Seeing that Saeko had already fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing even and long, Kenji remained full of energy, without a trace of fatigue.
He stretched comfortably with a big yawn, his bones emitting soft cracking sounds.
Then, he gently got up from the bed, moving so softly as to avoid disturbing the person sleeping beside him.
After getting dressed, Kenji quietly picked up a broom and meticulously swept every corner of the room, not even sparing the dust in the floor cracks.
After sweeping, he noticed Saeko's sweat-soaked clothes carelessly piled to the side, so he carefully gathered them up, took them to the bathroom, washed them thoroughly, and hung them to dry on the balcony clothesline.
After finishing these tasks, Kenji went to the kitchen and, relying on his Culinary Mastery skill, skillfully rinsed rice to cook and carefully selected ingredients to simmer a pot of nutritious soup.
The soup bubbled 'gurgle gurgle' in the pot, emitting an enticing aroma.
With everything prepared, Kenji left a note by Saeko's pillow with warm words and set an alarm to ensure she wouldn't miss mealtime upon waking.
After doing this, he gently leaned down, gave Saeko's red lips a light kiss, his eyes filled with reluctance, then slowly turned and left.
There was still an important matter waiting for him tonight, which Kenji hadn't forgotten.
Washimine Hideo, the boss of the Washimine Group, would visit him tonight, with the appointment scheduled for this evening.
Standing someone up is impolite and inappropriate, so after casually buying some barbecue on the street to fill his stomach, Kenji selected some domestic baijiu before driving to the old-money mansion he had previously bought near Nanzen-ji Temple.
In the mansion, light wine was already prepared, and Kenji quietly awaited the other party's arrival.
He didn't just wait idly; instead, he took out a bottle of Laobaigan, poured a cup, slowly savoring the richness of the liquor while comfortably soaking in the artificial hot spring.
The hot spring water steamed, enveloping his body, making him feel incredibly at ease, as if the day's fatigue dissipated with the steam.
Around seven o'clock, two black Jeeps slowly stopped in front of the mansion gate, their engine roars breaking the night's tranquility.
Kenji had just finished his bath, casually put on a loose bathrobe, and walked with relaxed steps to open the door and greet them.
For this meeting, to be safe, Kenji didn't bring anyone with him.
However, he was prepared; the Lust Demon God Ekurusu was hidden in the ring he wore, ready to respond to any unforeseen events at any time.
After all, these underworld organizations are all equipped with firearms, and as a modern person, Kenji harbored some apprehension toward firearms deep down. Being cautious was always more prudent.
However, clearly, Kenji's caution this time seemed somewhat excessive.
To show he had no hostility and to demonstrate his sincerity, Washimine Hideo only brought two bodyguards and a driver, accompanied by his daughter Washimine Yukio.
Upon entering, Washimine Hideo looked solemn, even ordering the two bodyguards to wait outside the mansion gate, not allowing them to step inside.
He straightened his clothes, with a humble attitude, his words and actions filled with respect for Kenji and showing his full sincerity.
Kenji stood inside the door, slightly turning sideways, and said in a calm tone, "Alright, come in. I've prepared some light wine; let's talk over drinks."
Kenji didn't pay much attention to Washimine Hideo's superficial gestures, just casually waved his hand, but his gaze inadvertently swept behind Washimine Hideo.
Compared to Washimine Hideo's deliberately displayed posture, he was more curious and interested in Washimine Yukio beside him.
Today, the young woman wore an exquisite kimono, with a clean, pure white inner lining paired with a cherry-pink haori, the color combination complementing each other perfectly, showing her youthful charm while maintaining dignity.
She had typical long, straight black hair, a pure face like the standard image of a Japanese Yamato Nadeshiko, and wore black-framed glasses, giving her a unique flavor reminiscent of a philosophy department senior.
In fact, Washimine Yukio was indeed an ordinary high school girl who loved immersing herself in the world of philosophy books.
Facing Kenji's gaze, the young woman seemed somewhat nervous, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, her eyes also evasive.
Washimine Hideo laughed heartily, his cheerful laughter echoing in the courtyard, and he introduced to Kenji, "She is my daughter, Yukio, a quiet and sensible good girl, usually steady, reliable, and polite. My wife passed away early, and the Washimine Group will need Yukio to take over in the future, so I brought her along this time to broaden her horizons and let her gain more experience."
"I... I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Kenji!"
Hearing her father's introduction, the young woman became even more flustered, quickly bowing, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Hmm, no need to be so formal. Come in."
Kenji nodded, a gentle smile on his face, then led the two to the rear courtyard.
After careful renovation during this period, the entire courtyard had been planted with various greenery, including verdant pine and cypress trees and delicate flowers, arranged in an orderly yet varied manner.
Coupled with the uniquely advantageous geographical location near Nanzen-ji Temple, the environment was quite serene and elegant, making one feel refreshed upon entering.
As soon as they sat down, Washimine Hideo couldn't help but flatter, "Mr. Kenji's financial resources are truly substantial. Being able to buy such a luxurious mansion near Nanzen-ji Temple is indeed impressive!"
Being able to buy such a large old-money mansion here indicates either wealth or nobility, and having money alone might not be enough; sufficient status is also required. This can be said to be a symbol of identity and power!
"The name Mr. Kenji chose is also excellent, It rolls off the tongue with a lingering fragrance, truly having a unique charm, exuding elegance and poetry!"
After praising Kenji's financial resources, Washimine Hideo immediately proceeded to praise Kenji's talent, his face full of admiration.
Actually, according to Washimine Hideo's usually steady and reserved nature, he wouldn't flatter others so ostentatiously.
After all, having struggled in the underworld for many years, he deeply understood the importance of keeping a low profile.
As for why he did this, it was all for his daughter Yukio.
His wife passed away early, leaving him only a daughter. As a father, he worked hard to raise his daughter, thinking he could watch her marry, have children, and live a stable, happy life, but unexpectedly, he was recently diagnosed with late-stage cancer.
Coupled with the mess inside and outside the Washimine Group and the uncertainties of the underworld path... he knew his time was limited and had to plan for his daughter's future, paving a smooth road for her. Befriending Kenji now might be that key opportunity.
However, Kenji only responded to his flattery and praise with a faint smile, his eyes calm as water, without showing much other meaning.
"Come, Hideno-san, let's drink first!"
As Kenji spoke, he was about to reach for the wine pot.
At this moment, Washimine Yukio, sitting in the secondary seat, took the lead, slightly leaning forward and saying softly, "Allow this young woman to pour wine for both of you."
"Hahaha, alright! Then thank you, Miss Yukio."
Kenji responded with a hearty laugh.
Kenji watched as Washimine Hideo picked up his cup and downed a glass of baijiu, then said unhurriedly with a smile, "How does the wine taste? Compared to sake?"
"Spicy! But fragrant!"
As soon as Washimine Hideo swallowed the wine, his face flushed red, and fine sweat appeared on his forehead.
The baijiu Kenji bought is distilled liquor, requiring distillation to purify after fermentation to increase the alcohol content.
This makes baijiu more aromatic, with generally higher alcohol content, some even exceeding 60%.
Washimine Hideo, who had never drunk baijiu before, gulping down such a large glass in one go, his face turning red was normal. At this moment, he felt his throat as if on fire.
With that, Kenji meaningfully glanced at Washimine Yukio beside him.
This made Washimine Hideo instantly tense up. The slight tipsiness from the baijiu he had just drunk vanished completely in an instant. His heart leaped into his throat, and he looked around with somewhat panicked eyes. A terrifying thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
"Continuing down this path of the underworld, filled with bloodshed and sin, is destined to have no future of light. Moreover, given the Washimine Group's current internal and external troubles, it probably won't be long before chaos erupts within due to conflicts over interests and power struggles. When that time comes, will the Washimine Group change hands, falling into the grasp of other ambitious individuals, or be swallowed up by rival forces, vanishing from the underworld forever? I think what I'm saying is pretty much on point, isn't it, Hideno-san?"
After hearing this, Washimine Hideo's expression turned grave. He pondered for a while, replaying Kenji's words in his mind, contemplating the stakes involved.
After a long moment, he finally took a deep breath, as if having made some kind of decision, and said, "You're right, Mr. Kenji. You truly have keen insight, pinpointing the current predicament of our Washimine Group with precision."
For the Washimine Group to survive in the fiercely competitive and dangerous underworld, it needed to pay substantial bribes to politicians and police departments to secure their protection and tacit approval.
But now, with Japan's social environment in a slump and the economy sluggish, the business at the several cabarets and gambling dens under the Washimine Group's jurisdiction had also declined significantly, hardly making any money.
However, the funds required for bribery did not decrease because of this. On the contrary, to maintain relationships with various factions, the needed funds increased year by year, undoubtedly worsening the Washimine Group's situation.
Without sufficient funds, even the low-level enforcers working the venues would start to complain, feeling that following the Washimine Group had no future.
Over the years, many people had already one after another defected to other underworld organizations, greatly diminishing the Washimine Group's strength.
Especially since his own health was deteriorating day by day, plagued by various illnesses, and his energy was far from what it used to be.
Once Washimine Hideo died, the Washimine Group would inevitably fall into chaos due to the struggle for leadership. This was something Washimine Hideo anticipated and worried about the most.
"So the reason I came to visit you today, Mr. Kenji, is in the hope that you can show me a clear path, to help me and the Washimine Group escape our current predicament and get back on the right track."
Washimine Hideo downed the baijiu in his glass in one gulp, as if trying to swallow all his troubles and worries along with the alcohol.
Suddenly, he stood up and bowed ninety degrees to Kenji, his attitude sincere, pleading with eyes full of expectation and hope.
"Hah, you're quite a strange person," Kenji narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of mockery curling at the corner of his mouth. "Today is merely our first meeting; we have no prior relationship. Do you naively think I'd help you just because of the little gift you brought this time? Nothing in this world comes that cheap."
Kenji waved his hand dismissively, a look of displeasure on his face. He then stood up, ready to head into the room, his Back view exuding an air of unyielding resolve.
In his book, trying to move him with so-called 'apology craftsmanship,' relying on a few insincere words and some Insignificant little gift, was useless.
Without offering something substantial and tangible, don't expect him to lend a hand.
However, what Kenji didn't expect was that, after two glasses of baijiu, the alcohol Stimulate caused Washimine Hideo's blood to rush to his head. Coupled with his already Late cancer-stricken body, which could no longer bear the strain, he spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering a shocking red on the pristine white floor.
"Father! A... a hospital! We need to get to a hospital! Someone... quick!"
Seeing this, Washimine Yukio was instantly terrified, her face pale, her voice trembling with tears as she Panic called out.
"Wait! Yukio!"
Washimine Hideo mustered his last bit of strength, reaching out to stop Yukio, his body weakly kneeling before Kenji.
"Mr. Kenji, I know with your abilities, you definitely have a way to solve these problems. I only hope that Yukio can live a peaceful life from now on, free from the entanglements of underworld conflicts." Washimine Hideo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with effort, his eyes filled with earnest sincere, and continued, "That's all... If possible, I am willing to offer everything the Washimine Group has, just to fulfill this wish of mine as a father..."
At this moment, he was no longer the formidable, Majestic leader of the Washimine Group who commanded the underworld, but just an ordinary yet great father, holding onto his most sincere conviction, pleading with Kenji.
Had he ever begged others before? Of course he had!
For the sake of the Washimine Group, for his daughter's future, he had humbled himself and begged those High above politicians.
But those people didn't care about their Life or death; all they wanted was money.
Some among them, with ill intentions, even attempt to treat Yukio as a Forbidden plaything to satisfy their Dirty desires.
Yukio was well aware of all this.
Without the protection of the Washimine Group's wings, what awaited Washimine Yukio would be endless imprisonment and abuse, a nightmare she could not bear.
"Father!"
Unable to suppress the grief and eager in her heart any longer, Yukio also knelt down with a 'thud,' simultaneously raising her head, her tear-filled eyes looking at Kenji, deeply bowing amidst her tears.
Though the girl said nothing, the pleading in her eyes was intense, as if placing all her hopes on Kenji.
Wow! Just wow!
Kenji felt the corner of his eye twitch slightly, inwardly grumbling. Were this father and daughter putting on a Melodrama in front of him?
Their coordinated act seemed almost rehearsed in advance.
But at this moment, Kenji recalled his earlier plan to establish a PMC Private Security Company, and a bold idea gradually took shape in his mind.
Might as well use this opportunity to make it happen.
"Fine, since you want an opportunity, I do have one here. Washimine Hideo, do you know about Blackwater in the U.S.?"
Kenji narrowed his eyes slightly, He said mysteriously.
Hearing Kenji's words, Washimine Hideo's expression brightened with happiness, as if grasping a Lifeline, and he quickly responded, 'I've heard of it. Blackwater International is a famous American PMC, a Private Military and Security Consulting Company, born from the U.S. military-industrial complex. Its logo is something like a black bear claw. It's one of the three major private security companies cooperating with the U.S. State Department, extremely powerful!'
"Exactly. I also plan to establish a PMC private military security company. All related documents and funds will be handled and provided by me; you don't need to worry about those.' Kenji said, then looked at the girl kneeling on the ground and stated, 'And you, Washimine Yukio, you will be the CEO of this company. Moreover, I will give you, Washimine Yukio personally, a 30% stake, ensuring you have sufficient say in the company. But the condition is, Washimine Yukio, you must become my possession, my... wife."
Kenji's eyes held an unshakable Determined as he directly laid out his conditions without any hesitation.
To be honest, in his heart, the so-called entertainment company was merely a side venture for his leisure time. Though it could bring income, it was not the The most important of his future layout.
...
This Fanfiction is completed on p@treon
[email protected]/guilt_free_daoist
Join disc0rd link in synopsis.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.