Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

"If we are expelled by the Dongwen Society, people from Kowloon or the Guandong United should come to our door soon, demanding our submission and payment of our profits."

"If they don't agree, they'll probably resort to force, and we can't possibly fight them."

"Lord Jue has been very kind to us, only requiring us to hand over 20% of the profits. But the people from Kowloon or the Kwantung Alliance probably won't be so merciful; they'll likely take at least half."

"The wool comes from the sheep's back - Lord Uesugi, as you know, although our Flower Moon Group does some sex business, it is based on mutual consent. We do not force people into prostitution. We have the confidence to do so because Lord Jue treats us kindly, so we have extra money and will not do those unscrupulous things."

“But if this place is controlled by another gang, and if we don’t reach the amount of money they demand each month, we’ll suffer. Our men won’t be doing well, and the prostitutes in the shop will also be miserable!”

"This empire might just fall into my hands!"

"Lord Uesugi, please put in a good word for us with the Chairman! Our Kagetsu Group has no ulterior motives towards the Tobun-kai!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi waved his hand, signaling Kazuki Kyo to shut up, and then spoke to the somewhat bewildered Higashifumi Maki.

"Is this the outcome you want to see?"

"Your father was truly farsighted, leaving you with a number of clean-cut groups, the Flower Moon Group being one of them. But what I didn't expect was that many of those potentially useful groups were on your purge list."

“Maki, where there is light, there is shadow. In this world, there are some things that someone has to do.”

“If you don’t do it, someone else will. The king and queen may change in the city of Hanatsuki, but the business inside will remain the same.”

"You ignore everything here and only care about yourself. Have you thought about how the people here will feel?"

"Not to mention that those members of the underworld will lose their protection, their jobs, and their source of income."

"Many of the women working in brothels are forced into this situation by various reasons, having accumulated huge debts."

“If you make them do odd jobs, they will never be able to pay off their debts in their entire lives. They will only die in poverty and destitution, living a life worse than a dog.”

"I've seen this kind of thing many times."

Uesugi Kiyoshi let out a long sigh, his voice becoming more serious.

“Maki, you are now the head of the association. Countless people under you depend on you for their livelihood. Your every word and action is related to the vital interests, lives and fortunes of many people.”

"Therefore, you must carefully consider and think things through before making a decision."

"Some things, once done, cannot be undone."

"Like here, if you give up the Flower Moon Group, this place will be taken over by other yakuza groups, and even darker things will happen. Those prostitutes will be exploited and used as tools to make money. Is that what you want to see?"

Who will bear this responsibility?

“You are the president of the Dongwen Association, but Dongwen is not just your Dongwen.”

"Think about it."

Maki Azuma understood what Kiyoshi Uesugi meant and nodded with a complicated expression.

"I understand, sir. I was too hasty. I will go back and reflect on my actions."

"but."

Maki Azuma suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed intently on Kiyoshi Uesugi, a strange light gleaming in her eyes.

"Sir, you know so much!"

"How do you know, sir, that the girls in those brothels were forced into this situation by various reasons, accumulating huge debts?"

"Why would you come to a place like this?"

"Hmm, Miss Kyoko will be sad if she finds out about this."

This time, it was Uesugi Kiyoshi's turn to be dumbfounded.

He was speechless, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

Is this the key point?

Chapter 153 The fish takes the bait

Around 5 p.m., it was completely dark. The rain had lessened a bit, but showed no signs of stopping.

In a not-so-bustling izakaya in Arakawa Ward, Uesugi Kiyoshi sat in a wheelchair in a booth by the window, with a steaming beef bowl in front of him, accompanied by golden-fried tempura, a small plate of gyoza, and a plate of pickles given to him by the kind-looking owner.

The middle-aged man, who was in his forties or fifties and also worked as a cook, looked at Uesugi Kiyoshi with pity, sympathy, and a hint of regret.

"What a fine young man, how did he become disabled?"

Even so, his girlfriend still stayed by his side and took care of him. It's really touching!

This is what Uesugi Kiyoshi read from his boss's eyes. He was too lazy to argue, and just sat there quietly, gazing absently at the rain outside the window.

Sitting opposite me is Maki Higashimoto, with a cup of ice cream in front of her.

This izakaya offers a truly diverse menu. I've seen izakayas that sell beer and soft drinks before, but it's quite rare to find one that sells ice cream.

In one afternoon, Uesugi Kiyoshi led Azuma Maki on a tour of the Kagetsu Group's territory, as well as the territories of several yakuza organizations affiliated with the Azuma Association. It was the first time that Miss Azuma had ever seen the living conditions of the Yakuza at the very bottom of society.

Some are pitiful, some are hateful.

They wandered from Minato Ward all the way to Arakawa Ward, traversing half of Tokyo. When it was time for dinner, Uesugi Kiyoshi suggested that they find a place to grab a bite to eat first.

His appetite has increased dramatically recently; in terms of being a glutton, he can almost rival Izumi Rin.

This little bit is just to whet his appetite; Xingzi at home has prepared a sumptuous dinner for him.

On a rainy day, business at the izakaya was so-so, with only a few scattered tables of customers. Two tables of young people stood out – they were dressed in a rather unconventional way, looking somewhat like delinquents, but they were definitely not legitimate gangsters.

Legitimate gangsters don't dress outlandishly; if the boss sees them, they'll get yelled at. Unless they're exceptionally strong and capable, they'll obediently wear a black suit and have a buzz cut, and that's it.

Uesugi Kiyoshi tasted the beef bowl in front of him and nodded secretly.

The taste was so-so, but the ingredients were good, and the meat quality was reliable. Compared to the price, it was a conscientious restaurant.

He looked up and saw Maki Azuma absentmindedly fiddling with the ice cream in front of her, and casually asked, "What are you thinking about? Maki, you seem a little distracted."

Maki Azuma was still reeling from what she had witnessed that afternoon. She had always believed that gangs were evil and should be abolished, and that the Azuma-kai should be reformed, brought into the open, and become a legitimate corporate entity.

But what she saw and heard today, and what Uesugi Kiyoshi said, touched her deeply.

She wasn't the only one; many people were caught in a situation they couldn't control.

As a leader, you must bear the responsibility for the lives and livelihoods of your subordinates.

These are all honest but unpleasant words of advice.

However, she didn't want Uesugi Kiyoshi to see her innocent side. She tilted her head and thought about it seriously, then revealed a rare, faint smile.

"I'm thinking about what happened between my husband and the girl at the brothel."

Uesugi Kiyoshi choked on a mouthful of food, nearly choking to death.

I just brushed it off in the afternoon, so this is never going to end, huh?

Women are strange creatures; sometimes they are very forgetful, and other times they are fixated on certain things.

He put down his spoon, his eyes filled with helplessness.

After wiping his mouth, Uesugi Kiyoshi sighed.

"Alright, I might as well tell you. It's not exactly a novel story."

"You know, I used to live in Arakawa, in a very cheap apartment with all sorts of people living there."

“Previously, my neighbor was a woman who worked in this industry.”

"He's from Kyushu, he came to Tokyo to seek his fortune because he was in debt. But the debt collectors wouldn't let him go. His father's company went bankrupt, leaving him with huge debts. His mother attempted suicide several times and is now in the hospital, where medical expenses are another burden. He also has a younger sister in middle school who has to support herself."

Uesugi Kiyoshi's expression was somewhat somber.

"How did a twenty-year-old girl manage to shoulder all this burden by giving up the opportunity to go to university?"

“During the day, I work several jobs, and at night I have to work as a hostess. After paying off my debts, there is hardly anything left. My family is struggling to make ends meet.”

"Her work in Kabukicho accounts for the majority of her income."

"If she loses her job at the brothel, what will happen to her and her family? Are they just supposed to starve to death?"

Uesugi Kiyoshi's question left Higashima Maki speechless.

After a long silence, she finally asked a question softly.

"and after?"

Uesugi Kiyoshi stroked the armrest of his wheelchair, his eyes filled with memories.

"Later? Later she moved away, and I don't know where she went."

"I admire her a lot, even though I don't even know her name. Unfortunately, I was a poor guy back then and couldn't help her with anything."

"About half a year ago, because of the nature of her work, some lowlifes in that apartment often groped her and verbally abused her. One day, they cornered the girl and their vulgar language intensified."

"That forced smile, that face full of grievance, I just couldn't bear to look at it."

“I did teach those thugs a lesson, and I hit them a little too hard, which probably scared her. But she still thanked me politely and gave me a gift—some cheap Japanese sweets. I appreciate the sentiment.”

"Later, perhaps fearing that those thugs would hold a grudge and cause her trouble, they moved away not long after."

Uesugi Kiyoshi turned his head and looked at Higashimaki Maki.

There are too many people like this.

“Maki, there are many people who have already done their best just to live in this world.”

"Therefore, they should no longer be regarded as prey by ghosts and gods, and could lose their lives at any time, simply because they were chosen as sacrifices—this is absurd."

"."

"Sorry, I lost my composure and went off-topic."

Dongwen Zhenxi pursed her lips, her delicate brows furrowed, and said in a low voice, "Sir, I can help her."

Uesugi Kiyoshi chuckled and shook his head.

"You can't help them all. There are countless people like this. The Dongwen Society isn't a charity; we're a gang."

"Alright, it's just some old news. I saw you were so curious, so I'll tell you. Let's eat. When you get back, think about what Dongwen should do next."

Uesugi Kiyoshi lowered his gaze and focused on the food in front of him.

Just then, a commotion broke out in the store.

Maki Azuma turned her head and saw that two tables of delinquents not far away seemed to be arguing.