The OP Lich is a Returnee, Chapter 26 (Patreon)

Chapter 26 – Meeting the Oyabun

A week after the sword was finished, it was time to meet the oyabun of the Inagawa-kai, and present the blade to his granddaughter for her ascension. I could have delivered the sword early, of course, but the oyabun had different ideas. He wished for a spectacle, to showcase his granddaughter, and asked for me to present the sword to her personally as part of the ceremony.

I was touched by this request. After all, outsiders were rarely allowed inside the high-ranking clan ceremonies. Combined with the sword being both a gift for her wedding, and her ascension to high rank within the organization, it was exceedingly rare for someone who wasn’t a member of the clan to be allowed to attend.

The implications of the invitation were not lost on me, however. By accepting, I would be linking myself to the clan. Not as a member, of course, but as a friend to the clan, at least. There was the subtle, but very real, expectation that I could call on my ‘friends’ for help, if I needed it, but also that they could call on me.

That wasn’t entirely unacceptable, actually. The history of the yakuza in Japan was very different from the history of organized crime in other countries, after all. Even if the Inagawa-kai were more ‘rebellious’ than their more conservative rivals, they were rebelling in a way that looked to be more progressive, and grow with the future.

The future was something to consider, after all. I was immortal. Unless something came along with enough power to slay me, I would be around to see the granddaughter’s granddaughter’s granddaughter take up the mantle of oyabun, assuming the clan existed for that long. In all that time, I would be a ‘friend of the clan’, an unofficial advisor, and perhaps even a mentor to the next generations?

That kind of influence and the ability to shape the rising star of the Inagawas as they grew and changed in this new magical world was a powerful draw. But it was not the only point in favor of accepting the invitation. Another point in favor would be how I could use the Inagawas to my own ends, as a way to project my own power.

Right now, I had plenty of raw power, with my magical might. I had hard power, with my army of the undead. I had economic power, with my wealth, and connections to Athelian Arms and Phantomline.

What I lacked, however, was soft power, people who knew people, and could arrange for favors to trade back and forth. The only resource I had in that arena was my connection to Wolfram & Hart. But the Inagawa-kai not only had connections throughout Japan, but also in other organizations abroad. Through them, I could have a ‘friend’ introduce me to another ‘friend’, if I needed something done.

Naturally, there would be some requests made of me, in turn, but I was not some naïve celebrity that didn’t know what strings might be attached until I got in too deep. I had forty years of dealing with nations and syndicates alike in the other world. Even if it was just opening up a line for them to purchase shield foci from Phantomline, that would be something that would greatly enhance their standing in the underworld, and lead to more change. The possibilities were definitely enticing.

Of course, just because I had been blessed with a week of peace as I prepared for the ceremony, did not mean that all was peaceful. The Sumiyoshi-kai had been humbled and shamed by my open rebuke of them, and their power. My blatant disrespect to their leaders and their dead, the bounty I placed on their leaders, and the threats I made against the entire organization and their loved ones? All of that combined to put the Sumiyoshi-kai in a bad position.

Half their kouhai were questioning the senpais about whether any actions would put them in conflict with me, or mine. Those were the ones who had family and loved ones, or were just generally smarter. The other half, well, they were the fools, or those who were too insecure in their positions that they went yipping like little dogs who thought they were wolves. They were the ones who didn’t think about the consequences; they just knew they’d been ‘disrespected’ and demanded something to make it right.

Fortunately, the leaders were smart enough to know that taking me on directly was a good way to get in a lot of trouble. However, they knew that, if they didn’t do something soon, the dissatisfaction would get to the point where one of the more opportunistic bosses would get the idea to try and move up in the organization by collecting on the bounty. So, they looked for someone else they could target, to save face and get their people’s minds off things.

There were a couple hits on Inagawa-run businesses. Two massage parlors and a local bookie all had their places bombed. Simple pipe bombs and incendiaries, crude but effective. Fortunately, they didn’t do much damage, thanks to the Inagawa reinforcements being close at hand, almost as if they’d been warned that their rivals would be taking a couple swings at them.

Of course, the Inagawas responded in kind, but they targeted two of the Sumiyoshi’s main drug warehouses. They took the money, over 2.7 billion yen worth, but left the drugs, which were seized moments after they left by the police who arrived due to an anonymous tip. Unlike the Sumiyoshis, the Inagawa raids used tranquilizer darts, knocking guards out so that there was a minimum of property damage or loss of life. Their people in the press compared that to the wanton destruction of the bombings, and made the Inagawas look like plucky underdogs, fighting with honor against thugs and bullies.

So, there was some degree of tension in the air when I arrived at the office building the Inagawas used to run their empire. Of course, some of that tension might have been due to the fact that I rode up in the back of a rickshaw drawn by a skeleton in traditional clothes. The little device was one I had used many times before, a half-step between the royal carriage, and riding and undead steed. Usually, I brought it out when I was going someplace only semi-formally, where just using magic to get around would be inappropriate.

Well, semi-formally for royalty, at any rate. The rickshaw was simple in design, but the materials and craftsmanship were all high grade, as was the undead who pulled it. The crest of Risen Athelia graced the back and sides of the rickshaw, giving it a bit of character, and letting everyone know who was riding in it.

I was wearing a full formal kimono, with traditional makeup and hair done in the gikei style, with its twin topknots and two waxed side-wings, and multiple hair sticks and combs to hold it in place. If someone from the Edo period saw me, they would, at a glance, believe I was either a member of the Imperial court, or, at the very least, one of the highest-ranking courtesans. Even someone in the modern world would recognize the time and effort that went into the hairstyle meaning that it was the mark of someone important to be wearing it at all.

Of course, none of what I was wearing was actually made on earth. The kimono was woven from the silk of demonic spiders, the hair combs were made from dragon’s bones, carved so that, when they were placed in my hair, they formed the symbol of Risen Athelia. Naturally, aside from the inherent magical nature of the items, they were all heavily enchanted as well.

The guards knew who I was, of course. I doubted that there was anyone in the city that didn’t know my symbol by now. However, they were dutiful guards, and checked my name and identity against the guest list before allowing me to pass through the lobby and into the private elevator heading to the top floors.

The skyscraper was owned by the Inugawas, but the first twenty floors were open to the public. Most of the businesses in those spaces were unconnected, and didn’t even know the Inugawas owned the building through a shell corporation, but a few were the clan’s own legitimate and semi-legitimate businesses. Floors 21 to 30, however, were solely used by the clan, with many of them actually serving as living quarters. The penthouse, where I was going, was actually where the oyabun held court, and lived much of the time.

A man was waiting for me when I stepped off the elevator, dressed in a well-tailored suit. He smiled as he took in my outfit, and bowed in keirei, which I returned in kind, respectfully. “Akagawa-sama, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Okura Tadasuke, and I serve Lord Inagawa-sama as saiko-komon of the organization.”

I smiled at Okura. For him to use ‘sama’ with me, the same as with the oyabun, meant that he was acknowledging my importance, and the fact that I was a power separate from the clan. It was a subtle sign of respect, and an indication that the oyabun wished to treat with me as an equivalent power and ally, rather than attempting to make me one of his subordinates.

All of that, in just a few words. I had to admit that my opinion of the Inugawas rose a couple notches. This kind of attitude was all too rare in the world, after all.

“Thank you, Okura-san. So far, I have been well impressed with Inugawa-dono’s hospitality. You do your master honor with your words.”

Okura bowed again. “Many thanks, Lady Akagawa. If you please, the oyabun and his council are awaiting your arrival. Pray allow me to announce you.”

I nodded again. “Of course. I would not keep him, or his granddaughter, waiting on such an auspicious day.”

And so, I was led into what was, in essence, the oyabun’s court. Despite the progressive ways he was leading the organization down, the oyabun had his court room decorated in a very traditional style, with tatami mats and all the normal décor. At the far end, there was a comfortable chair which acted as a throne.

“My lord, if it pleases you, I would present to you Lady Akagawa Kaori, known as the Lich Queen of Risen Athelia, and the Awoken Sleeper. Lady Akagawa, you stand before Lord Inugawa Hitoshi, Oyabun of the Inugawa-kai.”

Flanking the throne were two individuals, a man on the right and a woman on the left. Both were dressed in formal attire, though the woman was dressed in a man’s formal suit. If I had to guess, that would make the man Saeki Minoru, the wakagashira or second in command, and the woman would be Nagai Tatsumi, the granddaughter and soon-to-be shateigashira. Both held their tongues, though, allowing the third person to do the speaking.

The oyabun, sitting on his throne, looked old, but younger than his true age. If my father had access to magic and technology that slowed the aging process, I was unsurprised that the oyabun had it, as well. He was dressed in a fine suit in a traditional style, which was only fitting since there were two ceremonies of great formality that he needed to accomplish this evening.

As I bowed in greeting, an acknowledgement that I was a guest in another lord’s home, the man smiled. “They told me you were respectful when offered respect, and mindful of the old ways, while not being bound by them. I am pleased to see that what I was told is reflected in reality. As you no doubt have guessed, this is Saeki-san, my trusted lieutenant, and Tatsumi-chan, my beloved granddaughter.”

“Jiji!”

The oyabun just laughed at the granddaughter’s outburst. No doubt, she didn’t like being introduced as ‘chan’, despite it being her grandfather doing the introductions. Probably, he was the only one who could get away with it, especially in a formal setting like this.

I smiled, and nodded with respect to each of them in turn. “Lord Inugawa, I am pleased to have this opportunity to attend the wedding and ascension of one of your kin. But, before the ceremonies are to begin, there is one last step to complete the enchantment on the wedding gift you commissioned me to make, one that requires your granddaughter’s cooperation to finalize.”

“Wedding gift?” The granddaughter spoke, out of turn, “Jiji, what did you do?”

“Oh ho ho. You did not expect that I would allow my favorite granddaughter to get married without giving her something to commemorate the occasion, did you? Especially since, with your marriage, you are being elevated in the organization?” The oyabun turned to smile at me. “Please, Akagawa-dono, proceed with the presentation, so that my impatient granddaughter can see her gift.”