Chapter 117: The Enraged Fatty, the Shadow of the Inagawa-kai

The driver took a desperate gamble for the sake of his family, only to eventually compromise for the same reason. What a person cares about most is simultaneously the source of their strength and their fatal weakness.

"The person who contacted me was a member of the Senju-ikka. Because he was in charge of collecting protection fees in our area, he knew my situation. He introduced me to the Chief Secretary of the Senju-ikka, who gave me twenty million yen to ram my car into Aoyama Hidenobu."

Nakamura Shinichi relayed the confession to Aoyama Hidenobu, adding, "However, without solid evidence beyond the driver's testimony, I'm afraid it won't be enough to prove that the Senju-ikka hired him to attack you."

"Don't worry about that anymore. Focus on the Ayase Michi murder case," Aoyama said before hanging up. His eyes glinted with a murderous light; when it came to the scum of the yakuza underworld, he did not need evidence.

Aoyama called Yamakawa Ichijo. "Do you know the Senju-ikka? Tell me about them."

"Hai! The Senju-ikka is a violent gang based in Kita-Senju, Arakawa Ward. They are a secondary organization under the Inagawa-kai. Their boss, Ishida Masatsuyo, serves as an advisor within the Inagawa-kai," Yamakawa replied effortlessly.

"And the Chief Secretary?" Aoyama asked.

In any organization, the Chief Secretary holds a high position, effectively acting as the second or third in command.

"The Chief Secretary of the Senju-ikka is Kameda Shizuka. Has he offended you?" Yamakawa asked tentatively.

"Not offended, just nearly killed me. This car accident of mine was orchestrated by Kameda Shizuka. Help me find him."

"Hai!" Yamakawa roared in fury, then said in a low, dangerous tone, "Rest assured, Aoyama-san, I will make them pay for their stupidity!"

Aoyama was his patron; if he were to die, the development of the Yamakawa family would undoubtedly suffer a major setback. His rage was understandable.

"Hm. There is someone behind him. You must dig them out for me," Aoyama said calmly. He had no feud with the Senju-ikka; unless they had gone insane, they wouldn't have hired a killer to target him for no reason.

After ending the call with Yamakawa, he dialed Hikokawa Noritomo. "Noritomo-nii, the driver who hit me has confessed. He was bought off by members of the Inagawa-kai. These bastards are absolutely lawless!"

"Baka! These gangs are truly out of control!" Hikokawa was also furious upon hearing this. Understanding why Aoyama was calling him, he said, "Go ahead and do what you must."

"Hai! Thank you, Noritomo-nii. I couldn't swallow this insult otherwise," Aoyama said coldly.

He needed to make these gangs understand that regardless of the motive, anyone who dared to lay a hand on him would pay a heavy price. From now on, anyone attempting such a thing would have to think twice.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in," Aoyama said.

"Hidenobu-nii, are you alright?" Uchida Yuki walked in carrying a fruit basket, her face filled with concern.

Aoyama smiled. "I'm fine. Just under observation; I'll be discharged in a day or two. Sit down."

"That's good." Uchida let out a sigh of relief, sat on the edge of the hospital bed, and took an orange from the basket. "Let me peel an orange for you."

She was wearing a sailor-style uniform today. As she sat, the curve of her hips was visible beneath her skirt, and her thighs, encased in white over-the-knee socks, pressed firmly against the fabric.

"Hidenobu-nii, here." She peeled a slice and held it to his lips.

Aoyama took it and chewed, asking casually, "How is your career as an idol going?"

"Same as always, but I believe my opportunity is coming soon." Perhaps knowing she was beautiful, she remained confident in her potential to become a star. "Hidenobu-nii, scoot over a bit."

"What's wrong? Isn't there enough room for you to sit?" Aoyama grumbled, shifting to the side.

Uchida kicked off her small leather shoes, pulled back the blanket, and lay down beside him. "I'm exhausted. I was shooting commercials since early morning. The photographer was so stupid—I'm so pretty, obviously any shot would look good, but he dragged it out until noon. Then I spent the afternoon at a flower shop until now. I feel like my body is falling apart. Lying here like this is so comfortable."

Feeling her supple body pressed tightly against his, Aoyama felt himself hardening immediately. He suspected she was teasing him on purpose.

However, to his surprise, Uchida just kept chattering about work.

"You know, Hidenobu-nii, a sleazy director tried to take advantage of me last time, so I just shouted and asked if he wanted to sleep with me, which attracted everyone to watch. Hee-hee, his face turned green."

"Well done. That’s how you should handle it. You’re young and have plenty of opportunities; you shouldn't sell your body."

"It's a pity he wasn't as handsome as you, Hidenobu-nii. Otherwise, it might not have been impossible to let him 'influence' me..."

Aoyama listened quietly, offering advice occasionally. Before long, Uchida drifted into a deep sleep, her breathing steady, peaceful, and quiet. It was clear she was truly exhausted from her day, yet she had still come to visit him.

...

Kameda Shizuka, the Chief Secretary of the Senju-ikka, did not know he had been sold out. He was currently enjoying himself in Kabukicho, deep within Yamakawa territory.

This time, the Yamakawa men didn't wait for him to be alone. They stormed into his private room, beat his subordinates senseless, and forcibly dragged him away, driving him to the nearest seaside.

"Baka! Yamakawa Ichijo! Do you want to start a war with us?" As soon as he stepped out of the car, Kameda saw Yamakawa Ichijo, rotund and dressed in a brown kimono and wooden clogs, standing on a reef fishing with a rod.

"A war? I’d rather gut you," Yamakawa said without turning back. He cranked the reel to retrieve his hook and then turned to cast it in front of Kameda. "Hook him. It’s been a while since I’ve caught a man."

His temper had always been foul, and it seemed to grow more violent as his weight increased. As he spoke, two subordinates pinned Kameda to the ground, and one reached for a large sea-fishing hook, bringing it toward Kameda’s mouth.

Kameda was terrified, roaring, "Yamakawa Ichijo, have you lost your mind—ah!"

Before he could finish, the sharp hook pierced his cheek, and blood instantly began to gush.

"I’m not crazy, you are. Don't you know Aoyama-san is like my own flesh and blood? To dare plot against him—you deserve to die, you bastard!" Yamakawa’s fat face twisted as he turned the reel.

"Ah! Stop! Stop!" Kameda screamed in agony, feeling as if his entire cheek was being torn off. Scarlet blood dripped into the seawater, and he was forced to run toward Yamakawa to alleviate the tension.

Yamakawa laughed heartily and jumped off the reef, splashing into the water. Every time Kameda stepped forward, Yamakawa stepped back.

"Speak. Why did you plot against Aoyama-san?"

"Yamakawa Ichijo, I will definitely—ah!"

Yamakawa kept retreating, reeling the line in. Kameda’s cheek was torn open, a bloody mess, with bright red blood dripping incessantly. Every time Yamakawa yanked the rod, the wound gaped wider, enough to see Kameda’s tongue through the hole.

"Ah! Stop! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!"

Kameda was in so much pain his voice was incoherent, tears streaming down his face.

Yamakawa stopped reeling and pulled out a digital recorder.

Kameda, gasping for air, didn't even dare to breathe deeply. "It was the order of Aota Tetsuno, the Director of the Inagawa-kai. Our Senju-ikka just... just followed orders."

"Inagawa-kai," Yamakawa muttered to himself, then suddenly whipped the fishing rod backward.

*Squelch—*

A large piece of Kameda’s cheek was ripped away. Blood sprayed everywhere, exposing his teeth and gums. He collapsed into the seawater, writhing in pain as the waves washed over him.

Yamakawa stepped over to him, pressed his foot onto his body, and looked down. "Even if you were acting on the orders of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, it wouldn't matter."

He drew a *wakizashi* from his belt and crouched, plunging the blade into Kameda's throat. Kameda’s eyes widened, his hands instinctively gripping Yamakawa’s arm. Without half his cheek, he looked like a demonic spirit.

But Yamakawa looked even more like a demon. His fat face was twisted in a grotesque expression of perverted excitement. He sawed at Kameda’s throat with the knife, blood staining the sea red, only stopping when the blade jammed against bone.

He collapsed, sitting on the corpse and gasping for breath.

"Someone, cut off his head. Send it to Inagawa Ko along with the recorder. Tell him Aoyama-san is waiting for an explanation within 24 hours."

Inagawa Ko had taken over as the third-generation leader of the Inagawa-kai two years ago. At fifty-two, his father, Inagawa Sei, was the founder and the oldest, most senior yakuza still alive in Japan.

Compared to the Inagawa-kai, Yamakawa Ichijo was nothing, but he believed that Aoyama-san, who could speak as an equal with the president of the Sumiyoshi-kai, would not fear them.

After catching his breath, he waded through the water to the shore, took the mobile phone from his subordinate, and called Aoyama. "Sensei, Kameda claimed before he died that it was the order of the Inagawa-kai director. I intend to send his head to Inagawa Ko."

"Do it. I want Inagawa Ko to give me an explanation." As the prospective son-in-law of the Asai family and the younger brother of Hikokawa Noritomo, Aoyama had justice on his side and did not fear the mere Inagawa-kai.

Yamakawa grinned. "Hai!"