January 18th, evening, Osaka.
The Saionji family's motorcade arrived at the old Sumitomo Main Family residence as the sky was darkening.
The old residence faced the water, and the stone path in front of the gate was swept clean.
The gate lamps swayed slightly in the cold wind, casting yellow light onto the door studs, revealing the dull luster of old copper.
Satsuki stepped out of the car.
She was wearing a deep ink-colored cashmere coat today, her hair tied very low, with a small pearl brooch pinned to the collar.
Chizuru stood half a step behind her, carrying a black file box.
Shuichi stepped out from the other side.
He glanced at his daughter and asked in a low voice, "Do you really need to go in yourself?"
"Yes."
Satsuki looked up at the gate of the Sumitomo residence.
"Since they are using the Sumitomo nameplate, the Sumitomo Main Family should open the door themselves."
Shuichi said nothing more.
Fujita stepped forward to present their business cards.
A moment later, Sumitomo Takamichi came out to greet them personally.
He was wearing a dark gray kimono with a haori draped over it.
When he saw Shuichi, he bowed respectfully before turning his gaze to Satsuki.
"Lord Saionji, Miss Satsuki. My father is already waiting inside."
It was warm inside the old residence.
The heating was not set too high, and the air held a hint of charcoal fire and tatami mats.
At the end of the hallway, a bottle of wintersweet was placed; the branches were thin, but the fragrance was clear.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio sat in the seat of honor.
He had tea prepared in front of him, and beside the teacup lay an unopened folder.
Seeing Satsuki enter, he showed no sign of surprise.
"It is Sumitomo's rudeness to have Lord Saionji and Miss Satsuki come over so late."
Shuichi smiled slightly.
"Mr. Yoshio, you are too polite. We should be the ones apologizing; this matter involves your manufacturing companies, and we could not just let the correspondence go back and forth on the road."
The pleasantries were brief.
After Satsuki knelt down, Chizuru placed the black file box to her right.
Satsuki opened the box and took out two documents.
Both documents were thin, almost weightless.
She first pushed the first document toward Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio.
"This is the second letter issued by the Compliance Office of the Osaka Main Branch."
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio did not pick it up.
He looked at the document, his brows twitching slightly.
Satsuki then placed the second document beside it.
"This is an excerpt of the reply from the Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank."
Two sheets of paper were placed side by side on the coffee table.
One from Sumitomo.
One from Dai-Ichi Kangyo.
Placed together, they looked like two thin blades flying in from different directions.
Satsuki did not beat around the bush.
"The first sheet has successfully stopped Sumitomo Chemical's goods at the Osaka South Port."
Her voice was very flat.
"The second sheet explains that the winter cost materials for Gokurakukan were reviewed by both the Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and the Seibu acquisition advisory team back then."
Sumitomo Takamichi's gaze fell on the second sheet.
Satsuki continued, "These two matters were originally unrelated. Now that the Osaka Main Branch has tied them together, the result is that Sumitomo's own goods cannot move."
The room fell silent.
The charcoal in the stove made a soft sound.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio finally picked up the first letter.
He read it very quickly.
His fingers stopped when he saw the line, "Suspend the expansion of the authorization scope."
Shuichi spoke at this moment.
"Mr. Yoshio, Saionji Trading can continue, or we can stop. We are not afraid of waiting. But the goods at the dock cannot wait for people, and overseas customers cannot wait either."
The words were spoken gently.
But the meaning was heavy.
If Saionji Trading stopped, there would certainly be losses.
But Saionji was not afraid of such losses.
As the group with the strongest cash flow in Japan today, even if they lost all these orders and did not have a single customer, it would only mean Saionji Trading returning to its state before the upgrade.
However, the losses suffered by companies like Sumitomo Chemical, Sumitomo Metal, and Sumitomo Electric were more direct, and they could not afford to lose.
Against the backdrop of the economic crisis, if they lost these orders again, they might go bankrupt from the losses.
The bank could wait.
The Main Family could wait.
Satsuki could also wait.
Only the goods could not wait.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio put down the first letter and picked up the excerpt of the reply from Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank.
When he read the line "Seibu acquisition advisory team," his eyes sank slightly.
"Seibu saw it too."
"Yes," Satsuki said.
"Then the matter of Gokurakukan..."
"It could be a loan rollover issue between Seibu and Dai-Ichi Kangyo, or it could be an internal review issue of the acquisition judgment by Seibu." Satsuki looked at Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio, "But it should not be the reason for Sumitomo Chemical's containers to be stuck at the port."
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio was silent.
Satsuki did not urge him.
She picked up her teacup and took a sip; it was surprisingly the black tea she liked.
"I came here today to confirm one thing."
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio looked up.
"Is the key to the Sumitomo group's export business still in the hands of the Main Family, or has it already been handed over to the Compliance Office of the Osaka Main Branch?"
After this sentence was spoken, Sumitomo Takamichi's expression changed first.
He did not feel angry, just extremely embarrassed.
Because this sentence tore open the outermost layer of paper.
Hakusuikai issued letters speaking of risk.
The Osaka Main Branch issued letters speaking of compliance.
The manufacturing legal department stopped orders, speaking of responsibility.
But when these things were piled together, there was only one real problem.
Does the authorization of the Sumitomo Main Family actually count?
If the Main Family's authorization could be suppressed by a letter from the Osaka Main Branch, then the Main Family was just an old photograph sitting in the seat of honor.
If the Main Family still had the final say, it had to produce something that could let the manufacturing companies continue to move forward.
Verbal comfort could not suppress the Osaka Main Branch.
Polite reply letters could not push the containers at the dock either.
What the Sumitomo Main Family needed to bring out now was a key that could open the door.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio looked down at the two sheets of paper.
After a long time, he sighed softly.
Since he had chosen Saionji as an ally, this effort still had to be made.
Besides, this Miss Satsuki had personally come to apply pressure, so he could distinguish between what was important and what was not.
He looked at Takamichi.
"How much empty warehouse space is left at the South Port?"
Takamichi had obviously thought about this question long ago and answered quickly.
"There is a section of the old warehouse area in the No. 3 bonded warehouse under the name of Sumitomo Warehousing that is not yet full. It was originally reserved for Sumitomo Chemical's export goods for the next quarter. A low-temperature storage room can also be partitioned off at the Rokko Island cold storage, but the duty, insurance, and entry/exit registration will need to be rearranged."
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio nodded.
"Then use these two places first."
He glanced at his father, then stood up and walked toward the side room.
Shuichi did not speak.
Satsuki did not move either.
Soon, Sumitomo Takamichi walked back with a dark gray folder.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio took the folder and pulled out the two warehouse floor plans on top.
The first was the Osaka South Port No. 3 bonded warehouse.
The second was the Kobe Rokko Island cold storage.
On both diagrams, a warehouse area was circled with a red pencil, and the area, entrance/exit, duty room location, and existing cargo flow were marked next to it.
"The old warehouse area in South Port No. 3 can be partitioned off first," Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio said. "It was originally reserved for Sumitomo Chemical's export goods for the next quarter. Now it will be used as a temporary warehouse area for the joint management center."
He pushed the first floor plan toward Shuichi.
Then he pushed the second one over.
"At the Rokko Island cold storage, a low-temperature storage room can be partitioned off. Duty, insurance, and entry/exit registration will still be the responsibility of the original warehousing company, while Saionji Trading will send personnel to be stationed on-site to participate in document verification, entry confirmation, and customs declaration window liaison."
Sumitomo Takamichi took out another thin memorandum.
The title was:
Memorandum on the Establishment of the Sumitomo Industry Overseas Settlement Joint Management Center.
Under the memorandum were two metal numbered tags.
One was engraved with "South Port No. 3."
The other was engraved with "Rokko Cold Storage."
Those were not the keys to the warehouse gates.
The real keys were still in the duty room key cabinet, and the entry and exit of goods would still follow the processes of the registration book, duty officer, customs declaration window, and warehousing company.
These two numbered tags represented something else.
Starting tomorrow, Saionji Trading would be qualified to send people into these two warehouse areas, qualified to leave confirmation signatures next to the entry/exit records, and qualified to put warehouse receipts, customs declaration documents, and letter of credit modification opinions on the same table for processing.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio placed the two numbered tags on the coffee table.
"But the ownership cannot be touched yet," he said. "The warehouse is still Sumitomo's warehouse, and the personnel are still managed by the original warehousing company."
Shuichi nodded.
This was a matter of course.
If ownership were directly transferred, there would be an explosion within Sumitomo, and the outside world would also feel that the Sumitomo Main Family had been forced to cut its own flesh by Saionji.
That would be too undignified; even if it were practically almost like that, at least some face had to be left for Sumitomo.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio's hand rested on the metal tags, stroking them slowly.
"But the South Port No. 3 warehouse and the Rokko Cold Storage can first be set up for ten-year operational management, under the name of the Sumitomo Industry Overseas Settlement Joint Management Center."
"Saionji Trading and the Sumitomo Main Family will jointly manage them, and all existing Sumitomo-affiliated manufacturing export goods will first enter the joint management center."
He paused.
"The relevant customs declaration business windows can also be set up inside the warehouse."
Sumitomo Takamichi took a memorandum from the folder and placed it next to the two metal tags.
Satsuki glanced at the title.
Memorandum on the Establishment of the Sumitomo Industry Overseas Settlement Joint Management Center.
She did not reach out immediately, seemingly waiting for something.
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio looked at Satsuki again, his fingers tightening slightly.
"In addition, if warehousing assets need to be disposed of during the future bubble adjustment period, Saionji Trading will have the right of first refusal under the same conditions."
Shuichi's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Ten-year operational management rights, customs declaration windows, and even the right of first refusal.
Osaka South Port, Kobe Rokko Island. One bonded warehouse, one cold storage. The former blocked goods. The latter blocked the cold chain.
The Sumitomo Main Family was effectively admitting that Saionji Trading was no longer just an external pre-audit agency sitting in an office looking at documents.
Goods had to enter the warehouse it managed.
Documents had to be verified at the window it managed.
Inspection records, packing records, customs declaration records, and warehouse exit records would all leave traces in the same place.
If Hakusuikai wanted to block business with a letter in the future, they would have to explain why Sumitomo's own goods could not enter the warehouse authorized by the Sumitomo Main Family.
Shuichi turned his head to look at Satsuki.
Just by sitting here, she could force the other side to spit out so much?
As expected of my daughter... Maybe I should bring Satsuki to all negotiations in the future.
Satsuki seemed finally satisfied, reaching out to pick up one of the metal tags.
"Mr. Sumitomo, your decision is truly admirable."
"Only with a warehouse can the settlement have a place to land."
Satsuki looked up at Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio.
"With only documents, the Osaka Main Branch could still say we were just an external pre-audit. Once the goods entered the joint management center, documents, goods, and inspection records would all be in the same place. Whoever wants to block the process in the future will have to explain why Sumitomo's own goods are stopped outside the warehouse authorized by the Sumitomo Main Family."
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio watched her for a while.
"Was this what Miss Satsuki wanted from the beginning?"
Satsuki smiled gently.
"Before today, I just wanted the documents to move faster."
She glanced at the first risk confirmation letter on the table.
"Now the Osaka Main Branch has reminded me that relying on documents alone is not enough. The goods also need a place to be put."
Sumitomo Takamichi lowered his eyes, hiding the complex expression in his eyes.
Hakusuikai originally just wanted to make the chopsticks unable to pick up the food.
But Satsuki had now directly taken away the plate holding the food.
Shuichi picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.
The tea was very bitter.
But he was in a very good mood.
"Mr. Yoshio," he said, "Since the joint management center has been established, can the first batch of goods tomorrow morning enter the South Port No. 3 warehouse first?"
Mr. Sumitomo Yoshio nodded.
"I will have Takamichi notify Sumitomo Chemical and the warehousing company tonight."
He paused and added another sentence.
"If the Osaka Main Branch has any objections, have them come to me."
January 19th, 9:40 AM.
Outside the Osaka South Port No. 3 bonded warehouse, trailers were lined up behind the white line, their engines vibrating lowly.
This warehouse was not empty.
At the loading dock on the east side, a batch of Sumitomo Metal containers was already going through warehouse exit procedures.
The warehouse manager stood behind the registration desk, and the phone at his side had almost never stopped.
Nagata stood in front of the No. 3 loading dock on the west side.
This area originally belonged to the reserved warehouse area for Sumitomo Chemical's export goods for the next quarter, which had been temporarily partitioned out from the original schedule last night.
The yellow partition lines on the ground had not yet been repainted, and the workers could only use a few red and white traffic cones to separate a new passage.
He held a new warehouse entry registration book in his hand.
Behind him were two employees from the Saionji Trading Osaka office.
Further back was the foreign trade Section Chief of Sumitomo Chemical.
The containers that were still parked at the dock yesterday afternoon had now been towed to the warehouse door.
The warehouse manager walked over, first looking at the documents in Nagata's hand, then at the authorization notice sent by the Sumitomo Main Family in the early morning.
"Saionji Trading on-site confirmation, is that correct?"
Nagata nodded.
"We will process this batch first today. Document verification, entry records, and customs declaration window liaison will be confirmed together by our personnel."
The warehouse manager did not ask any more questions.
He clipped the authorization notice into the file board and turned to wave at the duty room.
"West side No. 3 entrance, clear for entry."
A forklift soon drove over.
As the first container was towed into the designated warehouse area, the lights in the warehouse fell on the side of the container, revealing a layer of salt-white traces dried by the sea breeze.
On the east side loading dock, the original business continued as usual; the staff of Sumitomo Warehousing checked exit orders as usual, and customs brokers with files in their arms walked quickly through the passage.
The only difference was the addition of a temporary wooden table next to the west side registration desk.
On the table lay a newly carved rubber stamp.
Nagata picked up the stamp and looked at it.
Saionji · Sumitomo Joint Management Center.
The characters were carved very newly, with some unpolished burrs on the edges.
He pressed the stamp into the red ink pad.
The first page of the entry record had an extra bright red stamp.
The Sumitomo Chemical foreign trade Section Chief looked at the stamp and finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Does this count as restored?"
The young employee next to him asked in a low voice.
Nagata closed the registration book.
"Not just restored."
He looked at the containers entering the warehouse.
"Before, we only looked at documents; now, the goods must also pass through here."
The young employee did not fully understand yet.
But the foreign trade Section Chief understood.
He turned to look deep into the warehouse.
The goods that were stuck at the dock by a letter a few hours ago had now entered the warehouse area authorized by the Sumitomo Main Family and confirmed by Saionji Trading on-site.
The legal department could continue to be cautious, the bank could continue to issue letters, and Hakusuikai could continue to discuss risks in the meeting room in Kitahama.
But the goods had already entered the door.
From this moment on, if the Osaka Main Branch wanted to stop it again, they could not just write the words "risk confirmation" on paper.
Sumitomo Bank Osaka Main Branch.
Yasui looked at the notice that had just been sent up and was silent for a full half-minute.
The notice was very short.
The Sumitomo Main Family decided to establish the Sumitomo Industry Overseas Settlement Joint Management Center.
The Osaka South Port No. 3 bonded warehouse and the Kobe Rokko Island cold storage would be jointly managed by Saionji Trading and the Sumitomo Main Family starting from today.
Existing export goods within the authorized scope of Sumitomo-affiliated manufacturing companies must not have their orders stopped arbitrarily due to the Osaka Main Branch's risk confirmation letter.
If the Osaka Main Branch believes there is a specific risk, it should submit the corresponding transaction number, risk clause, and factual basis to the Sumitomo Main Family's legal department.
Umeba stood in front of the desk, his face turning pale bit by bit.
"They got the warehouse."
Yasui did not speak.
He stared at the words "joint management."
After a long time, he put the notice on the desk.
The rope had indeed been pulled tight.
It was just that the person standing at the other end had not been dragged to the table by them.
She had followed that rope and found the key to the warehouse.
And then, took the key away.