Free Web NovelAn alliance of organizations that had seized control of the Northeast Asian underworld.
Korea, Japan, China, and even the Russian mafia — all of them ruled the shadows without trespassing on one another’s territory, cooperating while maintaining dominance.
If there is a sunlit surface warmed by gentle rays, then there must inevitably be a dark underside behind it.
If something cannot be eliminated entirely, it is far more comfortable to keep it under my control.
I had Chunha Group form their coalition.
After that, I took no further interest in it.
“Did you say the Chairman ordered that he personally come out to receive you?”
With my arms crossed, I nodded.
“Yes. Tell him to come out ‘personally.’ And if he has no intention of doing so, then I bear no responsibility for what happens afterward.”
“Do you know where you are? This is our gumi’s headquarters. Asking the owner of this place to come out personally... that is not a request we can accept.”
As if I wouldn’t know.
I came here precisely to meet Yamamoto.
“This is not a request — it’s an order. I’m well aware this is the headquarters of Yamaguchi-gumi. First, relay the message inside. And clean up those yakuza sprawled over there.”
Despite this level of disturbance, the police had not shown up.
Even if Koizumi was backing them from behind the scenes, firearms had been used.
Either no one reported it, or the report was received and buried.
Whatever the reason, it only proved how overwhelming the power of the Yamaguchi-gumi Chairman was here.
The man in front of me twitched around his eyes, then finally barked orders at his subordinates.
“Clear them out immediately. Send the ones who need a hospital. Gather the ones who can still stand.”
“Yes, Vice Captain!”
The man standing before me was the Vice Captain of Yamaguchi-gumi.
Oh? The Vice Captain, is it.
From Yamamoto’s perspective, this must have been a show of sincerity. He had sent out the organization’s second-in-command to receive me.
Had there been no clash, I might have simply followed him inside without complaint.
After issuing instructions, the Vice Captain turned back to me.
“I will say it again. It is not possible.”
His tone was firm.
“What’s your name? And your position within the organization?”
“Takayama Kiyoshi. Vice Captain.”
Takayama Kiyoshi...
“You’re second in rank?”
“....”
Takayama did not answer.
Is the Vice Captain not the number two?
Well, their internal hierarchy is irrelevant.
“If you’d rather not answer, that’s fine. So, Takayama-san. You say it’s impossible? Then shall we leave?”
“...Why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing this? You didn’t know we were coming?”
“We received word from Korea belatedly. Before that, we were unaware.”
I curled my lips into a thin smile.
“That one, that one, and that one too.”
I pointed at the CCTV cameras one by one.
“With CCTV strung up like spiderwebs, you didn’t know?” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
“....”
“Were you planning to watch how we responded? Or did Yamamoto instruct you? To send out the men and see what I would do?”
Takayama’s eyelids trembled faintly.
So there is something.
“You truly knew nothing about me? You must have known we entered Japan. Chunha Group said they would make contact.”
“We were aware.”
“If you were aware, then you should have anticipated I might appear without notice. Even if you didn’t anticipate it, once you saw us on CCTV, shouldn’t Yamamoto have come out personally to manage the situation? Firearms were involved. This makes no sense. Tell him to come out immediately. Otherwise, we leave.”
Takayama bit his lip.
“What? Worried about losing face in front of your subordinates?”
“Not many within the organization know about President Kim Muhyuk. Only the Chairman and the core executives.”
“You knew about me, yet this happened. So did Yamamoto order it? To attack us?”
Takayama waved his hands quickly.
“No. The Chairman knows nothing of this.”
“Then you ordered it?”
“....”
So you did know and still went through with it.
“Takayama-san. I don’t know what you were thinking, testing us like this, but your actions could place the entire organization at risk. The only one who can resolve this is Yamamoto. Tell him to come out immediately and receive me.”
“President.”
I do not enjoy repeating myself.
“If you lack authority to decide, then relay the message inside. Are all you yakuza incapable of understanding plain words?”
“Must it truly be this way? There is such a thing as the Chairman’s dignity...”
I cut him off.
“This is the last time. Tell him to come out.”
I checked my watch.
“I’ll wait twenty more minutes.”
“President Kim Muhyuk.”
Takayama tried to follow, but Manager Ma blocked him.
I entered the car and shut the door.
Interesting. The way they operate.
Aside from Yamamoto, none of the other executives had ever met me. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
This was a test.
My bodyguards were not seriously injured. If I showed even the slightest hesitation, they could pass this off as a minor incident.
But why should I?
Soon, Manager Ma opened the passenger-side door and got in.
“What did they say?”
“He went inside for now.”
I nodded.
“Boss. Just in case, I called for additional personnel.”
“Oh? Do we have a Black Bear branch in Japan?”
“No. I requested support from Chunha Group.”
“Chunha Group has personnel stationed in Japan?”
The alliance had agreed not to encroach on each other’s territory.
“I heard they’re conducting some business together with Yamaguchi-gumi. Should I look into it?”
“It’s not drugs, is it?”
“Chunha Group will never touch drugs. But I’ll confirm.”
“Good. Then we wait.”
I rested my arm on the seat’s armrest and closed my eyes.
If the timing had been slightly different, my guards or Manager Ma might have been injured.
Had Takayama not come out when he did...
Perhaps they hadn’t anticipated firearms being used and rushed out to contain it, but still, it was irritating.
I had not intended to push things this far for the sake of Yamamoto’s dignity.
If the charisma of a leader collapses, an organization cannot survive.
Especially one as large as Yamaguchi-gumi.
If not for Heaven’s Church, I would never have come here.
This is all because of Heaven’s Church.
I opened my eyes and asked Manager Ma,
“Did you have Heaven’s Church investigated?”
“Yes. We should have a report tomorrow.”
As we spoke, I looked through the window toward the headquarters entrance.
Then the large gates opened, and dozens of men emerged.
At the very front was Yamamoto Ken.
“Even when you speak politely, they refuse to listen. Yakuza bastards.”
Gangsters are like that. They act tough, but more than anyone, they care about how strong the other side is and how far it’s willing to go.
Even as Yamamoto approached, I did not step out of the vehicle.
Yamamoto and the executives halted near my car.
Takayama approached and knocked on the window.
“Tell Yamamoto to get in the car.”
I couldn’t humiliate him in front of his subordinates. Yamamoto Ken collapsing would not serve me either.
At my instruction, Manager Ma stepped out.
While they exchanged words, I saw Yamamoto glance at my vehicle.
His face showed clear displeasure.
After finishing their conversation, Yamamoto walked toward the car with Manager Ma. The rear door opposite me opened, and Yamamoto entered somewhat hurriedly.
Sitting beside me, he cleared his throat awkwardly before greeting.
“Ahem.”
I simply smiled at him without speaking.
A long silence passed.
Eventually, Yamamoto spoke first.
“President Kim Muhyuk, it has been a long time.”
Still smiling, I replied,
“Yes, Yamamoto-san. It has.”
“If you were coming, you should have contacted us in advance. Then this misunderstanding would not have occurred.”
I tilted my head.
“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”
“I was informed that subordinates mistook you for an attack from another organization.”
“A misunderstanding.”
How amusing.
“What exquisite timing. Misunderstandings happen, certainly. But for it to happen today, to me, in this way — what an astonishing coincidence.”
In other words: say something that makes sense.
Yamamoto’s face darkened as he grasped the implication.
“It truly was a misunderstanding. How could I possibly attack you?”
“You might not. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) But your subordinates? I’m not so sure. Among those who came out, was there not a single person who recognized me or Manager Ma?”
“....”
“With CCTV installed everywhere, and you say ‘misunderstanding’ and that’s the end of it? That’s a very convenient excuse.”
If you thought I would let it slide, you miscalculated.
“They say a person’s heart changes between entering and leaving the restroom. Yamamoto-san, that describes you perfectly. It seems I misjudged you. Perhaps I should begin looking for someone more suitable.”
“President Kim Muhyuk!”
Yamamoto shouted in alarm.
“Why are you raising your voice?”
“I truly did not know. I do not issue instructions for such trivial matters.”
“If you didn’t know, you’re incompetent. If you did know, you’re an accomplice. Isn’t that natural for a leader?”
“If I truly intended harm toward you, it would not have ended like this.”
“That’s quite the innovative threat.”
“A threat? Not at all.”
Yamamoto waved his hands frantically.
“How could I threaten you? Because of your support, I was able to seize control of Japan’s underworld and reach favorable terms with the Japanese government. I have not forgotten that debt.”
I stared at him silently.
“What must I do? What must I do for you to calm your anger?”
Looking past him at the executives standing outside, I said,
“If someone does something that requires accountability, then they must take responsibility, don’t they?”
Yamamoto followed my gaze.
At the end of it stood Takayama.
“That man...”
“He must be important.”
“...He has been with me for a long time. He has the trust of the men.”
“So it’s difficult to hold him accountable? Or are you suggesting we overlook it as a misunderstanding?”
When yakuza apologize, they traditionally offer money.
But what meaning would a few coins hold for me? Yamamoto understood that much.
“I will offer a different form of apology.”
After struggling, Yamamoto finally said it.
I let the smile fade from my face.
“Yamamoto-san, you must think I’m easy. I am not generous enough to leave those who attack me untouched. Or have you forgotten what I did in Japan?”
“President...”
“If you cannot make your subordinate take responsibility, then you must.”
