Kurosagi (The Black Swindler / クロサギ)

There's three types of swindlers in this world.

Swindler, scammer, and heron are used interchangeably.

The White Swindler (white heron) who deceives people and steals money.

A Red Swindler (red heron) who feeds on love.

Finally, there's only one bird in this world,

that feeds on both white and red swindlers/herons.

The worst kind of swindler.

A swindler deceiving swindlers.

He's called...

the Black Swindler (Kurosagi).

Secure all building entrances.

Mr. Kurogane, your loan has been approved.

Great. Here's...

a 100 million yen check for investment.

As promised, you can withdraw from this account.

Thank you.

Confirmed.

Of the 500 million yen loan,

here's 30 million yen in cash.

Please use this promissory note for the rest.

I understand you wanted all cash,

but this is all we have on hand.

Pops...

Ah, sorry, I mean our president...

only trusts cash.

The company has old principles when it comes to cash.

I understand, your father

really likes cash.

Excuse us, this is the Tokyo Central Police.

Mrs. Okumura Hitomi, about this financial fraud case,

we have an arrest warrant.

It's not good to cheat good citizens of their money.

What is this about?

You've committed loan fraud against SMBs, right?

Small to medium businesses

You've offered unsecured loans up to 5x the amount invested,

then flee with the initial investment.

Terrible... The police will listen to what you have to say.

Excuse me...

Where is this person?

Important witness, potential fraud victim!

Man in his twenties, navy blue suit, short black hair.

Secure the premises after searching nearby.

Sorry, can I have a moment?

Were you on the 6th floor at the Aoba SMB Association just now?

What is this? I was on the 7th floor at Seven Jack.

Can you show me what you have over here?

Excuse me.

Whoa...

Do you know the way to the Akihabara station?

Ah... Um...

Go straight!

Should we go together?

Thank you so much.

- Your English is very good. - Oh, really?

Thank you.

Don't touch me!

Hey, Kashina, how did it go?

I didn't find the potential victim.

He may not be a victim.

He brought in a postdated check.

Postdated Check: A check with a future date to prevent a recipient from cashing.

Does that mean the check can't be cashed till it's that date?

Surprisingly, a lot of people think this.

Am I wrong?

The date is only a verbal promise between the two parties.

But you can cash the check any time.

That means if Okumura didn't know about this...

The money would've already been withdrawn and the account zero.

The check bounces and 100 million gone.

But the man who brought this received 30 million.

He's probably a swindler.

Almost Akihabara Station is...

Hey.

For being such a kind lady...

- A red rose. - Wow!

It's so beautiful!

Wait... What?!

Always be kind to those in need.

Sometimes,

you should doubt this virtue though.

What?

What you need to start a business

is not motivation,

but you need a clear vision.

Vision and planning.

These two combined is what a start-up is, right?

"I already know this,"

"just tell me right now."

Is that what you're thinking?

Anyone can make 100 million.

If you're expecting magical words like this,

go ahead and leave now!

I don't know what I'd do if you really did leave.

What I can say is this...

There's no shortcuts to success.

We at The Legend Academy

will prepare you to face it.

Kanoko, here.

Okay.

It's so nice here.

You're prosperous, but I'm still...

It's because your slacking off here. Hurry back to your shop.

- Thanks for the meal! - Any time.

Hey, Katsuragi,

having an electronics shop in the shopping district is lonely.

How about next time...

you have a big celebration?

Customers will come if you have TV celebrities.

Like that girl, Ayase Haruka.

Can you even get her?

Ready to order?

I'm still thinking...

We have a new menu.

- Here you go. - Ah, looks good.

I'm still undecided...

How much longer will you play?

W-Wait...

What's so fun about that? So immature.

Yes, I got the super rare item!

Thanks for the snack.

- A good stash. - 30 million.

Pops, your share is 40%.

- 12 million. - Good job.

- What's next? - Ah.

Kasuga Kimiyoshi.

A White Swindler who has been showing off.

- Is this all the info? - C'mon.

Go ask the victims about it.

Isn't that careless? We're taking their money.

Don't buy it if you don't like it. Feel free to leave.

I'm buying.

What's with the attitude?

Kuro, don't come around today.

I have a meeting with the Business Association at 8.

Okay, okay.

Nice doing business with you, Mr. Biz Association Chairman.

He didn't eat a single bite as usual.

He won't grow then.

These red beans are so good, too.

Saitama Prefecture - Gyoda

Yoshikawa Tatami

You didn't have to go out of your way to come here.

College is busy, right?

I heard from Atsushi.

- Is it true you got scammed? - No, I didn't.

Don't worry over nothing.

Why are you still saying that?

You were scammed out of money, right?

You know, your father quit his job a half year ago.

What?!

Early retirement due to the company merger.

He was told to retire or go to a different company as a temp.

We're unable to live like we did before,

so he wanted to start his own business...

- Your own? - I think that's the best option.

Of course, I've thought of reopening the shop.

Well, it's closed since my father's time, and

I can't become a tatami craftsman now.

Also it's difficult to get re-employed at my age.

Also Atsushi is still in high school.

- Don't blame it on me! - Atsushi!

I'm going to cram school.

Hey, be careful out there.

About how much money did you lose?

Hm...

10 million in retirement,

and all my savings.

I probably have to let the house go, too.

But I wasn't scammed.

- There's someone called, Kasuga. - Kasuga?

Yes, Ka—

Hello. Hm?

I mean good evening?

Then show me the proof. The proof.

You're trying to get me to confess due to lack of evidence, right?

Then what's the name of the man who took the 30 million?

Don't be shy.

There's countless others besides you.

There's scammers getting scammed like you.

It was that young man in his early twenties, right?

Kuroda? Kuroyama?

I'm Kurokawa.

I'm a freelance magazine journalist.

What do you want?

Are you really a journalist? Can you prove it?

Tsurara, he's barely said anything. That's rude.

- That hurts. - But why is he here now...

- Ah, please. - Ah, excuse me.

I'm following up with certain fraud victims about...

a White Swindler, Kasuga.

Ah, a White Swindler is a professional scammer.

- What?! - He is a scammer!

Sir, were you scammed out of money from this Kasuga man?

Uh... Well, um...

Stop this. We'll advise with the police instead.

The police are useless. "It's hard to prove fraud,"

they'll say and it'll be over.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Also, the police will not get your money back.