North American detective: From scoundrel to god among men

Chapter 74 The Way of the Yakuza and Onikiri

A short while later, Shimazu Akira returned and led Titus and his companion to an inner loft balcony high up in the hotel.

It's more like a hidden back garden within this steel city than a balcony.

The cherry blossoms, bamboo groves, and red lanterns are shrouded in mystery under the cool-toned ground lights.

The surrounding glass buildings enclose this back garden, leaving only one observation deck for gazing at the large building under the night sky.

A virtual projection of a red carp floats silently in mid-air.

Titus and his companion walked along the stone path with the flowing stream to a pavilion by the water, where Shimazu Koji was sitting quietly waiting for their arrival.

The three of them sat down opposite each other at a tea table in the small pavilion.

Titus and John sat on one side, while Shimazu Koji sat alone on the other side. Behind Shimazu stood two people on each side: his daughter, Shimazu Akira, and a mysterious man holding a knife.

The two men, Titus and his companion, removed their masks and placed them on the edge of the tea table.

Koji Shimazu meticulously demonstrated the tea ceremony to the two guests. This is a very traditional and long-standing way of hospitality in Japan, dating back to the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, when the Japanese monk Saichō traveled to Tang China to study Buddhism. Upon his return, he brought back the first tea seed.

Koji Shimazu lifted the boiling Kansai iron kettle to scald each of the teacups on the table, then poured out the boiling water, scooped in two spoonfuls of matcha with a wooden tea spoon, poured in boiling water again, and finally picked up the tea strainer to gently stir the tea, his wide-sleeved haori coat swaying gently with the movement.

This is a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, very similar to the tea-whisking technique of the Song Dynasty in my country, but far less refined than the "falling armor and fluttering snow" style of the Song Dynasty tea ceremony.

Furthermore, how can one wear clothes with wide sleeves when demonstrating tea art? It's so cumbersome, strenuous, and inconvenient!

They've really learned something from dogs!

Mr. Shimazu placed the brewed tea on a fine silk cloth, spun it twice, and then turned the cup so that the Takeuchi Hibari was facing the guest as a sign of respect.

Shimazu bowed to serve tea, and John bowed to take the teacup, took a small sip, and spun the cup twice so that the pattern faced Shimazu.

Shimazu bent down to serve tea, while Titus straightened his back and accepted the teacup.

Then, just as Titus was about to tap the tea table three times, he thought of respecting cultural diversity and turned the pattern towards Shimazu as well.

"Long time no see, Mr. John Wick!"

"It's been a long time, Mr. Koji Shimazu."

"The renowned Mr. Jack Vizra, the Undertaker!"

"I wouldn't dare, Mr. Shimazu Koji. You must be the head of this family!"

Koji Shimazu laughed:

"We don't usually call me that, just call me Shimazu."

John went straight to the point:

"We need your help, friend."

Koji Shimazu asked:

"Are you planning to go all the way to the dark, Mr. John Wick? I see a road leading to the kingdom of hell slowly unfolding before me."

John asked in surprise:

"You refused?"

Hiroji Shimazu shook his head and said:

Just a reminder, my friend, true friendship is revealed in times of trouble!

"How can I help you?"

John said earnestly:

"We want to launch a high table showdown and challenge Gao Zhuo in the name of 'Yakuza'."

Upon hearing this, Akira Shimazu, standing behind Koji Shimazu, immediately weighed the pros and cons, glared fiercely at John, and then spoke up to stop him:

"Father, no..."

"Shut up! You have no right to speak!"

Koji Shimazu interrupted her coldly, then looked at John gently and asked:

"So, have you decided who you'll challenge?"

John looked at Titus, who replied:

"The Marquis de Gramont."

It was this official who reported the blood pact to the High Table, proposed a global manhunt for Jack Vizra, and volunteered to be Jack's adjudicator, intending to gain more real power in the process.

Marquis Vincent de Gramont is not a direct descendant of the Twelve Families, but he is backed by the Camorra family, one of the Twelve Families and an Italian mafia organization.

The Italian Mafia gained power by joining forces with a French nobleman, the Marquis de Gramont, because of the Santino affair.

Santino belonged to a branch family of the Italian Mafia, and his tragic death undoubtedly brought shame upon the entire family.

It is precisely because of the complex power relationships among the twelve families that almost no one dares to easily initiate a showdown at the High Table.

Koji Shimazu slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes flashed with a fierce, beast-like light.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed, I promise you!"

"Shimazu Akira, go and fetch the family brand. I want to personally brand Mr. John with the family brand!"

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go!"

Just as Shimazu Akira was about to leave.

John immediately said:

"Mr. Shimazu, you misunderstand. I am not the one who is challenging you."

After John finished speaking, he looked at Titus, and Shimazu Kojiya followed suit.

After a moment, Shimazu Koji took a deep breath and spoke with difficulty:

"If it's Mr. John Wick, I know your abilities and character, and I'm willing to brand you with the family name. But if it's this gentleman I'm meeting for the first time, I'm afraid..."

Titus said:

"John Wick can attest to my character, and as for my abilities... you're welcome to give it a try!"

Koji Shimazu's eyes opened and closed as he silently watched Titus, seemingly pondering something.

A white silk scarf with red flowers was tied around the wide, dark blue collar of his haori. He wore black business-style flat-rimmed glasses, and his black hair, mixed with a few pale strands, was tied back in a sophisticated samurai style.

At this moment, Mr. Shimazu Koji looked like a wild beast dressed in a suit, and this wild beast was deep in thought.

After a while, Shimazu Koji suggested:

"Mr. Jack, would you be willing to engage in a hundred rounds of fighting?"

"If you pass the hundred trials, we will recognize your abilities and bestow upon you a family medal."

Titus shook his head and said:

"I am willing to accept a hundred beatings, but please forgive me for refusing to be branded with the 'Yakuza' mark. Please give me something else to represent 'Yakuza'."

After speaking, Titus noticed that the mysterious knife-wielding man behind Shimazu Koji's gaze had turned cold.

Koji Shimazu paused for a moment, then said:

"I promise you, Mr. Jack."

"If you truly succeed in the 'Hundred Battles,' I will bestow upon you the legendary demon-slaying sword—Oni-kiri!"

"Onikiri can fully represent our family, and if necessary, you can even use Onikiri to command the 'Yakuza'."

The mysterious man wielding the knife grew increasingly hostile.

Koji Shimazu looked at John and said slowly:

"Holding the Onikiri is what makes someone a strong person recognized by our 'Yakuza,' and strong people always get a little bit of privilege."

"This is a gift between friends, this is our friendship, provided that Mr. Jack can pass the trial."

Titus nodded in agreement:

"Thank you for your generous assistance, Mr. Shimazu. I will retrieve Onikiri through the hundred-fold battle and return it to you intact once everything is over."

"good!"

Koji Shimazu looked at the mysterious swordsman behind him and introduced him:

"His name is Inuyama Rei, a first-rate swordsman who received the license to teach all techniques of the Kyōshin Meichō-ryū school!"

Inuyama Rei, dressed in a pure black kendo training uniform, slowly took a step forward. He had black hair and a fair face, and was handsome. He had a sheathed katana at his waist.

"Tomorrow morning's hundred-round battle will be your greatest test, Inuyama-kun."

……