Chapter 703: Directly Greet Me

Fleeing to Korea to escape the wrath of the Yakuza, Yamamoto Ken successfully returned to Japan and unified the scattered factions of the Yakuza.

Thanks to my assistance, he swiftly seized control of the Japanese underworld.

While smaller groups still lingered, none dared challenge the Yamaguchi-gumi led by Yamamoto Ken.

Koizumi, aware of the Yakuza’s involvement in the coup, took measures to suppress them thoroughly.

He enforced the existing laws against organized crime more stringently to apprehend the Yakuza.

However, accepting my advice, Koizumi did not touch the Yamaguchi-gumi.

This led to rumors that the Yamaguchi-gumi members were untouchable, but Yamamoto Ken quietly handed over mid-level bosses to the police to quell those whispers.

Thus, Yamamoto Ken gradually expanded his influence.

Before long, out of the three major organizations in Japan—the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai, and Inagawa-kai—only the Yamaguchi-gumi remained intact, as the others lost their leaders and most members to arrests.

Now the Japanese underworld was practically a stage for the Yamaguchi-gumi.

The headquarters of the Yamaguchi-gumi, where the master of the Japanese underworld resided, was located in Kobe, Kansai.

The vehicle carrying me slowly approached the headquarters.

Yakuza members were waiting at the front gate.

“This is private property from here on. Turn back.”

One of the members blocking the way rapped on the driver’s window and said.

After glancing back at me, Manager Ma exited the vehicle.

“We’ve come to see Yamamoto. Let us through.”

“Yamamoto?”

The Yakuza perked up at the mention of Yamamoto’s name.

Once he remembered it was the boss’s name, he shouted angrily.

“Hey! Is your buddy the boss? Do you have any idea where you are? You think you can walk in here like this?! Want to die?”

The imposing figure gave an intimidating scowl that added to the pressure.

Yet, unperturbed by the Yakuza’s threats, Manager Ma smiled and replied.

“Send word inside. Just say a guest from Korea is here, and they’ll understand.”

“You crazy punk! Get lost, now! You think the boss sees just anyone? This is your last warning. Turn back now.”

Thanks to the open door, I could hear their conversation clearly.

I shouldn’t have come unannounced, but their response seemed off too.

It’s ridiculous to have a dimwitted fool serve as a doorman.

“What’s going on, Masaō?”

Another Yakuza approached and shot a glance at Manager Ma.

“Boss! This lunatic is demanding the path be opened using the boss’s name!”

“What?”

The newly arrived Yakuza scrutinized Manager Ma from head to toe before speaking in a low voice.

“The chairman hasn’t arranged any appointments today. I don’t know who you are, but turn back.”

“I told you to send word inside. Don’t regret it later.”

The newcomer hesitated for a moment, seeming to gauge Manager Ma’s demeanor.

His show of confidence seemed unsteady as he kept glancing at Manager Ma and scratching his head.

“Sounds like you have something going on, but we can only follow protocol. Get back, or it will be bloodshed.”

“Do you need blood to call Yamamoto?”

“Do you even know where you are? Go find somewhere else if you want to commit suicide.”

The doorman interjected, casting a glance at the heavily tinted vehicle.

“Take your master and leave.”

As Manager Ma prepared to respond, I opened the car door and stepped out.

“Manager.”

“Yes, Boss?”

“What seems to be the trouble?”

Upon hearing me speak in Korean, the Yakuza chuckled.

“What? Are you a Chosunjing?”

“Chosunjing? Was that directed at me?”

I narrowed my eyes at the mention of Chosunjing, thinking he should have had the sense not to provoke me.

“Yeah, you! What kind of Chosunjing punk shows up here? Hey, Masaō! Rough him up and send him back!”

“Yes, Boss!”

Masaō, the doorman, glanced left and right before advancing toward me.

He swung his fist, but it didn’t connect with my body.

That was because Manager Ma caught his fist.

“Whoa there. Keeping the boss safe, I see.”

Despite his relaxed words, Manager Ma’s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Masaō, who was struggling fiercely to free his hand. The difference in strength was clear.

Manager Ma glanced at me, seemingly asking for permission, and I nodded.

As soon as I gave the go-ahead, Manager Ma exerted even more force.

Masaō’s face contorted in pain, and he groaned as he flailed with his free hand.

“Argh! Let go! Are you serious!?”

With a slight movement, Manager Ma avoided the punch and hurled Masaō aside.

Masaō crashed to the ground but sprang back up, charging at Manager Ma like an enraged bull.

Tilting his head slightly to evade a punch aimed at his face, Manager Ma retaliated with a powerful strike to Masaō’s face.

The sharp crack echoed as Masaō’s nose broke, causing blood to spurt out. It looked as if his nose had been broken.

Yet, in his fury, Masaō seemed oblivious to the pain, continuing to lunge at Manager Ma.

After charging multiple times, Masaō eventually fell to his knees, unable to land a single hit on Manager Ma.

His once menacing face was now barely recognizable amid the swelling.

“Y-You insane punk…”

Another Yakuza who had prodded Masaō watched the scene, his words stumbling out.

“Are you guys really looking to die? Why are you causing a scene on my watch?!”

“Send word inside. You won’t get hurt if you do.”

“Shut it! You bastard! This is our territory! The headquarters at that! You’re a dead man.”

While the two were brawling away, it seemed someone had contacted inside, as Yakuza members suddenly poured out of the surrounding buildings.

The sight made the man grow smug, smirking.

“You’ll live if you go now. Your arms? Or your legs? Pick one.”

“What’s going on?”

A Yakuza among the crowd asked the man.

“These crazies are making a scene because they want to see the chairman. And a Chosunjing at that!”

“What? The boss?”

At least fifty Yakuza poured from the building.

It was likely not the entirety of the guards but just the emergency response team.

“We need to find out who sent them, so let’s show them our strength first!”

“Yes!”

At that moment, bodyguards from my escort car jumped out.

They rapidly formed up behind Manager Ma.

About ten bodyguards sneered as they surveyed the throng of Yakuza.

“Is this a Yakuza den, or a pigsty? Manager, who are these punks? What are they thinking attacking us?”

Manager Ma didn’t respond.

Seemingly not expecting an answer, the bodyguard began cracking his fingers and limbering up.

“Looks like I’m getting warmed up! Should we take them down?”

On Manager Ma’s nod, the bodyguard grinned widely and called out.

“We’ve got orders to subdue! Everyone, grab your batons!”

At his command, the remaining bodyguards pulled out their batons in unison.

“What the hell! Who are these guys!”

The Yakuza, seeing the batons, drew their weapons.

“Put those away! Weapons make our guys go wild!”

“What are you saying! Speak in Japanese, you bastard!”

The bodyguard spoke in Korean while the Yakuza replied in Japanese.

It was pure chaos.

“Did you hear Manager Ma? Don’t kill, just subdue!”

“Who do you think you are in our territory? We’ll kill you all!”

A battle of fifty against ten began.

Manager Ma stood guard beside me alongside the driver as he observed the fight.

“Ugh!”

“Argh! My arm!”

Bodyguards boldly charged towards the Yakuza wielding knives.

Though the Yakuza fought back with their blades, they couldn’t gain the upper hand against the bodyguards armed with batons.

With every baton strike, there were sounds of breaking bones, and Yakuza fell to the ground.

The sheer number of opponents made it take a while to subdue them all.

“Manager, call Korea and get in touch with Yamamoto!”

“Yes, Boss.”

Receiving the order, Manager Ma took out his phone. While he contacted the Heavenly Group, I watched the battle unfold.

Though the number of bodyguards was fewer, they were my closest protectors.

Manager Ma’s trained elite fighters were not to be trifled with, easily overpowering groups of fifty run-of-the-mill Yakuza.

As the number of fallen increased, more Yakuza erupted from the building once again, all brandishing swords.

At the ridiculous sight, the bodyguard who had previously questioned Manager Ma chuckled and muttered.

“Is this a cockroach nest? They just keep coming out.”

A new brawl kicked off.

While the bodyguards took some cuts on their arms and legs, they ultimately triumphed in subduing most of the Yakuza.

Except for about ten, all of the Yakuza were lying bloodied on the ground.

The bodyguards also appeared exhausted, panting heavily when suddenly—

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot rang out.

“Everyone stop! These bastards don’t know when to back off!”

At the sound of the gunfire, the bodyguards instinctively rushed to my side, encircling me.

Amid the chaos, the man who had fired into the air aimed his gun at us and declared.

“Drop your weapons! Before I make a hole in your heads!”

Perhaps speaking in Japanese, the bodyguards didn’t understand a word.

They only focused on him while remaining vigilant of their surroundings.

“Drop your weapons! Or do you want to die?”

The gunman hollered with a face like a demon.

By then, dozens of Yakuza were sprawled across the floor.

Seeing that alone, the guards at the entrance were already dead men walking, so it made sense they were frantic.

Yet this has crossed the line.

“Manager.”

At my prompt, Manager Ma nodded. He reached into his suit pocket, and the barrel of a gun glistened.

Forgetting the bodyguards, he stepped forward, abruptly firing at the gunman’s hand.

Bang!

“Ugh!”

Dropping his gun, the man grasped at his injured hand.

Blood poured freely from the bullet wound.

As the gunshots continued, more Yakuza poured out of the building.

Around ten of them emerged, all casually holding firearms.

Except for Manager Ma, no one else was armed.

The Yakuza who appeared to be the highest ranking looked down at his subordinate clutching his bleeding hand in contempt.

Then he turned to point his gun at Manager Ma.

“If you don’t want to be a pin cushion, put your gun down.”

The man’s face was filled with confidence.

Manager Ma didn’t lower his gun at the Yakuza’s demand, calmly blocking me.

“Manager.”

Manager Ma turned to me. He seemed unwilling to budge until I gave him an order.

“It’s alright; you can put your gun down. You don’t need to overdo it.”

At my directive, Manager Ma lowered his weapon. Instantly, the man questioned again.

“So, the one in the back must be the boss. Who the hell sent you?”

As Manager Ma holstered his gun, he replied.

“I came to see Yamamoto, but he suddenly started acting aggressive. Hence, we’re in this situation now.”

Manager Ma stated as if it were nothing significant.

“What? Yamamoto? You’re talking about the chairman?”

“That’s right. Yamamoto Ken.”

“Ha… has this insane punk really lost it? Do you think the chairman meets just anyone?!”

“Contact him. Just let him know a guest from Korea has arrived.”

“Shut up! The chairman doesn’t meet your kind…”

Just then, the doors of the headquarters swung open.

“Hey! Everyone move aside!”

The one dragging the Yakuza out was not Yamamoto.

Even the men holding guns stepped aside, hiding their weapons.

The person who came out saw the Yakuza sprawled out on the ground, clicking his tongue, before walking over to us.

“Are you guests from Korea?”

Manager Ma simply nodded without replying.

“So, you must be Ma Seok-dae?”

Manager Ma nodded again. Finally, someone here understood.

He then spoke to me, surrounded by bodyguards.

“Are you Mr. Kim Mu-hyeok?”

I instructed the bodyguards to step back and moved forward.

“That’s me.”

“I’ll take you inside. Only you and Mr. Ma are allowed in.”

“Yamamoto isn’t coming out in person, and he asked me to come inside?”

“Yes, that was the instruction.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Has he forgotten who I am?

Or does he think I’m not worth his time?

“Tell Yamamoto to come out right now. Have him greet me personally. If not, I’m turning back. I won’t ever return again, so make sure he knows this too.”

The man’s expression contorted at my demand. Still, I glared at him with my arms crossed.

“I need to make it clear who’s in charge here.”