New Employee Training
The host gripped the microphone with practiced ease. “Welcome to the Taira Group, Japan’s premier conglomerate!”
An A-list MC from Taira Entertainment was running the show. The new hires let out a collective “Heee~!” their eyes sparkling as they realized they were standing in front of a real celebrity. The general consensus seemed to be that the Taira Group truly was on another level.
Of course the guy had to come when called. He was, after all, under contract with Taira Entertainment. While he earned far more than a regular salaryman, he was still technically on the company payroll. In Japan, aside from a handful of top stars, most entertainers operated on a salary system that let the company take the lion’s share.
“We will now begin with a congratulatory address from the Chairman of the Taira Group, Taira Danjo!”
At the MC’s announcement, the white-haired old man stepped onto the stage in a sharp suit. I’d only ever seen him in traditional men’s kimono back at the main house, so this was a first. Still, the suit looked natural on him. As expected from the man who stood at the pinnacle of Japan’s business world, he carried an air of dignified gravitas.
“You greenhorns, welcome to Japan’s number one group.”
It was an absurdly curt speech, yet the trainees burst into enthusiastic cheers.
“The Human Resources Development Center here is an outstanding institution. The Group has poured tremendous effort into training its new recruits. So much so that my own grandson—one of my direct bloodline—is currently attending sessions here.”
The trainees had no idea who he meant, but every employee seated behind them turned their heads to stare straight at me. Their eyes all said the same thing: So this guy is the Chairman’s direct descendant?
Taira Danjo, you sly old fox. Using me to boost the center’s credibility with the new hires. As expected from a man with neither blood nor tears. The stares were uncomfortable, but I couldn’t exactly kick my chair over and storm out. This was awkward as hell.
“I won’t drag this out. Since you’ve come to the best group, receive the best education and produce the best results in whatever positions you take. That is all!”
Applause erupted—polite, but sincere enough.
The old man stepped down from the podium, and the MC returned.
“Wasn’t that a wonderful speech? Next up…”
As the host introduced the following segment, a large man wearing sunglasses approached me. One of Taira Danjo’s bodyguards, I assumed.
“Young Master, the Chairman is calling for you.”
Just as I thought. Staying here any longer would be uncomfortable anyway. Time to go.
“Where should I head?”
“Please follow me.”
I trailed after the hulking man in sunglasses. Glancing back at the stage, I saw Taira Yukiko ascending the steps. As Director of the Human Resources Development Center, it made sense she would speak second, right after the Chairman. The male trainees’ eyes were practically glittering as they watched her. Well, she was far more beautiful than most celebrities. Still, the way they looked at her left a sour taste in my mouth.
Following the bodyguard led me to a parking area where a Taira Motors limousine waited. As I approached, the door opened and Taira Danjo’s voice drifted out.
“Get in.”
I climbed into the limousine as instructed. It felt even more spacious than the one I’d ridden in for Saburo’s funeral—an entire class higher. Taira Danjo sat in the rear seat, puffing on a thick cigar. Or… was it a cigar? The scent wasn’t tobacco. It smelled more like some kind of dried herb being burned.
“From now on, do not reveal your regenerative ability in front of others.”
“Pardon?”
The moment I sat down, he brought up my regeneration? How the hell did the old man know about it? Did he hear the report from the Jinildang terrorist incident?
“Are you truly unable to understand, or are you merely pretending not to?”
“If you mean in front of people, then it’s fine to use when no one’s around, correct?”
“Yes. That will suffice.”
“You called me all the way here just to say that? You could have sent a text or made a phone call.”
Thwack!
In response to my grumbling, Taira Danjo flicked his finger—still holding the cigar in his other hand—and smacked me square on the forehead. Ow! That actually hurts. How can an old man with that much age still hit so hard?
“Tsk tsk tsk! You pathetic fool! I called you because you were already here. Do you expect me to carve out separate time just to contact you, you rascal?”
“Aigoo… You really are in excellent health, Grandfather. And yes, a grandfather can certainly reach out to his grandson.”
I rubbed my forehead while answering the old man’s scolding. The wound had already healed thanks to my regeneration, but it seemed polite to at least pretend it hurt a little.
“In any case, do not speak of your special ability to your uncles or aunt. And especially—not a word to anyone on the Minamoto side!”
It seemed Taira Danjo’s warning came from concern that I might be killed. He probably believed that if the three main successor candidates or their rival group learned of my regenerative power, I would become a target.
“Thank you.”
“Hmph. Get out now. I have another schedule to attend. I’m busy.”
“Ah, of course you’re busy. Take care, Grandfather.”
Thud.
As I bowed and prepared to exit, something landed on my lap. It was a rather thick white envelope. I looked at the old man with a questioning gaze.
“Ahem. It’s pocket money, you rascal.”
“Thank you, Grandfather! I’ll buy something delicious with it.”
I accepted the envelope with a bright smile. As expected, Grandfather is the best. The limousine carrying Taira Danjo drove off without another word in response to my thanks. Inside the envelope were fifty 10,000-yen bills. Five hundred thousand yen… The Taira family really had no sense of how much money was worth.
With nothing left to do, I returned to the main auditorium. The entrance ceremony appeared to have ended; the new trainees were forming small groups and heading toward their assigned dormitories. Each person had a single room, but members of the same team were placed close to one another. Men and women were housed in separate buildings, of course, but teammates of the same gender had rooms nearby.
“Heee~ What an ikemen…”
A few of the new female trainees whispered among themselves while looking at me. Hmm. So this is what it feels like to be ridiculously handsome. It was a fresh sensation I’d never experienced before my possession. I ignored the whispers and entered the auditorium. As expected, most of the staff were busy clearing away the chairs.
“I’ll help too!”
I jogged over and joined them in moving the chairs. Thanks to what had just happened, the employees felt a bit awkward around me, but earning a reputation for diligence was far better than one for arrogance. Besides, with my superior physical abilities, carrying chairs was nothing.
“Ah, junior! You’re back. Where did you go?”
Mimata Chieri asked while struggling to carry a single chair, grunting with effort. It seemed these weren’t ordinary plastic chairs but high-end wooden ones—too heavy for her. I took the chair from her hands and answered.
“Just had a normal conversation with my grandfather. Stuff like ‘Are you doing well at the company?’ That sort of thing.”
“Wow, so to you, the Chairman really is just a regular grandfather?”
“Well… he’s a bit eccentric, I suppose.”
While chatting with Mimata Chieri and moving chairs, the auditorium was cleared out in no time. With all the employees who had been watching the event pitching in, it went much faster than when they had set everything up.
Back at the office, our Education Support Team 2 was finally enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Even Shinone Misano was savoring a cup of coffee, and Suzuki Chisami—who had been mercilessly hounding the team during the preparation period—remained quiet.
Mimata Chieri looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“Since it’s the first day of training, they’re serving steak! The steaks at the Human Resources Development Center are insanely delicious~!”
Premium Japanese Black Wagyu Steak
Course Meal • Limited to New Trainees
Grilled to perfection with our secret sauce.
Comes with fresh salad, garlic rice, and miso soup.
As expected, Mimata Chieri lit up the moment food was mentioned. I played along, saying it sounded delicious and that I was looking forward to it. Steak, huh? It really did sound good.
“Taira Ryuta, we’ve received a support request from Education Team 1. Would you be willing to take it?”
While I was talking with Mimata Chieri, Shinone Misano hung up the phone and asked me the question. So it finally came. This was exactly what I had arranged through Kawaji Emiko.
“Yes, I’ll do it.”
“Taking on support work will make you busier, but you’ll receive additional pay.”
Of course, money wasn’t the reason. This had far greater significance.
“What Taira Ryuta will be responsible for… is serving as the mentor for New Trainee Team 74.”
New trainees were usually placed in groups of about ten. One member from the education team would serve as mentor while the trainees became mentees. Even with all three education teams assigned as mentors, over three thousand new hires meant nearly three hundred teams. The education teams alone weren’t enough. That’s why mentors were being pulled from support teams and other departments.
A mentor’s duties included sharing company tips and know-how, participating in necessary events, and guiding the group. Most people disliked the extra workload on top of their regular duties, but my thoughts were different.
Since I intended to seize control of the Taira Group, I needed to gather employees from various subsidiaries who could feed me information. The mentor system had immediately caught my eye. That was why I had Kawaji Emiko create Team 74 and place me in it.
Team 74 was a carefully assembled group of new hires who possessed both outstanding appearance and exceptional grades, all of whom were slated to join the Group’s core subsidiaries.
