Chapter 46: The Florist in The Colosseum

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It's friday. And today, I'm going back to Tokyo for a meeting among the TJC members on Saturday. Since the story has been progressing quicker than I thought, I might as well accelerate my plans. It's late june but the whole cast of Persona 4 characters is already here.

I'm currently riding on the train to tokyo , accompanied by my brother Daigo who disappears to God knows where this month. But he's been busy that's for sure.

"So, what do we do when we reach Tokyo, Daigo-nii?"

"Hmmm, I've already called for a clan meeting. So you might as well rest for today. The meeting's tomorrow at noon."

"How is Uncle Kaz?"

"Ah, he's running around town with a sweetheart."

"Huh? Uncle Kaz? Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah from what I heard. And also it seems like tonight, he's going to Purgatory's Colosseum."

Ah purgatory, the underground Las Vegas of the Yakuza World, ran by the Florist of Sai, a private detective turned information dealer.

"Oh yeah, who is running the Purgatory these days. I thought the Florist was contracted by the police."

"Hmmm I'm surprised you know, but yeah, Right now it's being run by Goro Mijima."

Oh fuck there goes my plan of entering the colosseum.

"And he did say he wanted to meet you, maybe you should go and pay him a visit sometimes."

"I'll go straight to him after we arrive. So what's your plan Daigo-nii?"

"I'll be in the TJC HQ. I heard from Izanami there's something fishy going on."

"But first, you've got to tell me about your school life. Mine's boring as hell but I heard yours is quite the story getting high inside a convenience store! I mean who would do that!? HAHAHAHA"

And so we spend time exchanging stories. It seems that Daigo-nii have been scouring the Kansai Region for potential Foreign threats. Namely the JingWoo Mafia. He found a lead of their remnant being there. But what was shocking is that they've stopped all operations. In the kansai region, and is focusing now on Tokyo.

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Once we arrived in Tokyo we went our respective ways, Daigo-nii headed straight to TJC HQ. while I have a meeting with a florist. He's staying at the millennium tower. I swear that tower's tough as heck. Even after a few explosions, it's still standing tall. The amount of explosions it had is still less than the times Haruka was kidnapped, but still.

As I came inside the tower, it's already busy as people in suits came in and out of the building, as I was admiring the busy lobby, a man with rough features call out to me.

"Maou-sama, the florist have been expecting you."

"Lead the way."

I was then led to the 50th floor. As the elevator door opens, the man gives me a gesture to go ahead. Which I did. The floor itself is remodelled heavily, as soon as I stepped off the elevator, I could see screens to my left and right, no the whole wall is basically screens upon screens of cctv footage. And in the middle of the room, sits a short chubby man. This not so intimidating character is one of the best information brokers in the Yakuza Series, nothing within Tokyo can escape his eyes and ears.

"Ah Maou-sama welcome to my humble abode."

"This is not humble at all Sai-dono, it's amazing."

I mean I dreamt of this place when I was playing Yakuza. I mean who the hell wouldn't want a man cave like this. It just lacks…. RGB. damn 2011, RGB tech isn't that impressive yet.

"It always feels good to get acknowledged by someone. I designed the place myself."

He said with a sense of pride.

"I would love a room like this in my home. Not for surveillance mind you, just for entertainment."

"HAHAHA! Finally someone who gets me! Come let me give you a little tour."

And so we geeked out together for quite some time. I never knew the florist is a cool guy. I always thought that he's the tough type of character. But after this chat I'm sure that he's just a tech savvy individual with a businessman mindset.

"So, Akira-sama"

"Please just call me Akira."

"Then, Akira, I've heard you've been investing in technologies, mind if I… chip in a little?"

So the real talk finally began, is that the reason he called me here?

"Hmmmm. I do not mind, but you cannot make any changes unless approved by either me or Kiba-san."

"Ah of course... I had also been looking in other tech companies and would love to hear your input."

"Of course, Sai-san."

"First there's Sony, what do you think of them Akira?"

"Sony huh? They're a good start, but the road ahead may be a bit harsh as a tech company. As their best product lies in their entertainment industry. Maybe you should look there instead."

Truthfully I have not looked into tech companies in this world, I just assume they're the same as how my memories remembered them. And so just like that, he kept asking me questions about the tech industry.

.

.

.

He took a bottle from his desk and poured both of us a cup of the drink.

"Drink up maou, the least I can offer..."

I simply took up his offer and drank the liquor in one chuck. As he also did the same.

"*sigh* if only my son is half as able as you are."

A sigh escapes his mouth as his tone turns into a mocking one.

"A man's worth is not measured by what he did, but why he did it."

"Wise word from the Maou."

As he contemplates my words.

"Tell me, Maou, Is this Karma? Me wanting my son to live a life away from all the crimes and drama, only for him to be dragged back into the life not long after."

The florist huh. He's that kind of man, he may be rough on the outside, but deep down, he cares about his friends and family, he has soft spots for Uncle Kaz and Detective Date. his backstory is also quite tragic. Being a blackmarket informant, before being busted, then building the underworld Las Vegas himself. He has a son and an ex-wife, which he left to protect them from the Yakuzas. But fate itself has different plans as his son soon falls in love and elopes with a Yakuza Family head's daughter. The said family is from the TJC. so usually it is solved rather easily by Uncle Kaz.

"Well, fate is always cruel."

"Akira, you're about his age right? Tell me what do you think is in his mind right now?"

"Other than trying to get between his girlfriend's legs, his family."

"HAHAHAHA! Family huh? Speaking of which, I heard you finally chosen a blood brother who is he?"

Hmmm change of subject huh. I might've hit a sore spot.

"Narukami Yu, He has a talent that I don't, he's like Uncle Kaz, a people's person."

"I see… By any chance is he interested in the colosseum?"

"Not that I know of, why do you ask?"

"Here look at this."

Hmmm when I looked towards a screen I could see a well decorated bridge, with people walking around. Hey wait isn't this at Purgatory. And on that bridge there's a familiar figure, it's Yu. FUCK. Why are you here when all hell is about to break loose. And what's more he's not alone, he's with Chie and surprisingly Rise.

"HAHAHA! To think he has beauties in both arms, damn. He had you beaten there maou-sama!"

"When is this?"

"It's real time."

"Then I got to go."

"Oh, leaving so soon? This might get interesting, so I'm going too. Let's head there together. I need to make his acquaintance too. Follow me, I installed a shortcut."

Damn snake oil salesman. You knew this beforehand didn't you?

And so we left towards purgatory, surprisingly there's an entrance in the bathroom in the basement. Why does it have to be the bathroom?

"It's the best place to hide." said Sai-san briefly.

As we opened the passageway, it took us to one of the many entry points the purgatory had.

The purgatory itself is built on top of an abandoned Railway, replacing almost everything. It is designed to resemble a traditional Japanese pleasure district. It also doubles as Sai-san office.

It did not take me long to find Yu who is inside one of the VIP areas, it's a small pagoda styled structure, with multiple floors, and Yu's on the top floor, perks of being Sai-san's VIP I guess. Inside the room, I found Yu, Chie, Rise, Yukiko, Sakamoto and Isshin. Well it's Yu and his harem I guess, plus Sakamoto and Isshin.

"Aniki! What are you doing here?"

"I was just chatting with Sai-san, before I saw you guys here and decided to pay a visit. "

"Sai-san? Who is that?"

"The florist I suppose. You need to learn these things, Sakamoto. You can't forever be ignorant of these matters." Isshin spoke softly.

"Ah, what's a florist doing here?" asked Yukiko Innocently.

"Don't tell me it's to send flowers to the deceased now is it?"

That's one active imagination, Chie.

"Well he also did that I suppose."

"Eeek!" she cried a little and hid her face behind Yu, well that's just adorable.

"Anyway, how come you're here Yu?"

"Ah, Isshin Sensei asked me to come today."

"Yes, that's true, I wanted them to experience real battle, so perhaps this place is the best starting point. The bronze league should do wonders for their experience. Though Yu and Sakamoto will be participating in the Silver league."

There's a league system in place starting from bronze to diamond. Bronze being the regular street thugs, silver is the trained martial artist, gold bracket is special as you'll need to prove your worth in the arena before getting a chance to compete here. Then lastly there's the diamond tier, this is where Uncle Kaz and Uncle Majima usually squares off. The competition's also nothing to scoff at. They're crazy strong. But wait if they're participating in the silver bracket isn't this like dangerous, you will be forced to execute your opponents you know.

"Ah don't worry about that, today's the reopening of the Colosseum, so they're keeping the fatality low. No killing blows. Hence there's a lot of people signing up. Even your brother in law is in the diamond league."

Hmmm this does sound interesting, something shiny caught my eye, ah it seems that the florist even plants a camera here huh.

"Hey, Sai-san if you're listening, please register me in the diamond league. There's someone I would like to beat up."

*ring* suddenly my phone lits up.

[Consider it done - Florist.]

Ah today's have gone from bad to good in a span of a moment. Yu's totally my lucky charm.

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