# 626
Chapter 627: The Grand Boss
Kyoto.
Under the moonlight, the mountains in the outskirts of the night city revealed vague outlines. On the winding mountain road, a black Hummer wove through the dim streetlights, heading toward the peak of the deep mountains.
After driving for an unknown length of time, a jet-black iron gate appeared in the glare of the headlights. Several figures in black stood before the gate, unmoving as boulders despite the lights shining on them.
The Hummer obediently stopped before the iron gate. The leading black-clad figure approached the vehicle and spoke calmly:
"Identification."
The rear window rolled down. Asakura Ken looked into the man's eyes and produced his namecard.
"Kurosatsu Group Wakashu Assistant, Osaka Yamamoto-gumi Skipper, Asakura Ken."
"What's your purpose?"
"To see the Grand Boss. There's a matter that requires his decision."
The man carefully compared Asakura Ken's appearance with his records, nodded, returned the namecard, and stepped back, bowing deeply.
"Please."
Under the cover of night, the black iron gate slowly opened. Those blocking the path stepped aside to create a passage. The Hummer accelerated, speeding toward the luxurious manor at the mountain summit.
Several minutes later, the vehicle stopped at the manor's main entrance. The driver got out to open the door for Asakura Ken. The latter solemnly straightened his attire, then entered the manor with his driver and an assistant.
The Kurosatsu Group Grand Boss he was about to meet was the third Grand Boss in the organization's history, and a legendary figure in the Japanese underworld.
One year ago, the Kansai underworld had been like scattered sand. Although many powerful underworld factions existed, they were all busy fighting for territory and developing their businesses. Compared to the two super families of Kanto, they were nothing but insignificant shrimps.
Back then, the Kurosatsu Group was merely one of Kyoto's three major gangs. While it held some status in the underworld, that was about it.
It was during that period that this Grand Boss burst onto the scene. Starting as an ordinary street punk who appeared out of nowhere, with just a handful of men, he swept away the other two major gangs of Kyoto, propelling Kurosatsu Group to the top of Kyoto.
This suddenly appearing young man caught the eye of the Second Generation Grand Boss, who rapidly promoted him to the group's upper echelons. After gaining power within the organization, he let loose, leading his men with an unstoppable force that cut through the major underworld factions of other Kansai regions. Kurosatsu Group's status in Kansai soared like a rocket, ultimately making it the leader of the Kansai underworld.
Two months ago, the Second Generation Grand Boss passed away from illness, designating this young man as the Third Generation Grand Boss—a choice that met everyone's expectations.
Asakura Ken had only met this Grand Boss twice. Once was a year ago when the man led his forces to Osaka to wipe out the Yamamoto-gumi. The second time was at the ceremony where he ascended to Grand Boss. The charismatic leader's aura had left an unforgettable impression on Asakura Ken.
While contemplating what to say when meeting the Grand Boss, Asakura Ken arrived before a closed Japanese-style door.
"Please enter." The escorting man gestured "please."
Asakura Ken made one final adjustment to his attire, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
Behind it was a spacious hall with tatami mats covering the floor. Two hundred men and women knelt neatly on both sides of the room—the men uniformly dressed in black kimono, the women in black tomesode. All wore white socks and wooden sandals, their calm gazes fixed on the entering Asakura Ken.
In the center of the hall, a young man draped in the flowing cloud haori that symbolized the Grand Boss's status sat casually. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and in his palm he held an old-fashioned silver lighter, gently igniting a flame.
The flickering flame lit his cigarette. He took a drag, and wisps of smoke drifted outward. His sharp, deep-set eyes narrowed slightly.
On his right hand's middle and ring fingers, he wore two rings—one black, one white.
The moment Asakura Ken's gaze met the young man's, his heart trembled. When this young man had led his forces to wipe out the Yamamoto-gumi in Osaka, he had possessed that same look...
Ken composed himself and walked to the hall's center, kneeling on one knee.
"Kurosatsu Group Wakashu Assistant, Yamamoto-gumi Skipper, Asakura Ken, pays respects to the Grand Boss."
The young man kept the cigarette between his lips, watching him silently, showing no intention of speaking. The entire hall fell into a deathly silence and oppressive stillness.
In this grave-like silence, Asakura Ken's psychological pressure continued to build. Under the young man's sharp gaze, beads of sweat began forming on his forehead.
"Grand Boss, I have come this time to report a matter. A few days ago, the Kanto Hanakawa family sent people..."
Kneeling on one knee, Asakura Ken recounted the entire incident. The only sound in the hall was his own voice, narrating everything.
Through the hazy smoke, the young man kept the cigarette between his lips, his gaze revealing a faint monarchical aura. He watched Asakura Ken with perfect composure, listening quietly to everything...
...
Shen Qingzhu was feeling quite depressed right now.
Every word the man kneeling on the floor was saying, he couldn't understand a single one.
Come to think of it, he had been in this godforsaken place for almost a year now. Recalling the events back then, Shen Qingzhu was still completely puzzled. He had no idea how things had inexplicably developed to this point.
...
One year ago.
Shen Qingzhu woke up on the shore of Yokohama, looking around in a daze.
His state of mind back then was the same as Lin Qiye's—he didn't know what had happened, didn't know why he had ended up here, didn't know what this strange place was...
But it had been nighttime back then. After washing ashore, no one had noticed Shen Qingzhu. He walked into the city in a state of utter confusion. Seeing neon signs everywhere and indecipherable text on every surface, he fell into deep thought...
He remembered the instructor mentioning this type of culture during training camp, but he never paid attention in those classes, so nothing came to mind.
On the bright side, the people here looked similar to him. He blended in without anyone noticing anything unusual. He wandered through most of the city, and when he tired of exploring, he returned to the shore to smoke. Just as he used [Qi Min] to conjure a small flame, he felt a gaze pierce through the void, searching frantically for him.
For拽哥, who had come from a background as an undercover agent, caution was the first rule for survival in an unfamiliar environment. The instant he sensed that eyes on him, he immediately stopped operating the Forbidden Ruins and sat motionless for over ten minutes.
Once that gaze departed and he confirmed it wouldn't return, he swiftly left the shore. He even sneakily slipped into a moving cargo truck, escaping the city entirely.
What he didn't know was that just a few minutes after his departure, an Oracle Envoy arrived at that shoreline to search for his traces.