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墨書 Inktalez
Vera's voice was calm, yet in the stillness of the night sky, it rang clear, much like the distant roar of a waterfall echoing through an ancient forest. The sound was powerful not only because of its source but also due to the environment amplifying it.
Ikeda Kenji seemed to possess an innate leadership quality. In this regard, Jufeng reflected carefully on himself and made a serious comparison, ultimately concluding that he was indeed far inferior to Ikeda.
Jufeng stepped forward two paces in response to Vera's voice, moving from the light at the door into the shadows beneath the night sky.
The many shadows of the night began to react. Between Jufeng and Ikeda Kenji, a sinister aura filled the space.
Jufeng had interacted with Utada Hikaru many times, so he was quite familiar with this presence. Most ninjas were stealthy, inevitably carrying the essence of the night.
However, within this dark world, there was also a mingling of bright energy, especially around Ikeda Kenji, where that brightness was particularly intense.
Jufeng smiled lightly, his lips curving under the night sky like a crescent moon. It seemed that England's martial arts heritage was indeed complex and not merely comprised of trivial techniques.
Ikeda Kenji's bright eyes resembled the moon as he watched Jufeng take two steps forward into the night. After pausing for just two seconds, his gaze returned to Vera.
There was no disdain in his expression, yet it still made Jufeng feel uncomfortable.
Ikeda Kenji spoke first, and as expected, his voice and demeanor matched Jufeng's expectations perfectly. He said slowly, "Vera, how is my sister?"
Vera also took two graceful steps forward, aligning herself with Jufeng as they faced the countless shadows across from them.
"Your sister is well. Some interesting stories have unfolded with our Feng Shao. I believe it would be inappropriate to keep Underboss waiting outside in the dark. Why not invite him inside?"
This was originally Ikeda Masahiro's villa; as her brother, Ikeda Kenji often visited as if it were his own home. However, he hadn't anticipated returning in such a manner tonight—his role shifting from host to guest left him feeling somewhat disoriented.
Standing quietly in place, Ikeda Kenji did not immediately respond. He observed the villa silently as if inspecting it like a leader. After a moment, a sudden gust of wind broke his silence.
"Hopefully, tonight will be a pleasant evening."
Ikeda Kenji walked slowly into the house, accompanied by a young figure closely following him. The other shadows vanished in an instant within the courtyard, yet both Jufeng and Vera understood that they had not escaped the threat.
Ikeda Kenji approached Jufeng, standing no more than two meters away, while the young man behind him was even closer to Jufeng by a meter.
Turning his head, Jufeng once again took in Ikeda Kenji's upright features; his gaze was indeed as profound as the starlight in the sky, as if he could see through the myriad lives with just a glance.
Jufeng smiled and nodded, seemingly greeting him, "Your sister is quite charming!"
The first words out of his mouth were playfully teasing. It seemed that during this trip to the UK, Jufeng intended to fully embody the youthful arrogance of his age.
However, surprisingly, Ikeda Kenji did not become angry at Jufeng's remark; not even a ripple disturbed his perfect composure. This made Jufeng feel a renewed sense of admiration deep within.
Truly, he was the second-in-command of the Yamamoto Clan, a contender for leadership. Just this level of courage and determination already surpassed most leaders in the Underworld by several tiers.
He did not smile; he appeared much like Vera from their first meeting—someone who would never understand what it meant to smile. He merely stated calmly, "Yahui has many suitors. If you can win her heart, I won't mind what has happened in the past. But if you are toying with her feelings, I will relentlessly hunt you down."
Jufeng was taken aback by these words. After some careful thought, he understood. From an older brother's perspective, perhaps his sister ranked above the gang itself. In this regard, Ikeda Kenji was indeed an anomaly among the Underworld figures Jufeng had encountered.
Yet Jufeng appreciated this anomaly.
Thus, he reined in his flippant attitude and nodded solemnly. He wasn't sure what this nod truly meant—whether it was a guarantee of sincerity towards Ikeda Masahiro or a promise not to provoke that enigmatic woman.
Seeing Jufeng nod, Ikeda Kenji seemed to grasp his intent and continued walking into the villa. The shadow behind him remained close at hand but emitted a strong sense of hostility as it passed by Jufeng.
Hostility was palpable, a natural aura of killing intent.
Jufeng smiled lightly, not saying much. He waited for Vera to walk beside him before slowly following her into the lavish surroundings.
In his heart, he deeply resonated with Ikeda Kenji's words. It seemed that Yahui's admirers were indeed as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Unfortunately, the person beside Ikeda Kenji had likely been vying for his attention for many years, yet still had not succeeded. What did this signify? It meant that he would never have a chance in this lifetime.
Falling in love with someone is often not determined by the length of time spent.
When Jufeng entered the room, Ikeda Kenji and his sister were already seated on the sofa next to each other. Contrary to expectations of lamentation or tearful embraces, both siblings appeared remarkably calm. The only difference was that Ikeda Masahiro looked somewhat haggard; it seemed that after engaging in a battle of wits and courage with Jufeng and Vera, both his spirit and energy had been significantly drained. Now that his elder brother was before him, he naturally let down all defenses and inevitably appeared a bit dejected.
The young man behind the sofa, who harbored great hostility towards Jufeng, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore dark clothing with wide lapels, and one could faintly see a gleaming knife tied around his wrist.
Vera walked over to sit across from Ikeda Kenji, while Lance took a position similar to that of the young man opposite them. Jufeng moved aside to stroke Mosaic and admire the murals, behaving like a tourist as if the discussions happening among the others were none of his concern.
Ikeda Kenji sat upright like a statue, looking at Vera with a puzzled tone. "The Yamamoto Clan and Blazing Axe are fiercely engaged in battle at the front lines, yet you suddenly appear here. Are you truly not afraid of us both perishing together? I know your Bear Guard is formidable, but do not forget that this is Yingguo; no one can disregard my presence on my own turf."
A person of integrity exudes righteousness, making their words sound justified. If spoken by someone else, it might come off as a threat; however, when Ikeda Kenji articulated it calmly, it merely presented a question.
"It is not about being bold due to skill; rather, the benefits I seek are sufficient to support my venture here. So far, it has proven worthwhile—after all, the Underboss has appeared before me!"
Ikeda Kenji nodded at this but shook his head moments later. He then turned his gaze toward Jufeng, who was casually observing nearby. "It seems that so far, it has been Feng Shao doing all the work. I wonder if Vera feels any shame?"
On the way here, Ikeda Kenji had already seen a series of so-called stories involving Jufeng and Yahui through surveillance footage, which had notably lacked any sign of Vera. This led to his earlier judgment.
Vera found herself at a loss for words in response to Ikeda Kenji's comment, feeling somewhat awkward. It was then that Jufeng, who had been disengaged until now, suddenly snapped back to reality and joined in on the conversation.
"Ikena Kenji, you are mistaken. Vera and I are partners; our work is inherently aligned, and we share the same goals. Once we achieve our objectives, how we divide the benefits is our concern, not yours."
Ikeda Kenji had no intention of sowing discord between them. He took Jufeng's response lightly, but Ikeda Masahiro, lounging in a corner of the sofa, scoffed and rolled his eyes dramatically, unreservedly exposing the truth.
"Someone just now seemed to have a different opinion. How deceitful people can be; their faces change faster than flipping a book."
Jufeng shrugged, noncommittal. With Kenji's brother present, he refrained from being too brazen. As for any verbal advantage, he didn't wish to claim much. Facing the upright Ikeda Kenji stirred Romain's competitive spirit and desire for a direct confrontation.
Vera pondered for a moment before getting straight to the point. "Underboss, I believe you understand my intentions regarding the collaboration I mentioned earlier. I've heard that Yuta Shouroku is envious of your talents and has been suppressing you at every turn. The position of president should have long been yours, yet he clings to it and opposes you. Therefore, I think we have a common enemy, which naturally creates a motive for cooperation. I hope you will consider this carefully; it could benefit us both without causing harm."
Upon hearing this, Ikeda Kenji fell into a long silence. It was clear he had already considered Vera's group's purpose; however, the brief journey had not allowed him to think it through completely.
He needed a little more time to make his final decision.
(To be continued)
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