The night in Xijing had barely begun, yet the city was already aglow with lights. The streets were bustling with crowds, and for Mu Lin, who had just arrived, it was a bit overwhelming. Surrounded by people front and back, he had to remain constantly alert. Spotting a bar not far ahead, he quickened his pace toward it.
The bar was relatively quiet at this early hour. After ordering a few appetizers, Mu Lin settled into a corner, beginning to contemplate his next steps. Jiuzhou had become the main battlefield for gang warfare, yet to the average person, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The recent unrest in Fukuoka remained unexplained, and the Self-Defense Forces were still stationed there maintaining order. This prevented the situation in Kyushu from fully spiraling into chaos, though Mu Lin believed it was only a matter of time.
In Kumamoto, the Kumamoto Clan had increased its security following attacks on the Nakatsu and Sasebo Clans. To avoid leaving any traceable clues for local yakuza, Mu Lin ultimately decided to halt his operations and headed instead to Xijing, the distant capital city of Japan, far from Kyushu. Originally, Mu Lin had planned to sweep through Japan’s underworld starting from Kyushu, but he hadn’t expected the involvement of the national military. For now, he had no intention of confronting an entire country.
Inside the bar, the number of drinkers gradually increased. Most were in small groups, loudly chatting and calling out to friends. Few, like Mu Lin, were alone. Many glanced at him curiously, and noticing this, Mu Lin casually signaled the bartender, paid his bill, and left.
Stepping outside, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address: Xijing Plaza Hotel. He had overheard someone in the bar talking about it as one of the city’s upscale hotels. He needed to settle in quickly, familiarize himself with the environment, and avoid drawing attention that might jeopardize his mission.
Mu Lin now posed as a Japanese tourist returning from the U.S. This identity was even verifiable in the U.S., allowing him to come and go freely without suspicion. After checking into the hotel, he made his way to the Emperor Nightclub in Shinjuku, one of the city’s largest.
The club was filled with many single guests, each accompanied by hostesses chatting and drinking. Speaking in awkward, American-accented Japanese, Mu Lin asked the madam to send over a hostess at random.
Soon, a young blonde woman with blue eyes sat beside him. “Hi, I’m Louise. I hope I can make your night enjoyable! Handsome, is this your first time here? What would you like to drink?” she said in fluent English.
“Yes, it’s my first time. But how did you know? As for what to drink, just surprise me,” Mu Lin replied in English, a bit puzzled. He had hoped for a Japanese hostess who might provide useful intelligence, yet instead, he got a foreigner. He was now curious—were there really so many foreign hostesses here?
“Haha, what’s so strange about that? I’ve been working here for two years. Plus, Mama Leaf told me you had an American accent and your Japanese was stiff. I know most of the Americans who come here, so I guessed you were new. That’s why I chose you,” Louise explained cheerfully before ordering some drinks.
“Oh, you actually get to choose your customers? I thought it was the other way around,” Mu Lin asked, surprised.
“Of course we do. Do you think I’m like the local hostesses here?” Louise replied with a hint of resentment.
“Sorry, I just landed today and don’t know much about this place. I just wanted to have a drink, relax, and get a feel for the city. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Mu Lin apologized.
“Haha, I accept your apology. We’re different—we only chat and drink with guests, no private rooms. Most of us have other jobs and just come here to earn a bit extra. That’s why we can choose our clients. We can even refuse those with bad behavior,” Louise explained.
Soon, the drinks and snacks arrived, and the two began chatting casually.
“Louise, I’m curious—what brings you, an American, to work here? I’ve heard that the clubs here are famous for their sexual services, and that the hostesses are controlled by the yakuza. How come someone like you can choose your clients freely?” Mu Lin asked, subtly probing for information.
“Haha, did you forget? I’m an American citizen. If anything happened to me, it would cause a huge mess, so the yakuza don’t want to mess with someone like me.
Also, let me tell you something—this is a high-end establishment. The prices are steep, and celebrities from around the world often come here. If yakuza were constantly showing up and causing trouble, the consequences would be too big for them to handle. Do you think any gang would want that? Even their own government wouldn’t allow it. So the security here is actually pretty good.
As for me, I love traveling around the world. After coming here, I fell in love with the scenery and decided to stay. I teach linguistics at a university. I live here, travel across the country, and also save up money for my next trip somewhere else.
Oh, and by the way, I have a Ph.D. in linguistics from Yale,” Louise added proudly.
“Oh, I see! But then why is the situation here so different from what people say back home?”
“I’ve been living here for two years now. From what I’ve seen, the yakuza here are just like in the U.S.—once they accumulate enough money, they start legitimate businesses. This very nightclub we’re in might even be owned by a gang.
As for the street thugs, they’re usually small-time gangs or young people just entering the underworld. Only those without money resort to robbery or extortion,” Louise whispered mysteriously.
Mu Lin thought for a moment. This matched closely with what he had expected and already known.
I got back early this morning and rushed to write this chapter. It’s been a long time since I last updated, and I still have many things to sort out. But I promised I would finish this story! Seeing so many of you still following and supporting me really moved me. Thank you so much to all my readers for your support and trust.
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