"Tch, it's just prison, what's there to be afraid of?"
The underling's expression remained arrogant, yet the hand he had stretched out toward Hayashi Shuichi was hurriedly retracted.
"Boss, we are customers now."
The scar-faced man tilted his head slightly. The diagonal scar across his face twisted with the movement, making him look exceptionally hideous. "This isn't the proper attitude for receiving guests, is it?"
"There are no empty seats in the shop; we cannot serve you," Hayashi Shuichi met the scar-faced man's gaze without backing down an inch. "If you want to drink, go somewhere else!"
"Giving me no face, huh?" The scar-faced man let out a cold laugh. "You don't actually think I'm still that petty little gang leader from before, do you?"
"What else would you be?" Hayashi Shuichi scoffed. "Don't tell me you've transformed into a high-ranking police official?"
The scar-faced man smiled with a reserved air of self-importance. The underling standing behind him quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and respectfully announced his boss's new status: "Big Bro Takigawa is now the Wakagashira of our family."
Takigawa kept his eyes fixed on Hayashi Shuichi, eager to see the look of shock that would surely appear once his identity was revealed.
Unexpectedly, Hayashi Shuichi merely furrowed his brows slightly, his face showing not a trace of panic. "...What is a Wakagashira?"
"...It's the group's second-in-command!" Takigawa gritted his teeth in anger, the muscles in his face twitching.
"Second-in-command? So, you're still just a deputy, aren't you?" A playful expression emerged on Hayashi Shuichi's face. "Looking at how smug you were just now, I thought you had become the supreme head of the Sumiyoshi-kai."
"Kid, do you have a death wish?" Takigawa asked, his face darkening as he enunciated every word.
"Last night, Ito Ichiro was assassinated. Today, you were promoted to second-in-command," Hayashi Shuichi said with meaningful implication. "Ito wasn't killed by someone you sent, was he?"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting!" Takigawa roared, his expression gloomy and terrifying. His facial muscles went taut, and the underlings behind him immediately assumed looks of righteous indignation.
"Any normal person would think that way, wouldn't they?" Hayashi Shuichi laughed nonchalantly. "If you don't believe me, why don't you ask these little brothers of yours?"
Takigawa subconsciously turned his head. The underling he stared at hurriedly laughed dryly and replied, "Big Bro, don't listen to this kid's nonsense. How could we possibly suspect you?"
"Alright, if you came here just to show off your status, you can leave now." Hayashi Shuichi waved his hand impatiently. "The police aren't ignoring the affairs within your association because they can't handle them; they're just too lazy to bother. But if you continue to cause trouble here, I wouldn't mind investigating the Ito Ichiro case myself."
Takigawa glared gloomily at Hayashi Shuichi. He wanted to lash out, but ultimately, he was still wary of the other party's identity.
"Kid... you just wait."
After squeezing those words through his teeth, Takigawa led his underlings and strode out of the izakaya.
Once they were gone, the shop, which had fallen silent, instantly erupted into noise again. The customers began discussing the Sumiyoshi-kai and the commotion on the streets the previous night.
"Hayashi-kun, will you be alright?" Ikenami Shizuka's face was filled with worry.
"Don't worry, it's fine," Hayashi Shuichi shook his head. "Unless the Sumiyoshi-kai really intends to go to war with the police, they won't dare touch me."
"That man came here just now mostly because of what happened before..."
Hayashi Shuichi briefly recounted the previous disturbance at the Yolo Nightclub. "At the time, just to get inside, I mocked his status a bit. I didn't expect the guy to hold a grudge for so long."
"People in the yakuza are all scum," Ikenami Shizuka reminded him kindly. "You still need to be careful of them playing dirty tricks in the dark."
"Ms. Ikenami is right," Mouri Kogoro leaned in, looking concerned. "They wouldn't dare target the izakaya openly, but they can absolutely cause damage in secret. For example, intimidating customers so they don't come to our shop, or splashing paint and feces on the storefront at night."
"There was a shop on the commercial street before that offended a gang. In the end, they were forced out of business."
"Didn't that shop call the police?" Reiko tilted her head in confusion.
"When gangs cause damage, unless they are caught in the act, the police generally ignore it," Mouri Kogoro said helplessly. "Even if they are caught, splashing paint and feces isn't a serious crime. They get locked up for three or five days and then released. But for a shop owner doing business, the impact is huge."
The little cousin fell silent upon hearing this.
Kisaki Eri walked over as well. "Just to be safe, it's better to inform Inspector Samezaki and the others."
"I'll tell him in a bit," Hayashi Shuichi said with a smile, looking at the worried group. "Everyone, you don't need to worry too much. That guy won't be arrogant for much longer."
"How do you know?" Mouri Kogoro frowned deeply. "I've heard people say that a Wakagashira in a yakuza group is equivalent to the Crown Prince. After the Kumicho passes away, the Wakagashira takes over. He's clearly doing very well."
Ito Ichiro was killed by Takigawa; Tomizawa Chikage had seen this with her own eyes.
The fact that Takigawa could rise directly from a small squad leader to the group's second-in-command was obviously related to this.
Hayashi Shuichi thought for a moment and explained, "He rose too fast, especially right at the moment of Ito Ichiro's death."
"Gangs have internal organization too. If this guy were smart, he wouldn't have let himself be promoted so quickly."
"Do you mean, Senior, that Ito Ichiro's death is related to him?" Orikasa Midori asked curiously.
"Even if it isn't, someone will make it look like it is," Hayashi Shuichi said meaningfully. "This guy is too stupid. does he really think getting promoted right now is a good thing?"
At the same time, Takigawa, having just walked out of the izakaya, was venting his anger on his underlings.
The three underlings lowered their heads, bodies trembling slightly, afraid to even breathe loudly.
After being lectured, one of them tentatively asked, "Big Bro, how about we go set a fire at the shop tonight?"
"That might be too much, considering he has a police identity," another underling suggested. "Let's just splash feces. Do it two or three times, and no customers will dare go to that shop. They'll have to close down."
The two discussed for a while before finally looking at the silent Takigawa together. "Big Bro, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
Takigawa was stunned. He didn't answer his underlings' question but instead asked a question of his own: "Are there a lot of people down below who suspect that Boss Ito's death has something to do with me?"
"Big Bro, what are you saying? How could that..." an underling began with a dry laugh, but before he could finish, Takigawa grabbed him by the collar.
"I want the truth. Speak!"
Takigawa's eyes revealed a thick killing intent. The underling was hoisted into the air, feet off the ground, struggling desperately.
Seeing that he was serious, the underling could only pull a bitter face, his voice sounding like he was about to cry. "Today... we did hear quite a few brothers saying that... but the three of us definitely never suspected you, Big Bro!"
"...Damn it!"
Takigawa dropped the underling, then, with a face the color of iron, punched the wall beside him.
Although he wasn't incredibly smart, he wasn't a fool either.
He had been in the yakuza for over twenty years; he understood the meaning behind Hayashi Shuichi's words immediately.
Damn it! Is the Boss trying to push me out to clear his own name?
Takigawa's face turned black. Various scenes flashed through his mind, and for a moment, his heart was in chaos.
Ito Ichiro was indeed killed by him last night. The reason for the hit, aside from not being promoted for twenty years, was that he was following the orders of the Wakagashira.
Now the old Kumicho was dead, and the former Wakagashira had become the Kumicho. The other party had also followed through on the agreement, promoting Takigawa to Wakagashira.
Takigawa hadn't realized the problem before; he had only been excited, impatiently seeking out Hayashi Shuichi—who had once mocked him—to show off his new status.
Now he realized that this wasn't a triumphant rise to power; he was clearly sitting on a powder keg.
Betraying your Big Brother, assassinating the Kumicho—these were grave sins in the yakuza world.
If someone solidified these charges against him, even if he turned himself in to the police and fled into prison, he would still be hunted down by members of the gang.
"Big Bro?"
Seeing Takigawa standing motionless, the three underlings could only look at each other in dismay.
"Let's go. Home first."
Takigawa gritted his teeth. To be safe, he felt it was better to leave Beika for a while to avoid the storm.
"Do we still make a move on the izakaya?" an underling asked.
"Ignore him for now," Takigawa huffed. "Let that kid be smug for another two days. Once my issues are resolved, I'll come back and deal with him later."
Back at the izakaya, Hayashi Shuichi was bidding farewell to the group from Osaka University.
Although it was a group, it was essentially just Ikenami Shizuka. The other team members, including the leading teacher, were all dead drunk, swaying back and forth as Mouri Kogoro helped them into taxis.
"It's a pity. I'm about to leave, and I still haven't heard Hayashi-kun call me Onee-san."
Ikenami Shizuka covered her mouth and laughed, a trace of regret in her eyes. She took a slip of paper from her pocket, on which she had already written her address and phone number.
"Hayashi-kun, you must come to Osaka to play."
"If I have time, I will definitely go," Hayashi Shuichi nodded with a smile, carefully taking the note and putting it away.
"Then I'll be waiting for you in Osaka."
At this point, Ikenami Shizuka suddenly stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Hayashi Shuichi's ear, and whispered, "When it's just the two of us, I will definitely make you call me Onee-san."
After speaking, she gave a shy smile, her face blushing, and then stepped into the taxi.
Is this a hint for a date? Hayashi Shuichi thought inexplicably.
"Damn it, why am I doing all the work?"
Mouri Kogoro complained as he walked back into the izakaya with Hayashi Shuichi, patting his clothes with a look of disgust. "Drunk people reek of alcohol."
"Except for you and me, everyone else in the shop is a girl," Hayashi Shuichi smiled and handed Mouri a towel. "I'm the chef, and I still have to cook for other customers. Who else could do this job but you?"
"Hey, what did Ms. Ikenami say to you just now?" Mouri Kogoro suddenly leaned in, winking lecherously at his friend. "Did she ask you to go to a hotel tonight? Before leaving..."
"Cough!"
Hayashi Shuichi hurriedly coughed to cut him off. Kisaki Eri and Reiko were right there; if they heard that, how would he get any sleep tonight?
"Don't talk nonsense. Ms. Ikenami just left her phone number and address in Osaka so that I wouldn't forget to contact her if I visit in the future."
"Onii-chan, I just saw Ms. Ikenami slip you a small note!" Reiko put her hands on her hips, her eyes wide and round. "What was written on it?"
"Where is the note?" Kisaki Eri reached out her hand directly, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light.
Helplessly, Hayashi Shuichi took out the note and handed it over. "It really just has a phone number and address. Can you believe me now?"
The two girls, one big and one small, inspected it carefully. After confirming there were no secret codes on the paper, they reluctantly returned it to Hayashi Shuichi.
"If you go to Osaka in the future, you must take me with you," Kisaki Eri scoffed coldly. "Don't even think about running off alone to have a romantic getaway with a vixen."
"And me too!" Reiko hurriedly raised her hand. "Onii-chan can't leave me behind anywhere!"
Late at night, past midnight.
Reiko was fast asleep in her bedroom. After taking a shower, Hayashi Shuichi was preparing to go to bed as well.
But at that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Hayashi Shuichi paused slightly. Who could it be at this hour?
Surely not Takigawa and his men? Are the yakuza this polite now?
With suspicion, Hayashi Shuichi walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Standing outside were actually Inspector Samezaki and Officer Teraoka Katsutoshi from the Fourth Investigation Division, whom he had met previously at the entrance of the Yolo Nightclub.
Both were dressed in plain clothes with serious expressions.
Worried that voices might wake the sleeping Reiko, Hayashi Shuichi opened the door but did not invite the two officers inside. Instead, he softly closed the door behind him, stood in the corridor, and asked in a low voice, "It's so late, is something wrong?"
After the two officers explained their purpose, Hayashi Shuichi frowned slightly. "You want me to investigate the death of Ito Ichiro? Did they report it to the police?"
"No, this counts as a private invitation," Officer Teraoka whispered. "Hayashi-kun wouldn't be going as a consultant for the First Investigation Division, but as a private detective, to help the Sumiyoshi-kai uncover the truth."
"Is that so? Then I refuse," Hayashi Shuichi shook his head without hesitation. "I don't want to get mixed up in yakuza business."
"Hayashi-kun, the one asking for your help this time is Ito Ichiro's sworn brother, Yamada Daisuke. He is also the Shateigashira of the Ito-gumi," Officer Teraoka said, his voice tinged with urgency. "He and Ito Ichiro belonged to the moderate faction within the yakuza. The gangs in Beika have been relatively well-behaved recently entirely thanks to their restraint."
"After Ito Ichiro died last night, the original Wakagashira, Kiryu Yuji, inherited his position and became the boss of the Ito-gumi," Inspector Samezaki added worriedly. "This guy is young and acts without scruples. If he's allowed to secure his position, the gangs in Beika are bound to fall into chaos..."
"Even if you say that, this isn't within my scope of responsibility," Hayashi Shuichi remained unmoved.
"I told you, this kid isn't that easy to persuade," Inspector Samezaki looked as if he had expected this.
"Ten million yen," Officer Teraoka said in a deep voice. "As long as you uncover the truth behind Ito Ichiro's assassination, Yamada Daisuke is willing to pay ten million yen as a reward..."
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