Description:
At the request of the Ohara Family, the Guardians, with the exception of Sabu, began investigating a scandal at an investment firm called Blanchard-Zenda Investment. Their person of interest was a young proprietary trader named Atsu Shirai, who had some involvement, but only to protect his bosses, Arnold Blanchard, an American-born businessman man from New York, and his protege, Saori Zenda, whom Atsu had a romantic relationship with. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the scandal was spearheaded by Ryosuke Akabane, also a prop trader and one of Atsu's best friends, and Inspector Daigo Kuroki, a corrupt inspector from the Financial Services Agency, who had been harassing Atsu for some time ever since the FSA's case began six months prior. Ryosuke had the firm's clients pouring their money into a failing natural gas MLP called Cadmus Energy, stealing millions of dollars (or yen if you prefer), while Kuroki provided protection from law enforcement, and a group of assassins to eliminate any and all loose ends. The Guardians foiled their scheme by bringing in an Ohara Family subsidiary, who is in need of a natural gas MLP, to keep Cadmus Energy financially afloat, allowing Atsu to buy all of the shares on their behalf. Ryosuke and Kuroki were later arrested, but the latter was suddenly found dead in his apartment. Further inspection led to the discovery that Golden Calf was behind the scheme to not only finance their personal war against the Guardians, but to also remind them of who they're facing against.