Eichi reached the room and the guards immediately opened the door for him. As he stepped inside, his eyes scanned the room. The first thing he noticed was that there were no guards or any visible security—just a long table with eight individuals seated around it.
Eichi stepped into the room, his footsteps measured, his presence quiet but commanding. The door closed behind him, and he glanced around with a subtle tension in his shoulders. Something didn't sit right. The air felt thick with unspoken rules, and the eyes of the eight figures around the long table were keenly fixed on him.
There was no sign of the usual guards or attendants, and for a moment, it almost felt as though the room was waiting for something. He exchanged a brief glance with Kazuna and Sakimura, a silent message: Stay outside.
Eichi's gaze swept across the people at the table. Each of them seemed important in their own way—some were older, their faces etched with experience, while others appeared to be in their thirties, and a few were younger, possibly around his own age.
At the head of the table, there was a man who exuded authority—a presence that commanded the room without a word. This must be Keisei, Eichi thought, his father, the leader of the Arata Clan.
Just as the realization set in, a small voice broke the silence.
"Welcome, brother!"
Before he could fully process, a figure—a child, no older than Mugen, shot from the corner of the room, running to Eichi and throwing his arms around him. The boy's enthusiasm was infectious, but the moment didn't feel right.
"I was waiting for you," the child said, his voice bubbling with excitement. "I've done so much, just like you taught me."
Eichi quickly placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, gently pulling him back with a stern look. "Later, Mugen," he said, his voice firm yet low. "This is not the place for that."
He could feel the eyes of the room shifting—an almost imperceptible tension rising as they watched. His role here wasn't clear to him yet, but he couldn't afford to show hesitation.
He nodded at the chair in front of him. "Mugen," he said, without much emotion, "bring me that chair."
Without missing a beat, Mugen rushed to grab it and set it before Eichi. As he sat down, facing the table and his father, a sense of unease washed over him. This was the seat of power.
And he had just taken it.
Eichi sat down, his back straight, his movements deliberate. His eyes swept across the room, locking onto each person seated at the table.
Damn, they all look terrifying.
But he couldn't let that show.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
He steadied himself, exhaling slowly before speaking. "Let's start the meeting. No point in wasting time."
The room remained silent, but there was a strange weight in the air. The men seated around the table exchanged unreadable glances, their expressions lingering somewhere between intrigue and something else—something heavier.
Then, Keisei spoke.
"Eichi, I wanted to welcome you first," he said, his voice calm. "But instead, I have to ask—"
His sharp, unreadable gaze locked onto Eichi, a faint smile curling his lips. But it wasn't a kind smile. It was the kind that sent a chill down your spine.
"What the hell were you thinking, bringing a katana here?"
The way he said it was unsettling—not raised, not demanding, just a smooth, even tone. But somehow, it carried weight, pressing down on the room like a silent threat.
Keisei sat at the head of the table, his presence effortlessly dominating the space. His hair was dark, save for a single streak of white on the right side. His black kimono blended into the dim lighting, and his body—while not overtly muscular—carried the quiet strength of someone who didn't need to show it.
His eyes, a deep, emotionless black, seemed to pierce right through Eichi.
Eichi held his breath for a second.
What did I just do?
Eichi almost felt his legs go weak under Keisei's piercing gaze. Damn, I didn't think the yakuza were like this.Shit. Shit. Shit.
The pressure in the room was suffocating, but he forced himself to stay calm—or at least look calm. He had to act like he belonged here.
Then, like a lightning bolt, something Sakimura had said earlier flashed through his mind. The Unuodera Clan. The ones ruling Bakurocho.
He straightened his back, trying to mask his nerves. "I must apologize, Father," he said, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I didn't mean to offend you. But bringing the katana… It wasn't just for show."
A brief silence filled the room as the elders narrowed their eyes, waiting for his next words.
Eichi took a deep breath. If I don't double down, they'll see right through me.
"I brought the katana because I'm taking down the Unuodera Clan," he declared. "And I'm taking over Bakurocho."
Keisei's expression remained unreadable, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth sent a chill down Eichi's spine. The room was dead silent. The elders exchanged glances, their eyes sharp and calculating.
Then, one of the younger men leaned forward, his voice laced with skepticism. "You're saying you're going to take down the Unuodera Clan? Just like that?"
Eichi felt a bead of sweat form at the back of his neck. Shit, did I overdo it? But it was too late to back down now. He had to keep up the act. He nodded, putting on his best confident expression.
"Yeah. Just like that," he said, tapping his fingers against the table like he had everything planned out. "I've already thought it through."
More silence. More stares.
Then, out of nowhere, a slow chuckle echoed through the room. It was Keisei. His deep, rumbling laugh sent a shiver down Eichi's spine.
"You've already thought it through, huh?" Keisei said, resting his chin on his hand. His blank, emotionless eyes bore into Eichi. "Interesting. And how exactly do you plan to do it?"
Eh? Plan? Shit. Think. Think!
Eichi's mind raced. He couldn't just say, "I don't actually know what I'm doing." That would ruin everything. But at the same time, he had no real knowledge of how yakuza operated.
So, he did what any desperate man would do. He bluffed.
"Simple," Eichi said, sitting back in his chair like it was obvious. "We attack their weakest point. We don't need brute force—we need strategy. Hit them where they least expect it. Cut off their resources. Crush their morale. Once they're vulnerable, we take control."
As he spoke, he realized something terrifying.
Everything he just said... actually sounded real.
The elders nodded slowly, some even exchanging murmurs of approval. Keisei raised an eyebrow, his amused expression not fading.
"You're bold," Keisei said. "And reckless."
Eichi gulped. This is where he calls me out.
"But..." Keisei continued, his lips curling into an unsettling smile. "I like it."
The room was suddenly filled with approving murmurs. Some of the younger men were nodding, while the older ones seemed to be re-evaluating Eichi.
Eichi, meanwhile, was barely holding it together. Wait... that worked?!
Mugen, still sitting beside him, clenched his fists excitedly. "Brother is amazing! Just like I thought!"
Keisei leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Fine then, Eichi. You claim you can take Bakurocho? Prove it."
Eichi froze.
Prove it?! Wait, hold on—how the hell am I supposed to do that?!
Eichi barely kept himself from choking on his own breath. Prove it? What does he mean, prove it?! He had just been throwing around cool-sounding words, but now he was suddenly expected to follow through?
The weight of everyone's gaze pressed down on him. Even Mugen, his little brother, was looking at him with sparkling eyes, as if expecting him to do something incredible.
Eichi cleared his throat, forcing himself to stay calm. Think. Think! What would a real yakuza leader say in this situation?
He sat up straighter, crossed his arms, and exhaled slowly, as if he had already anticipated this response. Then, with the most serious face he could muster, he said:
"Of course. But I need time."
Keisei didn't react immediately. He simply watched Eichi, unreadable as ever. Then, he gave a slow nod.
"Naturally," Keisei said. "Conquering Bakurocho won't happen overnight."
Eichi almost sighed in relief. Holy crap, that worked?
One of the older men at the table, a stern-looking man with gray hair and a scar down his cheek, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I assume you already have a plan in motion?"
Eichi gulped. Plan? What plan?!
But he didn't let his panic show. He gave a confident smirk—one he hoped looked intimidating—and leaned forward slightly. "I'll need to assess the Unuodera Clan's movements first," he said, improvising as he went. "Gather intelligence. Find their weak spots. I'll strike when the time is right."
The men exchanged approving glances.
Keisei tapped his fingers against the table. "And how long do you need?"
Eh?! How long?! Eichi struggled to come up with a reasonable answer. If he said too long, they might doubt him. If he said too soon, they might expect immediate action.
"...Three months," Eichi blurted out, trying to sound decisive.
Keisei stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Three months, then."
Eichi had to stop himself from collapsing in relief.
"During that time, I expect results," Keisei continued, his voice low and firm. "If you're serious about this, prove it. Show us that you have what it takes to carry the Arata Clan forward."
Eichi swallowed hard. "Of course," he said, trying not to sound like he was on the verge of a breakdown.
Keisei gave one last, piercing look before shifting his gaze to the rest of the room. "The meeting is over," he announced.
The men slowly stood up, some still casting curious glances at Eichi as they filed out of the room.
Eichi remained seated for a moment, his mind spinning.
What the hell just happened?!
In just a few minutes, he had somehow declared war on an entire yakuza clan, convinced everyone he had a plan, and given himself a three-month deadline to do the impossible.
Mugen grinned up at him. "Brother, that was so cool!"
Eichi forced a smile. "Y-Yeah... cool..."
As the last of the elders left the room, Keisei stood up. He cast one last look at Eichi before turning toward the exit.
Then, just before stepping out, he spoke.
"You've made a bold claim today, Eichi," Keisei said, his voice calm but heavy with meaning. "If you fail... there will be consequences."
And with that, he was gone.
Eichi sat frozen in his chair.
Consequences?
His stomach twisted.
Seriously. What the hell did I just get myself into?!