, could be so amiable and approachable.