15 The Second Successor

"Thank you for your hard work, Chief!"

Kyosuke Hojo learned exactly how loud two hundred people could be. As he walked toward the path that had been cleared through the crowd, everyone present bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle and roared in unison. Even without being told, Kyosuke knew what to do.

With a calm smile, he maintained a steady pace, walking past the phalanx of men until he reached the steps leading up to the shrine, climbing to the plaza at the summit. Throughout the entire process, every member of the Boso Tenshi Kendo Club remained bowed, not making a single sound.

Even the three girls watching from the sidelines were caught up in the atmosphere, keeping their mouths tightly shut. Only Sakura was holding up her phone, recording the scene. She had no choice; after she had let it slip to Mikiko Hojo that this was happening, Mikiko had pestered her relentlessly to record it and send it to her. Sakura Yamauchi knew it probably wasn't the best idea, but Aunt Mikiko had threatened that if she didn't do it, she could no longer use the Hojo name.

Standing at the edge of the plaza, Kyosuke turned around, his coat hem fluttering behind him. He looked down at his subordinates, his smile fading. They, in turn, raised their heads, their eyes burning with intensity as they stared back at him.

Kyosuke Masaki, who had been following silently behind, stepped forward.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce something! I have decided to hand over the Boso Tenshi Kendo Club to Kyosuke Hojo. He will become the second-generation leader of Boso Tenshi!"

After speaking, Masaki fell silent. Kyosuke observed the reactions of the men below. It was strange; he had expected a great deal of opposition, much like what he had encountered at the Kendo Club the day before. But the situation now was one of quiet acceptance—not the silence of dissent, but the calm of submission.

In truth, he had overthought it. The members of the Kendo Club had resisted yesterday because they hadn't yet felt his strength. After he had systematically defeated the main force and the members of Aimi Aishu, the news had fermented overnight. Everyone belonging to Boso Tenshi had already acknowledged him as the second-generation leader; in the world of subordinates, strength is law.

Besides, the first-generation leader they respected was still staying with Boso Tenshi. The first leader hadn't left, and now a stronger second leader had arrived—what was not to like? Some of the more restless subordinates had even begun chanting slogans about conquering Tokyo.

"Very well. Since no one has any objections, Onibaku, bring up the Boso Tenshi banner."

Eikichi Onizuka, who had been standing at the very edge of the formation, immediately raised the white flag emblazoned with the Boso Tenshi name and walked up the steps. Masaki took the flag and, with a solemn and grave expression, presented it to Kyosuke with both hands.

Kyosuke accepted it with both hands as well. He could feel the turbulent emotions beneath Masaki's calm exterior, and he, too, felt that he was accepting something of immense weight. Holding the four-meter-tall banner with one hand, Kyosuke waved it vigorously and shouted:

"I, Kyosuke Hojo, am the new master of Boso Tenshi!"

He could clearly see the change in the eyes of the members below. It was a subtle, profound feeling—a mixture of recognition and trust. It made his heart feel heavy; these men were no longer just people to run errands for him.

"Kaikyo Branch, step forward!" Masaki shouted. It was time for the new leader to receive their oath of allegiance.

Two men standing in front of the first formation walked to the base of the steps, bowed, and shouted.

"Kaikyo Branch Chief, Satoshi Katagiri. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!" said the burly, black-haired man.

"Kaikyo Branch Vice Chief, Takeshi Sagara. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!" added the other, who wore a golden pompadour and a smirk.

After speaking, they moved to the side and stood at attention.

"Roppongi Branch, step forward!"

The two men at the front of the second formation walked to the steps, bowed, and shouted.

"Roppongi Branch Chief, Ran Haitani. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

"Roppongi Branch Vice Chief, Rindo Haitani. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

They stepped aside to join Katagiri and Sagara. Hearing their names, Kyosuke looked at them with a hint of surprise. The older brother, Ran, wore cornrows the color of wheat, while the younger brother, Rindo, wore gold-rimmed glasses and had hair dyed in streaks of yellow and blue.

Masaki continued the roll call.

"Main Branch Executives, step forward!"

He walked down the steps, bowed, and shouted, "Main Branch Vice Chief, Kyosuke Masaki. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

"Eikichi Onizuka, it is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

"Ryuji Danma, it is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

"Michitaka Sugawara, it is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

They stood in a line at the foot of the stairs, looking up at Kyosuke, waiting for his command.

"Tetta Kisaki will join Boso Tenshi as our strategist."

Kyosuke announced his first appointment as the second-generation leader. In the dark, silent night, his clear voice swept over everyone like a cold sea breeze. Hearing this, Kisaki looked up at Kyosuke in delighted surprise, then rushed to the stairs, bowed like his predecessors, and shouted, "Main Branch Strategist, Tetta Kisaki. It is an honor to serve you, Second Generation!"

"Now, we ask for an address from the Second Generation."

Masaki shouted from the bottom of the stairs. At his signal, the subordinates raised their heads. In the dim glow of the streetlights, pairs of expectant eyes turned toward Kyosuke.

Kyosuke planted the flag in a nearby flowerbed, unbuttoned his coat, and sat down on the steps.

"This is my first time being a leader, so there may be some things I don't do well."

Perhaps it was because Kyosuke had sat down, making the distance feel smaller, but a few subordinates couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's alright, laugh if you want," Kyosuke said, waving a hand. "The only thing I can guarantee you is that as long as I am here, the Boso Tenshi Kendo Club will always be the strongest in Tokyo."

His voice was not loud, and his posture held no overt display of arrogance. Yet, looking at the figure sitting on the steps, the subordinates felt as if they could already see Boso Tenshi dominating all of Tokyo under the leadership of this new head.

"The Handless Demon!"
"The strongest!"
"Long live the Second Generation!"
"Conquer Tokyo!"
"Boso Tenshi is the strongest!"

With a leader like this, nothing could stop the advance of Boso Tenshi! Led by the Handless Demon, they would become the strongest subordinates in all of Tokyo! The men roared, reveling in the joy of having a leader who was powerful to the point of being a monster.

Kyosuke looked at the surging, ecstatic crowd and smiled.

"Then, let's go for a ride!"

Kyosuke stood up, grabbed the flag from the flowerbed, and waved it with all his might. Following his command, the subordinates erupted into a series of cheers and howls, swarming out of the shrine grounds, leaving only a few executives behind.