The funeral lasted for three days, and the farewell ceremony was held on the fourth day.
For the Extre Path, funerals are not uncommon, sothing they are used to. Though the bad news ca hurriedly, the funeral was still orderly.
In the anti, Fujimoto’s wife, dissatisfied with the distribution of Fujimoto’s inheritance, ca with her child to make a fuss, but she didn’t et Huai Shi and left grudgingly. Besides that, there were only so distant relatives, so of whom didn’t show up at all.
The preceding funeral was for the deceased’s friends and family, but the day of the farewell ceremony was when colleagues ca to visit.
In the overcast drizzle, the Fujimoto Group mbers in mourning clothes stood in two rows at the door, bowing to thank the arriving visitors.
From the increasingly stationary car, Yamada Teppei looked at the scene outside, eyebrows slightly raising: "Isn’t this quite the spectacle? Even in death, that Fujimoto picked a troubleso ti... I heard it was the Tiger King Group who did it?"
"That’s what everyone says." His subordinate answered, opening the door for him, then holding an umbrella.
The elderly man under the umbrella adjusted the collar of his haori and walked toward the main entrance.
At the door, Yamashita bent down, bowing at a ninety-degree angle: "Thank you for coming from afar, it’s been hard on you."
"It’s just two city districts away, no need for hardship talk." Yamada chuckled twice, looking down: "Yamashita, I heard the new group leader isn’t you."
"I’m incompetent; just having the rank is fortunate enough." Yamashita answered, bowing his head: "I dare not covet the leader position."
"Ha-ha, just joking, you look scared." The old president of the Yamada Group waved his hand, and his face gradually beca one of surprise as he looked around: "What? I personally ca to offer condolences, and your new leader doesn’t even show up?"
"Apologies." Yamashita maintained his ninety-degree bow: "The leader has other urgent matters and will arrive shortly; please bear with us."
"You bastard, how dare you make our president wait?"
The umbrella-holding subordinate was furious, grabbing Yamashita by the collar and angrily shouting: "Such disrespect! Are you looking down on us?"
"Enough, Ikeuchi, this is a funeral, we’re guests, don’t make too much of a fuss."
Yamada Teppei patted his subordinate’s arm, leaving the bowing Yamashita, and turned to head into the ceremonial hall, where he lit an incense stick, regarded Fujimoto’s portrait, sighed, then went into a side room to rest.
Many old acquaintances had already arrived, making it very lively inside. Seeing him co in, many raised their hands to greet him.
"Ah, quite a good crowd, it’s been a while everyone."
Yamada found a seat in the middle, looking around, knowingly asking: "Tiger King Group didn’t co?"
"If they dared co, there might be a fight today?"
"I’m not sure about that."
An old man with burn scars on his face raised his eyes, glanced at the door outside: "I heard Tiger King Group invited the five elders for diation these past two days, really putting in effort to save his son, Arisaka is really making an effort. But Yamada, you know sothing, right?"
"Where would I get information, I’m just an old man, retired long ago, can’t ddle in these things."
Yamada raised his teacup, casually asking: "By the way, is it true the Fujimoto Group is being renad to the Huaizhi Gang? Anyone familiar? I’m quite curious about that new leader."
About the leader of the Huaizhi Gang, there are many rumors, so call him a Green Day expert, others absurdly dub him a Border God of Killing. But none are reliable. There’s even talk of a hybrid who joined Fujimoto Group just two days ago... truly absurd tales.
For a mont, no one can figure out the details, nor what Fujimoto was thinking in his last monts.
However, those who ca sense this new leader’s arrogance. From the start of the funeral until now, he hasn’t shown his face; even originally close factions are now shut out, relations becoming distant and cold.
"Well, regardless, he’ll have to make an appearance, won’t he?" Yamada cheerfully drank his tea and said no more.
And in the busy farewell ceremony, Yamashita Jiro finally found a mont, grabbing soone nearby, anxiously asking: "The leader, where is the leader?"
"I-I don’t know." The underling shook his head bewilderedly: "They say he went out with Big Brother Ueno this morning and hasn’t returned yet."
Yamashita felt terrible.
What nonsense is "went out this morning?"
Couldn’t he be brought to survey the nightlife by Ueno?
Feeling a chill in his heart, Yamashita was about to speak when he noticed a car stopped at the front door and soone getting out.
Stunned.
"Sis-in-law, w-why are you here?"
"My husband’s funeral, shouldn’t I be here?"
The exhausted-looking woman held a bewildered child, staring angrily at Yamashita: "I want to see what this Huai Shi guy is up to!"
But behind her, soone else got out of the car.
An old man in a black suit, holding a cane, greeted Yamashita warmly: "Isn’t this Yamashita? Long ti no see, how have you been?"
Yamashita froze for half a day, instinctively standing firm and bowing to the newcor: "I apologize for the late welco, Mr. Kitahara."
His heart already sank to the bottom.
The person who ca was a high-ranking mber of the Drug Expulsion Alliance, an envoy representing the opinion of the five elders, now jointly arriving with Fujimoto’s widow, likely with no good intentions.
"There’s no need for unnecessary words. I’ve co here today mainly for three matters."
Kitahara removed his hat and calmly surveyed the surroundings, telling him: "Firstly, to offer condolences to Mr. Fujimoto on behalf of our master at ho. Secondly, to diate between the Fujimoto Group and the Tiger King Group.
Lastly, it concerns Madam Fujimoto’s request for justice... Yamashita, upon hearing of Madam Fujimoto’s plight, Lord Tenmoku was greatly enraged and instructed to resolve this swiftly. I’m afraid I can’t afford to spare any face for you."
In the cold, thin rain, Yamashita was already drenched in sweat. Bowing his head, he pleaded:
"Please, let’s discuss this inside."
After seeing the group enter, he anxiously glared at Takuma, signaling him to quickly think of a solution. He could no longer attend to his ceremonial duties and turned to follow them in a flustered state.
"What’s wrong? Is your new leader not here?"
After offering incense in the funeral hall, Kitahara looked around, his expression quickly turning indifferent: "Is this how he treats the Five Bosses?"
"A thousand apologies, the leader is on their way here. I ask for your patience."
Yamashita could only bow again and plead: "Rest assured, Fujimoto, no, our Huaizhi Gang will provide you with an explanation. I ask you to show rcy..."
"Yamashita! Is this your place to speak?"
Kitahara raised his voice, scolding: "Without even eting the Alliance, how arrogant has Huaizhi beco? Or does he still naively think he can seize the foundation left by Fujimoto?"
Yamashita kept bowing, sweat dripping onto the ground.
"To be honest, having Huaizhi inherit the leader’s position was Mr. Fujimoto’s dying wish. These past days, we’ve been seeking an audience with the Five Bosses, yet..."
"Are you implying this is the Five Bosses’ fault?" Kitahara looked over coldly.
"That is by no ans my intention, it’s just, just that..."
Yamashita hurriedly explained, but Kitahara waved dismissively, showing disinterest: "Enough, the Alliance has decided to diate the dispute between the Fujimoto Group and the Tiger King Group. Let this serve as an offering before Fujimoto’s spirit tablet."
As he spoke, he took out a box from his pocket and tossed it into Yamashita’s arms.
Upon opening the box, inside was a severed little finger, the end tied with a rubber band, already turning black.
Yamashita’s hand trembled as he looked up, incredulous: "W-what does this an?"
"This is a gesture of sincerity from the Tiger King Group. As the saying goes, it’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it alive. Since Madam Fujimoto was willing to generously forgive Arisaka’s unintentional mistake and resolve this grudge, the Alliance also welcos it. This serves as an apology to the Fujimoto Group."
"This, this..."
Holding the box in his hands, Yamashita looked in astonishnt at Kitahara and the Fujimoto widow behind him, whose eyes were evasive. His face changed from pale to flushed, his lips trembled, unable to say a word.
"What’s the matter?" Kitahara asked coldly: "Do you Fujimoto Group not wish to accept the Five Bosses’ ruling? Or do you have other opinions?"
Yamashita clenched his teeth, said nothing, and remained unmoving in his place.
His hands holding the box trembled, unwilling to take it.
Once that little finger was placed before Fujimoto’s spirit tablet, there would likely be no day for revenge...
"Chopping off fingers, how dreadful, too cruel.... If you really want to offer condolences, even a pig’s head would be better than this."
The young man under the umbrella outside sighed helplessly. The hem of his coat still dripping with rain as he stepped into the mortuary, carrying two plastic bags in his hands.
As he looked up and smiled, his smile was both handso and wicked, with the curve of horns on his forehead resembling the demonic spirits from Ukiyo-e that enchant the souls.
"Thanks for the hard work, Yamashita, give a hand with this."
Casually handing the plastic bags into Yamashita’s arms, the newcor sighed: "Kyoto is so big, and yet it’s so hard to find a place to buy offering items. Please help set these up in the mortuary.
As for the finger, forget about it..."
He fiddled with the box, disregarding Kitahara’s ugly expression, and casually tossed it outside the mortuary: "Placing a finger, isn’t that a bit miserable? Didn’t the Five Bosses send so virgins as well?"
"You insolent!"
Kitahara, infuriated, went pale as iron, but noticing the respectful attitudes of those around him, he suddenly realized the newcor’s identity. His expression changed, quickly becoming grim: "Are you refusing the Five Bosses’ diation?"
"Ah, this..."
Huai Shi was montarily taken aback, then scratched his head in bewildernt: "Why didn’t you ntion it earlier?"
Beside him, Yamashita suddenly let out a startled cry. His hands shook, causing two round, bloodied objects to fall from the plastic bags.
In the silence, the two heads dropped to the floor with a low thud.
They rolled playfully, displaying the last vestiges of terror and despair on their faces.
As everyone stared in shocked silence, the latecor nonchalantly removed the wet coat, revealing a bare upper body underneath with fierce tattoos and crisscrossed wounds and blood scars...
Amongst the gun, knife, and burn scars, the Evil Ghost carrying a bronze bell grinned, baring his fierce smile from his spine to the mortal world.
Huai Shi sighed, shrugging helplessly: "After all, the Tiger King Group no longer exists..."
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