Chapter 12
Rain poured over Tokyo like the city itself was mourning.
Or perhaps…
Preparing for war.
Keiko Nakamura stood across the street from the Takeda Syndicate headquarters, watching the towering building through a curtain of rain.
The guards at the gate didn't even look at her.
They had already received orders.
Keiko Nakamura no longer existed to them.
No rank.
No authority.
No protection.
Just another discarded soldier.
Her nails dug into her palm.
Exiled.
After ten years of loyalty.
After countless missions.
After blood spilled in Ryuji Takeda's name.
And for what?
Her eyes darkened.
Yumi Sato.
That girl had walked into the syndicate like a storm and taken everything.
His attention.
His protection.
And worst of all…
His trust.
Keiko's lips slowly curled into a bitter smile.
"You chose her," she murmured.
Thunder rolled across the sky.
"But you forgot something, Ryuji."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I know every weakness you have."
Two hours later.
Keiko sat in the back of a black car speeding through the industrial district.
Beside her sat a man with a dragon tattoo crawling up his neck.
He glanced at her cautiously.
"So it's true."
His voice carried disbelief.
"The famous Keiko Nakamura… kicked out of the Takeda Syndicate."
Keiko didn't look at him.
"Keep talking," she said coldly.
"And I'll cut your tongue out."
The man laughed nervously.
"Relax. My boss is very interested in meeting you."
The car slowed.
Ahead of them stood an enormous warehouse lit by red lanterns.
On the metal doors was a symbol every underworld figure in Tokyo recognized.
The crest of the Kuroda Clan.
The Takeda Syndicate's most dangerous rival.
The doors opened.
Men with rifles lined the entrance.
One of them stepped forward.
"You're expected."
Keiko stepped out of the car without hesitation.
Her heels echoed across the wet pavement.
Inside the warehouse, dozens of armed men watched her carefully.
At the center of the room sat a man in a black suit.
Relaxed.
Smiling.
Dangerous.
Kazuo Kuroda.
Leader of the Kuroda Clan.
Enemy of Ryuji Takeda.
He slowly applauded as she approached.
"Well… well."
His voice was smooth.
"I never imagined the Takeda Syndicate would deliver me such a valuable gift."
Keiko stopped a few feet from him.
Her eyes were cold.
"I'm not a gift."
Kazuo chuckled.
"No?"
He leaned forward.
"Then tell me why the most feared woman in Ryuji Takeda's organization is standing in my warehouse."
Keiko's voice became ice.
"Because I want revenge."
The room grew quiet.
Kazuo's smile widened.
"Now that…"
He stood.
"…is a conversation I'm interested in."
He walked slowly around her.
Studying her.
"You know Takeda's operations."
"His shipments."
"His soldiers."
"His weaknesses."
Keiko didn't deny it.
Instead she said something darker.
"I also know something even more valuable."
Kazuo raised an eyebrow.
"And what's that?"
Keiko's lips curved slowly.
"His obsession."
Kazuo's eyes gleamed.
"Ah."
Now he understood.
"You're talking about the girl."
Yumi Sato.
Keiko nodded.
"Ryuji Takeda will burn the world for her."
Her eyes hardened.
"So we take her."
The warehouse fell silent.
Kazuo smiled slowly.
"You want to kidnap her?"
Keiko shook her head.
"No."
Her voice dropped into something far more terrifying.
"I want to destroy her."
Thunder cracked outside.
Kazuo laughed.
A deep, satisfied laugh.
"I think we're going to get along very well."
He extended his hand.
"Welcome to the Kuroda Clan, Keiko Nakamura."
She looked at it for a moment.
Then shook it.
And at that moment…
The war between two Yakuza empires officially began.
Meanwhile… Takeda Headquarters
Yumi stood in the hallway outside Ryuji's office.
Her mind was racing.
She had just heard the whispers.
The rumors spreading through the syndicate.
Keiko had joined the Kuroda Clan.
Yumi's stomach tightened.
Because she knew exactly what that meant.
War.
And Keiko knew something dangerous.
Something no one else in the syndicate knew.
Yumi clenched her fists.
"Damn it…"
Because if Keiko revealed the truth…
Everything Yumi had been hiding would come crashing down.