I suddenly became a yakuza boss.

The middle-aged Kansai tourist, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, appeared strong and powerful, with a physique and face like Lu Bu, appeared in front of her for the third time.

"Mr. Countryman?"

Yumiko Miura paused slightly before offering her greeting.

Ryuji Goda, dressed in a simple kimono as if he had just finished attending a temple fair, with wooden clogs on his feet, glanced at Yumiko Miura with a calm expression and asked, "What a coincidence, it looks like you just got out of school?"

Yumiko Miura gave a slight bow and politely asked, "Yes, I'm heading home. Mr. Goda, how was your trip? Did you enjoy your recent visit to Chiba, based on my recommendations?"

Ryuji Goda stood by the roadside, looking at the sky, and said, "Ah, not bad, these are all popular tourist attractions."

Yumiko Miura smiled and said, "That's good. I was worried that it wouldn't be appropriate for someone your age to go on a trip like that."

Ryuji Goda paused for a moment and said, "I'm also thirty years old, not an old man. Don't think of me as so old-fashioned."

Upon hearing this, Miura Yumiko smiled somewhat awkwardly. She felt that Ryuji Goda looked to be over forty years old, and she really didn't know if this Kansai-san was just trying to appear young in front of a young high school girl.

However, she knew something about this somewhat frightening-looking Kansai man: he wasn't a womanizer, he was methodical and meticulous, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe this bold and arrogant Kansai man as clumsy.

Ryuji Goda stood by the roadside with his arms crossed and said to Miura, "I've been exploring Chiba these past few days. At first, I thought that people in Tokyo and Chiba were only good at business and politics, and that they didn't have anything I admired. But after a few days, I've found that people in Chiba aren't so bad after all."

Yumiko Miura looked speechless, hesitated for a moment before shaking her head helplessly and asking, "So, according to the plan, have you found the person you're supposed to challenge?"

Ryuji Goda gave a smug smile and said, "Not yet, but we should be able to find him tonight."

Those ambitious eyes seemed to hold an endless pursuit of honor. This middle-aged man from Kansai, who came to defeat a legendary figure and obtain the highest honor, exuded an aura of supreme dominance in the evening breeze. At first, Miura Yumiko did not believe that there were still samurai obsessed with challenging other samurai in this era. However, after witnessing him easily defeat seven or eight people by himself, she had no choice but to believe it.

Yumiko Miura politely said, "Then I wish Mr. Gota all the best."

Ryuji Goda remained silent for a moment, looking at the high school girl who was more than ten years younger than him.

The girl, who had no idea of ​​his terror, gave him an innocent smile.

It was truly amazing; from the time he could remember until now, this was the first time he had ever met a woman with whom he could communicate without any obstacles.

Women are nothing more than weak, emotional, and unambitious creatures.

However, this girl is indeed a bit special.

Of course, he didn't like this girl; at least the age gap was too big, and he wasn't the kind of man who craved that kind of thing.

He also knew that this girl must have fallen for someone.

However, this feeling is too new...

Ryuji Goda didn't want anything more to be added to the situation, but before nightfall, he couldn't help himself and went to the girl again, alone.

Ryuji Goda asked, "Before I leave, I want to ask you something."

Yumiko Miura was taken aback and asked, "What is it?"

Ryuji Goda asked, "You should know that I look scary. Other people run away when they see me. Why are you so calm and chatting with me? Aren't you scared, little girl?"

Yumiko Miura blinked, realizing that this Mr. Kansai actually knew this, and then chuckled.

Her smile is truly beautiful.

With a smile, Miura Yumiko explained, "Mr. Gota, you are indeed a bit scary. However, I was once injured in the woods and was also saved by a person with a scary look in his eyes. I don't know that person well, but I heard from others that his profession might be a violent group. He is a person with a scary identity and scary eyes, but he did the things that only a good person would do. So I think that many things cannot be judged as good or bad people based on superficial understanding."

Ryuji Goda paused for a moment, then asked, "What's that person's name?"

Yumiko Miura smiled faintly and said, "I remember it was Nitta, right? Nitta Gen."

The image of the "War Demon" flashed through Ryuji Goda's mind.

Ryuji Goda smiled and said, "I see."

Yumiko Miura asked in confusion, "Do you know Mr. Goda?"

Ryuji Goda replied, "I suppose we know each other. I've heard of him before; he's a very strong man."

Yumiko Miura looked at Ryuji Goda with curiosity, feeling that this martial arts fanatic from Kansai seemed to have also included that young man in sunglasses in his list of martial arts dojos to challenge.

Ryuji Goda asked her, "Little girl, now that you know this principle, do you think I'm a good person or a bad person?"

Yumiko Miura paused, feeling ashamed to answer the question.

Putting everything else aside, Ryuji Goda is neither a good person nor a bad person.

He seemed to be a neutral being, not bound by the distinction between good and bad.

However, to this day, his every word and action, as well as his valiant fight to protect her during the rescue, remain unforgettable.

From an individual's perspective, this leads to a distinction between good and bad.

After thinking for a while, Miura Yumiko replied earnestly and somewhat reservedly, "Mr. Kansai, I don't know if making any unwarranted comments about you will offend you, but... I'll assume you're a good person, at least to me, you're a good person with principles."

Ryuji Goda is a ruthless killer; he can't even remember how many rival gang members he's killed. Yet, for the first time, he's been called a good person by someone else.

It's ridiculous.

Ryuji Goda wondered what kind of question he had asked.

At that moment, the bus arrived at the station.

"Hmph, with your way of thinking, you'll easily get taken advantage of. Remember, little girl, no matter which side you're on, there will always be more people with malicious intent. You just happened to be lucky. I advise you to give up such naive ideas and protect yourself properly."

Ryuji Goda smiled, turned and left in another direction, waving goodbye and saying, "You should go home early too, and don't run into any more bad people."

Ryuji Goda's departing figure appeared quite imposing and expressive against the backdrop of the sunset.

Miura Yumiko unintentionally came into contact with this Kansai man who had traveled all the way to Chiba.

She couldn't tell if he was a good person, but beneath his intimidating exterior lay a unique charm in his aloof personality—a philosophy that differed from both good and bad people. It was this philosophy that made Miura Yumiko feel that communicating with him wasn't dangerous...

※※※※

Earlier, a day earlier.

While managing the streets, Li Xuan overheard some unexpected news about someone.

After the Kansai gang was wiped out by the Majima group, the remaining members were constantly hunted down by the gangs they hated.

Someone else also found himself in a desperate situation and fled to the Chiba area, where he lived in anonymity.

At a time when manpower is urgently needed, Li Xuan's attention was quickly drawn to that person.

Finally, that afternoon, Li Xuan asked the young master, Bachang, to invite him to join the Ashikawa Group.

As a result, Kiyoshi Baba called to inform him that the person had declined the invitation.

Left with no other choice, Li Xuan had to bite the bullet and go to invite them himself. Normally, only the group leader and the young master could make such an invitation, and as a cadre, he had no right to persuade other gang cadres to surrender. However, these were special times, and he was only authorized to carry out the task.

Li Xuan only recognized one person and came to the mountains and forests on the outskirts of Chiba to meet this old acquaintance based on intelligence clues.

Deep in the forest, a dilapidated shack built of corrugated iron stands like a place for homeless people to live.

There was a lot of waste piled up outside the door. It looked like more than a month had passed. The person had become disheartened and really just wanted to end everything. He was prepared to spend the rest of his life on the run.

Li Xuan knocked on the door.

Inside the pitch-black room, a figure peered out through a crack.

"It's been a while, Centurion."

Li Xuan sensed that someone was inside the room. He put his hands in his pockets and greeted them.

"..."

“No need to hide anymore. You know how loan sharks can quickly tell if someone is inside a house. I’m more professional at this than NHK’s toll collectors.”

"War Demon, how did you know I was here?"

"Chiba is the territory operated by our Ashikawa Group. If you, an outsider, try to hide there, we'll find you very quickly."

"..."

“Open the door, Centurion, I want to invite you to join us.”

The person Li Xuan invited was none other than Nagano, the centurion of the Kansai Alliance, with whom he had fought twice before.

Finally, the door opened.

Unexpectedly, former mortal enemies have developed the deepest "friendship" at this moment.

In the study of interpersonal relationships, among the four types of relationships—friends, acquaintances, adversaries, and strangers—the most hostile relationship is actually considered more advanced than that of a stranger. Although many people do not understand the reason behind this, it now appears to be true.

In the woods, Nagano, covered in dirt and looking haggard, stood at the door.

"Long time no see, War Demon..."

Nagano looked at him and said.

"It's been a month, Nagano. I don't like to talk about abstract principles that you can't see or touch. I'm here to invite you to join my team."

Li Xuan got straight to the point and extended the invitation directly.

Nagano stared at him and asked, "I have already given your answer to your young master. You should understand what that means, right?"

Leaves fell, and soft sunlight streamed through the trees. Li Xuan paused for a moment, then said, "I know. That's why I'm inviting you in my personal capacity."

"...in a personal capacity?"

Nagano did not understand Li Xuan's meaning.

Li Xuan's focused and serious gaze was faintly visible behind his sunglasses as he said, "I'm going to face off against Ryuji Gota of the Omi Alliance in a day. I desperately need manpower, and I unexpectedly heard that you returned to Chiba after your gang was destroyed. Nagano, why did you choose Chiba as your place of escape? It's a matter of life and death, and I think you must have thought about it carefully."

"..."

Nagano remained silent, his tired face finally showing a hint of sadness.

"Both of our encounters took place in Chiba. Thanks to these two battles, I finally found my first truly respectable opponent. We also got to know each other inside and out. The reason you fled to Chiba is because you witnessed me as a key member, and you also witnessed the Ashikawa Group. The Ashikawa Group is certainly not a benevolent organization; benevolence is probably completely incompatible with the yakuza. But every gang in every region has its own characteristics. We have principles, and we have traditions too. Trust me, join me, and I can promise you that you can do things with integrity. You won't need to do things you don't want to do anymore, you won't need to kidnap women anymore, and you will never have to compromise your dignity again."

Li Xuan made a promise to Nagano.

Nagano remained silent, his colorless eyes turning to Li Xuan once more.

"War Ghost, your organization is most likely doomed too."

Centurion Nagano said, "The Omi Alliance is a gang we can't afford to mess with. You actually chose to go to war with these monsters. It's a pity. The Ashikawa Group is no match for them. Your fate will be even worse than ours."

The wind rustled through the trees.

Li Xuan smiled slightly as the storm was brewing.

"Once the battle begins, no one can predict the outcome."

Li Xuan said with a smile, "Even if we really lose, I want to fall on the battlefield. I have never given in."