group in attendance, and quite telling to Duck’s, was the Bando-ikka. It’s boss, Kenya Bando, or Bando Kenya back home, was a comedically vocal critic of Oyabun Minowara and had been since before the move to the State.

And yet for all Bando’s criticisms of Boss Minowara, here he was, still under the banner of Minowara. Bando’s clan was too small an organization to challenge for the top spot but too large and well-managed to crush. At least cleanly. And it was this; Oyabun Mionowara’s command over so many… egos, that was so impressive to Duck. The Minowara-gumi, largest of all yakuza organizations was a complex, agile, and impressive ecosystem… powered by tradition.

With a drag of cigarette and sip of whiskey, he let his nerves settle and looked out on...

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