Facing the more than thirty burly men, armed with various weapons, who surged forward like a tide, Ryuzaki Shin showed no fear; instead, he watched them calmly with eyes that seemed to look at dead men.
There wasn't even the slightest ripple of emotion on his face.
He just slowly turned his head to look at Sasaki Yu, who was equally solemn but whose eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit, and smiled.
"Xiao Yu."
"Hand me my gear."
Upon hearing this, Sasaki Yu immediately understood what his Big Brother meant.
He nodded heavily, and then, under the astonished gazes of the biker gang, unhurriedly pulled out a steel nunchaku, wrapped in a black cloth bag and gleaming with a cold metallic luster, from his seemingly unremarkable school bag!
Ryuzaki Shin took the nunchaku, casually weighed it in his hand, feeling its cold and heavy texture, and a look of extreme satisfaction appeared on his face.
"This thing is still the easiest to use."
Then, he cast his gaze towards Serizawa Tamao, who had stood by his side without the slightest hint of retreat, and with a playful curve of his lips, slowly asked:
"Hey, Serizawa, want to earn some money?"
Serizawa, who was just about to charge forward and have a big fight with this bunch of trash, instantly froze upon hearing this.
"What do you mean?"
Ryuzaki Shin pointed his chin at the burly men who had already rushed forward, and said languidly in a tempting tone:
"It's simple."
"For every one of these guys you knock down, I'll give you... ten thousand yen."
This was also a way for Ryuzaki Shin to cultivate Serizawa, to make him yearn for money.
Otherwise, as a main cadre under him in the future, it would be embarrassing if he had the mentality of a pauper!
"Ten... ten thousand?!"
Serizawa's eyes instantly widened!
His normally lazy eyes now burst forth with a hot and greedy light, like a hungry wolf spotting a lamb!
Ten thousand yen!
That was the money he earned in a whole month of hard work doing odd jobs at the repair shop!
And now, he could easily get it just by... knocking down one piece of trash?!
Serizawa felt a 'buzz' in his head, as if something had completely exploded inside.
His breathing became incredibly heavy!
His eyes became incredibly bloodshot!
He looked at the burly men armed with weapons in front of him, as if he no longer saw vicious thugs.
But rather, walking ten thousand yen bills!
"Ah—!!!"
Serizawa could no longer hold back; he used all his strength to let out a deafening roar!
The sound was filled with endless excitement and... madness!
Immediately after, he charged like a tiger unleashed from its cage, taking the lead and boldly plunging into the dense crowd!
Sasaki Yu looked at Serizawa's crazed, pumped-up demeanor, and he too was eager to try.
He wanted to join in!
He also wanted to experience the passion and thrill of fist-to-flesh combat!
He turned his head, looking at Ryuzaki Shin with expectant eyes, and whispered:
"Shin-nii... what about me?"
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his small frame, then at the tall and burly men opposite, and pouted.
He didn't want Xiao Yu's small body to get broken if he went in.
His gaze swept around the casino and quickly landed on Kurosaki Mina, who was standing at the front desk, ready to watch the show.
He pointed in that direction and, with an unquestionable tone, said to Sasaki Yu:
"Xiao Yu, you can handle one woman, right?"
"Go to the front desk and help me... count the money."
Sasaki Yu was initially a bit reluctant, but upon hearing his Big Brother's command, he still nodded heavily.
He knew he was still too weak; going in would just be throwing his life away.
Since that was the case, he would first do what Big Brother asked!
He walked confidently towards the front desk.
However, before he could reach it,
Ryuzaki Shin had already picked him up and, with an extremely unscientific posture, threw him like a cannonball directly towards the front desk!
"Ah—!"
Sasaki Yu felt his body lighten, and he arced gracefully through the air, then... "Bang!"
A loud crash!
He landed with pinpoint accuracy on Kurosaki Mina, who had been preparing to watch the show!
The two of them tumbled over each other like rolling gourds.
"Alright, the obstacles are dealt with."
Ryuzaki Shin clapped his hands, then shouted towards Serizawa's direction:
"Ikuso (Go)!"
No sooner had he spoken!
He vanished from his spot like a ghost!
The next second!
He had already appeared in front of a burly man holding a steel pipe!
The burly man didn't even have time to react before he felt a numbness in his wrist, and the steel pipe instantly flew out of his hand!
Ryuzaki Shin caught the steel pipe and, with a backhand, swung it fiercely at another man's head!
"Whack!"
The man was directly spun around twice before collapsing to the ground!
Meanwhile, Serizawa had also completely erupted!
He was like a thoroughly enraged beast; every punch, every kick, was filled with the most primitive and pure violence!
A biker gang member swung a wooden stick at him, but Serizawa didn't dodge, directly taking the blow with his head!
"Clang!"
A loud crash!
The wooden stick shattered!
But Serizawa didn't even flinch!
He seized the opponent's moment of shock and delivered a fierce headbutt squarely to his face!
"Thud!"
The man's nose bridge caved in, and he was sent flying backward!
Immediately after, Serizawa picked up an overturned gambling table from the ground, lifted it high, and, like a battering ram, slammed it fiercely into the most crowded part of the group!
"Boom—!"
A loud crash!
Four or five biker gang members were directly knocked over, wailing everywhere!
Serizawa kept fighting and excitedly counting!
"Ten thousand!"
"Twenty thousand!"
"Thirty thousand!"
...At this moment, Ryuzaki Shin was even more direct and efficient.
He vanished instantly like a ghost!
When he reappeared, he had already charged into the "sea of people" made of clubs and iron pipes!
A guy with a Mohawk Head, brandishing a steel pipe, swung it down hard towards Ryuzaki Shin's head!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even look at him; just as the steel pipe was about to fall, he took a sudden step forward and smashed his fist upwards!
"Bang!"
A dull thud!
The steel pipe was actually bent and deformed by his sheer impact!
And Ryuzaki Shin's body didn't even sway!
Mohawk Head's tiger's mouth went numb from the recoil, and before he could react...
Ryuzaki Shin grabbed his hair, then yanked him down, simultaneously raising his knee and smashing it hard into his face!
"Crack!"
The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible!
Mohawk Head's nose bridge instantly collapsed, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, knocking over several gambling tables before finally falling silent amidst the scattered chips!
Immediately after, two more people attacked simultaneously from both sides!
Ryuzaki Shin sneered, his nunchaku, like black lightning, struck first despite being launched later!
"Clang! Clang!"
Two crisp sounds!
The wrists of those two people were instantly fractured! Their weapons also clattered to the ground!
Then, Ryuzaki Shin didn't stop; he grabbed one of them by the collar, swung him around like a human sandbag, and slammed him hard into his other accomplice!
"Boom—!"
The two rolled together like gourds, then, like bowling pins, knocked down the three or four people who were rushing up behind them!
A guy holding a machete thought he had found an opportunity and launched a sneak attack from behind!
However, before he could get close...
Ryuzaki Shin, without even turning his head, swung a nunchaku backward and struck him hard on the knee!
"Crack!"
The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible!
The man screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his leg!
Immediately after, Ryuzaki Shin spun around and kicked him away!
Then, he looked at the body tumbling in the air, and threw his nunchaku like a javelin!
"Pfft!"
The nunchaku struck the guy's chest with pinpoint accuracy! Although it didn't penetrate, the immense impact caused him to instantly spit blood, and he sustained an unknown number of broken ribs, completely losing his combat ability!
After all this, Ryuzaki Shin slowly shook off the blood droplets.
Then, he turned his gaze to the remaining dozen or so Red Scorpion members, who were already terrified.
A very "friendly" smile appeared on his face.
"Gentlemen, it's your turn."
...Meanwhile, on the other side.
Sasaki Yu finally recovered from his dizziness.
He looked at Kurosaki Mina beneath him, who was glaring at him with extreme resentment, and then at the mountain of bundled banknotes piled under the counter.
He knew it was time for him to get to work.
Mindful of Shin-nii's mission, he got up from Kurosaki Mina and bowed respectfully to her.
"Konnichiwa (Hello)."
"I'm going to... begin."
After speaking, he ignored the woman, who was about to explode with rage, and began diligently picking up bundles of banknotes and counting them carefully.
Kurosaki Mina looked at the pale-faced man in front of her, who was talking to himself and completely ignoring her, and the anger in her heart could no longer be suppressed!
She suddenly scrambled to her feet and pulled out a sharp fruit knife from a drawer!
Then, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she fiercely stabbed towards Sasaki Yu's back, who was concentrating on counting money!
However, just as the knife was about to stab Sasaki Yu!
"Screech—!"
A piercing electric sound suddenly rang out!
Kurosaki Mina felt her body go numb, and an indescribable sharp pain instantly spread throughout her body!
The knife in her hand also clattered to the ground with a "clang."
She lowered her head with difficulty, only to see that the pale-faced man, who had just been concentrating on counting money, had somehow turned around, and in his hand, he was holding a... sizzling stun baton!
"Sumimasen~"
A very "friendly" smile appeared on Sasaki Yu's face.
He looked at Kurosaki Mina, who had already started foaming at the mouth, and gave her a few more jolts.
Until she was completely unconscious.
He nodded with satisfaction, then continued to lower his head and concentrate on counting the money.
"Shin-nii said that if your combat power isn't enough, just use tools..."
...Inokari was originally in his office, confidently waiting for his subordinates to take down those three reckless youngsters.
But he waited for a long time, and what he got was a series of increasingly shrill screams.
He felt something was wrong.
When he walked to the office door and saw the scene below, like a hellish battlefield, through the crack in the door...
He was completely stunned.
He saw that youngster named Ryuzaki Shin, like a demon god descended, and with every swing of his nunchaku, one of his subordinates inevitably fell!
He saw that guy named Serizawa, even more like a human beast, practically knocking out one person with each punch!
He even saw that the seemingly weakest pale-faced man actually used a stun baton, which he pulled out from who knows where, to electrocute his most capable subordinate, Kurosaki Mina, until she foamed at the mouth and passed out!
What... what the hell is all this?!
Moreover, Inokari's testicles hadn't healed; it takes a hundred days for a sprain or fracture to heal, let alone that area.
So it was even more impossible for him to personally enter the fray.
Only one thought remained in Inokari's mind—
Close the office door tightly first!
Without another word, he locked the door first.
Inokari's office was equipped with a large iron door, specifically to delay time in case of any special circumstances.
He was filled with resentment, feeling that he had too few subordinates.
He knew that while he was away these past few days, Onizuka had poached at least a hundred people from him.
That's why there were only a little over thirty people guarding the place now.
Kunō Hideomi probably knew about this as well, which was why he didn't take him seriously just now.
"Baka!! Baka!!"
"Onizuka, Kunō, Ryuzaki Shin, you all deserve to die, damn, damn, damn!!!"
Just then, it suddenly became quiet outside.
Soon, footsteps appeared at the door.
A drop of sweat slowly rolled down Inokari's forehead; he subconsciously swallowed.
At the same time, Ryuzaki Shin's voice came from outside the door.
"Little piggy, I suggest you open the door voluntarily."
"If I have to open it myself, I can't guarantee that nothing bad will happen."
"The outcome will be very cruel~"
Inside the office, Inokari shivered, hiding behind the door, using his corpulent body to brace it, as if this could provide him with a sliver of pathetic security.
He peered through the peephole, observing the scene outside, which resembled a Shura Realm.
He watched Ryuzaki Shin, who was slowly lighting a cigarette, a devilish smile on his face.
He felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his throat!
He knew that he probably wouldn't get through this day.
However, the will to survive still made him summon his last bit of courage!
He cleared his throat and, in a voice he believed to be fierce but was actually trembling slightly, he blustered loudly:
"Kid! Don't you dare get cocky! I've already called for backup! When our Red Scorpion main force arrives, I guarantee I'll chop you into mincemeat!"
However, he didn't even believe these words himself.
Call for backup?
Who could he call?
Could he call Onizuka, that treacherous bastard?
Haha, that guy was probably hiding in some corner, gloating over his misfortune!
Maybe he even wished that this monster would cripple him so he could legitimately take over his territories!
Then... call the boss?
The moment this thought popped into Inokari's head, he immediately squashed it.
What a joke!
Although Inokari operated under the Red Scorpion name, to put it plainly, he was just an peripheral dog.
Red Scorpion was a notorious biker gang in the eastern district of Toharyu City, occupying the entire Karasumachi district.
But such a large territory couldn't be managed by their few hundred core members alone.
Therefore, 'local tyrants' like Inokari found a place to thrive.
He gathered his group of brothers and pledged allegiance to Red Scorpion.
Every month, he paid a hefty 'contribution fee' to the higher-ups on time.
Then, he could use the Red Scorpion's banner to lord it over Karasumachi, opening casinos and lending at high interest.
To the Red Scorpion boss, it didn't matter who did business on this street, as long as the money was paid on time, everything was fine.
His trivial matters, in their eyes, were probably just 'healthy competition' among 'franchisees,' and they couldn't be bothered to interfere!
The more Inokari thought about it, the more desperate he became; he felt like a fat pig trapped in a cage, only able to watch the butcher approach him step by step.
He even thought about calling the police.
However, this thought only lasted for 0.1 seconds in his mind before he completely dismissed it.
Are you kidding me!
All the shady things he had done—usury, running underground casinos, forcing women into prostitution... any one of them was enough to land him in prison for decades!
Not to mention he had just killed someone, and there were still traces in the room.
If he called the police, wouldn't that be purely walking into a trap?!
Just as Inokari was at a loss, already contemplating whether he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair or picking up soap in prison.
Outside, Serizawa Tamao was growing impatient.
He looked at the tightly shut iron door, pouted, and then abruptly retreated more than ten steps!
He took a deep breath and, like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, charged fiercely towards the iron door!
"Bang—!"
A dull, extreme thud!
Serizawa's body, like a cannonball, slammed heavily into the thick iron door!
However, the anticipated scene of the door flying apart did not occur.
The iron door merely vibrated slightly, then stood firm, unmoving like a mountain!
Instead, Serizawa was dazed and disoriented by the immense recoil.
He bounced back, landing on his backside with a "thud," and then rubbed his shoulder.
"Damn, this door is incredibly sturdy."
Inside the office, Inokari flinched at the loud bang from outside, but then he realized that the door hadn't been forced open!
He patted his chest, let out a long sigh of relief, and a triumphant smile reappeared on his face.
This was a special anti-theft door he had spared no expense to acquire from the black market.
And indeed, you get what you pay for; it was worth the price and not just for show.
It seemed he was safe today!
Inokari's heart instantly settled quite a bit.
He walked to the door and, with a tone full of mockery and provocation, burst into laughter:
"Hahahahaha! You little brats, you think you can break down my door?!"
"Don't waste your energy! I advise you to just scram!"
"I can let bygones be bygones regarding today's incident!"
"As for the money outside, take whatever you want; consider it... medical expenses from me, Inokari!"
Just then, Sasaki Yu, who had finished counting the money, suddenly stepped forward.
He glanced at the indestructible iron door, then at Serizawa, who was still rubbing his backside and grimacing in pain; he pondered for a moment, then suggested in a very serious tone:
"Shin-nii, how about... we find a locksmith?"
Ryuzaki Shin almost burst out laughing when he heard this.
A locksmith?
He looked at Sasaki Yu's innocent face and thought to himself:
This kid really is a live wire.
Find a locksmith?
What a joke, how could outsiders know about this kind of thing?
Who knows if the locksmith, upon seeing the scene below resembling a Shura Realm, would immediately choose to call the police?
At that point, it wouldn't be possible to control the locksmith as well, would it?
That would complicate what was originally a simple matter.
Ryuzaki Shin thought, it seems some things still need to be handled personally.
He shook his head, then, under the puzzled gazes of Serizawa and Sasaki Yu, a supremely confident smile slowly curved on his lips.
"Xiao Yu, Serizawa."
He patted both of their shoulders and slowly said:
"Sometimes, so-called rules and defenses are worthless in the face of absolute power."
As soon as he finished speaking!
He slowly raised his right fist.
Then, under their utterly shocked gazes!
He slammed it hard against the thick iron door!
Bang!
A deafening sound, like a clap of thunder, echoed through the narrow basement!
That heavy iron door, strong enough to withstand ordinary impacts, was actually caved in by Ryuzaki Shin's punch, leaving a perfectly clear fist-shaped dent!
"Holy crap!"
Serizawa Tamao's eyes nearly popped out when he saw this scene!
He subconsciously glanced at his own fist, which was also the size of a cooking pot, then looked at the dented iron door.
He couldn't help but swallow, then quietly put his hand behind his back.
Only one thought roared wildly in his mind:
Is that even a human fist?!
If that hit someone, wouldn't it punch right through them?!
His shoulder still hurt from that collision earlier, but this guy punched the door until it caved in, and his hand was completely fine?
A monster!
Absolutely a monster!
He definitely held back when he fought him!
Meanwhile, Sasaki Yu was already completely stunned by this surreal scene.
His already clear eyes now shone with a brilliant light, like stars!
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin's tall figure, and the admiration in his heart surged like a mighty river, continuous and unending!
Shin-nii... Shin-nii... he's just like a superhero out of a manga!
So cool!
Just then, a commotion came from the casino entrance, followed by a cacophony of fighting and cursing.
"Damn it! Still trying to run?!"
"Get back here, you bastards!"
It turned out that Izaki Shun and Tokaji Yuji had arrived with the main force of the True Dragon Society.
When they saw the members outside the shop rushing inside, they immediately realized something was wrong.
They quickly gathered their hidden subordinates and charged in.
On their way in, they happened to encounter a few Red Scorpion remnants trying to slip away through the back door amidst the chaos, and they dealt with them in no time.
When they rushed into the underground casino and saw the scene of people wailing on the floor, although they had expected it, they still couldn't help but gasp.
Good heavens, their boss had wiped out everyone!
They felt that they had acted quickly enough, but they still missed the fight.
However, everyone thought for a moment and felt relieved, knowing it was Ryuzaki Shin.
After all, he was a Tyrannosaurus!
Izaki Shun, truly a strategist, scanned the area and quickly understood the current situation.
He walked up to the fallen Red Scorpion members and gave Chuta a look.
Chuta immediately understood and, with a few quick-witted subordinates, began to conduct "friendly" inquiries with these people.
Tokaji Yuji, on the other hand, was more direct; he waved his hand and gave orders to the group of equally excited delinquents behind him:
"Round everyone up against the wall! Tie their hands and feet!"
Izaki Shun saw Tokaji's actions, twitched his mouth, and immediately added:
"Also, send two or three sharp guys to guard the shop entrance and see if there are any suspicious people!"
Tokaji, not to be outdone, ordered again:
"Send a few more people to block the back door! Don't let a single fly escape!"
The two of them, one after another, as if competing, quickly took control of the entire place.
Just then, Makise also arrived with the Ebizuka Trio.
He saw Ryuzaki Shin standing in front of the dented iron door and was about to ask what was going on.
Serizawa, however, made a "shush" gesture, motioning him to keep quiet and watch the show.
Ryuzaki Shin shook his fist; when he smashed the door, he immediately activated [Copper Skin and Iron Bones], so he didn't feel anything in his hand.
Looking at the clear fist print on the iron door, he sneered.
Is that all?
He looked at the iron door, which was still resisting, and a very cruel smile appeared on his face.
Then, he slowly spoke towards the office, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Inokari, I told you if I had to go in myself, the outcome would be very cruel, you know!"
After he finished speaking, he didn't wait for Inokari to reply.
He slowly, once again, clenched his fist.
Then, like a storm, he furiously smashed down on that iron door!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dull sounds of fists colliding with steel echoed continuously throughout the underground casino!
The sound was like the drumbeat of death, pounding heavily on everyone's hearts!
On the iron door, one clear fist print after another continuously appeared!
Everyone was completely awestruck by this incredibly domineering scene!
They looked at the man who seemed like a demon god descended, watching his fists fall like raindrops.
They all subconsciously swallowed, feeling their breathing become difficult.
Finally!
After Ryuzaki Shin had thrown countless punches!
That heavy iron door finally let out a mournful cry, unable to bear the weight!
It, along with the entire door frame, caved inward, teetering precariously!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the nearly shattered iron door in front of him, knowing that the time was right.
He withdrew his fist, took a deep breath, and then, under everyone's astonished gazes!
He stomped his foot, his body springing up, and delivered an incredibly sharp flying kick, fiercely kicking the already deformed iron door!
"Boom—!!!"
A tremendous crash!
That specially made security door, along with its entire frame, was like a broken wooden board hit by a battering ram.
It was instantly kicked flying, smashing heavily against the office wall, making a deafening sound!
Dust filled the air, obscuring everyone's vision.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly retracted his foot, clapped the dust off his hands, and then, leisurely, walked into the midst of the dust.
Serizawa, behind him, looked at the empty office, feeling a bit confused.
Where is he?
The moment Ryuzaki Shin took a step inside!
From the blind spot on the wall next to the office entrance!
A corpulent figure, like a mad wild boar, suddenly charged out!
In his hand, he held a large cleaver!
"You brat! Go to hell!"
Inokari's roar, full of malice and madness, echoed throughout the basement!
The cleaver in his hand gleamed with a chilling light under the lamps.
Bringing with it a forceful gust of wind that tore through the air, it fiercely swung down towards Ryuzaki Shin's neck!
Damn it!"
"Shin-nii, watch out!"
The moment Inokari erupted like a mad boar, Izaki Shun and Serizawa Tamao cried out almost simultaneously!
They never expected this fat bastard to dare launch such a vicious sneak attack from their blind spot the instant Ryuzaki Shin broke through the door!
However, facing this certain strike, Ryuzaki Shin didn't even bat an eyelid.
He had been stabbed in the back and still managed to kill two people before being thrown into the river.
Just this timid fat pig in front of him?
Heh heh.
Under everyone's horrified gazes, Ryuzaki Shin didn't even turn around!
He simply thrust his right hand backward the moment that gleaming machete was about to touch his neck!
Then, as fast as lightning, as steady as a mountain, and with unparalleled precision, he directly grabbed the sharp blade!
"Clang——!"
A piercing, sharp sound, like metal clashing!
That heavy machete was forcibly stopped less than a centimeter from Ryuzaki Shin's neck, unable to advance another millimeter!
And his right hand was completely unharmed!!
"What?!"
Inokari's eyes nearly popped out!
Damn it!
What the hell is this?!
Catching a blade with bare hands?!
He felt as if he wasn't holding a machete at all!
But a steel bar, clamped tightly by a giant, red-hot hydraulic clamp!
He used all his strength to try and pull the blade back, but that hand, which didn't look particularly thick, was as if welded in place, not moving an inch!
Inokari completely panicked.
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin's smiling face.
But his eyes were cold, and he forced out a smile uglier than a cry, stammering:
"B-Brother… I… I said I was just joking earlier, d-do you believe me?"
Ryuzaki Shin smiled.
A smile that was incredibly cruel, incredibly… cold.
"You tell me… do I believe you?"
The words had barely left his mouth!
His hand suddenly exerted force!
"Crack——!"
A grating sound of metal shattering!
That large machete, forged from fine steel, was actually crushed in half by him!
Inokari looked at the half-broken hilt in his hand, then at the half of the blade still dripping blood in Ryuzaki Shin's hand. His brain, at this moment, completely crashed!
Is… is this even human?!
Just as his mind was reeling, Ryuzaki Shin had already raised his right foot.
He kicked him hard in the stomach!
"Bang!"
Inokari's bulky, two-hundred-plus-pound body flew backward like a ball.
He crashed heavily onto the expensive boss's desk, made of solid wood!
"Boom——!"
A loud crash!
The desk shattered instantly!
Inokari, like a pile of mud, lay sprawled amidst the sawdust and documents, clutching his stomach, spitting up sour liquid in large gulps, unable to get up for a long time.
He lay slumped on the ground, watching the figure, like a demon god, walking towards him step by step. Finally, he began to negotiate using "the rules of the street."
"Brother! Let's… let's talk this out properly! We… we're all in this business, we have to follow the rules, there's no need to… no need to wipe me out, right?"
"You draw the line, and I, Inokari… will take it!"
Ryuzaki Shin walked up to him, pulled over a relatively intact chair, and sat down grandly.
He pulled out a cigarette pack from his pocket, slowly lit one, and then, only then, did he cast his gaze towards Inokari, who was still groaning on the ground, and smiled:
"Alright, then we'll… talk about the rules."
After he finished speaking, he gave Izaki Shun a look at the door.
Izaki Shun immediately understood. He said in a deep voice to the group of equally stunned subordinates behind him:
"Block the door, don't let anyone in."
Then, he, Serizawa, and Makise, like several door gods, completely sealed off all exits of the office.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the perfect setup before him and nodded with satisfaction.
Then, he stood up and walked to Inokari, who was trembling with fear.
He grabbed his right hand and dragged him like a dead dog to the now-collapsed office desk.
"Serizawa," Ryuzaki Shin said faintly.
Serizawa stepped forward. He looked at Inokari's face, filled with fear, and then at Ryuzaki Shin's face, with its wicked smile, and an inexplicable shiver ran down his spine.
"Hold him down."
Serizawa didn't hesitate. He immediately stepped forward, pressing Inokari's back down firmly with his knee.
Then, with both hands, he pressed his fleshy right hand firmly onto the sawdust-covered tabletop.
"Brother! Brother! I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please let me go!"
Inokari struggled frantically, but Serizawa's strength was like a mountain, rendering him immobile.
Ryuzaki Shin ignored his pleas.
He simply took the freshly lit cigarette from his mouth.
Then, under Inokari's terrified and desperate gaze, slowly and forcefully, he pressed it onto the back of his hand!
"Sizzle——!"
A nauseating sound of burning flesh echoed in the silent office!
Accompanying it was Inokari's heart-wrenching, inhuman scream!
"Ah——!!!"
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his face, twisted in agony, and a very "kind" smile appeared on his own face.
"Don't rush, this is just an appetizer."
After he finished speaking, he picked up the half-broken machete from the ground.
He gently flicked the sharp blade with his finger.
"Clang——"
A crisp metallic hum instantly sent Inokari's heart plummeting to rock bottom.
He watched the gleaming half-blade get closer and closer to his hand… and finally, deep fear appeared in his eyes.
"No… don't… please… don't…"
Ryuzaki Shin, however, seemed not to have heard him. He simply said in a very calm tone, slowly:
"Didn't you want to talk about rules?"
"Alright, today, I'll have a good talk with you about the rules."
He paused, his tone becoming cold and cruel.
"Rule number one, you can't touch my woman."
The words had barely left his mouth!
The blade in his hand, without hesitation, chopped down fiercely!
"Crack——!"
Inokari's pinky finger snapped instantly!
Blood instantly stained the entire tabletop!
"Ah——!!!"
Inokari let out a scream more shrill than any before, his body convulsing violently, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Ryuzaki Shin, however, didn't pause for a moment. He lightly picked up the severed finger with the tip of the blade, then casually tossed it in front of Inokari.
"Rule number two, the money you owe me, not a single cent less."
"Crack!"
The ring finger, broken.
"Rule number three, my life, you cannot touch."
"Crack!"
The middle finger, broken.
"Rule number four, in front of me, be polite."
"Crack!"
The index finger, also broken.
Ryuzaki Shin chopped off a finger with every sentence he spoke.
His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
His expression was as calm as if he were slicing a cucumber.
And Inokari, due to extreme pain and fear, had already completely collapsed.
He writhed and twitched on the ground like a fish out of water, emitting a series of desperate, incomprehensible whimpers.
He finally understood what kind of monster he had provoked.
This man was not some delinquent at all!
He was a true, life-disregarding… devil!
...Beside him, Serizawa looked at Ryuzaki Shin's calm yet cruel side and felt a chill run down his spine.
For the first time, he felt an emotion called "fear" towards this man.
He realized that Ryuzaki Shin's world was far darker and more complex than the simple brawls of Suzuran.
And Sasaki Yu, already pale with fright from the bloody scene, hid behind Makise, not daring to even lift his head.
As for Izaki Shun and Tokaji, though they were used to violence, they had never seen a scene like Ryuzaki Shin's, calmly chopping off someone's fingers one by one.
A thought simultaneously surfaced in their minds—
From now on, they must never offend this man!
Otherwise, their death would surely be very ugly!
If they were to follow Ryuzaki Shin, they should follow him properly and absolutely not have any other intentions.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Inokari, who was almost fainting from pain, and casually tossed the half-broken machete aside.
Then, he pulled out a pristine white, seemingly expensive handkerchief from Inokari's pocket.
He meticulously wiped the blood from his hands until they were spotless.
Then, looking at the pale faces of the people around him, smelling the scent of blood in the air, some people even felt nauseous.
Ryuzaki Shin thought to himself, this was all a necessary process.
If they wanted to follow him, but couldn't even handle a scene like this, then what was the point of talking about dominating Tokyo?
As for those who couldn't stand it and wanted to leave?
Heh heh… Since they had already decided to get on Ryuzaki Shin's ship, getting off wouldn't be so easy.
People needed to be trained, after all!
He casually threw the now blood-stained handkerchief onto Inokari's face, then said to Serizawa in a cold tone:
"Get a bucket of water and splash this trash awake for me."
"This is just the beginning, isn't it?"
"My score with him… we'll settle it slowly."
——————
It seems that I, One-Blade, have also touched the threshold of the Third Realm, looking down upon all the geniuses under heaven, who can fight me!!
After Ryuzaki Shin finished speaking, Serizawa climbed off Inokari's body.
"Alright!"
Without a word, he grabbed a tin bucket from the corner, not knowing what it was for, and rushed into the office's private bathroom, filling it with icy cold water.
Then, under everyone's gaze, he raised the bucket high and poured it with force over Inokari's plump face!
"Splash—!"
The icy cold water cascaded down like a waterfall!
"Cough... cough, cough!"
Stimulated by the sudden ice water, Inokari instantly choked awake from his unconsciousness!
He abruptly sat up from the floor, gasping for air, his entire body drenched like a drowned rat just pulled from the water.
Immediately after, piercing pain surged like a tide from his right hand, which had already had four fingers severed!
"Ah—! My hand! My hand!"
He looked at his right hand, now left with only a solitary thumb, and let out a heart-wrenching wail, tears and snot, mixed with blood and dirty water from his face, streaming down.
"Big Brother! I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please... please send me to the hospital quickly! If I don't go... this hand of mine will truly be crippled!"
He scrambled and crawled, kneeling before Ryuzaki Shin.
His head thumped heavily on the floor like a pounding garlic, making dull thudding sounds.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his pathetic and laughable appearance, but merely unhurriedly pulled out a cigarette case from his pocket and slowly lit one.
He took a deep drag, then slowly exhaled, saying in an extremely calm tone:
"No rush, no rush."
"Look, you still have six fingers, don't you?"
"..."
Hearing this, Inokari felt as if his heart was fiercely clutched by an invisible large hand, instantly stopping its beat.
He raised his head, his small, pea-like eyes filled with endless fear and despair.
This man... he... he still wants to cut more?
Just as Inokari was about to beg for mercy again.
Ryuzaki Shin, as if he hadn't seen him, simply turned his gaze to Sasaki Yu, who had been cowering in the corner like a quail the entire time.
"Xiao Yu, come here."
Sasaki Yu's body stiffened instantly upon hearing Ryuzaki Shin's summons.
He looked at the bloody scene before him, like a Shura field, and then at Inokari, who was still bleeding on the floor, feeling his stomach churn.
His face was as pale as paper, and his legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead, making it impossible for him to move.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his cowardly, almost-peeing-himself appearance, but instead of getting angry, he smiled.
"Xiao Yu, I remember you said you wanted to become a true man, didn't you?"
Sasaki Yu subconsciously nodded.
"Very good." Ryuzaki Shin's smile became even brighter.
"But, I tell you, just wanting to be a man is far from enough."
"Because, in this world, there are too many so-called 'men,' as numerous as stray dogs on the side of the road."
He paused, his tone becoming incredibly serious.
"What you need to do is become a... true man!"
"A true man... who can face his inner fears, control his own destiny, and make all his enemies tremble in fear!"
Sasaki Yu listened to Ryuzaki Shin's words.
Although he felt something was a little off, his blood inexplicably began to boil!
I... I'm already a man?
Now... I'm going to become a true man?!
Am I, Sasaki Yu, going to grow again?
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and felt as if he had achieved enlightenment!
He took a deep breath, then, with steps that were still trembling but remarkably firm, he walked, step by step, to Ryuzaki Shin's front.
He looked at the bloody mess on the ground, and although his stomach was still churning, his gaze was no longer the fear and evasion from before.
Instead, it became... unusually calm.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at him like this and nodded in satisfaction.
Good gracious, this kid is something else!
His mental fortitude is much stronger than he imagined!
It seems he really did find a treasure.
Ryuzaki Shin smiled, patted Sasaki Yu's shoulder, and then asked in a very casual tone:
"Xiao Yu, how much money was tallied outside just now?"
Hearing this, Sasaki Yu instantly snapped out of his state of "enlightenment."
He quickly pulled out the small notebook, filled with numbers, that he had been carefully guarding in his pocket.
Then, in an extremely professional tone, as if reporting to his boss, he answered word for word:
"Reporting, Shin-nii! The total cash is 14,875,300 Japanese Yen!"
"Hmm?"
Ryuzaki Shin's brows furrowed instantly upon hearing this number.
About fifteen million?
He remembered that the mountain of chips in front of him was at least thirty million.
Why was the cash so little?
However, his mind quickly processed it, and he understood instantly.
Damn it!
A large portion of it was chips that those gamblers had exchanged from high-interest loans borrowed from the casino!
Damn it, in just a short while of being open tonight, they loaned out fifteen million?!
Ryuzaki Shin couldn't help but curse inwardly.
It truly is the bubble economy era of Sakura Country!
These guys really treat money like dirt when they borrow!
Every single one of them acts like they're crazy!
He shook his head, then turned his gaze back to Inokari, who was still whimpering on the ground, a very "kind" smile appearing on his face.
"Hey, little piggy, fifteen million isn't enough."
"I remember, you seem to... still owe me one hundred million, right?"
Hearing this, Inokari's body trembled violently. He endured the intense pain and was about to say, "Big Brother, I really have no money left."
But Ryuzaki Shin, as if seeing through his thoughts, preempted him and slowly said in an extremely understated tone:
"Today, if you're short by even one yen, I'll... remove a part from you."
"You better think carefully before you speak, okay~"
"..."
Hearing this, Inokari's right hand was once again struck with a piercing pain!
How could he dare to hesitate in the slightest? He quickly pointed with his thumb-only hand to an inconspicuous safe in the corner of the office.
With a sobbing voice, he shouted loudly:
"There's more! There's more! I... I have money in the safe behind my desk! The password is... is 112233! Big Brother, you... you take it all! It's all yours!"
Ryuzaki Shin burst into laughter upon hearing this.
He walked up to Inokari, patted his face, which was already swollen like a pig's head, and said in a tone full of "appreciation":
"Good boy~"
"See, if you had cooperated earlier, you wouldn't have become... the Six-Fingered Demonic Zither, would you?"
After he finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Inokari, who was on the verge of tears, and walked directly to the small safe.
He looked at the old-fashioned combination lock, curled his lips, and then slowly began to turn it.
"Click, clack, click, clack..."
The crisp sounds were particularly jarring in the silent office.
Serizawa and Sasaki Yu both curiously leaned in, wanting to see how much private money this fat guy had hidden.
Finally!
"Click!"
The safe opened!
However, the moment Ryuzaki Shin pulled open the safe door!
The smile on his face... instantly froze.
His eyes also became... unusually gloomy.