Chapter 23: Eyes, Ears, and Internal Intel

Even with Takeuchi Toshio dead, Murakami Eishi’s bar remained one of the primary haunts for the members of the Yamagami-gumi, especially the chokusan.
They considered themselves a cut above ordinary Yakuza, so of course they had to frequent more upscale establishments.

Murakami Eishi’s bar was already considered a relatively high-end place in Urawa.

Thus, Saori, under the guise of helping out at the bar, eavesdropped on the conversations of these high-ranking members, relaying real-time intelligence to Seiko.

Esumi Goro’s death did not make the Takada-gumi back down.
More unfamiliar Yakuza began to appear on the streets of Urawa, purposefully harassing and provoking the Yamagami-gumi’s territories.

Without any hesitation, Seiko directly proposed a tit-for-tat exchange with the Takada-gumi.
After much internal conflict, Murakami Eishi also agreed.

With the Kumicho, Yamagami Nobuo, away, the joint decision of the Wakagashira and the Shatei-gashira was the highest resolution of the Yamagami-gumi.
Thus, over the past few days, conflicts between the Yamagami-gumi and the Takada-gumi had frequently erupted in the streets and alleys of Urawa.

The Yamagami-gumi had at least seventeen men hospitalized and eight arrested, while the Takada-gumi’s losses exceeded thirty.
It seemed the Yamagami-gumi had come out slightly ahead, but considering their overall strength was less than the Takada-gumi’s, the two sides could only be considered evenly matched.

The continuous casualties made the Yakuza’s moods increasingly tense.

Seiko didn’t have a convenient channel to stay updated on the state of affairs within the Yamagami-gumi.
Saori acted as her eyes and ears, sounding out the thoughts of the Yamagami-gumi cadres for her.

“Boss Ishiwatari, Boss Nitta, and Boss Doan all said while drinking that they would fight the Takada-gumi to the end,” Saori reported.

The three men Saori mentioned were all powerful chokusan within the Yamagami-gumi.
Each of their direct organizations had around two hundred members.
Their statements represented the stance of roughly a quarter of the Yamagami-gumi’s strength.

Adding Murakami Eishi, the Shatei-gashira, to the mix, it was almost certain that at least half of the Yamagami-gumi’s strength supported the conflict.

This result was within Seiko’s expectations.
Whether it was due to the traditional consensus that “Urawa belongs to the Yamagami-gumi” or because the members needed an external enemy to vent their emotions after the internal strife had just ended, the mainstream attitude within the Yamagami-gumi would certainly not be against going to war with the Takada-gumi.

“The Masaki brothers of the Masaki-gumi are the ones most opposed to going to war with the Takada-gumi.
They complained a bit while drinking, but Boss Ishiwatari scolded them and shut them up,” Saori added.

“That’s normal,” Seiko nodded.
“The Masaki-gumi’s most profitable business is their dance hall.
It’s been smashed three times in the past two days.
It would be strange if they didn’t have complaints.”

“That’s what I said to persuade Boss Ishiwatari and the Masaki brothers not to argue,” Saori said with a smile.

“So who was bad-mouthing me behind my back?
The Masaki brothers?” Seiko pressed.

“No,” Saori shook her head.
“It was Ninomiya Shigeyoshi and my father.”

“Ninomiya Shigeyoshi…”

This name made Seiko frown slightly.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was not an ordinary cadre.
He held the title of “Honbucho,” responsible for leading the members directly under the Yamagami-gumi’s Kumicho.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was originally a confidant and good friend of Yamagami Akira.
When Yamagami Akira was the Wakagashira, Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was the Wakagashira-hosa (assistant).
After Yamagami Akira succeeded as Kumicho, he promoted him to Honbucho.

When Yamagami Nobuo became Kumicho again and took over the Yamagami-gumi, he had no intention of replacing the Honbucho.
However, the “chamberlain” he was most comfortable using was clearly Murakami Eishi, whom he had watched grow up.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was naturally marginalized.

“What did Ninomiya Shigeyoshi say to your father?”

“He advised my father not to listen to you casually, saying you’re too young, act too impulsively, and don’t consider the consequences.”
Saori had clearly remembered the content related to Seiko very carefully.
“And my father, as the Shatei-gashira entrusted with great responsibility by Grandpa Yamagami, should act with more composure.
Only then would he be worthy of Grandpa Yamagami’s trust.”

Seiko stroked her chin and nodded slightly.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi’s opposition to the war with the Takada-gumi was unexpected for Seiko.
In her impression, Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was supposed to be a brute similar to her father.
Shouldn’t a brute’s favorite thing be fighting and killing?
Since when did he start talking about composure…

As Seiko thought about it, she suddenly noticed another blind spot.
Her expression turned peculiar.
“Are you saying your father is also complaining about going to war with the Takada-gumi?”

“Yes.”
Saori nodded without a second thought.

“But he clearly agreed to go to war?”

“Agreeing to go to war doesn’t mean he’s happy about it,” Saori said with a smile.

Seiko was speechless.
Even if he was unwilling to go to war, as one of the decision-makers, he couldn’t publicly complain about a decision he himself had made, could he?

‘As expected, with Murakami Eishi’s wavering and cowardly nature, he’s better suited to be a white-collar worker in a corporation, just following orders.’

But, it was still fine.

Even if Murakami Eishi complained, he would see the fight through.
That was just his difficult personality.

Although Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was the Honbucho, the men in the headquarters were not his own “Ninomiya-gumi” men.
They were loyal to the Yamagami family, so Ninomiya Shigeyoshi had no room to refuse the order to fight…

“So, overall, the mainstream opinion within the gumi is still in favor of the fight.”
Saori came to a conclusion similar to what Seiko was thinking.
“The only question is, how long can this enthusiasm for fighting be maintained as casualties continue to mount?”

“Don’t worry,” Seiko said.
“Before we can’t hold on any longer, some people will definitely get antsy first.”

“Who?
The Takada-gumi?
Or the police?” Saori asked curiously.

Seiko shook her head.
“I don’t know who they are yet, but they’ll be showing their faces soon.”

Saori looked at Seiko’s confident expression, then suddenly turned her head.
She offered a polite smile to their homeroom teacher, Totsuka Mei, who had just entered the classroom to start the lesson.
“Alright, should I do today’s Japanese homework for you, Miss Yamagami?”

“I couldn’t ask for more.
I’ll treat you to ramen for lunch, Miss Murakami.”