Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

As if he understood what the girl wanted to express, Kujo looked at her helplessly.

"Didn't you hug me just now?"

Hearing this, Ruoye Mu shook his head.

Then, in a whisper-like tone, without any inflection, she spoke clearly and word by word:

"That's hers."

"I also want."

It was Mortis's hug.

And this is a hug that belongs to Wakaba Mu himself.

Kujo Renji looked at the girl's eyes and her stubborn posture of opening her arms, feeling a little amused.

He knew that perhaps for Ruoye Mu, this physical contact, this "hug", was her way of confirming her existence and confirming her connection with the world.

The fact that she could make such a clear distinction at this moment further showed that she hoped that this hug belonged to "Wakaba Mu" rather than Mortis.

Without further hesitation, he took a step forward and embraced the small figure in his arms again.

"snort."

Miss Toyokawa let out an ambiguous snort, as if she was mocking Kujo Renji for being "asked for", but also seemed a little...subtly awkward.

..

The so-called personality problem.

To be honest, there was almost nothing Kujo Renji could do about it.

For him, without understanding the specific situation, making up some profound-sounding dark psychology theories or conducting some specious profiling analyses is already the limit of his ability.

After all, he is not a professional psychologist. What's more, the "symptoms" displayed by Ye Mu are obviously far beyond the scope of ordinary psychological problems and appear to be particularly "unusual".

He even secretly speculated that this so-called 'split personality' might not be a mental illness in the traditional sense, but more like some kind of... 'superpower' similar to what Chihaya Aine might have?

Regarding these supernatural phenomena that appear one after another around him, Kujo Renji's mentality has long since changed from initial disbelief to the current almost numb commonplace.

As for the mysterious "personality" mentioned by Mortis, which required Mu to personally enter the consciousness space to "correct", Kujo Renji actually tried to ask Wakaba Mu himself about the specific situation.

He asked her indirectly whether the personality that needed to be "corrected" would cause her trouble or whether she needed his help.

However, Wakaba Mu's reaction was quite indifferent.

She just tilted her head, looked at him with her clear eyes, and then shook her head gently, indicating that she was "not troubled" and "did not need help".

There was no sense of nervousness or embarrassment in her expression and tone, as if it was just a trivial matter in daily life, as natural as tidying up the room or watering the cucumbers on the balcony.

Since the person involved acted so calmly, although Kujo Renji still had doubts in his heart, he could only suppress these worries for the time being.

It seems that, at least for now, this so-called "correction" may not really be an imminent event?

As he thought about this, his attention gradually shifted from Mu's complicated inner world back to the real affairs at hand.

After all, Ave Mujica's performance, the undercurrents in the Toyokawa family, and other things that need his attention are piling up.

For example, two minutes ago, Yamamoto Ryuichi called him and expressed his sincere hope to meet with "Ms. Toyokawa" to discuss important matters.

Kujo Renji thought about it for a moment and agreed.

The night falls and the lanterns come on.

Tokyo is a city that never stops, and the bizarre neon lights dye the sky into psychedelic colors.

Ryuichi Yamamoto himself drove a black car that was not flashy but had smooth lines and was expensive, and stopped in front of a building that had a low-key appearance but was quite famous in the underground music circle.

"BLACK HOLE" is a live house and club that Takashi Yamamoto personally prefers among his own properties.

Kujo Renji sat in the passenger seat, his eyes calmly scanning the window.

He could feel the subtle tension in Yamamoto Ryuichi, which he tried to hide but could not completely conceal.

From the moment he received the other party's carefully worded and highly flattering phone call about making an appointment, he knew that the other party wanted something from him during this meeting.

"Ms. Toyokawa, this way please."

As soon as Yamamoto Takashi got out of the car, he quickly walked over and opened the door for him. He was very humble and had a warm but slightly stiff smile on his face.

Kujo Renji nodded slightly and gracefully stepped out of the car. The evening breeze blew his long, smooth hair, and the air was filled with the unique scent of city nights, a mixture of exhaust fumes and perfume.

Ryuichi Yamamoto personally led the way. Instead of going through the noisy main entrance, he went through a hidden side door and followed the thickly carpeted, dimly lit internal passage to the VIP room at the deepest part of the club with the best soundproofing.

The door of the private room is made of thick solid wood without any extra decoration, except for an inconspicuous electronic lock in the corner.

Yamamoto Ryuichi skillfully verified the fingerprint, and the door slid open silently, revealing the scene inside.

The room is spacious and luxurious, yet has a cold and hard style.

Dark leather sofas surround a shiny obsidian low table, and the walls seem to be made of special sound-absorbing materials, completely isolating the noise from the outside world.

There is a small bar in the corner, which displays a variety of top-notch drinks.

The air was filled with the faint smell of cigars and high-quality leather, mixed with a subtle hint of disinfectant.

"Ms. Toyokawa, please take a seat."

Yamamoto Ryuichi made a "please" gesture and personally pulled out a single sofa facing the door with the best view for Kujo Renji:

"What would you like to drink? The bartender here was specially invited from Ginza, and his skills are very good. Of course, if you want to drink something else, we have whiskey, sake, or non-alcoholic specials ready."

"Ice water is fine."

"Ms. Toyokawa, please."

While waiting for Kujo Renji to drink water, Yamamoto Ryuichi also poured himself a glass of iced whiskey, but just held it in his hand and did not drink it immediately.

He cleared his throat, and the words he had been brewing for a long time came out like a tide.

"Ms. Toyokawa, you are truly...young and promising!"

Yamamoto's opening remarks were filled with wonder, his tone almost exaggeratedly sincere:

"Ave Mujica... they're a phenomenal band right now! My entertainment industry people keep reporting to me every day that the hottest topic in Tokyo right now, besides the weather, is Ave Mujica!"

He leaned forward slightly:

"I didn't get a ticket for the Tokyo show—it was so hot! But I watched the online recordings and the critics' analysis... Oh my god, that musicality, that stage presence, and that unique sense of mystery... It's pure genius! Absolutely genius!"

Jiujo Liansi held the water cup, gently stroking the cold cup wall with his fingertips. He didn't say anything, but listened quietly with a faint smile on his lips.

He knew this was just a prelude.

Seeing this, Yamamoto Ryuichi was even more encouraged and continued to talk:

"Ave Mujica's songs are firmly at the top of every major music chart right now! Social media buzz is exploding! Young people are practically selling out all the prop stores trying to imitate your makeup and masks! And you know those scalped tickets? They're said to be selling for seven or eight times the original price! This is no ordinary success, Ms. Toyokawa, you've created a phenomenal band."

He paused and took a sip of whiskey, as if to moisten his dry throat.

"I've spoken to many people in the industry, and they all say they've never seen a new band achieve such fanfare, and without even showing their faces! There must be incredibly clever planning and execution behind this! Ms. Toyokawa, your talent in both business and art is simply beyond the reach of others!"

Praise poured out of Yamamoto Ryuichi like free water. He attributed Ave Mujica's musical philosophy, marketing strategy, fan base, and everything else to the teenage girl in front of him.

Kujo Renji laughed secretly in his heart.

Yamamoto Ryuichi obviously linked the success of Ave Mujica to the big fuss caused by Seiichiro Kimura before, and the earlier incident of Shunya Ishikawa using Vortex resources.

But this is also what he hopes the other party can see.

"Mr. Yamamoto, you're too kind."

Finally, when Yamamoto Ryuichi's praise came to a halt, Kujo Renji spoke:

"The success of the band is the result of the joint efforts of all members. I just did what I should do."

Yamamoto Ryuichi sat up a little straighter, knowing that the groundwork had been laid enough and it was time to get to the point.

The smile on his face faded a little, and he placed the whiskey glass in his hand on the low table, making a slight clinking sound.

"Ms. Toyokawa..."

Yamamoto Ryuichi's voice lowered, with a tentative and cautious tone:

"Actually, I took the liberty of inviting you here today not only to express my admiration for you and Ave Mujica, but also because of... ahem, a personal matter. I'd like to ask you for advice, or rather, seek some... guidance."

Kujo Renji raised his eyebrows, said nothing, and just signaled him to continue with his eyes.

Yamamoto Ryuichi took a deep breath, as if to encourage himself. He was extremely nervous at the moment.

He knew clearly how important and risky his next words were.

Ever since he tentatively mentioned Vortex to Toyokawa Shoko last time, and later witnessed what happened at Star Entertainment, a guess had emerged in his mind.

This eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family has probably already established connections with some high-ranking members of the Canglong Society that are far beyond the imagination of outsiders.

And now, he needs this kind of "weight".

"Ms. Fengchuan, you are so smart, I'm sure you have heard a little bit about our circle... well, some of the situations here."

Yamamoto Ryuichi carefully chose his words, avoiding overly sensitive ones:

"Lately... things haven't been peaceful within the organization."

"Oh?"

Kujo Renji uttered a short syllable.

Yamamoto Ryuichi's heart tightened, and he continued:

"My father... Yamamoto Shinji, as you know, currently serves as Wakashiro. This position may seem prestigious, but in reality... it's like sitting on the edge of a volcano."

He smiled bitterly, with a hint of helplessness and fatigue:

"The organization has long been plagued by factions. There are the old guard, clinging to tradition, and the younger generation, championing innovation and actively striving to transform into a 'modern enterprise.' There are those with influence in the east and those with roots in the west... These factions constantly fight over territory, profit, and power, openly and covertly."

"And recently, this struggle seems to be intensifying."

Yamamoto Ryuichi lowered his voice even more:

"Some people... have long coveted my father's position and the power of our family. They've begun to engage in subtle actions behind the scenes, spreading rumors, sowing discord, and even... attempting to disrupt our business and cause trouble."

He did not specify who the "some people" were, nor did he describe the specific content of the "small actions".

The power struggle within the Yamaguchi-gumi is never about treating people to a meal; the slightest misstep can lead to irreparable consequences. As the second son of a wakashira, Yamamoto Ryuichi is well aware of the danger his family faces.

"My father is a relatively... conservative person. He hopes to maintain the stability of the organization and is unwilling to escalate the situation."

Yamamoto Ryuichi's tone was filled with a subtle anxiety:

"But those ambitious individuals saw some weakness in his character, or perhaps his tendency to consider the greater good, as an opportunity to exploit."

"I'm worried...if this situation continues..."

He didn't finish his words, but the implication was clear. At best, the family would lose power, and at worst... the consequences would be unimaginable.

After saying this, Yamamoto Ryuichi stopped talking, picked up the almost untouched glass of whiskey, took a big gulp, his Adam's apple rolled, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions - worry about the future, resentment about his own powerlessness, but more of it, a desperate expectation.

He waited nervously for the verdict. A suffocating silence fell over the private room, the only sounds being the faint hum of the air conditioning system and Yamamoto Ryuichi's own heavy breathing.

Kujo Renji listened quietly to Yamamoto Ryuichi's half-concealed but informative statement, his face still expressionless, but a hint of amusement flashed in the depths of his amber eyes.

Infighting within the Yamaguchi-gumi? Factional strife? A crisis for the Wakabashi position?

This is really...giving you a pillow when you feel sleepy.

He subconsciously stretched out his fingers and gently stroked his chin. This was a habitual little gesture belonging to "Kujo Renji" rather than "Toyokawa Shoko", but Yamamoto Ryuichi did not notice it at the moment.

Fishing in troubled waters...this is indeed a good opportunity.

Although Yamamoto Ryuichi comes from the yakuza, he is relatively cautious in his style of doing things. He knows how to judge the situation and is smart enough to know what he can touch and what he cannot touch.

Judging from his previous and this time proactive approach, he is a partner who can be utilized and is relatively "safe".

If they could take advantage of this internal strife within the Yamaguchi-gumi to push Ryuichi Yamamoto forward, or at least make his father Shinji Yamamoto's position more stable, then it would be like planting an extremely useful chess piece within the huge Yamaguchi-gumi organization.

In the future, whether it is business expansion, intelligence gathering, or dealing with some "troubles" that are inconvenient to deal with in person, it will be much more convenient.

Although the Soryukai and the Yamaguchi-gumi are both yakuza organizations, there is both competition and potential for cooperation between them. Placing one of their own people within the organization is of great strategic significance.

What's more, Yamamoto Ryuichi now takes the initiative to come to me and "ask for help", which is a big favor.

With a plan in mind, Kujo Renji put on a perfectly balanced expression of surprise and concern, and said:

"Mr. Yamamoto, you're too polite. You must be joking. I'm honored that you thought of me when you're in trouble. Since we're friends, I'll certainly help you to the best of my ability."