Tokyo, Shinjuku.
Takeya Takizawa was on the top floor of the Takizawa Group’s building, his fingers toying with a jade pot as he planned his coback.
The usual business tactics were no longer effective. His only recourse was to employ thods outside of conventional business; only then could he break this deadlock.
Based on his understanding of Phoenix Academy, Phoenix Academy Kochou’s significant influence there was largely because she was the mother of Phoenix Academy Maggie, wielding power through her daughter’s bloodline. Without this connection, Kochou’s control over the Phoenix Academy Group would inevitably be susceptible to influence from so clan mbers. If he could get his hands on Phoenix Academy Maggie, his current predicant could be resolved. Kochou would never allow her daughter to be in danger.
Takeya Takizawa took a deep breath as a gentle knock ca from the door.
"Co in," he called out.
The door opened, and a young man entered. He wore a colorful headscarf, had a youthful face—probably around twenty-five or twenty-six—and a physique described as having a "wasp waist and a tiger’s back."
"Big Brother, you called ? What’s up?" the man asked casually, a bright red three-section staff hanging from his waist.
Takeya Takizawa and the man were not blood brothers, but they were closer than if they had been. "Keiji, you must be aware of the situation our company is facing lately, right?"
"Yeah." The smile on Katsuhisa Shindo’s face faded. He naturally understood that the Takizawa Group was facing an encirclent by Phoenix Academy and other consortia. The fall of the Mitsui Family hadn’t loosened the siege. The group’s various business deals were either being interrupted, nitpicked by opponents, or their deliveries delayed—all intentionally aid at dragging them down. A series of issues caused significant cash flow problems for the company. However, those were problems Katsuhisa Shindo couldn’t ddle with, as his mind wasn’t suited for such matters.
"Normal thods are no longer effective," Takeya Takizawa stated. "I want you to kidnap the eldest daughter of Phoenix Academy and use her to threaten Kochou into stopping their siege. It will give us a chance to strike back at the five major consortia."
Katsuhisa Shindo’s eyes lit up at the proposal. He quickly patted his chest and said, "Big Brother, don’t worry, kidnapping is my specialty! Where’s the woman?"
"She’s on Phoenix Academy’s private island. Here are the coordinates. I couldn’t find a picture of her, but I know she has long, golden hair and is a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl."
At the ntion of "girl," Katsuhisa Shindo hesitated slightly. Targeting children didn’t align with his principles. But then he reconsidered. That Phoenix Academy woman, Kochou, was dishonorable, ganging up with other consortia to bully them—a smaller player—clearly using her power to oppress and aiming to ruin his Big Brother’s enterprises. Against scoundrels like that, there was no need to observe any underworld code of honor.
Takeya Takizawa continued, "Regarding personnel, rember to pick reliable people. Here’s an account I secretly opened at a Swiss Bank. The password is six zeros. Feel free to use it."
"Don’t worry, Big Brother, I’ll definitely choose reliable people!" Katsuhisa Shindo assured, pounding his chest. He was from the underworld, had underground channels, and knew where to find a group of desperate outlaws willing to help.
「Port District, Intelligence Section Headquarters.」
A phone call was quickly intercepted. Because it involved a person of interest, an agent rapidly reported it to a senior assistant.
"Assistant Charles, there’s been an anomaly with the Takizawa Group. According to their recent calls, they’re buying guns, gathering manpower, and purchasing speedboats. Should we inform Phoenix Academy?"
Phoenix Academy supported the CIA year-round, contributing in all aspects, with intelligence matters being of paramount importance. There was so information they couldn’t reveal, but other intelligence, unless under strict orders from superiors to keep it confidential, could be routinely passed on as a courtesy. For instance, situations that might pose a threat to Phoenix Academy.
People in the Intelligence Section were well aware that the Takizawa Group was facing an encirclent from Phoenix Academy and the five major consortia. Initially, there were six, but with the fall of the Mitsui Family, only five remained.
Upon hearing his deputy’s words, Charles’s expression darkened. He replied irritably, "We are the CIA in Japan, not Phoenix Academy’s intelligence division! There’s no need to report to them!"
His righteous declaration stunned the deputy. That wasn’t what he’d been told before.
The deputy lowered his head. "I apologize, it was a slip of the tongue. If there are no other instructions, I’ll get back to work."
"You may go," Charles nodded.
As the deputy left the office, he thought, The recent rumors must be true; the top brass has begun to crack down on internal discipline. Even Charles, known for his close relationship with Phoenix Academy, has beco so cold. The newly appointed Director of Intelligence is not to be underestimated.
Charles watched the deputy leave. After a mont of thought, he picked up the phone and dialed the top-floor office’s landline.
"Hello?" A seductive voice ca from the other end.
Even though Charles knew she couldn’t see him, he instinctively sat up straight, adopting a respectful deanor. He had co to an understanding. In this lifeti, he was probably never going to be Director of Intelligence; the higher-ups would rather promote an outsider than consider him. Having extinguished his ambition, he felt so discontent towards Phoenix Academy Kochou, who had fanned those flas. If Kochou hadn’t stirred things up, he wouldn’t have made such foolish decisions. Her claims that he was a strong candidate for the next Director of Intelligence were all nonsense.
"Director," Charles said, "I just received news that the Takizawa Group, which is being targeted by Phoenix Academy and the five major consortia, is planning to take so unconventional asures. They’re sending people to buy firearms, a boat, and recruit manpower. What do you think we should do?"
"Don’t do anything about it." Morimoto Chiyoda gave it a mont’s thought. This must be related to Phoenix Academy Maggie. But with Aozawa by her side, it’s virtually impossible for anything to happen. Why not give that youngster a chance to play the hero?
She then said to Charles, "You deserve comndation for reporting this to promptly. Keep doing your job well, and I won’t let you down."
"Yes, Director." Charles’s tone contained a trace of delight, like a puppy praised by its owner.
"I have sothing to attend to. Hanging up now."
Morimoto Chiyoda hung up the landline. Then, bringing her mobile phone to her ear, she said, "Okayama, continue."
"The information about Mary in Osaka is false. We haven’t captured Mary, just so guy spreading rumors online. Should we arrest him?"
"Soone stirring the waters online can help reduce public panic."
"Ever since you stopped going on field missions, you’ve suddenly beco so understanding," Okayama Buji teased.
Leaning back, Morimoto Chiyoda’s face broke into a slight smile. She could deal with rumormongers calmly now, naturally, because she no longer needed to run around constantly. The increased resources she could mobilize from the Intelligence Section and special task forces had made her work unexpectedly more manageable, a stark contrast to her previous predictions of a hectic schedule. Now she realized that only incompetent leaders eager to cling to power beca increasingly busy. For people like her, the greater the power, the easier it was to relax.
「In Asakusa, on the second floor of an inn.」
Katsuhisa Shindo had summoned three Upper Ninja Level operatives through his contacts at the Shinobu Introduction Office—all the Upper Ninja Level agents currently available there. He had also recruited four outlaws through the Street Cleaner’s network.
These numbers were certainly fewer than Phoenix Academy’s security detail, but that didn’t matter; troop quality was what counted, not quantity. Katsuhisa Shindo was still confident in his own strength.
However, as his eyes scanned the assembled n, they landed on a handso blond man. "What’s your na?" he asked.
"Number Nine," the blond man stated.
Before Katsuhisa Shindo could inquire further, Number Nine took out a handkerchief, covered his mouth, and coughed violently, spitting up blood. His face showed no sign of pain, as if he were rely drinking water.
Once finished, he produced another handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and asked calmly, "Do you have any questions?"
"Of course, I do. Soone on the brink of death like you is no good for this money-making operation." He had indeed asked Street Cleaner for desperados, but soone this clearly close to death couldn’t possibly be useful during the operation, Katsuhisa Shindo thought.
He waved dismissively. "You’d better use the little ti you have left to sort out your affairs, not think about making money."
You make sense, Number Nine thought, showing no anger. He noticed the amount of blood on his handkerchief had increased; a sign his rejection symptoms were worsening. Indeed, he didn’t have many days left. Though he’d taken painkillers in advance and felt no pain, his body’s condition wouldn’t lie. At this point, he shouldn’t waste his limited ti on making money when he could be doing sothing more significant.
Number Nine turned and left the inn. Wandering through the streets of Asakusa, he was lost in thought. How could he make his life blaze out like a firework in the limited ti he had left?
It was a question pondered by many philosophers.
After much thought, he reached a conclusion. He would kidnap Kumazo Yasuda, take him to a TV station, and expose the existence of clone humans to the public. This way, his own existence was sure to cause a trendous sensation in the world.
After escaping from the research institute, Number Nine had killed a few people and made so friends. From them, he’d learned what ordinary people thought about clone humans. Most were resistant and didn’t want clone humans to exist.
Now the problem was how to kidnap Kumazo Yasuda and successfully take him to a TV station for this public exposure? Considering his recent experiences, he realized that to achieve any of this, he needed money. Without money, nothing could be done.
Thinking of this requirent, Number Nine stopped at the entrance of a gold store. He glanced sideways, noting several tourists inside selecting gold chains.
Between robbing a bank and a gold store, he chose the latter—not because of the difficulty, but simply because the gold store was closer.
Number Nine turned and entered the gold store. His pale, handso features imdiately attracted the attention of a female attendant.
Her first instinct told her this custor was very wealthy. She eagerly approached, saying, "Hello, sir. May I help you find sothing?"
Number Nine replied mildly, "Please pack up all the gold in the store."
The attendant’s face lit up with excitent. "You want to purchase everything?"
"Yes," Number Nine nodded. "I want it all."
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