Act Five - Destiny is Revealing
Shingo’s Diary
The thing I feared the most was happening at last.
All of a sudden, Hayato Mori called me and Gale just an hour past midnight. He told us to raid the haunted Sekishou Tower at the break of dawn.
Mariko was staying over in my garage and I called Chiyo too. Of course both of them
consented and ready to go.
All seemed to be perfectly in place. However, I got a nasty feeling that our efforts would end up in vain.
And Hayato’s wrath would reach the boiling point that he would do a very stupid thing.
Attacking straight into the lions’ den.
[https://editor-cdn.reedsy.com/books/6472171360bdb70cf63b9f8b/images/04cb8a9d05dd4c4580d019400f6a8103.jpg] Noboru Jinbei
Noboru Jinbei
For the rich and powerful Yakuza Godfather, Akiba Maeda, the Kaijirotaku Light Commercial District in Eastern Daitoshi City was among the last places he would want to visit. Not now, not ever.
The reason was, the Daitoshi City government had decreed that Kaijirotaku District was among the Yakuza-free districts stated in the truce pact between the Yakuza and the city government ten years ago.
However, something and someone compelled Akiba to come to this hateful place. Although Kaijirotaku was cleaner and more decent as a district compared to Shibeno and Sujima Slums, it didn’t stop Akiba from hating this district. To be exact, hating to pay for almost everything in the shops.
Upon arrival, Akiba entered the large public bathhouse. He scanned the area and saw the chubby figure of Noboru Jinbei, CEO of JinCorp, standing in the middle of the pool.
Akiba exhaled and shook his head in amazement. He had heard rumors about Jinbei’s incredible abilities, but seeing him walk on water was something else.
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“You’re late, Maeda,” Jinbei said, his voice echoing in the vast space. “I have booked the whole bath, so we can talk in secret and private without CCTV and prying eyes and ears.”
Akiba approached Jinbei and replied, “Yeah, I had to slip past a mob of angry people in front of the bathhouse. If not, I would be here five minutes ago.”
Jinbei didn’t acknowledge Akiba’s excuse and got straight to the point. “Have your men gone to the clock tower already?”
“Yes,” Akiba replied. “Hayato Mori and his team are infiltrating the tower as we speak.”
“Good,” Jinbei said, a sly smile forming on his lips. “He has taken Hannya’s bait. He will make Hannya’s work easier again, but he won’t like what he’ll find. And he’ll move on, executing our original plan.”
“Yes, it’ll be like slinging two birds with one stone,” Akiba said, nodding in agreement.
“That Hannya is very brilliant, very effective but scary at the same time,” Jinbei said, his voice trailing off. “However, I’m way stronger than him.”
“Really? Prove it,” Akiba said, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Jinbei walked on the water, towards the middle of the pool, and stood there. For some people, it was a miraculous sight. Akiba raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Impressive. If I know the way to do it, I can do it too,” Akiba said confidently.
“You mean, you’re as strong as me? Do you want to prove it to me through a duel?” Saying so, Jinbei’s eyes glinted playfully.
Akiba shook his head. “I don’t know and I’m not interested to find it out. Especially here, in a public place with the public outside.”
“Yes, it will be a bad idea, right?” Jinbei said, chuckling.
“Look, let’s say no matter who’s the strongest between us, your financial strength is way greater than any of us. So I won’t oppose you,” Akiba said, trying to diffuse the tension.
“Good, you know your place,” Jinbei said, his tone softening. “So, just sit still and watch as one of our plans is in motion.”
Akiba nodded and sat on the edge of the pool. He watched as Jinbei’s plan unfolded, feeling excited and dreaded at the same time. Goemon Investigations Agency had been a thorn in their side for too long, it was time to uproot it once and for all.
“The pesky weed among our crops will be exterminated. And harvest time will come,” Akiba said, his voice filled with anticipation.
“And the yield will be way beyond our wildest dreams,” Jinbei said, laughing.
The two men continued to laugh, oblivious to the world outside the bathhouse. They were the masters of their universe, and nothing could stop them.