Sara's originally delicate and beautiful face received a solid slap from Junko.
The immense force directly sent her flying, and she rolled several times on the ground in a sorry state before stopping.
She struggled to get up, gently touching her stinging cheek.
Her once smooth and delicate skin was now swollen, with five clear finger marks visible.
"Pah!"
Sara spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground.
No woman is indifferent to her appearance.
Especially a woman like her, who had always been extremely confident in her looks.
This slap not only shattered her pride but also ignited the most primal rage in her heart!
Sara's eyes instantly became bloodshot. She stared intently at Junko, who was not far away, and squeezed out two words through gritted teeth:
"Damn you…"
...On the other side of the battlefield.
Hayashida Megumi's tall figure was moving through the chaotic battlefield.
He walked straight towards the rear of DOUBT, not interfering with any of the surrounding fights.
Only occasionally, when some short-sighted DOUBT members swung steel pipes and came to harass him, would he casually throw a few punches and kicks, sending these bothersome minions flying like trash.
Gradually, the DOUBT members also realized that this somewhat strange giant wouldn't do anything to you as long as you didn't provoke him.
Thus, a very strange scene formed on the battlefield.
Hayashida Megumi, alone, walked through the center of the battlefield like a lion patrolling its territory.
And the DOUBT members around him, like mice seeing a cat, actively avoided him from a distance, clearing a wide path for him.
Just then, ICE also noticed this strange person who was out of place with the entire battlefield.
He swayed and instantly rushed into the True Dragon Society's crowd!
His fists were like cannonballs, his movements clean and swift. In the blink of an eye, he knocked down five strong True Dragon Society members!
After doing all this, he slowly walked up to Hayashida Megumi, extended a finger, and contemptuously beckoned to him.
As a legendary figure, ICE naturally had no interest in bullying the weak.
Furthermore, with his arrogant nature, he would never allow anyone to act more ostentatiously than him.
However, Hayashida Megumi seemed to not even see ICE, not even pausing his gaze on him for a moment, and continued his pace, walking straight past ICE.
ICE felt that he had been completely ignored!
He suddenly lifted his right leg and delivered a powerful side kick directly to Hayashida Megumi's chest!
Just as that foot was about to hit his chest, Hayashida Megumi suddenly raised his left hand and firmly grabbed ICE's ankle!
He slowly turned his head and looked coldly at ICE with his calm, unmoving eyes.
"Don't block the way."
"Heh…"
ICE sneered. He abruptly pushed off the ground with his other leg, and with the ankle grabbed by Hayashida Megumi as an axis, his entire body spun rapidly in the air. His other leg, like a steel whip, swept towards Hayashida Megumi's side face with a sharp whooshing sound!
The speed of this strike was extreme!
Hayashida Megumi had no intention of fighting, and his reaction was a beat too slow.
He only felt a pain in his cheek; ICE's kick had landed squarely on his face!
Hayashida Megumi's hand subconsciously loosened, and his tall body swayed backward, stumbling back two steps.
But it was only two steps.
He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground.
Then, he slowly raised his head, and a hint of fighting spirit finally ignited in his calm eyes.
"As you wish."
Before he finished speaking, Hayashida Megumi's fist, carrying immense power, slammed down!
ICE also wanted to test the strength of this big guy, so he likewise threw a punch to meet him!
"Bang!"
The two fists collided, emitting a dull, teeth-grinding thud!
Hayashida Megumi's tall body stood rooted to the spot, unmoving!
But ICE couldn't withstand the overwhelming force and took several steps back with a "thud! thud! thud!"
After stopping, he shook his somewhat numb arm and looked at Hayashida Megumi with a serious expression.
"Interesting…"
...At the rear of the battlefield.
In a narrow passage formed by connected shipping containers.
A group of black-clad DOUBT members were roughly dragging dozens of women and children, preparing to escort them out like cargo.
"Mommy! I'm scared…"
A young child clung tightly to his mother's leg, crying out in fear.
"Let go of me! You beasts!"
A young mother struggled fiercely, trying to protect her child, but was slapped hard to the ground by a scoundrel nearby.
Cries, curses, and desperate whimpers rose and fell, echoing through this cold steel maze, heartbreaking to hear.
La La was also among the abducted crowd.
Her face, which always wore a strong smile, was now filled with panic and helplessness as she walked forward with the flow of people.
At the end of the passage, Takano and Hirai were talking irritably.
Takano lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
"Damn it! I just went out to look, and our people… might not be able to hold on!"
Hirai's gaze swept over the women being transported out, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"What Amber, what MIGHTY WARRIORS, I think they're all unreliable as hell! Luckily that Korean guy surnamed Lee paid us in advance. Those losers outside can only give up, but these women are quite good quality. We should be able to sell them for a lot of money, so overall, we still made a profit."
Hearing Hirai's words, Takano's expression softened a little.
Yeah, if they couldn't win, couldn't they at least run?
At worst, they would take this batch of "goods" and lie low for a while, then return to Wangan later.
That damned True Dragon Society couldn't possibly stay in the East City forever, could it?
This was, after all, Kowloon Group's territory.
The reason DOUBT could thrive in East City was because they paid enough "tribute" to Kowloon Group every year.
But to ask Kowloon Group to go to war with another faction for them, that was out of the question.
What caliber were they, and what caliber was Kowloon Group?
Being given a place to stay was already pretty good.
Fortunately, Takano also understood that the True Dragon Society people were at most here for revenge, and would definitely leave eventually.
These rats living underground understood the art of survival best.
Thinking of this, Takano's mood improved greatly.
Just then, he saw a girl in the group. Although she looked a bit dirty and disheveled, her beautiful face and unique temperament couldn't be hidden.
Hirai noticed Takano's gaze, and a smile that all men understood appeared on his face.
He walked directly into the crowd, roughly pulled La La out of the line, and then, like dragging an object, pulled her in front of Takano.
Takano looked La La's pretty face up and down, which was filled with fear and anger, and laughed obscenely:
"This woman is very juicy. Once we brothers are done playing with her, she'll definitely fetch a good price. She truly is the woman that guy Amber specifically told us to capture, hahahaha…"
La La, at this moment, looked at their lewd gazes and listened to their unbearable words, tears almost flowing out.
Just then!
"Bang!"
A huge thud suddenly came from the iron sheet of a nearby container!
Takano and Hirai were startled by the sudden loud noise and instantly looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw a clearly visible fist print dented into the thick iron sheet of the container in front of them!
Takano swallowed hard.
This… this couldn't have been made by a person's fist, could it?
I… I'm not hallucinating, am I?
But, the next second!
Even crazier, more intense crashing sounds rang out continuously!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dozens of fist prints, of varying depths, instantly appeared on the container's iron sheet!
Finally!
"Bang—!"
Accompanied by a huge bang, the thick iron sheet of the container was actually blasted open, creating a large hole!
A man's hand reached out from the hole and grabbed the edge of the hole.
Immediately after, that hand exerted force!
"Rip—!"
A teeth-grinding sound of tearing metal suddenly erupted!
The container's iron sheet was like a fragile piece of paper, forcibly torn open by the person outside, creating a huge gash!
The man casually tossed aside the large piece of iron sheet he had torn off.
As the iron sheet was torn open, a man with a hint of wickedness appeared before everyone.
He leaned against the torn opening and looked up and down at La La, who was being held by Takano.
"Tsk tsk tsk, your taste isn't great, you can even fancy a woman who's unremarkable below the neck. As expected of rats living in a gutter, quite hungry, aren't you…"
Takano stared deadly at the man slowly walking in through the gap in the container, not replying immediately.
He swallowed hard, then rubbed his eyes forcefully, as if to confirm that everything before him wasn't an illusion.
After confirming he hadn't seen wrong, his voice trembled slightly with fear.
"You... who are you?"
Even after saying that, he still felt a bit dazed.
Damn it, was this guy, who tore open the container's steel plate with his bare hands, really human?
When did we offend someone like this monster?
Suddenly, Takano's pupils constricted!
He thought of the worst possible scenario.
This person... couldn't be from the True Dragon Society, could he?
Ryuzaki Shin took in Takano's terrified expression, his face slick with cold sweat, and a playful smile curved his lips.
"Aiya, I'd say your intelligence work is too poor; you don't even know who your enemy is this time, do you?" He paused, adjusting the dust-covered lapel of his suit. "Allow me to introduce myself: Ryuzaki Shin, President of the True Dragon Society."
Hirai, who was equally stunned beyond belief, finally reacted after a brief moment of absentmindedness!
He pointed at Ryuzaki Shin and, with a hoarse voice, roared at the terrified DOUBT members around him:
"Everyone, attack him! Kill him!"
He finally understood; the opponent's boss had actually come to them personally!
But this boss of the True Dragon Society was too damn terrifying!
Now, he only had one word in his mind: run!
At the same time he roared that command, he and Hirai immediately grabbed La La beside them and fled towards the other end of the passage without looking back!
At this moment, in this narrow passage formed by containers, there were only a little over thirty DOUBT members left.
Most of the people had already been transferred to the front lines.
The remaining ones, watching the man approaching step by step, all timidly raised their weapons, but their trembling arms betrayed their inner fear.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at this group of outwardly fierce but inwardly timid guys and smiled disdainfully.
No time to waste; let's finish this quickly.
The next moment, his figure moved!
He lightly tapped his toes on the ground, and his entire being instantly transformed into a black afterimage!
In the blink of an eye, he had already appeared in front of the foremost DOUBT member holding a steel pipe!
He didn't even bother to look at the horrified expression on the opponent's face, simply throwing a casual punch!
"Bang!"
This punch, powerful and heavy, landed squarely on the man's chest!
The man felt a tremendous force penetrate his body, sending him flying backward!
Three or four companions behind him were knocked over, falling to the ground in unison!
Within the entire passage, a series of crisp bone-breaking sounds and shrill screams instantly rang out!
...Meanwhile, at the other end.
Hirai and Takano, dragging La La, ran frantically, panting, through the labyrinthine container tunnel.
The screams from behind, like a death charm, prevented them from pausing even for a moment.
The exit was getting closer... Finally, the two of them, dragging La La, stumbled out of the dark passage in a sorry state!
The moment they saw daylight again, both their faces showed the joy of having escaped disaster!
Takano looked at the several large trucks outside, which had already started their engines, and saw that the DOUBT subordinates in the truck beds had already locked up all the abducted women and children.
He couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! What a load of crap, President of the True Dragon Society! We still managed to shake him off!"
Hirai also gasped for breath, a triumphant smile on his face.
"Surviving a great disaster means future blessings! Heh heh, once we catch our breath, we must make that True Dragon Society pay the price! Now, let's go quickly!"
Just as the two were congratulating themselves, a voice they absolutely did not want to hear at that moment, tinged with a hint of mockery, suddenly rang out above their heads.
"Don't you know? Surviving a great disaster often... means a greater disaster is yet to come."
Hearing this voice, both men froze, as if instantly turned to ice!
They raised their heads in horror, and to their shock, Ryuzaki Shin was already standing on top of the container above them, arms crossed, watching them at his leisure!
In that instant, both men were so terrified their legs trembled, their minds went blank, and they completely lost the ability to think!
The next moment, Ryuzaki Shin leaped down from the container!
His figure traced a perfect arc in the air, landing silently, instantly appearing in front of Hirai!
Ryuzaki Shin seized Hirai's neck, and the brutal force left Hirai no room to resist!
Then, he violently flung his arm!
Hirai's nearly two-hundred-pound body was thrown away like a broken sack, effortlessly!
With a loud "clang," he crashed heavily against the side of a truck, then slid softly to the ground, spitting blood foam, completely losing his ability to fight!
Takano hadn't yet recovered from this shocking scene.
The next moment, a massive fist rapidly expanded in his pupils!
A heavy punch smashed fiercely into his face!
Takano himself flew sideways! He spat a mouthful of blood in mid-air, followed by a series of crisp "crackling" sounds on the ground.
What Takano spat out was a mouthful of shattered teeth mixed with blood!
Those DOUBT subordinates guarding the trucks, seeing this scene like a demon god descending, had no thought of resistance whatsoever!
They instantly threw away their weapons and scattered in a panic!
To put it bluntly, the DOUBT organization was nothing more than a group of thugs bound together by profit; there was no talk of loyalty or sense of belonging.
Now, their boss was taken down in two or three moves; why would they risk their lives?
Just run, that's it!
Ryuzaki Shin watched the dozen or so people who ran away, not bothering to chase them.
Let them run; as long as Hirai and Takano, the two leaders, were left behind, his plan was complete.
Just then, a flurry of footsteps came from behind.
More than twenty blood-soaked True Dragon Society members ran out of the container tunnel.
The leader quickly walked up to Ryuzaki Shin and bowed, saying, "Boss, it's over outside."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded and instructed, "Go and release all the women and children from the trucks and take them away."
"Yes!"
The subordinate nodded heavily and immediately led his men to rescue those poor people.
Then, Ryuzaki Shin turned his head and looked at La La, who was still in a state of shock beside him.
"Why are you standing there dumbfounded? Go help..."
On the main battlefield, the fight between Hayashida Megumi and ICE had been going on for quite some time.
At this moment, the two stood facing each other from a distance, both panting heavily.
Hayashida Megumi's thick work jacket was already torn and tattered, his face and arms were covered in purplish bruises, and a trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth.
Across from him, ICE's situation was equally grim.
ICE's clothes were stained with dust and blood, and his exposed skin was red and swollen, clearly having taken many of Hayashida Megumi's powerful punches.
Hayashida Megumi's strength over ICE lay in his monstrous defense and resistance to blows; simply put, he was tougher.
ICE, on the other hand, was more agile and nimble than the clumsy Hayashida Megumi.
Of course, to put it bluntly, most legendary figures were faster than Hayashida Megumi.
This was an innate quality, difficult to compensate for in a short time.
However, this did not mean it couldn't be changed through training later on.
Ryuzaki Shin had long planned to conduct specialized speed training for Hayashida Megumi, but all of this was predicated on the other party completely joining his faction.
The two gasped violently a couple of times, their eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.
Just as they were about to launch another attack,
Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind came from ICE's side!
A giant iron fist, wrapped in heavy chains, struck towards ICE's face like a cannonball breaking through the air!
The newcomer was none other than the Martial Dragon General, Ishida Goro!
At this time, ICE was no longer in his prime, and his attention was entirely focused on Hayashida Megumi in front of him.
Moreover, this punch was extremely fast and its angle was incredibly tricky, so he didn't react in time!
"Bang!"
A solid punch landed squarely on ICE's cheek!
He was sent spinning 360 degrees in the air, then rolled several times embarrassingly on the sandy ground after landing, finally crashing heavily into a half-human-tall discarded iron barrel before stopping.
This showed how heavy the force of that punch was.
Hayashida Megumi looked at the man in front of him, who was taller and stronger than him, and couldn't help but frown.
General Ishida Goro's arms were wrapped in heavy and ferocious iron chains, which were now stained with mottled blood, glinting with a terrifying light under the illumination.
Hayashida Megumi looked at him with some displeasure and said in a deep voice, "This is my fight; you shouldn't interfere."
However, General Ishida Goro was not one to indulge Hayashida Megumi's temper.
"Hmph, it's time to wrap things up. If you want to fight, find somewhere else to do it later. Don't delay the boss's important business here!"
On the battlefield, cries of anguish from DOUBT members could be heard everywhere.
The True Dragon Society members, like sheepdogs herding a flock, were roughly pulling and driving all the still-resisting DOUBT members, herding them all to the center of the battlefield and surrounding them.
Hayashida Megumi took a deep breath upon hearing General Ishida Goro's reprimand and ultimately did not retort.
Because General Ishida Goro was right.
He had gotten a bit carried away.
The most important thing for him to do here today was to rescue the children from Nameless Street who had been abducted.
Just then, a group of tender, tearful voices suddenly rang out not far away.
"Coach!"
"Coach, we're here!"
"Waaah… Coach, you've come to save us!"
Hayashida Megumi sharply turned his head, looking in the direction of the voices.
Dozens of children, dressed in rags, were running towards him.
The children's faces were dirty, covered in dust and tear streaks.
But their eyes gleamed with the light of having survived a disaster.
Hayashida Megumi looked at this familiar scene, his expression first stunned, then an ineffable, complex look appeared on his usually expressionless face.
He slowly squatted down.
The children, like young swallows returning to their nest, all rushed into Hayashida Megumi's arms at once, surrounding his tall figure and crying loudly.
"Coach, we were so scared!"
"We thought we'd never see you again…"
Hayashida Megumi didn't know why, but at this moment, a film of mist also began to spread in his eyes, and his vision became somewhat blurry.
Although he had only been coaching for a week,
he would silently help the homeless children wash their dirty clothes and secretly give them money to buy something delicious.
A large portion of the children in Nameless Street were already homeless orphans; they had never experienced the warmth of family affection.
Yet, in this taciturn giant, Hayashida Megumi, they felt care and love like that of a father.
Many had long since stopped seeing Hayashida Megumi merely as a coach, but had even come to regard him as their elder brother.
Hayashida Megumi tightly embraced the children in his arms, his voice thick with emotion and filled with self-reproach.
"I'm sorry… It's all my fault… It's okay now, everything's okay…"
At this moment, a little boy looked up from his embrace, carefully wiped Hayashida Megumi's tears from his cheek with his dirty little hand, and looked at him with determined eyes, saying:
"Coach, don't cry! If we were stronger, we could beat those bad guys ourselves!"
Hayashida Megumi looked at the little boy's tender yet resolute eyes and finally couldn't help but smile.
He ruffled the little boy's head.
"Then you must practice your punches well from now on. In the future, it will be up to you all to protect everyone."
…Ryuzaki Shin watched this touching scene from afar, a slight smile gracing his face.
Genuine human emotion always warms the heart, no matter when one sees it.
Then, he said to La La beside him, "Take these people from Nameless Street to our True Dragon Society's trucks; someone will arrange for your safe return."
La La looked deeply at Ryuzaki Shin.
She was still a little angry about him calling her "unremarkable" just now, to be honest.
But there was nothing she could do, as he had just saved her.
La La still lowered her head and softly said to Ryuzaki Shin,
"Thank you."
However, if La La knew that her kidnapping was actually orchestrated by Ryuzaki Shin as a final desperate measure to completely subdue Smoky and the RUDE BOYS, she probably wouldn't think that way.
La La said no more, turning to call the rescued women and children, leading them towards the rear of the True Dragon Society.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the DOUBT members in the center of the battlefield, surrounded like lambs to the slaughter, his expression gradually chilling.
"It's time to wrap things up…"
At this moment, General Ishida Goro, with his tower-like figure, walked up to Ryuzaki Shin, his voice muffled.
"Boss, what's the next step?"
Ryuzaki Shin glanced at the DOUBT members cowering on the ground in the field, thought for a moment, and a 'benevolent' smile appeared on his face.
"Let our people 'take good care' of these DOUBT friends again, make them more obedient. After all, we're going to hand them over to the police intact later, so we can't cause unnecessary trouble for our police comrades. We are, after all, law-abiding citizens."
"Yes!" General Ishida Goro nodded heavily upon hearing Ryuzaki Shin's words, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
He turned and walked to the center of the battlefield, issuing orders to the True Dragon Society members guarding the captives.
The next second, those True Dragon Society members once again raised their blood-stained batons and wildly struck the DOUBT members, who were no longer resisting!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dull thuds, the crisp sound of bones shattering, and piercing wails once again echoed throughout the abandoned dock.
Ryuzaki Shin withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at the bloody scene.
He turned his head and looked at the figure not far away who had just struggled to stand up from the ground—ICE.
At this moment, ICE's eyes held a trace of confusion.
This was the first time since the establishment of Mighty Warriors that they had suffered such a major defeat in a gang conflict.
He completely couldn't understand where such a group of abnormals had emerged from in the barren land of S.W.O.R.D.
ICE rubbed his completely swollen cheek, cursing Amber to hell and back in his heart.
Baka!
FUCK!
Motherfucker!
Where was that bastard named Amber?
If he had been on the main battlefield tonight, his side would never have been defeated so easily!
He was the true mastermind behind this operation!
How could he have run off without even showing his face?
Is this what the legends of the past were like?
How ridiculous!
Just as ICE was seething with indignation, he saw Ryuzaki Shin walking towards him with unhurried steps.
He knew that the person in front of him was the leader of the True Dragon Society.
Century Warriors were not as foolish as DOUBT.
Before the major battle began, they had already conducted detailed research on all potential opponents they might encounter.
ICE subconsciously looked around. When he saw Zhen Zhu and Bernie, who were being stomped on the ground by Murayama and had completely lost their fighting ability, a chill inexplicably ran down his spine.
It seemed unlikely that things would end well today.
Judging by the opponent's current stance, their leader must be a ruthless individual.
If he really fell into their hands, his fate might be worse than death.
His ideal paradise had not yet been established; he absolutely could not fall here!
If push came to shove, he could only run!
As for getting all of Mighty Warriors out unscathed, that seemed impossible.
ICE's muscles instantly tensed, his eyes fixed on Ryuzaki Shin, preparing to launch a thunderous strike by surprise!
If he could hijack the opponent in one fell swoop, then there was still a chance to get everyone out safely today!
If he couldn't... then he could still force his way out with his own strength!
Just as he was about to make his move, Ryuzaki Shin spoke first.
"Take your Mighty Warriors and leave."
Hearing this, ICE was clearly stunned and subconsciously asked, "What do you mean?"
Ryuzaki Shin spread his hands and smiled, a smile with an inscrutable meaning.
"It means exactly what it says. Or are you saying you don't want to leave?"
ICE stared intently at Ryuzaki Shin's expression for a while.
He always felt there was something strange about Ryuzaki Shin's smile.
Perhaps some conspiracy was hidden within it.
But the next moment, ICE gritted his teeth.
There was no other choice; this was the only path he could take now.
No matter what calculations were involved, he could only accept them.
In the future, he would just stay far away from this area of the South City.
This True Dragon Society was not an organization of loose mercenaries that they could easily provoke.
ICE said nothing more.
He turned and walked to Zhen Zhu and Bernie, glaring fiercely at Murayama, who was still stepping on them.
Murayama, seeing this, smirked, gave him an extremely malicious smile, and then slowly lifted his foot.
ICE suppressed the anger in his heart, and separately hoisted the unconscious Zhen Zhu and Bernie onto his shoulders.
He then returned to Ryuzaki Shin, looking at him and saying in a deep voice, "We're still missing one person, a woman."
Ryuzaki Shin realized it upon hearing this.
Yes, it seemed Junko was nowhere to be seen.
Where had that crazy girl run off to again?
Just then, Ryuzaki Shin vaguely heard a woman's cursing from a distant shipping container.
"Are you still pretending?! I told you to pretend!"
Ryuzaki Shin followed the sound and walked to the entrance of that container.
He peered inside and was instantly speechless.
Junko was astride Sarah, her small hands raining down slaps on Sarah's face like raindrops, "Slap, slap, slap."
Ryuzaki Shin was utterly speechless.
You, a monster-level figure above legend, why are you bickering with a mere foot soldier?
He cleared his throat twice.
"Ahem! Junko, that's enough, it's time for us to go home."
Hearing Ryuzaki Shin's voice, Junko shivered all over like a startled rabbit.
She instantly felt, did her shrewish, cursing appearance just now seem a bit too vulgar?
Junko immediately climbed off Sarah, then daintily ran to Ryuzaki Shin, looking up at him with her big, watery eyes, full of grievance.
"A-Zhen... that woman was too fierce, she hurt me. If you don't believe me, look."
Saying this, Junko extended her fair, tender small hand to Ryuzaki Shin.
Ryuzaki Shin took it, half-believing, half-doubting.
What's going on?
That Sarah could hurt Junko?
Is she that amazing?
He took Junko's small hand and turned it over twice, examining it.
"Nothing's wrong, isn't it perfectly fine?"
Junko pouted unhappily at his words.
"Oh, no! You're not looking closely! Look here, this part is red."
Junko pointed to her slightly reddened knuckles.
Ryuzaki Shin was speechless again.
Damn it, isn't this your hand getting bruised from hitting the other person?
Isn't that perfectly normal?
Junko felt that Ryuzaki Shin's expression seemed to be darkening, and quickly resorted to her old trick, hugging his arm and starting to act spoiled.
"Oh, give me a hug..."
Ryuzaki Shin sighed helplessly again, and could only reach out and gently pat her back.
"Junko, let's take care of business first. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we get back."
Junko immediately let go upon hearing this, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
"A-Zhen, are you staying at my place tonight? We haven't done anything fun in a long time."
Ryuzaki Shin sighed in his heart again.
Is this something a woman should say?
However, thinking that Junko had put in effort tonight, and it had indeed been several days since he had properly 'cherished' her.
Ryuzaki Shin reached out and dotingly stroked Junko's hair.
"Whatever you want."
Upon hearing this, Junko was immediately satisfied, happily turned around, and skipped away.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Sarah, who was lying on the ground seemingly unconscious, shook his head, and said:
"Alright, get up quickly. I've let you go."
He thought that with Junko's personality, unless she was under some fatal threat, she would definitely act with restraint, and shouldn't have beaten Sarah too badly.
Just as Ryuzaki Shin thought, Sarah, upon hearing his words, propped herself up with her hands and struggled to stand.
When Sarah walked step by step in front of Ryuzaki Shin, Ryuzaki Shin, after clearly seeing her current appearance, was so startled that he jumped three feet high!
"Holy shit! You... who are you?!"
ICE stood rooted to the spot, patiently waiting for Ryuzaki Shin to bring Sara back.
After a while, he saw Ryuzaki Shin walking towards him.
Behind him, there was indeed a woman.
Judging by her figure and attire, it was undoubtedly Sara.
A hint of joy involuntarily appeared on ICE's face.
No matter what ulterior motives the other party harbored tonight, he had accepted it.
As long as he could safely leave with all his Century Warriors companions, at least, this outcome was good.
Ryuzaki Shin and Sara, who was behind him, walked up to ICE.
Ryuzaki Shin's expression seemed a bit troubled.
"You… had better prepare yourself mentally."
ICE looked at Ryuzaki Shin with a puzzled expression.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't explain further, merely stepped aside to reveal the woman behind him.
When ICE clearly saw the woman's face, he instantly froze.
The next second, he sprang back three feet high like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, staring at the other party with a ghost-seeing gaze, and cried out in a lost voice:
"What the hell! Who the hell are you?!"
It was no wonder the two had such similar reactions.
Her originally well-defined, oval-shaped face was now swollen into a winter melon due to severe facial congestion.
Her features were somewhat distorted, especially her lips, which were swollen like two hanging sausages.
Sara's azure blue eyes were terribly gloomy at this moment.
Of course, because her face was so swollen, no specific expression could be discerned at all.
Ryuzaki Shin, watching from the side, also secretly clicked his tongue.
Women really needed women to deal with them.
Look at how badly this child had been beaten.
ICE swallowed hard; at this moment, he dared not say another word.
Sara felt that the gazes of the True Dragon Society members around her were also looking at her like she was a monster, their eyes filled with disdain.
An unprecedented surge of shame and indignation welled up in her heart; she said nothing, merely took large strides and left without looking back.
ICE also said nothing more.
He felt that this organization called the True Dragon Society was truly inhumane, actually making such a beautiful woman so miserable.
However, he dared not question Ryuzaki Shin in his presence.
This lifetime, he would never ever provoke this group of perverts again!
He gave Ryuzaki Shin a deep look, firmly engraving the man's face in his mind.
Then, he helped Zhen Zhu and Bernie and left without looking back.
After they left, Murayama stepped forward and asked somewhat puzzledly, "Master, you just let them go so easily?"
Ryuzaki Shin heard this, turned around, and patted Murayama's shoulder.
"Then what do you want? Do you want to kill them all?"
Murayama scratched his head, still a bit unwilling.
"But… they did come to oppose us. If we don't give them a profound lesson, at the very least, they should compensate us with some money."
Ryuzaki Shin burst into laughter upon hearing this.
This foolish boy, Murayama.
"Murayama, remember this: sometimes, what's free is the most expensive."
After Ryuzaki Shin finished speaking, he no longer paid attention to Murayama, who was still standing there, bewildered.
There was no need to tell him all of his calculations.
This wasn't a lack of trust; it was simply useless to tell this foolish boy so much.
He still needed these Century Warriors to deal with Liu Longren later, to take a huge blame for him.
Letting them go now meant even bigger traps awaited them in the future.
As for subduing them, it was out of the question for now.
Firstly, his current combat strength was not scarce.
Secondly, these Century Warriors only cared about money, not about a boss.
So, there was no need to spend extra effort to subdue such an organization.
Ryuzaki Shin turned and took two steps, making two gestures to his team.
Several True Dragon Society members immediately understood, and escorted Hirai and Takano, who had already been beaten half to death, over.
The two men were covered in blood, their faces bruised and swollen, and they swayed as they walked, clearly having been "entertained" quite a bit.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the two men, the smile on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by an extremely cold expression.
He spoke directly, without any emotion.
"Do you want to die or live?"
Upon hearing this, Hirai and Takano's legs gave out, and they immediately fell to their knees with a "thud," desperately kowtowing.
Their foreheads repeatedly hit the hard concrete ground with "bang bang" sounds.
"Sir! Great Sir! You are a magnanimous man, please let us two farts go!"
Ryuzaki Shin watched with cold eyes; these two fellows were indeed spineless.
For a purely thuggish gang like DOUBT, their nature was to bully the weak and fear the strong.
They had no semblance of a strong person's demeanor.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the two of them and said coldly, "You want to live? Easy to say, listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."
"The police will arrive soon. After you enter the station, you are to blame everything that happened here, including the big fire on Nameless Street, entirely on the Iemura-kai. As for how exactly to say it, someone will naturally teach you once you're inside the police station."
As soon as Takano heard that he had to go to the station, his pupils suddenly constricted, and cold sweat instantly streamed down his forehead.
He knew full well how many evil deeds he had committed and how many things he was responsible for.
If he really went to the station, would he ever get out in this lifetime?
Takano immediately began to plead.
"Sir! I beg you! I can give you anything! I… I've earned a lot of money over the years, all… all of it can be yours! As long as you let me go…"
Hirai, hearing this, also immediately reacted and joined in the begging.
"Yes, yes! Me too! All my money is yours too! Please, let us live!"
Ryuzaki Shin said not a single word.
"Bang! Bang!"
He suddenly lifted his feet and delivered two fierce kicks to the chests of the two men!
The two were sent flying backward, landing heavily on the ground, spitting out two large mouthfuls of blood.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly stepped forward, looking down at them, his voice icy cold.
"Remember this! I am not discussing with you; I am informing you! You now have only two paths to choose from."
"Either you go to the police station now and never think about coming out again in this lifetime!"
"Or, you cooperate with me obediently, and once this storm passes, I will naturally find a way to get you two out."
"You don't need to worry about whether I keep my word. After all, in my eyes, you two are useless trash, not even as good as dogs, and I have no need to waste time lying to you."
Takano and Hirai lay on the ground, exchanging glances, seeing fear and helplessness in each other's eyes.
The two instantly made a choice.
That was to agree to Ryuzaki Shin's terms.
Now, they were the fish on the chopping block.
It was better to agree to him first.
Otherwise, looking at the current situation, if the two of them didn't agree, the other party might get angry and finish them off on the spot.
They would follow his demands for now.
Later, if the other party truly went back on his word, the two of them could still bite back and wouldn't be completely passive.
Thinking of this, Takano struggled to stand up and respectfully said, "We... we agree to your demands."
Ryuzaki Shin glanced at the two of them.
The rats underground still had some sense.
As for when they lose their usefulness... hehe, once they're in the police station, Deputy Chief Saeko is on his side, so what waves could they possibly make?
Ryuzaki Shin no longer bothered with the two, but turned around and loudly addressed all the True Dragon Society members:
"Brothers, you worked hard tonight! Everyone, head home! There will be heavy rewards when you get back!"
When everyone heard Ryuzaki Shin's words, their eyes instantly became fervent!
The boss said there would be rewards, so it must be a substantial bonus!
Everyone knew the boss was always generous to his subordinates, didn't they?
Everyone raised their arms high and roared in unison:
"Long live the Boss!"
After saying this, everyone began to retreat in an orderly fashion.
At this moment, Ryuzaki Shin first sent a text message to Saeko.
"It's your turn to perform."
Then, he sent another text message to Kirisawa Jin.
"Notify the reporters to prepare to arrive."
After sending this text message, Ryuzaki Shin lit a cigarette for himself and took a deep drag.
Finally, he turned his head to glance at the now desolate container battlefield, then turned and disappeared into the darkness... Outside the Wangan area.
Saeko was leading the Chengnan Police Station personnel, standing by in full readiness.
Dozens of police cars were parked here, their lights flashing, and nearly two hundred police officers were fully prepared.
This time, Saeko could truly say that the entire police station had been mobilized.
This operation also carried significant risks for Saeko.
Firstly, there was the procedural issue of operating across districts.
Secondly, the Chief himself did not support this operation.
However, Saeko overruled all objections, insisting that this was a case that could earn great merit, and finally convinced the department to give her command of this operation.
At this moment, Saeko's most trusted assistant, Ono, quickly walked to her side.
"Deputy Chief, aren't we... not going in yet?"
Ono and his team were not far from the container battlefield.
They could hear the sounds of fighting inside clearly.
And now, the sounds of fighting inside had completely disappeared.
It seemed that the forces inside had decided a winner.
This was the most opportune time for the police to enter and wrap things up.
After all, this was how they used to handle gang fights.
However, Saeko knew that Ryuzaki Shin definitely had some post-battle matters to attend to.
Her side also needed to leave enough time for the True Dragon Society members to retreat.
Saeko turned her head and looked at Ono coldly.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Ono's heart skipped a beat under her icy gaze, and he instantly swallowed hard.
He didn't know why Saeko had suddenly become so stern.
But he dared not say anything more.
Just then, Saeko's phone chimed.
She took out her phone and saw a text message.
Saeko closed her phone, took a deep breath, then suddenly waved her hand, ordering in a clear, loud voice:
"Attention all units! A large-scale violent conflict has occurred in the target area! Teams A and B to breach from the front! Teams C and D to flank from the left and right! Move!"
"Team A calling Command Center, we have reached the designated position, no abnormalities detected, requesting instructions."
"Command Center received, all units, maintain alert formation, gradually advance towards the central area in a fan shape. Teams B and C, pay attention to safety on both sides, report any suspicious targets immediately."
"Team D received, we have secured the rear passage, repeat, we have secured the rear passage."
During their entry into the container terminal, the police internally felt very strange.
The anticipated fierce resistance did not occur; they didn't even encounter a single lookout.
The entire terminal was like a ghost town, so quiet it sent shivers down their spines.
Despite this, all officers maintained a high level of vigilance, advancing step by step, cautiously, towards the central area of the container battlefield.
When they finally reached the center of the battlefield, the scene before them made everyone gasp.
In the open space in the center of the battlefield, over four hundred people lay sprawled, all bruised and swollen, with broken arms and legs, their wails rising and falling.
And in front of them stood two equally disheveled, blood-stained men, the leaders of DOUBT — Hirai and Takano.
This left even the experienced police officers completely bewildered.
What was happening?
A gang war, and they all wiped each other out?
Just as everyone was feeling confused, Saeko's cold and authoritative voice spread throughout the entire scene via the walkie-talkie.
"Attention all personnel! Lay down your weapons, hands on your heads, surrender immediately! Repeat..."
With her command, hundreds of police officers surged forward like tigers descending a mountain, instantly subduing all four hundred-plus members of DOUBT who had already lost the ability to resist.
Saeko followed the police team, slowly walking to Hirai and Takano, looking at the two with a scrutinizing, cold gaze.
Ryuzaki Shin had already told her that these two were the leaders of this evil organization.
Saeko looked at them expressionlessly, then calmly instructed Ono beside her, "Handcuff these two, take them back, and keep them under strict guard."
"Yes!" Ono immediately stepped forward, taking out the cold handcuffs.
Takano and Hirai offered no resistance, allowing Ono to handcuff their hands behind their backs.
Just as they were being led away, Takano subconsciously looked up at the top of the containers.
On top of a certain container, a man stood with his hands in his pockets, coldly looking down at everything below.
The tip of his cigarette glowed on and off in the night, like a will-o'-the-wisp.
When the man saw Takano and Hirai being completely led away by the police, he flicked the cigarette butt from his hand.
That small red spark traced a graceful arc in the air, falling from high above, finally splashing a small, fleeting cluster of sparks on the ground.
Saeko seemed to sense something.
She also subconsciously looked up, but the spot was already empty...
Outside the container terminal, it was already a chaotic scene.
Officer Saeko was calmly and collectedly directing the scene, escorting the subdued DOUBT members onto police cars in batches.
Just then, over a dozen news vans, emblazoned with the logos of various major media outlets, suddenly sped from the distance, braking sharply and stopping just beyond the police tape.
A dense swarm of reporters, like sharks smelling blood, poured out of the vehicles, carrying cameras and microphones.
This time, it wasn't just Toyaru's local media, "Toyaru Daily News," but also influential national news organizations like "Toto TV," "Kansai Times," "Weekly Bunshun," and "Asahi News."
These media outlets were far larger than "Toyaru Daily News."
Kirisawa Jin wasn't against exclusive collaborations, but he clearly understood that for certain news stories requiring widespread dissemination to shape public opinion, broad distribution was essential.
This so-called "war against DOUBT" was, frankly, just a smokescreen.
Ryuzaki Shin knew that the war between him and the Kowloon Group had officially begun at this moment.
The Kowloon Group's scale was far, far greater than that of the current True Dragon Society.
Therefore, he had to preempt them!
Before the Kowloon Group even considered him a true opponent, he would launch a fierce offensive in public opinion!
The struggles between gangs were never just about fighting and killing.
Battles in public opinion could sometimes be more terrifying than visible bloodshed.
To defeat the strong with the weak, one must excel in every dimension.
Thus, the core objective of this battle, from the very beginning, pointed directly at the Kowloon Group!
As soon as the reporters got out of their cars, they immediately spotted Officer Saeko, who was directing the scene, in the crowd.
As a hero policewoman whose reputation had recently soared, Saeko was a household name in Toyaru City.
To get the first-hand news, a group of reporters, carrying cameras and microphones, rushed towards Saeko, a dense and spectacular sight.
Saeko already knew that Ryuzaki Shin had arranged for reporters to be present.
Her expression remained unchanged; she took a deep breath and quickly organized her words in her mind.
Looking at the excited faces before her and the countless microphones extended towards her, Saeko spoke first, her voice clear, cold, and strong:
"Reporters, please maintain order and ask questions one by one. Each media outlet will have only one opportunity to ask a question."
A male reporter from a TV station was the first to ask, "Officer Saeko! What is the main target of the police's large-scale operation tonight?"
Saeko faced the camera and answered righteously.
"Some time ago, a heinous arson case occurred in Nameless Street, causing a large number of casualties and property damage. Our Jounan Police Department, after meticulous planning and all-night investigation, finally identified the criminal suspect group. Tonight's operation is to round up this evil organization named 'DOUBT' in one fell swoop!"
A female reporter from another newspaper then pressed, "What was the result of this operation? Were all criminal suspects successfully apprehended?"
Saeko's face showed a hint of pride: "After a heroic struggle between our Jounan Police and the vicious criminals! We finally succeeded in apprehending all members of this gang, which had long been entrenched in the Wangan area, engaging in heinous criminal activities such as arson, kidnapping, and human trafficking!"
Finally, a reporter from "Weekly Bunshun" directed a question towards Officer Saeko personally.
"Everyone knows that Officer Saeko, you are a hero of our Toyaru City. Regarding this victory, do you have anything you'd like to say to the citizens of Toyaru?"
Upon hearing this, Saeko's expression became extremely serious.
"As police officers of Toyaru, our duty is to protect the lives and property of every citizen! I assure everyone that as long as we are here, we will never allow any evil force to run rampant on this land!"
She paused and continued.
"Thank you for your attention, reporters. For further updates on the case, please refer to our police department's official announcements. The arrest operation has concluded, and to avoid interfering with subsequent investigations, please leave now."
The reporters wanted to ask more, but Saeko had already turned and left.
Several tall police officers immediately stepped forward to maintain order and clear out the reporters.
Ono had been silently observing all of this.
Tonight's operation, like all cases he had experienced since Saeko's reinstatement, always felt... as if someone had arranged everything, then packaged all the credit and personally delivered it to Saeko.
To be able to defeat over four hundred people to such an extent tonight, leaving them utterly defenseless, clearly indicated that another, more powerful gang was involved.
Saeko apparently wasn't planning to delve deeper into this.
His feeling was that Saeko had changed.
But what she had changed into, he didn't know.
Under the streetlamp, Saeko stared blankly at the criminals being escorted into police cars in batches, lost in thought.
Her shadow stretched long, long, by the streetlamp.
Ono finally couldn't hold back.
He walked up to Saeko.
"Commander... is this really alright?"
Saeko's thoughts were interrupted by Ono's words.
She looked at him expressionlessly.
"What are you referring to?"
Ono mustered his courage, looked her directly in the eyes, and said, "This time... it's clearly a gang war between two sides, and we just..."
Saeko's cold gaze made Ono unable to utter the rest of his words.
"This case is about our Jounan Police, after receiving reliable intelligence, bravely fighting vicious criminals and ultimately successfully dismantling a heinous human trafficking criminal organization! Do you understand, Inspector Ono?"
Ono had been an extremely upright person since childhood.
After serving under Saeko, he admired this incorruptible policewoman even more.
However, Saeko's words now made him feel incredibly unfamiliar and disappointed.
It felt as if the idol in his heart had suddenly crumbled.
He stood there stunned.
After a long time, he finally spoke with difficulty: "Saeko... Commander, it's clearly not like that... You know better than I do, don't you?"
"The shooting in the suburbs, you weren't injured at all, were you?"
"Last time during the drug raid at the bar, just like now, someone had planned and arranged everything beforehand!"
"Every single thing you do seems calculated; there are always reporters arriving at the scene immediately! Our police operations are always highly confidential!"
"Commander Kirishima... you've changed..."
Ono's voice grew softer and softer, and he bowed his head deeply.
He didn't know why he suddenly said so much.
Nor did he know why his emotions suddenly became so agitated.
He just wanted to ask, to hear an answer that could convince him.
Saeko looked at the young subordinate with his head down, her expression somewhat complex.
This kid... he'd been seeing everything so clearly all along.
Didn't others notice?
Of course, some people would have doubts.
But for them, getting credit and promotions by following Saeko was enough.
And there was no danger; where else could you find such a good thing?
It was Ono, this simpleton, who would directly point it out.
But even so, Saeko's inner conviction remained unshaken.
Because she had already completely said goodbye to her past self.
Saeko looked at Ono and asked, "Ono, do you know the price of standing in the sunlight?"
Ono heard Saeko's voice and looked up, somewhat puzzled.
Saeko didn't explain further; she took a step and walked past him.
The night wind carried her cool words.
"Look behind you..."
Ono stood frozen.
It wasn't until Saeko's figure disappeared into the darkness that he subconsciously turned around.
The dim yellow light of the streetlamp stretched his shadow long, long.
The shadow was as black as ink, like a bottomless abyss...
The night breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, gently swept by.
Ryuzaki Shin, with Junko on his motorcycle, sped through the brightly lit streets of Toyaru City.
Junko pressed her entire body against his back, her hands tightly wrapped around his strong waist, and her head rested contentedly on his broad and firm back, an irrepressible smile on her face.
Half an hour later, the motorcycle slowly stopped downstairs at Junko's apartment building.
By the street lamp downstairs, two men stood quietly.
After Ryuzaki Shin parked the motorcycle, he turned his head and said softly to Junko behind him, "You go upstairs first. I'll come up in a bit; I still have some things to attend to."
Junko looked at Ryuzaki Shin obediently, nodded understandingly, then got off the bike, waved to him, and turned to skip upstairs.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Kirisawa Jin and Amber, who were already waiting downstairs, lit a cigarette, and spoke first.
"Kirisawa Jin, how are the acquisitions of those shops and residences in the S.W.O.R.D. District coming along?"
Upon hearing Ryuzaki Shin's inquiry, Kirisawa Jin immediately stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Boss, the acquisition plan is going much smoother than we anticipated."
He had initially estimated that acquiring these shops and residences, scattered among different owners, might take a considerable amount of effort and time.
However, during actual operations, he discovered that the True Dragon Society had completely underestimated the enthusiasm of the original residents of the S.W.O.R.D. District to sell off their assets.
After all, the long-standing chaos in the S.W.O.R.D. District had made it impossible for them to conduct any legitimate business.
Those street-facing shops, let alone being sold, were even difficult to rent out.
Even if they were occasionally rented out, the rent was shockingly low.
It was better to just sell them directly, take a sum of money, and be done with it.
Moreover, in terms of the entire S.W.O.R.D. area, Nameless Street was the true core.
If only the commercial and residential properties in the other few districts were acquired, it wouldn't cost much money.
This was the advantage of information asymmetry. If these people knew that the government already had a bill prepared to develop S.W.O.R.D., the True Dragon Society would have countless troubles.
Ryuzaki Shin nodded at the words.
He didn't want to ask for specific details anymore.
The events of the past few days had made him so dizzy and exhausted that he was too lazy to know that much.
As long as the final result was good, that was enough.
Ryuzaki Shin turned his gaze to Amber, who stood nearby.
This was what he most wanted to know next.
"Amber, how is it? Any news on Amemiya Tatsuya?"
Amber heard this and first glanced at Kirisawa Jin next to him.
When Ryuzaki Shin had asked him to investigate Takeru's whereabouts, Kirisawa Jin had provided him with a lot of important help.
If it weren't for the support of the True Dragon Society's intelligence network, he alone would probably be like Amemiya Hiroto now, like a headless fly, unable to find any trace of Takeru.
"We've found Takeru. He's currently hiding in a very secluded apartment, and it seems... he's living with a woman."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded, instantly understanding what stage the situation had reached.
It seems it's necessary to meet this Amemiya Tatsuya tomorrow.
Why did Ryuzaki Shin tell Amemiya Hiroto before that Takeru had the same goal as him?
It was because he was very clear that Takeru's current goal was also to bring down the Kowloon Group!
To achieve this goal, he even risked his life, going undercover within the Kamizono Faction, a subsidiary of the Kowloon Group.
So now, Takeru should have already obtained incriminating evidence sufficient to deliver a fatal blow to the Kowloon Group.
It was about time he took that item for his own use.
Ryuzaki Shin extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand and said, "Alright, it's getting late. You all go back and rest."
He paused, then looked at Amber and instructed, "Especially you, Amber, get some more rest for a few days, conserve your energy, because there's going to be a tough battle ahead soon."
Amber laughed at the words and winked at him.
"You should also go up quickly. It's not a good habit to keep a woman waiting too long."
Ryuzaki Shin looked Amber up and down, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"You little virgin, do you understand women better than I do?"
After speaking, Ryuzaki Shin ignored him and turned directly to go upstairs.
Amber was stunned by his words, standing rooted to the spot, feeling incredibly depressed.
Damn it!
He's gotten the upper hand again!
How... how did he know I was still...
Kirisawa Jin, seeing this, rolled his eyes, stepped forward, patted Amber's shoulder, and whispered mysteriously, "Brother Amber, how about... we go get a foot massage?"
Ryuzaki Shin slowly went upstairs, arrived at Junko's door, took out his key, and opened the door.
"I'm here."
The room was dim, with only a small orange nightlight on in the direction of the bedroom, its light hazy and ambiguous.
Ryuzaki Shin changed his shoes and walked into the bedroom.
When he clearly saw the scene inside the bedroom, his eyes couldn't help but widen slightly.
Junko, at this moment, had changed into a black, lace-trimmed lingerie set.
Her fair hands wore cute white cat paw gloves, and she had a pair of fluffy black cat ears on her head.
She was sprawled on the soft, large bed, facing him, in an extremely alluring pose.
Seeing Ryuzaki Shin enter, Junko extended her pink tongue, lightly licked the cat paw on her hand, and then let out a bone-melting meow at him.
"Meow~"
Oh, not bad.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the vivid and enticing scene before him and couldn't help but smile.
This woman certainly knows how to have fun.
He closed the door behind him and then began to take off his clothes one by one, muttering to himself.
"Bold demon! How dare you stir up trouble here! Watch this humble Taoist today, how I shall subdue you, this troublesome little cat demon..."
Soon, the "cat demon's" sounds, high and low, came from the bed, and a great battle instantly erupted...
Some people rejoice, while others grieve.
However, this time, quite a few people were sleepless through the night… In a private club on the top floor of an exclusive establishment in the east of the city, not open to the public.
A middle-aged man in a high-end tailored suit sat with a gloomy expression on a large leather sofa.
Four tall bodyguards stood around him, all with expressionless European faces.
The atmosphere in the entire room was terrifyingly oppressive, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Li walked in from outside.
Without a word, he immediately fell to his knees on the cold marble floor with a "thud."
"I'm sorry, Father! This plan… it failed…"
After speaking, he bowed his head deeply, not daring to look into his father's eyes.
The man sitting on the sofa was Li's father, Li Zaicheng.
He looked at his son kneeling on the ground, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, devoid of any warmth, his expression even gloomier than before.
Seeing his father remain silent, Li grew even more uneasy.
He knew his father's character all too well.
He was an absolutely ruthless man who judged by success or failure.
Even if he was his own son, having failed this time, he certainly wouldn't have a good outcome.
Thinking of this, a few drops of cold sweat uncontrollably dripped from Li's forehead.
Just then, Li Zaicheng finally spoke.
With a furious roar, he sternly shouted:
"Look at what you've done?! What did you, this brat, swear to me back then? You guaranteed there would be absolutely no mistakes! And now? Has it come to this?!"
Li Zaicheng was now burning with rage.
Back then, Li himself had thumped his chest, guaranteeing he could handle things perfectly!
And now?
Money was paid, and people from Century Warriors and DOUBT were hired.
The result was a loss of both people and money; not only was the matter not handled well, but it also caused a whole lot of trouble!
Not to mention the hundreds of people from DOUBT who were all in jail now!
It was hard to guarantee that no one inside would talk carelessly and drag their father and son into it!
Originally, they had fled to Sakura Country (Japan) in a hurry because of a failed political struggle!
If they were really implicated in this and targeted by the Sakura Country (Japan) government, would they still have a place to stay here?!
Li Zaicheng suddenly stood up from the sofa, looking down at his son kneeling on the ground, his eyes filled with disappointment.
"I knew it, you're just a good-for-nothing who can't accomplish anything but causes trouble! I shouldn't have entrusted such a heavy responsibility to you! From today onwards, you will reflect properly at home! You don't need to interfere in anything further!"
After saying this, Li Zaicheng no longer looked at him, turning and walking away directly.
The four tall European bodyguards also followed closely behind him like shadows, leaving the room together.
In the luxurious room, only Li remained, kneeling alone on the cold floor.
He slowly raised his head, his handsome face now filled with unwillingness and venom.
Li clenched his fists, making a "creaking" sound, then suddenly leaped up from the ground, letting out a roar!
"Ah—!"
Like a madman, he rushed to the wine cabinet nearby and swept all the expensive foreign wines, worth a fortune, onto the floor!
With a series of sharp "clattering" sounds, amber liquid mixed with glass shards splattered everywhere!
Immediately after, he kicked over the expensive mahogany coffee table and tore the soft cushions on the sofa into pieces!
Only after he had completely trashed the entire room did he stop, panting, his eyes bloodshot, letting out a frantic roar.
"True Dragon Society… I will definitely destroy you!!!"
...At the same time, Kowloon Group, Iemura-kai headquarters — Ryubi Building conference room.
The conference room was brightly lit.
Nikaido was the last to enter from outside.
He quickly walked to Iemura Tatsumi, who was sitting in the main seat, and bowed slightly.
Ryubi looked up at him, asking in a hoarse voice, "Have the committee members all been sent off?"
The "committee" Ryubi referred to was none other than the staff of the special committee established under the anti-boryokudan act.
For organizations like theirs, which had been officially designated as "specified boryokudan," committee members would come once a month for a regular audit and inquiry.
They would strictly examine every account and all financial movements of the Iemura-kai.
This month, they had just given Amber a huge sum of 3 billion.
They had put in a lot of effort to create a flawless set of fake accounts for those 3 billion.
But the committee members were not fools either.
They still sensed that something was amiss, which was why they had kept Nikaido, questioning him until now.
Nikaido straightened up and respectfully replied, "Yes, Chairman, they have all been sent off just now, but they said they would come again after a while."
Upon hearing this, Ryubi's expression visibly darkened, but he didn't say much, just nodded wearily.
Nikaido bowed deeply once more, then returned to his seat.
Ryubi scanned the silent executives below, and slowly began to speak, his voice betraying no emotion.
"Amber's group… they failed."
The battle took place right under their noses in the Higashi-ku coastal area.
Naturally, they received the news immediately.
After all, the police had made such a grand show of force, it would have been hard for them not to know.
The executives present, hearing Ryubi's words, all lowered their heads, not knowing how to respond, and could only remain silent.
Seeing these people act like mutes, Ryubi grew even more irritable.
This was already the Iemura-kai's last attempt to regain control of the S.W.O.R.D. District.
If this attempt also failed, they wouldn't know where else to find external help.
Most critically, there were only three days left until the deadline agreed upon with the headquarters!
Was he really going to have to admit his incompetence to those old men at headquarters?
Ryubi gripped the armrest of his chair tightly.
He suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
He remembered back in the day, when he first embarked on this path, his heart was full of thoughts of living a life of swift retribution and roaming the underworld.
But he never expected that the higher he climbed, the less freedom he had.
Ryubi wearily rubbed his temples.
Suddenly, he let out a soft laugh, which grew louder and more frantic, though it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
The executives below, hearing Ryubi's laughter, buried their heads even lower.
At this moment, Ryubi suddenly thought of the True Dragon Society, which had risen so abruptly.
This mysterious organization had almost overnight dominated most of the S.W.O.R.D. District.
The Iemura-kai had suffered so many losses in the S.W.O.R.D. District; if you said it had no connection to this True Dragon Society, he wouldn't believe it for a second!
However, the most terrifying aspect of the whole matter was that they had never felt any direct hostility from the True Dragon Society from beginning to end!
That is to say, throughout the entire process, they had no idea what the True Dragon Society was doing or how it was strategically positioning itself in the S.W.O.R.D. District.
The Iemura-kai had simply proceeded according to its own preconceived, most logical course.
And then, as they went along, they walked themselves into a dead end.
Ryubi thought back to when he first took over the mess of the S.W.O.R.D. District, and at the time, he had only considered it a minor, harmless task.
He never expected… he had still underestimated the heroes of the world.
Ryubi slowly stopped smiling, and the coldness and sharpness returned to his murky eyes.
"Starting tomorrow, investigate for me! All information on this True Dragon Society! I want every single detail; dig up all their dirt for me!"
All the executives below immediately stood up in unison, bowed their heads, and responded in chorus:
"Yes!"
...The next day, noon.
On the outskirts of Higashi-ku, a vast Japanese estate.
The scale of this estate was remarkably extravagant in Sakura Country (Japan), where land resources are extremely scarce.
It not only featured traditional karesansui gardens but even a standard golf course.
To own a building of such grandeur here was testament to the immense power of the estate's owner.
In an elegant Japanese-style room within the estate, an elderly man with somewhat graying hair sat cross-legged on a tatami mat, leisurely sipping tea.
Although he appeared advanced in age, his upright posture and an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger made it impossible to underestimate him.
In front of him, a large LCD television was broadcasting a midday news report.
"…According to news just received by this station, last night, Officer Kirishima Saeko, Deputy Chief of the South City Police Station, personally led a team and successfully cracked the much-talked-about arson and explosion case in Nameless Street, apprehending over four hundred suspects on the spot…"
"According to a police announcement just released, the leaders of the criminal group, Hirai and Takano, have confessed to their crimes and revealed that the one who instructed them to commit arson was none other than Iemura Tatsumi, chairman of the Iemura-kai, a subsidiary of the Kowloon Group! Currently, the police are preparing to take further action regarding this…"
"…Previously, the Kowloon Group was already under strict regulation by the anti-boryokudan act; does the Iemura-kai causing such a stir at this time indicate that there are internal problems within the Kowloon Group? Our station will continue to follow this story…"
The old man slowly finished his tea, set down the cup, and a meaningful smile played on the corners of his mouth.
"Heh heh, there are rats digging holes. It seems the Kowloon Group has been too quiet these past years, and some youngsters have mistaken it for cheese to be nibbled at will."
The old man slowly stood up, and the large black haori behind him slid down.
On the back of the haori, nine intertwined, menacing golden dragons were embroidered!
That was the symbol of the Kowloon Group's highest authority…
Night fell.
On the eastern edge of Toyaru City, in an inconspicuous old apartment building.
Amemiya Tatsuya, carrying a bag of steaming hot food, hurried up to the third floor, took out his key, and opened the door to his residence.
Amemiya Tatsuya
The room's furnishings were simple.
He carefully placed the food he was carrying onto the table: hot soup, fried rice—all very homely dishes.
"Aika, come out and eat."
He called out gently towards the tightly shut inner room door.
Normally, as soon as Takeru called Aika's name, she would immediately scamper out of that small cubicle like a cheerful little rabbit to help him set the table.
But today was different.
There wasn't a single sound from Aika's room.
The next moment, Takeru suddenly heard intermittent, heavily suppressed sobs coming from Aika's room.
"Wuu... wuu wuu..."
The sound seemed as if her mouth was tightly gagged by something, wanting to speak but unable to.
In that instant, all of Takeru's muscles tensed!
A terrifying cold glint flashed in his eyes, which usually held a touch of melancholy!
Over the past year, to investigate the truth behind his parents' mysterious deaths, he had gone undercover, using an assumed identity, and infiltrated the Kamizono Faction, a subsidiary of the Kowloon Group.
Last month, a highly righteous lawyer in Toyaru City had been speaking out for ordinary citizens oppressed and persecuted by the Kamizono Faction.
By chance, this lawyer obtained a piece of criminal evidence from a victim, enough to bring down the Kowloon Group.
Precisely because of this, he was quickly targeted by the ruthless Kamizono Faction and brutally murdered.
And this tragically deceased lawyer was Aika's father.
The lawyer seemed to have had a premonition before the Kamizono Faction came for him.
He had given that crucial piece of criminal evidence to his beloved daughter, Aika, in advance, and tried every possible way to send her away, hoping she could escape.
But how could the deranged Kamizono Faction easily let her go?
They quickly issued the highest-level kill order for Aika.
Takeru proactively rescued Aika from being hunted and hid her in his absolutely safe residence.
This was the entire story of how the two met.
Aika, like Takeru, had lost her closest family due to the evil Kamizono Faction.
Therefore, Takeru could deeply understand the pain and hatred in Aika's heart.
The two young people, both burdened by deep-seated vengeance, gradually developed feelings for each other as they leaned on and comforted each other.
It was just that neither of them had actively broken that thin barrier.
And at this moment, Takeru's heart was instantly enveloped by immense fear!
Takeru took a deep breath, having already considered the worst possible scenario—
The Kamizono Faction had finally found them!
He no longer hesitated, his steps steady as he walked towards Aika's room!
However, when he rushed into the room and clearly saw the scene inside, he froze.
In the room, Aika was tied to a chair with ropes, her mouth tightly bound with yellow tape, unable to make any sound.
Aika
The moment Takeru clearly saw this scene, the huge stone hanging in his heart finally dropped.
He let out a sigh of relief.
It's good that she's okay.
As long as she's still here, as long as she's still alive, there's still a chance to salvage everything.
Just then, Aika, tied to the chair, saw Takeru and began to struggle desperately, making "wuwu" sounds with her mouth, while frantically winking at him.
Takeru followed Aika's gaze and looked towards the corner of the room.
He saw a man wearing a distinctive z mask leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, leisurely sizing him up.
The moment Takeru saw this man, his pupils suddenly contracted!
As someone who had already stepped into the realm "Beyond Legend," he was naturally much stronger than those at the legendary level.
Individuals at the legendary level and below could not accurately perceive an opponent's strength before a battle; they could only know their depth after fighting.
However, at Takeru's level, he already possessed the ability to sense the strength of an opponent's aura!
Although Takeru looked at the man in front of him, who appeared nonchalant and harmless.
Yet, in his perception, the faint aura emanating from this man was like a raging torrent, making him feel as if a dormant evil dragon was letting out a silent roar!
This was an... absolute powerhouse!
Takeru slowly narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Who are you? What is your purpose?"
Ryuzaki Shin heard this and glanced at Takeru lazily.
"Who I am isn't important, Amemiya Tatsuya. Hand over what you have."
Takeru became even more vigilant when he heard the other party call him by his full name.
"What... thing are you talking about?"
Ryuzaki Shin stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point.
"You took a black USB drive from this woman. I want that thing, and I can unleash its maximum value."
Takeru was startled upon hearing this!
A USB drive?!
How did he know about this?!
This matter, besides himself and Aika, no third person should know about it!
Could it be... he is... "Are you from the Kamizono Faction?"
"Kamizono Faction?" Ryuzaki Shin scoffed dismissively, "What kind of low-class stray dog is that? Is he even worthy?"
He paused, a playful smile curling on his lips, and continued, "If I were to say my goal is also to bring down the entire Kowloon Group, you probably... wouldn't believe it, would you?"
Of course, that's what Takeru was thinking.
A mysterious stranger, just met, with an unknown background, claiming he could bring down a behemoth like the Kowloon Group the moment he opened his mouth.
And he wanted to take the crucial evidence that Takeru had painstakingly obtained after undercover for so long.
This kind of thing, no matter how he thought about it, didn't make sense.
Not giving him the item was the correct choice, wasn't it?
However, how should he deal with this person in front of him?
Takeru couldn't decide for a moment.
If only he and the other person were in this room, he probably would have already attacked.
But the most crucial thing was that Aika was also here.
What if he acted, and the other party, in desperation, harmed Aika?
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Takeru's conflicted expression and knew what he was thinking.
Did he really have to sit down and have a long talk with him?
Tell him everything about his identity and all his plans during this time, in detail?
And then what?
Even if the other party agreed with him and acknowledged that he was on the same side.
He wouldn't necessarily fully trust him.
And it was even less likely that he would so easily hand over that crucial evidence to him.
Ryuzaki Shin clearly understood that the Kowloon Group would act soon.
As a criminal organization of this scale, how could they all be idiots?
Someone inside must have already noticed him, and now he had to quickly acquire some key leverage.
Time was running out.
Just then!
[Ding! Detecting that the host is facing a critical choice, the God-tier Choice System is officially activated!]
[Option One: The Way of the Strong, no need for words! Actively challenge Amemiya Tatsuya, who is Beyond Legend, and let the world know that there can only be one person Beyond Legend! Completion Reward: Obtain the legendary skill [Close-Quarters Combat]!]
[Option Two: Appeal to emotions and reason, try to move Amemiya Tatsuya with sincere words and a common goal, persuade him to cooperate with you to jointly resist the Kowloon Group! Completion Reward: Obtain the title [Dove of Peace], after wearing it, any negotiation with anyone will make the other party calm down and unable to harbor any ill will towards you.]
[Option Three: Threaten the other party, if he doesn't agree to your demands, dispose of the woman in front of you and his two younger brothers as well! Completion Reward: Unlock the special domain [Aura of Sin], under the influence of this domain, all those with malicious intent will be more likely to submit to the host; while all those with righteous hearts will develop extreme aversion and hatred towards the host!]
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the three options that appeared in his mind, hesitating for a rare moment.
In the past, the three options given by the system often had very obvious advantages and disadvantages, and he could make the correct choice with little thought.
But this time, these three options could be said to each have their own merits.
The first option was simple: a real, no-holds-barred fight with Amemiya Tatsuya, who was right in front of him.
Why could Sonryu stand firmly "above legends"?
Physical fitness, nerve reaction speed, explosive power—these were the basics of basics, the threshold to becoming a legend.
Not to mention Amemiya Tatsuya, who stood above legends.
His various hardware indicators were naturally more than one level stronger than those of legendary figures.
And his truly terrifying aspect lay in his unique combat technique.
Actually, calling it a combat technique wasn't entirely accurate.
It was more like a combat instinct, an extreme premonition of danger.
What was the effect of the so-called "Zero-Distance Combat Art"?
To give the simplest example, he could calmly dodge high-velocity bullets at an incredibly close range.
This could no longer be simply described as "fast," but rather an absolute evasion, almost like a "mechanism."
This point was actually not fundamentally different from Junko's ability.
But the only difference was that Junko's ability was innate, an unreplicable talent.
And the abnormal thing about Amemiya Tatsuya was that his "Zero-Distance Combat Art" was actually something he himself created through countless life-and-death struggles!
It could be mastered through rigorous, post-natal training!
There were three Amamiya Brothers in total.
As the eldest brother, Amemiya Tatsuya naturally taught this unique combat technique to his two younger brothers without reservation.
This was also the main reason why Amamiya Masaki and Amemiya Hiroto could firmly stand among the top tier of legendary figures.
To be honest, Ryuzaki Shin really wanted this skill.
After all, being able to dodge bullets at close range was already incredibly impressive.
"Everything is possible only when you are alive" – this was a principle Ryuzaki Shin had always believed in.
His hesitation was mainly due to the second option, the title "Peace Dove."
Its effect, simply put, was that in any conversation with anyone, the other party would not feel any hostility towards him.
This was somewhat equivalent to a conceptual skill, the highest realm of "talk-no-jutsu."
However, Ryuzaki Shin also keenly noticed the description in the middle—no hostility "during negotiations."
What about after the negotiations ended?
For example, if he were to directly approach Kowloon Group's leader, Kowloon Seshin, and engage in a friendly negotiation about how their two factions could coexist in the future.
Under the effect of the "Peace Dove" title, Kowloon Seshin might genuinely enjoy talking with him during the negotiation, getting along very well.
But what about after the negotiation ended?
This effect, based on the description, didn't seem to be continuous.
It merely temporarily changed the other party's attitude during face-to-face communication, rather than fundamentally altering their perception.
So, would the other party immediately turn hostile and go back on their word afterwards?
This skill seemed unreliable.
Ryuzaki Shin thought about it and decided against it.
As for the third option, there was no need to even mention it; he immediately passed on it.
Only a fool would want something with such obvious side effects.
Ryuzaki Shin silently chanted in his mind: "System, I choose one."
As he made his choice, a vast and pure stream of information instantly surged into his mind!
At that moment, Ryuzaki Shin suddenly felt that the outside world had become very noisy.
He could clearly hear the conversations of pedestrians on the street outside the window, the advertisements coming from a TV in a downstairs resident's home, the engine and horn sounds of cars driving on the distant highway, and even the subtle friction sound of the night breeze brushing against the window sill.
Ryuzaki Shin could even hear the strong, powerful "thump-thump" of his own heart, and even the sound of blood flowing in his veins became clearly audible.
The world before his eyes also seemed to slow down.
The subtle changes in Amemiya Tatsuya's expression, the constantly flickering tears in Aihua's eyes, all seemed to turn into a slow-motion film, even... with a faint, lingering afterimage.
This immense, overwhelming flow of information, rushing into his brain in an instant, caused Ryuzaki Shin's head to throb with a needle-like pain.
He couldn't help but frown, shaking his head slightly, trying to dispel this discomfort.
At this moment, he finally completely understood why "Zero-Distance Combat Art" allowed a person to dodge bullets at close range.
It was an extreme, superhuman level of perception!
When you can clearly perceive the incredibly minute muscle movements of the opponent's finger before they pull the trigger, when the trajectory of a bullet leaving the barrel becomes a slow-motion, capturable image in your eyes... then dodging it is no longer an impossible feat.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He concentrated all his will, beginning to forcefully discard unnecessary, redundant information from his perception, bit by bit.
The various noisy sounds outside the window gradually receded, faded, until they disappeared.
The world before his eyes also returned to its normal speed.
It wasn't until everything around him returned to the "normal" world he was familiar with that Ryuzaki Shin slowly opened his eyes.
Across from him, Amemiya Tatsuya was looking at him with a strange expression.
What was wrong with this guy?
Why hadn't he uttered a single word for so long?
Could he be plotting something nefarious?
And why was his expression sometimes a tight frown, and then sometimes showing a pained look?
Could it be... he suddenly fell ill?
But just then, Sonryu suddenly saw the man, who had been keeping his eyes closed, abruptly open them!
At that instant, Sonryu only felt as if two brilliant flashes of light flickered in the man's eyes!
And what made him even more incredulous was this:
In that split second, the man who had previously radiated a terrifying aura like a deep abyss dragon in his perception now seemed utterly unremarkable!
All his aura was perfectly concealed, as if... he were just an ordinary young man next door.
Sonryu naturally wouldn't be naive enough to think that the other party had suddenly become weak in that short few tens of seconds.
He suddenly thought of a situation that was almost impossible.
That was... the other party, in those brief tens of seconds just now... had become stronger!
Only by reaching a realm of returning to simplicity could one perfectly conceal one's aura in such a way!
Thinking of this, Sonryu unconsciously swallowed.
This... could this really be possible?
Just then, Ryuzaki Shin had finally completely adapted to the new sensation he had just acquired.
He slowly flexed his wrists, twisted his neck, and all the joints and bones in his body let out a series of "crackling" sounds.
An unprecedented feeling of exhilaration spread throughout his entire body.
Ryuzaki Shin raised his head, looked at Amemiya Tatsuya, who was highly vigilant, and a smile played on his lips.
"Come on, let me witness what it means to be above legends."