Just minutes after Takamine Rinji headed to the Inugane Group, a private jet landed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
A dignified older man stepped off the plane, followed by several bodyguard-like individuals.
Outside the airport, several middle-aged men in suits greeted him respectfully.
"Mr. Shechik, the car is ready."
"Mm."
George Shechik stepped into a stretched Rolls-Royce. Once the door closed, the car began weaving through Tokyo's streets.
Inside the spacious vehicle, George looked out at the bustling city and murmured, "The last time I was in Tokyo was in the late 20th century. It wasn't this lively back then. Time really does fly."
"Indeed it does," his secretary beside him agreed.
"Mr. Shechik, many people already know about your arrival."
"Mm."
"Here are the invitations we received." The secretary brought out a tablet and read aloud, "The Minister of Defense would like to host a defense summit and invites Mr. Shechik—"
"Decline."
"Oh… The Foreign Minister is holding a forum…"
"Decline."
"The Prime Minister is hosting a banquet?"
"Decline that too."
George replied blandly.
"The only reason I'm here in Japan is to see the young master. All those other trivial matters are meaningless. Cancel every invitation and event."
"Understood."
The secretary nodded and turned off the tablet.
George leaned back against the car seat, his thoughts drifting back to twenty years ago—a time of turmoil.
Back then, he didn't have his current status. He was just a washed-up veteran discarded by the times, so down on his luck that even those crooked American cops dared to strut their stuff in front of him.
He ended up in a holding cell over a minor incident, and at the time, he thought that was how his life would end.
But at that moment, a black-haired Eastern boy appeared at the detention center, eliminated all the guards with ease, and was there simply to rescue a girl temporarily detained.
He was just a kid, yet George could see something in his eyes—power and madness that didn't belong to this world.
George took a wild gamble. After escaping with the boy, the kid told him he had a big plan and invited him to join. George accepted—and became the kid's first subordinate.
That "big plan" later became IW, the organization that now shapes global affairs.
"Time… really flies."
"It sure does."
"When the boss suddenly announced he was retiring to farm back home, everyone was shocked. But nobody objected. After all, it's understandable for someone at the peak to want a quiet life."
George suddenly chuckled.
"Come to think of it, I held his son, Rinji, when he was just a baby. Such a cute kid… but now…"
His fist suddenly clenched tightly with an audible creak of straining bones, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"And now some mere Japanese conglomerate dares to lay a hand on the young master? Do they really think IW rose to power by hosting tea parties? We earned our place through war and bloodshed! Those pig-headed fools…"
"Mr. Shechik, those people don't even know that Takamine Rinji is the boss's son. In fact, only a handful—like IW's founding elders, President Sosuke, the branch directors, and a few people in the combat units—know the truth. It's top secret."
"Still, they laid hands on the young master…"
"Mr. Shechik, calm down. Rinji himself said not to take action against the Shinomiya family. He probably has a plan of his own."
"Sigh…"
George exhaled and unclenched his fist.
"I told the boss we should've had Rinji live with me in the U.S., but he insisted on sending him to Japan."
"That's because he was worried you'd spoil him too much."
---
The car drove for over an hour and finally stopped in front of an apartment building.
"We're here."
"…This is it?"
George got out of the car and stared at the building, confused.
"This is…"
"This is where Takamine Rinji lives."
"…Which room?"
"Second building, tenth floor, fifth room down."
"Just one room? Is the young master really living that frugally in Japan!?"
"This is a luxury apartment," the secretary replied coolly. "Sir, you may have misunderstood the word 'frugal.' Also, the president's wife lives here too, so it's not that surprising."
"…Whatever. Let's go check."
The two entered Building 2, pressed the elevator button, and went up.
On the tenth floor, they followed the hallway to the fifth door. The sign on the door read "倫次".
George hesitated for a moment, then rang the doorbell.
Ding dong~
Click.
The door opened—not to the golden-haired boy George expected, but to someone with black hair.
"Um… may I ask who you are?"
It was Ishigami. He thought Rinji had just stepped out without his key, so he opened the door—but instead saw a tall, elderly Westerner exuding an intimidating pressure that made him feel extremely uneasy.
'Whoa… who is this old man? So scary…'
Seeing that it wasn't Rinji who opened the door, George looked at the secretary. After receiving a confirming nod, he asked in slightly clumsy Japanese, "Is… Takamine Rinji… home?"
"You're looking for Rinji? He said he went out to run an errand. He's not home right now," Ishigami said nervously. "And you are…?"
"I'm his… grandfather. Yes, grandfather."
George nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"Oh, I see, his grandfather."
Ishigami remembered that Rinji was mixed-race, so having a Western grandpa wasn't strange.
"Well then, please come in. I think Rinji should be back soon."
"Great, great. Are you one of Rinji's friends?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful. Tell me all about what Rinji's been doing at school. I've been worried about him."
Once inside, George and Ishigami entered the living room.
Not long after, Takamine Rinji returned.
Seeing George, he was stunned.
"Grandpa George?"
"Little Rinji, you're back?" George's stern face instantly turned gentle with a warm smile.