The Tyrant Billionaire

Toyoda immediately agreed.

In addition, companies like Toshiba, NSK, and Ishikawa Machinery—over forty in total—also deposited large sums of money into Sakura Bank.

Sakura Bank began to thrive once more.

Hardy's group had primarily acquired Japan's larger, more representative companies, but there were still many smaller companies struggling to survive. These smaller firms sought loans from banks, hoping to secure Mitsui's support.

With these new deposits, Sakura Bank began issuing loans.

However, because of the tight capital situation, interest rates were much higher than before, significantly increasing Sakura Bank's profitability.

Some of the funds were also used for investments in funds. A U.S. fund company in Tokyo had been thriving, offering extremely high promised returns, and many individuals and banks were investing in it.

But today, Toyota suddenly wanted to withdraw all its funds and transfer its payroll accounts to another bank. The executives at Sakura Bank rushed to contact Kiichiro Toyoda.

"Mr. Toyoda, what's happening? We've had a great relationship. Why are you withdrawing all your funds?" asked the Sakura Bank executive.

Toyoda's tone was apologetic, "I'm sorry, Mr. Mitsui, but this is an order from the board of directors, and I have no choice but to follow it. It's not just us. I've heard that all American affiliated companies will be transferring their funds to banks designated by them. Please prepare accordingly."

With that, Toyoda hung up.

The executive at Sakura Bank was left stunned, holding the receiver in disbelief.

American companies were the largest depositors at the bank. If they withdrew all their funds, the bank would be left hollow.

Moreover, banks typically don't keep large amounts of cash on hand, as they need to invest the money to generate returns. If these major companies wanted to withdraw their funds, the bank wouldn't be able to provide the cash.

A cold sweat broke out on Mitsui's back.

He sensed that something terrible was about to happen, perhaps even a conspiracy. Those damn American bankers were preparing to target Japan's banking and financial sectors.

Soon after, the phone on his desk began ringing nonstop.

Customer managers were calling to report that more large corporate clients were requesting to withdraw deposits and transfer their payroll accounts.

Mitsui was on the verge of a breakdown.

What he feared was indeed happening.

It wasn't just Sakura Bank. Sumitomo Bank, Mitsubishi Bank, Fuji Bank, Kangyo Bank, and Sanwa Bank—over a dozen banks in total—were all facing the same situation.

A bank run.

This was a blatant financial war.

In the past, Japan's banks wouldn't have feared such a tactic. Before World War II, Japan's economy, while not as large as the U.S., was strong enough to withstand this kind of pressure. Stay connected with empire

But after the war, Japan's reserves were depleted. The vaults of the banks were nearly empty, and business was tough. Numerous banks had already collapsed.

Then came the American sanctions, which split up the Japanese Zaibatsu. The once mighty Japanese financial institutions were now like a bare tree, with all the branches and roots—the industries that had once supported them—cut away.

Now, with the American conglomerates swinging the axe, Japan's banks had little defense left.

What could they do?

Turn to the government.

All the banks, while stalling the companies withdrawal requests, banded together to appeal to Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.

To be honest, Even if they wanted to pay out, they didn't have the funds.

Most of their deposits had been turned into loans. Where were they going to find that much cash on short notice?

Hearing the banks desperate pleas, Yoshida immediately realized that this was a deliberate move by the American conglomerates, aimed at Japan's financial system.

"How much cash can you put together right now?" Yoshida asked.

"The money has all been loaned out to companies that weren't acquired by the American conglomerates. You see, those companies were desperate for survival because the American conglomerates didn't buy them, and they feared losing their market share. They came to us for loans, so all our funds are scattered among those businesses, and we can't recover them now."

"Prime Minister Yoshida, the American conglomerates are clearly aiming to control Japan's financial sector. They already control most of Japan's major industries. If they gain control over the banks and financial institutions as well, Japan's economy will be entirely under their control, leaving us no chance of ever rising again."

Yoshida Shigeru knew this.

But what could he do?

Hardy had once told him that if Japan wanted to return to the international community as an independent country, sacrifices would have to be made.

In military, political, economic, and cultural aspects, Japan had to ensure the U.S. felt no threat.

Hardy, step by step, was swallowing Japan's economic body, and while Yoshida's cabinet could see it happening, they were powerless to stop it.

In fact, the cabinet had even discussed that perhaps, in order to regain independence, these things might have to be relinquished entirely.

Besides, it wasn't even a matter of willingly giving things up. The Americans were taking them by force, and there was no way to resist.

"I'll go meet with Envoy Hardy right now and see if he's willing to help resolve this situation," Yoshida said urgently.

Yoshida hurried to see Hardy.

Hardy had already moved out of the Imperial Hotel. He wasn't joking when he mentioned to the foreign minister about buying property in Tokyo. His staff had indeed arranged for him to acquire a residence.

It was a European-style estate that had belonged to a British-Indian businessman decades ago. The man was involved in import-export, shipping cotton and coal to Japan, and, as he frequently visited, had built this estate in Tokyo.

The mansion itself was European in design, but the interior décor was eclectic—Indian and European styles in the living room, a Japanese-style hot spring room, and an Indian-style garden.

Before World War II, the Indian businessman had foresighted the chaos in Japan and never returned. During the war, business relations ceased, and the Japanese government eventually confiscated the property, which Hardy had now purchased.