On the apartment rooftop, the night wind howled, making clothes flap loudly.
Ryuzaki Shin stood in the center of the rooftop, and a few steps behind him, Amemiya Tatsuya also followed him up.
Sonryu had no choice.
All he wanted now was to quickly defeat this mysterious man in front of him and take Aihua away from here.
This place had been exposed.
Leaving as soon as possible was the wisest choice.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly turned around, looking at the man who, like himself, stood at the pinnacle of strength in Toyaru City.
He smiled and elegantly made a 'please' gesture.
Sonryu's gaze was serious, and he slowly walked towards Ryuzaki Shin, one step at a time.
Just as only a few steps remained between them!
Sonryu suddenly unleashed his power!
His formerly slow steps became as fast as lightning!
He charged forward like a cannonball, instantly reaching Ryuzaki Shin!
A powerful straight punch, heavy with force, aimed directly at Ryuzaki Shin's face!
However, just as his fist was about to hit its target!
Ryuzaki Shin leaned back, narrowly dodging the punch!
At the same time, Sonryu's other foot, with a sharp whistle tearing through the air, fiercely swept towards Ryuzaki Shin's lower body, which had yet to stabilize!
But Ryuzaki Shin seemed to have a 360-degree holographic view, his left leg shot up like lightning, precisely blocking the deadly kick!
"Bang!"
A dull thud echoed!
Immediately after!
While blocking the opponent's attack, Ryuzaki Shin twisted his waist sharply, using the momentum to deliver a swift and powerful side kick directly to Sonryu's waist!
However, Sonryu's reaction speed was equally astonishing!
He seemed to have anticipated Ryuzaki Shin's attack, forcefully twisting his body in mid-air, dodging the kick, while his other leg, like a battle-axe, chopped down from above towards Ryuzaki Shin's head!
Ryuzaki Shin's pupils contracted; he dared not meet it head-on and could only retreat!
Sonryu's earth-shattering axe kick finally landed heavily on the hard concrete ground!
"Boom—!"
A tremendous sound!
The concrete rooftop ground was actually cracked with spiderweb-like fissures by his kick!
Ryuzaki Shin seized the moment when his opponent's strength was exhausted, the old power gone and new power not yet born, stepping forward, his entire body like a taut bowstring, exploding instantly!
He delivered a standard cannon punch, directly smashing into Sonryu's chest!
The terrifying punch wind even blew Sonryu's bangs backward!
A sharp glint flashed in Sonryu's eyes!
He crossed his arms over his chest, taking the punch head-on!
"Thud!"
With a muffled thud like a heavy hammer hitting a cowhide drum, Sonryu was sent sliding back several meters by the immense force!
His feet plowed two clear marks into the concrete ground!
Before he could stabilize himself, Ryuzaki Shin's attack had already arrived!
He followed like a shadow, closing in with an incredibly swift elbow strike, aimed directly at Sonryu's temple!
Sonryu sharply turned his head!
"Bang!"
Ryuzaki Shin's elbow ultimately grazed his cheek and slammed heavily into the concrete wall behind him!
The thick wall instantly caved in, leaving a clear elbow print!
The rapid exchange of blows ended, and the two separated again, facing each other from a distance, their eyes serious.
Ryuzaki Shin's expression became somewhat solemn.
It seemed it would be impossible to take down this guy in a short amount of time.
First, he hadn't expected the opponent's physical strength to be so high.
One of the most obvious ways Ryuzaki Shin was stronger than those legendary figures was the terrifying defensive power brought by his Bronze Skin and Iron Bones (a formidable defensive physique/skill).
However, judging from Sonryu's performance in the fight just now, the hardness of his body seemed to be not much different from his own Bronze Skin and Iron Bones (a formidable defensive physique/skill)!
If that was the case, this fight probably wouldn't end quickly.
On the other side, Amemiya Tatsuya was also quite shocked.
Although he was introverted and had never been particularly impressed by the outside world's evaluation of him as "Beyond Legend."
But that didn't mean he wasn't a proud person at heart.
Sonryu never believed that anyone in all of Toyaru City could rival him in pure combat skills and physical prowess.
But today, this mysterious man in front of him had somewhat refreshed his worldview.
Over the years, to investigate the truth behind his parents' deaths, he had secretly contacted all the major and minor criminal organizations in Toyaru City, yet he had never heard of such a person.
Moreover, the opponent's combat skills and physical fitness were completely on par with his own!
Both sides understood very well that today would be a grueling and arduous battle!
The next moment, the two said no more, their bodies moving simultaneously, once again like two cannonballs, fiercely clashing!
Fists and feet met, figures intertwined!
The two engaged in a dazzling, high-speed offense and defense on the small rooftop!
Their exchange was incredibly fast, so fast that only blurry afterimages could be seen, constantly colliding and separating!
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Dull thuds, like rapid drumbeats, continuously echoed on the rooftop!
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged over a hundred moves!
Just then!
Ryuzaki Shin seized a tiny opening in his opponent's defense and unleashed an incredibly swift jab!
Sonryu leaned back, narrowly avoiding the punch.
However, Ryuzaki Shin's punch still grazed the corner of his shirt at his chest, causing a tearing sound of fabric!
Sonryu's expression changed!
He quickly retreated several steps, creating distance from Ryuzaki Shin!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at his opponent; from his perspective, Amemiya Tatsuya still showed no signs of being out of breath or flushed.
But this was merely an illusion.
In Ryuzaki Shin's extraordinary perception, he could clearly sense that his opponent's breathing rhythm was more than a little faster than it was at the beginning of the fight.
Ryuzaki Shin's lips curved into a slight smile.
Just as expected!
The reason was simple: Amemiya Tatsuya's stamina was beginning to decline.
As a figure beyond legend, casually taking down a few hundred miscellaneous thugs might not even make him break a sweat.
However, this brief hundred-plus-move, high-speed exchange with Ryuzaki Shin was far more exhausting than dealing with those few hundred thugs!
This was like a world-class marathon runner.
If you asked him to run ten kilometers at a steady pace, he might feel like he's just warmed up.
But if you demanded he run those ten kilometers at a sprint pace, you'd see if he could finish.
Now, the fight between Ryuzaki Shin and Sonryu was based on this principle.
In this duel between two top masters, the physical exertion of each exchange was secondary.
The main thing was that it was incredibly mentally taxing!
High mental concentration was far more fatal than physical fatigue!
It's like when you were a child, playing basketball with friends at the playground all afternoon, you might not feel anything.
But after coming back, if you were asked to quietly do a math test, you would feel dizzy, lightheaded, and utterly exhausted.
Ryuzaki Shin had experienced countless battles, big and small, and he understood very well that at this moment, he had to strike while the iron was hot, and absolutely not give his opponent any chance to catch his breath!
Ryuzaki Shin gave Sonryu no time to breathe, pouncing forward again!
Sonryu saw this and inwardly cursed, "Oops!" (Oh no!)
The opponent had indeed discovered that his condition was declining!
The two once again clashed like a storm, exchanging another hundred moves in an instant!
However, this time the scene was completely different from the beginning.
It had now completely turned into a one-sided, furious bombardment from Ryuzaki Shin!
Sonryu no longer dodged every one of Ryuzaki Shin's moves as he had at first.
For some moves, he actually began to choose to take them head-on!
His idea was simple and straightforward: to outlast him!
In a battle, no matter what, the defending party consumes far less physical energy than the attacking party.
Sonryu gritted his teeth and resisted with difficulty.
But the more he fought, the more his heart was alarmed!
Why?
Why was the opponent's offensive not only showing no signs of weakening, but actually seemed to be getting stronger with each wave?!
Ryuzaki Shin naturally sensed Sonryu's inner confusion, but he offered no explanation, merely increasing the force of his blows!
If someone were to defeat Ryuzaki Shin now, the first thing he would have to do is break through his Bronze Skin and Iron Bones (a formidable defensive physique/skill) defense!
If one couldn't even break Ryuzaki Shin's defense, then everything else would be futile!
The endless stamina in battle was Ryuzaki Shin's ultimate trump card.
As long as the fight with Ryuzaki Shin turned into a prolonged battle, the opponent would only face death!
But, did anyone in this world truly have fists harder than bronze and iron?
Sonryu simply stopped dodging!
He abruptly stopped, crossed his arms, tensed all his muscles, and shielded his front, adopting a head-on defensive stance!
He could only tell himself that this must be Ryuzaki Shin's final burst of power!
As long as he could endure it, victory would surely be his!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Sonryu, who was completely wrapped up like a turtle retreated into its shell, and couldn't help but mock:
"Amemiya Tatsuya, show your turtle head!"
The moment his words fell, Ryuzaki Shin unleashed a fierce punch!
This punch seemed to suck all the surrounding air out, smashing towards Sonryu with overwhelming force...
Ryuzaki Shin's powerful punch, accompanied by a whistling gale, actually produced a piercing sonic boom in the air!
"Boom—!"
This punch was not a simple one.
Instead, it was the strongest blow Ryuzaki Shin had unleashed with all his might since coming to this world!
This punch perfectly integrated the unyielding inch-force of Jeet Kune Do!
In that instant, he mobilized every muscle in his body, concentrating all his power without reservation into this single punch!
The next second, this punch solidly struck Amemiya Tatsuya's crossed, blocking arms!
"Dong—!"
Like an ancient temple bell struck by a heavy hammer!
Amidst the muffled roar, an invisible internal force, flowing through Sonryu's blocking arms, instantly permeated his entire body!
Sonryu only felt a terrifying power raging wildly within his body!
The flesh all over his body rippled like the surface of a lake after a stone is thrown into it!
"Pfft!"
His internal organs seemed to have been injured by this domineering internal force!
After a surge of churning blood and qi, Sonryu could no longer suppress it, and he suddenly spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his entire body uncontrollably flying backward!
While Sonryu was still flying backward in the air, Ryuzaki Shin's figure followed closely!
Strike while the iron is hot!
Spear Hand!
Side Kick!
Hooking Hand!
Ryuzaki Shin's attacks came one after another, as fast as lightning!
His fierce and sharp elbow strike landed squarely on the vital spot of Sonryu's chest, who was still in mid-air!
Sonryu's eyeballs instantly bulged, and his entire body trembled violently!
Just as his body was about to fall, Ryuzaki Shin stomped with one foot, using the momentum to leap high, his knees together like a giant hammer descending from the sky, smashing fiercely onto Sonryu's lower abdomen!
Sonryu's body instantly arched upward like a cooked shrimp!
And driven by Ryuzaki Shin's terrifying downward force, he slammed Sonryu's body hard onto the concrete floor of the rooftop!
"Rumble—!"
An earth-shattering roar!
The thick concrete floor of the rooftop instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks!
Then it completely collapsed!
The two of them fell directly from the fourth-floor rooftop into a room on the third floor!
Rubble, rebar, and a sky full of dust poured down from the huge hole in the roof.
Ryuzaki Shin slowly stood up from the ruins, patted the dust from his clothes, his face still maintaining that calm and composed expression.
Just then, two hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Two men, one after another, came up from downstairs; it was Kirisawa Jin and Kohaku.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Kohaku coughed violently a couple of times, choked by the irritating dust in the room.
He fanned the dust away with his hand while complaining, "I mean, fighting is one thing, but do you have to make such a mess?"
However, when he clearly saw the person lying on the ground, all his subsequent words were instantly choked back.
The bright moonlight poured down from the huge hole in the roof, perfectly illuminating the figure lying quietly on the ground—Amemiya Tatsuya.
At this moment, Sonryu's clothes were already tattered from the fierce battle.
He was covered in rubble of various sizes, fresh red blood continuously flowed from his nose and mouth, and his body was still twitching slightly.
Kohaku was shocked.
He even unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
They had actually been waiting downstairs all this time.
Downstairs, there were dozens of elite True Dragon Society members.
But Ryuzaki Shin had not allowed them to come up, only telling them to wait quietly below.
After all, they were dealing with Amemiya Tatsuya.
If a group of people rushed up and stressed him out, it would be counterproductive.
Sonryu was not a bad person; he was to be recruited as a subordinate in the future.
Kohaku had been listening to the intense fighting upstairs, which sounded like thunder, and he was genuinely worried, which was why he insisted on coming up to check.
After all, he had always heard of the legend of Amemiya Tatsuya.
He was afraid that Ryuzaki Shin might suffer some loss here.
However, the scene unfolding before his eyes completely overturned his understanding.
He couldn't help but wonder if Ryuzaki Shin had held back when they fought on the rooftop that night...
Ryuzaki Shin paid no attention to the two shocked men behind him.
He merely glanced at Sonryu on the ground, said nothing more, and walked straight into the inner room.
Ryuzaki Shin went in, quickly untied the ropes from Aihua's body, and then ripped off the tightly stuck tape from her mouth.
As soon as Aihua regained her freedom, she violently pushed Ryuzaki Shin away and scrambled out!
When she saw Sonryu's miserable state on the ground, tears immediately streamed down her face!
She fell onto Sonryu's chest with a "thump" and burst into tears.
"Sonryu! Don't die!!"
"Wake up! Look at me! It's Aihua!"
"Please... don't leave me..."
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the woman crying hysterically before him and felt a headache coming on.
He walked over and said impatiently, "Alright, alright, you're acting like it's a funeral! He's not dead yet, if you keep crying like this, you'll really cry him to death!"
In fact, Sonryu had not fainted.
He just felt like all the bones in his body had come apart, and he had suffered extremely severe internal injuries, making him unable to move for a while.
Hearing Ryuzaki Shin's words, Sonryu struggled with difficulty.
Seeing this, Aihua quickly and carefully helped him up from the ground.
Sonryu slowly leaned against the wall and sat on the ground.
Ryuzaki Shin walked up to him, looking down at him with cold eyes.
"Hand over the USB drive, and I promise this matter ends here; I will never trouble you again. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee that I won't do something that makes both parties unhappy."
"Now make your choice..."
Sonryu's gaze briefly lingered on Ryuzaki Shin's expressionless face before shifting to Aihua, who was sobbing uncontrollably beside him.
Aihua's fear was palpable; every inch of her skin trembled, and her beautiful eyes were filled with despair.
Ryuzaki Shin, however, simply stood there, like a lifeless statue, cold, hard, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
A surge of anger flared up from the depths of Sonryu's heart.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly from the excessive force, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged like coiling, enraged dragons.
For this moment, for this tiny USB drive, how much had he sacrificed?
How many innocent people's blood had stained this path?
Was he really going to surrender everything here, because of a woman's tears, because of his own incompetence?
Yet, this towering rage, upon meeting Aihua's desperate eyes, was instantly extinguished as if doused with ice water.
His fists slowly unclenched, each finger feeling as heavy as a thousand catties.
Finally, only a long sigh remained, filled with weariness and unwillingness.
Sonryu struggled to stand up, the sharp pain in his chest making every breath feel like a knife's cut; he tried to support himself with his arms, but his injuries were too severe, rendering his efforts futile.
Seeing this, Aihua, disregarding her own fear, quickly stepped forward and laboriously helped him up with her slender shoulders.
Her body still trembled, but her movements were resolute.
The two stumbled into the inner bedroom. Sonryu leaned against the wall and pointed to a cabinet in the corner.
Aihua understood, hurried over, and moved the cabinet, revealing a section of the floor that was slightly different in color from the wall behind it.
Sonryu gestured for her to press down, and with a soft 'click,' a hidden compartment slowly sprang open.
Inside, a black USB drive lay silently.
Ryuzaki Shin stood with his hands in his pockets, following Sonryu unhurriedly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he were merely watching a play whose ending he already knew.
Sonryu did not look at the hidden compartment; instead, he turned and looked at Ryuzaki Shin with an extremely complex expression.
He sighed deeply again, this time with an unspeakable pain in his eyes.
So many years... was it really going to end like this?
His gaze once again fell upon Aihua, who stood beside him with fear in her eyes.
Her pale little face completely shattered the last shred of hope in his heart.
Sonryu closed his eyes, his arm incredibly heavy, but he resolutely handed over the USB drive.
"You win. Now you can leave," his voice was hoarse, every word seemingly squeezed from deep within his throat.
Ryuzaki Shin extended his hand and pinched the USB drive with two fingers.
He casually tossed it twice in his hand, then slipped it into his pocket.
Just as Sonryu and Aihua both thought the matter was over, and their taut nerves relaxed slightly, in that very second...
Ryuzaki Shin suddenly attacked!
He took a step forward, instantly closing the distance.
Sonryu didn't even have time to react, only feeling a sharp gust of wind rush towards him!
Ryuzaki Shin's hand-chop landed precisely and viciously on the side of Sonryu's neck. With a dull 'thud,' Sonryu's vision went black, and his consciousness was instantly stripped away.
Another hand-chop mercilessly struck the back of Aihua's neck. Aihua couldn't even let out a gasp before her body went limp.
Both bodies, like puppets whose skeletons had been removed, slumped onto the cold floor.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at the two on the ground, his eyes completely unruffled.
He spoke indifferently.
"Kirizawa Jin, take these two to the hospital. Use some methods to keep Sonryu unconscious for a while. As for Aihua, confine her to the hospital as well, and keep a close watch on her."
Kirizawa Jin, standing at the door, respectfully nodded. He walked to the window and made a concise and powerful gesture downwards.
Soon, several subordinates in black suits quickly came upstairs, silently lifted the unconscious Sonryu and Aihua, and swiftly left downstairs.
Amber had been standing by, watching Ryuzaki Shin complete all of this, before asking, "What's your next plan?"
Ryuzaki Shin slowly took off his mask, revealing his stark, angular face.
He took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.
"That's not the right question. It should be, what is Kowloon Group's next plan?"
Amber's brows furrowed slightly, clearly a bit confused.
Ryuzaki Shin shook his head, finding it somewhat tiresome to talk to a fool.
However, he had obtained what he wanted, so he was in a relatively good mood and patiently explained.
"We can only improvise now. After all, dealing with an economic gang like Kowloon Group, it's not like I can just gather a bunch of people and directly storm their headquarters; only an idiot would do that."
"We need to make arrangements both overtly and covertly, and then..."
His gaze inadvertently swept over the pocket where he kept the USB drive, a cold gleam flashing deep in his eyes.
"...only then can we use this bomb to blow them to smithereens."
...The next day, at noon.
East of the city, Kowloon Building.
In the conference room on the top floor, the atmosphere was exceptionally heavy.
Thick curtains blocked out all sunlight, with only a few candles emitting dim light, casting shadows over everyone's faces.
The elderly man seated at the head of the table was Kowloon Seshin, the founder of the Kowloon Group.
He sat with his eyes closed, like an old monk in meditation.
Below him were the presidents of the eight largest branch associations of the Kowloon Group.
No one spoke in the entire conference room; even their breathing seemed to be suppressed to the lowest possible level.
The air seemed to solidify, filled with the oppressive feeling of an impending storm.
Iemura Tatsumi, the president of the Iemura-kai, could feel several faint gazes drifting towards him, intentionally or unintentionally.
Ryubi
Each gaze was like a needle, making him restless.
He understood what everyone wanted to know, what they wanted to ask.
Silence would not solve the problem; it would only make him appear more incompetent.
He took a deep breath and could only speak first, breaking the death-like silence.
"The regulations of the Anti-Organized Crime Law are getting stricter and stricter. Our Iemura-kai simply can't resolve issues on our own; we're constrained in everything we do."
"And that's not the most serious part. The most serious part is that our businesses outside have also been severely affected."
Ryubi looked up at the people around him.
No one's face showed any expression, but their intrigued looks made him realize that his explanation had not satisfied anyone.
He could only steel himself and continue:
"We made a good amount of money before, so we can still hold on for a while, but if things continue like this, our capital chain will eventually break."
Ryubi was very clever; he didn't discuss the defeat in the S.W.O.R.D. District. Instead, he started by talking about the Iemura-kai's economic situation, which had worsened after stepping into the spotlight and facing the Anti-Organized Crime Law's control.
This was also true.
The Iemura-kai's main source of economic income was none other than the new drug "Red Rum," from which it had prospered, long having formed a path dependency.
Now, following the general direction of the Kowloon Group and stepping into the public eye, the drug business couldn't be abandoned, but this brought up a huge problem—the flow of funds.
Once targeted by the Anti-Organized Crime Law committee, company accounts would be subject to extremely strict supervision, and any unexplained funds would be frozen and investigated.
This dealt a fatal blow to the recovery of funds from the drug business.
A large part of the reason why the Iemura-kai was so eager to occupy the S.W.O.R.D. District was to break free from its dependence on drugs.
It wasn't about abandoning drugs, but about "opening up new sources."
With its own territory, it could create more stable and secure ways to make money.
Just then, an elderly man with white hair, wearing a loose white robe, and with a lean face, slowly fanned himself with a folding fan and asked in a flat, emotionless tone:
"Haven't taken the S.W.O.R.D. District yet?"
The one who spoke these words was none other than the Kurosaki Faction's leader—Kurosaki Kuniryu.
His voice was low, devoid of any emotion, as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
However, this seemingly light question, in the dead silent meeting room, was like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at Iemura Tatsumi's chest.
Ryubi's heart sank.
A cold bead of sweat trickled down his temple, silently tracing his cheek, finally dropping onto the polished ebony floor, splashing a barely perceptible ripple.
He understood. Kurosaki Kuniryu had mercilessly asked the question everyone wanted to know but had refrained from voicing directly out of politeness.
This was not an inquiry; it was an interrogation.
Why is the Kowloon Group called the Kowloon Group?
Because this massive organization was originally formed by nine major powers.
Among them, the most core and largest force, named "Kowloon Seshin Faction," was personally founded by the Group's president, and now the sole authority, Kowloon Seshin.
The Kowloon Seshin Faction, along with the eight organizations it supported and integrated, together formed the formidable Kowloon Group.
Kurosaki Kuniryu appeared to be roughly the same age as the meditating Kowloon Seshin, both already white-haired elders.
But every core member of the Kowloon Group knew that Kurosaki Kuniryu was an old guard who had followed Kowloon Seshin through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to establish this empire, truly his right-hand man.
His reverence and loyalty to Kowloon Seshin were ingrained in his bones.
Therefore, after the Kowloon Group was established, the immensely powerful Kowloon Seshin voluntarily suggested that Kurosaki Kuniryu leave the Kowloon Seshin Faction and form his own faction, providing him with considerable assistance in resources and connections.
This led to the formation of the two core pillars of the current Kowloon Group.
One is the "Kowloon Seshin Faction," directly led by Kowloon Seshin, serving as the Group's main body.
The other is the "Kurosaki Faction," personally founded by Kurosaki Kuniryu, with unfathomable strength.
The other seven forces, in every aspect, could not compare to these two major powers.
Furthermore, with Kowloon Seshin advanced in age and already contemplating retirement, everyone within the Group knew that the next leader of the Kowloon Group would most likely be this Kurosaki Faction leader.
Thus, Kurosaki Kuniryu's words at this moment carried almost the same weight as if Kowloon Seshin himself had spoken them.
How could Iemura Tatsumi not be nervous? How could he not be afraid?
Kurosaki Kuniryu saw that Ryubi remained silent for a long time. His wrinkled face still showed no expression, and his tone remained that inscrutable calm.
"Have you encountered difficulties? Do you need my help?"
These seemingly concerned words, when heard by Iemura Tatsumi, were more grating than direct reprimand.
This was implying that his Iemura-kai was incompetent and needed the Kurosaki Faction to step in to resolve matters.
The humiliation and indignation in Ryubi's heart intertwined. He looked up, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible complaint, not directly answering the question.
"If I were to act again, I might not be able to protect myself. Lately, those guys from the Anti-Organized Crime Committee have been treating Ryubi Building like their own apartment, coming over for tea every day! I…"
Before Ryubi could finish his sentence, a voice with a hint of playful laughter directly opposite him interrupted him unceremoniously.
"Let me do it."
Ryubi's voice abruptly stopped.
He looked up, his sinister eyes fixed on the man sitting opposite him who had spoken those words.
It was none other than the leader of another major force within the Kowloon Group, the Kamizono Faction's leader—Kamizono Tatsumi!
Upon hearing Kamizono Tatsumi speak up, even the usually expressionless Kurosaki Kuniryu showed a rare hint of disdain, mixed with a touch of helplessness.
He frowned, but ultimately said nothing.
Kamizono Tatsumi wore a gentle smile, meeting the gaze of the ashen-faced Iemura Tatsumi opposite him, but his words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing into Ryubi's heart one by one.
"No money, no guns… what else can your Iemura-kai do?"
Boom!
It was as if a string snapped in Ryubi's head.
The veins on his forehead bulged, his aura became incredibly grim, and every word seemed to be squeezed out through clenched teeth.
"Baka yarou! You bastard, do you know what you're saying?"
After saying this, the look in Ryubi's eyes towards Kamizono Tatsumi was no longer mere anger, but undisguised murderous intent.
If looks could kill, Kamizono Tatsumi would probably have been flayed a thousand times over by now.
However, facing this almost palpable killing intent, Kamizono Tatsumi maintained his nonchalant smile, fearlessly meeting Ryubi's gaze.
Iemura Tatsumi, in terms of cunning and scheming, was indeed far inferior to Kamizono Tatsumi.
Why say this?
Because the role played by the Kamizono Faction, led by Kamizono Tatsumi, within the entire Kowloon Group, was specifically to do the dirty work and clean up messes for the Group.
They were responsible for making those who harmed the Kowloon Group's reputation or obstructed its business completely disappear from this world, using various methods.
In short, the Kamizono Faction was the Kowloon Group's shadowy enforcer.
In terms of deep cunning and ruthless methods, everyone present, one by one, probably couldn't compare to this smiling tiger, Kamizono Tatsumi.
As Ryubi trembled, stimulated by Kamizono Tatsumi's provocation, on the verge of erupting, the atmosphere around the conference table dropped to freezing point.
Just then, a man who had been standing beside Kowloon Seshin finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse and low, and as soon as he spoke, he drew everyone's attention.
The man ignored the impending conflict, instead fixing his gaze on Kamizono Tatsumi.
"Kamizono, is it true that the data was stolen?"
The person who said these words was none other than Liu Longren, the only son of Kowloon Seshin, who, after Ryuzaki Shin left the Century Warriors to go home to his mother, had been by his father's side ever since!
Liu Longren
His voice wasn't loud, but in the pin-drop silent conference room, it was like a clap of thunder, striking Kamizono Tatsumi directly on the head.
The frivolous, provocative smile that had been on Kamizono Tatsumi's face a second ago vanished instantly without a trace.
It was replaced by a cold solemnity.
Kurosaki Kuniryu asking about the battle situation in the S.W.O.R.D. District might not have been at Kowloon Seshin's direct instruction; it could have just been his routine accountability as the group's second-in-command.
However, for Liu Longren to proactively bring up the issue of the lost USB drive here, in front of everyone, it must represent Kowloon Seshin's personal will!
This was indeed the truth.
Some time ago, the Kowloon Group had painstakingly acquired the full development rights for the S.W.O.R.D. District from the government, planning to build Asia's largest luxury casino resort there.
There was nothing wrong with this in itself.
Casinos are legal in Sakura Country (Japan), and the process was legitimate.
But the problem was that the increasingly strict anti-gang laws placed many restrictions on economic-type gangs like the Kowloon Group, especially when participating in bids for such large-scale government projects, where the restrictions were so severe they were almost prohibitive.
Were there no other organizations interested in the development rights for the S.W.O.R.D. District?
What a joke.
It was the peak of Sakura Country (Japan)'s bubble economy, and the rich had more money than they could spend.
The nature of capital is to seek profit; it would never let money rot in the bank. Money making more money was the only creed.
Therefore, the undeveloped S.W.O.R.D. District, this fat piece of land flowing with milk and honey, was coveted not only by Toyaru City but by all the top financial groups in the entire Sakura Country (Japan), all wanting a piece of the pie.
For the Kowloon Group to snatch the development rights under such fierce competitive conditions, surrounded by wolves, the sheer number of shady power-for-money deals and untold bloody stories involved makes one shudder just to think about it.
And all this content, enough to overturn the entire country—these dirty deals, blood-stained agreements, and even evidence of certain key figures "disappearing"—was all stored on that tiny USB drive.
It's no exaggeration to say that if the contents of this USB drive were made public, even minister-level figures would fall.
The storm it would unleash would shake the entire Sakura Country (Japan).
Public trust in the government would instantly plummet to an all-time low!
For a disaster of this magnitude, would a small S.W.O.R.D. District still be important?
It's nothing at all.
If something like this really came out, what Kowloon Group, what century-old foundation? Most of the people present probably wouldn't see the light of day in their next lives.
Kamizono Tatsumi clearly understood this better than anyone. His expression instantly became extremely solemn, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't know what to say.
Liu Longren's eyes became exceptionally sharp at this moment. He pressed on, not backing down an inch.
Liu Longren
"You know what it means for that thing to be lost, don't you?"
Kamizono Tatsumi took a deep breath, forcing down the turmoil in his heart. He looked up, meeting Liu Longren's scrutinizing gaze, and said word by word:
"Don't worry, I've already started working on it."
...Inside a windowless room, only the indicator lights of server racks and dozens of display screens emitted a faint blue glow.
This was the most advanced private intelligence monitoring center in the city, with every piece of equipment representing a perfect blend of technology and money.
Shadow Dragon General Kazama Kaoru sat in front of the main console, his hands rapidly typing on the keyboard, as complex strings of code scrolled quickly across the screen in front of him.
Behind him, Izaki Shun and Tokaji sat to his left and right, respectively, intently staring at several of the display screens, which showed real-time surveillance footage from various corners of the city.
When facing the choice, they carefully considered their own strengths.
In terms of direct confrontation, they might not be as good as those natural fighting beasts, but in terms of patience, observation, and execution, they had their own advantages.
Ultimately, they chose to work under Kazama Kaoru, who specialized in intelligence and stealth.
During this time, they learned too much from Kazama Kaoru.
Stealth, assassination, intelligence reconnaissance, anti-tracking... their training had long since moved beyond the scope of street brawls.
Suddenly, after a soft "beep-beep," the heavy alloy security door hissed as its pressure valve released air, then slowly slid open to one side.
Hearing the sound, Izaki Shun, Tokaji, and Kazama Kaoru, who were working, almost simultaneously turned their heads. Upon seeing the newcomer, expressions of pleasant surprise immediately appeared on their faces. They stood up in unison and exclaimed in one voice:
"Boss, you're here!"
The person who arrived was Ryuzaki Shin.
He casually closed the door and walked in front of the three, his gaze sweeping over them before finally resting on Izaki Shun and Tokaji. He heavily patted their shoulders.
"Haven't seen you in a while, you've gotten a lot sturdier."
Izaki Shun and Tokaji exchanged glances and both grinned.
Although they weren't under Ishida Goro undergoing purely physical grinding, the intensity of their training was no less, and perhaps even more.
Because they were engaged in stealth assassination work, they underwent the most brutal special training.
Climbing slippery cliffs and precipices in heavy rain;
Conducting simulated urban warfare in abandoned factory districts, where bullets, though not lethal, could still tear through flesh;
Undergoing extreme marches with heavy loads in swamps, where a slight misstep could mean being trapped forever.
It could be said that every one of their training sessions was accompanied by life-threatening danger.
This forged their current strength, which could no longer be measured by the five major systems of S.W.O.R.D.
They practiced pure killing techniques.
As long as the target died, they would stop at nothing: poisoning, sniping, hidden weapons, traps.
Therefore, pure hand-to-hand combat strength did not fully represent their intensity.
To put it bluntly, if Tokaji and Izaki Shun were to team up to assassinate a legendary-level boss now, their chances of success would be very high.
The two smiled but didn't say much.
Because they knew that Ryuzaki Shin's personal visit surely meant important business.
Ryuzaki Shin walked over to Kazama Kaoru and, looking at the stagnant progress bar on the screen, directly asked:
"How is it? Have you decrypted the USB drive's password?"
Kazama Kaoru wearily rubbed his temples, a hint of frustration on his face.
"It's a bit tricky. Every time I try to decrypt it, it immediately triggers the USB drive's internal self-protection program. This program is very problematic; it starts a countdown, and once the time is up, it automatically destroys all internal data. So, Boss, you understand, I dare not continue."
Although Kazama Kaoru was extremely proficient with various monitoring and eavesdropping devices, he only had a superficial understanding of this military-grade encryption programming and was indeed unable to decrypt it.
After hearing this, Ryuzaki Shin knew that it had exceeded Kazama Kaoru's capabilities.
He didn't say much, just nodded, and took the small USB drive from Kazama Kaoru's hand.
Ryuzaki Shin held the USB drive and paced back and forth in the room, deep in thought.
The others in the room also held their breath, not daring to make any sound to disturb him.
Let the professionals do professional things.
This was Ryuzaki Shin's long-held motto.
To decrypt this thing, he definitely needed to find someone with top-notch knowledge in this area.
But his subordinates were all a bunch of soldiers who only knew how to fight and kill; there were no intellectuals among them.
Although Nanako was a university professor, her field was completely irrelevant.
Should he find a hacker from society?
Ryuzaki Shin thought about it and quickly dismissed the idea.
This matter was too important; once leaked, it would lead to eternal damnation.
His group were all laymen; if they brought in an outsider, they would have no way of knowing if the other party tampered with the data.
Ryuzaki Shin continued to pace, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter, feeling for the first time how troublesome the situation was.
Time passed minute by minute, and just as he was about to hit a dead end, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.
How could he have forgotten that woman?
Upon thinking of this person, Ryuzaki Shin stopped, his expression instantly relaxing.
He said to the others in a deep voice:
"I still have things to attend to. Remember, this matter must be kept a secret, don't mention it to anyone, not even your closest people."
Hearing Ryuzaki Shin's solemn warning, Kazama Kaoru and the other two's expressions immediately became extremely serious, and they nodded in unison.
"Yes!"
...After Ryuzaki Shin left the intelligence room, he didn't go far, just sat casually on a bench by the roadside.
He took out his phone, his fingers rapidly sliding across the screen. He scrolled for a long time before finding the phone number he hadn't contacted in a long time and pressed the dial button.
The phone rang only a few times before it was answered.
Once the call connected, the coldness on Ryuzaki Shin's face instantly melted, replaced by a somewhat lazy and magnetic tone as he chuckled softly into the receiver:
"Beautiful lady, long time no see. I wonder if I have the honor of having dinner with you tonight..."
In the heart of Toyaru City, Starlight Capital.
Inside the CEO's office on the top floor of the skyscraper, the city's prosperity was visible through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.
The interior decoration was minimalist, yet every piece of furniture and every ornament exuded expense and taste.
"President, these are our investment recommendations for the upcoming projects. Please take a look."
Asano Kaori, dressed in a well-tailored business suit, gently placed a thick document on the large CEO's desk.
Sitting in the leather chair, a symbol of absolute power, was Xiao You's older sister, the current head of the Sasaki Family—Sasaki Kyoko.
Kyoko did not speak immediately. She simply extended her slender fingers, opened the document, and calmly scanned through each line.
Her gaze was focused and sharp, as if it could penetrate the paper to reach the essence behind the projects.
For a moment, only the faint rustling of paper could be heard in the office.
Ten minutes later, Kyoko finished reading the last line.
She casually placed the document, which represented weeks of Natsuri's hard work, lightly on the desk.
"Natsuri, I can see you've done a lot of work, but these projects either have too long a return cycle or too thin a profit margin."
Kyoko's words were calm.
She acknowledged Natsuri's capability; this proposal meticulously listed and analyzed every worthwhile investment project and company in Toyaru City.
However, the Sasaki Family had come to Toyaru to rise again.
To exaggerate a bit, making money in the short term was secondary; what they wanted was to re-establish a solid foundation here.
Any investment had to be a direct investment in a core industry with great prospects and unlimited potential.
And most importantly, the entire process must not be overly exposed to the public.
Otherwise, those hungry wolves from Tokyo, those political enemies who once pushed the Sasaki Family off a cliff, would definitely smell blood immediately and deliver the most fatal political blow.
Asano Kaori had worked with Sasaki Kyoko for many years, and almost the moment Kyoko finished speaking, she understood the President's deeper meaning.
"President, I understand. I considered too little. I will go and investigate further."
Kyoko, however, shook her head. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping the desk. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly asked:
"Have you investigated S.W.O.R.D. District?"
The reason Kyoko asked this was simple.
Some time ago, regarding the bidding for the casino resort construction project in S.W.O.R.D. District, she, representing the Sasaki Family, had thoroughly evaluated it.
If it came down to financial power, groups like Kowloon Group were mere juniors compared to the immense Sasaki Family.
The Sasaki Family could easily buy a hundred Kowloon Groups.
However, after much thought, Kyoko ultimately decided not to participate in the bidding.
Because once they became the leading party in this project, they would inevitably have to step into the spotlight and be scrutinized by everyone.
This would be equivalent to entrusting the entire southern area of Toyaru to the Sasaki Family to manage—too much commotion.
This would inevitably cause those with ulterior motives to notice everything.
The current Sasaki Family could only lie low; they could not be ostentatious.
The best approach was to put forward a visible agent who appeared to have no connection with the Sasaki Family but whose interests were highly intertwined.
But now, to find such a capable and absolutely reliable person out of thin air was, frankly, too difficult.
Hearing Kyoko mention the word "S.W.O.R.D.," a man's figure inexplicably flashed through Asano Kaori's mind.
Her heart inexplicably quickened a few beats.
But the expression on her face remained calm as water, and she reported in an extremely professional tone:
"Our intelligence agency has already confirmed that S.W.O.R.D. District is now entirely under the control of the True Dragon Society, and the True Dragon Society has basically completed the acquisition of real estate in the main areas of S.W.O.R.D."
Upon hearing this, Kyoko's finger tapping on the desk slowed.
After a moment, she seemed to have made a decision.
"Alright, I understand, Natsuri. If you're too tired lately, you can take a rest. After what happened with Father, I finally understand that many things in the world cannot be rushed. Sometimes, one wrong thought can lead to eternal damnation."
Hearing Kyoko mention her father, Natsuri's heart also grew heavy.
She had personally witnessed how the Sasaki Family rose overnight in Tokyo and how it collapsed spectacularly on another night.
Natsuri just nodded silently, then turned and exited the CEO's office.
She hadn't walked two steps out of the office when her phone vibrated slightly in her pocket.
Natsuri stopped, took out her phone, and when she saw the name displayed on the screen, a hint of bewilderment inexplicably appeared in her eyes.
Ryuzaki Shin.
What did it mean for this man to suddenly call?
After a moment of hesitation, Natsuri still slid the screen to answer the call.
As soon as she put the phone to her ear, Ryuzaki Shin's unique, somewhat lazy and magnetic voice came from the other end.
"Hello, beautiful lady, long time no see. I wonder if I might be so fortunate as to have dinner with you tonight?"
Ryuzaki Shin had prepared himself to be politely declined with various business-related excuses.
After all, in his limited impressions of this woman, she was like an emotionless, expressionless robot, never showing any superfluous emotions, doing everything as if executing a program.
Who knew, only Natsuri's cool and crisp voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Alright, see you there..."
...Night fell.
Toyaru City, "Moonlight Sonata" Music Restaurant.
This was one of the most upscale restaurants in all of Toyaru. Melodious piano music flowed through the air, and every guest was elegantly dressed and well-mannered.
Asano Kaori was still wearing the crisp business suit from earlier in the day, standing alone under the streetlamp at the restaurant's entrance, seemingly waiting for something.
The fitted uniform tightly hugged her well-proportioned body, and even in this professional attire, her striking curves could not be completely hidden.
The dim yellow light spilled over her, outlining an alluring silhouette.
Men passing by on the street couldn't help but frequently glance her way.
Her aura was cold and alluring, like a thorny ice rose, which only further ignited men's desire to conquer.
Finally, a handsome, well-dressed man, mustering his courage, approached Natsuri with a confident smile.
Natsuri's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
She didn't deny her charm as a woman, but she instinctively resisted such ordinary men's advances.
However, her upbringing had already equipped her with a set of standard phrases to deal with such situations.
No chat, no date, politely decline, no time.
Just as Natsuri quietly took a breath, preparing to utter all these emotionless words when the man reached her side.
Just then, Natsuri felt a sudden tightening around her waist, and a warm, firm force enveloped her. She was instantly pulled into a broad chest...
Asano Kaori only managed to let out a short gasp before an irresistible force pulled her into a firm embrace.
She subconsciously looked up, meeting Ryuzaki Shin's deep eyes.
The man who had just been full of confidence, impeccably dressed and ready to strike up a conversation, froze the moment he saw Ryuzaki Shin.
He seemed to be intimidated by the naturally emanating aura of danger and dominance from Ryuzaki Shin; his lips moved but he couldn't utter a single word, eventually just awkwardly touching his nose before quickly turning and leaving dejectedly.
Natsuri quietly glanced at Ryuzaki Shin.
She didn't know why, but despite only a month having passed, she felt the man before her had become even more handsome; his well-defined face seemed to have gained a depth it hadn't possessed before, and he exuded an indescribable temperament.
However, Asano Kaori was, after all, a core member meticulously trained by the Sasaki Family, not a naive young girl who would easily be flustered by a man.
Reason quickly regained its dominance.
She subtly exerted a little force, breaking free from Ryuzaki Shin's embrace.
"Mr. Ryuzaki, I don't think we are familiar enough for this; please be more respectful," her voice remained as cool and detached as ever, without a hint of superfluous emotion.
Ryuzaki Shin's thick skin was exaggerated; facing Natsuri's aloofness, he showed no embarrassment at all, instead, he offered a slightly apologetic smile.
"My apologies, Miss Natsuri, it has been a long time since we last met, and I missed you greatly; I was overcome with emotion and acted rashly, please do not blame me."
After saying this, he turned his body slightly and made an extremely standard and gentlemanly "please" gesture.
Asano Kaori said nothing more, turning and walking into the restaurant.
Ryuzaki Shin, a slight smile playing on his lips, followed closely behind her.
This music restaurant, "Moonlight Sonata," did not have traditional private rooms; the entire restaurant was a spacious and elegant hall.
At the end of the hall, there was a music stage bathed in soft light, where a blonde-haired, blue-eyed pianist was intently playing Chopin's nocturnes, while a violinist next to him, with eyes closed, drew his bow, and a melodious tune flowed like water throughout the restaurant.
As soon as Ryuzaki Shin entered, he spoke to the approaching waiter:
"A reservation for two."
He gave his name.
The waiter immediately bowed respectfully and led Ryuzaki Shin and Natsuri past several tables to a spot by the floor-to-ceiling window.
From there, the night view of Toyaru City could be seen in its entirety.
Ryuzaki Shin very gentlemanly pulled out a chair for Natsuri.
Natsuri gave a perfunctory nod and softly said, "Thank you."
Once they were seated, the waiter presented two exquisite menus.
Natsuri didn't even open the menu, stating directly:
"You order, I can eat anything."
Her daily life had always prioritized efficiency, and she had never been particular about food, as long as it filled her stomach.
Ryuzaki Shin seemed to have anticipated this; he had clearly done his homework.
He skillfully made a few marks on the menu and then handed it to the waiter.
The waiter took the menu, again bowing slightly before turning and silently departing to prepare the order.
What happened next, however, caught Ryuzaki Shin somewhat off guard.
Asano Kaori directly pulled out a document from her personal bag and began to read it, oblivious to her surroundings, as if she were not on a date but working overtime in her office.
This completely flustered Ryuzaki Shin.
"Oh my, Big Sis, are you that busy?"
Ryuzaki Shin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a hint of teasing in his tone.
"Miss Natsuri is truly busy with a myriad of affairs, seizing every moment."
Natsuri detected the teasing in Ryuzaki Shin's tone, but her face remained devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
She just looked down at her document, saying without lifting her head:
"I already had work to handle tonight; coming to see you has taken up my work time. If you have something to say, you can say it now."
Ryuzaki Shin raised an eyebrow, feeling his mood souring a bit.
He suddenly stood up, stepped to Natsuri's side, and with lightning speed, snatched the document from her hand, also grabbing her bag placed nearby, before slowly returning to his seat.
Natsuri finally looked up, her cool eyes fixed on Ryuzaki Shin.
"Give my things back."
Ryuzaki Shin merely smiled, placing the document and bag beside him.
"Natsuri, life is only a few decades long. Always looking down at the path will make you miss a lot of scenery. Sometimes, stopping to look up at the world, you'll find it much more interesting than the numbers in your documents."
His voice was slow, carrying a strange infectiousness.
Asano Kaori watched him quietly, and after a moment, she slowly said:
"That sounds nice, but everyone's fate is different. You don't understand how many people will rush past you, leaving you far behind, when you stop to admire the scenery."
Ryuzaki Shin shrugged, not responding to her statement.
It seems Asano Kaori is truly a top-tier corporate drone, destined for a life of toil.
Perhaps this also relates to everyone's experiences.
Seeing that Ryuzaki Shin didn't respond, Natsuri no longer insisted on getting her things back; she simply leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes to rest.
Upon seeing this, Ryuzaki Shin directly took Natsuri's bag and began to search through it; he wanted to see what else this woman's bag might contain besides documents.
After all, he was idle anyway.
His movements were light, like an elegant thief.
Soon, he found a passport in a hidden compartment of the bag.
Ryuzaki Shin casually opened it, glanced at the information inside, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Today was actually this woman's birthday.
Ryuzaki Shin tutted twice, thinking this woman lived too roughly, even forgetting her own birthday.
In fact, he didn't know that the real reason Natsuri had so readily accepted his invitation was precisely because she knew it was her birthday today.
She simply felt that today should be different from the past.
Otherwise, anything could have been discussed over the phone.
Natsuri rested with her eyes closed for a while, and the waiter had already approached with two silver platters.
When the platter covers were removed, one dish was "Pan-Seared Foie Gras with Black Truffle Sauce," and the other was "Slow-Roasted Australian M9 Wagyu Sirloin with Red Wine Sauce."
The exquisite presentation and enticing aroma filled the entire dining table with fragrance.
Natsuri's nose twitched slightly; she was indeed a bit hungry.
She had to admit, these dishes looked quite appealing.
Natsuri didn't stand on ceremony, directly picking up her knife and fork and quietly beginning to eat.
Ryuzaki Shin watched Natsuri's actions and suddenly snapped his fingers.
The waiter immediately came over: "Sir, how may I help you?"
A smile played on Ryuzaki Shin's lips.
"Bring a bottle of '82 Chateau Lafite Rothschild."
After the waiter left, Natsuri put down her knife and fork, looking at him and saying:
"I don't drink, thank you."
Ryuzaki Shin merely shook his head.
"Natsuri, do you know? People change; a person's mindset, preferences, all change with the experiences they go through."
Natsuri shook her head, her tone firm.
"In any case, I will not change."
No sooner had Natsuri finished speaking than a cold voice suddenly rang in Ryuzaki Shin's ear.
"Ding! Host detected facing a choice, God-tier Selection System activated!"
Ding! Detecting that the host is facing a choice, the God-tier Selection System is activated!"
"Option 1: In a person's life, there are not many days worth celebrating grandly. Tonight, please give this lady, who treats work as her everything, a unique birthday gift, letting her understand that besides KPIs, life also has poetry and distant places. Completion Reward: Obtain [Master-level Piano Performance Technique], with an additional complete collection of world-renowned musical scores."
"Option 2: Business is business, right? Then let's handle it as business. Directly confront Asano Kaori, discuss the decryption of the USB drive, and use binding by interest instead of emotional exchange. Completion Reward: Obtain skill [Negotiation Expert], significantly enhancing persuasiveness and insight."
"Option 3: Woman, you are playing with fire. Why are you pretending with me? Tonight, I'll show you what true cruelty is! Completion Reward: Grandmaster-level Bed Combat Technique."
Ryuzaki Shin's lips curved into an imperceptible arc.
These three options required almost no thought.
His current position was different, and his mindset naturally changed.
For different people and different matters, one should naturally have different attitudes.
Moreover, to be honest, Asano Kaori had not offended him. She merely expressed her true thoughts in the most direct way.
Establishing a cooperative relationship with such a person would actually make one feel more at ease.
Ryuzaki Shin's smile deepened.
He suddenly stood up, left his seat, and walked directly towards the brightly lit music stage.
Asano Kaori noticed the movement. She opened her eyes, watching Ryuzaki Shin's retreating back, thinking that her attitude had angered him and he was leaving early.
Who knew, Ryuzaki Shin did not walk towards the restaurant door, but instead directly ascended the music platform.
Natsuri saw Ryuzaki Shin begin to converse in a low voice with the blonde pianist, occasionally raising his hand to point in her direction.
After listening, the foreign pianist smiled gently, nodded repeatedly, and then actually stood up, yielding his seat, and even handed a microphone to Ryuzaki Shin.
Ryuzaki Shin took the microphone, cleared his throat, and the music in the entire restaurant abruptly ceased. Everyone's gaze converged on him.
"Good evening, everyone. I apologize for interrupting your enjoyment. Today is the birthday of a very important friend of mine. In the past, she always kept herself very tense, dedicating all her time and energy to work. I hope that from today onwards, she can live a little more relaxed and appreciate the beauty of this world."
Some guests noticed the seat Ryuzaki Shin had occupied before, and their gazes shifted towards it.
When they saw a woman with a cold and stunning demeanor sitting at the table, their faces showed expressions of understanding, and their eyes held a hint of benevolent amusement.
Natsuri felt as if she was enveloped by a spotlight, instantly feeling uneasy.
It wasn't social anxiety; it was just somewhat uncomfortable to be inexplicably stared at by a group of strangers.
However, at the same time, a peculiar, unprecedented feeling arose in her heart.
How... how did he know today was my birthday?
Could it be that the reason he specifically invited me out today was because he knew it was my birthday?
Natsuri's thoughts suddenly drifted back to that night in Karasumachi.
This man seemed to always play his cards unconventionally.
Those who came to dine at this restaurant were at least middle-class, with more open and romantic mindsets.
At this moment, they all cast their gazes with keen interest towards Ryuzaki Shin on the music stage, anticipating his performance.
Ryuzaki Shin silently recited in his heart.
"I choose one."
Boom!
An unimaginably vast torrent of information instantly surged into his mind!
Countless notes, melodies, fingerings, and music theory knowledge, like a bursting dam, roared and surged through his consciousness!
From Bach's rigor to Mozart's agility, then to Chopin's romance, Beethoven's grandeur... All piano masters' performance techniques and emotional understanding throughout history were, at this moment, forcibly instilled, fused, and finally became a part of his body!
This feeling was like a parched riverbed, dry for billions of years, suddenly being filled with the entire Pacific Ocean's water!
Ryuzaki Shin took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the entire world seemed to have changed.
He felt that the Steinway piano in his hands was no longer a cold instrument, but an extension of his body, an outlet for his emotions.
His fingers lightly rested on the black and white keys.
Ding... A series of clear, flowing prelude notes, like spring water, flowed from his fingertips.
This familiar yet romantic prelude immediately allowed many guests in the restaurant who frequently attended concerts to recognize it.
Ryuzaki Shin was playing the timeless masterpiece—'Ballade pour Adeline'—performed by Richard Clayderman in 197.
Some discerning music lovers in the audience even showed expressions of surprise.
Initially, they thought this young man was just using the birthday as an excuse to play a casual tune for entertainment, but a true expert's touch reveals itself immediately.
This precise touch, this perfect rhythm, this emotionally rich tonal treatment... This man's piano skill had at least reached a master level!
In such a restaurant, inviting a master-level individual to perform a piece would cost at least seven figures. This dinner tonight was a pure profit!
As the melody progressed, Ryuzaki Shin's fingers danced and leaped gracefully on the keys, sometimes as gentle as a lover's whisper, other times as passionate as a surging waterfall.
Each note seemed to be endowed with life, intertwining and colliding in the air, outlining romantic and beautiful scenes that made people feel as if they were there, witnessing a dreamlike wedding held in a sacred church.
Slowly, everyone became immersed in the beautiful music, unconsciously closing their eyes to listen and feel with their hearts.
Asano Kaori's gaze became even more complex.
Although she wasn't proficient in music, the reason music could transcend language and borders was because the emotions it contained were universal to all.
And at this moment, even Natsuri, an amateur, clearly heard the intense and sincere blessings, tenderness, and romance contained within this melody.
Unbeknownst to her, the lines on her perpetually tense and cold face began to soften.
As Ryuzaki Shin's slender fingers pressed the final note, the last lingering sound slowly dissipated into the air.
The entire restaurant remained silent, everyone still immersed in the dreamlike atmosphere, unable to extricate themselves for a long time.
It wasn't until Ryuzaki Shin stood up from the piano and elegantly bowed to the audience.
Someone in the room, the first to react, began to applaud vigorously.
Clap!
Clap!
Clap!
Soon, thunderous applause resounded throughout the restaurant.
Ryuzaki Shin, with a faint smile, walked down the music stage and returned to his seat.
As soon as he sat down, he noticed Asano Kaori looking at him with an expression he had never seen before.
Then, Natsuri slowly reached out and picked up the stemmed glass on the table.
At some point, she had already poured the '82 Lafite into the two empty stemmed glasses.
The deep red wine shimmered with an alluring luster under the lights.
Natsuri raised her glass, her cool gaze meeting Ryuzaki Shin's for the first time.
"Care for a drink?"
Half an hour later, at the entrance of the music restaurant.
Asano Kaori's steps were a bit wobbly, and her gait became unstable.
As she walked down the steps at the entrance, she missed a step, and with a crisp 'clack', the heel of her slender high-heeled shoe snapped off. Her body lurched, and she was about to fall onto the cold ground.
The next second, she fell into a warm and firm embrace.
Natsuri looked up, a little startled, meeting Ryuzaki Shin's deep gaze, which held a mix of helplessness and concern.
"Why are you so careless?" His voice was low, with a hint of reproach, but more so a natural concern.
Natsuri took a deep breath, the cool night breeze clearing her muddled mind slightly.
"Sorry, I drank too much."
That entire bottle of '82 Lafite was almost entirely consumed by the two of them.
Red wine, though mellow on the palate, had an surprisingly strong kick afterwards.
Natsuri had previously been almost a teetotaler, and having drunk so much at once, she now felt the streetlights spinning and blurring.
Ryuzaki Shin saw her struggling to maintain her composure. He gazed at her flushed cheeks and hazy eyes, and softly said,
"You're drunk. Let me carry you."
Natsuri looked up, quietly meeting Ryuzaki Shin's clear gaze, which contained no impurities, and, as if possessed, nodded.
"Okay…"
...This music restaurant, "Moonlight Sonata," was specially built in the suburbs of Toyaru City, due to its elegant style and distance from the hustle and bustle.
When Ryuzaki Shin carried Natsuri steadily along the road back to the parking lot, the surroundings were already deserted, with only the streetlights casting their long shadows.
Natsuri lay on Ryuzaki Shin's broad back, her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck.
Ryuzaki Shin's steps were very steady. On his back, Natsuri felt almost no bumps at all, only an unprecedented sense of security that enveloped her entirely.
A gust of night wind blew by, bringing with it a chill. Natsuri instinctively held onto Ryuzaki Shin even tighter.
Neither of them spoke, walking in silence through the quiet night, seemingly both enjoying this rare tranquility.
Ryuzaki Shin couldn't help but sigh inwardly; the feeling of being with each woman was different.
With Natsuri on his back, he inexplicably felt a profound sense of peace within him, though he didn't know why.
Just then, Natsuri's soft voice sounded in his ear.
"When I was little and sprained my ankle, my father also carried me like this."
Ryuzaki Shin didn't play a trick like he usually would, saying something like, "Call me Daddy and let me hear it." He simply responded in a steady tone, softly,
"How is he doing now? You're so capable now, he must be proud of you."
Natsuri's tone was calm, as if she were recounting an old story unrelated to herself.
"He passed away when I was eight. I was adopted and raised by the Sasaki Family."
Ryuzaki Shin, carrying her, could feel no ripple in her voice. He was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice,
"I'm sorry."
Natsuri shook her head gently.
"It's okay. So many years have passed, and my father's image has already blurred in my memory."
Hearing this, Ryuzaki Shin finally understood why this woman worked so desperately hard.
Having lost her family at a young age and being adopted and raised by others, her heart must have been filled with an intense sense of insecurity.
Only by constantly working and constantly creating value could she feel that she truly existed and find the sense of security that had long been missing.
Ryuzaki Shin instinctively said,
"Natsuri, if you're not happy, why don't you switch to our company? Whatever the Sasaki Family pays you, I'll pay you the same, and the work will definitely be easy. You won't have to push yourself so hard every day."
After he finished speaking, he heard no movement from behind for a long time.
Ryuzaki Shin turned his head slightly, a little puzzled, only to find that Natsuri had, at some point, leaned on his shoulder and fallen asleep, breathing evenly... Three hours later, at 2 AM.
Asano Kaori rubbed her throbbing temples and slowly woke up.
Her head was still a bit dizzy, but her first reaction was to sit up sharply.
She vigilantly looked around and found herself lying in the passenger seat of a luxury car, covered with a man's jacket that carried a faint scent of tobacco.
Just then, Ryuzaki Shin's gentle voice came from the driver's seat beside her.
"You're awake? Are you feeling alright?"
He said, handing her a bottle of still-chilled mineral water.
Seeing Ryuzaki Shin, the heart that Natsuri had just felt suspended inexplicably found a sense of peace.
She reached out and took the mineral water.
"Thank you."
Ryuzaki Shin smiled and started the car.
"Don't be so formal, we're friends, aren't we?"
Natsuri unscrewed the cap and took a big gulp.
The icy spring water slid down her throat, bringing back some clarity to her jumbled mind.
She turned her head, looking at the rapidly receding streetscape outside the window, and suddenly asked out of the blue,
"Are you trying to pursue me?"
Uh... Ryuzaki Shin's hand on the steering wheel paused. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
What's going on?
So direct?
To be honest, he hadn't even had that thought himself yet.
But being asked this, he couldn't help but carefully observe Asano Kaori beside him.
With a hint of intoxication, Natsuri's cheeks still bore an alluring blush, and her usually cool eyes now held a touch of haziness.
Her curvaceous figure, even in the dim car interior, still exuded astonishing charm.
In terms of looks, she was by no means inferior to any of his other women.
Being asked this, Ryuzaki Shin actually started to have some ideas.
This woman's knowledge and abilities were top-notch. If she were to truly become his woman, it would definitely be a huge asset to his future career.
Ryuzaki Shin's face remained composed, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.
"You saw through me?"
Natsuri turned her face, her eyes, which had regained some clarity, quietly met Ryuzaki Shin's eyes.
"To my knowledge, you have at least three women. Even Saeko has been won over by you, am I right?"
Ryuzaki Shin raised an eyebrow.
This woman investigated me?
Natsuri seemed to read his thoughts and said directly,
"You don't have to be nervous. The young master of the Sasaki Family works for your True Dragon Society. To ensure his safety, we would naturally investigate you without any malicious intent."
Ryuzaki Shin thought that made sense.
The precious young master of a dignified conglomerate, placed in his gang organization—how could they be at ease if they didn't thoroughly investigate his background?
Natsuri's gaze was somewhat scrutinizing as she spoke again.
"If there's one more of me, can you handle it?"
Ryuzaki Shin was stunned for a moment. He had expected her to say something like, "I can't be your woman," a phrase of refusal.
But with that question, the smile on his face instantly became somewhat meaningful.
"Whether I can handle it or not, you'll know if you try."
Natsuri ignored Ryuzaki Shin's provocative remark, simply redirecting her gaze to the window.
"Actually, you definitely had something to discuss with me today. Let's talk business first."
Ryuzaki Shin sighed inwardly; this woman was indeed smart.
He thought for a moment, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and without further circling, took out the black USB drive from his pocket.
He handed the USB drive to Natsuri, his gaze more serious than ever, looking deeply into her eyes.
"Can I trust you?"
Asano Kaori quietly met Ryuzaki Shin's gaze. In those usually calm, clear eyes, Ryuzaki Shin's incredibly earnest expression was now reflected.
She simply articulated two words.
"I can."
Ryuzaki Shin smiled, a genuine, trusting smile from the heart.
"I believe you."
He said, gently placing the small USB drive, which carried countless bloody storms, into Natsuri's cool hand.
Then he began to recount everything from the complex historical conflicts of the S.W.O.R.D. District, to the rise and fall of the Five Organizations, to how the True Dragon Society unified S.W.O.R.D., and now, the impending final confrontation with the massive Kowloon Group.
Finally, he revealed, without reservation, the astonishing secrets hidden within this USB drive—secrets powerful enough to overturn the entire nation.
This process took Ryuzaki Shin a full half an hour.
He laid out everything before this woman whom he had only met a few times.
Asano Kaori had thought that after experiencing the ups and downs of the Sasaki Family, she would long since be able to remain unperturbed by anything.
However, after she had listened to all of this, a colossal wave still surged within her heart.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock she felt.
"I suddenly regret knowing about this. This USB drive feels a bit too hot to handle," she said, her voice tinged with dryness.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at her solemn expression, but merely smiled easily.
"If you're scared, you can give it back to me now. I'll find someone else."
Natsuri looked up, her intelligent eyes sparkling with an all-knowing light.
In fact, she had already gathered from Ryuzaki Shin's words and tone.
It wasn't that he had no other options, but rather that he couldn't find someone he could absolutely trust and who also had the ability to decrypt this USB drive.
Natsuri couldn't help but glance at the man before her again. She couldn't quite see through him. Where did he get the audacity to entrust something that could decide life or death to her, someone with whom he had almost no connection?
Natsuri remained silent for a moment, then finally tightened her grip on the USB drive.
"I'll help with this. Come get it in a couple of days."
Seeing her agree, Ryuzaki Shin said no more, simply nodding briefly.
"Where do you live? I'll take you home."
...Half an hour later, the car stopped downstairs from Natsuri's apartment.
Ryuzaki Shin parked the car, and after they both got out, he looked up at the apartment building, which seemed a bit old but was still clean and tidy.
"You live here? Does the Sasaki Family pay you very little?"
Ryuzaki Shin wasn't saying the place was bad; he just felt that the living environment here was quite mismatched with Asano Kaori's status as "Chief Secretary to the President of the Sasaki Family."
Natsuri, however, had a matter-of-fact expression, seemingly finding no issue with it at all.
"Property in Toyaru City doesn't hold its value. I have money, but from an investment perspective, buying a house now is clearly a losing business. Rather than tying up money in real estate, it's better to let it circulate in the capital market and create greater value."
Ryuzaki Shin shook his head. This woman's perspective on issues was still so pure, rational, and even ruthless.
Natsuri didn't pay attention to Ryuzaki Shin's expression. She turned to go upstairs.
"I'm leaving. I'll contact you when it's done."
However, just as she turned around, her wrist was suddenly caught by an irresistible force.
The next second, she was pulled into a familiar embrace, carrying a faint scent of tobacco.
Then, Ryuzaki Shin lowered his head directly, gently yet domineeringly kissing her lips.
Natsuri's body stiffened slightly, but she seemed to have anticipated Ryuzaki Shin's action and did not resist. Instead, she closed her eyes and awkwardly responded.
Ryuzaki Shin didn't kiss for long, just a brief taste.
He released her, looking at her slightly flushed cheeks and moist lips, and said in a low voice:
"Your heel broke. I'll take you up."
Natsuri's gaze was somewhat complex, but she still nodded gently... Natsuri was carried by Ryuzaki Shin in a princess carry, taking the elevator to her apartment door.
The sound-activated light in the hallway came on, casting their silhouettes on the wall.
Natsuri got down from Ryuzaki Shin's embrace, her feet still a bit unsteady the moment they touched the ground.
She took out her keys from her bag, found the corresponding keyhole, and somewhat laboriously opened the door.
She stepped inside, and just as Ryuzaki Shin was about to follow, Natsuri, after entering, reached back and slammed the heavy security door shut with a "bang."
Ryuzaki Shin was met with a solid slammed door, nearly hitting his nose.
He knocked on the door with a hint of helplessness.
"Natsuri, aren't you going to invite me in for a bit?"
From inside the door, Natsuri's voice, slightly muffled by the door but still clear and cool, came through.
"We're not at that stage yet. Let's maintain some mutual respect for now."
For a woman like Natsuri, who was accustomed to arming herself with absolute rationality, sometimes excessive aggression could be counterproductive, causing her to close off even more tightly.
Ryuzaki Shin wasn't a pervert; he heard the firmness in Natsuri's words and simply smiled faintly.
"Natsuri, get some good rest. Remember to call me if anything happens."
With that, he turned decisively and entered the elevator.
Only when the sound of the elevator descending completely disappeared did Natsuri lean against the cold door, letting out a long sigh of relief.
She raised her hand, her fingertips gently touching her still slightly warm lips, her eyes filled with immense complexity.
Natsuri's heart was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface.
She didn't know why, but she couldn't help but want to get closer to that man, even though reason told her he already had more than one woman.
The root cause of this seemingly incomprehensible behavior lay in Natsuri's upbringing.
She had grown up, in essence, within a modern zaibatsu family, where relationships between people were more about the exchange of interests and value.
Even Sasaki Yu and Sasaki Kyoko, who were nominally siblings, were not born of the same mother.
However, this background did not diminish their affection for each other.
So Natsuri, by nature, understood such matters more clearly and thoroughly than ordinary people.
She even more strongly believed in the principle that "the strong possess everything" than Ryuzaki Shin himself, after all, she had fought her way to where she was now based on this belief.
Of course, the most crucial factor was Ryuzaki Shin's actions tonight, which gave her a warmth she had never felt before.
That feeling of being cared for, of being treated specially... even if it was just this once, even if it was just a trace.
For someone like her, accustomed to keeping her heart frozen, it was already enough.
However, fully accepting Ryuzaki Shin and letting him into her world would still take time... Downstairs from the apartment building, beside Ryuzaki Shin's car, Kirisawa Jin stood silently in the shadows like a statue.
Seeing Ryuzaki Shin approach, he asked in a low voice:
"Boss, is that woman reliable?"
Ryuzaki Shin understood Kirisawa Jin's concern. Entrusting something that concerned their fate to an outsider was undoubtedly a huge gamble.
However, Ryuzaki Shin merely turned his head and glanced at Kirisawa Jin.
"When the three of you joined the True Dragon Society, and I immediately made you Dragon Generals, someone asked me the same question."
Kirisawa Jin was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, instantly understanding what Ryuzaki Shin meant.
As a boss, one of the most important abilities was to know how to recognize and utilize people.
Never mind, since the boss had already made his decision, why should he, as a subordinate, worry unnecessarily?
Ryuzaki Shin patted Kirisawa Jin's shoulder and got into the car.
"Drive."
The black sedan silently merged into the late-night traffic... The next day, at noon.
In a somewhat cluttered and cramped rental room on the outskirts of the city.
An old television was broadcasting a local news report.
"...It is reported that the serious mass brawl case that recently occurred in the Wangan area has now entered the investigation and evidence collection stage. According to the confession of the arrested criminal leader, all his actions were instructed by the 'Iemura-kai' under the Kowloon Group. Currently, the police have formally summoned Iemura-kai leader Iemura Tatsumi..."
In front of the television, a man wearing a casual T-shirt and with unruly long hair was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. He was the second of the Amamiya Brothers—Amamiya Masaki.
There were three Amamiya Brothers in total.
The eldest—Amemiya Tatsuya.
The second—Amamiya Masaki.
The third—Amemiya Hiroto.
It was the second and third of the Amamiya Brothers who had the final showdown with MUGEN at the container terminal.
Amamiya Masaki watched the TV news, and without turning his head, he spoke to his younger brother, who had just finished washing up and was wiping his face with a towel:
"Hey, Hiroto, didn't you go looking for Big Brother a few days ago? Did you find him?"
Amemiya Hiroto deftly draped the wet towel over a nearby rack. He walked to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
"Hmm... how should I put it, someone told me he knows where Big Brother is."
Hearing this, Masaki immediately turned sideways on the sofa, looking at Hiroto with keen interest.
"What's that person's name? What's his identity?"
Hiroto twisted open the bottle cap, took a big gulp of water, and a hint of uncertainty appeared on his face.
"I don't know..."
Masaki looked at his younger brother and sighed helplessly.
Ah, when his two brothers stood together, based on their appearances, people always thought he was the unreliable, careless one.
But who knew, being an older brother was tough.
Hiroto didn't even know who the other person was, yet he believed him so easily.
Just as Masaki was about to open his mouth to tease his naive younger brother, an unfamiliar voice, carrying a hint of playfulness, suddenly sounded from the doorway of the room.
"Are you two looking for me?"
Masaki and Hiroto whipped their heads around, their gazes sharp as knives, shooting in unison towards the doorway.
Their room was extremely small, cluttered with various items, and the air felt heavy due to poor circulation.
So, during the day, they usually kept their door open.
Hiroto's pupils constricted slightly as he looked at the man by the door, wearing the distinctive z mask.
He instantly recognized him; this man was the mysterious person who had told him about his older brother's whereabouts that night.
Ryuzaki Shin wasted no words. His gaze swept over the two wary men in the room, and his voice was flat and direct.
"If you want to see your brother, follow me."
...Toyaru Central Hospital, VIP Intensive Care Unit.
Amemiya Tatsuya lay quietly on the pure white hospital bed, connected to various monitoring instruments, deep in a heavy slumber.
In fact, with Sonryu's extraordinary physical recovery ability, his injuries were basically no longer serious by now, and his movements were completely unhindered.
But the variables surrounding Sonryu waking up were too great now.
This man's entire life had been driven by the sole goal of revenge.
As long as he could seize any opportunity to bite off a piece of the Kowloon Group, he would undoubtedly throw himself at it without hesitation.
This impulsive and resolute approach could easily disrupt Ryuzaki Shin's more meticulous plans.
Therefore, Ryuzaki Shin could only have the hospital staff give him some "sleep-inducing" medication, allowing him to rest quietly for a few more days.
Inside the ward, Hiroto and Masaki stood silently at their brother's bedside, both with exceptionally grim expressions.
A moment later, Hiroto slowly turned around and looked at the man leaning against the wall behind him.
"What's wrong with my brother now?"
Ryuzaki Shin, with his hands in his pockets, did not shy away from the question, merely stating nonchalantly:
"Oh, I'm sorry, your brother had a bit of a manic episode. There was nothing I could do but beat him up and make him lie down for a few days."
These words were like a match, instantly igniting the powder keg in Masaki's heart.
He was already hot-tempered, and hearing the other party speak so dismissively about beating up his older brother, he was consumed by rage and instantly exploded.
"Bastard! Do you know what you're saying?!"
Before he finished speaking, Masaki had already darted out like a leopard, unleashing a fierce straight punch, accompanied by a roar, directly at Ryuzaki Shin's face!
However, his fist was intercepted in mid-air by another hand.
It was Hiroto.
He had appeared in front of Masaki at some unknown point, firmly grasping his second brother's wrist.
"Calm down!"
Then, Hiroto released his grip, and his eyes, which always carried a hint of melancholy, calmly looked at Ryuzaki Shin.
"You called us here, so you must have something to say."
Hiroto's thoughts were far more subtle than his hot-headed second brother's.
He knew very well that what the other party said should be the truth; there was no need for them to be deceived about such a matter.
Moreover, since the other party could easily defeat his older brother, if they were to truly fight, he and his second brother would definitely not be a match.
Instead of pointless venting, it was better to first listen to the other party's objective.
Ryuzaki Shin glanced at Masaki with disdain, thinking to himself: This idiot, Hiroto has a brain.
At this moment, he slowly raised his hand and removed the z mask from his face, revealing his sharply defined, handsome, and cold true appearance.
"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Ryuzaki Shin, president of the True Dragon Society."
After he finished speaking, a flicker of shock simultaneously crossed the eyes of both Hiroto and Masaki.
They exchanged glances, both seeing disbelief in the other's eyes.
Recently, in their search for their older brother's whereabouts, they had not shied away from investigating information in the S.W.O.R.D. District, and naturally, they had learned about the newly emerging and massive organization called the "True Dragon Society."
This organization was more disciplined, mature, and ruthless than the previous MUGEN.
They had even received news that the large-scale battle in the Wangan District a while ago was not a evenly matched struggle at all, but rather a one-sided bloody massacre by the True Dragon Society.
This made the two brothers even more wary of the "True Dragon Society" organization.
They never imagined that the man before them, who appeared very young, even a few years younger than themselves, would actually be the legendary and mysterious president of the True Dragon Society.
Hiroto quickly composed himself. He took a step forward and said in a deep voice:
"My name is Amemiya Hiroto, and this is my second brother, Amamiya Masaki. You must have something to discuss with us, sir."
A look of appreciation appeared on Ryuzaki Shin's face as he looked at Hiroto.
It was always easier to talk to smart people.
"Your brother is fine; he just needs a few days of rest and will wake up in a few days."
"And I also know who the real killer of your parents is. I might as well tell you directly: it's the Kamizono Faction of the Kowloon Group."
Ryuzaki Shin's few nonchalant words, however, were like two heavy bombs, exploding in the hearts of the two brothers.
They both trembled, their eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief.
Ryuzaki Shin ignored their reactions and continued speaking to himself:
"The Kowloon Group is eyeing the S.W.O.R.D. District covetously. I imagine they've probably noticed my True Dragon Society by now, and their next step might be to target me. I have something to ask of you, and you have no choice but to agree..."
...East of the city, a heavily guarded luxury villa, the headquarters of the Kamizono Faction.
The Kamizono Faction occupies a very special ecological niche within the entire Kowloon Group, which is why Kamizono Tatsumi dared to openly challenge Iemura Tatsumi at yesterday's meeting, and why even the immensely powerful Kurosaki Kuniryu merely felt helpless.
It's simple: because the Kamizono Faction, unlike other factions, has not gradually stepped into the limelight and whitewashed itself into a legitimate enterprise.
They remain a sharp blade living in the shadows of the Kowloon Group.
Therefore, they naturally have not been subjected to strict surveillance by the Anti-Violence Law Committee, and their actions are bolder and more reckless.
In the intelligence analysis room in the villa's basement, an intelligence officer in a white suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked in quickly and stood respectfully before Kamizono Tatsumi.
Kamizono Tatsumi leaned on the sofa, holding a glass of red wine, and said without raising his head:
"Tell me what you've found."
The man immediately nodded.
"According to the intelligence we've gathered, the daughter of the deceased lawyer, named Aihua, was taken in by a man after she took the USB drive."
"And we've also found out the man's name: it's a former member of our Kamizono Faction, named Amemiya Tatsuya."
Tatsumi's hand, holding the wine glass, paused slightly at this, and his brow furrowed.
"Continue."
The intelligence officer continued:
"We discovered through surveillance near his home that an unknown force infiltrated the area the night before last and took both Amemiya Tatsuya and the woman."
As he spoke, he timely took out a photograph from a file bag. The masked image of Ryuzaki Shin in the photo was exceptionally clear.
"This is footage we captured from surveillance cameras at a nearby shop. This man wearing a z mask bears a striking resemblance to a person we previously identified in the S.W.O.R.D. District known as 'Mr. Z.'"
"And there are rumors that this 'Mr. Z' is a member of the True Dragon Society."
There were indeed such rumors in the S.W.O.R.D. District.
After all, the series of actions Mr. Z had taken previously were all beneficial to the True Dragon Society, and many people had this speculation.
The intelligence officer again took out a document from the file bag and handed it to Tatsumi with both hands.
"These are all the public records of Ryuzaki Shin, president of the True Dragon Society. This is all the intelligence we have for now, but we have reason to suspect that the True Dragon Society is involved in the theft of the USB drive."
Tatsumi took the document and flipped through it casually.
He thought about it and felt that his subordinate's analysis had some merit.
The Kowloon Group was eyeing the S.W.O.R.D. District covetously, and as the president of the True Dragon Society, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the stakes involved.
If he could get his hands on this USB drive, it would be equivalent to holding the trump card that could topple the Kowloon Group in one fell swoop.
The other party had every motive to do this.
A cold smile slowly curved on Kamizono Tatsumi's lips.
"There's no need to overthink dealing with a brat. Whether it's true or false, we'll know once we bring him in and ask."
"It's also a good opportunity to prove to those old geezers that Iemura Tatsumi is nothing but a complete waste."
"Act tonight. Don't just capture Ryuzaki Shin; bring everyone around him as well. I'm not afraid that he won't tell us everything he knows..."