Original subtitles

To become like Owada-san, was my target...

He gained many huge achievements one after the other...

And even got himself into the race to become the chairman.

I was also desperate to be liked by him.

Isayama chief, you were one of Owada-san's favourite disciples, weren't you?

I was damn sure that he had the ability to become the chairman.

And if that would happen,

I would be in the board of directors.

But...

Because of him...

Because he brought Owada down to his knees...

That destroyed everything for me!!!

After that board meeting...

I went to the conference room to look for Owada-san who didn't seem to return.

And there he was...

Still with his head on the floor.

That image of him is still burned in my memories.

I can never forget that.

That bastard...

He brought down that kind of fate to Owada-san...

Tokyo Chuo Bank Chief of Securities Department Isayama Taiji

I'll let him know what is going to happen to him when he goes against an organisation.

Right. Hanzawa was chased out of the bank with a one-way ticket.

Even if he tries to convince the entire HR department,

I'll see that he can't rise up again.

That Hanzawa...

I'll never forgive him!

I'll see he won't stay in Tokyo Central Securities either.

I'll drive him to the edge of the earth!

One month ago

Currently, Cyber Acrobatics is not even Japan's 3rd largest IT related business

or even within the world's top 20.

And we believe that we need a very bold strategy to make that happen.

We'd like to borrow Tokyo Central Securities' know-how for this.

Please tell us how we can help.

We're thinking of acquiring a certain business.

Which business? - Spiral.

Spiral!?

What we want to aquire is the search engine that Spiral operates.

Along with our businesses in the telecommunications, online shopping and e-payment services,

This will help us in developing a completely new strategy in the world of IT.

If we are able to acquire the 5th largest business in search engines

Cyber Acrobatics will surely become one of Asia's top 3 corporate giants.

Asia's top 3?

Indeed, Japan is lagging behind in the IT race,

And this could be the perfect strategy to leap forward to where the rest of the world is at.

That's right.

President of Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd. Hirayama Kazumasa

And this is why we'd like to ask you to be the advisor for the deal.

Vice President of Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd. Hirayama Miyuki

Moriyama, how much capital would be required to acquire the majority of Spiral's shares?

Just a minute...

With the current share price,

It should roughly estimate to 150 billion yen.

150 billion yen!?

So are you up for it?

Please let us carefully consider the... - Of course! Leave it to us!

Wow! That was a great business plan we got to hear today.

We're grateful that you chose us, president Hirayama.

Moriyama! You're in-charge of this deal, aren't you!?

Show your gratitude to the president and his wife!

Thank you very much.

Hanzawa-san, what is it that you cherish the most in a business?

Do you have something like a motto?

A motto you say?

Speed. That is the most important thing a business should have.

It's something Bill Gates once said.

We look forward to your strategy and advice

as soon as possible.

I understand.

Previously, Hanzawa Naoki, who was a banker at the Tokyo Chuo Bank

Was transferred to their subsidiary company, Tokyo Central Securities.

As the chief of business operations,

he is now responsible for planning investments of bonds and other financial instruments.

This scope of business is

incomparably small than of his time at the bank.

And among all of that,

the employees were all stirred up at an unprecedentedly large acquisition deal

Spiral started off 6 years ago as a venture from a small apartment

by Sena Yosuke, Kano Kazunari and Kiyota Masanobu.

Specifically, the search engine that president Sena developed was a huge success

It even helped Spiral become one of Japan's top IT related businesses.

His administrative skills are so good that people even called it "Sena Magic"

What we need to think about right now

is now what strategy we propose to Cyber Acrobatics...

But if we should even consider this request of theirs.

If we approach Spiral, which has a great momentum now, with this deal,

they will surely oppose it.

And if that happens, this will most likely turn into a hostile takeover.

We can surely do something, if that happens.

I wonder if it'll go along that well... - What is it Moriyama?

Tokyo Central Securities Deputy manager of Business Operations Morota Shoichi

Are you not interested in this deal?

Morota-san, you're overly excited right now.

You kept making fun of me all this while

for trying to deal with Cyber Acrobatics - Hey Moriyama!

I don't think Spiral is that easy to deal with in the first place...

What!? - Moriyama...

Tell us more.

Tokyo Central Securities Business Operations Department Moriyama Masahiro

Until just recently, Spiral's president Sena,

Had a fallout with his friends, who he worked hard to build this firm.

They all split away from the company. - A fallout?

It started off with a difference in opinion about the administrative policies.

Other investments? Are you stupid!?

We can't continue to function with just one search engine forever, can we!?

We need to expand our scope of businesses. - Stop kidding me!

We solely deal with internet technology!

If you can't trust my decisions, get out!

Yeah, that's what we're going to do.

Letter of resignation

You cannot trust us either anyway, can you?

President Sena is adamant on sticking to just one line of business.

His search engine technology.

I don't see him putting up with an acquisition that requires a complete change in the management structure.

Listen Moriyama! Acquisions are all about eat or be eaten!

You'll be the loser if you're scared of numbers like 150 billion!

That again, huh!? - What did you say?

Morota

Employees shipped out of Tokyo Chuo Bank (Ex-Bankers)

When we were at the bank,

we have been looking at these numbers like millions and billions all the time!

Proper employees of Tokyo Central Securities (Recruited to the company as new employees)

You just don't have the experience, you got that!? Experience!!

And... What do you think, chief?

This is quite... a difficult case.

But, if we keep being scared to cross the bridge,

Central Securities will remain as it is without any growth at all.

I believe we should take one step forward now.

Without that, we won't be able to see the path after that.

This could be our chance to leap forward.

Are you okay with that, Moriyama?

Yes. - Well then...

How about we offer this deal for a contingent based on success?

Contingent based on success?

We'll be able to generate a huge revenue from the incentive that we charge for this deal.

But if we fail, we won't even be getting a single yen.

Let me examine this part of the deal first then.

Understood.

Well then, I will start with forming the structure for the project team.

Tokyo Chuo Bank Corporate Headquarters

He said he'll be right here and makes me wait for 30 minutes!

I'm leaving. - President...

What is it? - He's here.

Oh if it isn't chief Isayama.

Oh, I'm so sorry to have made you wait, President Oka.

Securities Department

Work just keeps piling up, you see... - Well, it's good to be busy.

President of Tokyo Central Securities Oka Mitsuhide

What is it about today?

Shall we?

We were wondering to hand over some projects from our sales department to your company.

Isayama-san, this is absolutely...

'Absolutely' what!?

If I'm not wrong, your department has failed to reach the target since the past three quarters.

It was brought up as a problem during the last board meeting as well.

That as the parent company,

we need to look after our subsidiaries and solve their problems as well.

Well, that was what our chairman Nakanowatari had to say about it though.

The chairman?

Well, since it turned out like this,

Even with complete grief, we'll have to hand over these clients to you.

So you were saying, 'absolutely...' what?

But even though you hand these clients over to us,

the profits... - Hanzawa!

We'll do our best.

Oh, go ahead! Do your very best.

Chief Hanzawa

Hanzawa! Stop saying unnecessary things all the time!

They hand over problematic clients everytime

This will only burden our staff. - The child shouldn't rebel against his parents!

Aren't you the cause for all this harassment from the bank towards us in the first place??

We were holding on pretty fine

until they started shipping off their problematic employees to us!

Calm down, president...

I can't overlook this doing as you please of yours anymore!

I heard about the request from Cyber Acrobatics from Morota earlier.

It doesn't matter charge them a contingent fee or whatever, just make it happen!

- Morota

If you just keep looking anxiously at that bridge you want to cross, you can't move forward.

Hurry up Hanzawa! It's a deal of over 150 billion yen!

That is exactly we need to step cautiously.

I need a little more time to complete the review.

What is this at the time when we're not sure if we're going to even reach our targets!?

We will get the deal no matter what, I'll hurry up on my review.

Get it done quickly!!!

You can't come home today?

What do you mean you can't come home today?

It's a client who is in a hurry.

I need to look into it carefully before the deal...

Today is our wedding anniversary.

Do you know how hard it was for me to get a table reserved in that restaurant!?

This line of events sounds awfully familiar...

What is it? - Nothing...

I'm really sorry, Hana-chan... - It's okay!

What are we celebrating, as a middle aged couple!?

I mean... middle aged... - I mean, isn't that a big contract you've got on your hands?

Huh? - I can hear it from your voice.

You sound quite excited, Naoki.

Like the time when you were in the bank.

I guess I'll call my friends from the flower arrangement club over

So do your best on your work, okay.

But don't push yourself like you did when you were young.

Since you're middle aged already.

Middle aged...

Advisory Contract - Basic Agreement

...on the basis of a Business Partnership

Day of signing the contract with Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd.

Excuse me. - Yes.

Were you able to go through the details of the contract I gave you?

Ah, regarding that. We'll go with this.

It's based on the contingent fee. - But... Where did you...

Ah, that is the one which I had prepared, just in case.

It's almost time for our meeting, shall we go? - But...

Change the attitude of the bank, Hanzawa.

Make this happen no matter what.

This is my order.

Oh, a contingent fee? That sounds good.

If that's the case, we will land ourselves on a wonderful contract.

Please do it quickly.

Leave that to us.

Well then, please sign here.

Stop kidding me!

Hey Moriyama! - What is it? Looks like you have a complaint.

Moriyama was incharge of Cyber Acrobatics! - Why isn't he included in the project?

This is a very important deal which will decide our company's fate.

And Moriyama doesn't have

what's called 'experience'. - But neither does Miki-san!

Miki has experience from the bank.

Tokyo Central Securities Business Operations Department Miki Shigeyuki

Moriyama, how about you do these instead?

These... Aren't these the clients that the bank dumped on us!?

What do you mean 'dumped on us'!?

Isayama chief from the securities department kindly sent these over to us.

Stop it.

Morota, I told you to think about the project members for a bit longer.

Then why did you announce it?

I mean, president Oka himself asked me to go ahead with these members in the project.

That's enough...

Pardon me for that. Please continue.

Are you okay with it then, chief?

That's a nice fountain pen.

Is it the piston filling type? That's quite an old model...

Do you know a lot about pens?

When I was in Osaka-West branch, a local craftsman who had come in for a loan taught me about it.

A fountain pen is quite laborious to use but you start enjoying it as you start using it more often.

And looks like you cherish it already.

Moriyama

The deal we signed today is all because of your efforts in sales.

It is your achievement.

What do you say? Shall we go for a drink or two?

Eh? Why?

Hmm? What do you mean 'why'?

And?

You got dumped by your subordinate and invited us?

Forget it Hanzawa,

the youngsters these days will never go out drinking with their colleagues.

He's right. It's about this generation.

Which means we've all turned into middle aged men.

Middle aged... - How about that Isayama chief who keeps harassing you?

Not all middle aged men are cute, you know. - Wait a minute!

Tokyo Chuo Bank IT Department Karita Kouichi

What do you mean he's getting harassed by Isayama?

- Are all of you on a competition to insult the chief of securities?

Oh! No no... Wait... Do you know Isayama chief?

Tomomi-chan! She's one of the prestigious shareholders of the Tokyo Chuo Bank.

Really?? - He's exaggerating.

Trading is just a small hobby of mine.

She gathers information from us

And made herself a fortune. Well, as far as the rumours go.

That's a lie! They don't talk about any relevant information with me anyway.

But at least listening to all of you complaining all the time,

I'm at least well informed about the internal news of the Tokyo Chuo Bank.

That's scary... - Where is Kondo-san today?

Kondo is on a long business trip in Singapore.

He's doing wonderfully well, unlike someone here.

Isayama chief was Owada's right hand man, wasn't he?

Is he still pissed off about Hanzawa?

Quite an annoyance indeed - By the way, that Owada,

He is trying to be good to chairman Nakanowatari,

even though he was opposing him so much back then...

A restructuring plan for Empire Airlines?

If this downturn continues,

We cannot help but withdraw all support from this client.

In the worst case, it will cause serious damage to our bank as well.

I understand your concern very well, chairman.

Please let me know whenever, if there's anything that I can do.

I will.

Chairman...

I have received unimaginable pardon from your side.

I will never forget how much you have helped me.

If I was helped, I will definitely help back.

Repayment of favours!

And that is my motto,

So I will do whatever it is that I can help.

This is just my assumption though,

Owada's strategy is to first raise his favorite disciple, Isayama to the top,

so that he can help him out with his power.

Disgusting! - And then...

...to oust his biggest obstacle, deputy chairman Mikasa.

Well, could be true...

But currently, isn't deputy chairman Mikasa the one that is flexing his powers?

Correct! That is the problem.

And to his bad luck, Mikasa-san is the in charge of the board for securities.

Deputy Chairman of Tokyo Chuo Bank Mikasa Yoichiro

Isayama's direct supervisor.

There is no one else that can unite our bank right now which has been divided into factions,

other than you, deputy chairman Mikasa

Isn't this the perfect time to demonstrate your power right now?

My power, huh?

Right, Isayama-kun?

Exactly. With your guidance, our current securities department...

But Isayama is in a bad position himself.

He's been made to stand between Owada and Mikasa

Ridiculous!! - Hey...

Why is Owada allowed to stay in the bank in the first place!?

As if Hanzawa being chased out wasn't enough!

Does the chairman not have any sense in him!? - Karita...

What do you have to say about that, Hanzawa!? - Sorry about him...

Don't you feel pissed off about it!?

I'm here right now because I pulled through!

I can't keep going against the top management every single day either...

This isn't that time anymore... - What did you say!?

HEY HANZAWA!!!! - Wait... Karita...

Shall we go get some fresh air? - Hanzawa, what has happened to you!?

How dare you call yourself a part of our professional kendo club!?

Wow, that was some strong alcohol they served there...

One week later

What is this scheme??

What have you all been doing this whole week!?

Cyber is waiting for our proposal as soon as possible.

I'll report the current status of our project to the clients first.

No, don't worry. I'll contact them, as the project leader.

Alright.

How much about Spiral, have all of you researched?

The first step is to do a thorough research in order to ascertain if

an acquisition is the right strategy for Cyber Acrobatics, am I wrong!?

You should also include 'not acquiring Spiral' as an option...

- Not acquiring Spiral!?!? - The contract was based on a contingent fee!

Don't push a bad deal down the customer's throats for the sake of our company's profits!

I'm telling you to look up all of the possibilities for the benefit of the customer.

The moment you start sending ridiculous proposals,

our company's reliability will go down the drain!

Woah... Chief Hanzawa is pissed off...

Looks like things haven't been going great...

As expected of the staff who landed here after being shipped out of the bank.

They came here because they weren't performing well at the bank, didn't they?

Miki-san is not only useless but he's also a complete moron.

They can't even trade shares properly, as if they can come up with an acquisition scheme!

Another week later

Excuse us.

And what is it that brings you here today?

It is about the project that you have been consulting with us.

We are here to present our business proposal.

Is it about that matter? Then I guess we're fine already.

What do you mean by that?

We asked you about this more than two weeks ago.

Even though, there were no efforts from your side of keeping in touch with us

There was no communication?

I thought we told you that we were in a hurry.

But I'm sorry, if it looks like this, we cannot build trust on you as a partner.

We will be cancelling our contract with you as our advisor.

So that's how it is. Tamaki...

Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd. Chief of financial affairs Tamaki Katsuo

Yes. - Please wait...

What are you planning to do about the acquisition?

Special thanks to Katrina_EvS for re-timing the subs.

Do we need to explain that to you?

HANZAWA NAOKI

Season 2 Episode 1

At this rate you won't be able to reach your target this quarter either.

Well, I can't explain a lot in detail,

but we failed to secure a huge deal that we wanted to include in this quarter.

Ah!! How unfortunate!

But with these results,

there will surely be a lot of criticism from the board members towards Central Securities.

And they will never consider that you, President Oka,

have shown excellent administrative skills during your time as a board member in the bank.

That's why, how about we make the one that is acting as an obstacle to you,

to take complete responsibility?

You mean... that Hanzawa-san?

President Oka from Central seems to be in quite a fix...

Human Resources

By the way...

Wasn't there a branch of ours on a small island in the Setouchi region, which was short of staff?

I've heard a gossip from Human Resources

That Isayama had come in today to send in a request for your transfer.

Under the pretext that president Oka had asked him for it.

I guess Isayama is out to take revenge for what happened to Owada.

As expected, he's a mirror image of Owada.

This is not the time to be commenting on that Hanzawa!

I don't know which rival stole your contract,

But at this rate you'll never be able to return to the bank.

You might get shipped out to the countryside!

Well, at least I have experience in dealing with that.

Are you seriously saying that!?

If you get shipped out again...

Are you okay throwing away your life as a banker like this!?

There is only one way out for you

Go get back that major deal one way or the other!

Here you go, it's a token of my gratitude.

Also as a toast to your future success.

No way! His stocks are in the brink of crashing right now.

What do you mean by that? Are your stocks secure right now?

It isn't going down, at least. It's not going higher either.

Well well well, the both of you. Come on.

Geez... - Have some too, Tomari-san.

Thanks! Sorry for being so loud though...

It's fine.

To think that such a tremendous thing was going on...

It's a fucking huge contract! If we're able to make this ours,

Our department's revenues will shoot up the roof.

We have a meeting with Owada-san over dinner tonight as well.

Let's inform him about this there.

Right!

In order for me to rise up, I need to borrow that man's power.

Excuse me. Your guest has now arrived.

Sorry to have kept you waiting, Isayama...

Thanks for your hard work.

I'm so sorry to have called you over when you were busy.

Deputy chairman.

Where's Isayama-kun? Is he running late?

Actually... There was an urgent matter he had to attend to...

An urgent matter, huh?

In order to start implementing this plan, the board of directors have to pass the approval.

And for that, I was hoping you could lend me your power.

And that's why you called me? - Yes.

Since you are the executive advisor in-charge of the securities department...

That's not what I meant.

I'm asking if you have already shown this to Owada-kun.

I haven't.

So you came to me for advice, and not to Owada-kun?

Yes.

If you betray your supervisor, you'll definitely be hunted down, you know that?

And if you don't want that happening,

You need to thoroughly finish off the one you are betraying.

When you're going to stab someone, make sure the planning is done elaborately.

And that it is finished in an instant.

Are you okay throwing away your life as a banker like this!?

There is only one way out for you

Go get back that major deal one way or the other!

Hamamura. - Yes!

Do you have a minute? - Yes.

Thank you.

These are all we have.

We have already scanned and stored all of these.

What do you need all these papers for? - Wait a bit longer to dispose off of these.

What do you plan to do now? - Wait a minute.

These are very detailed... - That's how Moriyama-san is.

He used to gather all details about Spiral before he was removed from the team.

Meisei School?

Could it be!? - Eh?

And where is Moriyama?

Ummm... - Where did he go!?

You're quite passionate, aren't you?

How did it go?

Please Tamaki-san, give us just one more chance...

I have brought you a new proposal.

Our contract with you has been cancelled already. Please leave.

Which company did you switch to? - Obviously I can't tell you that!

I see, so you did switch your advisor, didn't you?

Yeah...

Is that so?

Well then...

Do you still practice it? - Eh?

I suddenly remembered that I had read on your resumé

That you were part of the Kendo club at Meisei School.

One of the best schools. I'm quite well acquainted about Kendo.

Moreover that school happens to be president Sena's school too.

Shall we go for a drink?

Sena was one of my best friends from middle school.

But his father's factory went bankrupt and they had to flee overnight.

I hadn't heard from him since. That is, until two years ago.

I saw him on a magazine.

They had called him "a charismatic young president who will lead Japan's IT Business world"

There was an article with his photo published on a big magazine.

He'd become a famous personality.

I mean, even if your best friend from long ago popped up, you wouldn't give a damn.

Did you ever happen to meet him when you were at the bank?

I've never met him, but I bumped into him once. - Eh?

I bumped into his shoulder on the Chuo-dori close to the company.

It was just for a brief moment though...

But somehow strangely, I can still remember his face from back then

It's quite something that it turned out that you were to go acquire your friend's company.

I was surprised too.

But I was prepared to do my work properly anyway.

Which is why I tried making changes to the proposal according to my own research.

Could you show me your proposal? - Yes.

If only Cyber Acrobatics had tried to understand Sena's management policies...

They could have finalized a deal that would have been profitable for both parties.

Sena-san's management policies?

This is a fountain pen that Sena's father used to manufacture.

Yousuke,

Do you have to keep doing that with a fountain pen the whole day or what?

Take it. It's new.

I haven't even used it. - Me? No.. you don't have to...

It's a prototype made by my dad.

Yeah... but...

This pen will last for ten thousand years,

it's that durable.

It is made with that level of craftsmanship.

My dad was so proud of it.

Masa, I also want to create such a piece of art one day.

And when I went to class the next day...

Moriyama! It seems Sena's family ran away last night.

There was a crowd of debt collectors by his house this morning.

I think he gave me this because he knew he wouldn't be returning the next day.

I see...

And I read what happened after that on that magazine article.

In order to return his dad's debts, he gave up on high school

and started working multiple jobs

As I was studying in university without a worry in the world,

he continued to work tremendously hard...

He learnt programming on his own,

developed skills to build a search engine and set up a company named Spiral.

I think Sena wanted to learn how to build a search engine

because of his dad's fountain pen company.

That his dad would have continued to innovate if more people around the world

were able find out about a device that they can use even in ten thousand years.

But I think there should be one more reason why his company collapsed

That is because he didn't have any allies beside him

who could ascertain his future prospects

Brokerage firms help invest in the future prospects of their customers

With the power of financing,

I wanted to help talented people like Sena and his father. And that's why...

That's why you entered the world of finances?

The proposal here that you prepared...

It's quite awful.

But it's interesting!

Hey hey hey!

Do you know what Chief and Moriyama are doing in there?

Looks like they're going to try and challenge another time.

Challenge? - It's about the request from Cyber Acrobatics.

Moriyama said that he wants to get us the advisor contract back

with a new proposal deal. - EH!?

Well, isn't that good in a way? If it all goes well,

It'll help our revenues hugely, you know. - Right.

I'm terribly sorry to come in while you're busy.

But could you give us one more chance?

It's just about that case again, huh?

I thought we had declined already.

This is a new scheme here. Could you please look at it?

If you have any conditions, please do let us know.

We will surely take it into consideration.

It's not about that at all. - President Hirayama...

Please leave! Tamaki...

Yes, ma'am. - Which company did you sign a contract with?

I just wanted to know this one thing.

How did you record and where did you leak our conversation to?

You were prohibited to sign another contract, according to ours though.

We leaked information!?

It was from their side that... - Madam vice-president!!

"It was from their side", huh?

That's enough. Please leave now.

Chief

Oh! If it isn't Hanzawa!

What a coincidence! So why are you here today?

You have some business with Cyber Acrobatics?

Well, you could say that.

And you guys?

We're here as Cyber Acrobatics' main bank.

But you... You're quite desperate, aren't you?

I heard rumours that Central Securities lost a huge client because of you.

I feel sorry for you

I wonder to which countryside you will be shipped off to

for comitting such a huge mistake.

Or should I try convincing them? Tell me what the request was about! Huh?

Hey! Tell me!!

Thank you for your concern.

But as a subsidiary company,

we shouldn't be bothering our parent company, you see.

We'll send over some more clients of ours to you.

So that you can do your best in the time you've left,

until you get your transfer order.

Come along.

Did they make you take responsibility?

I had confidence on our new scheme this time.

There was a possibility if president Hirayama had even taken a look at it once.

That's the part which is bothering me...

The last time was also the same.

We are here to present our business proposal...

Is it about that matter? Then I guess we're fine already.

Even if he switched to another company as his advisor,

he should at least check out what kind of a proposal we've brought him,

If he was really interested in going through with the acquisition.

But president Hirayama didn't seem to show any interest.

Could it mean that the rival company offered a tremendously great deal?

Or there were some circumstances involved,

where he couldn't even consider looking at our proposal.

Circumstances?

We're here as Cyber Acrobatics' main bank.

Acquisition? What is this about?

Is there any news that there is going to be a major acquisition deal about to happen soon?

Should be around 150 billion

150 billion?

There was news about a proposal from the securities department

that is to be discussed about in the board meeting.

What is this about, Hanzawa?

The major deal that I was talking about the other day...

The one who stole it from us was probably

Tokyo Chuo Bank

Eh!? You mean the bank stole the deal from their own subsidiary?

Yeah.

8 days ago

No way

We can do such a thing?

Yes. That is just the first stage of this acquisition.

According to this scheme, you purchase 30% of Spiral's shares.

And the final step is on page 6.

Excellent! This is excellent!

Thank you. - And president...

When could you be approving this scheme?

I will do it here right now. - And what about the decision of the board of directors?

Those are just formalities.

I will make sure they agree.

Well then, until next time.

We're looking forward to it.

Then why didn't Cyber Acrobatics go to the bank in the first place?

Cyber Acrobatics did indeed want us to be the advisor at first.

But at some point of time...

It was from their side that... - Madam vice-president!!

The bank got information about this acquisition.

And got Cyber to switch to them as their advisor.

As Cyber Acrobatics was trying to expand into international markets a few years ago,

They received a few billion yen of aid from Tokyo Chuo as their main bank

If they push down on them hard enough, they cannot refuse. - No way...

But how did the bank get information on this acquision?

That's a good question.

If you think about it... - Could it be!?

Are you telling someone among us leaked information to the bank?

Who the hell did such a thing!? This is outrageous!!

This is exactly why I asked you to gather here.

If information leaked to the bank,

it should most probably be from someone among us.

Do any of you have some clues?

Having the bank treat us as they want and we just keep putting up with it?

Hey!!

Sure, the bank snatched away our deal.

Aren't we just a bunch of idiots at this point?

How can we overlook it that our parent company stole the deal that we got after so much of hard work?

Say something

Moreover, not even once did they come to us to talk about it.

Or is it because you're also an ex-banker you can't say anything?

True... - Well, it can't be helped now anyway.

It can't be helped?

You can't stand up against the bank!?

You ex-bankers can never understand our feelings, can you!?

Stop messing around, Moriyama!

You know what! We are also...

We are also frustrated!! - Moriyama... Stop it.

So are we going to let go of this as it is?

The next day, a board meeting was held at the corporate headquarters of Tokyo Chuo Bank.

One of the topics on the agenda

was the acquisition of Spiral by Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd.

Securities Department Isayama Taiji

I'm Isayama from the Securities Department.

I had already sent all of you executive board members

the details regarding this acquisition earlier

Please let me explain about this deal once again in detail today.

Isayama-kun! What is this!?

I haven't heard anything about this deal! - In short, this acquisition will be

a revolutionary deal that will trigger Japan's economy.

If this deal is successful,

it will demonstrate the power of Tokyo Chuo Bank to all industrialists.

This will bring huge attention to us.

Isayama-kun is exactly right.

Isn't this the time for all of us to unite our strengths

and make sure this deal gets done?

Chairman?

Understood!

Chief Isayama seems to have jumped ship from Owada to deputy chairman Mikasa now.

Well, this huge deal acted as a perfect occasion

to pledge his loyalty to Mikasa-san.

Moreover, this hesitant bank decided on this 150 billion yen deal so quickly.

There has to be something else in it.

That 'something else' is not important for you now, plummeting Hanzawa-kun

Isayama stole your contract

And is now making you alone to take full responsibility for Central Securities' poor performance

So this is what it means to be an audacious robber, huh?

The moment the board approves the 150 billion agenda, the deal is finished for you.

Focus on your own problem first!

That is not the problem. - Eh?

This is the matter of pride of all the employees of Central Securities.

What happens to me doesn't even matter.

I don't plan to just let this go anyway.

Deputy chairman, that was a really impressive acquisition strategy.

Isayama-kun is also quite a valuable player, isn't he!?

But I happened to hear this rumour...

That deal was originally taken to Central Securities,

our subsidiary company.

I hope the bank did not snatch this deal away from their hands!

I wonder what you're talking about.

I hope these barking dogs are also silenced when this is through.

Well, I guess it is because the previous owner pampered it too much

This world brings praises to the ones that show results.

What is it that you need to bring results?

Elaborate planning and an instant strike.

I've learnt this thoroughly. - Well then,

shall we go through this elaborate planning now?

I was able to get one piece of information.

The securities department is preparing for a press conference in the public relations hall.

Is it today? - Yes!

Understood!

Monitor Cyber Acrobatics and Spiral's share prices.

It seems there is a huge fluctuation that's going to happen today.

Does it mean... - Probably Cyber Acrobatics

is about to set some traps regarding the acquisition today.

11:30 AM

Market closed for lunch break

There didn't seem to be any big moves yet...

If Cyber Acrobatics starts purchasing Spiral's shares at once,

Its price should suddenly shoot up, isn't it?

02:59 PM

03:00 PM

The market has closed for the day.

Closing Bell

So there wasn't any huge fluctuations anyway, was there?

Maybe they postponed their plans of the acquisition?

Hmm...

Tomari, it seems nothing happened today?

No, there really was something.

What do you mean? - The press conference is going to start as planned.

It will be streamed live on Cyber Acrobatics' homepage.

Hamamura! - Yes!

Change this monitor to Cyber Acrobatics' homepage! - Yes!

We will now begin the press conference by Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd.

I would like to ask the chairman of the executive board of directors, Mr. Hirayama Kazumasa

to please begin.

We, Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd.

Would like to report that we have purchased 30% of Spiral corporation's shares.

HUH!? - When did they purchase 30% shares?

Extended-hours trading!?

Extended-hours trading means

Extended-hours trading

To buy and sell large amount of stocks at a certain fixed price,

Extended-hours trading

Trading time

while the stock market is not open for public trading

Now, Cyber Acrobatics bought Spiral's shares at once,

Spiral's shares

Regulatory restrictions

until just below the regulatory restrictions outside of trading hours.

90 Billion Yen

You could call it an ambush attack on Spiral.

Cyber Acrobatics did!? - President! This was a takeover!

A hostile takeover! They've bought more than 30% of our shares outside of trading hours!!

30 percent!? - I'll return to the office immediately! Please wait!

After this, we are planning to acquire

a further 20% of their shares remaining for the takeover bid.

We will now be taking questions from the media. If you have a question...

They are calling this the Pearl Harbour of the stock market on the news.

Well, this is indeed a deceptive attack.

I never thought that the bank would accept such a dirty scheme

in order to attain a huge achievement.

Chief! President Sena is about to start an emergency press conference.

I have built this company and it will remain my company!

I will not let strangers rudely barge in on us like this!

I will strongly oppose

And will take actions against Cyber Acrobatics for making this senseless move

I will not let them take this company hostage!

In order to purchase 30% of their shares,

there should be someone who has to sell that many, isn't it?

How did Cyber Acrobatics manage to acquire those?

Probably... They're from Kano and Kiyota.

Kano?

They both had more than 30% of Spiral's shares together.

And I think they sold it to Cyber Acrobatics.

How would you know that!? Stop saying ridiculous things, Moriyama!!

It's not ridiculous!

There's this company called Deklerk. Kano and Kiyota have some private investments in it

But after the performance dropped, they both must have been troubled for money.

How did you find out all of that?

Since this company was one of those which Morota-san dumped on me.

How about you do these instead?

They thought of betraying President Sena...

It's probably Isayama that set them up like that.

Our first strike was hugely successful.

To think that you actually bought aside those 30% shares

Kano and Kiyota were both hesitating at first.

Sorry to say this, but I thought we have refused this deal already...

Oh don't say that.

There's a person that I want to introduce to the both of you today.

Excuse me!

Eh!? - Deputy chairman!

It's an honour to meet the both of you.

We will be offering this much additionally.

I've heard rumours that the both of you are having some financial troubles lately.

Holding 30% of Spiral's shares

Current share price

69 Billion Yen

With an additional 10%

76 Billion Yen

Our bank will surely have your backs.

But... To ask us to sell Spiral's shares...

Could you see if you could do something?

Isayama-kun,

You shouldn't be forceful on our clients.

Even though that you have parted ways with the company now,

You are worried about your friend.

That is indeed an exemplary friendship.

But, has president Sena ever...

...tried to call the two of you back?

Don't you think that's terrible?

This is just some good faith from our part.

76 Billion Yen 90 Billion

So much!?

Are you dissatisfied? This let us forget... - Please!!

Please!! Please!!

Please!!

Yes! Got it! Thanks!!

Hey Sena!

We're now the Top 1 search engine in Japan according to market share!

We did it!!!

Yes!! We did it!

We aim for worldwide Top 1 next!!!

Spiral Corporation

Can you not make one phonecall to Sena?

He's in a terrible position right now... - I see.

But I'd be happy, to get a phone call from an old friend.

I'm sure he'll just ignore me... - It can't be helped if that happens.

But is he that petty of a man to ignore his friend

just because he's become rich and famous now?

Excuse me, sir.

Mr. Hiroshige from Taiyou Securities is here to see you.

President Sena, something horribly unexpected has happened, hasn't it!

Fucking Cyber Acrobatics! I want to fucking strangle that Hirayama!!

You'll get arrested if you do that, president...

You! Stop acting that nonchalant!

Think about some defense plan!

Okay...

What the hell are you doing!?

Spiral's Financial Advisor Sales Chief, Taiyou Securities Hiroshige Takao

I SAID GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Yes!

FUCK!!!

What is it!?

You have a call from some Moriyama Masahiro-san

Moriyama!?

Masahiro...

Masa!

Yosuke

Long time!

How've you been, Masa?

A beer, and with that... - I've ordered already.

Pork okonomiyaki with double cheese, right?

You haven't forgotten!

And what have you been doing lately, Masa?

Me? - Yeah

Well, it's not that well known of a company.

Oh what's that! Where are you working at?

It doesn't matter, come on.

I have some news from HR. They've initiated steps to transfer you out.

Did you find out who leaked information to the bank yet?

No. Not yet... - What have you been doing!?

Hurry up, find the betrayer and put him on trial!

You only have that one path left open for you!

If you can't, you will really be... - Chief!

What happened? - The president has called for you, right now.

Got it! I'll call you back later.

Hanzawa-kun!

Miki-san! We've received complains from accounting again.

They're so annoying! Tell them to process the forms themselves then!

Sorry, but... It seems that I'm going to be really busy soon.

Excuse me.

I don't think it's the first time you're meeting.

But this is Yokoyama-kun from the bank's HR dept.

It's been a long time, Hanzawa-san.

Hello. And why did you call me here now?

There's a transfer order that has come in from the bank.

President Yuasa (Isejima Hotel) New Hotel - Pre-opening bid [Invitation]

An E-Mail?

Thanks for your hard work.

How was the reunion with your old friend?

I shouldn't have gone.

So you've built yourself a castle, haven't you?

That's quite a contrast to a normal employee like me.

Are these Kano-san and Kiyota-san's desks?

I left them there hoping that they'd return some day...

But now...

By the way, Yosuke, do you remember this?

The fountain pen your dad created.

I've been using this everyday since then.

Did you pull it out of your storage room just for this?

Eh!?

You're glad to have an excuse to meet me today, huh?

Yosuke...

You said earlier that you work for Central Securities, didn't you?

You're from the subsidiary of Tokyo Chuo Bank

Who happens to be Cyber Acrobatics' advisor.

Did the bank send you to investigate me?

That's not it... I'm just here as a friend...

Why didn't you tell me about this if you're a friend, huh!?

Playing shitty moves like after-hours trading!

I didn't know they were going to do something like that either...

Were you the one that gave them information about Kano and Kiyota?

No! Believe me! - How the hell can I believe you!?

Every single person!

When it comes to money, they all betray you!

Show yourself outside.

Moriyama-san from Central Securities.

I guess it can't be helped...

He's right that the bank played dirty moves to go ahead with the acquisition.

And there's even a spy from the bank here...

But the one who delivers results is the one that wins, right?

Wonder how you were able to work at such a place...

Well those are some harsh remarks...

It's exactly the same even now.

The achievements of proper employees are taken by ex-bankers.

The failures of ex-bankers are the responsibility of the proper employees...

All of those losers that were chased out of the bank

come over here and act as if they own the place!

And we here belong below those people and get treated like trash and scum!

You think so too, don't you chief!?

Just when I thought...

that I could finally do some work in my own way, that could be of use to some people...

And that work also got snatched away...

Damn it!

DAMN IT!!

Is that all that you had to say?

Are you just going to state your dissatisfaction and complaints and move on?

Saying: "No matter what I do, it's of no use"?

And just give up?

Chief!

What do you think...

... I should do?

That's exactly what you should be thinking about now!

Deputy chief Morota, shall we go to the next bar?

No, I have some other matters to attend to now.

Other matters? - Take me to Mist in Ginza.

Have a good evening.

Mist in Ginza, huh? That's quite a lavish place.

Yes! - Sorry to call you this late.

There was something I wanted to consult you about... - Consult me? Could we do it tomorrow?

It's from Hanzawa chief though...

He wanted to bring someone from the IT department and check everyone's computers.

Eh!? Wh... Why is he doing that??

He wants to thoroughly investigate

who it was that leaked information to the bank...

And for that he has shortlisted members.

It's going to be me, Onishi-san, Harada-san, Moriyama-san,

And you, Miki-san.

You were at the IT department at the bank before, right?

Could you please help me out tomorrow?

F...Fine fine fine, okay!

Thank you! We'll be gathering there at 6:30 AM tomorrow.

A...At 6:30 AM!? -Thank you so much!

I'll definitely find them out!

Password

E-Mails

Right. Hanzawa was chased out of the bank with a one-way ticket.

Even if he tries to convince the entire HR department,

I'll see that he can't rise up again.

I'll see he won't stay in Tokyo Central Securities either.

I'll drive him to the edge of the earth!

Don't worry, chief Isayama,

Hanzawa is already finished.

You did really well!

I'll make sure you get rewarded well!

You'll get your letter from HR soon. - Thank you sir!

Subsidiary companies have to help the banks out in the first place anyway!

Even if it means getting a couple of their contracts snatched away!

They don't deserve to sit there complaining!

Central Securities is something like a garbage dump anyway!

A garbage dump, huh?

You seem to have quite some nice remarks about your own workplace Morota!

Who the hell do you think you are!? This is rude!

Nice timing, I also had some business with Isayama chief.

But first, it's you, Morota.

I was called in by the president today.

It was about a transfer order. But it was for Miki.

Order to transfer personnel to Tokyo Chuo Bank

Miki Shigeyuki transferred to Tokyo Chuo Bank Securities department, Sales division

Moreover it was to the bank's securities department, sales division.

A promotion.

So you wanted it too, didn't you Morota?

So you came here to request Isayama chief to transfer you back to the bank as well, didn't you?

What are you even saying??

A negotiation with the HR in exchange of information, huh?

Stop saying absurd things like that!

You're causing me trouble by bringing up these doubts about transfers every now and then.

And these are all your assumptions, aren't they!?

Do you have any proof to these claims?

Yes, we do!

Miki!

Isayama Taiji

There it is!!

What are you doing here at this time, Miki?

Overtime...

At Morota's desk?

Let me go! Let me go!!

Isayama Taiji

Moriyama! Don't do it!!

Regarding Spiral's acquisition by Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd.

No!! Don't do it!!

Let's hear your explanation about

what this is exactly about, huh?

Hey! Did you...

Miki told us everything.

Start explaining everything in detail.

Talk.

Start talking, Miki.

TALK!!!!

I'll tell you... Everything...

We... couldn't come up with any sensible proposals at that time...

10 days ago

I don't think Cyber Acrobatics will be satisfied with this.

But...

Thanks for your hard work.

Wh... what do you mean by that??

I have an idea.

And then Morota-san went and talked about the acquisition plan with the bank.

150 Billion Yen, huh?

I'll send you the data immediately.

I got to know about that too though, but I was silenced by them

That as long as I keep my mouth shut nobody would know.

Morota-san... This is really bad... - It's okay, I'll not let you take any of the blame!

Or, do you wish to keep rotting in this place for the rest of your career!?

But when I heard that Hanzawa and the others were about to look into our computers...

EH!? - Wh...what are we going to do!?

There are still some E-mails in it that I've sent! Hurry up and delete them!

I'll text you my ID and password! - Yes!

And that's why... I'm here now...

I'm not the one that leaked out the information!

It was Morota-san.

Miki, you bastard!! - Sorry...

The E-mails were all still there

Look at the subject line:

"Regarding Spiral's acquisition by Cyber Acrobatics Co. Ltd."

And it was sent to the bank's securities department...

To Chief Isayama

Hanzawa...

Let's talk about that in detail later on.

Morota! Do you still have any excuses left to make?

For a banker, the results are the only things that matter.

No matter how long you work for that subsidiary, you have no future! You'll remain a loser!

But at the bank,

the people and the money, the magnitude is different there!

You're a winner just by being there.

If you've ever been a banker,

You'll always definitely have that urge to return there!

You know that the most, don't you chief?

The one that wants to return to the bank the most, is you!

Chief Hanzawa!!

Stop kidding me, Morota!

Our work is...

Extremely important for the growth of people and their companies.

We're the ones that offer them support.

A job at securities...

No, every job out there, is about aiming for the same thing!

There's no winning or losing!

What's important is not where you work at!

It's how you do your work

We have the lives of our customers in our hands!

Their management, their employees and also their families.

We have all of their lives in our hands!

Do you have an understanding of that!?

What you sold out wasn't just information!

You sold out our trust!

Did you join the bank to do such a thing!?

Do you have no pride left as a banker!?

What is it, Morota!?

Hey hey hey!!

What are you blabbing on from quite some time!?

All that is just rubbish!

I don't get a word you're saying!

Isayama-san... This is an E-mail sent to you! I'll not let you off the hook with just "I don't know"!

I don't know

I don't know!

I don't know!

Firstly, I've never received such a mail.

How about you go search my computer?

Obviously you would! You'd even go search in the bank's servers!

Well, aren't you already doing that??

What happened? - They got us, Hanzawa!

I've looked through the entire server!

There's no E-mail regarding Cyber Acrobatics anywhere at all!

The entire data was deleted just a while ago!

Just a while ago!?

Yes? - Hello?

Morota! Hurry up and get over here!

Actually, Hanzawa is trying to look through all our E-mails

To delete all data from the mail server?

That's right! Everything!!

Did you have all of the data from the mail server deleted?

Hey proper!!! Stop babbling ridiculous things!!

I have no idea what information regarding the acquisition was leaked or whatever.

And neither does such an E-mail exist!

You don't know anything either, do you, Morota?

You've never sent me any E-mails, have you?

But Miki-san... - I don't give a damn what Miki has to say!!

Isn't this just a fake E-mail that you people forged?

How unfortunate!

Right, Hanzawa!!

Moreover, I think you should be grateful towards us!

We, as your parent company,

cleaned up the complete mess that you people created!

Let's leave!

To have a contract canceled because of a delay in our response,

And to have it get snatched away by the bank

Are matters of completely different magnitudes.

Before we could win our clients over with our scheme,

You bankers

Using your position as their main bank, forcefully snatched them away from us!

Without notifying a single word to your own subsidiary company!

Shamelessly snatched away our work!

You've been completely irrational all the way!

The 'superior' Tokyo Chuo Bank seems to be dealing...

just like a bunch of gangsters!

HANZAWA!!!

No matter how smart you think you are,

All of the paths left open to you, lead you out of Tokyo Central Securities!

Bankers cannot deny the orders from HR.

Hanzawa!

You're already finished!

No matter what happens, you start off with your complains to HR!

You look like a kid from school, who keeps threatening to complain to your teacher!

How disgraceful that the chief of the securities department

can only keep saying that one thing!

What did you say!?

Go do whatever the hell you want to, with your HR!

I'm in no mood to let this go as if nothing has happened!

I will definitely return this debt to you!

If I get screwed, I'll definitely screw you back!

Double payback!!

That happens to be...

My motto, you see.

I see... So Hanzawa-kun has made his move, huh?

Thanks for informing me.