Chapter 118: The First to Bargain With Me

"…Takamine, what exactly do you want your friend to do?"

"You didn't hear me? President of the Great Japan Bank. Your current position."

"Oh, so you're telling me I should step down, is that it?" Katahara chuckled, not angry at all. "About that—"

"No one's asking you to resign. You can keep that lousy position. I mean a summer internship. Just let him be acting president for a few days."

"Which IW department is he from? If it's the Finance Division, then maybe—"

"Not from IW. He's a high school classmate."

"…A high schooler?"

"Yup."

"Oh."

Only Takamine Rinji could suggest something this absurd—letting a student take the reins of one of Japan's most powerful financial institutions. Katahara must've been wondering whether Rinji even used his brain before speaking.

The Great Japan Bank, under Katahara's control, effectively ran Japan's economy. If the Shinomiya family was its heart, the bank was its brain.

Giving that role to a high schooler…

Well, maybe not impossible.

"Hohoho… if my young friend Rinji agrees to a certain condition, I can let him take the part-time post."

"Sure. You're the first guy bold enough to try negotiating with me."

"Ooh, how scary~ but I think you'll find this condition pretty interesting," Katahara said, chuckling.

"I know what kind of person you are, old man. If your condition actually gave me trouble, you'd have been six feet under four years ago."

"Good, then let me explain—"

Katahara slowly detailed his request over the phone.

Surrounded by the noise of cheering crowds, no one noticed Takamine's quiet conversation.

"So? Interested in the condition?"

"Yeah, it's pretty interesting." Takamine laughed. "But are you sure? This could be devastating for the other contestants."

"No problem at all."

Katahara's lips curled into a wicked grin on the other end of the line.

"As long as it's entertaining."

"Alright, but don't come crying to me if things blow up."

"Of course. Just have your friend show up when it's time. You and I won't be around then anyway—let him do whatever he wants."

"Got it."

With the deal made, Takamine happily ended the call.

He'd successfully secured a summer job for Shirogane Miyuki—and quite an easy one. Katahara would've pre-arranged everything.

All Shirogane had to do was sit in an office and get familiar with things. His daily wages would be paid regardless.

Rinji dialed Shirogane again.

"Hey, president, I got your part-time job sorted."

"That fast?"

Shirogane, still at the student council office, was surprised. Barely ten minutes had passed since they'd last spoken.

"What kind of job?"

"Just sitting at a desk, staring at stacks of cash all day."

"Huh? Oh, that kind of job."

At first, Shirogane didn't quite get it, but then he thought of something—it must be cashier work at a department store.

"I've got experience in that field!"

"Then you're set. You can start as soon as summer vacation begins."

"Awesome, thanks so much, Rinji. By the way… how's the pay?"

"Definitely higher than your current gig."

"That's great."

Shirogane was genuinely thrilled.

If the pay was much better than his current job, that meant the hourly rate would easily top 1,000 yen—maybe even 2,000, especially since Rinji had mentioned working around business elites.

That kind of money could help him save up and support his family over the break.

——————————————————————————————————

After putting his phone away, Takamine stretched lazily.

Skipping class today turned out to be the right move. He made a decent profit and even arranged a job for the president. He'd done enough for one day.

"Ah, Takamine-san, there you are."

"Oh, Mr. Yamashita."

Rinji turned around and saw the short, middle-aged man—Yamashita Kazuo—approaching with Tokita Ohma, still bruised from his fight.

"Kid, you sure don't slack off. Just finished beating you up, and you're already back in the ring today."

"That kind of injury heals in two days." Ohma grinned.

"You though—when are you going to fight? I can't wait to beat you."

"First of all, that's never happening. Second, I'm not a gladiator, so I won't even get the chance."

"Tch."

"What brings you here today, Takamine-san?" Yamashita asked. "Did you come to watch Ohma fight?"

"Yup. Also came to place some bets and make some cash."

Thinking about the money, Rinji slapped Ohma's shoulder and laughed. "Not bad, kid. You fought well—I didn't waste that 100 million yen I bet on you."

"100 million!?"

Yamashita's jaw dropped.

Maybe that kind of money meant nothing to Rinji, but to Yamashita—a low-level employee at a subsidiary of Nogi Group—that could be more than he'd see in a lifetime.

The more he thought about it, the more mysterious this high schooler seemed.

President Nogi knew him. He seemed to hold considerable influence. Today, he clearly had deep pockets. And most terrifying of all—he had enough strength to beat Tokita Ohma.

Yamashita wisely held his tongue, not daring to say anything that might offend this boy.

Ohma, on the other hand, didn't bother with all that thinking.

"With strength like yours, it's a waste not to be a gladiator."

"My level's way beyond yours. If I joined, it'd be like babysitting."

Rinji laughed. "But since I made a good profit betting on you, I can at least give you a little bonus. Say… 10 million yen isn't a problem."

Yamashita: "…"

He started calculating how many years it would take him to make that kind of money.

Ohma, as usual, didn't seem to care much for cash. Even when offered a reward, he wasn't particularly excited.

"Just buy me dinner."

"Sure."