Chapter 27

This time, it will be in third person, favoring Kōga.

There are only two episodes left in the Yakuza arc.

I hope you will continue to enjoy it.

One week after the incident at the Pig Demon's Stick Shack, the gang led by Noelle returned to the Imperial Capital.

Upon receiving the news, Albert immediately summoned his combatants and instructed them to corner the two in a residential area managed by the Gambino Family.

While it is a residential area with many inhabitants, all the residents have temporarily left their homes. This was due to the Gambino Family members informing them to do so. This way, whatever happens, it won't easily leak out.

On a night when thick clouds obscured the moon, Noelle and her gang were surrounded by the robust members of the Gambino Family. There was no gap, not even for an ant, to escape.

Kōga, who had also been summoned, watched the scene with a complex heart. Everything would end tonight. However, the outcome was as clear as day. The situation was far too one-sided. What was about to happen was a completely unfair fight.

Albert, confident of his absolute victory, licked his lips in anticipation of the gruesome slaughter show. He laughed triumphantly.

"Hahahahaha, what fools! If you had just left the Imperial Capital, it would have been fine, but you came back on your own! Surely, you're not thinking of apologizing and getting forgiveness now, are you? No way! You will die here! Hiihahahaa!"

Noelle shrugged at the clearly delighted Albert.

"Your laugh is tasteless. You really are poorly brought up. No matter how much you fix your appearance with your parents' inheritance, if the inside is like that, it just shows how low you are."

"To you, your smart mouth sounds like a pleasant song in this situation. —First, break their arms and legs so they can't move. Don't kill them immediately. The night is long. I'll enjoy it thoroughly."

Albert snapped his fingers, signaling his army to start the battle. The Gambino Family combatants were about to attack—

That was supposed to happen—

"…Huh? Didn't you hear me? Get moving!!"

Albert stomped his feet and repeated his order. But the members didn't move. Kōga couldn't move either.

"What's going on!? Why isn't anyone listening to me!? Raio! What's going on!? Explain!!"

Albert, his face turning pale, approached Raio, the underboss, in a panic. The loyal subordinate, however, only sighed without answering.

"What, what's going on… What's happening?"

Stunned by the abnormal situation beyond his understanding, Albert heard a cruel, pleasure-filled laugh.

"Hahahahaha, what a good performance, Albert Gambino!"

"What! …No, it can't be! Did you set this up!?"

Noelle didn't answer, just smiling in a crescent moon shape.

Yes, this was a completely unfair fight. The one who orchestrated this one-sided situation was the talker, Noelle Stollen. The one with the overwhelming advantage was not Albert, who had a powerful army, but Noelle, who had only one companion.

What caused this?

Kōga began to recall the events of the day.

†

†

One week after Noelle disappeared from the Imperial Capital. Albert, whose pride was greatly wounded, was frantically trying to track her down.

Most of the members were mobilized, but they wouldn't find her. The underboss, Raio, had secretly ordered the search teams not to report if they found her.

Kōga, who was not part of the search team, had been doing the jobs assigned by Albert every day. Today was also the end of one such job.

"Kōga, you're really strong, you know."

A member who accompanied him said admiringly.

"That guy was supposed to be pretty strong, but you took him down in an instant. I was surprised."

Today's target was a man who had barricaded himself in a building managed by the Gambino Family. He was an occupier, a former underground arena fighter, a gladiator with a B-rank swordsman class, and a formidable opponent, but not for Kōga.

"I'm hungry. The underboss is treating us to a meal, so let's go."

The Gambino Family, despite having a mad boss in Albert, had many good-natured members, with Raio, the underboss, at the forefront.

To be precise, it was only those who joined before Albert became the boss. The recent members were all troublemakers, and their actions were tarnishing the Gambino Family's reputation.

"Hey, good job, both of you."

When they entered the designated restaurant, Raio raised his hand. At multiple tables, members were already eating and drinking. Kōga and the others also took their seats and started eating.

"Kōga, are you getting used to the current job?"

Asked by Raio, Kōga nodded ambiguously.

"…Yeah, I guess, bit by bit."

"That's good. You're a slave by status, but you're skilled. If you keep up the good work, I'll talk to the boss and get your servitude contract back. That way, you'll be free."

"R-Really!?"

It was a dream come true. Kōga had often dreamed of freedom, but had long given up on it. Now it might come true. Kōga felt like jumping for joy.

"Yeah, I don't lie. I promise to make you free. And after you're free, would you like to formally join the family?"

"Does that mean… become a member of the family?"

"Of course, it's not mandatory. If you have other things you want to do, you should pursue that. But if you join the family, I'll take care of you for life."

Kōga was conflicted. It wasn't a bad deal. No matter what, if he became free, the only thing Kōga could do was wield a sword. If he thought about the future, he wanted a guarantee that he wouldn't go hungry.

Besides, while he disliked Albert, the boss, he respected Raio, the underboss. He had the desire to work under this man.

Just as he was thinking this, Noelle's face suddenly came to mind. What was that guy doing now? Was he really not coming back to the Imperial Capital?

Once he started thinking about it, he couldn't stop.

"Are you worried about Noelle?"

Kōga, whose thoughts were read by Raio, straightened his back.

"N-No, that's not it…"

"Fufu, you don't have to hide it. You were right. He was a good man, despite his youth. You really want to work under him, don't you?"

"I… I…"

Kōga was at a loss for words when the table suddenly shook violently.

"Underboss! I can't take it anymore! How long do we have to follow that crazy boss!?"

It was a drunk member, but his behavior was not normal. Tears streamed down his face, and his expression was one of regret. In his hand, he held a bamboo toy.

"This is a toy that the kid I dealt with today always carried. He was just a child, yet… He was in such a terrible state… No human being with a heart could do that… And yet, I'm his subordinate… I don't know what to do…"

The member sniffled and tearfully appealed to Raio.

"Underboss, please do something!?"

"Calm down. I'll talk to you later. You're disturbing the other customers, so—"

"I can't calm down! I joined the Gambino Family because I wanted to work under a man like the previous boss! If I had known I'd be under a madman, I wouldn't have joined this world!!"

"Can't you understand that I'm telling you to calm down!!"

Raio's roar shook the restaurant, leaving everyone speechless.

"…It's true that the boss has been going too far lately. But that doesn't mean we can rebel against our superiors. Once you join a yakuza family, that rule is absolute. You can't change it on a whim."

"B-But…"

"I understand. I'll advise the boss again. For today, let's leave it at that. I'm asking you, please, on my knees."

"O-Okay! But, please, get up!"

It was impossible for a subordinate to argue with the higher-ranking underboss who had bowed to him. The situation was settled for the moment, but it was only on the surface. Even the new member Kōga could tell that the other members were thoroughly disillusioned.

"Oh oh, a fight? It's not good to fight among comrades."

The moment the owner of that voice was recognized, tension spread through everyone.

"Noelle Stollen!? Why are you here!?"

Noelle, who was supposed to have left the Imperial Capital a week ago, stood calmly in front of Kōga and the others. More than that, she sat down opposite Raio without fear.

For a moment, her eyes went to the bamboo toy the member was holding, but she quickly looked forward. The exchange of glances between Noelle and Raio. Raio, though shaken, maintained his dignity as underboss and spoke.

"Why are you here? Didn't you leave the Imperial Capital?"

"I did, as promised. Just for a week. I refreshed myself on vacation."

"Vacation? …Do you know what you're doing?"

The agitated Raio was met with a calm smile from Noelle.

"You should calm down. I'm not here to start anything. I just came to deliver a souvenir from my vacation."

Noelle took out an old piece of parchment from her pocket, unfolded it carefully, and placed it on the table for Raio to see.

"This parchment is the souvenir? What does it… What…!?"

Raio, reading the paper, opened his eyes in shock.

"What is it? What's written on it?"

Curious about Raio's reaction, the members gathered around the table. Kōga was no exception. Raio, however, panicked.

"F-Fools! Don't look at it! Go away!"

But it was too late.

"No way…"

"Seriously…?"

"…Have we been deceived all this time?"

"This is a joke, right…?"

The members spoke in unison, expressing shock, disappointment, and anger. Even Kōga, who was not an official member, could understand their feelings.

This paper—what was written on it—was a bomb. A real bomb. Noelle had brought a bomb to the scene.

"I see you like it."

"You, you must be prepared for this, right?"

"You're off the mark, underboss. Before you try to intimidate me, there's something you need to do."

Noelle indicated with her chin the faces of the members who looked ready to speak.

"Underboss, did you know about this?"

The one who spoke was the member who had tearfully appealed about the current situation.

"…No, I just found out myself."

"Is that so? I believe the underboss's words. But this fact can't be ignored. It's too much."

"Wait! Don't be swayed by the situation! Think about it!"

"There's nothing to think about! The boss is the illegitimate child of the previous boss, right? But why is there another father's name on this birth certificate!?"

The bomb Noelle brought was Albert's birth certificate. A document that all imperial citizens are required to submit for household registration, which is strictly managed. Somehow, she had obtained the original.

Normally, if it's an illegitimate child, the father's name is left blank. But on Albert's birth certificate, a father's name was clearly written. Moreover, it was the name of a completely different man, not the previous boss. In other words, Albert was a child born from a formally married couple.

It didn't look like a forged document. Even if it was, it was the truth. The members understood this. Kōga, who had only heard stories about the previous boss, knew that Albert didn't resemble him at all.

The suspicion everyone had harbored in their hearts. The paper that revealed it was more of a detonator than a bomb, perhaps.

"The previous boss was a man who lived by honor and emotion, known as a righteous thief."

Noelle began to speak calmly.

"But he had a bad habit with women. He had lovers everywhere and had sexual relations with all of them. Albert's mother was one of them. She later married another man and gave birth to Albert, but her husband's business failed, and the family environment deteriorated. Moreover, the husband was violent towards the young Albert. The mother, coming up with a plan, turned to her former lover, the previous boss."

"You can't be serious…"

"That's exactly it. The mother told the previous boss, 'This child is yours. Please help me.'"

"Did the previous boss believe her?"

"No, he didn't. Because the previous boss was infertile."

The new truth Noelle revealed froze the atmosphere.

"Yes, the previous boss couldn't have children. But the man who lived by honor and emotion listened to the mother's plea. Perhaps he just wanted a successor, but I can't be sure. Anyway, the young Albert was entrusted to a trusted acquaintance of the previous boss. The mother, when she returned to her home to retrieve her belongings, was murdered by her husband in a murder-suicide attempt."

"Why do you know so much? You didn't know the previous boss, did you?"

One of the members asked a natural question.

"There are excellent information brokers in the Imperial Capital. I asked one of them. Of course, I also visited the area to verify the information with people who knew what happened back then. So, it's all true."

"So, the boss and the previous boss have no blood relation, right…?"

"So what?"

Raio, who had been listening silently, spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.

"Even without blood relation, if both parties recognize it, they are parent and child. The previous boss recognized the boss as his successor on his deathbed. So, there's nothing more needed."

That was true. But the fact that blood ties are an important bond for people is also true. The reason Albert was recognized as the boss was because the members believed he was the previous boss's blood-related son.

Now that they knew it was a lie, the members' hearts were greatly shaken.

"You say that, but it's hard to swear loyalty as before, isn't it?"

"It's not your decision. Is that all you have to say?"

Raio stood up and cracked his knuckles. He was going to kill Noelle. Kōga instinctively reached for the sword at his waist.

"You're right. It's not my decision. It's up to you members. I have a way to help you make that decision."

"…Help?"

Clever. With the information revealed in this order, even Raio, who wanted to kill Noelle, had no choice but to listen. Kōga realized they were being skillfully manipulated by words.

"My proposal is this—"

Raio, who heard the proposal, retracted his killing intent and laughed with interest.

"Indeed, it's a good plan. But do you think I'll go along with it?"

"You will. Because—"

Noelle stood up and whispered in Raio's ear. Instantly, Raio's face contorted. It was the moment Raio fell.

†

†

Now, the Gambino Family members no longer listen to Albert's orders. Those who are devoted to Raio do so out of loyalty, while those who are on Albert's side do so out of fear of Raio.

Raio, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke.

"I have two questions for the boss."

"…What?"

"First, you are not the biological child of the previous boss, right?"

"Wh-What are you saying—"

"Second, 'the one who poisoned the previous boss to make him die of illness' is you, right?"

"B-B-B-Bullshit!? What are you talking about!?"

Albert didn't answer anything properly, but his panic made it clear to Kōga, who was watching from the side, that everything was true.

"I see… So, it was true…"

Raio sighed deeply and his expression became stern.

"Albert, we can no longer follow you."

"What!? What do you mean!?"

"You have no honor or emotion. It's impossible to support such a man."

"Don't be ridiculous!! The previous boss designated me as his successor!!"

"Are you saying that as the one who killed him? You're truly a man beyond saving… But you do have a point. So, I'll give you a chance to show your worth."

Raio pointed at Noelle and her gang.

"Fight them. If you win, I'll recognize you as the official boss of the Gambino Family."

"A-A fight!?"

"Of course, I won't ask you, who are not a combat class, to fight. You can appoint a proxy. Choose anyone you like. They will fight to the death on your behalf."

This was the 'help' Noelle proposed. By becoming the one-on-one opponent, she was giving Albert a chance to show his worth.

For Noelle, it was just a plan to eliminate the obstructive army and target Albert alone. But for the Gambino Family members, it was indeed a good opportunity to gauge Albert's worth. With the truth about the previous boss's death revealed to Raio, there was no reason to refuse.

Everything was in Noelle's palm.

"Who would do such a thing!! I am Albert Gambino!! I don't need to listen to what you say!!"

The stubborn Albert barked desperately, but his eyes betrayed a hint of resignation. No matter how much he shouted, it wouldn't change anything. Even a child would understand that.

"Come on, make up your mind. As a fellow direct subordinate, it's really embarrassing."

A suspicious, exasperated voice. Looking in the direction of the voice, a man in flashy purple clothes stood with several burly men.

"Y-You must be… Finochio Balzini?"