Ti passed quickly, and before long, a week had gone by.
Japan was still in utter chaos.
Once the dark organization called Daedonghoe was exposed, the far-right groups they had supported began staging protests against Koizumi.
— “Step down, Koizumi! Step down!”
But Koizumi was resolute.
He deployed the Self-Defense Forces to forcibly disperse the protesters and took the bold step of arresting all their leaders.
Until now, those far-right groups had always received backing from the Liberal Democratic Party and Daedonghoe, holding all sorts of demonstrations without ever being arrested even once.
Yet Koizumi severed those ties in a single stroke.
No one could stop Koizumi now that he held the moral high ground.
Only the United States voiced its concerns through the hotline; every other country simply watched.
Through Chunha Group, I issued orders to all Russian mafia and Chinese triad syndicates currently operating in Japan to halt all activity and go into hiding.
Because Koizumi, having declared a war on cri, had begun sweeping up the yakuza organizations whose leadership had all been wiped out.
The yakuza were struck down by the tropolitan Police before they could even attempt any cleanup.
For them, it was a bolt from the blue.
While Japan remained in turmoil, Yoo Seongjin entered the Myeongdong office accompanied by another man.
“Boss, Chairman Yoo Seongjin has arrived.”
I set down the docunts I’d been reading.
“Let them in.”
The door opened, and Yoo Seongjin entered with the man.
“Welco, Chairman Yoo.”
“Yes, President.”
After the greetings, my gaze shifted to the man beside him.
“Yamamoto Ken?”
“Yes, I’m Yamamoto Ken.”
He smiled softly and extended his hand first.
“Nice to et you. This is our first ti eting, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Yamamoto seed to size up from head to toe.
Yoo Seongjin’s face stiffened, and Manager Ma looked ready to kill Yamamoto on the spot.
I slightly shook my head, signaling them to stand down.
Then, with a relaxed smile, I said,
“My hand’s getting sore.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Only then did Yamamoto finally clasp my hand.
“I’m glad you managed to get out of Japan safely.”
“Chairman Yoo helped . If I’d been caught, I’d probably be spending the rest of my life in prison.”
Yamamoto grinned, his golden tooth glinting sharply.
After a brief handshake, we took our seats.
“Though it’s a bit late, welco to Korea.”
“Thank you. I never thought I’d end up here. Still, I’m just grateful to have left Japan alive.”
“Since you’re here, make yourself comfortable. Chairman Yoo will take care of your needs.”
Yamamoto’s expression grew complicated.
“How could I be comfortable here? Anyway, Kim Muhyuk, what exactly are you plotting? A young man like you acting so—”
“Watch your mouth, Yamamoto! How dare you talk to the President like that!”
Yoo Seongjin glared sharply.
Yamamoto turned and glared back.
“Listen, Chairman Yoo. Am I your subordinate? Watch your tone, or you might end up disappearing without a trace.”
The sight of Yamamoto squaring off against Yoo Seongjin was downright laughable. Typical of a Japanese thug who didn’t know his place.
I tapped the table lightly. Both n’s eyes turned toward .
“We’re not children here. Stop the pointless power struggle. If you don’t need our help, you’re free to leave. I won’t stop you.”
“......”
Yamamoto bit his lips tightly. He had fled Japan with nothing.
He’d barely managed to smuggle himself into Busan. Without our help, he couldn’t even find a place to stay.
Yet here he was, trying to seize the initiative by provoking Yoo Seongjin through . Pathetic.
I continued calmly, my voice steady.
“With the help of Chunha Group... oh, back then it was Geukseong Group, wasn’t it? Anyway, when you broke off from Yamaguchi-gumi and founded Kobe-Yamaguchi-gumi—that little connection is what saved your life. Otherwise, you would’ve died that day too.”
“What? Are you serious right now?”
Yamamoto raised his voice, but I cut him off without the slightest reaction.
“Don’t believe ? Every yakuza boss present that day was killed. Even Daigo Tadashige, the man you so revered—he’s dead. Did you really think you could have survived there?”
Yamamoto bit his lips again, clearly recalling that day.
He’d left just before it happened. Not long after, everyone there was dead.
So of the venom drained from his face, but not enough. I still needed to crush him completely to make him recognize his place.
“I could still take your life right now if I wanted to. So why do you think I let a lowly thug like you sit in front of , Yamamoto Ken? Aren’t you curious?”
As I said earlier, the only reason I spared him was because of that small connection.
But seeing him act so arrogantly now made wonder if I should’ve bothered.
Still, since I’d already spared him, I might as well use him.
Japan was in chaos. Martial law hadn’t been declared, but the tension was no less severe.
The triads and Russian mafia were all keeping their heads down.
If I continued to stir the chaos, Koizumi might break our secret agreent and act unpredictably.
So I had to move quietly. Fight Japan with Japan’s own tools.
“I’m throwing you a lifeline right now. You could stay hidden in Korea forever, but don’t you want to go back to Japan?”
“......There’s no way to go back. The tropolitan Police aren’t leaving us alone. Daedonghoe was the one covering for us all this ti. The only reason we could operate freely was because of them.”
I nodded.
There was a reason Daedonghoe was called the ruler of Japan’s underworld.
“I know. Daedonghoe was the power that kept the yakuza’s ties to politics and business alive. That’s why you could maintain your strength until now. But Daedonghoe is gone.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Why... why did it have to—”
His eyes burned with resentnt. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
So that was it—he was angry at for destroying Daedonghoe, thinking I’d ruined him.
“Yamamoto, why are you asking ‘why’? Just look at what Japan was doing. They tried to send the Self-Defense Forces to invade Korean soil. Daedonghoe’s decision could’ve dragged both our countries into war.”
I stared coldly into Yamamoto’s eyes.
“......I’ll admit, I was shocked when I heard about that. But that was nonsense. There’s no way such a thing could’ve actually happened.”
“Then a military assault on the Pri Minister’s Residence is sothing that could happen?”
“......”
Yamamoto fell silent. I sighed.
“No matter how much we talk, there’s nothing you can do. Just take the hand I’m offering.”
“You’re asking to take your hand? Will that let go back to Japan?”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll make it happen. And more than that, I’ll arrange a eting for you with the Russian mafia and the Black Dragon Society—your current enemies. Join forces with them and seize Japan’s underworld. Even divided among the three of you, it’ll be far more than you ever had.”
“......Is that even possible?”
Yamamoto’s reaction ca a beat too slow, disbelief written all over his face.
“Why would I lie to you? I don’t make empty promises. And I never say things I can’t keep. So, what will it be? Will you take my hand and beco the master of Japan’s underworld—or keep living a miserable exile?”
I lifted my teacup and sipped quietly.
Suspicion still lingered in Yamamoto’s eyes.
He turned to Yoo Seongjin as if to confirm my words, but Yoo only followed my lead, calmly taking a sip of his tea without a word.
“Really... you can send back to Japan safely?”
No point in wasting more breath. I nodded.
Then, to my surprise, Yamamoto stood up, dropped to his knees, and pressed his forehead to the floor.
“I swear my loyalty to you.”
“......”
What the hell? I frowned at the sudden gesture.
“If you return to Japan, I’ll serve you until I die.”
“Get up. I’m not asking for loyalty. Just follow two rules—keep your greed in check, and obey Chairman Yoo without question.”
Yoo Seongjin’s eyes glead. I knew how much he had suffered dealing with the Russian mafia and the triads.
He must’ve understood why I was laying down these conditions in advance.
Ignoring his grateful look, I continued,
“If you have second thoughts, walk away now. I won’t stop you.”
“No. Please, just send back to Japan. I’ll do anything you ask of there.”
When Yamamoto raised his head, his voice was firm. There wasn’t a trace of deceit in his eyes.
Well, that was just how the Japanese were—bow deeply to anyone stronger than themselves.
“Good. Then I’ll summon the Black Dragon Society’s vice boss and the Russian mafia’s leader to Korea. Sit down with them and decide who takes which territory.”
“Yes! I’ll do exactly that, Mr. Kim Muhyuk.”
So “Mr. Kim Muhyuk” had suddenly beco “Lord Kim Muhyuk.” I smirked at the lightning-fast shift in attitude and turned to Yoo Seongjin.
“Chairman Yoo, you’ll oversee and diate every decision in this eting. Now that it’s co to this, let’s build a cartel connecting Korea, Japan, China, and Russia. Think you can do it?”
Yoo Seongjin bowed deeply.
“Leave it to . I’ll create the greatest cartel in Asia.”
“Good. If anything becos difficult, tell Manager Ma to support you. Make sure I won’t have to step in again. Understood?”
“Yes, President.”
That was all that needed to be said. I set my cup down and smiled lightly.
“I’ve kept you long enough. Go on now. Chairman Yoo, have a drink with Yamamoto and talk openly. I’ll have everyone summoned to Korea soon.”
“Understood, President.”
“Yamamoto, you should go too. That’s all for now.”
At my dismissal, Yamamoto hesitated before standing up.
“I’ll devote myself to you.”
“Enough of that. I don’t want empty flattery—I want visible results. Do what you’re told and nothing more, and you’ll never have to see again.”
I ended coldly, signaling Yoo to take him away.
“Let’s go, Yamamoto.”
Urged by Yoo Seongjin, Yamamoto bowed once more and left the office.
Once they were gone, Manager Ma asked,
“Can that man really be trusted?”
“Yamamoto?”
“Yes, Boss. He doesn’t look trustworthy.”
“There’s nothing to trust or not trust. The mont he lets go of the rope I’ve thrown him, he’ll fall straight off the cliff. Even without , Koizumi could have him taken care of easily. That’s why I’m leaving him alone.”
“Understood.”
I checked my wristwatch and stood up.
Japan—handled. I’d already told Chairman Yoon to clean up his party and urged Kim Hakgwon to start swinging his sword.
I tried to think if there was anything else left to do, but nothing ca to mind.
Looks like I can wrap things up before the presidential election, just as planned.
“Manager Ma, contact Russia and China. Tell them to co to Korea this Sunday. And if they don’t, tell them we’ll move on without them.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Rubbing my stiff neck, I walked toward the window.
Beyond the office glass, the sun was setting.
I stood there for a long ti, watching darkness fall—then finally turned away.
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