High & Low ~The story of SWORD~

Act 26: The Final Mission

The explosive ceremony for the casino project had officially begun. Reporters, journalists, anchors, and media representatives from all over gathered to cover the grand event. Saigo and his men arrived at the scene, their eyes locked on the prize: the proof they needed to bring down Kuryu Group, Minister Hida, and the corrupt politicians who had buried the truth behind the factory's destruction.

Meanwhile, the Kuryu Dragons arrived slightly later, dealing with another crisis. Kuze Ryushin was dead. Kuryu had lost its leader. A brief meeting took place where Rikako filled everyone in on the situation. The chairman's death left the group without direction. After the funeral, a new leader would be named, with either Ryu or Kurosaki being the most likely candidates. Kurosaki, however, couldn't shake the memory of something Kuze-san had said to him before succumbing to his illness—that Kuryu had changed, no longer protecting the weak but instead preying on them.

Most of the Nine Dragons were in agreement that Kurosaki should take the helm for now. However, they still needed to attend the explosion ceremony for the casino project, as Rikako personally asked them to. Bulge had helped them, and there was a new enemy rising, though their identity remained a mystery, revealed only by name. The casino bill and the construction project were tied to dark forces, much like the Kuryu Group itself. Jesse's release from prison had been orchestrated by Bulge, and it seemed that the Mighty Warriors were already involved with this new threat. But for now, little information was available.

Elsewhere, in one of Kuryu Group's territories, many of the people from the nameless city were still being held captive. Hoodlum Squad, Tsukumo, and Lala found the area where the women were kept. Lala infiltrated the building unnoticed, but soon learned that Eri had escaped and gone to Smoky's grave in the nameless city. She informed the others and made her way out. Meanwhile, the Rude Boys—Amamiya and Kohaku—stormed into another part of the compound, searching for Baba. A fight broke out with Kuryu members, but with some help, they eventually found Baba.

After cornering him, Baba revealed that the evidence was hidden in the nameless city, where the factory once stood. At the same time, Kuki made another appearance. Hiroto and Masaki assured everyone they'd handle the persistent killer who refused to accept defeat. Kohaku took Baba with him, and the Rude Boys were now set on reaching the nameless city.

Back at the nameless city, Kuryu was preparing for the explosions that would mark the final stages of their casino plan. The detonation was set to be in two phases—a minor explosion followed by the main one, which would reduce the nameless city to ruins. Oya High charged through the massive gates, clearing the path for the others. Hoodlum Squad and the Rude Boys followed closely behind. Cobra and Kasumi went to find Eri at Smoky's grave, while Yamato, P, and Yu searched for the evidence. The rest of Hoodlum Squad split up to locate the bombs, while Oya High and White Rascals stayed behind to handle the Kuryu Group.

Just before the first explosion went off, Cobra and Kasumi found Eri. They were in the nick of time, managing to escape just as the explosion tore through the city. The Rude Boys located the evidence, but Takeshi got trapped under a pile of debris. P and Yu rushed to his aid, handing over the backpacks containing the evidence to the Amamiya brothers. After a long and hard-fought battle, they managed to defeat Kuki, though it left Masaki with some bruises and Hiroto sporting a major cut on his cheek. The Amamiya brothers took the evidence and drove off, leaving P and Yu behind to help Takeshi.

The group made their way out of the nameless city, the evidence in tow. Just as they neared the exit, they encountered Cobra, Kasumi, and Eri, who was riding behind Cobra. Baba was on Kohaku's bike. Daruma appeared and cleared a path through the remaining Kuryu men blocking their way, with little resistance. As they moved forward, the sky erupted with fireworks, signaling the start of the major explosion.

Back at the casino ceremony, everyone watched in shock as the fireworks went off, following the first explosion. The second explosion was deactivated, but the damage was done. Kohaku, Hiroto, and Masaki arrived with Baba and the evidence in hand. Kohaku seized the moment, shouting that the casino project was a facade, and the truth was being hidden.

The minister ordered the security to stop them, but the chaos of the moment allowed them to push forward. As they made their way toward the heart of the ceremony, Saigo and his men arrived. They swiftly captured Hida and Hatano, the key politicians behind the scandal. Baba was brought forward and began revealing the truth, showing the gathered media the damning documents. Eri spoke out as well, telling the press about the pollution that had affected the residents of the nameless city, including herself.

With the truth exposed, Kurosaki and the remaining Nine Dragons withdrew. They were stopped at the parking lot, where Cobra and Kasumi blocked their path. The Kuryu leaders, having already exited their vehicles, were stunned to see Cobra alive.

Kurosaki, ever composed, stared at Cobra. "So you're still alive."

"Do you know what you just did?" Katsunari asked, standing at Kurosaki's side.

"You're done for!" Iemura shouted, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Kasumi standing beside Cobra. Seeing his daughter aligned with Cobra meant she was far beyond his reach.

"This is the last time we'll see each other. It all ends here," Cobra declared, his voice cold and menacing.

"Stop meddling in things, you little kid!" Minamoto yelled in frustration.

"Do you think Kuryu can be destroyed so easily?" Katsunari asked, raising a valid point. It was unlikely that Kuryu would be eradicated in one day, but with the chairman's death and the truth laid bare, Kuryu was about to face a massive blow. The group would face investigation, and the guilty would be held accountable. Yet, Kuryu would not fall entirely—it would remain a threat, just one considerably weakened.

"An adult fight isn't about winning or losing," Cobra retorted, his tone unwavering. "It's about being alive or dead. But we're still here. You lost."

"So destruction is inevitable in regeneration," Kurosaki murmured, a rare admission of defeat. "This time, we lost."

His words caught Minamoto and Iemura by surprise. Katsunari, however, only smiled, accepting the outcome. At least for now, Kuryu had lost. The group retreated to their vehicles, and Iemura cast a final glance at Kasumi before they left.

"We'll continue on," Cobra said, his voice resolute. The battle was over, but the war was far from finished. He jumped on his bike, signaling for Kasumi to follow. Together, they drove off into the night.

Saigo's men had captured all the corrupt politicians. The Amamiya brothers exchanged a quiet glance, able to breathe a little easier, knowing their brother could finally rest in peace. Kohaku felt the same. It seemed like justice had been served, even for Tatsuya's death. With their mission complete, they stepped back and left. The police had arrived and confirmed the news of Kuryu's chairman's death. Ryu and his mother were preparing for the funeral, while the remaining Nine Dragons were besieged by the press, police, and soon, prosecutors.

The casino project was abandoned, and the polluted part of the nameless city was closed off for investigation. The rest of the area, however, was freed, and the old residents and Rude Boys could return. The Sannoh region, too, began its recovery. The businesses that had been destroyed slowly began to rebuild, and life returned to normal. Ichigo Milk visited Naomi at Itokan Dinner to share the news, and Bar Odake remained open. Tettsu's bathhouse never closed, and Dan's grocery shop was ready to serve the community again. Yamato's garage was gearing up to reopen as well.

Sannoh district had survived, as had Oya High and Daruma Ikka. The White Rascals had lost their clubs, but Rocky had already secured a new location for them, big enough to help them regain their footing. Kohaku and Tsukumo were back in Sannoh, while the Amamiya brothers continued to live in their old flat, though they visited SWORD from time to time.

SWORD had found its balance. The immediate threat had been neutralized, and everyone could go back to their lives, secure in the knowledge that they had friends they could trust. The new era was brighter, but not without new challenges on the horizon. Bulge, the new enemy, had emerged, and the Mighty Warriors and Prison Gang were on the move. A larger conflict loomed, but for now, SWORD could rest easy, knowing that they had won this round.

((Next:: Act Twenty-Seven))