Chapter 53: The Purge

Seiko had asked Yamagami Nobuo what had happened.

Yamagami Nobuo replied that he was being taken to headquarters.

To Asano Kumiko, this statement seemed perfectly normal.
However, to Seiko’s ears, it was exceptionally jarring.

Japan’s police force operates on a dual system: the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for the capital, and local police forces for the prefectures.
The highest governing body for the local police, i.e., the police of each “prefecture,” is known as the “Police Headquarters.”

When Asano Kumiko heard “headquarters,” she could naturally substitute it in her mind with “Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters,” because she was a Saitama police officer.

It was like an employee of Company A saying to a colleague, “I’m going back to the company.”
“The company” would, of course, refer to “Company A.”

But if someone were not an employee of Company A, or even an employee of a rival company, would they still use “the company” to refer to Company A?
Obviously not.

Yamagami Nobuo was clearly not a police officer; he was a yakuza.

When a yakuza from the Yamagami-gumi spoke of the “Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters,” the customary term was generally “Police Headquarters,” whereas “the Headquarters” would typically be used specifically to refer to the Yamagami-gumi’s own “headquarters.”

In an inappropriate answer, Yamagami Nobuo had used an inappropriate term.

Seiko was not yet clear on what connection the Yamagami-gumi’s headquarters had with this sudden raid, but that didn’t stop her from cutting through the knot with a swift stroke.

“If you would, Boss Nitta.”

Seiko said to Nitta Hiraku.

Nitta Hiraku finally reacted, a cruel smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
He pulled a folding knife from behind his back.
“No problem.”

“What did you say!” Ninomiya Shigeyoshi also finally realized the peril he was about to face.
He slammed the table and jumped up, roaring, “How dare you cut my finger!
When I was making my way with your father, ah—”

Seiko grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it in Ninomiya Shigeyoshi’s face, then turned and said, “Boss Doan, Boss Ishiwatari, give Boss Nitta a hand.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Doan Hiroshi and Ishiwatari Takashi also rose from their seats and each grabbed one of Ninomiya Shigeyoshi’s arms.

Nitta Hiraku stepped forward and, amidst Ninomiya Shigeyoshi’s filth-laden curses and agonized howls, cleanly severed one of his fingers.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi almost fainted from the pain, slumping over the table and breathing in ragged gasps.

“I’m sure everyone is aware of tonight’s events.
The police from Investigation Section One broke into the Yamagami residence and took away the Kumicho of the Yamagami-gumi.
However, not only were the members at headquarters completely incapable of stopping them, their response afterward was also incredibly slow.
Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was even the last to arrive at the Yamagami residence,” Seiko continued.
“Therefore, I believe Ninomiya Shigeyoshi is no longer fit to serve as Honbucho.
I propose to remove Ninomiya Shigeyoshi from the position of Honbucho, with Boss Nitta temporarily taking his place.”

Hearing this, both Nitta Hiraku and the severely injured Ninomiya Shigeyoshi looked up.

“What do you think, Uncle Murakami?” Seiko turned to look at Murakami Eishi.

“Well, I think…” Murakami Eishi instinctively wanted to smooth things over, but was decisively cut off by Seiko.

“Think carefully before you speak, Murakami Eishi.”

Seiko’s calm tone and use of his full name sent an involuntary chill down Murakami Eishi’s spine.

“Well,” Murakami Eishi forced himself to say, “I think… Ninomiya-san was indeed derelict in his duty.”

“Then it’s settled.”
Seiko immediately made the decision.
“Ninomiya Shigeyoshi is removed from his post, and Nitta Hiraku will temporarily serve as Honbucho.”

According to custom, when the Kumicho is unable to perform his duties, the joint decision of the Wakagashira and the Shatei-gashira is the highest resolution of the Yamagami-gumi.

“Yes!” Nitta Hiraku was overjoyed and immediately accepted.

“Damn it, I see…” Ninomiya Shigeyoshi clutched his severed finger and struggled to his feet, his voice trembling.
“This Yamagami-gumi will be ruined by you lot sooner or later.
Haha, you want to remove me from my post?
Haha, I don’t want to play along anymore!”

With that, Ninomiya Shigeyoshi turned and started to leave.

“Who said you could leave?” Seiko spoke again.

Ninomiya Shigeyoshi’s steps faltered for a moment, then he continued to walk out hastily.

Seiko paid him no mind and immediately said to Nitta Hiraku, “You, too, don’t get happy too soon.
You have one hour.
Within one hour, I want you to arrest all the cadres at headquarters.
Not a single one is to be missed.
If anyone resists, don’t hold back.”

The phrase “don’t hold back” was clearly brimming with killing intent.

A very important reason why Seiko had chosen Nitta Hiraku to serve as the acting Honbucho was that the Nitta-gumi itself was a large force of nearly three hundred men, comparable in number to the members at headquarters.

With the element of surprise, Nitta Hiraku was fully capable of launching a sudden raid and taking down the headquarters cadres.

“Yes!”

Nitta Hiraku clearly understood that the premise of everything was “the element of surprise,” and so…

Thump!

“Ah…”

Having not gotten far, Ninomiya Shigeyoshi was captured again by Nitta Hiraku and his men, tied up securely, gagged, and thrown back into the room.

Amidst the clearly nervous and fearful gazes of the chokusan, Seiko pondered for a moment before speaking again.
“I’m sure everyone knows that the Yamagami-gumi has encountered some minor problems.
Some are dissatisfied with recent decisions, and some are dissatisfied with me.
But whether it’s dissatisfaction with the decisions or with me, I can tolerate them.
But some people are ungrateful, betraying the organization from within, and even colluding with the police.
This is unforgivable.”

Her words seemed to be aimed at someone specific.
The chokusan’s gazes fell on the trussed-up Ninomiya Shigeyoshi, their faces filled with disbelief.
They clearly suspected that the person Seiko was referring to, the one colluding with the police, was the Honbucho—oh, former Honbucho, Ninomiya Shigeyoshi.

“Does everyone still remember the Kumagaya City armored car robbery from three years ago?” Seiko changed the subject.

Some remembered, some did not.
The chokusan exchanged whispers for a while before they gradually recalled it.
Some had rather peculiar expressions, as if they remembered some hidden details.

“What I want to emphasize is,” Seiko continued, “the Kumagayan City armored car robbery has absolutely nothing to do with our Yamagami-gumi.
But now there is a traitor colluding with corrupt police, trying to fabricate evidence to pin this crime on our Yamagami-gumi.
In this world… we innocent, good people can only save ourselves.”

‘Is it really a fabricated crime?’

Even more of the chokusan had peculiar expressions on their faces.

“I am relatively young and don’t know much about what happened three years ago.
You are all older and surely remember it more clearly than I do,” Seiko continued.
“Please help me recall the details of the case back then.
What kind of evidence could the police fabricate to frame us?”

The less-informed chokusan looked at each other, feeling both lost and a little confused, unsure of what to say.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later that someone stood up.
It was the man who had pretended to knock over the teacup earlier to go and tip off Ninomiya Shigeyoshi.
Seiko remembered his name was Masaki Yuki, and he had a younger brother named Masaki Kazuki.
They were the well-known Masaki brothers within the organization.

“I think it’s the guns, the guns used in the robbery back then…” Masaki Yuki said.

“It was the same model of gun as the robbers’,” Seiko interrupted.

“Ah, that’s right,” Masaki Yuki quickly corrected himself.
“Yes, we got a batch of the same model of guns and ammunition back then, but we only used it once.
There should still be some stored in the underground warehouse.
Although the location of the underground warehouse is a secret, with a traitor cooperating, it could be used by the corrupt police.”

Seiko nodded and looked at Murakami Eishi.
“Uncle Murakami, please go and transfer and destroy all those guns and ammunition.”

“Alright,” Murakami Eishi agreed.

With Masaki Yuki setting an example, the other chokusan gradually caught on, understanding Seiko’s intention—she was plugging the leaks from the old case.
They all began to think of loopholes and offer ideas.

“The robber who injured the guard back then is apparently still alive, living in…”

“Taka-aniki, go take care of it.”

“Yes.”

“The guy who was hired to modify the cars for the robbers is still in Urawa, but he’s a big boss now…”

“Mmm, that’s a bit tricky. Ishiwatari-san, go invite his son for a late-night snack.”

“Yes.”

“The one in charge of money laundering back then was…”

“…”

One by one, loopholes were raised, orders were dispatched, and high-ranking yakuza went to carry them out.
In the dead of night, the entire underworld of Urawa seemed to boil over.