Chapter 224: A Knot in the Heart

From the time they left Naoko’s grandmother’s house until they returned to the hotel, Naoko seemed preoccupied.

When Lei Yin came out of the bathroom, he saw her sitting on the bed, staring at the television with unfocused eyes.

Walking over, he scooped her up and placed her on his lap. “Are you worried about your grandmother?” he asked.

Leaning her head against his chest, Naoko replied, “Her spirits aren’t good, and she barely ate during dinner. I’m really worried something might happen to her.”

Lei Yin said, “Everyone carries knots in their hearts that only they can untie. Over the next few days, we’ll visit her often and talk to her. With her life experience, it shouldn’t be too hard for her to overcome this.”

“Mm.”

“Go take a bath now and rest early tonight. You must be exhausted today.”

Naoko raised her head and gazed at him with deep affection. “Lei, thank you.”

“Silly girl.” Lei Yin kissed her gently on her soft lips.

Naoko wrapped her arms around his waist and slowly responded to him.

The kiss was long and tender, not passionate, but it gradually calmed Naoko’s turbulent emotions. She melted into his soothing embrace.

After a long while, their lips parted. Naoko, now emotionally stirred, blushed deeply, her breathing slightly erratic. She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

“Shall I help you bathe?” Lei Yin whispered in her ear, his hands already unbuttoning her dress.

Hearing his words, Naoko’s breathing grew even more rapid.

A moment later, when Lei Yin had removed all her clothing, her perfect curves were revealed, leaving one breathless.

After laying her gently on the bed, Lei Yin admired her delicate form while his hands traced the soft contours of her body.

“Lei, please don’t… look at me like this.” Feeling his gaze on her bare body, Naoko covered her face with her hands, her skin flushed with a rosy hue.

Lei Yin smiled and picked her up, carrying her toward the bathroom. As he walked, he murmured in her ear, “I’ll make sure to clean you thoroughly, not missing a single spot.”

Naoko’s body trembled slightly at his words.

※※※

The signing event of the exchange meeting was planned to last for three days. The next morning, concerned about her grandmother, Naoko didn’t need Lei Yin to persuade her; she was already determined to go out.

However, just as they were about to leave the venue, a host responsible for the event ran over and said, “Hasegawa-san, please wait a moment.”

“Hello, Watanabe-san,” Naoko greeted, feeling as though she’d been caught skipping class.

“Hasegawa-san, may I ask where you’re headed?” Watanabe said, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief.

“Well, I wanted to visit my grandmother, who lives in Nagoya.”

“So, Hasegawa-san’s grandmother lives in Nagoya? What a coincidence. Here’s the thing—since yesterday, more and more female readers have been asking to see you in person. Our chairman would like to arrange a dedicated seating area for you. Do you have time now?”

Naoko showed a troubled expression. After all, she had been invited by the Youth Writers Association to participate in this exchange meeting, and their request was reasonable. But she was more concerned about her grandmother’s condition.

Seeing her hesitation, Lei Yin spoke to the host, “I’m sorry, but my girlfriend hasn’t seen her grandmother in a long time and is deeply concerned about her. Please convey this to your chairman and kindly understand her situation.”

“Oh, I see. Alright, I’ll let the chairman know.”

“Thank you, Watanabe-san,” Naoko said with a bow.

“You’re welcome. I’ll head back to work then.” After bowing in return, the host left the venue.

Once he was gone, Naoko said, “Lei, wasn’t that a bit much?”

Holding her slender hand, Lei Yin replied, “Sometimes, you can’t let other people’s expectations dictate your actions. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do anything. When faced with two or more difficult choices, isn’t it better to choose the one you truly want? Besides, life isn’t always about absolute right or wrong. You’ve been the perfect student for too long. Don’t overthink it. Let’s go.”

“Mm.” Naoko walked slowly forward, holding onto his arm.

When they reached her grandmother’s antique shop, Naoko was surprised to see a police car parked at the entrance.

“Ma’am, if there is any news, we’ll inform you immediately,” a police officer said while taking notes inside the shop, speaking to Ikakura Kusako.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Kusako replied.

Upon entering the shop, Naoko immediately grew anxious when she saw Kusako. “Auntie Kusako, what happened?”

“Oh, Naoko, you’re here. Don’t worry; it’s nothing serious. Someone stole an item from the shop last night, and this police officer is here to take our statements,” Kusako reassured her.

“What about Grandma? Is she alright?” Naoko asked.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine. You can go see her inside,” Kusako said.

Naoko quickly pulled Lei Yin with her toward the back room.

In the elderly woman’s room, Naoko saw her sitting upright on the tatami, looking calm. Seeing her grandmother’s normal complexion, Naoko felt a wave of relief.

“Grandma, are you okay?” Naoko asked as she sat beside her.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” the elderly woman said, patting her granddaughter’s hand to comfort her.

“Grandma, what was stolen from the shop? Was it valuable?” Naoko asked as she massaged her grandmother’s shoulders.

The elderly woman hesitated for a moment before speaking, “It was that cursed sword.”

“What?” Naoko gasped.

Lei Yin’s voice grew serious. “Was it the man from yesterday?”

The elderly woman’s expression turned solemn. “It’s possible. He seemed to know that the sword was here. Now, I’m worried about what the original owner of the sword said.”

Lei Yin’s eyes darkened as he fell into deep thought.

※※※

“I’m so tired. Signing books today has left my hand sore,” a middle-aged male author complained while rubbing his shoulder as they ate at the hotel.

Akagi Miho rolled her eyes at him. “Hiroshi, if I had that many people coming to get my autograph and buy my books, I’d be happy even if my hand fell off. How can you complain?”

“Miho, you’re not so bad yourself. Your readers were waiting in a long line,” the man said proudly.

“Don’t call me Miho, please. Don’t you find that nickname disgusting?” Miho protested loudly.

“No, I think it’s cute. How about we go to the hot springs tonight? As your senior, I have a lot I could teach you,” the man said, casting a suggestive glance at her ample figure.

The others nearby burst into laughter, some even whistling.

“A bunch of perverts,” Miho muttered under her breath.

Hearing the raucous laughter, Asou Kiku’s face twisted with disgust. A group of noisy monkeys. What irritated her most was that, during the signing event, far fewer people came to see her than she expected. Thinking back to the long lines in front of those she found utterly insufferable, even that detestable Akagi Miho had more people buying her books than she did, fueling her fury even further.

At that moment, the paper door was gently pushed open, and two people entered, speaking softly to each other.

Asou Kiku’s anger flared again when she saw Naoko, who was dressed in a light-colored suit.

Since the afternoon of the previous day, no less than a hundred people had come asking if this woman was at the venue. Kiku couldn’t understand why so many people were interested in this shallow woman and her trivial articles. Had she known this would happen, she would have refused to sit next to her, even though the good seat she had been assigned was already canceled.

“Hasegawa-san, come sit here; there’s an empty seat,” Akagi Miho said, her face lighting up as she greeted Naoko.

Although Naoko didn’t want to sit next to this peculiar woman, since others had spoken up, she reluctantly walked over with Lei Yin.

“Please, sit down, Hasegawa-san.” Murai, sitting beside Akagi Miho, politely pulled out a chair.

“That’s very kind of you. We’ll sit here,” Lei Yin said, pulling out a chair across the table for Naoko to sit down and then sitting next to her.

It’s this guy again, Murai thought, casting an annoyed glance at Lei Yin.

After they were seated, Akagi Miho said, “Hasegawa-san, do you know that many people came looking for you today? It’s a shame you weren’t here. Where did you go today?”

Naoko replied, “I went to visit my grandmother, who lives in Nagoya.”

At that moment, the balding Hiroshi interjected, “I see. Hasegawa-san, you truly are a filial person. It’s rare to see such devoted young women these days. I read your articles often. Why don’t we find some time to discuss writing issues? How about tomorrow evening? I’ll be free then.”

“That’s very kind of you, Hiroshi-san, but I wouldn’t want to take up your precious writing time,” Naoko declined politely.

Akagi Miho chuckled. “Senpai, being so straightforward could scare her off. Also, don’t forget, she already has a boyfriend.”

Hiroshi retorted, “As a senior, it’s only natural for me to help out a newcomer. Where did your mind go?”

“But what about Nikaido? He’s a newcomer too. Why don’t you show that much concern for him?”

Akagi Miho’s comment made everyone laugh again.

Hiroshi glared at her, annoyed.

Naoko glanced gratefully at Akagi Miho, who smiled back at her.

After the meal, Akagi Miho suggested they go shopping outside. Hiroshi and Murai both agreed. When they looked at Naoko expectantly, she said she was tired and wanted to rest early, leaving them a bit disappointed as they said their goodbyes.

Outside the hotel, Hiroshi rubbed his chin. “What a pity. Such a beautiful woman has a boyfriend so ordinary. My chances are still pretty good, though. Just watch—I’ll find an opportunity to be alone with Hasegawa-san, and I’ll win her heart. As for her boyfriend, he can just go away.”

Murai stayed silent; his thoughts were the same as Hiroshi’s.

Akagi Miho said, “I don’t think it’ll be that easy. I can tell, Hasegawa-san really likes that man, and she won’t just change her mind so easily.”

Hiroshi smirked mischievously. “That’s only because she hasn’t met better men before. A newcomer like her, with the guidance of a senior, could have an unlimited future. Once she realizes the benefits of knowing me, she’ll change her mind. Didn’t you go through the same thing back in the day? Still think about your senior, Fukuoka? If he hadn’t helped you, you’d still be an unknown, second-rate writer. Come to my room tonight; you might find I’m better than your Fukuoka.”

He said this while reaching to touch Akagi Miho’s shapely figure.

“Thanks for your concern, but I’ve grown used to sleeping alone,” Akagi Miho said, moving away casually.

Hiroshi withdrew his hand. “If you can’t sleep at night, you’re welcome to come find me.”

Murai turned to him. “Hiroshi-senpai, since we’re in Nagoya, shopping alone isn’t too boring, is it? Do you have any interesting places to recommend?”

Hiroshi said, “I know a unique sushi place. I’ll take you all there.”

Akagi Miho was surprised. She hadn’t expected this lecherous man to take them to a sushi place instead of the red-light district.

After a thirty-minute taxi ride, Hiroshi took them to a well-known, bustling area in Nagoya, not far from a district filled with nightclubs and red-light establishments.

However, Hiroshi did not take them to the red-light district; instead, they arrived at the front of a revolving sushi restaurant.

From the outside, the restaurant looked no different from an ordinary revolving sushi shop, although it was much larger than typical sushi establishments. Upon entering, Akagi Miho was surprised to see how busy it was. The waiting area was packed with guests, and people were coming and going inside.

At that moment, a young male server approached them and asked, “Would you like to have sushi or order off the menu?”

Hiroshi responded, “This young lady is here for sushi, and the two of us are here to order from the menu.”

“I understand, but due to the large number of guests, please wait a moment, whether you’re having sushi or ordering,” the server said while guiding them to the waiting area.

Hearing their conversation, Murai curiously asked, “Senpai, what’s the difference between having sushi and ordering? Is there something else to eat here?”

Hiroshi smiled mysteriously, “Of course there’s a difference. You’ll find out soon.”

When they reached the waiting area, Akagi Miho was surprised to see an adult video playing on a plasma TV.

After they sat down, other men in the waiting area began to look at Akagi Miho’s ample figure with lustful eyes. Miho was used to such attention from men and ignored it, casually flipping through a magazine.

About twenty minutes later, the server approached them again and said, “Gentlemen, it’s time for you to order.”

Hiroshi stood up and told the others, “It’s our turn now. Let me show you the most unique part of this sushi restaurant.”

Akagi Miho and Murai followed him, slightly puzzled, as they walked deeper into the establishment.

When they reached the largest room, Miho was astonished to see seven or eight young women, dressed in see-through clothing and wearing masks, kneeling on a specially designed conveyor belt. Each woman had a spotlight directed at her, making her figure clearly visible. In front of each woman was a sign with the name of a type of sushi, such as “eel sushi,” “salmon sashimi,” and “crab stick roll.” As the conveyor belt moved, the women rotated in front of them, just like the sushi at a traditional revolving sushi restaurant.

Understanding what was going on, Murai’s eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at the women.

At that moment, the server approached them again and asked, “Which consumption plan would you like, gentlemen? We have a 50-minute, 70-minute, and a monthly package.”

Hiroshi said, “We’ll take the 70-minute plan. I’ll go with the salmon sushi. Murai, what about you?”

“I’ll also take the 70-minute plan. I’ll have the eel sushi,” Murai replied.

After recording their orders, the server said, “Please proceed to the room on the second floor to wait. Your sushi will be brought to you shortly. Miss, there’s also a vacant spot outside, please follow me.”

Hiroshi turned to Akagi Miho and said, “Take your time eating. This meal’s on me. The sushi outside is also quite good. We might be a bit late to join you, so if you can’t wait, feel free to head back.”

“Enjoy yourselves,” Miho said, waving them off as she followed the server out.

Typical men, Akagi Miho muttered under her breath as she sat in her chair, eating sushi she had taken from the conveyor belt. To get back at Hiroshi, she chose the most expensive pieces, hoping to make the lecherous old man feel the sting of the bill.

About ten minutes later, three men with fierce expressions and tattoos on their arms and exposed chests walked into the room.

As soon as they entered, a man who looked like a manager hurried over with a forced smile and said, “Good evening, Sir Kawada.”

“Hmm.” The man at the front, with a scar near his left ear, responded coldly.

“We’ve prepared this month’s payment. Please follow me.” The manager, fearing that the three men might scare off other customers, quickly led them upstairs.

Seeing the manager’s compliance, the man nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied. After surveying the guests waiting in the lounge, he said, “Business here is really getting better.”

The manager, thinking that he wanted to increase the protection fee, was startled and quickly responded with a smile, “It’s all thanks to Sir Kawada’s support. Recently, we’ve had two new dishes arrive at the restaurant. I wonder if Sir Kawada would be interested in trying them?”

Kawada’s eyes lit up with interest. “Oh? Well, bring them over. Also, my two brothers deserve some attention as well.”

“Of course, of course. Please, Sir Kawada and gentlemen, wait in the VIP room. I’ll bring them over shortly.”

“Don’t keep us waiting too long. We’re very busy.”

“I understand.” The manager smiled as he led them upstairs.

Once they were upstairs, Akagi Miho shifted her gaze back to the present.

So it’s really the yakuza collecting protection fees—it felt nothing like what she’d seen in TV shows or movies. This was her first time seeing such a scene firsthand, and her heart was still pounding.

The world those men were a part of was completely different from her ordinary world, and she had even been afraid to look up at them earlier, worried they might notice her.

Miho began to hesitate about whether to stay and continue eating or leave immediately, but she accidentally knocked her chopsticks to the floor.

As she bent down to pick them up, a foot wearing a man’s work shoe came down hard, almost stepping on her hand.

Furious, Akagi Miho sat up straight and glared at the clumsy man.

“Hey, didn’t you see I was picking something up?” Miho shouted at the man in the black trench coat.

But the man didn’t turn to look at her. He just kept walking forward.

Miho was angry but powerless to do anything, so she just glared at his retreating back.

At that moment, a server stepped in front of the man and asked, “Sir, would you like sushi or to order from the menu?”

The man ignored the question and continued up the stairs.

The server, trying to block him, explained, “Sir, please wait in the lounge. Upstairs is a place for other guests’ entertainment, please…”

Before he could finish, the man suddenly grabbed the server by the hair with his left hand and, before the server could react, threw him out with force.

With a loud crash, the server collided with the edge of a nearby table, and the impact sent teacups, vases, and other items tumbling over. The server screamed in pain as more than half of the hair that had been grabbed was torn out, revealing a scalp that was bleeding profusely.

No one expected such an incident to occur. All the guests and servers in the restaurant were shocked, staring at the man in the trench coat as he walked up the stairs.

Akagi Miho’s heart filled with fear as she watched the injured server, imagining what might have happened if she had continued shouting at that man—she shuddered to think what he would have done to her.

Other guests, sensing that something serious had happened, hurried out of the lounge to see what was going on, but no one dared to follow upstairs.

“What do we do now? Should we call the police?” one server asked after glancing at the bleeding colleague.

“Don’t call the police; the manager would kill us. That’s right, we need to notify the manager about this immediately,” another server said.

“But the manager’s upstairs. How about you go up and tell him?”

“Why do I have to go? Can’t you go?”

“I’d rather die than go up there. By the way, do you know the manager’s phone number?”

“I think it’s listed in the notebook at the front desk.” The server immediately ran to the counter.

As they anxiously flipped through the notebook searching for the manager’s phone number, a blood-curdling scream suddenly came from upstairs.

“What’s happening?” someone couldn’t help but ask.

Before he finished speaking, more spine-chilling screams rang out from above, followed by the loud sound of something heavy crashing into something else.

“I think we should call the police,” the server who had suggested it earlier said, his eyes filled with fear.

Another server hesitated, unable to shake the dread. Although he didn’t know what was happening upstairs, it was clear that someone was hurt, or worse…

The thought made him start to panic. Just as he was about to speak, the noise upstairs grew louder, and then several people, wrapped in bed sheets or even completely nude, ran down the stairs, screaming, “There’s a murder, a murder!”

Hearing their screams, everyone’s faces changed with shock.

At that moment, Akagi Miho caught sight of a shadow that appeared behind the group running down the stairs like a ghost.

The shadow moved with an unbelievable speed, as though it had always been there. If it hadn’t looked so human, Miho might have thought she was imagining it.

What happened next was beyond anything she could have imagined.

As the shadow appeared behind them, under the dim and ambiguous light, Miho thought she saw something flash. Then, she saw the naked middle-aged man at the end of the group seemingly sliced by something. Immediately after, she watched as his upper body, from the right shoulder blade to the left side under the ribs, fell off, taking his head and left chest with it.

With a thud, the man’s upper body dropped to the ground, and blood gushed out like a fountain from the two gaping wounds.

Although not many people in the chaotic scene saw what happened, those who did turned pale as death, including Miho. At that moment, she recognized that the shadow was the man in the black trench coat, and he was holding a black-brown samurai sword. Now, she understood that the man’s body had been sliced open by this weapon.

Like the prologue of a stage play, the shadow, after cutting the man in half, swiftly turned and beheaded another man. He charged forward, slicing anyone who crossed his path.

Red blood, spine-chilling screams, and broken body parts were scattered everywhere. Unlike the choreographed fights seen in period dramas or movies, anyone who was struck was met with dismemberment. Some were cut horizontally across the chest, others, like the middle-aged man, were sliced diagonally. The sheer force and sharpness of the blade were unimaginable.

Panic consumed everyone, and they ran desperately for the exit. However, since the doorway was not very wide, many were trapped, unable to get through. The more they pushed, the more they were stuck. Cries, curses, howls, and screams filled the air, blending with the increasingly louder, desperate shrieks, making the scene even more terrifying.

Eventually, everyone behind was slaughtered, and the man, like a death god, showed no sign of stopping. He walked step by step toward the crowd at the doorway.

Massacre, real massacre.

The man moved like a creature from the depths of hell, crazily slaughtering anything that moved. Each swing of his sword left another person cut open, their bodies torn apart in an instant.

The bright red blood painted the entire shop, and the bone-chilling screams that had started never ceased, turning the place into a human slaughterhouse.

While the man in the trench coat was killing wildly, Akagi Miho, with trembling hands, gently opened a glass window.

Just moments before, she had, like everyone else, lost her composure and pushed desperately toward the door, trying to escape. However, she had been shoved aside by a man with great force, giving her the chance to witness up close the terrifying scene of the man swinging his knife at others.

The horror was unimaginable, making her legs weak and her body powerless, but her strong survival instinct pushed her to crawl toward the nearest window.

Once she opened the window, she clung to the frame with her weak, aching arms, trying to climb out.

Even as the window frame cut into her knees and arms, she felt nothing. All she wanted was to flee from this nightmare, to escape the man who was causing it.

Finally, after struggling, she managed to pull herself through the window, but she fell when she landed. She had lost all sensation, but with almost no pause, she crawled forward like an infant learning to walk.

The screams behind her were like countless needles piercing her nerves, pushing her forward without direction, anywhere was better, as long as it was away from that monster.

Suddenly, she heard the sharp screech of brakes. Turning her head, she saw a car speeding toward her, and the last thing she saw was the black wheel expanding in front of her…

※※※

“How is Akagi-san now?” Outside the hospital room, the president of the Young Authors’ Association asked the attending doctor, who had just finished an examination.

The doctor responded, “Other than a few scratches, she doesn’t have any major injuries. She’s just unconscious from the shock.”

“That’s good to hear.” The president let out a small sigh of relief. He never expected such an incident to happen at the Young Authors’ Exchange. Two people were already dead, and he hoped not to hear about another writer suffering a misfortune.

At that moment, a staff member who had been attending to guests at the event approached, followed by two police officers.

“President, these two officers are here to see Akagi-san,” the staff member said.

“Is Ms. Akagi Miho awake?” asked a middle-aged police officer.

The president replied, “Akagi-san is still unconscious due to shock.”

The two officers showed a slight look of disappointment. “I see. If she wakes up, could you please inform us?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” The officers left the hospital.

“President, what did the officers want with Akagi-san?” the staff member asked curiously.

“They probably wanted to take her statement since she is one of the few who survived,” the president explained.

As he spoke, he noticed a beautiful woman approaching, accompanied by a plain-looking man. “Ah, it’s Hasegawa-san. Hello. Are you here to see Akagi-san?”

“How is Akagi-san now?” Naoko asked the president.

After explaining Akagi Miho’s condition, the president said he needed to attend to some matters and left.

After bidding him farewell, Naoko and Lei Yin entered the hospital room.

The room was quiet, and a woman lay motionless on the white hospital bed.

After placing the flowers she brought into the vase on the table, Naoko examined Akagi Miho’s pale face.

“I can’t believe this happened,” Naoko murmured with a sigh.

She never imagined that, after speaking with the three people the night before, two would be dead by morning, and the third would be lying in the hospital. The impermanence of life was truly poignant.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her slender waist.

Feeling the warm touch behind her, Naoko’s heart gradually calmed. She leaned her head gently against his shoulder.

At that moment, patrol cars and police officers were seen patrolling the streets of Nagoya.

The man known within the police department as “The Butcher” appeared in an underground casino in the East District shortly after killing dozens at a pornographic sushi restaurant.

As before, the man, wielding a Japanese samurai sword, went on a rampage inside the casino. This underground casino was newly opened and hidden in a difficult-to-find location. By the time the police arrived in response to an emergency call, they were met with a horrific scene: corpses strewn across the floor, soaked in blood, and dismembered bodies that made the newly assigned officers nearly vomit on the spot. The number of people at this casino was far greater than at the sushi restaurant, which meant there were many more victims this time.

The city of Nagoya and its surrounding areas were on high alert after two brutal murders had occurred within less than an hour. Police stations quickly organized officers to patrol and search for any sign of the serial killer. The mayor of Nagoya even considered imposing a curfew to avoid causing mass panic among the citizens.

Journalists from various newspapers and TV stations accompanied the police. While some closely followed the patrol cars’ movements, most wanted to break through the police cordon to photograph the scenes at the sushi restaurant and casino.

Finally, the restless night passed. By the next morning, the patrolling officers had not found any trace of the man.

Many citizens who had just learned of the events from the news or newspapers were beginning to panic. They couldn’t believe such horrifying killings could happen in a modern city.

Soon, night fell again. Most citizens were too afraid to go outside, and shops and nightclubs closed their doors early. The once-bustling streets and residential areas now felt desolate and silent. The patrolling officers were on edge, unsure of what might happen that night.

※※※

“Yoshida, Yoshida.”

Hearing the voice from outside, the man on top of a woman stopped mid-action and shouted, “Get out of here!”

“Yoshida, Yoshida. Mr. Agata is here. He says he has urgent business with you.”

What’s that guy doing here? Yoshida frowned and reluctantly got up.

The woman lying beneath him looked blankly at the tattooed man as he walked over to get dressed.

When he reached the living room, Yoshida saw Agata Koutarou, an elderly man in a kimono with graying hair, sitting upright on a chair with an impassive expression. Behind him stood three tall men in suits.

A flash of anger crossed Yoshida’s eyes. This troublesome old man—if it weren’t for him just taking over the Yoshida Group and needing Agata’s assistance—he would have already dealt with this insufferable, arrogant figure.

Despite his frustration, Yoshida forced a respectful smile as he approached, “Uncle Agata, good evening. I didn’t expect you to come so late. Is there something urgent?”

“Sugiyama, I just got a tip. It seems the Hayama Group is preparing to take action. I suspect they want to seize our territory in the East District,” Agata said simply.

Yoshida’s eyes narrowed in doubt. “Impossible. The streets are full of police. How dare they try something like that?”

“Sugiyama, you’re thinking too simply. Right now, the police are only focused on catching the killer. They won’t interfere with the gang territory disputes unless it becomes too loud. And don’t forget, ever since that killer appeared in our district, we’ve lost over a dozen men at the underground casino. Now, many of our members are terrified of him and afraid to go out. This is an opportunity Hayama Rouji, that wolf, won’t pass up. So, I need you to send men to guard the East District right away.”

Seeing the old man giving him orders in front of his subordinates, Yoshida’s anger flared up.

His face darkened and said, “Uncle Agata, it’s already very late. Let’s discuss this tomorrow.”

Agata Koutarou, visibly angry, said, “Sugiyama, do you even realize what nonsense you’re speaking? You’re so ungrateful for the hard work your father and I put into building this foundation. If the Hayama Group takes over the East District, our Yoshida Group’s influence in Nagoya will be greatly diminished. You…”

Before Agata could continue his scolding, Yoshida suddenly stood up and walked away.

“Sugiyama, what do you mean by this?” Seeing his attitude, Agata Koutarou’s anger flared.

“Koutarou, didn’t you hear what I just said? I told you we can discuss this tomorrow,” Yoshida Sugiyama said without turning around as he left the living room.

Agata Koutarou trembled with rage and finally stormed out.

Even sitting in his limousine, Agata Koutarou’s anger had not subsided.

He muttered furiously, “That little bastard. If it weren’t for me risking my life alongside his father to build this vast empire, he would have been dead long ago. And now he dares to treat me this way.”

At that moment, a young man with a scholarly appearance sitting beside him spoke quietly, “Uncle, I’ve always said Sugiyama is ungrateful. You saw it yourself; as soon as he took over the Yoshida Group, he replaced Inbouchi and Zota with his own people, clearly aiming to weaken your influence. Once he’s firmly in control, who knows how he’ll come after us? So, Uncle, there’s no need to hold back with someone like him.”

Agata Koutarou calmed down and asked, “What do you suggest?”

The young man leaned close and whispered a few words into his ear.

After hearing him out, Agata Koutarou’s expression turned serious. “Kawasaki, I don’t want to do this unless it’s absolutely necessary, especially considering his father’s past kindness to me.”

“Uncle, while Uncle Ryuyama was kind to you, you’ve already repaid that kindness by risking your life all these years. Now his son is trying to harm you. If you don’t act now, we’ll be in danger once the opportunity passes,” the young man insisted.

Agata Koutarou fell silent and remained so for a moment before saying, “I need to think this over.”

Kawasaki said nothing more, and the inside of the car grew quiet.

Suddenly, the limousine braked sharply, causing the two men in the back to lurch forward, hitting the back of the leather seats in front of them.

“What’s going on?” Kawasaki demanded as he sat up, glaring at the bodyguard driving.

“Sorry, sir. Someone suddenly stepped out in front of us,” the bodyguard explained, nervous.

Kawasaki looked out the window and indeed saw a man standing about five or six meters ahead. The low lighting made it difficult to tell who it was, but it was definitely a man.

“Go check what’s going on,” Kawasaki ordered the two bodyguards in front.

The bodyguards opened the doors and stepped out, both placing their right hands on their chests, ready to draw their guns at a moment’s notice.

At that moment, Kawasaki noticed his uncle pulling out a gun. Surprised, he thought to himself that it had been years since he’d seen Agata so tense.

“Uncle, what’s the matter?” Kawasaki asked.

“Be cautious. I have a bad feeling about that man,” Agata Koutarou replied, his face set with seriousness.

Influenced by Agata’s unease, Kawasaki couldn’t help but feel tense as he drew his own gun.

As they approached the man, one of the bodyguards barked, “Get out of the way, now!”

In the dark, the other bodyguard thought he saw the man smile. Something felt off, and as he reached for his gun, an indescribable black light appeared before him—this was the last thing he saw in this world. He was somewhat lucky compared to his partner, who died without even realizing what happened.

While the two bodyguards died without a clue, Agata Koutarou and Kawasaki were horrified by what they saw.

Under the headlights, they clearly saw that in an instant, the two bodyguards’ heads were cut horizontally at the bridge of the nose, splitting cleanly in two. The severed halves fell silently to the ground.

They couldn’t clearly see what the man had done. All they saw was that after the two bodyguards fell, the man was suddenly holding a long black katana. At the same time, under the pale light, they saw the man’s face and the chilling smile at the corners of his mouth that seemed to freeze their very souls.  

※※※  

After moving for a while, Sugiyama grew furious when the woman beneath him remained silent and unresponsive, as though she were a lifeless corpse. He slapped her face with force.  

Blood trickled slowly from the corner of the woman’s mouth, but she showed no fear or anger, as if the slap had landed on someone else.  

Sugiyama glared at her fiercely. “Don’t forget that your husband, who barely has half his life left, is still lying in the hospital. If I feel like it, I can have him killed at any moment. Or maybe I should let your daughter take your place? I’ve always been curious about trying a young girl of that age.”  

The woman’s expression instantly changed. She slowly knelt before him and begged, “Please don’t hurt them. I’ll do whatever you want.”  

A smug grin appeared on Sugiyama’s face. He extended his foot toward her. “Lick it clean.”  

Without hesitation, the woman held his foot with both hands and began licking it.  

Sugiyama burst into laughter.  

Late at night, Sugiyama suddenly woke up. He felt something pressing on his body. At first, he thought it was the woman, but he soon noticed a strange dampness spreading across the sheets.  

Reaching out to touch the sheet, he found it wet in a large area. When he brought his fingers to his nose, the familiar metallic scent confirmed it was blood. Alarmed, he immediately sat up.  

At that moment, he sensed someone else in the room.  

Without thinking, he bolted toward the window. But suddenly, he stopped, frozen in place.  

In a trembling voice, Sugiyama said, “Don’t kill me. Whatever you want, I can give it to you.” He could feel the blade of a katana pressed against his neck, slicing just enough to draw a thin line of blood that trickled down his skin.  

The man standing behind him suddenly began breathing heavily, like a bloodthirsty beast. After a moment, Sugiyama heard his suppressed, hoarse voice.  

“Sugiyama, do you remember me?”  

“Who… who are you?” Sugiyama almost turned his head to look.  

“You’ve forgotten me, haven’t you? But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you remember. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day?”  

“Who are you? Are you working for Agata Koutarou?”  

“That old man is already dead. The one who was lying next to you just now? That was him. You’ve always wanted to kill him, haven’t you? Well, I’ve already taken care of it for you. Don’t you think you owe me a favor?”  

Suddenly, the man grabbed Sugiyama’s throat with his left hand and stabbed the katana into Sugiyama’s thigh.  

With a sickening sound, the blade pierced through Sugiyama’s leg. The man slowly twisted the blade, moving it upward.  

Sugiyama let out a bloodcurdling scream, but his voice was muffled as the grip on his throat forced the sound back down, leaving only a low groan.  

The man’s breathing grew even heavier. He leaned close and whispered, “Do you remember Meiko? The woman you tortured to death?”  

Upon hearing that name, Sugiyama’s pupils constricted sharply. “You… you’re her husband?”  

“It seems you finally remember. But I won’t let you die so easily. I’ll make you experience a pain worse than death.”  

Grinning wickedly, the man slowly dragged the blade upward.  

The excruciating pain caused Sugiyama to struggle violently, but the man’s iron grip rendered him completely immobile.  

On Sugiyama’s bed, under the sheet, the trembling body of a person was visible.  

---

ED/N: this shit long af