Eichi let out the longest sigh of his life, feeling like he had just survived an execution. His entire body tensed, his mind still reeling from what had just happened.
Mugen, still grinning like an excited puppy, tugged at his sleeve. "Brother, you were amazing! Everyone was so serious, but you didn't back down at all!"
If only you knew how close I was to passing out.
Eichi forced a small smile and patted Mugen's head. "Yeah, yeah… But I need to rest." He turned to one of the attendants standing by the door. "Take me somewhere I can lie down for a bit."
The attendant, a young man dressed in a black suit, gave a short nod. "Of course, Young Master. Please follow me."
As Eichi stood up, his legs nearly gave out from under him. His whole body felt like it had been locked in place for hours. Crap, did I stop breathing during that meeting?
Kazuna and Sakimura—who had been waiting outside the room the entire time—watched him with unreadable expressions.
"You survived," Sakimura said, raising an eyebrow.
Kazuna smirked. "I almost thought they'd cut off your head right there."
Eichi groaned. "Yeah, well, I'm still alive… for now."
They followed the attendant through the halls of the Arata estate. The place was massive, traditional yet polished, the air filled with a quiet authority that made Eichi feel like he was walking through a warlord's palace.
Eventually, they reached a spacious guest room. The doors slid open, revealing a large futon, a low table with tea already set, and a dimly lit lantern casting a warm glow over the room.
"This will be your resting quarters, Young Master," the attendant said with a bow.
Eichi nodded and stepped inside, barely waiting for the door to close before collapsing onto the futon.
His mind raced as he stared up at the ceiling.
Three months…
He had three months to figure out how to deal with the Unuodera Clan.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
As soon as the door closed behind him, Eichi let out a groan and sprawled out on the futon. His entire body ached—not from any actual injuries, but from sheer stress.
Three months to take over Bakurocho? What the hell kind of insane goal is that? I don't even know where to start!
Meanwhile, outside the room, Kazuna and Sakimura exchanged glances.
Sakimura folded his arms, nodding with deep admiration. "Incredible. Even after making such a bold declaration, the Young Master remains unfazed. Look at him—he doesn't even celebrate his victory at the meeting. He immediately begins planning his next move."
Kazuna smirked. "Tch. That's what separates us from him. A lesser man would be boasting about his strength after such a display, but the Young Master… He already looks ahead to the next battlefield."
Inside the room, Eichi rolled onto his side, burying his face into the pillow.
What am I even supposed to do? Fake an illness for three months? Disappear? Maybe if I just pretend to be in deep thought, they'll leave me alone.
Outside, Sakimura and Kazuna continued their discussion, growing more and more impressed.
"His mental fortitude is terrifying," Sakimura said with a hint of reverence. "Even after declaring war on the Unuodera, he doesn't show a shred of hesitation. He simply… lies there, calmly calculating his next move."
Kazuna chuckled. "The Young Master is truly on another level."
Eichi, completely unaware of their interpretation, muttered into the pillow, "Maybe if I sleep long enough, this will all go away…"
Sakimura nodded firmly. "Yes… Even now, he conserves his energy for the coming storm. A true strategist."
Kazuna smirked. "I almost pity the Unuodera. They have no idea what's coming."
Meanwhile, inside, Eichi had already drifted off to sleep, blissfully unaware that his silent breakdown was being interpreted as the calm before the storm.
The next morning, Eichi had barely managed to sleep for an hour, his mind still racing with thoughts of yesterday's events. The weight of the situation, the unfamiliarity of it all, kept him awake far longer than he'd hoped. Just as he thought he might drift into a brief slumber, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Young Master, may I enter?" came Sakimura's voice from the other side of the door.
"Come in, it's fine," Eichi replied with a tired, almost inaudible voice, barely able to keep his eyes open.
The door creaked open, and Sakimura stepped inside, giving a brief bow before speaking again.
"I see, Young Master, you've been awake for quite some time. What is our plan for today? How would you like to structure your schedule?"
Eichi gave a sleepy glance at Sakimura, his eyelids drooping. He was struggling to stay alert, but he couldn't shake off the nagging thoughts swirling in his head. He rubbed his temples and let out a sigh, trying to push through the haze of exhaustion.
Sakimura, misinterpreting Eichi's lack of response, looked concerned. "Master, have I made you uncomfortable with my intrusion? Should I leave you to rest more?"
"No, Sakimura," Eichi replied groggily, shaking his head. "It's not that... I'm just thinking. A lot... Bring me a map of the area that the Unuodera Clan controls. I need to see it."
Sakimura nodded, stepping back for a moment. "Of course, Young Master. I will bring it to you right away."
As Sakimura exited to fetch the map, Eichi leaned back against his pillows, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. The reality of everything was starting to set in—the gang, his little brother, the Unuodera Clan... and now, the expectations placed on him as the heir of the Arata Clan. The pressure was immense. He needed to come up with a plan.
Eichi looked over the map, his brow furrowed in concentration. He had always been a book nerd, devouring countless fighting manga, and his knowledge of strategies was decent, but there was still a part of him that felt naive about the reality of power and control. As he scanned the map, he took in the areas controlled by the Unuodera Clan, with Bakurocho standing out as the most crucial. Its central location in Chuo gave them undeniable economic power and local authority.
Ginza, with its affluent business scene, seemed like a jewel in the crown. Nihonbashi, the heart of finance, could make or break entire businesses, and Tsukiji, controlling the food supply, was vital in maintaining control over the economy. Areas like Kayabacho and Kanda offered their own advantages, focusing on commerce and transportation. However, Shintomi seemed relatively insignificant, offering little economic power compared to the other districts.
Eichi let out a quiet sigh, realizing just how much territory and influence the Unuodera Clan had amassed. But it also gave him a sense of direction. If he was going to challenge them, Bakurocho was the place to begin. All roads seemed to lead back to that one central hub. The only question was how he would approach this.
Eichi looked up from the map, turning to Sakimura with a serious expression. "How many men do we have?"
Sakimura, always composed, responded promptly. "The only men you have chosen to use, Young Master, are 600 in total."
Eichi frowned, processing the numbers. "And how many does the enemy have?"
Sakimura's tone remained steady. "The Unuodera Clan controls at least 800 men, and they are spread throughout their territory."
Eichi sat back, his mind racing. The numbers didn't lie. The Unuodera Clan had the advantage in manpower, but Eichi knew that power wasn't just about numbers. His thoughts swirled, analyzing the situation. 600 men... 800 enemies... But I can use strategy to even the odds.
Eichi rubbed his temples, still groggy from lack of sleep. He wasn't fully focused, but his mind kept turning over the idea of what to do next. He glanced back at the map and mumbled, mostly to himself, "Maybe we could come up with a strategy by taking down the main ruler of Bakurocho..."
Sakimura, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room, immediately perked up at Eichi's words. He took a step forward, his expression serious, eager to act on what he assumed was a direct order.
"Ah, yes, Young Master! An assassination would be the perfect solution!" Sakimura said, his voice sharp with urgency as he bowed deeply.
Eichi blinked, looking up at him in confusion. "Wait, what? No, I didn't say—"
Sakimura cut him off, misunderstanding completely. "It will strike fear into their hearts, destabilize their entire structure, and we can use it to control Bakurocho. I will prepare everything we need, Young Master!"
Eichi stared at him, still trying to process what just happened. "No, Sakimura, I didn't mean an assassination... I just meant—"
But Sakimura was already pacing toward the door, a look of determination on his face. "I understand, Young Master. I'll make the necessary arrangements immediately."
Eichi sighed deeply, rubbing his face. Did I really just plan an assassination by accident? This is going way off track...