Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant novel Chapter 356

Oota, the Director, and Nakamura, the Section Chief, walked out of the ryotei on their own feet.

Of course, I didn’t forget to leave the cleanup to the two of them.

The ryotei itself had been left in ruins.

But since I’d made them handle the aftermath and walk out on their own, there was no need to worry about some useless alibi.

That was enough.

The two of them were made to wait in their private car near Hiro’s mansion. Only then did Su-ho and Hiro, having returned to the mansion, finally sit down for a proper talk.

Now back to his true appearance, An Su-ho—no longer in the guise of Kim Su-ho—spoke.

“As I said before. I want Sumiyoshi to become Japan’s largest Hunter guild.”

“......”

Hiro was at a loss for words at Su-ho’s proposal.

Because it was exactly as it sounded.

Su-ho genuinely wanted Sumiyoshi to rise as Japan’s largest guild.

For Su-ho, there was no other choice.

At present, this was the best possible move.

After all, the Vice Minister, the highest authority within Paranormal Ability, had already begun moving to crush Sumiyoshi and Union.

In that case, there was no longer any place in this country for Union to stand.

“This is the only way. Even leaving my personal goals aside, once the Vice Minister has targeted Sumiyoshi, he won’t stop at pressure... no, he’ll unleash every kind of slander and sabotage imaginable. In such a situation, do you really believe you can protect Sumiyoshi?”

“That’s...”

Honestly, he had no confidence.

Even if Hiro was one of the top five Players in the country and the head of a major guild, that was all.

Corporations, mega-celebrities, even successful members of the Diet—if the state decided to cut them down, they could be shredded into paper scraps at will.

So what could Hiro realistically do in the face of that?

Go public?

It might flare for a moment.

But Japan, much like China and other nations, tightly controlled its media.

For instance, in Osaka’s Nishinari district there was a place known as Airin District—Japan’s largest and worst slum.

It was crammed with homeless drifters and yakuza; security was abysmal, and even if someone was killed there, investigations rarely followed. But since Japan regarded the place as a national blemish, they ensured it never reached the press.

‘So much so that not only foreigners, but even many of its own citizens don’t even know Airin District exists.’

And this wasn’t just Japan’s problem.

Every country—China, Russia, wherever there is light, there are shadows.

These examples only proved how powerless an individual was when set against the state.

Su-ho continued.

“And as I mentioned earlier, our Union promised that if Sumiyoshi ever faced an enemy it couldn’t handle, we’d help in every possible way. That time is now.”

“But the opponent is the state.”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve made up my mind.”

“...Don’t tell me you knew this would happen?”

“Of course not. I’m not a god. How could I possibly know the future?”

“Well... true.”

Hiro lowered his head quietly.

His feelings must have been in turmoil.

Learning he’d become a national target overnight.

But precisely in such times, he had to harden his resolve.

Su-ho spoke.

“Don’t worry too much. Yes, being marked by the government is upsetting, but a situation like this can be turned around.”

“How?”

“Two things. First, Union must withdraw completely from Japan. With the fact most irksome to the Japanese government removed, their attention will wane.”

At the words “Union’s withdrawal,” Hiro wanted to ask a great many questions, but for the moment he held them back.

“Fine. And the other?”

“Eliminate the competition and become the only one.”

Finally Hiro asked,

“But why North Korea?”

“Because I just returned from there.”

“...Excuse me?”

“The Purification-Unification Operation Korea is conducting right now is essentially cleanup. The core—the truly hard gates of North Korea—were all cleared by me. You may find it hard to believe, but from what I’ve heard, you’ve shown great interest in me. So I expect you’ll believe at least somewhat.”

“......”

“And frankly, North Korea’s gates were far harder than anything Yamaguchi could offer. If I were an ordinary man, it would have been impossible. But in this age of upheaval, where superhumans abound, it is no longer one against a hundred—it is one against a thousand, one against ten thousand. You know this better than anyone.”

He didn’t need to say that he was the one against ten thousand.

That much was understood without words.

“President, you keep protecting Sumiyoshi. Union—no, I—will aid you from the shadows. Ah, but it won’t be for free. In return, once Sumiyoshi becomes Japan’s number one guild, bring me a few gates I request. That’s all I want.”

“The gates... for your growth?”

“Yes. I am someone whose goal is to end the gates themselves. For that, I need stronger gates. And from my research, several of the ones I need exist only in Japan. That’s why I ask this. No matter how great my power, I cannot erase something as massive as a gate without leaving a trace.”

“......”

He stayed silent.

In truth, he had no choice.

Su-ho hadn’t created the situation, but the situation itself had cornered him.

At last, he slowly bowed his head.

“...Very well. I’ll entrust this to you.”

At his bow, Su-ho smiled brightly and returned the gesture with a nod.

“Yes. Then I’ll count on you as well.”

Thus the agreement was sealed.

And so it began.

The dismantling of Japan’s largest yakuza guild—Yamaguchi.