Kanashi sat on the end of his hotel bed, his phone flipped open as he stared at the keypad nervously. He’d been given a rather nice hotel room by Akatora, one of the higher end rooms of the Karatino Casinos hotel. A place where those who wanted to gamble their vacation away could stay. Having been given an apartment sized room with two bedrooms, a bathroom, toilet, kitchen and living room he expected to share it with Kenji but was surprised to learn that Kenji was going to be staying in his own room.

  While not quite shabby the room Kenji was appointed was far from comparable to Kanashis, consisting of only a single room with twin sized bed and microwave with a lone toilet in the back it was clearly the cheapest opinion. The reason Kenji had been given such a room however wasn’t due to a grudge or any kind of ill will but rather so Kenji was closer to the infirmary.

  When Kanashi and Kenji were led to their respective rooms by Akatora it quickly became apparent that the basement which they’d met him in wasn't public knowledge. Hidden behind a closet door in one of the backrooms, the basement was a maze of decorated concrete walls. A den of Yakuza where they could do their business away from the eye of the law. And yet despite this hotels grand size it wasn’t even his main base, no that was the Grand [金福: Kinbuku] Casino in Shinkaju ward which spanned a staggering 300,000 square feet. Even just seeing a picture of it was enough to make Kanashis realize that the Karatino Casino was an ant by comparison. However even if it was just a medium sized casino it was apparently a major source of the Toumeikan revenue, in fact according to Akatora gambling in general was their most profitable business.

  Like most people, Kanashi had assumed that title would have been given to either drugs or sexwork. Seeing as the latter had been split into two separate businesses and any possession of the former was met with a swift and severe punishment it wasn’t too great a leap in logic to then assume that Gambling would be the crown wearer. But even then Gambling wasn’t as clean of a business either you see while the concept of Gambling itself isn’t illegal the act of doing it for money was.

  To get around this the Toumeikan and many other businesses found an ingenious legal loophole, if the action of gambling for money was illegal then you simply don’t do so with real money. While this might sound confusing it was actually quite a simple and clever scheme if set up correctly.

  When entering a casino a gambler would “cash in” their desired amount with real money and in turn be given “tokens.” They could then use the tokens to bid wagers or play games and once satisfied they could take their token to another business, even just the one next door the casino and trade their tokens in for prizes or sell them for real money. Of course this other business was also owned by the Casino and yet despite this being such a clear exploitation of the law that the government turned a blind eye to it. The reason being that gambling was just so profitable and with all that profit came a lot of taxes which the government gladly looked at.

  “But enough of that.” Kanashi muttered to himself, shaking his head. Looking at his phone he hesitated to use the keypad, his heart pounded and hands trembled. Pressing the “contacts” button he quickly scrolled down the list until he saw the name he was looking for. With a final deep breath he put the phone to his ear.

  RING

  RING

  RING

  RING

  RING

  With a click the ringing stopped and a voice came in over the phone.

  “Hello Hojo Residence, who would I be speaking with?” Asked a female voice, sharp yet still feminine voice which Kanahis recognized immediately.

  “Hey, Sumika, it's me, Kanashi. Can you please put me on the phone with Mitou.” He asked with a weak smile that only he could see.

  “Kanashi!?” Sumika gasped suddenly before shrinking her voice to a whispering hiss. “You’re not supposed to call until you did what they told you to!”

  “And that’s exactly they I’m calling, so please put her on the phone with me.” Kanashi asked, repeating his request.

  “...” Sumika stayed quiet for a moment, no doubt weighing her options before letting out a deep sigh. “Alright but if I get in trouble you’re gonna be hearing it from me!” She grumbled. With a click the phone returned to the sound of ringing before it too was picked up. Kanashis heart sinking deeper into his stomach than it already had.

  ‘Well this is unexpected, Sarumalder-San.” Came the unpleasant voice of an old woman.

  “I’m not in the mood for small talk so just shut and listen to me please.” Kanashi frowled, his emotions already threatening to take over. Just hearing Mitous voice was enough to make his blood boil and eyes burn red.

  “Well that’s quite rude now isn’t it? But I’m still going to assume you have a good reason to call, I remember telling you expressly not to do so until you completed the job did I not?

  “I’m sure if you did or not, I was trying hard not to punch you then.” Kanashi huffed.

  “Ha-” Mitou sighed before keeping quiet so Kanashi could speak.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I’ll do it.” He said. “I’ll make Raizen step down and make Sosuke clan head.” As he spoke Kanashis voice trembled in his throat.

  “Okay and? Is that what you’ve called to tell me? I thought that was already confirmed to be our agreement?”

  “No it wasn’t. That’s what you tried to trick me into agreeing to and I never agreed to it. The fact you think I did just shows the kind of person you are. One who can’t read the room or feel compassion for others emotions.

  “So did you call just to insult me then?” Mitou asked with a hiss.

  “No, it’s just easy to do because of how unlikeable you are.”

  With another deep sigh Mitou expressed her thinning patience which Kanashi shared, both wanting to end the call.

  “Putting aside my dislike for you, the reason I called was to reassess our terms or rather improve upon them.”

  “Did you not find them favorable? I thought they were very generous to you and those you represent.”

  Kanashi wanted to bark back that he didn’t represent anyone because of their charade but he bit his tongue and tried to keep his cool. “No they weren't, they were horrible. Which is why I’m going to ask, 'No, I’m going to tell you my new terms.’

  “Ho?”

  “First, your complete support, no take backs and no changing your mind.

  “That was already understood.”

  “Second, your assets are gonna be used to help rebuild after the fact.”

  “...’

  “Don’t go acting like that would hurt your wallet now, I know all about how deep those pockets are.”

  “It can be compromised.” Mitou sighed.

  “Third and finally you enter a blood pact with the Venator Society between you and their chosen representative. As such you will aid in every request they ask for your help in until either the Venator Society or the Hojo clan no longer exist.”

  “...that’s,,, quite the demand.”

  “I know it is, that’s why I want it.”

  “Assuming I;m to agree with these terms, do you still plan to remove Raizen from power?”

  “Yeah, that’s the idea.” Kanashi answered, cocking back his head.

  “And how do you plan to do so when the deadline to the liberation is so close?”

  “Easy, I’m gonna talk to him.”

  “!” Mitous grunt was audible, a very guttural and un lady like one full of emotions.

  “What’s wrong? Did you want me to kill him or something? Sorry that’s not gonna flym you’re not worth dirtying my soul over. Try not to think so highly of yourself in the future please.” Kanashi huffed with an arrogant tone.

  “Sarumalder! This is not funny nor is it something I can take lightly. Are you making a mockery of me, the Venator Society and our deal!?”

  “No of course not, In fact I’m trying to keep it afloat. I don’t have a way to make a mockery out of any of those things anyways.” Kanashi shrugged. You’ve already made yourself one afterall.

  “Then what is the meaning of this!? How are you going to convince Raizen to surrender his role as clan head through conservation!?”

  “I’m surprisingly pretty good at conversing, or at least I’ve grown to be good at it. You guys just caught me at a bad time before. Now I’m in my A-game. I mean I wanted to piss you off over this call and it worked so I think that’s proof enough of my skills.”

  Mitou continued to brood over the phone which Kanashi took great pleasure in, something he wasn’t ashamed to admit at this moment. Then preparing his second bomb on the old lady he wet his lips.

  “Also if you think you can get away from me with this you’re gravely mistaken. If you do attempt to do anything to get around me or our new terms I’m telling Raizen what you’re trying to plan and giving him proof of it.

  “Proof? What proof?” Mitou asked with a haughty laugh.

  “Proof , what proof?” Mitous' voice echoed over the phone with a click from Kanashis end. “Tape recorders are a bit old fashioned and outta style but they still do manage to work.” Kanashi hummed, holding the tape recorder which he’d borrowed from Akatora in his hand.

  “!” Mitou speechless could only let a croak escape her old hoarse throat..

  “Ah don’t die yet please! I still need stuff from you! And besides I’m not gonna be naive enough to just walk in there and ask nicely. I have my own plans going.” Kanashi said, trying to prevent the old woman from dying from a heart attack.

  “... you’ve certainly played a well laid hand Sarumalder, I'd be a fool to not admit that. Perhaps we did catch you in a sore spot previously.” Mitou sighed.

  “Gross, don’t speak like you're bragging about it.” Kanashi frowned. “But putting that aside I’m assuming we’ll both hold up the ends of our reaffirmed agreement?” He asked.

  “...I don’t think you’ve left me with much of a choice now have you?”

  “What’re you talking about? I left you plenty! But I can’t say that the other options won’t lead to hell for both of us.”

  “...”

  “I’m risking a lot in this too, so don’t think I’m making out like a bandit here. Like I said before, I'm simply making our agreement more equal in terms of rewards.”

  “...”

  “I need to hear you say it.” Kanashi said.

  “I’ll agree to your terms, though I expect you to uphold yours as well?”

  “Of course, I’m serious about this. But I’m gonna do it my way and no one else's.” Kanashi said, nodding his head.

  “Then I believe our conversation is over, until?”

  “Tomorrow, I’ll call you tomorrow night.” Kanashi answered.

  “Then tomorrow we shall speak.” Mitou said, hanging up the phone.

  “I wanted to do that…” Kanashi frowned as he heard the hum of a dead phone line in his ear. “But I can’t be too greedy I guess. I got my revenge like I wanted.” He said, closing his eyes and leaning back on the hotel bed.

  I have three more hurdles left… and I’m clearing one tomorrow. Everything will work out for me in the end. That much I must believe.

  Kanashi finally got a real victory! I’m happy for the guy, I’m not sure if I pictured it well but he’s been down on his luck for the majority of this Saga overall so this is the start of his climb upwards! At least he hopes so, we’ll see how that goes.

  [金福] Kinbuku - “Gold” and “Wealth” or “Luck”.

  [新高州] Shinkaju - “New expensive provenance.”