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Chapter 50 – Holding Company

“So, what do you think?”

In the car on the way back from the restaurant.

Since Great-Grandfather had said he’d eat there before heading back, we waited a while after Kaneko-san left, exited the restaurant separately, and then met up in the car.

Tokita is driving, Shizu is in the passenger seat, and it’s just Great-Grandfather and me in the back.

“Let’s swallow them whole. That’s clearly the best option.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Great-Grandfather can’t help but let out a wry smile.

But I’m serious—and I understand that right now, it’s possible.

“But with 70 million yen in bad debt and a total of 350 million yen loaned to Suzuki by the Bank of Taiwan, that’s only 200 million dollars combined. We could easily raise 400 million yen using stock as collateral. If we convert part of the stocks into dollars and bring the dollars into Japan directly, I don’t think Takahashi-san will complain. Right, Tokita? We can handle 200 million dollars, can’t we?”

“All at once, it would be difficult to procure.”

“We’re not actually bringing the cash into Japan, so it’s fine. If we paid the Bank of Taiwan the full amount all at once, it would inject too much money into Japan and could cause serious problems.”

“That might be true.”

“For the Bank of Taiwan’s part, we can just give a small deposit and say we’ll cover the rest. That should be enough. Still, swallowing Suzuki whole, huh…”

“Yes. We move some assets from Phoenix to Ootori Bank, or increase capital using stock as collateral, and we become Suzuki’s principal bank. That should be enough to form a group, right?”

As soon as I say it, I realize I’ve made a slip of the tongue.

Because I was thinking in terms of a family-centered zaibatsu, the psychological barrier to a buyout felt too high, so the words just came out naturally—but I had spoken of a concept that doesn’t exist yet in this era.

“Group formation? What’s that? Tokita?”

“No. There is no such term for companies or organizations, even in America.”

“A dream from the future, then. What kind of thing is it?”

“Uh… a group means a collective, a corporate group. Like a zaibatsu, it’s a holding company. But instead of being family-run, a central bank becomes the core.”

“What’s the difference? Sounds the same to me.”

“Sort of. But instead of a family-owned zaibatsu headquarters, the lead institution is a central bank. And that company would officially incorporate Phoenix and place other finance-related firms like insurance companies directly under its umbrella to strengthen the structure. The name for it is a Financial Holding Company(Umbrella Company).

This way, since it’s not under family control, the ones being absorbed can accept it a bit more easily, and it’s easier to bring them in. Also, instead of a pyramid structure, it’s reorganized as a federation where each company is connected horizontally in equal relationships…”

“Wait a minute. Are you talking about reshaping the Ootori zaibatsu itself?”

“Ah—yeah, that’s what it comes down to. But if we’re going to swallow a company as big as Suzuki and then streamline or merge overlapping businesses, it’ll be easier down the line if we restructure things from the start.

Also, if we control the bank, it gives Kaneko-san at least the possibility of gaining control over everything. That might make him less inclined to cause a split again so easily.”

Otokita and Great-Grandfather ponder my words.

Shizu remains uninvolved, keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings outside the car.
We’ve got one escort car ahead and one behind, but when things get serious like this, Shizu really gives off bodyguard vibes.

As I glance at Shizu’s serious profile, Tokita calls out from the driver’s seat.

“Young Lady Reiko, if I may—could it be that this group formation is your personal attempt to create a system with Phoenix at the top?”

“You think so too, Tokita? Phoenix would be the real apex, after all. Still, that’s quite an idea. Did you get that from a dream too?”

I don’t intend to make it mine, but it’s true that I got the idea from knowledge of my past life.

Also, I didn’t say it because I want to take control.
I was just thinking it’d be the easier way forward.

But seeing the expressions on their faces, I start to feel a mischievous urge to throw in a little bluff.

“Well, you know… it’d be nice if we could make that happen in about ten years or so.”

I tried to keep my tone light, but the two of them only grew more thoughtful.

Then Great-Grandfather spoke, his tone heavy.

“So you’re saying there’s a strong possibility we have to do that within ten years. At least as far as Ootori is concerned. But why? It’s not just about building a structure to compete with the major zaibatsu, is it? If I line that up with the long-term plans we’ve previously set for Ootori, the only thing that comes to mind is Japan entering a full-scale war with some other country. Is that what you’re implying?”

Ten years from now would be the year the Second Sino-Japanese War—Japan’s full-scale, total war—begins.

I said it without really thinking, but maybe it was this villainous noblewoman’s brain that instinctively arrived at that conclusion.

So I decided to follow through and continue.

“I really do hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Better safe than sorry, as they say.”

“And… one more thing.”

“There’s another reason?”

“My brother, along with a few senior officers above him, are working hard to build a national system that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers—a so-called total war structure. If we get too obvious about it, we’ll be branded political profiteers, but as someone from the same family, I was thinking maybe I could help in some small way.”

“Now you’re calling us political profiteers? Well, Ootori is half like a political profiteer anyway. There’s no need to worry about that. There’s no room left for anyone else to hate us more than they already do. So, about this total war talk—should I hear about it from Tatsuya instead?”

“Yes. If you’re serious, I think you should have Tatsuya introduce you to a man named Nagata Tetsuzan. But if you do that, your ties with the military might deepen too much, and things could get complicated with other zaibatsu and politicians.”

“If it’s about the military, there won’t be a problem. The head of the Ootori family is that of a military man, after all. Still, you sure come up with one thing after another. If I may ask, besides your dreams, did you have any predictions or thoughts about today’s conversation with Kaneko-san?”

I waved my hands left and right with a pose like “I wish I had that kind of foresight.”

“I was just listening in the next room and somehow got the feeling. Even I didn’t think the words would come out so smoothly.”

I found myself staring off into the distance a little.

Seeing me like that, Great-Grandfather burst into hearty laughter.
His laughter lasted for a while, then his voice became full of energy.

It felt like he had become ten years younger.

“That’s reassuring. Tokita, things are going to get busy for a while. We’ll have to give Zenkichi a kick in the pants too. Seems like it’s not the time for me to be senile yet either.”

“Indeed, understood.”

Tokita’s profile as he answered carried a sly, manly grin.

(What’s going on? The two of them are getting excited all on their own.)

“Um, Great-Grandfather?”

“Thank you, Reiko. You’ve shown me that I still have things I can do. And you’ve prepared such a big stage for me.”

“Ah, yes. Well, please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Ah, that’s true. But this life has been prolonged by the medicine you had Kouryuu make. Even if I burn it out here, I won’t have any regrets.”

At those words from my Great-Grandfather, I thought about trying to curb his reckless will with a childish selfishness, but when I saw his face, I stopped myself.

He was energetic and full of masculine charm, with eyes that sparkled and gleamed intensely.
Trying to stop a man like that would only ruin a woman.

So I decided to say something fitting for a villainous young lady.

“Then, save some for me too.”

(Ah, I slipped back into my usual childish tone.)

But in response to my words, Great-Grandfather just laughed heartily.

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Holding Company (Umbrella Company)

Holding company refers to a company that owns stock in other corporations for the purpose of controlling them.
By holding a majority of shares in other corporations, it directs the business activities of those companies as its main operation.

A typical example is the head company of a prewar Japanese zaibatsu.