Chapter 26: The Councilor, the Mayor, and the Yakuza

Yoshida Shoichi, a member of the Urawa City Council, an independent with no party affiliation.

He also had another identity: the Yamagami-gumi’s collaborator in Urawa’s political arena.

As mentioned before, any Yakuza organization in Japan with a bit of scale, capable of dominating the gray industries of a region, would inevitably have deep connections with the local political powers, and the Yamagami-gumi was no exception.

The reason Seiko said she didn’t know who would bring the answer, but Yamagami Nobuo should, was because she hadn’t known which political faction was backing the Yamagami-gumi, but it was impossible for Yamagami Nobuo not to know.

“Nobuo, you can’t keep fighting with the Takada-gumi.”

Yoshida Shoichi spoke impatiently to Yamagami Nobuo the moment he walked in the door.

“Shoichi, didn’t the police tell you?
We weren’t the ones who started this fight.
It’s the Takada-gumi who wants to plant their flag in Urawa!”

Yamagami Nobuo didn’t hold back either, complaining to his guest, clearly very familiar with Yoshida Shoichi.

Saori obediently served tea and snacks to the guest, as well as to Yamagami Nobuo and Seiko.

Yoshida Shoichi gulped down half a cup of water, the blisters on his lips indicating how stressed he had been lately.
“I don’t care who wants to plant a flag on whose territory.
I just want to see the Katakura Danchi project start smoothly.
Do you know it’s almost June, and there are still nearly a hundred damn households in the Katakura Danchi that haven’t been cleared out!”

“That’s utter nonsense,” Yamagami Nobuo immediately retorted.
“Just because you don’t want to deal with it, you can pretend the facts don’t exist?
Our Yamagami-gumi is still persisting in clearing out the residents of the Katakura Danchi despite suffering heavy casualties.
Ishiwatari Takashi has already lost twenty or thirty men in the Katakura Danchi.
It’s the Takada-gumi that has been obstructing our work, and you come here to scold us?
What kind of logic is that?
Why don’t you go scold the Takada-gumi?”

Yoshida Shoichi opened his mouth, but was rendered speechless by the retort.

Yoshida Shoichi and the Yamagami-gumi were not in a superior-subordinate relationship, but a cooperative one.

The nearly ten thousand votes from the Yamagami-gumi members and their relatives and friends were almost all decided by the Yamagami-gumi’s Kumicho alone.
Whoever the Kumicho told them to vote for, they would vote for without hesitation.
In addition, the Yamagami-gumi also controlled the direction of public opinion in the lowest strata of Urawa society.
Although controlling the entire political situation in Urawa was difficult, the Yamagami-gumi was perfectly capable of getting one or two councilors into the city council.

Therefore, when dealing with ordinary councilors like Yoshida Shoichi, the Yamagami-gumi was not in a weak position.

The living room fell silent for a moment.
After downing a cup of water, Yoshida Shoichi finally calmed down.

“Kumicho Yamagami,” after calming down, Yoshida Shoichi’s tone also steadied.
“You know, the renovation project of the Katakura Danchi was Mayor Kiuchi’s campaign promise.”

Hearing this, Seiko raised her eyebrows slightly.
She hadn’t expected the conflict between two Yakuza organizations to actually involve the mayor of Urawa.

However, Seiko soon realized—the current mayor of Urawa, Kiuchi Shigezawa, was also an independent.
As an independent with no background, for Kiuchi Shigezawa to be able to beat the competition and become the mayor of Urawa, it was an inevitable choice for him to build a good relationship with the local powers.

Yamagami Nobuo had operated in Urawa for the better part of his life; it was unlikely that Yoshida Shoichi was his only foundation.

The two helmsmen of Urawa, one in the light and one in the dark, could be said to be a two-way street.

“Next year is Mayor Kiuchi’s last year in office, and the mayoral election is in April the year after.
And the engineers estimated the construction period for the Katakura Danchi project to be twenty-eight months.
Twenty-eight months, if we count from the beginning of this year, will be exactly twenty-eight months by April of the year after next.
But five months of this year have already passed, and the demolition of the Katakura Danchi isn’t even complete!”

Yoshida Shoichi continued to speak earnestly with Yamagami Nobuo.

“If the new Katakura comprehensive apartment complex doesn’t even have a basic form before the election the year after next, Mayor Kiuchi will lose his most important card for seeking re-election.
If Mayor Kiuchi fails to be re-elected, it won’t be a good thing for us, or for the Yamagami-gumi.
The Yamagami-gumi has cooperated with us for many years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see a mayor from the Liberal Democratic Party or the Komeito take office, would you?”

Of course, the Yamagami-gumi didn’t want to see the mayor of Urawa change from an independent to a powerful figure with a party background.
Such a person, even if willing to cooperate with the Yakuza, would inevitably do so from a position of superiority.

Yoshida Shoichi’s words undoubtedly hit Yamagami Nobuo where it hurt.

Yamagami Nobuo frowned and thought for a long time before asking, “So what does Mayor Kiuchi mean?”

“Mayor Kiuchi’s meaning is simple—as long as the Katakura Danchi can start construction as soon as possible.”

“Regardless of the price the Yamagami-gumi has to pay?” Yamagami Nobuo said sarcastically.
“Even if it means opening our doors to accept the Takada-gumi planting their flag in Urawa?”

“As long as Kiuchi-san can be re-elected, the Yamagami-gumi’s current losses can be compensated for sooner or later!” Yoshida Shoichi explained.

“That’s impossible!” Yamagami Nobuo said flatly.

“Yamagami-san…”

The atmosphere between the two tensed up again.

“Actually, rather than persuading our Yamagami-gumi to back down, Mayor Kiuchi would be better off playing the cards he holds.”
Seiko, who had been listening silently on the side for a long time, suddenly spoke.

“Wh-what cards?” Yoshida Shoichi was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion.

Seiko pointed in a certain direction out the window, “The Urawa City Police Department.”

Hearing this, Yoshida Shoichi was slightly embarrassed.
After a moment, he explained haltingly, “The current chief of the Urawa Police Department, although he himself has no party affiliation, is the son-in-law of a Liberal Democratic Party member…”

To put it bluntly, the Urawa police and the Urawa mayor were not on the same page at all.

“I can see that.”
Seiko just nodded.
“We’ve been fighting the Takada-gumi for half a month, and every time, the Urawa police are only responsible for cleaning up the mess.
Anyone can see there’s a problem with them.”

Seiko’s calm attitude made Yoshida Shoichi even more embarrassed.
A mayor being completely unable to command the police system below him was simply too disgraceful.

“What I mean to ask is,” Seiko continued, “if our Yamagami-gumi is willing to create an opportunity, is Mayor Kiuchi willing to do whatever it takes to secure the police department, that card.”

Yoshida Shoichi opened his mouth, not knowing how to answer.

“If you can’t answer, then please go back and ask Mayor Kiuchi,” Seiko said, raising her hand.

“Are you sure you can create such an opportunity?”

“Of course.”

Yoshida Shoichi looked at Yamagami Nobuo again.
Although Yamagami Nobuo didn’t know what Seiko’s specific plan was, he still nodded.

Only then did Yoshida Shoichi clench his teeth and say, “Alright, I’ll go back and inform Kiuchi-san right away.”

Watching Yoshida Shoichi leave, Seiko didn’t speak again for a long time before saying, “Grandpa, you should have seen it too, right?”

“Yes,” Yamagami Nobuo took a sip of tea and nodded.
“Our enemy’s target is not us, but Kiuchi Shigezawa.”

“That’s not quite right either,” Seiko shook her head.
“Kiuchi Shigezawa is a target, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we aren’t.
The enemy is killing two birds with one stone.
It’s also possible they want to clear us out along with Kiuchi Shigezawa.
Their politician can replace Mayor Kiuchi, and their Takada-gumi can also replace the Yamagami-gumi’s ecological niche.”

Yamagami Nobuo nodded, agreeing with his granddaughter’s statement.
Then he asked in confusion, “You said you can help Kiuchi create an opportunity to control the police department.
What are you planning to do?”

“What am I planning to do?” Seiko smiled.
“We are Yakuza, so of course we’ll use Yakuza methods.
And besides, the piece that’s been prepared for a month is about ready to be used…”