46 Manpower (1/2)

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”Are you sure you want to sell it for this amount?” Kazuya asked Matsuri again after viewing the deed of sale. She was selling the warehouse and her land at a relatively lower price than what both he and Mei expected.

”I am. You're already giving me an opportunity to work for you and with all the trouble I've caused you, I can't bear to ask you for more” She replied.

”You still have to make the decision whether you want to join or not after reading the contract thoroughly. It isn't your regular contract and the penalties for information leaks are severe” Kazuya reminded.

”It does not matter. I need to repay you for your grace. You won't be using the warehouse and will be reconstructing the place so I think the price is suitable” she made up her mind.

”Alright then. Please sign the papers and will immediately send you the whole amount” Kazuya took out his phone and used it to transfer the amount for the purchase.

Mei who hardly said anything was impressed. Kazuya may appear like a child to whomever looked at him but as soon as they talk to him, their perspectives would change. This boy singlehandedly handled the purchase of their future headquarters and even got a good price for it. She wanted to see him leading the company but unfortunately, he cannot legally take the helm.

”(If Kyouko were to see her son right now…)” Mei smiled. The scion of the Kouzuki family indeed lived up to his name. Kazuya was not only building his company from the ground, he was making it seem like any other child could do so.

[Transfer Successful]

”Please check your bank account” Kazuya showed the confirmation message on his phone. Matsuri called her bank with hers and confirmed that the transfer went to her account safely.

”Thank you, Kazuno-san, Kouzuki-san. I will not let you down!” Matsuri didn't need to read over the employee contract and immediately signed it.

”Sen… no… Sawada Matsuri, Since Kazu has given you this chance then I will say nothing more. I admired you back when you were my upperclassman so I hope you haven't gotten too rusty” Mei put on her usual cold demeanor as this had to do with business. ”Read through your contract carefully. You may have signed it but it contains information that you need to know. Also, I may be the CEO but Kazu's commands are above even mine since he's the owner of the company”

Matsuri wasn't really surprised by this. She already knew that Mei had been very successful and was sitting at a high position in the Kouzuki Corporation. It didn't take a degree in rocket science to connect the boy to the corporation since he had the surname 'Kouzuki'.

”Understood” Matsuri's demeanor also changed. Even though she was dressed normally, she had the demeanor of a professional.

”Now that we have obtained our headquarters, I can officially register the company” Mei turned towards Kazuya. ”We still need to visit contractors and designers for the company so that they can begin construction immediately”

”Before that… Sawada-san can you please call that guy waiting outside here?”

”I…” she hesitated. She remembered she still needed to settle the debt with Ousame.

”No need to worry. Your debt aside, that guy will not dare to bother you anymore after this” Kazuya reassured her.

”I will bring him right away Kouzuki-sama” she bowed politely and left before Kazuya could refute her way of addressing him.

It didn't take long before Matsuri came back with the stiff Ousame behind her. She was impressed by her little boss since this person had been very aggressive towards her. He was like a tiger who had reverted to a kitten in the presence of Kazuya.

”Y-you called for me young master?”

”I already heard the part about you needing to pay your debts earlier. You will get your payment soon since I have already bought this place” Kazuya noticed the relief in Ousame's face despite the fear he still held. ”I just have a few questions for you”

”You can ask me anything young master” after learning his lesson the first time, he wouldn't dare keep anything from him.

”Are you connected to the underworld?” Kazuya looked straight at Ousame's eyes.

”I…” Ousame hesitated. He then saw the eyes of the boy slowly narrowing accompanied by an unknown pressure assailing him. ”I used to be… but I was fired for not being good at collecting money. They said I could just establish a loan company so I can get used to it and come back if ever I wanted to. It was their way of telling me I wasn't needed anymore but didn't cut ties so I can be of use to them if there came a time”

”I see… then do you want to come back?”

”N-no. I found that being away from all the trouble suits me more and my 'brothers' think so as well”

”Good. You should completely break away from them” Kazuya smiled. ”I'm going to offer you and your most trusted brothers an opportunity. Work for me”

”Work?” This was the last possibility on his mind. He assumed he was going to get asked to do something like gather information but this offer was unexpected.

”Indeed. If you're really serious about cutting ties with the dirty dealings of the underworld then I'm offering you an opportunity”

”W-what kind of work?”

”Security for the company I will be building here and not the regular type of security that wears those silly uniforms. All of you will be expected to work like those professional security companies working with modern technology”

”This…” Ousame didn't know what to say. Ever since he met this boy, he had nightmares of being alone on the room with him and experiencing the torture he went through again.

People who didn't have the opportunity to go to universities like them were often left to fend off for themselves doing menial or shady jobs. Ousame met his people with the same circumstances and treated them as brothers. The boy in front of him who he always thought was the devil was now giving him the chance to break free from the life they never thought they would get out of and have occupations that they would be proud of after taking their pasts into consideration.

”Of course, you already know my policy when it comes to betrayal right?” The amount of pressure Kazuya released almost made Ousame throw up everything that was in his stomach. He needn't be reminded of what would happen if he as much as got on this boy's bad side.

”I…”

”No need to give an answer now. I want you to talk to your brothers about it. Of course, I wouldn't be doing this just because I felt like it. You, like every other employee that will be working in this company will be compelled to sign a contract that will be akin to making a deal with the devil” Kazuya grinned.

”And of course, like a deal with the devil, all you need to do is perform your responsibilities well and you will be compensated adequately. Break it however… hehe I believe you can imagine it since most stories told had similar ends” Kazuya didn't give up making the last part very clear.