Chapter 143: Weaving the Web

The situation in the Tokyo land war was shifting unpredictably, and at this moment, the most smug person of all was Hiroshi Omiya.

He had not yet realized that a net was already being woven around him.

Sitting beside him, Seiji Handa sighed with deep emotion: "Kinoshita Hidekaze is truly worthy of being someone who rose up alongside the head of the Inagawa-kai. Perhaps he was blinded by his rapidly accumulated wealth; last year's Yama-i conflict already left the Metropolitan Police Department extremely furious, yet at a time like this, he still resorts to such brutal methods. Sumitomo has been driven to desperation as well. After the cards of Heiwa Trading and the magnetic powder supply both failed, they are actually willing to take the risk and utilize a tainted force like Mogami Estate!"

Hiroshi Omiya also clicked his tongue in amazement: "In any case, if the opponents are foolish, our chances become even greater. Now, of the three people Takanao Takeda trusted most, Goro Takeda is gone, while Kazuo Tanihara and Shuta Kimura have both become our men. Mitsui has backed down, Sumitomo cannot make another move, and Mitsubishi's position is too sensitive—once they directly take this piece of land into their pockets, they will instead face a backlash from public opinion. Only we can step forward in place of Mitsubishi!"

"That is precisely the point!" Seiji Handa laughed heartily. "When Chairman Watanabe learned of the current situation, he was overjoyed. Omiya-kun, it looks like it won't be long before we can sit together at the same table and decide the future of Yuwa!"

Hiroshi Omiya smiled and said, "I will still need to rely heavily on your guidance in the future, Handa-san."

A greedy look flashed in Seiji Handa's eyes: "Under these circumstances, if Sumitomo decides to pin everything on Mogami Estate, and Kinoshita Hidekaze is cut off from Sumitomo's support while plunging into such a massive crisis, then with our control over Yuwa Future, we will have more than enough weight to speak on that entire plot of land in Mogami-Grakucho!"

"I've said it long ago," Hiroshi Omiya assumed the demeanor of one who held absolute victory in his grasp. "The close relationship between Kinoshita Hidekaze and the underworld is bound to become a fatal flaw in this kind of situation. We mobilized five billion yen to pull this off—aren't we seeing the results now? As long as the banks of the major conglomerates put pressure on Kinoshita Hidekaze together, his capital chain will snap. That piece of land belonging to Mogami Estate is far larger than Takeda Manufacturing. Through splitting and swapping, both Mitsui and Mitsubishi will be satisfied! As long as they can protect themselves, Sumitomo will have no choice but to accept certain conditions!"

"Omiya-kun! You are destined to accomplish great things!" Seiji Handa lowered his posture. "It seems I should be the one asking for your guidance from now on."

"All of this is inseparable from the support of the Chairman and Handa-san!"

Inside the office, the two of them were laughing heartily when the telephone on the desk rang.

Hiroshi Omiya walked over, picked up the receiver, his smile not yet faded: "It's me, Hiroshi Omiya."

After a moment, his smile froze, turning into doubt, and he furrowed his brows: "Are you sure?"

Seiji Handa sipped his tea while looking at him strangely, as he heard Hiroshi Omiya continue to ask: "Have Sumitomo's people been in direct contact with Takanao Takeda?"

His brows furrowed even tighter, and a moment later he exclaimed in shock: "You're saying Takanao Takeda went to his son's university not long ago? Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Seiji Handa stood up. Has the situation changed?

Stepping closer, he heard the anxious voice from the other end of the line: "How could I possibly keep track of the president's whereabouts? But the president said he went to see his son, and only after returning did he make such a decision, wishing to discuss it with us. Lord Omiya, Shuta and I have already expressed the view that Yuwa is the best choice, but the president might make a decision very soon."

"......I understand." Hiroshi Omiya was silent for a moment before instructing, "Are you certain Takanao Takeda has decided to drop the charges?"

"That is what he told us. He said he cannot fight against such a massive force and is afraid he has no choice but to compromise. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable, and even we... we..."

"What are you afraid of?" Hiroshi Omiya said in a deep voice, "Everything you have done is merely for the sake of the company's future!"

"Yes, yes..."

"Let's leave it at that for now. If there are any new developments, let me know immediately!"

Hiroshi Omiya put down the phone, and Seiji Handa asked in astonishment: "Takanao Takeda is going to drop the charges against them?"

"...Kazuo Tanihara said so." Hiroshi Omiya nodded with a grave expression. "Given that it involves the death of Goro Takeda, he is actually willing to drop the charges. The most likely scenario is that Sumitomo, Mogami Estate, and the Inagawa-kai have decided to pay a higher price to settle with him. And Takanao Takeda went to his son's university..."

"Because Goro Takeda was killed, worrying about his son's safety is completely normal. What about it?" Seiji Handa asked.

Hiroshi Omiya shook his head: "Remember that Hong Kong person?"

"The one who spent 150 million yen to buy the old equipment of Takeda Manufacturing?"

"Exactly. Handa-san, you may not know this, but Kinoshita Hidekaze has a young man he values greatly named Tao Dalang. The planning for Mogami-Grakucho was entirely his creation. This Tao Dalang is of Chinese descent and is a senior at the University of Tokyo."

"A plan made by a student?" Seiji Handa froze for a moment before suddenly catching on. "You mean... Sumitomo has another card, and it's this Tao Dalang?"

"Although we don't know their exact plan, it's very likely. As a mere student, how could he possibly pull out 150 million yen right now?" Hiroshi Omiya frowned deeply. "Could it be that Sumitomo is truly willing to pay an even greater price to make Takanao Takeda forgive them?"

"That doesn't make sense!" Seiji Handa found it hard to comprehend. "Since they still had a hidden plan, why did they hijack Takeda Manufacturing's truck and kill Goro Takeda?"

Regarding this point, Hiroshi Omiya merely said leisurely, "When intimidation and benefits are applied together, Takanao Takeda's willpower is much easier to break, isn't it?"

"This matter must be reported to Mitsubishi!" Seiji Handa said immediately. "We cannot let Sumitomo succeed just like that!"

...

Looking at the scene before him, Jiro Tao felt it was rather bizarre.

Clearly an organized crime syndicate, yet they were able to make a public statement and broadcast it openly to the outside world.

Perhaps this was a peculiar kind of freedom.

In front of Shogo Sindo, a circle of journalists had gathered. The camera flashes never stopped, and the video cameras kept rolling.

Before so many people, Shogo Sindo slowly untied the bandages on his hand.

The newly severed fingers naturally still caused agonizing pain, but Shogo Sindo pressed his lips together without changing his expression.

A concentrated cluster of flashes went off once more. Only then did Shogo Sindo re-wrap his fingers before dropping to his knees in a dogeza: "It is true that three boys from our Sindo-gumi appeared at the scene of the accident, and at this moment, Shinsuke Kurata from our group is also missing. However, I am certain that the death of Goro Takeda was not committed by the men of the Sindo-gumi!"

He raised his head, his expression resolute, his tone ringing with conviction: "President Takeda needs the truth! Our Sindo-gumi also needs the truth! To clear myself of this suspicion, I will fully cooperate with the investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department! No matter what, since the boys of the Sindo-gumi appeared at the crime scene, I am cutting off my finger in apology first! But this true culprit—please, you must find them! Absolutely!"

The objects of his address were Shinobu Furukawadani of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Bureau and Kazuyasu Ogata of Investigation Division 1.

Shinobu Furukawadani gazed at him as Shogo Sindo lowered himself into another dogeza.

"Shinsuke Kurata is missing? Could it be that he fled out of fear of punishment?"

"You invited us reporters here—is there some clue you wish to announce?"

"Superintendent Furukawadani, are there any new developments in the case?"

The reporters chimed in one after another, and the scene instantly became chaotic.

Jiro Tao withdrew from the side entrance. Walking beside him, Hidekaze Kinoshita asked, "Is the first step enough like this?"

"That's right," Jiro Tao nodded. "I never expected that the reason Shinsuke Kurata did this would actually involve Lord Inagawa. The underworld is also a world of interests."

Kinoshita Hidekaze sighed: "That being the case, older brother Kazuji still owes you a new favor."

"Just a coincidence. I had assumed Hiroshi Omiya was simply deceiving him with some conditions," Jiro Tao said, looking at him. "How do you plan to deal with being played by Zen-e Anzai?"

"How else can we deal with it?" Kinoshita Hidekaze said calmly. "We can only say there are cracks within the Inagawa-kai. Zen-e Anzai's decision is entirely normal. Someone wants to challenge older brother Kazuji's position, Sumitomo wants to personally control the future Inagawa-kai, and Shinsuke Kurata was willing to act as a chess piece. What is strange about them cooperating? It's just that no one expected Shinsuke Kurata to have a weakness held in the grip of Ichiro Hiraizuji, thereby becoming Hiroshi Omiya's blade."

"What a mess," Jiro Tao remarked with emotion. "Shinsuke Kurata probably didn't expect Hiroshi Omiya to be so ruthless."

Facing the future of the entire Inagawa-kai, Kazuji Inagawa temporarily secured the greatest support. Moreover, with the clues provided by Jiro Tao showing that the Hokujo-kai had made precise arrangements the moment Shinsuke Kurata made his move, and with too many loopholes in Shinsuke Kurata's narrative, he completely broke down.

According to the original plan, once Shinsuke Kurata retrieved the leverage held over him, all he needed to do after the truck hijacking was leave behind clues pointing vaguely toward Sumitomo and the Inagawa-kai, quietly retreat, and then have Ichiro Hiraizuji inform Hiroshi Omiya of the locations where the vehicle and the people were hidden.

In that case, Hiroshi Omiya would win favor in the eyes of Takanao Takeda, the Inagawa-kai would face sudden pressure, the heavyweight boss seeking to seize power would have an excuse to launch an attack, and Sumitomo would have one more trouble on its hands.

However, Hiroshi Omiya was ruthless, directly having Ichiro Hiraizuji kill the person and even pointing the clues straight at the Sindo-gumi.

With this, Shinsuke Kurata was thoroughly dragged down into the mire, clinging to a sliver of hope as he insisted he was merely following Zen-e Anzai's instructions.

The sole lingering doubt—why Shinsuke Kurata never verified the authenticity of the orders from within the organization—was ultimately explained when the very heavyweight boss attempting to seize power stepped forward himself.

He was the earliest one to establish ties with Zen-e Anzai; Shinsuke Kurata was the person he introduced to Zen-e Anzai and recommended to Kinoshita Hidekaze.

Now that the situation was out of control, after severing his finger in apology, he took responsibility for uprooting the Hokujo-kai and finding the true culprit.

The two left the Sindo-gumi and returned once more to the headquarters of the Inagawa-kai.

Upon seeing Jiro Tao, the elderly Kazuji Inagawa bowed respectfully: "If not for the conditions Tao-kun secured from President Takeda, the Inagawa-kai would have found itself in an extremely passive position this time."

Returning the bow, Jiro Tao said, "The real culprit should be found in the first place. Ever since my people gave 150 million yen to President Takeda, Hiroshi Omiya instructed my undercover mole to step up surveillance on my movements. Now, he can report his harvest back! Lord Inagawa, the arrangements have already been made, haven't they?"

A sharp glint flashed in the aged eyes of Kazuji Inagawa: "Of course!"