I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 56 and 057: Just how degenerate will they become?

Edogawa Ward is located east of Tokyo, bordering Tokyo Bay to the south, and the Arakawa River, which originates from Mount Kobu and flows into the sea from north to south, to the west.

The sudden fog covered the southern part of Edogawa Ward. Even when driving along the Arakawa River, the white fog obscured the riverbanks, resulting in extremely poor visibility. Cars could only carefully turn on their fog lights and drive slowly in this dense fog to avoid accidents.

However, the patrol chief of Qingtian, driving a black sedan, did not turn on his headlights or taillights, completely disregarding road safety, and continued to follow the Suzuki car.

Inspector Aota originally belonged to the Fourth Division of the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, but with the reform of the Metropolitan Police Department this year, the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department were merged into the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division.

A serious accident occurred yesterday on the Arakawa Bridge when a van crashed through the guardrail and plunged into the Arakawa River. All five people on board drowned. The identities of the deceased were quickly determined, and they were all members of the Iijima family, a member of the Seiji Group, a designated yakuza group.

This matter was immediately reported to the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department.

Five people died in a traffic accident, which is no small matter. It also involved a yakuza group, so it became a bit sensitive. The Yakuza Countermeasures Division temporarily blocked the news and sent Inspector Aota to keep watch outside the Iijima family's residence to see if there was any unusual activity.

Surprisingly, they discovered that the head of the Iijima family had driven out early in the morning. Inspector Aota, feeling a little eager to try, reported the news to his superiors and then followed in his car.

Fortunately, Inspector Qingtian grew up on an island and ate fish all the time, so he had excellent eyesight and was able to spot the Suzuki's taillights in the fog without losing sight of it.

…………

Approaching sixty, Ai Hiroshi Iijima drove to a three-story building near the Kasai sewage treatment plant. This is the headquarters of the Seiji Group, located to the west of the Arakawa River. If you stand on the rooftop, you can even see Tokyo Bay.

Aihiro Iijima had gray hair and a half-white goatee. He was as thin as an old cormorant. Although his eyes were sharp, he could not hide the weariness between his brows.

"Once you're inside the Seiji Group headquarters, don't say anything out of line. I'll handle everything."

Aihiro Iijima glanced at the blond thug following behind, who was looking around curiously, and gave him a reminder.

Aihiro Iijima, who considers himself a true yakuza with a chivalrous spirit, looks down on scum like the blond-haired thug who betrayed his sister.

However, the Iijima family is just a small group of less than ten people. After sending out five people yesterday, there were not many left. To make matters worse, one of the older brothers twisted his back yesterday, so they had to send someone to take him to the hospital for care, leaving Iijima Aihiro without anyone to use at the moment.

This young, blond-haired thug surnamed Takasaki wasn't officially a member of the Iijima family, nor was he a real member of a yakuza group. His information wasn't registered with the authorities either; he was a complete stranger. So, perhaps he could be put to good use in the upcoming business dealings.

It was with this thought in mind that he brought the person over.

There was no one guarding the entrance to the Chengzhihui headquarters. I walked straight in and found only a young man at the front desk lazily yawning and playing a game on his phone.

"Too lax!"

Aihiro Iijima stared with his old eyes, looked around, and thought with some dissatisfaction that if an enemy or the Metropolitan Police Department were to launch an attack at this moment, they would be completely powerless to fight back.

Moreover, when he glanced at the screen of the young Ya Kuza's phone, he saw a scantily clad anime girl who was making all sorts of moans as she tapped her finger. The young Ya Kuza chuckled and muttered something about "wife".

Damn it, how badly is otaku culture corrupting us yakuza?!

Iijima Akihiro was deeply distressed by this, as he also had otaku-like employees like Yakuza who were not dedicated to their work and would even take leave for in-game events. It's said that the popularity of otaku culture has provided a place for socially marginalized young people, which is one of the reasons for Yakuza's lack of new talent.

"Ahem, is the team leader here?" Aihiro Iijima knocked on the front desk and asked.

"Oh, it's the old man from the Iijima family. The team leader is in his office on the third floor. He instructed you to go see him as soon as you arrive," the younger roommate replied, looking up before continuing to play on his phone.

Aihiro Iijima led a blond thug carrying a black bag up to the third floor.

He knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered. Inside was a young man in his early thirties, with his hair neatly combed, his lips cleanly shaved, and wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

"Team leader."

Although he was twenty years older than the group leader, the hierarchy in the yakuza was strict, and Aihiro Iijima could only bow his head and greet him first.

"Iijima, you're here. You're a little earlier than we agreed. Please have a seat."

The leader of the Seiji group glanced at the blond thug following behind Iijima Aihiro and casually asked, "Iijima, you're so old, why are you still mentoring newbies? Where's your right-hand man, Inokuchi?"

Thinking of Inokuchi and his subordinates who had been sent out yesterday and had disappeared without a trace, Iijima Aihiro's eyes showed a hint of doubt. He did not think that someone as fierce as Inokuchi Yoshio would fail. Considering the sudden torrential rain in Chichibu County, it was possible that they were delayed because of that.

But he couldn't tell the team leader about taking on private jobs, Aihiro Iijima said casually.

"He went out on something. This is Takasaki, a new face who isn't registered with the Metropolitan Police Department. I'd like him to get his supplies from the team leader from now on."

"We have plenty of goods, but what about the money?" The leader of the Chengzhi Group said bluntly and without any politeness.

Aihiro Iijima quickly gave the blond-haired thug a look, and the thug immediately put his backpack on the table.

The leader of the Chengzhi Group opened his backpack, took out a stack of banknotes, and immediately beamed with joy.

"There were rumors that the shipment you were given was seized by the police, but it seems that was false. As long as you have money, the goods are negotiable."

The leader of the Chengzhi Group put the money in the safe and locked it. Then he took out a palm-sized bag of white powder from the drawer and placed it on the table.

"This batch of goods is of very high purity. According to my market research, the poor people in Kita and Adachi wards simply can't afford it, so there's a market gap in Sumida ward. The price can't be higher than my suggested retail price, otherwise the other groups won't be able to do business, but the sales volume also has to meet the expectations, otherwise I'll take back the distribution rights of your Iijima family..."

Aihiro Iijima nodded repeatedly in agreement, but his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched involuntarily, and the veins bulged.

Money, money, money! All these yakuza groups know is how to make money!

What was the original purpose of forming a violent gang? It was for the lower-class brothers to protect each other and resist the government, with loyalty being the top priority.

The leader of the Seiji Group is clearly the head of a yakuza group, but he pretends to be a refined intellectual. I heard he is a graduate student in economics. His words and actions are nothing like those of a yakuza, but more like those of a salesman or businessman.

Just how depraved will these yakuza groups become?!

But what right does he have to judge others? Although Aihiro Iijima was involved in fighting, kidnapping, and murder when he was young, he considered himself a good man and would never get involved in this kind of business. But he was forced by circumstances!

Aihiro Iijima himself has also fallen into depravity, but even so, he cannot sell milk tea or do odd jobs like those destitute middle-aged and elderly Yakuza. This is his last bit of pride as a Yakuza.

The leader of the Seiji Group looked at the blond thug and encouraged him, "Our Seiji Group isn't like those old, struggling yakuza groups. We have plenty of money. Young man, you'd better work hard."

"Thank you for your guidance, team leader!"

The blond thug quickly put on a fawning smile, like a lapdog.

Just then, the three people inside the house suddenly heard a mournful cry coming from the lobby on the first floor:

"A monster! There's a monster!"

(End of this chapter)