The Kondo Group's reputation was not particularly well-known among ordinary people—or rather, it did not inspire fear... Sure, most people had heard of the Kondo Group, but what exactly the Kondo Group did was beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Most people only knew that safety could be guaranteed within the Kondo Group's jurisdiction—violent organizations, yakuza, and the like all kept their distance from the Kondo Group... Of course, those who did not understand the Kondo Group were indeed quite afraid of them. After all, if they could keep violent organizations and yakuza out of their territory, who knew what the Kondo Group had done.
One had to remember that Japan was a country where violent organizations were legal. Even the authorities could do nothing about groups like the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Inagawa-kai. Of course, the authorities could still punish yakuza, but making their influence disappear entirely? They simply could not do it!
That was why the Kondo Group, which could keep yakuza out, was so feared. But once people truly understood the Kondo Group, they felt that the group was doing the right thing!
What did it mean to be able to ignore yakuza in a country where violent organizations were legal? Take the simplest example... Before the Kondo Group expanded its territory, people would tremble with fear whenever they saw someone with tattoos in a bathhouse—especially in a sauna. If a tattooed person entered, they could scare an entire group of people into running out.
Was that an exaggeration? No, it was not... Because even tattoos came in degrees. If someone only had tattoos on their arms or thighs, they would still piss themselves in fear upon encountering a burly man with a full-back tattoo.
Yet those with full-back tattoos were still not at the very top, because