Chapter-19

Roland, his newfound "Yakuza" career plan simmering in his mind, swaggered down the bustling street. Gone was the tentative tourist, replaced by a man with a mission (a slightly ridiculous mission, but a mission nonetheless). He scanned the crowd, searching for his first "client." 

Suddenly, inspiration struck. A hulking orc, easily twice Roland's size and radiating enough brute force to fell a small oak, lumbered towards him. Perfect. 

With a practiced swagger, Roland adjusted an imaginary tie (there were no ties in this world, but who needed details?) and purposefully bumped into the orc with exaggerated force. He winced internally, bracing for the inevitable brawl. 

"Oi! Watch where you're going, pipsqueak!" the orc bellowed, his voice like gravel grinding together. 

Roland, channeling his inner dramatic hero (emphasis on dramatic), unleashed his "immense pressure." Now, this "pressure" was nothing more than a melodramatic scowl combined with a forceful puff of his chest, a technique he'd perfected to scare away pigeons back home (it worked surprisingly well on pigeons, not so much on large, aggressive dogs). 

However, the orc didn't get the memo. As Roland unleashed his full arsenal of scowling and chest-puffing, the orc blinked. Then, he blinked again. And then, something truly unexpected happened. 

The orc… shrieked. Like a banshee on helium. He threw his hands up in the air, his massive warhammer clattering to the cobblestones with a resounding clang. 

"Don't hurt me!" he squeaked, his voice reaching octaves Roland never knew existed for such a creature. And then, he ran. Yes, the hulking orc, twice Roland's size, ran away like a startled rabbit, leaving Roland standing there, utterly bewildered. 

A slow, disbelieving smile spread across Roland's face. "Wait a minute…" he muttered, processing the scene. "Did I… scare him away with a scowl?" 

He let out a snort of laughter, the absurdity of the situation hitting him full force. Maybe being an isekai Yakuza wouldn't be so difficult after all. All he needed was a good scowl and a slightly inflated sense of self-importance. 

Roland, still basking in the afterglow of his unintentionally terrifying scowl, was about to unleash his "immense pressure" on another unsuspecting passerby (who unfortunately happened to be an elderly gnome carrying a precariously balanced stack of turnips) when a booming voice cut through the air.

"Well, well, well. Look who's decided to grace this delightful little corner of the multiverse with his presence."

Roland whipped around, hand instinctively flying to Ryujin Jakka's hilt. But instead of a hulking monster or a band of angry dwarves, he found himself face-to-face with a familiar sight – Belial, the demon lord with a penchant for smoky taverns and cryptic pronouncements. Belial, however, seemed to be sporting an uncharacteristically chipper demeanor, a hint of amusement dancing in his crimson eyes. 

"Belial," Roland said, lowering his hand slightly. "Fancy meeting you here. Especially considering you dumped me in this strange world with about as much guidance as a lost sock in a dryer."

Belial chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of nearby pigeons (who, unlike Roland, weren't fooled by the demon lord's friendly facade). "Patience, my fiery friend. Patience. All will be revealed in due time. Besides," he added, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "it seems you're already making quite the impression. Though, I wouldn't recommend scaring the local grandmas with your… 'immense pressure.'" 

Roland's cheeks flushed a faint pink. "Hey, it works! ...Sometimes," he mumbled, the memory of the fleeing orc still fresh in his mind. 

"Speaking of which," Belial continued, a sly grin spreading across his face, "I have a proposition for you. Something that might pique your interest, given your current… career aspirations."

Roland, ever the pragmatist (well, most of the time), raised an eyebrow. "Career aspirations? You mean my blossoming isekai Yakuza enterprise?"

Belial threw his head back and laughed, a booming sound that echoed through the cobblestone streets. "Oh, Roland, you never cease to amuse me. No, not Yakuza, and what the hack is Yakuza anyway? Nevermind, it's something far grander. The World Dungeon Council, to be precise."

Roland blinked. "World… Dungeon Council? Isn't that, like, a super important organization that regulates interdimensional monster rampages and stuff?"

"Precisely," Belial confirmed, his smile turning a touch more serious. "And their esteemed chairman… well, let's just say he's eager to meet you."

Roland stared at Belial, a whirlwind of questions swirling in his mind. Why him? Why the World Dungeon Council? And what did being "eager to meet" him even mean in the context of a powerful interdimensional bureaucracy? 

"Look," Belial said, sensing Roland's hesitation, "you're bored, right? You have nothing better to do than scare grandmas and contemplate questionable stew vapor. This could be your chance to actually make a difference. Besides," he added with a wink, "it beats starting your own minion racket. Trust me."

Roland considered his options. Being bored in a strange world was one thing, but getting tangled up in interdimensional monster regulation… well, that sounded like a whole other level of crazy. 

But then again, a part of him, the part that craved adventure (and maybe a decent breakfast that wasn't suspiciously sentient), couldn't help but be intrigued. 

With a sigh, Roland met Belial's gaze. "Alright, demon lord. You win. Take me to your chairman."

Belial's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a strange mix of amusement and… was that anticipation? "Excellent choice, Roland," he boomed. "Now, hold on tight. We're taking a little… shortcut."

With a snap of his fingers, a swirling portal materialized in the air, pulsating with an otherworldly energy. Belial gestured towards it with a flourish. 

"After you, my friend. The World Dungeon Council awaits."

Roland, ever the reluctant human heart demon (or reluctant isekai Yakuza), took a deep breath, gripped the Zanpakuto a little tighter, and stepped through the portal. He had a feeling his time in this strange new world was about to get a whole lot more interesting.