A fierce golden radiance flickered through the overcast sky, like a majestic greatsword piercing the heavens, cast down by a god from above the clouds to run through the earth.
A faint, thunderous roar came from afar. Shingen Yashida, seated inside the corporate building, felt a tremor, but he had no mind to spare for it. His burning gaze remained fixed on the leader of The Hand across from him.
"Why did you choose me?" he asked hoarsely.
The eldest son of the Yashida Family had not been living well. To outsiders, Shingen Yashida was destined to inherit the family business and become one of the country's most influential figures, standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid of power.
But only Shingen Yashida himself knew that his aging father still controlled most of the power. With a single word, Ichiro Yashida could mobilize enormous sums of money and resources. Shingen was little more than a puppet propped up on strings; every major decision had to be personally reviewed by Ichiro Yashida.
Take the secret laboratory established in Yokohama. Its investment costs alone had reached several billion dollars, driving many of the Yashida Family's small and medium-sized companies into bankruptcy. Shingen Yashida had no power to refuse. He could only be a dutiful son, helping his father conceal the financial statements and deceive the shareholders on the Board of Directors.
He had thought that would earn his father's trust and put the family business in his hands. Who would have expected Ichiro Yashida to choose Mariko in the end?
"You are the most suitable candidate, Mr. Yashida."
Elektra raised an eyebrow. She had received the eldest son of the Yashida Family in Sean's stead, intending to bring him under her command to consolidate her forces and strengthen The Hand. At the