CHAPTER 294

Ellis Barker and Ângelo Messina were immersed in the refined atmosphere of Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai, a restaurant that exuded tradition and authenticity. However, their quiet meal was soon interrupted by the appearance of Fumio, the Saiko-komon of the Sumiyoshi-kai family.

Fumio questioned Messina's presence there, alongside Kenji Ito's partner, a declared enemy of the head of the Sumiyoshi-kai family, Jun Kobayashi.

“What are you doing here, Messina, with Kenji Ito's partner?” asked Fumio, his expression serious and inquisitive.

Messina reluctantly explained they were in search of Donna Smith, Ellis's daughter, kidnapped from her own home.

Fumio, a sharp-eyed man, raised an eyebrow, questioning how someone could be kidnapped from Messina's residence, a seemingly improbable fact.

“How can someone be kidnapped from inside their home, Messina? That doesn't make sense,” said Fumio, his voice calm but laden with suspicion.

“One of my men betrayed me,” admitted Messina, discontentedly, shifting the blame onto one of his own subordinates.

However, Messina's response was met with disbelief from Fumio, who identified that statement as the second lie uttered.

Fumio, however, seemed not to believe Messina's explanation. “That was your second lie,” he said, exposing the falsehood in Messina's answer.

Seeking help, Messina inquired if Fumio could assist them in this distressing search.

“Fumio, can we count on your help?” asked Messina, with a tone of supplication.

Fumio, with his firm and analytical posture, directed his gaze to Ellis, questioning why they should help the business partner of their enemy.

“Why should we help the business partner of our enemy?” Fumio challenged.

Confidently, Ellis clarified that she wasn't asking for help, just trying to understand if they were somehow involved in the kidnapping.

“I'm not asking for help, just trying to figure out if you're involved,” replied Ellis, holding her ground.

Fumio smiled, denying any involvement of his family in the situation.

“We're not involved,” affirmed Fumio, his smile conveying unwavering certainty.

Ellis, persistent, then questioned who could be involved.

“If it's not you, who could be involved?” Ellis asked, her expression displaying determination.

Fumio's smile remained, and he asked Ellis if that was truly the information she wanted.

“Is this the information you really want?” Fumio challenged.

Ellis confirmed, eager to glean any clues about her daughter's whereabouts.

“Yes, that's what I want to know,” replied Ellis, her voice resolute.

However, Fumio warned that was the third lie uttered and, as previously warned, there would be no forgiveness for such an action.

“Third lie, Ellis. As I warned, there will be no forgiveness,” declared Fumio, his voice firm and decisive.

The tension in the air was almost palpable. Fumio, in a subtle gesture, signaled to his Yakuza men that it was time to act. However, something surprising happened: none of the men appeared.

The order issued by Fumio, which should have been immediately carried out, encountered a disconcerting void.

While Fumio kept his hand raised in vain, waiting for his men who did not appear, Ellis calmly took a sip of sake, defying the tense atmosphere. The conversation between them continued, marked by Ellis's insolent calmness.

“For how long will you keep your hand raised until you realize your men won't come, Fumio?” taunted Ellis, maintaining a challenging smile.

Surprised by the turn of events, Fumio questioned what Ellis had done to provoke such an outcome.

“What did you do, Ellis?” inquired Fumio, his expression laden with suspicion.

Still smiling, Ellis revealed that the action came from Kenji. Kenji Ito's men suddenly appeared, surrounding the table.

“It was Kenji. I merely returned the favor for him taking care of Rocco,” said Ellis, maintaining her calm and confident demeanor.

Fumio, looking at Ângelo, expressed his disappointment. With an accusing tone, he pronounced the word 'Uragirimono', meaning traitor.

Ângelo tried to justify, stating he was unaware of the situation. “I didn't know anything about this, Fumio.”

Kenji Ito's men, maintaining a serious and determined posture, escorted Fumio out of the restaurant, taking him with them. Ângelo Messina, confused by the turn of events, faced Ellis, visibly surprised and intrigued.

“What did you do, Ellis?” asked Messina, seeking to understand the dynamics behind Kenji's sudden intervention.

In the midst of this tumultuous scenario, Ellis's phone broke the silence with its distinctive ringtone. On the screen, Kenji's name stood out. A smile appeared on Ellis's lips as she answered the call.

“It's done,” Ellis replied to Kenji's question. On the other end of the line, Kenji then asked if Ângelo was with her.

Calmly, Ellis handed the phone to Messina, conveying that Kenji wanted to speak directly with him.

“He wants to talk to you, Ângelo,” said Ellis, offering the phone to Messina, awaiting their further conversation.

Ângelo, apprehensive and still surprised by the turn of events, took the phone and put it to his ear.

“Kenji?” his voice sounded slightly tense.

“How are you, Angelo-san?” asked Kenji, his voice calm and perspicacious.

“What are you doing, Kenji? Taking Fumio like this... This could lead to a war,” expressed Ângelo, concerned about the consequences of Kenji's actions.

Kenji, in turn, let out a calm laugh, as if the situation were more complex than it appeared.

“I'm not causing a war, Angelo-san. In fact, the Sumiyoshi-kai family has suffered a series of recent blows,” revealed Kenji, explaining the situation. “In March, the family head was arrested for extortion. In June, the family's second-in-command was assassinated. Now, with Fumio out of the way, few remain.”

Ângelo sighed, understanding the extent of recent events. The situation was more complex than he could have imagined.

“Kenji, you shouldn't have involved me in this,” Ângelo retorted, expressing his concern. “Fumio left here believing I was a traitor.”

“You wouldn't have been involved if ambition hadn't spoken louder, trying to do business with both the Sumiyoshi-kai family and the Yamaguchi-gumi family,” said Kenji, pointing to Ângelo's ambition as a determining factor. “Everyone knows the long history of rivalry between the Sumiyoshi-kai family and the Yamaguchi-gumi family.”

Ângelo Messina absorbed Kenji's words, acknowledging the complexity of the situation he found himself in. The actions involving Fumio and the situation of the organized crime families in Japan were unfolding unexpectedly, and Ângelo now found himself in the center of this turmoil, having to deal with the consequences of his own choices and actions.

“You'll have to deal with the consequences of your ambition, Angelo San,” declared Kenji, his tone calm and firm.

In his defense, Messina argued that Kenji shouldn't have involved Ellis in the situation.

“You shouldn't have involved Ellis in this,” insisted Messina, expressing his dissatisfaction.

Kenji, maintaining his calm tone, smiled enigmatically.

“Take care, Angelo San,” were his last words before hanging up.

Ângelo, visibly stunned by the conversation he had with Kenji, looked at Ellis with a mixture of disbelief and concern.

“Kenji not only took revenge on the Sumiyoshi-kai family but also me,” murmured Ângelo, in shock, trying to process the implications of the situation.

“What do we do now? Kenji ruined our chances of finding out about Donna,” Ângelo inquired, concerned about what had happened.

“We have to go back to New York,” declared Ellis, firm in her decision.

“Why? What's in New York?” Ângelo asked, trying to understand the sudden change of plans.

“Kenji said that Rocco woke up,” revealed Ellis, highlighting the immediate importance of this news. “Apparently, he's the only one now who can help.”