"I'll tell you everything I know about Kage No Shakai."
Daichi replies, "Great, that's more like it."
But then, Sasaki says, "But before that, I would like to give you a warning first."
Daichi replies, "Oh, what is it?"
Sasaki answers, "By the time you know about this, danger will surely come to you. So I suggest you be careful."
Daichi replies, "Hmm.......okay."
Sasaki then starts to spill everything.
Kage No Shakai
A kingdom that has been running since the ancient samurai era.
A powerful organization whom no one knows, yet it exists.
Built by one of the most powerful clans of Japan who pledged loyalty entirely to the shogunate, they swear to serve the shogunate for eternity.
The family is named The Tokugawa Clan.
Since the shogun trusted them, the Tokugawa clan was given authority second only to the shogun.
They've been lurking in the shadows to hunt anyone who could be a threat to the shogunate at that time.
Kage No Shakai acts as a silent executioner to those who dare to oppose the almighty shogun.
But one day, the shogun passed away due to a dangerous disease and it also infected his entire family and that led them to their end.
With no descendants left from the previous shogun. So after his death, the title moved to the leader of the Tokugawa clan, Ieyasu Tokugawa.
With his title as the shogun, he uses his grand authority to expand the organization in secret.
And he orders all children to participate.
As an exchange, they will get sustainable foods, a proper shelter, high knowledge, great experiences and an honorable title from the shogun as they finish their training at Kage No Shakai.
They trained children like crazy, without the mercy and absolute discipline of a samurai.
But the difference is that they were taught to eliminate their targets behind the shadows.
So they're not entirely samurai.
They are samurai with the code of a ninja.
Of course, everyone disagrees with this kind of training system, because it opposes the samurai code that has been used among the samurais for generations after generations.
But according to Ieyasu, that belief needs to be changed.
The samurai's code of honor is no longer relevant.
Because to him, a true honor is a loyalty to the highest authority without question and bravery to adapt and change for greater victory.
The way of the samurai is inefficient and foolish.
So, he declares that everyone who was born and stands in his land shall always consistently change in every era.
After that declaration, a lot of daimyos opposed him.
So they secretly formed a resistance against the shogun.
They summon a lot of ninjas to take down Ieyasu.
Blood bath is shed on the shogunate, the battle was brutal.
But unfortunately, they failed.
So after that event, Ieyasu orders all samurais to arrest the daimyos.
As they get arrested, he is given a second chance.
To those who admit their false action, regret and swear to serve the shogunate without question, he'll let them live another day, but to those who still insist on bowing to the shogun, they'll be executed.
Some of the daimyos who fear death immediately admit their mistakes and swear to absolute authority, but the rest of them deny.
So they're immediately executed in public.
Some of the samurai who were still loyal to the old tradition committed seppuku and some of them went into exile and became a ronin.
Since then, no one dares to question Ieyasu, including the emperor.
He holds absolute control of the military, politics, education and social system.
He shaped a new tradition that lasted for many years.
And with his undefeatable army that cast aside the code of honor, he had won many battles.
No one could stop him and everyone feared his name.
The tradition remains for his descendants as well.
During the Meiji Restoration, the leader of the Tokugawa Clan at that time, Yoshinobu Tokugawa decided to resign as the shogun and handed the power back to the emperor in November 1867 and since then, the clan never appeared in public. It's like they're disappeared from history.
But even when the clan no longer has an authority to govern Japan, the Kage No Shakai still stands under the Tokugawa Clan's control for one purpose: to give justice to any evil in Japan from the shadows.
Even now, the Kage No Shakai still educate youngsters who don't have any place to go to become a knight in the shadows, who is now called an assassin.
To uphold judgement towards evil.
To erase injustice, without anyone noticing.
All of that is for a better future for Japan.
And until now, only the emperor knew of their existence.
Daichi was amazed upon hearing its history.
"Woah…..that's a long history. So Kage No Shakai has been standing for more than a century."
Sasaki replies, "Yes."
Daichi asked again, "And this is a legacy from the great shogun of the past."
Sasaki replies, "Correct, until now, the Kage No Shakai is under the Tokugawa clan's control, but no one knows their whereabouts. No one knows where they live, no one knows the name of all of the members and all of their status is completely hidden from the public and media. Even if you search them on the internet, you won't get any useful information. The only thing you could find is just their history. Nothing else."
Daichi then says, "Alright, anything else?"
Sasaki replies, "Currently, the Kage No Shakai has more than a thousand assassins in their shoes. And all of them are disguising themselves as citizens in the public as guardian angels among the people."
Daichi says, "But according to your lifestyle, you don't sound like an angel."
Sasaki replies, "IT'S JUST A JOB, ALRIGHT!!"
Daichi says, "Hehe...…."
Sasaki replies, "Besides that, they also have power in any field and industry."
Daichi responds, "On any field?"
Sasaki answers, "Yeah, they have a lot of intel on every place. Yeah, everywhere. They're in entertainment, public media, broadcasting media, politics, medics, military, companies, law, education and...…."
Then he looks into the two-way mirror and says, "And even among the police."
Haruto, Goto and the security guards gulp at the same time.
Sasaki continued, "That's why I suggest you be careful, because what you're doing right now could cost your life, perhaps there is someone from Kage No Shakai among those people at the observation room or even they're here as well in this very facility."
Daichi then replies, "Hmm...…."
Sasaki continued again, "You better watch your back, old man. Since I already told you the dark secret of the underworld, someone will begin to hunt you and every person you care about."
Daichi then says, "Hmm, okay. Thank you for your concern, but aren't you in danger as well, if they know you leaked the info to me."
Sasaki replies, "Probably. But at least, I don't want to die just because of a coffee."
Daichi stands up and says, "Okay, that's it for our chat. Thank you for your participation, Mr. Sasaki."
Sasaki then replies, "HEY! HOW ABOUT THE ANTIDOTE THAT YOU PROMISED?!!"
Daichi says, "Oh, it's a lie."
Sasaki was surprised, "HAH?!!"
Daichi says, "I knew that you won't give me an answer that easy, so I made a lie that will scare you to the bones and eventually, you have no choice but to spill the beans."
Sasaki replies, "WHAT?!!"
Daichi says, "Hehe, sorry."
Sasaki then goes into stress and heads down, while two of his hands touch his head.
"SHIT!! SO I DO IT FOR NOTHING?!!"
Then he screams, "AH!!!!!!!!!!"
And as Daichi wants to leave, Sasaki says, "Old man….."
Daichi replies, "Huh?"
Sasaki says, "A word of advice. Start from now, don't keep your guard down. Stay aware and always cautious. Trust no one and suspect everyone, because they could be anywhere and anyone."
Daichi smiles and replies, "Alright, I'll keep that in mind."
Then he closed the door.
And go to the observation room with the others.
Daichi says to Haruto, "Do you get all that?"
Haruto replies, "Yep, I've recorded it all."
Then Goto orders the security guards to return Sasaki to his cell.
After that, they go outside the dungeon house.
Goto says, "Haha, I don't expect you used that kind of way to force him to talk. And I mean, honestly, I'm truly impressed. You really are a bold man."
Haruto replies, "That's my senpai for you."
Goto then says, "As expected of the Sherlock Holmes of Japan."
Daichi replies, "Nah, it is nothing. Alright, thank you for everything, Goto-san."
They shake hands.
Goto answers, "You're welcome, Daichi-san. I'm glad I could help."
Daichi then says, "Alright, let's go, Haruto-kun."
But then, Goto suddenly says a word, "Oh yeah, Daichi-san. I think he's right. You better be careful. I mean, this organization is probably a high-level threat to the nation."
Haruto replies, "Don't worry, Goto-san! I won't let him die."
Goto responds, "Haha, you're lucky you have a caring partner."
Daichi smiles, "Hmph. Alright, let's go."
Haruto replies, "Ah yes."
He bows to Goto and then leaves with Daichi.
After that, Goto says, "Good Luck, Sherlock-sama."
Then Haruto asks Daichi, "So Daichi-san, what shall we do next?"
Daichi replies, "There's a place I want to visit."
"Wakarimashita!"
But as they were having a conversation, they didn't realize that there's two people watching them from behind.
A male and a female.
As Daichi and Haruto get into the car, they immediately get inside the car as well.
The female says, "Follow them, don't until we lose them."
The male nods.
Meanwhile, at the UPDJ base station, the head chief of the UPDJ, Masato Katsuragi receives a call from the receptionist.
"Sir, sorry to disturb your time. But there's someone who wants to meet you."
Masato answers, "Who is it?"
The receptionist replies, "Hmm, I don't know, sir. But it's a female. And there's three bodyguards with her."
Masato answers, "Hmm…..alright, let them in."
After that, the receptionist says to the woman, "The head chief is waiting for you in his office."
The woman nodded and went towards the elevator with the three bodyguards.
After a moment, the woman knocks on the door of Masato's office.
Masato says, "Come in."
The door opens.
Then the woman and one female Russian butler come inside, while the two male bodyguards standby outside.
As she comes in, Masato is surprised.
"You…..you….."
TO BE CONTINUED.......................