Chapter 45: Phase Two - The Strangling

[Bokumuchi-kai Yakuza's POV]

The Bokumuchi-kai compound is not silent. It is 10 PM, and the Golden Dragon room is full, brimming with pressure and rage. Ryouji Katsumi is at the head, his eyes closed. He is perfectly still, the eye of the storm.

His Region Leaders are not still.

Jiro, the "Entertainment" boss, is sweating. The "Finance" boss is pale. But it is the "Logistics" boss, a heavy, powerful man named Tanaka (not the tailor), who is on the verge of a heart attack.

"Kaichou," Tanaka says, his voice a hoarse whisper, "it is a disaster. A total, systemic failure."

Ryouji opens his eyes. "Explain."

"The port," Tanaka says, his voice shaking. "Two of our primary containers. Inspected. By the police."

Kenichi, kneeling by the door, speaks. "An anonymous tip. From a concerned citizen."

"It is worse," Tanaka says, his voice choking. "The Hitsune-kai... they did not attack our routes. They under-bid us. They just stole our biggest contract. Global Pacific Logistics. They offered a rate we cannot match! It is suicide!"

The room is silent. This is Phase Two. The Hitsune-kai are not at the gates; they are in the foundation. They are not brawling. They are not fighting. They are strangling the Bokumuchi-kai. They are using police, corporate contracts, and data.

"This," the Finance boss whispers, "is not war. This is business."

Ryouji Katsumi is silent for a long, long time. He is analyzing. He is the dragon.

"They are not rats," he finally says, his voice a low rumble. "They are foxes."

He looks at his men. "They are new. We are old. They are fluid. We are rock."

"Kaichou," Jiro says, "what are your orders?"

"Our old ways are inefficient," Ryouji says, and his voice is full of a new realization. "This is a new game."

He looks at Kenichi. "Kenichi."

"Kaichou."

"My daughter understands this. This new world. This data. She warned me that my systems were obsolete."

He stands up, and the pressure in the room becomes immense.

"This is no longer a test," Ryouji booms, his voice the sound of a mountain. "This is war. A new war. Prepare the families. We will correct this new problem. We will liquidate their assets."

"And, Kenichi..."

"Yes, Kaichou?"

"Get me everything on Global Pacific Logistics. And tell my daughter her training is over. It is time for her to go to work."

The Bokumuchi-kai is mobilizing. Not for a brawl. For a corporate war. And Ayako is now the CEO.