Chapter 40: Murakami and Saori

The Takada-gumi’s sudden change in attitude still surprised Seiko a little.

First, what surprised Seiko was, naturally, that Takada Yamakiyo cared so much about his son, Takada Toru.
His initiative to include Takada Toru in the peace talk conditions was like actively inviting the Yamagumi-gumi to slaughter him like a pig.
The only explanation for Takada Yamakiyo doing this was that he was really concerned about Takada Toru’s safety.

But, when Seiko thought about Takada Yamakiyo having a son late in life, and his only son at that, she felt it was understandable.

Second, what surprised Seiko was how decisive Takada Yamakiyo’s decision was.

Almost on the second day after the original chief of the Urawa City Police Department was dismissed and the new chief had just taken office, the Takada-gumi decisively decided to negotiate for peace.

It was obvious that Takada Yamakiyo had realized the drastic change in the situation in Urawa and had sensed the great threat to the Takada-gumi after the police system changed hands.
Therefore, without any delay, he immediately chose a tactical retreat.

For this, Seiko couldn’t help but applaud Takada Yamakiyo’s cunning.
Because according to the agreement between Yamagami Nobuo and Mayor Kiuchi, the next step was for the Yamagami-gumi and the police department to join forces to annihilate the Takada-gumi’s men.

However, although it didn’t cause more losses to the Takada-gumi, if the Takada-gumi wanted to seek a truce, the Yamagami-gumi couldn’t possibly refuse.

The prolonged standoff and conflict had already caused dozens of deaths and injuries to the Yamagami-gumi.
For these members who died or were injured fighting for the organization, the Yamagami-gumi had to pay compensation.
This compensation was not only expensive but also had to be paid in cash on the spot.

Only in this way could the members maintain their enthusiasm for fighting to the death for the organization.
Of course, from another perspective, this also meant heavy financial pressure.

Seiko also didn’t want the money she had worked so hard to earn to be misappropriated for compensation payments, so she naturally raised her hand in support of peace talks.

However, she still gave Yamagami Nobuo an extra reminder: try to get as many benefits as possible, as it was the Takada-gumi who initiated the peace talks.

Cold, confused, fearful, in pain…

Countless viscous, negative presences enveloped the small figure.
She was at a loss, only able to stumble along, following the equally young figure in front of her who held a gun.

The blood on the ground was not yet dry, a little sticky to the feet.
Corpses with their eyes wide open lay helter-skelter, like the walls of a great labyrinth, blocking the path forward…

Suddenly, the girl with the gun in front stopped, turned her head, pointed at the ground, and said something.

On the ground was the corpse of an adult woman holding a child, like a mother and daughter.

She watched the girl with the gun drag the child’s body away, then motioned for her to lie down.
She was still in a daze when the girl with the gun couldn’t wait any longer and pulled her hand…

Ring, ring, ring, ring…

“Mmm…”

Saori reached a fair arm out from under the covers, turned off the alarm clock, and then, while getting up, tied her hair into a ponytail.

Saori’s bedroom was the standard bedroom of a good girl.
A white solid wood bed was covered with pink and white sheets and a quilt.
On one side of the bed was a wardrobe full of beautiful clothes, and on the other side was a desk and a bookshelf.

Compared to Seiko’s bedroom, which was often messy with all sorts of clutter, and which she neither cleaned herself nor allowed others to help her with, Saori’s bedroom was much neater and cleaner.
It even had a faint, pleasant scent of fruity and floral incense.

After changing her clothes and washing up, Saori went downstairs and into the kitchen to make breakfast, following her daily routine.

There were only two members in the Murakami family: Murakami Saori and Murakami Eishi.
Saori lived on the second floor, and Murakami Eishi lived on the first floor.

Unlike Seiko’s mother, who had died early, Murakami Eishi had never been married.
The original Saori was supposed to be the child of Murakami Eishi and one of his mistresses.

Well, that’s how it should have been…

The reason for saying this was because Saori knew that she was not the original “Murakami Saori.”

Looking at the eggs gradually cooking in the pan, Saori recalled the residual memories in her mind.

Saori didn’t quite remember who she was.

She might have been the orphan of a Southeast Asian prostitute who was sold to Japan, or perhaps just a child that a couple couldn’t afford and sold to a gang—this situation was not uncommon.
There were tens of thousands of adult entertainment venues in Japan that needed a large number of beautiful girls, and the Japanese Yakuza had a very mature industrial chain in this area.

Saori only remembered that bloody night, that girl who held a gun with trembling hands, telling her to lie next to that female corpse and not to leave no matter what.
As long as she did that, she could live.

At that time, the young Saori had obeyed.
When she was later rescued, she had subconsciously held

At that time, the young Saori had numbly obeyed.
When she was later rescued, she had subconsciously clung desperately to the dead woman’s clothes and wailed.
At that moment, perhaps it was just fear, perhaps just helplessness, but it undoubtedly saved her…

Afterwards, she dazedly became Murakami Eishi’s daughter.

Later, Saori learned that the female corpse was one of Murakami Eishi’s mistresses.

At that time, Murakami Eishi was studying abroad in the United States.
He had several mistresses, and the young Murakami Eishi himself didn’t much care which one had a child and which didn’t.
The people in the organization knew even less about the situation, so they rescued Saori, believing her to be the daughter of Murakami Eishi and his mistress.

Murakami Eishi’s deceased mistress was a s*x worker from Southeast Asia.
Saori bore a striking resemblance to her in appearance, such as a round face, relatively deep-set eyes, and a noticeably fair complexion from the genetic influence of white colonizers.
This was also why Saori suspected she had some Southeast Asian blood.

“Saori, good morning.”

By the time Saori finished making breakfast, Murakami Eishi had just gotten out of bed.
He quickly combed his hair, tied his tie, and grabbed a piece of bread from the table to stuff into his mouth, looking exactly like a corporate drone rushing to work.

“Good morning, Dad.”

Perhaps because of her age, or perhaps because Saori was so well-behaved and sensible, after spending a long time together, Murakami Eishi had gradually developed a good father-daughter relationship with Saori.
At least, that’s what he thought.

“Isn’t it the weekend today?
Why are you up so early?” Murakami Eishi asked curiously.

“Seiko said she wants to go to Omiya City to see the nightclub the Takada-gumi transferred to us, and she asked me to go with her,” Saori answered truthfully.

“A nightclub…” Murakami Eishi was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but advise, “Saori, your grades are so good.
You can definitely get into the University of Tokyo or study abroad in the US in the future.
Why don’t you focus on your studies now and not always hang out with Seiko?
Is a nightclub the kind of place high school girls like you should be going to…”

Saori sipped her milk, looking at Murakami Eishi with a slightly odd expression.
This cheap dad of hers really seemed to dislike the Yakuza life.
Just as Seiko said, he should have been a manager at Dentsu…

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Murakami Eishi asked strangely.
“Am I wrong?”

“You’re right, Dad,” Saori nodded in affirmation, then added, “but Seiko was the one who asked me to go.
Why don’t you go talk to Seiko about it?”

Hearing this, Murakami Eishi’s mouth fell slightly agape.
Thinking of the disdainful look Seiko gave him and her recent ruthless performance in the conflict with the Takada-gumi, he inexplicably felt a little intimidated.

“Ah, well…” Murakami Eishi said awkwardly.
“Going just once isn’t a big deal.
Just remember to study hard when you get back.”

“Okay,” Saori nodded earnestly.

Murakami Eishi hastily finished his breakfast and left for work.

Saori waited a little longer, estimating that Seiko should be about to wake up before she set off unhurriedly.

Sure enough, when she arrived at the Yamagami residence, Seiko happened to be coming out the door, sipping from a yogurt carton.

“Ohayo, Saori,” Seiko said drowsily with a yawn.

Saori, holding her handbag with both hands and elegantly smoothing down her skirt, tilted her head to look at Seiko and said with a smile, “I scented my panties with grapefruit and jasmine today.
Want to take a sniff, Seiko?”

Cough, cough, cough, cough…

Seiko nearly sprayed the yogurt out of her nose and was instantly choked awake.

“Are you a pervert?
Is this really how you say good morning?”