The person leisurely reading the newspaper on the hospital bed was Kirisawa Jin.
Although he had never met Amber in person, the terrifying aura the man carried when he burst in instantly made him understand.
This man in front of him must be the legendary man — Amber — that the boss told him to wait for here.
Kirisawa Jin looked at the twisted and ferocious expression on Amber's face, but felt no panic at all; instead, he calmly folded the newspaper, placed it aside, and then slowly spoke.
"Oh? The person you're looking for is named Tsukumo, right?" His voice was flat. "I advise you to let go of your hand now, otherwise, I can't guarantee that you... will ever see your old friend again."
Hearing this, Amber's man-eating gaze narrowed slightly. He glanced at the calm man, and finally slowly released his hand.
Kirisawa Jin unhurriedly got off the bed, reached out to smooth his wrinkled collar, and then pulled out a folded note from his pocket.
He handed the note to Amber.
"The time and place are clearly written on it. Someone wants to see you."
Amber lowered his head and took the note.
There was only one line written in black ink on the note.
[8 PM, Toyaru Central Hospital top floor, your presence is awaited.]
Amber clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Since yesterday, he felt as if he had been drawn into one vortex after another, unable to control himself.
But now, he had no choice.
Tsukumo was the most important friend he had left in this world.
No matter what, he had to ensure Tsukumo's safety.
Just then, Kirisawa Jin picked up a thermos cup from the table beside the hospital bed, blew on the hot steam from the rim, took a leisurely sip, and then slowly said,
"By the way, let me remind you, Toyaru Central Hospital isn't in the north of the city; it's quite a distance from here. Aren't you going to hurry over now?"
Amber didn't say another word, just gave him a deep look, then abruptly turned and pushed the door open, leaving.
Watching Amber's figure disappear down the corridor, Kirisawa Jin picked up his phone and sent a text message to Ryuzaki Shin.
"Boss, the fish has taken the bait."
...Night, Toyaru Central Hospital rooftop.
The cold night wind ruffled Ryuzaki Shin's clothes. He stood alone at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the myriad lights of the city below.
He glanced at the watch on his wrist; the hands already pointed to eight o'clock sharp.
Why wasn't the person here yet?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, with a loud "Boom —!", the heavy iron door leading from the rooftop downstairs was violently kicked open from the inside!
The entire door panel detached from the frame and hurtled straight towards Ryuzaki Shin!
Facing this sudden attack, Ryuzaki Shin showed no sign of panic.
Ryuzaki Shin neither dodged nor flinched; just as the door panel was about to hit him, he suddenly raised his right leg!
"Bang!"
A dull thud!
The heavy door panel, flying at high speed, was precisely stepped on by his foot, then crashed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly lowered his foot, his gaze directed towards the imposing figure at the doorway.
The person who arrived was Amber.
"Your manners really aren't great," Ryuzaki Shin said to him, taking his time. "Damaging public property requires compensation."
At this moment, Amber's eyes were already filled with terrifying bloodshot veins, and his entire being exuded a violent and dangerous aura.
His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing together.
"You... what did you do to Tsukumo?! Hand him over quickly!"
Just as Ryuzaki Shin was about to speak, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Host detected facing a critical choice, God-level Choice System activated!]
[Option One: Fight fire with fire! Crush the opponent with absolute power, tell him that the old era is over, and now is your era! Let him see who the true strongest is! Completion Reward: Legendary Character — [Amber] Physical Fitness Template!]
[Option Two: Appeal to reason and emotion! Use your damn charismatic personality to rescue this lost man from the shadows of the past, make him willingly join the True Dragon Society, and become your sharpest spear! Completion Reward: Special Aura — [King's Call]! Wearing Effect: Your words and actions will more easily gain the trust and allegiance of others, increasing the success rate of persuading important plot characters by 50%! And there is a certain probability of making hostile targets abandon resistance and directly submit!]
[Option Three: Retreat bravely! Hand over the True Dragon Society's leadership position completely to Amber, after all, being a boss is too tiring, going home to accompany your wife is much better! Completion Reward: One painless sex change operation, with a complete set of high-end women's clothing included!]
Seeing these three options, Ryuzaki Shin's eyebrows involuntarily raised.
He didn't expect that at this critical juncture, choices would appear.
To be honest, when he called Amber here today, he hadn't intended to fight him.
In his plan, he could completely persuade the other party through conversation to form a strategic alliance with him, and then, step by step, slowly bring him completely under his control.
But now, it seems the plan... might have to change.
The reward for Option Two was actually quite appealing.
[King's Call], the effect of this aura was simply heaven-defying!
In the future, when he went to trick... ah no, when he went to recruit talents, it would simply be twice the result with half the effort!
Imagine the scene where he appears, his domineering aura unleashed, and heroes and powerful figures from all walks of life bow down... But... what was his original intention in coming to this world?
Being strong enough himself was the fundamental basis for standing firm in this chaotic world!
Did he lack something as ethereal as charismatic personality now?
No, he didn't!
As for Option Three... Ryuzaki Shin didn't even look at it, directly telling it in his mind to go play with itself.
However, before making the final choice, Ryuzaki Shin still silently asked in his heart.
"System, I already have Hayashida Megumi's template. If I get Amber's template as a reward, will it directly replace it?"
This point was actually quite crucial.
Could Hayashida Megumi beat Amber?
In Ryuzaki Shin's opinion, the answer was no.
Although Hayashida Megumi's strength and defense were top-notch, his fighting style and speed still seemed a bit clumsy.
Compared to Amber, who was battle-hardened and whose combat skills had been honed to near perfection, he was still a step behind.
But that didn't mean Hayashida Megumi's physical fitness was inferior to Amber's.
It could only be said that both of their physical fitness had their own strengths.
The system quickly gave a concise and clear answer.
[Templates will merge with each other, taking the essence and discarding the dross, ultimately forming a stronger individual.]
After seeing the system's reply, Ryuzaki Shin no longer had any hesitation.
What else was there to say?
Combine Hayashida Megumi's monstrous defense and strength with Amber's top-tier speed and explosiveness?
Besides "invincible," he couldn't think of any other word to describe it!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the man in front of him who had already fallen into a berserk state, and slowly chanted in his heart.
I choose one!
The moment Ryuzaki Shin made his choice, an indescribable, scorching torrent, as if originating from the deepest parts of his life, erupted violently throughout his limbs and bones!
He clearly felt that every muscle fiber in his body was undergoing decomposition and reorganization at an unimaginable speed under the impact of this power.
His already rock-solid muscles became even more compact, and their density increased to an astonishing degree.
His bones, with a series of fine crackling sounds, became tougher, and it was as if something was awakening deep within his bone marrow.
Even his internal organs, under the baptism of this power, radiated unprecedented vitality and vigor.
And the blood in his body surged and roared like a bursting river!
The immense vital energy from Hayashida Megumi was now wildly intertwined, colliding, and fusing with a brand new, scorching and violent power!
If the previous Hayashida Megumi template had given him ultimate defense and unparalleled strength...
Then now, after fusing with the Amber template, an explosive speed and extremely sharp neural reactions were continuously being injected into his body!
This was a brand new sensation!
It was an unprecedented feeling of immense power, a perfect combination of strength and speed!
Ryuzaki Shin slowly exhaled a turbid breath, and in the cold night sky, that breath even carried a faint wisp of white mist.
Although the previous Hayashida Megumi template was powerful, it always gave him a heavy, even somewhat clumsy feeling.
This might be the innate deficiency in everyone's physical constitution.
But after fusing with the Amber template, he felt his body become unprecedentedly light and coordinated. Speed, explosive power, neural reactions... every function of his body had undergone a qualitative leap!
He was now eager to test just how powerful this new body of his was.
And the man before him, on the verge of fury, was undoubtedly the best touchstone.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Amber in front of him, a playful radian curved at the corner of his mouth, his voice carrying a hint of provocation.
"The leader of MUGEN, Amber, a legendary figure in the S.W.O.R.D. Area. People outside always say you unified the entire district by yourself. You were a myth in the past, and now... let me see how much truth there is to that rumor."
Amber stared intently at the man in front of him. For some reason, his beast-like fighting instincts were frantically warning him.
The aura around this man, in that very instant, suddenly became incredibly dangerous!
It made him feel as if he was no longer facing a human, but a top predator hidden in the darkness, ready to devour its prey!
However, Amber naturally wouldn't flinch in the slightest due to the change in the opponent's aura.
He suppressed the tremor in his heart and asked,
"I just want to know, where is Tsukumo?"
Ryuzaki Shin smiled at his words.
"That's simple." He beckoned disdainfully at Amber with his finger, "Defeat me, and I'll tell you where he is."
Hearing this, a cruel arc also formed at the corner of Amber's mouth.
"Very good... it's been a long time since anyone dared to speak to me like that."
He had already felt that he had been played and led by the nose since yesterday, and the anger in his heart had already accumulated to its peak.
From the past to the present, he had never changed; he always preferred to speak with his fists.
Since the opponent had actively challenged him, things had become simpler!
Amber stopped talking nonsense, stomped his foot, and rushed forward like an arrow released from a bowstring!
There were no fancy moves, no superfluous techniques, just a simple, unremarkable straight punch, aimed directly at Ryuzaki Shin's face!
However, this seemingly simple punch contained a terrifying explosive force!
Before the fist arrived, a sharp gust of wind already assailed his face!
Ryuzaki Shin thought to himself, Amber's instantaneous explosive power is indeed terrifying!
The speed of this punch had surpassed any opponent he had seen before!
If it had been before fusing the template, facing this punch might have been a bit tricky.
However, now... just as Amber's fist was about to hit him, Ryuzaki Shin moved!
He struck later but arrived first!
He also threw a straight punch!
Two fists, both containing terrifying power, collided fiercely in mid-air!
"Bang!!!"
A dull, extremely loud bang exploded on the empty rooftop.
Ryuzaki Shin stood still, not moving an inch!
Instead, it was Amber, who had thrown the first punch, who was sent back two large steps by the huge recoil, only barely managing to stabilize himself!
With just one direct clash, the victor was immediately clear!
Amber shook his slightly numb right hand, a look of incredible shock on his face.
How is this possible?!
He had thrown the first punch, already having the advantage of striking first!
But the young man opposite, who had struck later, had even more power in his punch... even more than his own?!
What a... freak!
Ryuzaki Shin also looked at Amber with renewed respect.
That punch just now, although he had struck second, he hadn't held back any power.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Murayama had faced that punch, at least his entire arm would have been fractured on the spot!
But Amber, in front of him, merely shook his hand and seemed completely fine, his combat power almost unaffected.
Interesting.
Ryuzaki Shin lightly tapped his toe on the ground and charged forward!
This time he went all out!
Jeet Kune Do moves flowed seamlessly from his hands.
But at this moment, he was no longer confined to the fixed patterns of Jeet Kune Do.
Fists, elbows, knees, legs... every part of his body became the most deadly weapon!
Three punches in one second! Four punches!
A sky full of fist and leg shadows instantly enveloped Amber!
Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation!
Facing Ryuzaki Shin's fierce assault, like a raging storm, Amber could only retreat again and again, his arms moving in an impenetrable blur, desperately parrying.
"Bang bang bang bang!"
Dense, continuous thudding sounds, like rain on banana leaves, echoed on the rooftop!
Amber quickly discovered that the man in front of him was impossibly fast!
And what was even more terrifying was that every one of his strikes contained terrifying power capable of splitting stone tablets!
In this situation, he couldn't find any opportunity to counterattack!
He decided to temporarily adopt a defensive stance, continuously parrying, attempting to exhaust Ryuzaki Shin's stamina.
After all, defending consumed the least amount of stamina. Once the opponent's stamina was depleted and his speed slowed down, it would be his time to counterattack.
However, what he didn't know was that Ryuzaki Shin, in combat, was a monster with endless stamina!
How can you fight against someone who is cheating?
For Ryuzaki Shin.
The attacker always has the advantage over the defender!
Just as Amber parried with a sidestep, Ryuzaki Shin keenly caught a small opening exposed under his armpit!
An opportunity!
Ryuzaki Shin's eyes narrowed, and his left elbow slammed hard into Amber's ribs!
Amber cried out in pain, and his guard in the middle opened up.
How could Ryuzaki Shin let go of this good opportunity? His right fist transformed into a long dragon, with a whistling sound, and fiercely slammed into Amber's undefended chest!
"Boom!!!"
Amber let out a muffled grunt of pain, and his entire body flew backward, crashing heavily against the concrete wall at the edge of the rooftop!
"Crack!"
The sturdy wall cracked like a spiderweb from the impact, sending debris flying!
Fortunately, the top floor walls of this private hospital were made of sturdy materials, otherwise, just that one impact would have probably collapsed the entire wall!
Amber slowly slid down the cracked wall, kneeling on one knee on the ground.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly retracted his fist, looking at Amber, who was breathing heavily.
"Is a legend from the past only this much?"
"The so-called 'strongest,' it seems... is nothing more than this."
Hearing this, Amber's slightly trembling shoulders suddenly began to shake violently.
A low chuckle emanated from his throat.
"Heh heh... heh heh heh..."
The laughter grew louder and louder, finally turning into a deafening roar of laughter!
He slowly raised his head, and in his eyes, which had already seemed a bit unfocused, two blazing flames now burned fiercely!
"Very good... very good!"
"Now, let me show you what a true legend is!"
Ryuzaki Shin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as Amber slowly stood up before him.
Are legendary figures all so resilient?
The punch and elbow he just threw were with his full strength, something an ordinary person definitely couldn't withstand.
And that still didn't cripple him?
Moreover, why are all these people the same?
At critical moments, they love to shout some slogan, and then, as if they've activated a cheat, they instantly return to full health?
But he had to admit, Amber's physical condition truly was top-tier.
Whether it was his resistance to blows or his instantaneous explosive power, both far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Did he have it too?
Oh, then never mind.
Ryuzaki Shin also stretched his neck, emitting a series of faint bone crackles, and shook his head.
"Legendary? My apologies," his voice was calm, "because I am already beyond legend."
Ryuzaki Shin's words were not wrong.
Among all known legendary figures in the S.W.O.R.D. Area, Amber's strength was definitely in the top tier.
But judging from the current fight, even Amber in his 'burst' state was still no match for him now.
So, saying he was "beyond legend" was not a problem.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at him, slowly reining in the smile on his face, his eyes becoming focused.
"It's time to end this."
However, upon hearing his words, Amber instead burst into even crazier laughter!
"Hahahahaha! End? It's still far too early!"
Before he finished speaking, he once again transformed into a black lightning bolt, charging fiercely towards Ryuzaki Shin!
This time, his speed was actually several times faster than before!
The trajectory of his punches also became even more bizarre and unpredictable!
Ryuzaki Shin's eyes narrowed slightly; for a moment, he actually couldn't adapt to the opponent's sudden change in rhythm.
Just as he sidestepped Amber's tricky uppercut, a triumphant glint suddenly flashed in Amber's eyes!
Now!
His left fist, which had missed, naturally sank downwards, and he violently twisted his body, pouring all of his strength into his right fist!
A powerful, heavy punch slammed fiercely into Ryuzaki Shin's unguarded chest!
"Dong!!!"
An incredibly dull thud echoed within Ryuzaki Shin's chest cavity!
The force of this punch was so great that it even made the air wail!
However, the scene that followed instantly froze Amber's face, which had just begun to smile in triumph.
Ryuzaki Shin hadn't retreated a single step!
He had endured this full-power blow with his bare chest!
Ryuzaki Shin looked down at the shallow fist mark on his chest, then looked up at the shocked Amber, a mocking curve forming on his lips.
"If this is all you've got, then I overestimated you."
Ryuzaki Shin himself possessed the passive skill [Copper Skin and Iron Bones].
If it were before he fused with the template, taking this punch would likely have still caused some internal organ tremors.
However, after the epic strengthening he had just undergone, the toughness of his internal organs had already reached an inconceivable level!
Now, after taking Amber's all-out, desperate punch head-on, he didn't even feel the slightest surge of qi and blood!
"No... impossible!!!"
Amber roared, seemingly completely unable to accept this result!
His eyes instantly turned crimson, and his rationality was swallowed by endless rage at this moment!
Amber began to frantically swing his fists at Ryuzaki Shin!
This time, Ryuzaki Shin no longer dodged.
The two of them stood on the rooftop and began the purest form of true man-to-man brawl!
"Bang!"
Amber punched Ryuzaki Shin in the face!
Ryuzaki Shin didn't budge!
"Bang!"
Ryuzaki Shin punched Amber in the abdomen!
Amber stumbled violently, almost falling to his knees!
"Bang!"
Amber delivered a knee strike to Ryuzaki Shin's lower abdomen!
Ryuzaki Shin still didn't budge!
"Bang!"
Ryuzaki Shin landed a hook punch on Amber's temple!
Amber's body shook violently again!
...Three rounds, one hit for you, one hit for me.
This was no longer a competition of skill and speed; this was purely a contest of whose body was harder and whose will was stronger!
Finally!
"Bang!!!"
Accompanied by a heavy thud, Ryuzaki Shin's straight punch, imbued with terrifying power, landed squarely on Amber's jaw!
This time, Amber could no longer hold on; his feet left the ground, and he flew backward!
A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed a tragic and beautiful arc in the air, then he fell heavily onto the ground several meters away.
When he struggled and forced himself to stand up again, Ryuzaki Shin was already quietly standing before him.
Next, it was Ryuzaki Shin's turn for a storm of blows!
"Bang bang bang bang bang bang—!!!"
Dense, heavy thuds, like drumbeats, furiously echoed on the rooftop!
Ryuzaki Shin's fists turned into countless afterimages, indiscernible to the naked eye, as he wildly hammered Amber's body, punch after punch!
At this moment, Amber, amidst the fierce, storm-like assault, was like a helpless small boat.
He couldn't even lift his arms to block, only passively enduring the endless barrage of blows!
One punch, ten punches, fifty punches, a hundred punches!
Finally, after Ryuzaki Shin had thrown over a hundred punches, he suddenly retracted his fists, spun rapidly in place, and delivered a powerful spinning kick that fiercely struck Amber's side waist!
"Boom—!!!"
Amber's body flew backward again, rolling across the rough concrete ground, leaving a long trail of blood, and finally came to a stop.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly retracted his leg and let out a long breath.
It should be over now, right?
However, just then, Ryuzaki Shin saw that Amber, who was lying in a pool of blood and should have already passed out, his finger... actually moved again!
Ryuzaki Shin's eyebrows shot up.
What the hell, no way?!
He's that tough?!
Amber used his still trembling arm to desperately prop himself up, trying... to stand up again!
He propped up his upper body, then tried to prop up his lower body... but in the end, his body suddenly went limp, and he collapsed powerlessly onto the ground again, completely unconscious.
Just as his last shred of consciousness was about to dissipate, Amber felt himself fall into a broad and familiar embrace.
He laboriously lifted his heavy eyelids.
Amber saw a familiar face, filled with anxiety and worry.
"Tsu... Tsukumo... is that you?"
After Amber finished speaking these almost delirious words, his eyes, which he had struggled to keep open, finally lost their last trace of light and slowly closed, and he completely fell into a coma.
Tsukumo tightly hugged the man in his arms, who was now unconscious, and shook him vigorously a few times, his voice filled with an unprecedented urgency and anger.
"Amber! Amber! Wake up!"
However, the man in his arms did not respond.
Tsukumo slowly raised his head, his eyes, which always carried a hint of honesty and optimism, were now filled with icy rage, and he turned to stare fixedly at Ryuzaki Shin, who was not far away.
"Ryuzaki Shin! This isn't what we agreed upon yesterday!"
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his accusatory demeanor and merely straightened his clothes, which had become a bit wrinkled during the intense battle, without a care.
Then, he took a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit it unhurriedly.
Tsukumo had actually woken up yesterday.
When he opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar, top-tier hospital room, and learned that all his medical expenses during his coma had been paid, Ryuzaki Shin appeared before him.
That man calmly talked with him for a long time.
He talked about the current situation in this area, everything that had happened during his years of sleep, and also Ryuzaki Shin's own future plans and ideas.
Of course, most importantly, he told Tsukumo about Amber's current predicament.
What can be said about Tsukumo? He is actually a person without much ambition or desire.
Before Tatsuya died, he once told him to follow Amber no matter what, and never leave him.
Because Tatsuya knew that once he died, with Amber's persistent and affectionate personality, he would definitely fall into deep self-blame, and his entire being might fall into endless darkness as a result.
So, for Tsukumo, he didn't really have a grand ideal for his life.
His only goal in life was to always stay by Amber's side, to keep his promise to his best friend, and to prevent him from going astray.
It was precisely because of this that when he woke up yesterday, Ryuzaki Shin told him all about the current situation and emphasized that he would never harm Amber, only hoping to achieve cooperation to jointly fight against the Kowloon Group, Tsukumo didn't have many thoughts.
For him, wherever Amber went, he would follow.
As long as it could help Amber recover and emerge from the shadows of the past, he was willing to do anything.
However, he never expected that what Ryuzaki Shin called "having a good talk with Amber" wasn't talking with words, but... with fists!
Facing Tsukumo's angry questioning, Ryuzaki Shin's face showed not even a hint of change.
He had indeed intended to talk things through, but there was nothing he could do; the system's rewards were simply too tempting.
Besides, looking at Amber's state just now, it seemed like years of pent-up emotions had completely erupted.
Letting him take a beating like that, to completely vent the anger in his heart, was actually a good thing for him.
He would probably be fine after a good night's sleep and wake up tomorrow with no major issues.
"Tsukumo, don't get agitated yet." Ryuzaki Shin slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, "You know Amber's temper, stubborn and unyielding. During the two years you were in a coma, his heart was constantly struggling and filled with self-blame, and his emotions were very unstable. If I didn't hit him like that first, and completely subdue him, do you think I would have a chance to sit down and talk with him properly?"
After Ryuzaki Shin finished speaking, Tsukumo's overflowing anger deflated like a punctured balloon.
He sighed, unable to refute anything anymore.
Indeed, in Amber's current state, he wouldn't listen to reason at all.
Ryuzaki Shin took another deep drag from his cigarette, looked at the unconscious Amber, and continued.
"Don't worry, he's fine, just exhausted. I'll have someone come up in a bit to take him to the ward downstairs and let him rest well for the night. I believe when he wakes up tomorrow, he'll be much calmer."
...The next day, noon.
Bright sunlight streamed through the gaps in the blinds, casting dappled shadows in the clean white hospital room.
On the hospital bed, Amber's eyeballs began to twitch slightly beneath his tightly closed eyelids.
Suddenly, he abruptly opened his eyes, then sprang up from the bed as if electrified!
He was gasping for air, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.
He cautiously looked around, realizing he was in an unfamiliar, clean, and tidy single room.
Amber lowered his head and saw several IV needles still inserted into his arm, with cold liquid slowly flowing into his body, drop by drop, through transparent tubes.
Amber frowned and instinctively reached out to pull out all the bothersome needles.
Just then, the door to the ward opened.
Tsukumo walked in, carrying a tray of nutritious hospital food. Seeing Amber about to pull out the needles, he quickly stepped forward, placed the tray on the table, and held his hand.
"Amber! You just woke up, and your body is still very weak. Don't move around!"
Seeing this familiar face and hearing this familiar voice, Amber's heart, which had been tightly strung, finally settled down at this moment.
Tsukumo... he's alive... he's alive... But this sense of relief and joy was quickly overwhelmed by an even stronger feeling of guilt and self-reproach.
He turned his head, feigning indifference, not daring to look into Tsukumo's eyes.
Amber didn't know... he didn't know how to face his best friend, who had been implicated by him.
Especially after he learned the truth about the car accident from that white-haired man.
If it hadn't been for his stubbornness and foolishness back then.
If it hadn't been for MUGEN... Tatsuya wouldn't have died.
And Tsukumo wouldn't have been lying in a hospital bed for years!
All he wanted to do now was to escape!
Escape from here, and then, in his own way, carry out the revenge that had been delayed for so many years!
Amber abruptly pulled out the needles from his arm, letting the fresh red blood seep from the needle marks.
He got out of bed without a word and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door and his hand was on the doorknob, a voice, tinged with amusement and laziness, came from the doorway.
Ryuzaki Shin was leaning against the doorframe, watching him at his leisure, a playful smile on his lips.
"Oh, my, my, you're not a kid anymore, so why... are you still such a tsundere?"
Amber unconsciously clenched his fists when he saw Ryuzaki Shin appear at the door.
The pain from yesterday's crushing defeat seemed to spread throughout his body once again.
It wasn't until he was fully conscious that he truly understood what a terrifying monster he had faced last night.
The other party's physique didn't look particularly strong; compared to his own, it could even be described as somewhat slender.
But why... why did such a body contain such immense power?!
He didn't understand.
Yesterday, he had clearly given his all, even bringing out his hidden trump cards.
But in front of this man, he still appeared so vulnerable.
Now, he was no longer in his peak state of high fighting spirit, and if he were to clash with the other party again, the outcome... would probably be even worse.
Moreover, from the current situation, this man didn't seem to have any ill will.
He hadn't used Tsukumo to coerce him into anything, and had even kindly sent him to the ward for treatment.
Amber was certain that the other party hadn't gone to such great lengths yesterday just to have a simple fight with him.
He definitely had other motives.
Friend or foe, perhaps... a conversation would reveal it.
Of course, he wasn't thinking this because he was afraid of the other party's martial prowess!
Absolutely not!
Ryuzaki Shin watched the flickering emotions on Amber's face, from initial wariness and anger, slowly calming down.
He knew that this unruly man in front of him had finally understood some things.
"Now, can we sit down and have a good talk?"
...In the private reception room on the top floor of the hospital.
Ryuzaki Shin, Amber, and Tsukumo sat facing each other.
The reception room's decor was simple yet tasteful, and through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire Toyaru City.
Director Nakata personally carried a set of exquisite tea ware and walked in, placing three cups of steaming tea in front of each of them, then respectfully said to Ryuzaki Shin:
"Mr. Ryuzaki, please feel free to command if you need anything."
Ryuzaki Shin, with a gentle smile on his face, nodded at him.
"Director Nakata, you're too kind. There's nothing here, you can go attend to your duties. I can handle things here myself."
"Yes, yes."
Director Nakata bowed respectfully, then carefully exited the reception room, gently closing the door behind him.
Seeing this, Amber once again looked at the young man in front of him.
When fighting, he exuded an overwhelming aura, like an Asura returned from hell.
But now, sitting quietly, his every gesture and movement was like that of a refined young master from a noble family.
Even the director of this top-tier private hospital was so deferential to him.
What exactly was this man's background?
Ryuzaki Shin picked up his teacup, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, took a shallow sip, and then directly got to the point.
"Amber, that guy named Lee has already approached you, hasn't he?" Ryuzaki Shin put down his teacup, looked at him, and said in a calm tone, "The fact that you came to this hospital today to visit Tsukumo means you've already formed a partnership with him, right?"
Upon hearing this, Amber's pupils suddenly constricted, and an unconcealable look of shock appeared on his face!
He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Ryuzaki Shin.
"You... were monitoring me?!"
Facing his hostile questioning, Ryuzaki Shin merely shook his head disdainfully.
"Monitoring you? Amber, you're joking." Ryuzaki Shin's voice carried a hint of mockery, "To put it bluntly, you currently only possess powerful combat ability, with no territory or influence. Don't you know? When you're out in the world, the most important thing is your background! What's the use of just being able to fight?"
"It's just that my people happened to discover your whereabouts while searching for a hostile force."
Ryuzaki Shin's words were half-truths.
But Amber couldn't find any fault in them.
Although the words were a bit rough, the logic was sound.
After Ryuzaki Shin's "love education" last night, he was no longer the hot-headed youth who would explode at the slightest provocation.
"Stop beating around the bush, just tell me what you want."
Seeing this, Ryuzaki Shin smiled and no longer played games with him.
"Then let me introduce myself first. My name is Ryuzaki Shin, the true leader of the S.W.O.R.D. District, and the president of the True Dragon Society."
After saying this, Ryuzaki Shin said no more, merely picked up his teacup and quietly watched him.
Some things only needed to be hinted at.
Amber wasn't a fool.
When the information about "Lee," "Kowloon Group," and "True Dragon Society President" were connected, everything made sense!
That guy named Lee wanted to invade the S.W.O.R.D. District.
And it was not surprising that Ryuzaki Shin, as the current leader of the S.W.O.R.D. District, would track him down and then follow the clues to find himself, who had been in contact with Lee.
Amber's original intention was actually just to temporarily pretend to cooperate with Lee, and after using his influence and forces to gradually reclaim the territory that originally belonged to S.W.O.R.D., he would then take over himself and restore MUGEN's former glory.
Then he would avenge his close friend Tatsuya and launch a full-scale counterattack against the entire Kowloon Group!
Thinking of this, Amber glanced again at the man in front of him, who was much younger than himself.
This person... had terrifyingly strong combat power.
His greatest reliance, all this time, wasn't it his proud combat ability?
However, he couldn't even overcome this man in front of him.
Moreover, Ryuzaki Shin had just said that he had already taken control of the entire S.W.O.R.D. District.
Given the demeanor and strength this young man had just displayed, he should not be lying about such things.
That also proved that the influence the other party possessed was equally powerful.
At this moment, Amber's heart couldn't help but feel a hint of wavering and despondency.
He couldn't defeat Ryuzaki Shin.
The other party's influence was also so vast.
God knew if there were other unknown powerhouses hidden under his command.
Even if he brought the Century Warriors and those people from DOUBT, he probably... most likely wouldn't win.
Could it be... could it be that he really had to face the behemoth Kowloon Group alone to avenge Tatsuya?
This was simply a fantasy.
Ryuzaki Shin quietly watched the constantly changing emotions on Amber's face, from unwillingness to struggle, and finally to helplessness.
He knew that this once arrogant man in front of him, it seemed... was no longer so rampant.
Reason seemed to have finally regained control.
It seemed that for people who were proud to the bone, it was necessary to first give them a good beating, to thoroughly bring them back from their illusory fantasies to the cruel reality.
This way, many of the arguments he had prepared earlier would be unnecessary.
Things had become simpler instead.
"Amber, after all, we're adults, and I'm sure you can figure out many things yourself." Ryuzaki Shin continued, "That guy named Lee, his background is a gang from Sakura Country (Japan), and he only came to Sakura Country (Japan) to try his luck after failing to make it in his own country."
"To cooperate with a loser like this stray dog to deal with the entire Kowloon Group... is nothing but a pipe dream."
Amber, upon hearing this, should have been shocked.
How did he know... that his ultimate goal was to deal with the Kowloon Group?
But this thought just flashed through his mind, and he immediately felt relieved.
Given the influence and intelligence capabilities the other party had displayed, he had probably already investigated everything about him, inside and out.
"Ryuzaki Shin, what exactly do you want to say?"
Ryuzaki Shin took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tossed one to Amber and one to Tsukumo, and then lit one for himself.
Amber took the cigarette, silently lit it, and lowered his head without speaking.
Ryuzaki Shin took a deep drag and slowly exhaled the smoke.
"Amber, you should also be aware that our True Dragon Society's development in the south of the city has reached a bottleneck, and the Kowloon Group has long coveted my territory. Therefore, a war between our True Dragon Society and the Kowloon Group is inevitable; it's a never-ending situation between me and the people of the Kowloon Group."
Amber still kept his head down, silently smoking without responding.
Ryuzaki Shin no longer bothered with him, extinguished his cigarette, stood up, and walked in front of him, looking down at him.
"Amber, join us. Although the source of our hatred for the Kowloon Group is different, our ultimate goal is the same."
Ryuzaki Shin slowly extended his hand.
"Now, give me your answer..."
Night fell over Sannoh Street.
Under the dim streetlights, two men wearing masks stood silently, their figures casting long shadows.
Across from them was the ITOKAN Restaurant.
These two men were Ryuzaki Shin and Cobra.
The soft light emanating from the restaurant illuminated the cozy scene inside.
It was late, almost closing time, and there were no longer any customers in the establishment.
Naomi, wearing an apron, was meticulously wiping glasses behind the bar, while the Bishoujo Gokurakutou girls helped her tidy up and clean.
Their joyful laughter occasionally drifted out from the restaurant, adding a touch of warmth to the night street.
Naomi
Cobra quietly watched the busy figure through the clear glass.
For some reason, tears welled up in his eyes, and his vision blurred.
In the hazy light, he seemed to… see Tatsuya's figure again… Ryuzaki Shin caught a glimpse of Cobra's distress out of the corner of his eye, but felt nothing in particular.
Reality, after all, was not some hot-blooded novel.
Everyone was human, and humans had emotions.
Everyone had one or two soft spots in their hearts that they absolutely did not want anyone to touch.
Tatsuya was Naomi's older brother.
Tatsuya and Naomi's parents passed away early, and the two siblings had relied on each other since childhood, enduring many hardships.
Precisely because they often went hungry as children, their biggest wish when they were young was to open their own restaurant, where they could cook whatever they wanted and never go hungry again.
Therefore, one reason Tatsuya left Mugen back then was that as he grew older, he felt he should return to a normal life.
Another, and the most important, reason was to fulfill the shared wish of the siblings.
At that time, Tatsuya's money was barely enough to take over the shop, with nothing left for renovations.
Naomi's ITOKAN Restaurant was built by Tatsuya, Yamato, Cobra, and of course, Cobra himself, all working together, brick by brick, nail by nail, renovating it with their own hands.
It could be said that this small restaurant carried the purest and most beautiful memories of Mugen's early days.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his slightly trembling shoulders, silently took a clean tissue from his pocket, and offered it to him.
Cobra hesitated for a moment but still reached out and took the tissue, then turned his back to the restaurant and roughly wiped away the tears on his face.
"Sorry… for showing weakness."
Ryuzaki Shin shook his head, not looking down on him, but rather holding him in higher regard.
A man does not easily shed tears unless he has reached the point of deepest sorrow.
How could a man who dared not weep for a close friend claim to be a pillar of strength?
Ryuzaki Shin put his hands back in his pockets and said softly.
"Won't you go in and see her? I think Naomi would be very happy to see you now."
Hearing Ryuzaki Shin's words, Cobra's gaze became somewhat evasive.
"No… no." He shook his head, "Naomi is doing very well now, I… won't disturb her life. Thank you for taking care of her."
Before coming here, Ryuzaki Shin had, of course, already told Cobra about Naomi's recent situation, including some of the things he had done for her.
Tatsuya's sister was now living in Ryuzaki Shin's territory and was doing very well.
Both emotionally and logically, Cobra's tone naturally softened compared to before.
Of course, more importantly, he would not, and had no face to, see Naomi until he had achieved his goal of avenging Tatsuya.
Cobra's reason for coming here with Ryuzaki Shin today was not just to see from afar if Naomi was doing well.
He saw that Sannoh Street was now more prosperous and orderly compared to the past.
Cobra held Ryuzaki Shin in even higher regard.
This man was genuinely dedicated to developing this area, unlike other gangsters who only knew how to engage in shady dealings to accumulate wealth.
Just then, Cobra's phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
Cobra took a deep breath, composed himself, and then answered the call.
The person on the other end seemed to say something.
After listening, Cobra simply responded in a low voice.
"I'll be there right away."
After hanging up, he looked up at Ryuzaki Shin.
"I have a meeting with the Iemura-kai tonight."
Ryuzaki Shin simply nodded faintly upon hearing this, indicating he knew and said nothing more.
Cobra turned back and took one last look at Naomi's restaurant.
At this moment, the lights in the restaurant had been turned off.
After Naomi locked the door and waved goodbye to the Bishoujo Gokurakutou girls, she hummed a tune and walked alone towards home.
Naomi
As she passed the two figures under the streetlight, her steps paused slightly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
Seeing this scene, Cobra's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned his head away, not daring to look anymore.
Naomi just looked at them with some confusion, not thinking much of it, and quickly turned and left.
It wasn't until Naomi's figure completely disappeared around the street corner that Cobra's tense body slowly relaxed.
He turned his head and looked at Ryuzaki Shin again, with a hint of struggle and hesitation in his eyes.
"Can I… truly trust you?"
Ryuzaki Shin smiled at him.
"You know what, Cobra? We two actually have something in common."
A hint of confusion appeared in Cobra's eyes.
Ryuzaki Shin did not keep him guessing, simply stating calmly.
"We are both strong, and true strong people disdain lying to the weak."
Cobra was startled at first, then suddenly burst into a hearty laugh.
This guy still had the nerve to tease him at a time like this.
"Haha… Hahahahaha! Well said!"
As he laughed, the expression on his face gradually became serious.
Cobra extended his hand towards Ryuzaki Shin.
"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Cobra."
Ryuzaki Shin also laughed heartily as he looked at him.
He also extended his hand, firmly grasping the other's calloused hand.
"My name is Ryuzaki Shin."
...One hour later, Ryubi Building.
The atmosphere in the top-floor conference room was even heavier and more oppressive than usual.
All the high-ranking members of the Iemura-kai were gathered there.
But everyone was silent, their gaze fixed on the closed door of the conference room, as if waiting for something.
Ryubi, sitting at the head of the table, glanced at the watch on his wrist.
It was exactly ten o'clock at night.
Just then, the conference room door slowly opened.
Three people walked in nonchalantly.
The one in the very middle was Cobra.
He was still wearing his signature black leather jacket and sat down with a confident stride.
Behind him, on either side, the white-haired, sinister man Li and the recovered Tsukumo stood silently with their hands in their pockets.
(Left) Li (Middle) Cobra (Right) Tsukumo
Ryubi looked up, a complex, unreadable glint in his eyes.
Ryubi
"Thank you for coming, Cobra…"
Amber sat silently in his chair, merely scanning the Iemura-kai members present with a cold gaze.
The atmosphere in the conference room became extremely oppressive.
Finally, Ishii, who was seated below Ryubi, grew impatient. He frowned, pulled a cigarette from his pack, lit it with a lighter, and then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke before speaking to Amber.
Ishii
"Hey, Amber, don't be so intimidating! Since you invited us here today to discuss cooperation, you should show the proper attitude. We all have high expectations for you."
Kawada, sitting on the other side, slowly twirled a string of prayer beads in his hand, narrowed his eyes, and put on a fake smile, feigning praise.
Kawada
"Amber, it seems you're preparing to restore MUGEN's former glory. Since that's the case, let's stop beating around the bush and talk directly about the S.W.O.R.D. District."
Amber looked at these so-called Kowloon Group executives, each one sanctimonious and hypocritical, and a cold sneer formed in his heart.
He thought for a moment before asking,
"Isn't your Iemura-kai determined to seize the S.W.O.R.D. territory? Why have you always needed to rely on external help?"
Hearing Amber's words, which carried a clear hint of sarcasm, Ryubi, seated at the head of the table, felt a touch of bitterness.
This evening's meeting was indeed initiated by Amber's side, and the topic was precisely to discuss how to take over the S.W.O.R.D. District.
In fact, he had always wanted to know why Amber, the former king of the S.W.O.R.D. District, would suddenly offer to help them take over S.W.O.R.D.
He always felt there was something fishy going on.
However, there was no time left for him to investigate slowly.
The deadline set by the Kowloon Group headquarters was drawing nearer.
So, even if he knew there might be some conspiracy, he could only brace himself and proceed one step at a time.
No matter the method, the immediate priority was to conquer the S.W.O.R.D. District, this tough nut to crack!
Ryubi interlaced his fingers and placed them on the conference table, his sharp eyes fixed on Amber.
Ryubi
"The 'Anti-Gang Law' is much more troublesome than we imagined. A group like our Kowloon Group, no matter how glamorous it appears on the surface, once it truly steps into the spotlight, it becomes completely exposed to the government's scrutiny. There are many things we no longer dare to make big moves on, leaving us completely constrained."
The so-called "Anti-Gang Law" was an act promulgated by the Sakura Country (Japan) government a few years ago.
Its full name is "Act on Measures to Prevent Unjust Acts by Gang Members."
This act explicitly defined organized, violent-prone groups as "designated violent groups" and strictly restricted various actions of their members.
For example, it prohibited gang members from forcibly demanding protection money, participating in bids, or coercing civilians, among other things.
Once discovered, they would not only face hefty fines but could even be directly arrested.
More importantly, this act also granted the police greater power to search the offices of "designated violent groups" and monitor their financial flows.
Therefore, for a massive organization like the Kowloon Group, which had already "washed clean and gone ashore," stepping into the public eye sometimes became a huge restriction.
Every move you make is under the government's watchful eye.
It's absolutely impossible to operate like the yakuza of the past, unrestrained and reckless.
It is precisely for this reason that the Iemura-kai has always spared no effort in finding various "black hands" that can be used externally.
Just like the "temporary workers" of large corporations, they are made to do all the dirty and arduous work, and once something goes wrong, responsibility can be shirked cleanly at the first opportunity.
Kawada took over the conversation at this opportune moment.
"Amber, as long as you can help us take over the S.W.O.R.D. District, money is not an issue, no matter how much you want."
Ishii also took a deep drag from his cigarette, his face plastered with a fake smile.
"That's right, as long as you're willing to join our Iemura-kai, money, women, power... everything you desire, we can get it for you."
Hearing these false promises, Tsukumo, standing behind Amber, looked down at Amber, recalling the instructions Amber had given him earlier.
He suddenly scoffed, taking a disdainful step forward.
"Heh heh, you guys, your condescending attitude is truly amusing. If you want our help, just ask us directly. Stop with this damn hypocrisy; it's disgusting to watch!"
Tsukumo
Kirinji, sitting to the side, suddenly scowled upon hearing this.
What the hell!
Who is this guy?!
So arrogant?!
How could he miss this excellent opportunity to show his loyalty in front of all the big brothers!
"Baka! You bastard! Who do you think you are, daring to spout such nonsense here—"
Kirinji slammed his hand on the table and strode towards Tsukumo.
Kirinji
But then, his vision suddenly blurred!
Tsukumo casually reached out, swift as lightning, and directly grabbed Kirinji's neck!
Then, like lifting a small chicken, he hoisted Kirinji up and slammed him heavily onto the hard solid wood conference table in front of them!
"Boom—!!!"
A loud bang!
Kirinji didn't even have time to let out a scream before he instantly lost consciousness, his eyes rolling back. He slid off the table like a rag doll, collapsing to the floor, completely knocked out.
Seeing this scene, all the Iemura-kai executives, though outwardly still as steady as mountains, instantly had their expressions turn grim.
This was clearly a slap in the face to all of them!
Li, standing on Amber's other side, also felt a surge of speechlessness.
What's the meaning of this?
This meeting was arranged by him.
His goal was merely to further lower the Iemura-kai's guard and see if he could gain any more benefits.
After all, the Iemura-kai, this juicy piece of meat, was also one of his targets.
But Tsukumo's way of talking, wasn't it going to completely derail the whole situation?
He quickly forced a fake smile and, with a flippant tone, said to Tsukumo,
Li
"Oh dear, I told you not to bring idiots. Look, now how can we even talk about cooperation? Honestly..."
Just as the atmosphere in the reception room was about to drop to freezing point, Amber, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"How much money are you willing to pay?"
When money was mentioned, Ryubi, Ishii, and Kawada exchanged glances.
Then, Ryubi slowly extended one finger.
"Haha, don't worry, don't worry. When it comes to money, our Iemura-kai will definitely not shortchange you."
"Ten billion! As long as you can help us take over S.W.O.R.D., ten billion Japanese yen will be transferred to your account on time."
Hearing this figure, Amber suddenly propped both his feet up on the conference table in front of him, leaned back in his chair, and looked at them with extreme arrogance.
Amber
"You should have investigated the current situation in the S.W.O.R.D. District, right? Now, that place has been taken over by an organization called the True Dragon Society. You wouldn't be unaware of this, would you?"
Ryubi's expression suddenly changed.
How could they not know!
The news they had received these days was that the True Dragon Society, which had appeared out of nowhere, had, with overwhelming force, almost overnight, swallowed up all the territory in S.W.O.R.D. except for Nameless Street!
And their Iemura-kai had received no prior warning or intelligence!
This was Ryuzaki Shin's brilliance.
If he had grandiosely attacked the S.W.O.R.D. factions one by one, he would likely have immediately alerted the Iemura-kai as soon as he took down one.
The Iemura-kai would certainly not have waited until now to become so anxious.
Ryuzaki Shin's deployments were all carried out quietly in secret.
Then, at the most crucial moment, they erupted in an instant, bringing all the territory in the S.W.O.R.D. District, except for Nameless Street, under his control!
By the time the Iemura-kai received the news, the situation was already decided, and they had lost the best opportunity to intervene!
That's why they were so anxious.
Amber looked at the grim expressions of everyone in the conference room and smiled.
"That True Dragon Society is a true powerful force from across the river; its strength is unfathomable. Taking them down is not a simple matter."
"Ten billion? Are you trying to fob off beggars?"
Nikaido finally couldn't sit still.
"What exactly do you want to say?!"
Amber looked at his face, his expression becoming even more playful.
"My meaning... is very simple."
"Raise the price!"
Ryubi looked at the unruly man in front of him, not wanting to continue arguing over such a meaningless issue.
He leaned back in his chair, his voice tinged with impatience.
"Just tell me directly, how much money do you want?"
Upon hearing this, Amber slowly extended a finger.
"Ten billion."
"Pfft—!"
Kawada, who was sitting next to Ryubi, had just taken a sip of tea when he heard this number and suddenly spat it out, spilling tea all over the conference table.
Ten billion?!
This Amber really dared to ask for that much!
Had he ever seen that much money in his life?!
Did he think that much money was like used toilet paper?!
However, Amber's next words shocked everyone present even more.
"And, I want fifty billion of that ten billion upfront, with the remaining balance to be paid after the task is completed."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only did the high-ranking members of the Iemura-kai show surprise, but even Li, who had been standing behind Amber, playing the role of an "ally," was shocked.
This... this was completely different from the script he had agreed upon with Amber beforehand!
He had only instructed Amber to find a way to get some necessary support from the Iemura-kai first.
Whether it was people or money, every little bit helped.
But... he hadn't asked for that much money!
In the conference room, the members of the Iemura-kai were already stirring, and several of them looked at Amber with undisguised killing intent.
Just then, Ryubi, who had been silent, slowly raised his hand.
With just a simple gesture, the entire conference room instantly fell silent again.
Ryubi stared intently at Amber.
Their gazes collided in the air, as if invisible sparks were flashing.
After more than ten seconds, Ryubi's voice was chillingly cold.
"Mr. Amber, you should know the consequences of playing games with our Iemura-kai. Although we are now constrained by the 'Anti-Violence Law,' it's still easy to make a few people disappear completely from this world."
Upon hearing these words, the image of Tatsuya's tragic death uncontrollably flashed in Amber's mind.
He took a deep look at Nikaido, who was not far away.
Under his cold gaze, Nikaido felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
But Amber quickly remembered the task Ryuzaki Shin had given him. He took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions, and then looked at Ryubi, speaking word by word.
"I'll give you one minute to consider."
Ryubi's heart was also in a fierce struggle.
At this point, bargaining was no longer necessary.
It was either agree or break off negotiations.
The fifty billion advance payment... he wasn't unable to produce it.
However, even with the financial resources of the Iemura-kai, coming up with such a large amount of cash all at once was a bit troublesome.
And this price was actually what Ryuzaki Shin had instructed Amber to ask for in advance.
Asking for too little would be meaningless and wouldn't reflect their value.
Asking for too much, on the other hand, would push the other party too hard and be counterproductive.
It had to be a price that was neither too high nor too low, a price that would make the other party feel the pinch but still be acceptable, in order to maximize profit.
Moreover, Ryuzaki Shin had also calculated that the Iemura-kai didn't have much time left.
At this critical juncture, they could only act desperately, with not many options.
Time passed by second by second.
Finally, Ryubi spoke.
"At most... we can give you a thirty billion advance payment in one lump sum. This is our bottom line."
Ryubi immediately stated his bottom line.
He didn't want to, and wasn't willing to, continue to dwell on this issue.
In his opinion, Amber definitely had the strength to conquer the S.W.O.R.D. District.
As long as he succeeded, the returns their Iemura-kai would receive in the future would be far more than hundreds of billions.
A mere hundred billion in remuneration was insignificant in the face of such enormous profits.
Furthermore... even if thirty billion was given out now, after the task was completed, this Amber would still need to be alive to spend it.
At that time, with a few tricks, wouldn't all this money flow back into his own pocket obediently?
Upon hearing this offer, Amber couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
That kid Ryuzaki Shin... was like a monster, calculating everything perfectly!
The thirty billion offer Ryubi had just given was almost exactly what he had estimated!
Amber no longer procrastinated.
"As expected of the Chairman, you have courage." He took his feet off the conference table and slowly stood up, "Deal."
Ryubi showed a forced smile.
"In that case, please begin your operation against S.W.O.R.D. as soon as possible. We will prepare the thirty billion within a week..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Amber had slowly stood up and walked directly towards Ryubi.
Seeing his movement, all the Iemura-kai members in the conference room instantly tensed up, several of them even reaching into their jackets.
Ryubi, however, just waved his hand dismissively, signaling them not to be nervous.
Amber walked directly to Ryubi's seat, patted him on the shoulder, and then leaned in to his ear.
"I only want this money in cash, and I want it tonight."
"Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss..."
...An hour later, downstairs from the Iemura-kai building.
Two black vans were parked quietly by the roadside.
Several Iemura-kai members were laboriously carrying heavy black briefcases out of the building and placing them into the back of the vans.
Ryubi, Ishii, and Kawada stood by, quietly watching.
Ishii and Kawada's faces were filled with expressions of pain over the money.
These thirty billion were contributed by the three high-ranking members, ten billion each.
Although this amount wasn't a huge sum that would cripple them, seeing it given away for nothing still felt like a knife twisting in their hearts.
In comparison, Ryubi was much more composed.
As long as Amber could get things done, greed was actually a good thing.
If the other party didn't ask for anything, he would actually have to doubt whether he would do a good job.
Amber leaned against the car door, quietly smoking, watching all the money boxes being loaded into the car before nodding.
At this moment, Ryubi walked over.
"Amber, a pleasant cooperation. Since we have agreed to your terms, then you... shouldn't you also..."
Amber, of course, knew what this old fox wanted to say, which was nothing more than to get him to act quickly.
He took a puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke.
"Don't worry, you'll see the results tomorrow."
Ryubi impatiently waved his hand to disperse the smoke in front of him and said coldly.
"I hope so."
Then, he led his subordinates back to the Ryubi Building in a grand procession.
After seeing the Iemura-kai members leave, Li immediately walked forward, clapping his hands cheerfully.
"As expected of you, Amber! You just made a move and got thirty billion from those old guys! I think we should split this money equally, half for you and half for me, what do you say?"
Just then, Amber gave Tsukumo a look from behind him.
Tsukumo understood immediately and, without a word, pulled open the car door, got into one of the vans filled with money, started the engine, and drove away.
Amber then turned his head and gave a cold look to Li, who was still smiling.
"This money was earned by my own ability; it has nothing to do with you."
Li's smile instantly froze.
Amber continued mercilessly.
"Remember, our deal is merely to help you take down S.W.O.R.D.; everything else is none of your business."
After saying this, Amber also pulled open the door of the other van, got in, and then sped away with a foot on the accelerator.
The cold night wind ruffled Li's conspicuous white hair.
He pulled out the exquisite dagger from his jacket, performed a beautiful flourish with it in his hand, and a cold arc curved at the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting..."
...Karasumachi, in front of Shinryu Credit.
Two black vans were parked side by side on the roadside.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Amber, who had gotten out of the car, and after understanding the general situation, he said with a smile.
"Congratulations, Amber, you've hit the jackpot! With this money, your life will surely improve immediately."
Amber also rarely smiled upon hearing this.
He walked to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and only took one briefcase from it.
"All the rest of this money is yours. After all, the main pressure of facing the Kowloon Group will still be on you in the future."
"I'm not young anymore. This one case of money is enough for me to get Tatsuya a better burial plot."
Ryuzaki Shin was also slightly stunned upon hearing this.
Thirty billion was definitely not a small sum for him.
Today happened to be the time to collect the monthly payments.
The reason he hadn't returned home so late was that he was at Shinryu Credit, accompanying Xiao You and Nanako in settling the monthly accounts.
What he didn't expect was that the monthly payments collected this month, plus Shinryu Credit's own profits, added up to a staggering forty billion!
Of course, this forty billion wasn't pure profit; after deducting some basic employee expenses and operating costs, the final net profit was just over thirty billion.
Amber's "gift" was too generous.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Amber.
"Amber, this money..."
Ryuzaki Shin did like money, but he couldn't accept this particular sum.
Just then, Amber waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Naomi is living very happily now, and Tsukumo has fully awakened under your care. These things are far more precious to me than any money. There's no need to say anything more, after all, this money can achieve greater value when it's with you."
"If you really feel bad about it, just buy me a few more drinks in the future."
After saying this, Amber and Tsukumo said no more, turned and mounted their motorcycles, and sped away with a roar.
Ryuzaki Shin smiled as he watched their figures disappear into the night.
Amber, that guy, still didn't want to owe him a favor.
This person was truly a tsundere through and through.
But it's fine.
Taking this money wouldn't be a problem either.
There was one thing Amber said that was correct.
This money, in his hands, would definitely be able to achieve greater value.
It seemed it was time to initiate the next step of the plan ahead of schedule.
Thinking this, Ryuzaki Shin turned around and re-entered the brightly lit Shinryu Credit.
Inside the Shinryu Credit conference room, Sasaki Yu, Nanako, and Kirisawa Jin all had expressions of disbelief and shock on their faces.
Originally, the enormous income of four billion this month had already made them excited enough.
Especially Nanako, when she saw Ryuzaki Shin's career flourishing, for some unknown reason, her heart would inexplicably feel happy and proud.
And now, Ryuzaki Shin casually mentioned that another three billion in cash had been delivered... This meant that the True Dragon Society's available funds had reached an unprecedented figure!
While Nanako and Kirisawa Jin were still immersed in shock, Sasaki Yu, who was beside them, had already calmed down.
He directly said, "Shin-nii, we must find a way now to make this huge sum of money 'active' and not let it just sit idly in the accounts."
Ryuzaki Shin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
Oh?
It seems Xiao You has some ideas?
He gestured for Xiao You to continue.
Sasaki Yu had been serving as the True Dragon Society's Finance Dragon General for quite some time now.
He had long shed his initial naivety and inexperience, exuding an air of decisive competence in every movement, and speaking with gravitas.
"My sister mentioned something to me a while ago; it seems an urban redevelopment bill for the S.W.O.R.D. District has already been passed within the government."
Ryuzaki Shin's expression showed no surprise upon hearing this.
This was his advantage as a transmigrator.
The Iemura-kai's lack of progress in the S.W.O.R.D. District meant that the old guys from the Kowloon Group naturally wouldn't wait for their complete failure before making their next move.
The "Anti-Gang Law" had tied their hands on the "dark" side, so since the dark side wasn't working, they might as well play the "white" side.
Ryuzaki Shin knew perfectly well that the true driving force behind this so-called redevelopment bill was the Kowloon Group.
It was just that the bill was still in a confidential stage and had not yet been fully announced or implemented.
Xiao You continued, "If this bill is truly passed and implemented, then the government will, in the next step, officially and forcibly repurchase all shops and land titles in the entire S.W.O.R.D. District."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded knowingly.
To put it plainly, wasn't it just demolition?
At that time, the government would provide compensation, and all the original residents and businesses would be forced to move out.
Xiao You's eyes grew sharper.
"So, what we need to do now is seize the initiative! Utilize the abundant funds we have to quickly acquire all property rights and land deeds in the S.W.O.R.D. District before the bill is officially announced!"
"I've roughly calculated that if we were to acquire all property rights in the entire S.W.O.R.D. District, our current liquid funds would still be insufficient."
"However, if we only acquire the most core areas, it would be more than enough!"
Ryuzaki Shin nodded in approval upon hearing this.
Xiao You truly was a business genius; he had almost overlooked this aspect.
Right now, it might seem like he had occupied the territories of the four major forces in S.W.O.R.D. District, but most of the shops and properties there were essentially leased.
Once the government's redevelopment bill was officially enacted, the commercial foundation he had painstakingly built during this period would essentially be completely undermined and reset to zero.
Thinking of this, Ryuzaki Shin no longer hesitated; he turned to look at Kirisawa Jin.
"Starting tomorrow, deploy all True Dragon Society members to acquire all land titles in the S.W.O.R.D. District as quickly as possible! This matter cannot be delayed; I'm only giving you three days!"
"In these three days, I don't care what methods you use, whether it's coercion or enticement. If necessary, you can employ some extraordinary means. If you really encounter some stubborn boneheads who don't know their place, make their entire family disappear from this world! I don't care what methods you use, I only care about the results!"
Sometimes, when you need to be ruthless, you must be ruthless.
Hesitation in decisive moments only leads to trouble!
Kirisawa Jin's expression became stern upon hearing this, and he nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Boss!!!"
Just then, Xiao You, who was beside them, couldn't help but yawn.
Ryuzaki Shin smiled at this, and his tone softened.
"Alright, it's getting late, everyone should go back and rest. Xiao You, you've worked hard recently. Oh, and please say hello to your sister for me."
Ryuzaki Shin had chatted with Xiao You privately a few times during this period.
He learned that the other party's family had actually sold all their assets in Tokyo and moved the entire family to the small city of Toyaru City.
Although Xiao You himself wasn't very clear about the inside story, he roughly knew it was related to political struggles.
But what Ryuzaki Shin saw was the unimaginably vast cash flow that the Sasaki Family now held!
All assets in Tokyo, completely sold off?
My goodness!
This was precisely the peak period of the bubble economy!
How much money must that be?
Ryuzaki Shin didn't even dare to imagine.
He also felt that the Sasaki Family had really gotten lucky this time.
In a few more years, the bubble economy would completely burst.
The fact that they could withdraw in time, you could say it was truly a great thing.
Ryuzaki Shin was, of course, also pondering that there might be opportunities for cooperation with the Sasaki Family in the future.
His vast territory in the southern part of the city would soon all come under his control.
But the southern city area had extremely backward infrastructure; to truly develop it, extensive and bold reconstruction would be necessary.
Just thinking about it, even with the profits from the diamonds beneath Nameless Street, it would likely be far from enough.
At that time, if he could cooperate with the Sasaki Family, it might not be a bad win-win choice.
As long as the initiative remained firmly in his hands.
After Xiao You and Kirisawa Jin bid farewell to Ryuzaki Shin, they left together.
In the spacious office, only Nanako and Ryuzaki Shin were left.
The atmosphere was a little awkward.
This was one of the few times the two of them had been alone.
Just then, Ryuzaki Shin spoke.
"Nanako, wait a moment."
As Ryuzaki Shin spoke, he walked to a bookshelf in the office and pressed a few times on it. A hidden compartment slowly opened.
From inside, he took out an exquisite gift box that looked somewhat heavy.
Ryuzaki Shin pushed the box towards Nanako.
"You've worked so hard this month; it's a great achievement. Here's a small gift for you."
Nanako looked at Ryuzaki Shin, then at the gift box in front of her, and carefully opened the box.
The moment the box opened, a dazzling golden light almost blinded her eyes!
Nanako recognized it at a glance; it was a set of jewelry made of pure gold!
Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings—everything was there!
No woman could resist such sparkling things!
Ryuzaki Shin noticed the undisguised delight and shock on Nanako's face.
"How is it? I told you long ago that if you follow me and work hard, you will definitely not be treated unfairly."
After hearing Ryuzaki Shin's words, Nanako always felt that his tone inexplicably resembled a creepy uncle trying to trick an innocent young girl.
She only took one look at the craftsmanship and weight of the jewelry set and knew that it must be outrageously expensive.
Nanako looked up, watching Ryuzaki Shin with a wary expression.
"You... you're giving me this, you're not trying to... take advantage of me, are you?"
Ryuzaki Shin: "..."
...At the entrance of Shinryu Credit.
Ryuzaki Shin couldn't help but sigh, a woman's strength truly fluctuates.
With Nanako's small frame, she could actually carry such a heavy gift box and walk as if flying.
Ryuzaki Shin straddled his harley and patted the back seat.
"Let's go, let's go home together."
Nanako was inherently a bit of a money-lover, and receiving such a valuable gift of this caliber put her in a great mood.
Holding the gift box, she stood in place and tilted her chin at Ryuzaki Shin.
"Then you have to say, 'Princess, please board the carriage.'"
Ryuzaki Shin was speechless again.
Why was Nanako, like Junko, sometimes so shocking with her words?
"...Princess, please board the carriage."
Nanako saw Ryuzaki Shin say it half-heartedly, frowned, and said discontentedly.
"No, no, your attitude needs to be more sincere!"
Ryuzaki Shin had completely lost his patience now.
"Get on or don't. You can take a taxi home yourself."
Nanako grew anxious upon hearing this, quickly hugged the box, and plopped onto the back seat of the motorcycle, even reaching out to lightly pat Ryuzaki Shin's shoulder a few times.
"Hey! Why are you so sensitive to teasing?"
...The next day at noon, Nameless Street.
A group of RUDE BOYS was on a routine patrol in the district.
Suddenly!
"Boom—!!!"
A dazzling fire suddenly erupted from a temporary shantytown not far away!
Immediately after, a huge explosion echoed throughout Nameless Street!
Before people could react, a chain reaction occurred!
Explosion after explosion rang out across the entire district!
Dilapidated tents and crude wooden houses were instantly engulfed by flames!
Black smoke, mixed with a pungent odor, soared into the sky!
The entire street instantly descended into chaos!
People screamed, cried, and fled in all directions!
Amidst this chaos, three pitch-black large trucks suddenly roared in from three different directions of Nameless Street, like steel beasts!
The trucks screeched to a halt, their cargo doors opened, and hundreds of menacing men, armed with clubs, leaped out!
As soon as these men got down, they said nothing and charged directly at the fleeing crowds!
Their targets were only women and children!
They brutally grabbed the panicked women and children, dragging them like cargo, and forcibly abducted them into the truck compartments!
These people were precisely DOUBT, the evil organization entrenched in the Bayshore Area, specializing in trafficking women and children, and even organizing prostitution!
A somewhat thin bald man stood on top of a truck, looking at the chaotic scene below, and shouted loudly.
"All of you, hurry up and be efficient! Once the trucks are full, leave immediately! It'll be trouble if those damn ghosts from Nameless Street show up!"
This man was Takano, the leader of DOUBT.
Another man with messy long hair and sinister eyes was also loudly directing from the side.
"Only young and pretty ones! Don't bother with the old and ugly! Damn it, hurry up!"
This man was Hirai, the second-in-command of DOUBT.
The entire Nameless Street, at this moment, seemed to have turned into a living hell.
By the time the RUDE BOYS arrived after hearing the news, everything... was already too late.
The three trucks had long since sped away.
Takano sat in the departing truck, looking back at the street engulfed in flames, a mocking smile on his face.
Smoky stood amidst the devastation, listening to the cries of women and children around him, and looking at the burned-down homes, his expression slowly darkened...
...Nameless Street, second floor of an abandoned building.
Amber stood quietly beside Ryuzaki Shin, looking at the hellish scene below, a flicker of unbearable emotion in his eyes.
"Does it really... have to go to this extent?"
Although those who were abducted would eventually be rescued.
However, this tragic sight still caused a trace of wavering in his heart.
And all of this was precisely what Ryuzaki Shin had personally instructed him to have DOUBT do.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the chaotic street below and shook his head.
"Sometimes, you have to take drastic measures. The Kowloon Group is already eyeing the S.W.O.R.D. District, and we must unify this place completely as quickly as possible! I don't have that much time to play house with that Smoky anymore."
"Moreover, doing this will also give you a good explanation to the Iemura-kai. After all, you've already put on a show."
"Don't worry about those who were abducted; send people to keep a close watch. I will rescue all of them, not one less, by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Amber took a deep breath upon hearing this.
He could probably guess Ryuzaki Shin's intention in doing this.
Now, the two of them were on the same side.
The other party was right; to achieve great things, one must not be bothered by minor details.
Thinking of this, Amber gave a self-deprecating smile.
"It seems it's time for you, the 'savior,' to make your appearance. I should also go and prepare for the next step."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded, put on his mask, and leaped directly from the second floor...
The RUDE BOYS stood amidst the ruins, surrounded by an unending chorus of wails and cries.
Their former homes were reduced to scorched earth, the air thick with the smell of burning and the coppery scent of blood, acrid and sickening.
They stood motionless for a long time, everything before their eyes weighing heavily on their hearts.
Smoky's fists were clenched tight, his nails digging deep into the flesh of his palms, yet he felt no pain.
Blood slowly seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the rubble at his feet, spreading a small, dark red stain.
"Your dreams are too big, your capabilities too small."
Ryuzaki Shin's words echoed in his mind without warning, over and over again.
Smoky swayed slightly, an unprecedented sense of powerlessness sweeping over him, almost engulfing him entirely.
Yes… he was right.
What could they do now?
As far as the eye could see, Nameless Street was filled with injured people; many didn't even have shelter for the night, let alone effective treatment.
No medicine, no bandages, no clean water… nothing.
They could only watch their loved ones and friends struggle in pain, utterly helpless.
Ryuzaki Shin, perhaps… you were right.
It was I, it was us, who personally obstructed the future of Nameless Street.
Smoky shook his head vigorously, forcing his chaotic mind to clear a little.
Now was not the time for self-pity; he had to immediately participate in the rescue efforts. Save one if you can!
Just as he was about to take a step.
"Snap."
A crisp snap of fingers suddenly sounded behind him.
The sound cut through all the surrounding noise and wails, clearly reaching Smoky's ears.
He spun around abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply.
Ryuzaki Shin was standing there, a black trench coat fluttering slightly in the wind, a half-smile on his face.
"It seems you need a little help…"
...One hour later.
"All injured persons with mobility issues, please follow the signs to Zone A! Lightly injured persons who can walk on their own, please go to Zone B for bandaging!" a medical staff member in a white coat shouted into a megaphone, hoarsely directing the crowd.
Large numbers of injured people were being orderly assisted, carried on stretchers, and moved towards the outskirts of the ruins, guided by dozens of medical personnel.
Several large fire trucks had already entered the edge of Nameless Street, high-pressure water cannons spraying white dragons of water, precisely extinguishing the lingering embers.
At the same time, large numbers of True Dragon Society members, wearing black uniforms with golden dragon emblems on their backs, flooded into the district.
They showed no trace of gang ferocity, but instead silently and efficiently helped the residents here, evacuating them from dangerous dilapidated buildings and moving their few belongings.
On the open ground at the outskirts of Nameless Street, hundreds of white disaster relief tents had been densely erected at some point, like a temporary city.
Giant food trucks drove from afar and parked next to the tent area.
As the truck doors opened, the rich aroma of food instantly wafted out, rekindling a glimmer of hope in the eyes of the hungry and shaken people.
The residents of Nameless Street silently lined up, receiving steaming hot food and water from True Dragon Society members, their faces filled with bewilderment and gratitude.
La La's figure weaved through the crowd, still constantly directing and comforting everyone, her voice already hoarse.
Smoky and Ryuzaki Shin stood side by side on a high ground, quietly watching it all.
Watching the injured being properly settled, watching the hungry eat hot meals, the tension in Smoky's heart finally eased a little.
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin beside him with complex eyes, his lips moving, seemingly expecting him to say something.
If Ryuzaki Shin were to ask him to hand over Nameless Street to the True Dragon Society for management at this moment, he would probably agree.
That would be fine; it would be a transaction, and he could feel a little more at ease.
However, Ryuzaki Shin merely looked at everything before him with indifference, saying nothing and doing nothing.
Smoky was already a person not good at expressing himself; asking him to proactively surrender to Ryuzaki Shin, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
After a long silence, he still spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you…"
Ryuzaki Shin waved his hand, directly interrupting him, his tone as flat as if stating a trivial matter.
"Besides Nameless Street, the entire S.W.O.R.D. District is my territory. Whether you are willing to give Nameless Street to me in the future or not, at least for now, we are in the same boat; in a sense, we are companions."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the poor people below with numb eyes, and continued, "Moreover, I also can't stand to see so many unfortunate people displaced. For myself, it's also a matter of following my heart."
After hearing Ryuzaki Shin's words, Smoky's heart trembled, and his understanding of this person seemed to become more three-dimensional.
Following his heart?
He repeatedly chewed on these two words, and as he thought, a relieved smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Yes, since it's about following his heart… then he also knew what he most wanted to do now.
That was revenge!
To thoroughly settle accounts with those culprits!
Smoky took a deep breath, turned around, and solemnly said to Ryuzaki Shin, "I entrust these poor people of Nameless Street to you."
After saying this, he bowed deeply, his waist bent at ninety degrees.
Then, he straightened up and resolutely turned to leave.
With his movement, the core members of the RUDE BOYS also surged from all directions, silently gathering behind Smoky, their steps firm and their killing intent palpable.
"Do you need my help?"
Ryuzaki Shin's voice came from behind him.
He naturally knew what this group of people was going to do.
Smoky's steps did not stop; he merely responded loudly, "We are the demons of Nameless Street! We will repay those who harm us a hundredfold! Ryuzaki Shin, this is our own business. Thank you for your kindness."
As his voice faded, their figures gradually disappeared into the distance.
After they left, Kohaku, wearing a mask, emerged from the shadows nearby.
"If you had asked him to give Nameless Street to you just now, I feel that man wouldn't have refused."
Ryuzaki Shin smiled, a calm expression in his smile.
"Kohaku, you are right, but that's not enough. If it were truly like that, at best it would just be a transaction, and I wouldn't be able to completely control Smoky."
After saying this, his gaze fixed intently on Kohaku.
"Kohaku, do you know what the most humble yet strongest emotion between people is?"
Kohaku paused slightly, "What is it?"
The smile at the corner of Ryuzaki Shin's mouth deepened.
"That is guilt and gratitude. You should… understand it better than I do."
This sentence was like a needle prick, making Kohaku stiffen all over.
He instantly recalled his feelings for Tatsuya. Wasn't it precisely because of that unpayable guilt and gratitude towards Tatsuya that he still couldn't break free from that obsession and lived in the shadow of the past?
Kohaku suddenly burst into laughter, with a hint of self-mockery in his laugh.
"Sigh, I think from now on, I either have to stay far away from you, or tie myself tightly to you. Otherwise, if you sold someone, they would probably still be smiling and helping you count the money."
Ryuzaki Shin smiled noncommittally and shook his head.
The premise of all calculations is built upon absolute strength and power.
Without these two, any strategy is empty talk.
However, there was no need to explain these things too thoroughly to Kohaku; there were other things to do.
He put away his smile, his tone becoming serious. "Kohaku, if you're free these next two days, go alone to 'Uenokai,' another subsidiary of the Kowloon Group. Inquire about a man named Amamiya Sonryu. He has something we need: information damaging enough to take down the Kowloon Group."
Upon hearing Ryuzaki Shin speak of serious matters, Kohaku also put away his joking expression and nodded solemnly.
After a brief exchange, Kohaku turned and disappeared into the night.
After Kohaku left, Ryuzaki Shin lightly clapped his hands.
Kirisawa Jin's figure appeared beside him, bowing and awaiting orders.
Ryuzaki Shin wasted no words and directly commanded, "Kirisawa Jin, your next task is to fully investigate a person: that Li who recently contacted Kohaku. After the investigation, give me all his information. I want to set a trap and devour him, skin and bone."
Ryuzaki Shin's mind raced; he already understood Li's background.
This man's gang family was also a top-tier power in Sakura Country (Japan), a "political gang" that had deeply infiltrated politics.
But political gangs, as the ultimate form of gangs, are often accompanied by more brutal and bloody political struggles.
Li's family had clearly lost in this struggle, and to prevent a complete purge, they could only flee Sakura Country (Japan) in a hurry, seeking another way out.
What Ryuzaki Shin valued was the enormous financial power behind Li's family.
They couldn't have left Sakura Country (Japan) without taking anything out.
No matter how powerful you are in Sakura Country (Japan), once you come to Sakura Country (Japan), you are ultimately a dragon crossing the river.
It was not that difficult to deal with such a dragon whose roots had been severed.
"Yes." Kirisawa Jin nodded, his figure flashing as he silently departed.
Ryuzaki Shin turned, straddled his motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and the engine let out a low roar.
He looked in the direction where Smoky and the others had disappeared, muttering to himself.
"Smoky… don't you dare die."