Chapter 398: The Island Nation in Crisis

---

****

A stock that has plummeted from over one hundred dollars to just a few cents is hardly worth trading anymore. The collapse has left investors devastated.

News of the debacle spread quickly from the United States to Japan, causing widespread panic in Japanese society. Investment enthusiasm in Japan was at a high, with people mortgaging antiques, gold, land, and houses to invest in financial companies. These companies had heavily invested in shares of Hans Pharmaceuticals.

With Hans Pharmaceuticals now collapsing, the funds invested through these companies have been wiped out.

The situation wasn't just affecting retail investors. Many Japanese financial institutions had also invested heavily through these companies, buying Hans Pharmaceuticals at prices above one hundred dollars per share, which are now worth only a few cents. As a result, they are facing catastrophic losses.

People are distraught.

**Abe Family**

Fangjiro Abe, having mortgaged his collection of antiques for over a million dollars, invested the money in a financial company. He was initially pleased with the returns, which had doubled within two years. Confident in his success, he mortgaged additional properties and gold. However, recent reports about Hans Pharmaceuticals left him anxious. 

When news of the company's total collapse reached him, Abe's worst fears were confirmed. The value of his investments had vanished. Overwhelmed by the situation, he collapsed and was found dead, having succumbed to the stress and despair.

The Abe family is left facing the dire prospect of losing their home and all their possessions, their once-grand lifestyle now in jeopardy.

**Inoue Family**

Inoue Yuichiro, in his forties, had also invested heavily. He mortgaged his valuables, real estate, and even his company to raise $400,000 for investment. Initially optimistic, Yuichiro's hopes were shattered when he learned of the financial collapse. Desperate, he went to the financial investment company to seek answers but found a crowd of investors in the same predicament. The mood was chaotic, with demands for refunds and explanations.

Despite the mounting pressure from angry investors, the company's response was cold and unhelpful, citing the risks of investment and refusing to refund the money.

**Japan's Financial Crisis**

The scene outside Japan's Tohnichi Bank was grim. President Kotaro Tojo, who had invested millions of dollars, climbed to the top of the bank building and jumped to his death, unable to cope with the financial ruin he faced. His tragic act was met with shock and dismay.

The suicide rate in Japan surged in the wake of the financial crisis, with people resorting to various forms of self-harm. The Japanese government, alarmed by the scale of the crisis, convened an emergency meeting to address the situation.

The scope of the investment boom was massive, involving hundreds of thousands of people and billions of dollars. The Japanese government's foreign exchange reserves were insufficient to cover the losses.

Concerns were raised about whether the investment companies were involved in fraudulent activities. However, since these companies were foreign, Japan lacked jurisdiction to investigate them. There was a suggestion to ask Hardy, a well-known figure in international business, to help with the investigation.

At that moment, Hardy was on his way to the airport when his secretary handed him a telegram from the Japanese government. They requested his assistance in investigating whether the financial companies were involved in any fraud or illegal activities.

Hardy read the telegram and shook his head. The Japanese government was turning to him for help once again.