Free Web NovelThe Yamaguchi-gumi owned a restaurant in Kyoto.
It operated strictly on a membership and reservation-only basis, and no one knew who held membership rights to the place.
Even Yamamoto, the boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi, did not know who the members were. Security was that airtight.
When the restaurant had first been established, they had known who the original membership holders were. But as time passed and the organization expanded, it became difficult to track who currently possessed the rights.
Because of that, many political and bureaucratic figures used the Yamaguchi-gumi’s restaurant as a secret venue for confidential discussions.
I chose that restaurant as the place where Hiroyuki would die.
If it was there, he would be far more likely to accept the meeting.
Besides, now that he believed Han Hyunsoo was dead, he had no reason to refuse when Takayama requested a meeting.
Mercenaries and Chunha Group’s strike teams were already stationed around the restaurant.
If, by any chance, Hiroyuki walked out alive, they would move immediately and shoot him down.
Hiroyuki would not leave that place alive.
Before that, I intended to inform Prime Minister Koizumi of the entire plan.
“What did you say?” freёweɓnovel.com
Koizumi, who had been having lunch with me, stared at me in shock.
He was so startled that he nearly dropped his chopsticks.
“...Are you saying you’re going to kill the Chief Cabinet Secretary? The number two in the Japanese Cabinet?”
“Yes. That’s my intention.”
“Damn it! Is that something you say to me? Have you lost your mind?”
For Koizumi to curse like that meant the plan truly was monstrous.
I raised one corner of my mouth and looked at him.
“Isn’t it good news for you, Prime Minister? Hiroyuki disappearing, I mean. There’s no need to wear a mask in front of me.”
“It’s true that Hiroyuki is my political rival. But that doesn’t mean I intend to stand by and watch the Chief Cabinet Secretary be killed. Cancel this operation, President Kim.”
“I will kill him. If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then the day after. Eventually, I will kill him.”
When I rejected him firmly, Koizumi slammed the table.
His tone sharpened. It felt like a performance to show how angry he was.
“Damn it! President Kim Muhyuk! I respect you. But this is not acceptable. Not once, but twice—you commit murder on Japanese soil? If I decided to, couldn’t I have you arrested for this?”
Contrary to my expectations, Koizumi opposed me fiercely.
I said nothing and simply looked at him.
As if trying to calm me down, Koizumi softened his tone.
“Let’s bring him down another way. Someone like you can use other methods, can’t you?”
It wouldn’t have been difficult to ruin him through other means.
The recordings I already possessed were enough to drag him into the abyss.
But I didn’t want a lukewarm outcome like that.
I wanted his death.
“Of course I can. But what I want is for Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki to die. I want to see it with my own eyes. The reason I’m telling you this is to minimize the fallout that will inevitably reach you afterward. Do I look like I’m asking for your opinion?”
Koizumi seemed to be under a misconception. Just because we were sitting at the same table, eating together, he thought we stood on equal footing.
At my provocative remark, Koizumi raised his white eyebrows.
“Are you informing me?”
His voice cut like a blade.
“That depends on how you choose to take it.”
“I cannot accept it. No matter that he is my rival, this is not something I can allow.”
“Do you think I’m killing him for your sake, Prime Minister?”
“...Then what is your reason?”
“He tried to use me. I never forgive anyone who attempts to use me.”
When I spoke coldly, Koizumi inhaled sharply.
“You know this about me, Prime Minister. I’m a businessman. I deal in transactions. Whatever the product, whoever the other party—if they offer me what I need, I give them what they need. You are in partnership with me. You understand what I mean.”
“I do. I formed my relationship with you on that basis.”
“But Hiroyuki seems not to have looked into me thoroughly. He saw only fragments and thought he could use me. That is why he must die.”
“...For something like that?”
“Something like that?”
Without realizing it, I frowned.
“To you, it may seem trivial. But precedent is dangerous. If I overlook this and forgive it, countless people will attempt to use me. Since Hiroyuki tried to use me, I will use him as a warning. A warning to those who know me: don’t try to use me—trade with me. That is what I want.”
After finishing, I held Koizumi’s gaze. There was fire in his eyes.
We stared at each other in silence for a long time.
Koizumi spoke first.
“Is it truly necessary, President Kim?”
He must have organized his thoughts; his tone was now polite.
“Yes. If it weren’t for my relationship with you, I wouldn’t even have come to say this. I’m taking considerable risk just by telling you. All preparations for execution are complete. The moment I give the order, Hiroyuki dies. However, the aftermath will not leave you untouched. That’s why I’m telling you—to discuss countermeasures.”
Koizumi let out a deep sigh.
Among all the people in Japan, Koizumi knew me best.
I was the one who helped him seize power. He knew more than anyone what I had done in Japan.
He also knew that even if it cost me losses, once I set my mind to something, I would see it through.
“Tell me everything in detail. What exactly happened?”
“Are you familiar with Heaven’s Church?”
“Of course. How could I not be?”
“Hiroyuki is trying to take over Heaven’s Church.”
“What?”
Koizumi froze. It was clearly something he had not anticipated.
I continued regardless.
I explained how Hiroyuki had orchestrated Han Hyunsoo’s kidnapping and how he intended to seize control of Heaven’s Church for himself.
After hearing the circumstances, Koizumi pressed his forehead. Only now did he seem to understand why I wanted him dead.
“That idiot Hiroyuki. Politics and religion can never be fully separated, but there’s still a line you don’t cross.”
“Are you connected to Heaven’s Church, Prime Minister?”
In my previous life, Koizumi had once delivered a congratulatory speech for Heaven’s Church. That was why I asked.
“No. They’ve approached me many times for meetings, but since becoming Prime Minister, I have not held any private meetings with religious groups.”
“That’s fortunate. There are two religions that wield significant influence over Japanese politics, correct? Heaven’s Church and Soka Gakkai. I understand that most politicians who aligned with Heaven’s Church were purged during the last cleanup.”
Japan was relatively tolerant of religion.
Perhaps because of that, pseudo-religions had flourished. At one point, a cult had even carried out a subway gas attack.
Even after such a group evolved into a terrorist organization, pseudo-religions remained alive and well in Japan.
Among them, Heaven’s Church, which worshipped God, and Soka Gakkai, which revered Buddhism, were deeply intertwined with politics.
“Yes, that’s correct. Most were purged. But politicians cannot ignore religion. They are voters. Hiroyuki likely thought the same...”
“No. He was a devoted follower from the beginning. But his intentions differ. He likely disliked the fact that it’s a religion rooted in Korea. So while dismantling it, he grew greedy and decided to take it over himself. That’s why this situation erupted.”
“....”
“If the Japanese branch of Heaven’s Church falls into Hiroyuki’s hands, what do you think will happen? Can you guarantee that those fanatics won’t carry out a terrorist attack against you?”
Koizumi was well aware of that infamous cult terror incident.
That was why his face had turned pale.
I pressed further.
“You’ll eventually be pushed aside by Hiroyuki. You’ll lose power and step down.”
“Still... killing him isn’t necessary. Exposing his relationship with Heaven’s Church should be enough...”
“It will blow over. The Japanese public isn’t deeply invested in politics. As long as it doesn’t harm them personally, they don’t care who becomes a politician.”
“....”
“Scandals happen all the time. If someone is determined to hold onto their position, they can. Killing him is the most certain method.”
Koizumi let out another deep sigh.
He lifted the cold tea in front of him and drank it in one go.
“What’s the method? Don’t tell me you’re planning another sniper attack like last time. That’s absolutely unacceptable. That was a special circumstance. This is not.”
“Of course not. I won’t use that method. Hiroyuki and the vice boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi will have a meeting.”
I slowly laid out the plan. When the Yamaguchi-gumi came up, Koizumi’s face twisted.
“The Yamaguchi-gumi tried to align themselves with Hiroyuki?”
“Yes.”
“Those ungrateful vermin...”
“It’s their way of survival. Don’t hate them too much. But now they’ll understand. Try to hold two lines, and you might lose both.”
“I should teach them a lesson while I’m at it.”
“Unless you plan to imprison Yamamoto, the Yamaguchi-gumi will accept a certain level of damage. It must be that way, so your prestige doesn’t suffer severely.”
I also explained the scandal that would erupt after the incident.
Koizumi listened carefully and began outlining countermeasures on the spot.
We established a response strategy within certain limits and then parted ways.
“There must not be too many casualties.”
“I know. I don’t want innocent people caught in this either. You’ll receive a report tonight. No matter how late it is, you must act immediately.”
“...Very well. Then until next time.”
After Koizumi left, I turned to Manager Ma.
“Let’s move as well. Everyone is in position?”
“Yes. The moment your order is given, the operation begins.”
When we stepped outside, the sun was setting and the streetlights were flickering on.
Following the illuminated road, Manager Ma and I headed toward Kyoto.
* * *
Late at night, under thick darkness.
Hiroyuki arrived at the restaurant with dissatisfaction written across his face.
“This is why you shouldn’t get tangled up with yakuza scum...”
He hated the fact that a mere yakuza had summoned him. But ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) he could not refuse the meeting.
No—more accurately, he chose not to refuse. It was time to make it clear who stood above and who stood below.
He entered the restaurant and was guided by the manager to the innermost private room.
Takayama was already there, waiting. He stood and bowed when Hiroyuki entered.
“Chief Cabinet Secretary. You’ve arrived.”
Hiroyuki waved a hand dismissively and sat down.
He poured green tea into the cup in front of him and drained it in one go.
Setting the cup down, he went straight to the point.
“So. Why did you ask to see me?”
“Shouldn’t we discuss our future?”
“Our?”
“Yes. You will govern the light as the ruler of the Great Japanese Empire, and we will govern the shadows. Wouldn’t that be ideal?”
Hiroyuki snorted derisively.
“Takayama. You seem to be mistaken. I am the man who will control both the light and the shadows.”
“....”
“I am not Koizumi. I have no intention of leaving the Yamaguchi-gumi alone.”
“However, Chief Cabinet Secretary. The promise...” ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“Does it have to be the Yamaguchi-gumi?”
The ominous remark made Takayama uneasy. He understood Hiroyuki’s intent, but pretended not to.
“Pardon?”
“The Yamaguchi-gumi has grown too large. And they’re far too deeply connected to Kim Muhyuk. Do you know a man named Kim Muhyuk?”
Takayama flinched internally but replied calmly.
“I do. I heard he helped the Chairman seize control of the Yamaguchi-gumi.”
“Exactly. That’s why Yamamoto will never betray Kim Muhyuk. But I have no intention of watching the warriors of the Great Japanese Empire be manipulated by a Korean. I intend to raise an organization that follows my orders alone. And I intend to seat you at its head. What do you think of my offer?”
Hiroyuki was drawing a new board.
“I, Hiroyuki, will make you the boss of bosses among the yakuza.”
To Takayama, the proposal was intoxicatingly sweet.
