Chapter 383 - 383: I Ran Over Him (1/2)

”Quid pro quo. I'll give you one, in exchange for your assistance.”

”Hah! I knew I wasn't here just to have leisure time with you.” Haruka guffawed.

”I doubt you didn't see this coming. You know me so well.”

”Let me see, you treat me with a lovely meal then proposed to give me a companion in exchange for my service? Isn't your side a bit light compared to what I can offer?” Haruka mused, tapping her fingernail on her glass of c.o.c.ktail.

”Wasn't I generous enough?” Lillie leaned towards her seat, crossing her arms and legs. A domineering aura radiates from her as red flickered into her cerulean eyes before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

Haruka roared in laughter once again. ”Indeed you are.” Composing herself, she propped her elbows on the table and pushed herself closer. Her chin resting on the back of her hands.

”So, how can I be of service to you, Suzaku-sama [1]?” She smirked mischievously.

Fujikawa Haruka, the 5th leader of the infamous crime family in Japan, the Fujikawa-gumi [2] are White Bird's allies ever since she took the reins over the clan. Lillie befriended Haruka even before she was made the oyabun [3].

”I want you to search for a man.”

Haruka took the folder from Lillie's extended arm. Curiously opening it, the folder revealed a single piece of paper with a detailed drawing of a man.

Seeing the glint of emotion in her friend's eyes, Lillie asked, ”Do you recognize him?”

”Ermm...” Hesitance was written across her face.

”You do,” Lillie concluded just by judging her reaction. ”But you're hesitating whether to divulge or not.”

”Uhm, it's not that I'm unwilling...it's just that...that,” Haruka vehemently ruffled her head in frustration. ”Arghh! How can I put it into words?!”

Lillie gave her time and waited patiently for her to collect her wits.

Staring back at the drawing, Haruka was feeling conflicted. ”Amai Mochi is a sore topic in Japan's Underworld Society.” She began.

”Merely uttering his name is like a taboo, that's why you don't hear much about him. Only the highest and most influential of the yakuza families know his identity.” Haruka closed her eyes and sighed. She relaxed on the chair as she took a trip down her memory lane.

”Before I became the oyabun, my father, the fourth, taught me everything I need to know in preparation for me to take over the clan; that includes the names of our allies.”

The Amai clan had been Fujiwaka's closest friends for many generations, starting from the first. Unfortunately, something terrible happened that caused the total annihilation of the clan. No one was spared, not even the children. They were completely wiped out by a single person; their current and eventually the last boss, Amai Mochi.

”I don't know the complete story. No one knows the truth. Some said that it was because the family disagreed with his choice of lover. Hence, ordered for her death. Others claimed that he was a demon looking for a way to sate his bloodthirst—which sounds dumb—or that he simply went batshit crazy.”

”The Amai clan's allies—along with my family—were angered by his action. They joined forces and decreed for his death. But the Reapers' Association intervened. Instead of an execution, he was banished from the country.”

”Banished, huh.” Lillie muttered to herself. ”A powerful clan, destroyed by their own leader. Looking at it closely, everything just seems weird. It's hard to believe that either one of those speculations you've mentioned would warrant such a thing. Also, how did he even managed to destroy a large clan by himself?”

”No one survived his danse macabre, so no eyewitnesses. Whether he did it all by himself or he had help, it's a mystery.” Haruka stared off in the distance. Blinking, she turned her attention back to her friend. ”That reminds me, what prompted this sudden interest in this mass murderer? How did you even know him?”

”I ran over him.”

Haruka choked on the air. Accidentally pushing herself deeper onto the backrest and nearly plunging her body on the wooden surface when her chair's balance was disrupted.

”You—you 'ran' over him?!” She wheezed out. ”How did that happened?!”