Chapter 87
The White Crane of Okinawa (1)
Resort Yoshiwara.
Although it hadn’t been around for long, it was a must-visit spot for tourists in Okinawa.
‘I’ve been here once with Inha too,’ I thought.
We had stopped here during a promotional shoot, covering all the typical tourist courses.
The resort compressed the scale of a small city into the grounds of what could pass as a medium-sized theme park.
Tourists could enjoy both the unique natural scenery of Okinawa and the comfort of a modern metropolis in one place.
‘…Back then, Yoshiwara seemed just like that—nothing more, nothing less.’
But for those who visited at night, the city revealed a completely different kind of pleasure.
The streets were alive with neon lights, so dazzling that they barely allowed sleep, instead radiating energy and excitement.
The Casino Park teemed with humans whose lives revolved solely around indulgence:
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Wealthy businessmen seeking thrills that burned through their senses.
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Newlyweds craving forbidden delights on their honeymoon night.
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Men who had already burned through everything and existed like embers, chasing whatever pleasures remained.
Yoshiwara was a place that offered both comfort and indulgence in equal measure.
“This guy runs a place like this, yet pretends to be all noble and acts like a monk. I don’t get it,” Ken muttered, shaking his head as he walked through the casino park.
The so-called White Crane of Okinawa…
Miyazaki, the lord of the Okinawa domain, called himself a Dōsō—a ‘way monk.’
I could still vividly remember in my previous life how he had a rosary in one hand and a katana in the other.
“By the way… are you seriously going in dressed like that?”
“Problem?”
“Well, I just thought maybe you’d need a disguise.”
This was the enemy’s stronghold.
Stealth would have been the proper approach.
But here they were, strolling boldly down the main street, entering through the front gate.
Ken wore his usual lordly attire: a black monk’s robe with a white overcoat.
He waved off my concern.
“Relax. These are people who know better. They won’t cause trouble in their own territory, right?”
True.
Yoshiwara concentrated the wealth of the Okinawa domain.
Any commotion would only be to their own detriment.
“So if everyone else is sent away and only I come, that’s just an excuse to meet quietly. They don’t want a ruckus either.”
“And if the boss doesn’t show?”
“…Well, then we’ll have to deal with it.”
Ken cracked his knuckles.
What exactly was he planning?
Whatever it was, he didn’t seem intent on starting a bloodbath from the outset.
“So there was no need to bring that girl, Konohah or whatever.”
Ken’s disapproving gaze flicked to Sehyun’s side.
Konohah, dressed in a suit and sunglasses, clung to Sehyun like a bodyguard.
“And what’s with that outfit? Do ninjas even wear suits these days? I got it ready because you asked, but still…”
Konohah whispered into Sehyun’s ear without even glancing at Ken.
“Oppa, it seems there are still old-fashioned people who think ninjas only wear masks and throw shurikens. Ridiculous, right?”
“What’s ridiculous?”
Ken gave her a sharp look, and she waved her hand with a smile.
“Oh, did you hear that? We were just talking among ourselves. But I guess there really are people like that. They call them ‘old-fashioned’ these days.”
“I’m not old-fashioned, I’m just saying basics must be followed. Basics.”
“I see~ I’ll remember that, Lord of the Domain!”
Konohah gave a crisp salute, clearly mocking the situation.
Ken shook his head.
“Seriously, why bring her along? What a hassle.”
She had been brought along for a reason: a subtle assertion of equality.
“You and I are supposed to be equals in this alliance.”
‘He could have started by meeting alone, but he unilaterally decided I should come alone on this mission.’
His intentions were clear.
‘He thinks I’m on a different level from him as the lord of the domain.’
It was a sneaky attempt to put me under his control.
If I were slightly naïve, I might have fallen for it.
Once the hierarchy was established, it would be hard to overturn.
‘The more I see him, the more cunning he seems. Can’t afford to let my guard down.’
Thankfully, Konohah wasn’t the type to be intimidated, and she kept him in check.
“That guy’s kind of obnoxious, right? What’s a lord anyway? Just some random old man to outsiders.”
“…Everyone can hear you.”
Sometimes she crossed the line in ways that made me think, ‘Is this okay?’
As they walked, suddenly:
“Ken. What brings you here?”
A tall man in a black monk’s robe blocked their path.
He seemed to recognize Ken immediately.
Sehyun whispered to Konohah.
“Do you know him?”
“Not specifically, but that outfit… he’s an official retainer of the domain.”
“So he’s not just some random guy.”
Ken waved indifferently.
“I need to speak with Mr. Miyazaki. Step aside.”
“….”
But the man didn’t move an inch.
Ken frowned slightly.
“Not stepping aside?”
“The lord of the domain has ordered me to politely turn you away.”
“Really now.”
Ken’s frown deepened, and his eyes sharpened.
“Fine, let’s see how long you can hold this overnight. I wonder what people would say if they saw it.”
The man glanced around.
Passersby looked curious as they passed, trying to see what was happening.
The man’s face showed obvious discomfort.
When a domain lord comes to someone else’s establishment and behaves like this, disruption is inevitable.
‘They can’t just stand by either.’
If this dragged on, the Okinawa side wouldn’t look favorably upon it.
“Sigh… we have no choice.”
The man exhaled heavily and waved his hand.
Immediately, the guards began ushering people out.
“Seriously? Closing the doors too?”
“…I’m just following orders.”
“Ugh, unbelievable.”
Ken approached Sehyun, sighing in exasperation.
“Crazy bastards. Burning five billion just to avoid me?”
Five billion…
Could the casino really make that much in a single night?
They were certainly stubborn.
Refusing outright, risking massive losses, just because the boss didn’t show…
“What do we do now? These guys seem serious.”
The black-robed group began to slowly surround them.
Konohah glared at Ken, complaining.
“Ha… we shouldn’t have come head-on. This was bound to happen.”
“Well, it’s fine. No need to run around looking for them now.”
“It’s us who are in danger! You set unnecessary conditions for Oppa just to maintain appearances.”
“Hmm… true.”
Ken had previously given Sehyun one instruction:
If a fight broke out, she shouldn’t intervene.
‘I claim it’s to protect you, but would it work if you can survive on your own?’
It felt less like an alliance and more like taking hostages.
An unreasonable request.
‘But we need Ken’s strength to deal with Okinawa.’
Capturing Okinawa was necessary to uncover the truth of that night.
Also, it would allow them to locate Kusunagi’s survivor and return the sword.
Unlike the four other domains embroiled in bloody conflict, Sehyun’s priority was ensuring the sacred artifact remained unharmed.
So handling it this way was unavoidable.
“They’re not forbidding self-defense, right?”
“Wow, they’re allowing self-defense? How generous of you, Lord of the Domain.”
“Hey, speak nicely, ninja.”
“I am speaking respectfully.”
Ken shook his head and glanced at Sehyun, as if to say, ‘That girl really annoys me.’
“And you can handle this much yourself, right?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Instinct.”
“Instinct?”
“Yeah. Just feels that way.”
Simple as that—no argument could counter it.
Since yesterday, Ken had developed a peculiar trust in Sehyun.
Even though he wanted to keep her subordinate, he respected her skill.
Meanwhile, Ken sized up the approaching group.
“Hmmm… about a hundred?”
“They’re twelve fully trained Dōsōs.”
“Must’ve been carefully raised. That’s enough.”
Ken cracked his knuckles.
“Such a waste to kill them all here.”
“…It won’t be easy.”
Simultaneously, the black-robed men gripped the hilts of their swords.
“Draw, first form.”
The blades leapt from their sheaths with sharp intent.
[Mae (Forward)]
Kwahhh!!
Sharper than anything Kashiwagi could produce.
A hundred waves of sword energy crashed forward.
In that instant, Ken grabbed Sehyun and Konohah by the scruff of their necks.
Thud─!
Ken lightly stepped, and the surroundings changed.
Whoosh──
“Dangerous, huh?”
“Ah! W-where is this…!”
“It’s just the air.”
Looking down, Sehyun saw the neon-lit streets of Yoshiwara far below.
They seemed to be hovering over a hundred meters above ground.
“You… can warp?”
“Oh, so you’ve seen it before?”
In my previous life, there were several warp-capable individuals.
Techniques like Chukjibeop, spatial leaps, warp—instant teleportation by folding space.
Highly useful but difficult to control.
Misuse often led to irreparable injury or death.
Hence, a strict rule: never move vertically—especially never descend.
Ignoring it led to gruesome consequences from fall impact.
Having seen such disasters, Sehyun’s breath caught.
“Oppa, afraid of heights? Want me to hold your hand?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Not time for chit-chat. Go.”
Shhaaak──
The three of them reappeared before the black-robed group.
Ken lightly touched the ground.
[Earthquake (Jinara)]
Kwahkwak───!!!!!!
A shockwave radiated outward in concentric circles from Ken.
“Grr… what… is this?!”
“Stay steady! Don’t lose your footing!”
The black-robed group staggered, their formation breaking.
Ken grinned and vanished again.
“Ten meters.”
Moments later, his voice came from above.
Shhk──
He reappeared before a monk and kicked him squarely in the stomach.
“Ugh!!!”
The monk flew, smashed far away, taking the full impact from a ten-meter drop.
Other monks charged Ken.
“Draw, fifth form!”
[Kesa-giri (Monk’s robe slash)]
X-shaped sword energy rained down.
But Ken’s warp rendered direct attacks useless.
He warped past the blades and leapt 15 meters into the air.
Then repeated the fall attack with the same impact.
Bam──!!
“Argh!!!!”
At this point, numbers meant nothing.
Ken disappeared and reappeared repeatedly, decimating them.
Sehyun had neither the time nor need for self-defense.
Anyone who approached even slightly would be intercepted by Ken.
“Hey, hands off my justification.”
Bang─!
Flashing east to west, he seemed to have countless clones.
‘So it wasn’t a lie when he said Konohah didn’t need to come.’
Even the strongest will have gaps if outnumbered, but Ken’s warp covered all directions.
Pock, pock—sounds rang from all around as the monks were nearly shredded.
“Perhaps that’s enough, Ken.”
Click-click──
A monk appeared, wearing black robes with a white overcoat.
“Finally you show up, old man.”
“The commotion is excessive. It’s said that late at night, one should maintain quiet.”
“You wouldn’t have come otherwise, old man.”
This was the blind lord of Okinawa.
One hand held a rosary, the other rested on the sword at his waist.
“That person… must be the lord of Okinawa.”
Finally, the main figure had appeared.
