Risk

The office was so quiet that only the faint hum of the air conditioner remained.

"I want to see the real revenue and gross-margin trends broken down by product and by region. What's the success rate for new-product promotions? What stage have the old products reached in their life cycles? The accuracy of sales forecasts has to improve. This directly affects the Production Department's scheduling and inventory." Nakayama Takuya pushed the summary report back in front of Yoshimura. "Take it back and redo it. Don't try to fool me with that set of good news you use for meeting reports. I want real firsthand information, more specific, especially on customer quality and risk assessment."

Yoshimura took the report and slunk out dejectedly.

Nakayama Takuya picked up the cup of cold black coffee again and drained it in one gulp.

If he wanted to hold down this chessboard, relying only on the old man's support and the old shareholders' statements would not be enough.

The arrogant soldiers and fierce generals below had to be subdued with genuine, hard-currency professional competence.

His current policy was very clear: look more, speak less, act less.

See through finance's hole cards, and see clearly the veins of sales.

Before he had fully grasped every gear in this enormous machine, he did not intend to casually issue major personnel or structural adjustment orders.

The internal phone on the desk rang again.

"Executive Director, President Nakayama asks you to come to his office," the assistant's voice came through.

Nakayama Takuya rose and straightened the hem of his suit jacket.

For the old man to summon him at a time like this, he had most likely heard the murmurs from the Sales Department.

The president's office on the top floor.

Nakayama Hayao stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, turning