Chapter 32: The Yamaguchi-gumi’s Undercurrent

The Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai’s talks broke down?

Seiko was a bit surprised.
She didn’t remember the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai having a direct conflict in her past life, at least not during the Yama-Ichi Kōsō.

In her past life, during the Yama-Ichi Kōsō, the Inagawa-kai had always played the role of a mediator between the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Ichiwa-kai.
Although the mediation was largely ineffective, they had never gone to war with either side.

Could it be that the Yamagami-gumi’s voluntary joining of the Yamaguchi-gumi had caused a butterfly effect, leading to the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai becoming enemies?

That couldn’t be right, could it?

No matter how highly Seiko thought of her own organization, it was at best a local power.
Even if it was worthy of attention, it was hard to imagine it having an immediate impact on the struggle for supremacy between the two giants.

After repeated deliberation, Seiko couldn’t figure it out.
When she got home, she carefully asked Yamagami Nobuo about the situation.

“Was it Nakanishi Kazuo who called you personally?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say at the time?”

“Only that Inagawa Seijo had unscrupulously rejected his small request, showing him no face at all.”

“What was Nakanishi Kazuo’s tone like at the time?”

“You could tell he was very angry.”

“Did Nakanishi Kazuo say anything else?”

“Not that I recall.”

Yamagami Nobuo’s expression was grave, and his tone was not very optimistic.
Inagawa Seijo was the founder and current president of the Inagawa-kai.
If Inagawa Seijo was determined to eradicate the Yamagami-gumi, it would be a completely different matter from being enemies with the Takada-gumi.

The difference in strength between the two was too great.
Yamagami Nobuo could directly consider “surrendering with grace.”

Seiko frowned and thought for a long time, then suddenly took a deep breath and said, “Nakanishi Kazuo is lying to you.”

“Hm?” Yamagami Nobuo said in surprise.
“Why do you say that?
Did his talks with the Inagawa-kai not break down?”

Saori once again played the role of the sensible little maid, pouring tea for Yamagami Nobuo and Seiko.

“No, Nakanishi Kazuo’s talks with the Inagawa-kai should have indeed broken down, otherwise he wouldn’t have cursed Inagawa Seijo directly in front of you,” Seiko took a sip of tea and shook her head.
“But that’s where the problem is.
Is a mere Yamagami-gumi like us worth Nakanishi Kazuo becoming enemies with the Inagawa-kai?”

“This…”

Yamagami Nobuo opened his mouth.

Given the current dangerous situation of the Yamaguchi-gumi, it would be a very unwise move for them to rashly offend a powerful enemy like the Inagawa-kai.
One wrong move could lead to the destruction of the entire organization.
Was the Yamagami-gumi worth the Yamaguchi-gumi risking their lives like this?

Even as the Kumicho and founder of the Yamagami-gumi, it was hard for Yamagami Nobuo to say the word “worth.”

“According to the normal procedure,” Seiko continued, “even if he was rejected, it should have been that Inagawa Seijo showed a slight unwillingness to give up Urawa, and Nakanishi Kazuo would have directly chosen to back down.
Then he would have come back and regretfully told you that he had done his best, but the result was unfortunately not ideal.”

Yamagami Nobuo nodded.
He put himself in that position for a moment and felt that it should indeed be so.

“The reason why Nakanishi Kazuo reacted so strongly should be because he had a falling out with the Inagawa-kai over other matters, and then our matter was delayed as a result.”

Seiko finally came to a conclusion.

“This… so we were caught in the crossfire.”

Yamagami Nobuo couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
Faced with this conclusion, he didn’t know whether to feel fortunate or unfortunate.

“However, don’t worry too much.
The problem shouldn’t be too big,” Seiko said calmly.

“This problem isn’t big?” Yamagami Nobuo was a little surprised.
“Weren’t you always worried about the Inagawa-kai interfering in our fight with the Takada-gumi?
You’re not worried anymore?
The Takada-gumi has only had its momentum blunted for now.
We haven’t decided the winner yet.”

“I’m still worried now,” Seiko nodded.
“But I believe that Nakanishi Kazuo will soon take the initiative to apologize to Inagawa Seijo and mend their relationship.
The cost of a direct falling out with the Inagawa-kai is too high.
I’m afraid Nakanishi Kazuo can’t bear it.”

Yamagami Nobuo thought from Nakanishi Kazuo’s perspective and couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.
“Then this acting Kumicho role is too frustrating for Nakanishi-san.
Which of the past Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi has ever been so subservient?”

“So, you’d better keep some distance from Nakanishi Kazuo.
Even if he is very enthusiastic towards you, you don’t need to get too close to him.”

Seiko suddenly reminded him.

“Why is that?” Yamagami Nobuo was a little confused, unable to follow Seiko’s leap in logic.

“The Yamaguchi-gumi doesn’t have an official Kumicho right now because they are currently busy fighting the Ichiwa-kai.
But what if they decide the winner against the Ichiwa-kai?” Seiko tilted her head and asked, “Who should be the Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi then?”

“Of course it should be…” Yamagami Nobuo said half a sentence and then stopped.

That’s right!

Who should be the next Kumicho of the Yamaguchi-gumi?

Logically, the default successor to the Kumicho should be the Wakagashira.
The current Wakagashira of the Yamaguchi-gumi is Watanabe Yoshinori.

But if Watanabe Yoshinori were to succeed as the Fifth Kumicho, would Nakanishi Kazuo, who is already the acting Kumicho and holds great power, be willing to honestly give up his position?

This might be another bloody battle of contention.

Yamagami Nobuo’s brows were tightly knitted for a long time, then he suddenly noticed a key point.
“You told me to keep my distance from Nakanishi Kazuo.
Are you optimistic that Watanabe Yoshinori can become the Fifth Kumicho?”

Seiko smiled and asked in return, “Back then, why did Taoka Kazuo’s widow, Taoka Fumiko, support Takenaka Masahisa to become the Fourth Kumicho instead of Yamamoto Hiro?”

Reminded by this, Yamagami Nobuo suddenly understood.
“It was because of the Yamaken-gumi!”

The Yamaken-gumi was the largest direct organization under the Yamaguchi-gumi, with six to seven thousand members.
Takenaka Masahisa was once the Kumicho of the Yamaken-gumi.
And Yamamoto Hiro’s own Yamamoto-gumi only had a few hundred members.

Taoka Fumiko felt that Yamamoto Hiro, with only a few hundred trusted subordinates, could not control the massive Yamaguchi-gumi, so she chose Takenaka Masahisa, who held the Yamaken-gumi.

Following the same logic, who holds the Yamaken-gumi now?

Watanabe Yoshinori!

Yamagami Nobuo had the answer in his heart.
His brows relaxed, and a smile finally appeared on his face.
He changed the subject to a more relaxed one.
“You went to see the rental store?
How was it?”

“Yeah, it’s very nice,” Saori smiled.
“I think the decor is quite stylish, and the store is very spacious.”

“A shop at the subway entrance, the location is indeed good,” Seiko also nodded.
“I didn’t expect our Yamagami-gumi to have such a good shop.”

“In Urawa, we still have some assets,” Yamagami Nobuo boasted a little with a hint of pride, then added, “When the rental store officially opens, it will be considered the first contribution you, the Wakagashira, have made to the organization.”

“No,” Seiko shook her head.
“In terms of time, the first contribution I made should be Bubble Witch’s movie.”

“Oh,” Yamagami Nobuo was stunned for a moment, then said, “Right, it’s called Guilty of Romance, isn’t it?
It’s being released this weekend.”

“That’s right,” Seiko nodded, her tone calm.
“I’ll go see the premiere with my friends.
But unfortunately, it’s not convenient to invite you to watch it with us.
If you’d like to see it, I can help you book a ticket for another showing?”

“No need, I don’t really want to see it.”
Yamagami Nobuo’s face darkened.
Who would want to watch a pink film with their granddaughter?

This granddaughter of his was good in every way, except that she would always say such shockingly blunt things with such a calm expression.