Lu Mingfei, who had read Dragon Clan before slaying the dragon

"I did a quick search on my phone while in the car, but I didn't look closely enough. I only had time to read the general outline," Chu Zihang said. "The Japanese branch seems to be a mafia organization controlled by a gang called the 'Yaki Hachika.' The Yaki Hachika are the oldest mafia family in Japanese history and have always been the supreme leaders of the Japanese underworld."

"Yes, they're quite powerful in Japan. Norma's database shows that the Snake Eight Clan's operations in Japan are extensive, from collecting protection fees to certain heavy industries that can impact the national economy. They have a firm grip on most of the underworld's business," Caesar said. "Japanese gangs all recognize them as the head family. For gangs that disobey their orders, the head family will send people to cut off their fingers, take them to dungeons and torture them before selling them, or turn them into concrete piles... Those two idiots driving the GT-R just now, Crow and Yasha, are veterans in this field."

"How terrible, so terrible!" Lu Mingfei sighed without emotion and continued to practice the pronunciation of Japanese words.

"So, we have become one of them?" Chu Zihang asked.

"That's obviously true," Caesar nodded. "But the good news is that Japan is the only country that allows underworld organizations to exist legally. For example, the Triads and the Yamaguchi-gumi, while they are gangs, are legal organizations, and they also undertake many important social services. For example, during floods and tsunamis, they send people to nearby refugees to provide assistance, and they also donate money to charities every year. In Japan, the underworld is more like a profession, just more risky than other professions, but it doesn't require academic qualifications or professional skills. Formal gangs are also eligible to help members apply for unemployment insurance and social assistance."

"But we can't treat them as harmless little white rabbits. The authorities will grant legal permits to gangs that operate within the law, but most gangs also have businesses hidden in the open," Chu Zihang said. "Smuggling and arms trafficking are just commonplace for them. They have complete control over those gray industries that are shady but linger on the edge of the law. The most representative example is Kabukicho, Asia's most iconic red-light district. One square kilometer of land is home to tens of thousands of bars, adult clubs, love hotels, etc., known as the 'maze city of desire.' These are built entirely by local gangs without the support of the political establishment."

"They are still wolves in essence, but they wear sheep's clothing when they are in the sun." Lu Mingfei made an incisive summary.

"That's a pretty accurate description!" Chu Zihang nodded affirmatively. "Under normal circumstances, they're very restrained and rarely resort to violence unless absolutely necessary. In normal business situations, everyone just needs to guard their own little corner. But once someone oversteps the boundaries, the retaliation can be brutal, just like what we just heard about when Crow and Yaksha burned down a host bar. If the aristocratic forces within the underworld unite to riot and fight, even the combined forces of Japan would be hard-pressed to suppress the situation."

"I've searched through Norma's database, and the records about the Japanese branch are very vague, but the missing parts are correct. The main point is that the Japanese branch is not a direct department of the academy in Japan, but a joint venture between the academy and a Japanese mixed-blood family called the Snake Eight Families." Caesar frowned. "The Snake Eight Families are incredibly powerful. 'Minamoto', 'Tachibana', and 'Uesugi' are the three upper families, collectively known as the Upper Three Families or the Inner Three Families, while 'Miyamoto', 'Sakurai', 'Fuma', 'Inuyama', and 'Ryoma' are the five smaller families, collectively known as the Lower Five Families or the Outer Five Families. They are all made up of mixed-bloods and have dominated the Japanese underworld for thousands of years, and are revered as the main families."

"The academy has no way to force them and can only adopt a cooperative approach. The Eight Snake Qi Families are so powerful that even those mixed-blood families in Europe have to avoid them, and Yuan Zhisheng who came to pick me up at the airport today is their young master. You know Neo from the Gonzalez family, right? Yuan Zhisheng's status in the Eight Snake Qi Families is only higher than his in the Gonzalez family." Caesar said.

Lu Mingfei was speechless. He had never meant to look down on Yuan Zhisheng from the beginning. Besides, how could Neo be compared to a giant tortoise? Caesar's description was really too flattering for that useless Flamingo.

"Any change in gang leadership and the consolidation of territories are governed by the Snake Eight Clan, the makers and enforcers of Japanese underworld law," Caesar explained. "Whenever a gang leader changes, the new leader must personally pay homage to the Snake Eight Clan's shrine, demonstrating their commitment to the rules. Only then can their gang legitimately develop; otherwise, they'll be considered rebels. Norma records a case in which a powerful gang at the Tokyo Bay docks had a new leader. He was merely two days late reporting to his headquarters, and the next day, his head was hung atop the most prominent ship in Tokyo Bay as a warning to others."

"Quite perverted." Lu Mingfei commented.

"Yes, their perversion seems to be ingrained in them. They especially enjoy torturing the headquarters' commissioners," Caesar said. "Commissioners who have been to Japan on business trips have posted messages on the Night Watch forum, but none of them mention the kimono-clad girls or the snowy hot springs. They say, 'No bright lights, no spectacular sights, just a pitch-black hell.'"

"You remember that. Before we left, the brothers in the Executive Department knew that Lu Mingfei and I were going to Japan to carry out the mission. They had a big fight," Chu Zihang said. "They were arguing about who would take over the title of 'Ace Specialist' of the Executive Department after we left. They probably thought there was no way we could return safely."

"Damn it!" Caesar suddenly swore. "No wonder the student council officials held a meeting about who would take over the White Skirt Girls if something happened to the boss when I heard I was on a business trip to Japan. I felt like they were asking me to write a will to divide up the inheritance, even though I still have a whole year until graduation!"

"But they seem to be very friendly towards us?" Chu Zihang thought for a moment.

"That's why it seems so strange. The young master personally drove to pick me up, gave me flowers, and even brought a beautiful girl. I originally thought their reception was too perfunctory and shabby, but by comparison, it's almost too good to be true," Caesar pondered. "But the specialists who have come here on business trips before have never received this kind of treatment. In their descriptions, I only see disdain and deep contempt. The Japanese branch despises the weak. They adhere to a culture of strength, and only those strong enough to deserve their respect are qualified to receive it."

"So just now, after Senior Brother used 'Jun Yan' to clear the way for us, Senior Yuan Zhisheng's attitude suddenly became much better." Lu Mingfei said.

"But it's far from enough. He has only changed a little bit. It's like we are only qualified to be treated well by him, but he is still arrogant in his heart." Chu Zihang said.

He was right, for he had considerable experience in dealing with arrogant men... There was probably no one in the world more arrogant than Caesar, right?

"In the eyes of these Japanese, there is only one strong man in this headquarters who deserves their respect: Hilbert Jean Ange," Caesar said. "But it doesn't matter. They will soon learn that the principal is not the only one in this world who is strong enough to conquer them. Because of me, I am here."

Caesar Gattuso has full confidence in everything worth conquering, including the noble heads of these Japanese. In his opinion, the more difficult the task, the more it can arouse his interest. He is a natural conqueror!

He saw his conquest of the Japanese branch as akin to Napoleon's conquest of Europe; once he set foot on this land, he was destined to bring those people to their knees. Judging by his optimistic arrogance and exceptionally long reaction time, the fact that they'd booked the presidential suite at the Peninsula Hotel, arranged for expensive champagne and an exquisite fruit platter, all this suggested that these Japanese weren't as arrogant as previous commissioners who had visited here had described them. The weak were bullied because they weren't strong enough, but his Caesar-like arrogance would definitely establish a more convincing prestige than he had during his time in Angers!

That way, when he returns to the headquarters, he can say to the student union cadres: "Don't be afraid of the Japanese branch. It is not something we should be afraid of. The only things that can scare a man are the tears of a beloved girl and the health of his mother." Then he can show off the magnificent history of his trip to Japan.

Caesar wanted to clink glasses with someone, but it was already late. Lu Mingfei had returned to his room without him noticing. Chu Zihang stood by the window, gazing out at the vast metropolis of Tokyo from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of the hotel. Caesar's ambitions were met with no one to share his toast. He put down his glass in boredom and returned to his bedroom.

Outside the window, the lights of Tokyo were shrouded in misty rain. As dusk fell, this rainy night seemed particularly long, with no end in sight until dawn.

Eri is expected to appear in the next chapter

Chapter 186 Uesugi Eriyi

Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo.

This is one of the most luxurious hotels in Tokyo and even in Japan. It is located in the Marunouchi business district, across the street from Kyoto Imperial Garden, and just a few minutes away from Ginza shopping malls. The presidential suite on the top floor is extremely luxurious.

Caesar was half submerged in the bathtub, the water at a comfortable 39 degrees Celsius. His room was decorated in a gorgeous Nordic style, with velvet carpets covering every corner. Looking up, he could see a crystal-encrusted chandelier reflecting a dazzling array of light. The wine cabinet held a variety of champagnes and red wines, and the fruit bowl held wax apples from Taiwan, golden mangoes from Thailand, and the renowned "Gualv" lychee variety flown in from southern China.

From the moment they entered the hotel, waitresses in tight, high-slit cheongsams lined the aisles to greet them. They bowed deeply, their fair breasts glimpsed. At the end of the line stood the hotel's general manager, who joyfully shook hands with each of the three Caesars, as solemnly as if attending a ceremony marking the arrival of a leader. He instructed the chef to be on call 24/7 for Caesar and his companions, and that they could request breakfast or a late-night snack at any time, with meals delivered to their bedrooms within ten minutes.

Ordinary people would naturally think this place was paradise and wouldn't want to leave. But ever since Caesar had sunk into the bathtub, he had been wondering why the Japanese branch treated them so well. They were clearly a bunch of perverts who enjoyed torturing people, yet the service they arranged was impeccable even for him, the young master of the Gattuso family.

He had to project confidence and elegance in front of Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei, but he felt something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He simply felt that this perfect arrangement seemed familiar, like... a cage inlaid with gold wire?

Caesar shook his head slightly. He didn't want to think about this right now. He lifted his glass and drank the clear wine in one gulp. Then he took out his phone and opened his inbox...still no reply from Nuonuo.

It has been a long time since he has been able to contact Nuonuo. The girl who was obviously engaged disappeared for no reason... just like a bride who ran away from the wedding.

But he didn't believe Nuonuo would run away, because she had already promised him. Everything about that quirky girl was unpredictable, but she was always iron-clad and stubborn about her promises.

As usual, Caesar checked her status in the Norma system. Everything was normal, which meant that the girl was still safe.

……

"So, you are being monitored?" A playful female voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yes, there are over 20 security guards patrolling the corridor on the top floor of the hotel 24 hours a day, and there are even more security guards at the hotel gate. They change shifts every two hours, with no breaks between shifts. This is clearly not in line with the operating procedures of a legitimate hotel." Chu Zihang sat by the window and spoke into the phone. "And when I came up here, I noticed that there were a lot of surveillance cameras on this floor as well."

"Ah!" the girl screamed. "So they saw you naked while you were showering? Will they post the video online? Will they use it to threaten you?"

Chu Zihang's mouth twitched, "The bathroom is safe."

"What a shame!" the girl said with regret. "I was thinking if you were filmed, I could buy a copy from them. I could use it to threaten you, and I could also look it up when I'm bored. How great!"

Chu Zihang was speechless. As expected, even if their relationship took a step forward, Xia Mi... was still the same Xia Mi.

"Then will you sleep in the same room with Senior Brother Mingfei?" Xia Mi asked.

"No, the Japanese branch has made very thoughtful arrangements. Our suite has three bedrooms, each designed to suit our individual preferences," Chu Zihang said. "Caesar's is Nordic-style, my bedroom is all wooden furniture, and in Lu Mingfei's, as long as he turns on the TV, he'll watch classic TV series like 'Tokyo Love Story' and new Japanese anime with Chinese subtitles. There's also a large-screen computer with top-notch specs and super-fast internet."

"That sounds fantastic! With a house like this, I could stay in my entire life!" Xia Mi shouted excitedly. "Are you still not satisfied?"

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied, it's just too exaggerated. The Japanese branch is notoriously difficult to get along with, and there's no reason for them to treat us so well." Chu Zihang said, "But if they're treating us well, why are they deploying so much police force and surveillance?"

"You mean... this is a 'Hongmen Banquet'?" Xia Mi asked.

"The 'Hongmen Banquet' isn't accurate either. They simply dropped us off at the hotel and left without saying anything, not even a word about the mission. Yet, the hotel arrangements were so grand, it felt like both a form of flattery and surveillance," Chu Zihang said. "I feel like the Japanese branch is trying to trap us here."

"Trap you?" Xia Mi whispered, "If we trap you...what benefit can they get?"

"I don't know." Chu Zihang said, "But it seems they don't want us to leave. The Japanese branch has always been mysterious. If they don't allow us to move freely in Japan, there must be something they don't want us to see."

"Then just stay put. You've got enough food and clothing now anyway... Damn it! The more I think about it, the angrier I get. You're not on a business trip, you're clearly going there for fun!"

"But……"

"Don't worry, as the ancients said, if you're here, make the best of it... Oh, my TV series is starting, so I won't talk to you for now. Remember to go to bed on time and drink a cup of hot milk before bed." The girl said sweetly, "Good night."

"Good night." Chu Zihang also said softly.

The phone was disconnected. Rain fell outside the window, its steady, seemingly endless drizzle. But Chu Zihang didn't stare blankly at the drizzle this time. Instead, he looked down at the call durations on his phone: "17 minutes 21 seconds," "13 minutes 14 seconds," "38 minutes 38 seconds"... The records showed calls from today, yesterday, and the day before yesterday... The same girl would call every day at random times, chatting haphazardly.

She might be excitedly introducing what treasure TV series she found today, or she might be sighing and complaining that she has another day of classes tomorrow and really wants to skip school... Even the most ordinary topics can be made interesting by girls, and Chu Zihang will no longer be annoyed by girls' nagging.

This goes on day after day, without fail.

……

At this moment in Lu Mingfei's bedroom.

On the 65-inch TV screen, "Tokyo Love Story" is playing the beginning of the story. Kanji comes to Tokyo from Ehime Prefecture with anxiety, and is about to meet Rika for the first time at the airport, as well as the girl's sweet smile... The volume of the TV is turned up to the maximum, echoing in every corner of the house. The joys and sorrows of the characters in the play seem to penetrate through the screen into reality.

The computer screen was on, displaying the interface of StarCraft. Jay Chou's songs were playing randomly in the music list, with cheerful or sad melodies humming softly in the headphones. However, on the soft gaming chair in front of the desk was only Asahina Mikuru in a maid outfit and a large pillow as tall as a person.

The shower head in the bathroom was slowly releasing water, and there was no one in the huge bathroom.

Lu Mingfei had vanished from the room without anyone noticing. He vanished into the bustling Tokyo, into this endless rainy night. The tiny Peninsula Hotel couldn't hold a man drawn to love. Before meeting his girl, he wanted to at least see the city she lived in, to leave his mark in the skyscrapers, the streets, and alleys, on this land where fate intertwined.

……

Meanwhile, in the mountains outside Tokyo, cherry trees bent their slender branches in the night wind, releasing petals as white as snow. Amidst the swirling pink and white cherry blossoms, thousands of men in black, white-sheathed daggers at their waists, bowed deeply three times at the stone steps, then lined up in a row, watching as seven figures in kimonos passed before them, finally passing through the dilapidated torii gate.

The men wore black-patterned tsukehaori, while the women wore traditional black tome-sode, with more formal white socks and wooden clogs on their feet. Their expressions were as solemn as if they were attending a funeral, and their wooden clogs stepped on the cherry blossom-covered road like they were walking across a pink and white river.

The red paint on the torii gate had almost peeled off, and the charred burn marks made the red and black wooden pillars look even more dilapidated. The stone walls of the wall were soaked with clusters of bloodstains that could not be washed away by years of rain. The bloodstains spread from the outer wall to the deep cracks in the stone. It was history that was deliberately preserved and remembered, and it has always maintained its original appearance. No one dared to erase it.

"The evening breeze blows over the mountains, the sea of ​​clouds hangs low, and it looks like a storm is about to come." Standing in the front was a silver-haired old man among the seven people. He bent down and lit three incense sticks. Behind him, the crowd like a black tide followed suit and bent down and bowed deeply. The incense dissipated in the heavy rain. No one dared to look up until the old man stood up.

Because the old man is the current head of the Tachibana family and the current patriarch of the eight Snake families, Tachibana Masamune.

Further ahead is the main shrine. Compared to the torii gate, this classical building doesn't look dilapidated at all, appearing meticulously renovated annually. Every inch of the vermilion stone walls bears the scent of history, and the years have left traces of weathering on the walls.

Nearly a hundred black cars blocked the entrance to the shrine, and thugs in black suits stood guard, submachine guns or swords strapped to their waists. The swords were sharp, lethal weapons, and the guns were loaded with real ammunition. Their sinister eyes swept in all directions, coveting every dark spot except the shrine.

Now is the internal meeting time of the Eight Sheqi Families. Except for family members, no one is allowed to approach this shrine. Anyone who comes will die.

After the seven leading figures entered the main hall, their personal escorts slowly followed, followed by the numerous subordinates from each clan. In the courtyard in front of the main hall, rows of black umbrellas were placed, covering the ground like a giant dark cloud. The crowd was as dense as a flock of black crows, but there was no jostling or shoving, and the silence was absolute. They followed their respective clan leaders in an orderly manner, not like a group of violent mafia clans, but more like a well-trained army.

The main hall's outer walls are made of rough stone, but the interior is covered in vibrant circles of ukiyo-e, a breathtaking display of beauty. Ghosts and demons appear to come alive within the paintings, their bodies ablaze with black fire, their eyes gleaming crimson. They stand high above, atop clouds and flames, seemingly gazing down upon the world from within.

The heads of the families sat down in their familiar seats on the dark tatami mats. Shochu and delicate snacks lay on the table before them, but no one moved, their gaze fixed on the silver-haired elder at the main seat. Hundreds of men and women in black knelt behind their head of family, their heads bowed. They knew their place in this vast clan well, for each was preceded by one of the eight surnames, and no one could kneel in error.

Eight small tables stood before the main hall's curtain, upon which were placed eight distinct long swords, their handles inscribed in gold with eight different family crests. There was the sixteen-petal chrysanthemum of the Tachibana family, the gentian of the Minamoto family, the bamboo and sparrow of the Uesugi family, the red demon of the Inuyama family, the spider of the Fuma family, the horse head of the Ryoma family, the phoenix of the Sakurai family, and the yaksha of the Miyamoto family. All eight family heads were present for this family meeting, with the head of the Minamoto family the only one yet to arrive.

The scene was utterly solemn and silent, even the sound of breathing was suppressed. This was the shrine passed down through the generations of the Sheqi Eight Clan. The spirits of their ancestors slept here, gazing down upon the world from the underworld. No one would make an inappropriate sound in such a solemn occasion... except for one girl... to be more precise, the head of the Uesugi Clan.

If there were outsiders present, they would be surprised to find that the heads of the families in the front row were all middle-aged people or old men with black and white hair, but the head of the Uesugi family was a young girl... She was simply too young and was out of tune with those old people who had experienced many vicissitudes of life.

A black veil covered the girl's face. She was wearing a black-patterned haori, a garment worn only by men, but the loose garment failed to conceal her slender figure. The kimono drooped naturally from her slender shoulders, only to reveal the girl's plump and graceful curves, a beautiful figure only possessed by a young girl.

She has a pair of bright eyes, like translucent crimson treasures, and burgundy hair that falls to her waist. If she were to replace her black haori with a red and white kimono, she would look unmistakably like an ancient Japanese shrine maiden. Her figure is breathtakingly beautiful, and one wonders what kind of beauty lies beneath her mysterious black veil.

At this time, only the head of the Uesugi family did not look at the head of the family, Tachibana Masamune, who was sitting in the main seat. She was staring at the bottom of the table.

"In fact, everyone can turn into light through their own power!"

Familiar lines echoed in the lobby of the main hall. They were classic lines from "Ultraman Tiga", played from the tablet under the head of the Uesugi family's desk at the maximum volume.

At first, she sat obediently at her desk, like a primary school student waiting for a lecture. But she was one of the first to arrive, so she simply sat behind the head of the family. The family shrine meeting required so much preparation, and it hadn't been held yet, and she was getting bored waiting.

It seemed that in her opinion, the boring wait was not as good as taking the opportunity to watch an episode of TV that she had been longing for. As for whether her ancestors in the underworld would be angry enough to come back to life... that was not within her consideration.

Chapter 187 Uesugi Eriya (Part 2) 2-in-1, please subscribe!

"Eriya...Eriya..." The silver-haired old man sitting in the main seat was some distance away from Eriya, so it was inconvenient for him to shout loudly and he could only call out in a low voice.

But his voice was drowned out by the passionate theme song. The head of the Uesugi family had obviously found an episode that satisfied her. She clicked on it and stared at the screen with great interest, not even wanting to miss the theme song.

The scene froze for a moment.

This was a crucial meeting of the mafia clans, held at a shrine dedicated to their ancestors. The heads of the three major clans and five minor clans were all present, and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, each striving to display the ritual appropriate to the solemn occasion. The clan heads sat at the front, their backs straight, while their subordinates knelt on their heels, their hands resting on their knees, their eyes fixed forward. Everyone suppressed their breathing, as if even a breath would be disrespectful to the spirits of their ancestors.

Even an old man, the head of a family, couldn't yell at her in such a situation. Besides, he couldn't possibly lecture Eri like a child in front of all the heads and members of the family. Although the girl was a child, she was still the head of one of the three major families.

"The morning light quietly... gradually enveloped the earth... just like every other dawn... continuing towards the distant future, over and over again..."

The original Japanese theme song of "Ultraman Tiga" echoed in the main hall. The huge main hall was already quiet, and the passionate and loud singing echoed in every corner. All the elites of the family held their breath and looked serious... Listening quietly to this familiar song, it was like performing some kind of strange ritual.

In truth, no one knew such a grand meeting would take place today. It had been twenty years since the family had held such a grand gathering, even using the family shrine. Even when the head of one of the eight families was replaced, only important figures from the other families would be in attendance. A gathering of this magnitude was truly unprecedented, a spectacle only seen when deciding who would succeed the head of the clan. If word got out, the leaders of every Japanese gang wouldn't have a good night's sleep tonight. Everyone would be on edge, fearing a major family change, a massive wave, and the potential to capsize their own small boats.

But the supreme power of the underworld gathered together, listening to the Ultraman theme song... Could it be that the family is planning to enter the film and television industry? And the first film they want to secure is "Ultraman Tiga"? That's right, Ultraman's theme appeals to all ages, and "Ultraman Tiga" is a classic among classics in the series. Capturing such a major IP would be a great demonstration of the family's strength, right?

"Two hundred thousand, I bet Miss Eriya is watching episode twenty-seven."

"I'll give you another two hundred thousand. She must be watching episode fifty-two."

The ones muttering softly were Crow and Yasha, who were kneeling in the back row, which represented the position of the head of the Minamoto family. Their lips moved slightly, and their voices were extremely low.

"I bet." Crow whispered, "I'm a bit broke lately, thanks for giving me the money for the wine!"

"Don't be so confident." Yasha sneered, "Episode 52 is the finale. I've watched it no less than twenty times. Do you know what a classic is?"

"You should be thankful you're working for the Young Patriarch." The voice that whispered was from Odagiri Akizan, who was kneeling not far from them. He was the head of the Kansai branch. "The Young Patriarch has been too indulgent with you. If you were my men, tattooing the word 'sin' all over your bodies wouldn't be enough of an apology!"

Yaksha and Crow were speechless, but their hands hidden at their waists were still making international hand gestures to each other, meaning that they were confident of winning their bet.

"Head, almost all the participants are here. The three heads of the three major families, the five elders of the Strategic Department, including Ishifunesai, Nibu Yan, and Zuo Shangbu, the head of the Liaison Department and his subordinates totaling 34 people, the family members of the five small families totaling 134 people, the Japanese branch of Kassel Academy totaling 36 people, 14 people from the Ganliu Research Institute, 7 people from the Maruyama Construction Institute...Except the head of the Minamoto family, a total of 439 people from the main family are here." The secretary leaned over to the old man's ear and handed over a list with both hands.

"Where's the head of the Minamoto family? How can we hold a meeting without the young head?" Tachibana Masamune looked at the empty seat representing the head of the Minamoto family. "Crow Yasha, hasn't Chisheng returned yet?"

Crow, who was currently sparring with Yasha, shuddered, stood up, and quickly stepped out of the group. "Young Master has just returned from a meeting with our three specialists, and he may not have heard that the heads of the various clans have arrived. Yasha and I will go and inform them right away!"

Crow and Yaksha left quickly, and hundreds of underworld elites knelt in their original places, each of them with a serious and solemn look on their faces, accompanying the head of the Uesugi family to listen to the dialogue of Ultraman on the tablet computer. What was torturous was that the exciting and passionate fighting sounds echoed in the lobby of the main hall, stirring the heart, but no one could see the screen.

……

The rain irrigated the world wantonly, and the raindrops competed to hit the bricks and tiles of the building's dome, crackling, like playing a joyful symphony.

The offering hall behind the main hall was pitch black. Gennochi was sitting on the porthole, with a hundred-foot-high cliff at his feet. He held a bowl of Kansai shochu in his hand and drank it in small sips, gazing alone at the brilliant lights of Tokyo in the rain in the distance. It was like a huge Buddhist shrine, with candles dedicated to the gods always flickering and burning.

"Boss, I guessed you were hiding here." Crow crouched down and approached from the darkness. "The head of the family is calling you. The heads of all the families are here. They can't hold the meeting without you."

"When I was away, they never failed to open the business?" Yuan Zhisheng took a big gulp of soju.

"This time is different. All the important members of our family are here, and they are all waiting in the main hall." Crow said, "The elites of the major families and the branch directors are waiting for you. Miss Eri is so impatient that she has already started watching Ultraman!"

Having served under Yuan Zhisheng for so long, Crow knew the young master's aversion to family gatherings. He would resolutely refuse to attend any meeting that could be postponed. If today's gathering wasn't unprecedented in the past twenty years, and it wasn't held at a shrine, Yuan Zhisheng would probably rather play with the three psychopaths from headquarters than listen to a bunch of decadent old men spouting about "family justice."

"Then let them watch Ultraman with Eri first, while I finish this bowl of wine." Gen Chisheng glanced at the door.