"Name?"

Kyoto, Tanbo District, on the desolate daytime wind-driven street, the sign reading ’Fujimoto Corporation’ was plastered on the second-floor window facing the street.

But anyone with a bit of common sense would know that any company here wouldn’t be legitimate; just looking at the peculiar emblem next to the sign, resembling a family crest, would make the nature of this company crystal clear.

Yakuza.

Calling it Yakutza or Extreme Path doesn’t really matter; being involved with this locally entrenched and vibrant organization on Yingzhou is bound to lead to a bad end.

Now, behind the desk, that overweight middle-aged man smoking a cigarette grinned, showing a mouth full of yellow teeth, and studied the person sitting opposite him, repeating once more.

"Name?"

"Huai... Huaizhi..."

"Oh, Huaizhi? That’s a rare surname, and the first name?"

"Su... Novice."

The young man sitting restlessly bowed his head and stammered his name.

Several men in suits smoking on the adjacent sofa examined him with amusement as he fidgeted like a quail, and a man with glasses, resembling a cashier, suddenly changed his expression, slammed the table, and roared, "When the boss asks for your name, can’t you say it clearly the first time? You jerk! Do you need to experience the consequences of being uncultured?!"

Visibly, the young man sitting in the chair trembled uncontrollably, his face pale.

He appeared to be one of those dispirited youths commonly seen around Kyoto, with no career, no job, and no education, surviving through temporary jobs and theft.

His clothing was all crumpled, and even more noticeable was his long-term malnourished or sun-deprived face, along with his long bangs that gave off a perpetual sense of gloom.

He was practically a perfect example of a recluse, a classic embodiment of a ruined generation.

Even the gangs looked down on such societal trash, this kind of waste had no use other than organ sales, not even worth a loan. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Of course, if his family was wealthy, and could be exploited for resources, that’s a different story.

"Alright, Yamada, don’t get angry." The smoking ’boss’ gestured indifferently with his hand, "Isn’t Tanaka your sworn brother from prison? Show some respect for the person he introduced."

Yamada shot a cold glance at Novice-kun Huaizhi, unsure whether it was because this waste tarnished his sworn brother’s reputation, or made him lose face, he snorted coldly.

"So then, your age?"

The boss of Fujimoto Corporation also Fujimoto Group continued to ask.

"Eighteen," Novice-kun Huaizhi answered, trembling.

"So young, eighteen, plenty of potential ahead, don’t be afraid, Huaizhi-kun."

Fujimoto stubbed out the cigarette, comforting, "Times have changed, even for Yakutza, can’t spend days just fighting and killing. Murder and arson don’t fill your belly, folks like us turning to the film industry are doing alright, I heard those Tiger King Group guys have started selling milk tea, it’s absurd!"

"You’re Tanaka’s nephew, I won’t make things difficult for you. However, these days, Fujimoto Group is struggling too, you need to understand. If you really want to find work, you’d better sign this."

A contract was tossed from Yamada’s hand onto the table.

Covered densely with clauses almost filling every inch, overly complex, but upon closer inspection, it basically boiled down to two words — sell oneself.

"Sign this, and you’re one of us at Fujimoto Film, rest assured, Huaizhi-kun, we won’t treat you unjustly." Fujimoto grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, smiling, "You’ve got quite the look, with some luck, you might become an overnight sensation once dressed up."

After speaking, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Just one glance at those jumbled posters on the walls would reveal the true nature of their films, with some flavors being so intense, even Ravens would find them eye-searing, lamentable of societal decline.

But the pitiable, helpless Novice-kun Huaizhi had no choice.

He could only obediently sign his name.

Selling his cheap life.

"Not bad, not bad, Huaizhi-kun, a true man acts decisively, only through decisiveness can one seize the future!"

Fujimoto beamed and handed over a form: "Now that you’ve joined us, take a look at the form, just check off the projects you can accept, don’t feel bad, it’s all for earning money, it’s nothing to be ashamed of."

The form was covered densely with things both unsightly and generally frowned upon legally.

Really not suitable to appear before a camera.

But soon, it was their turn to be astonished.

Because Novice-kun Huaizhi picked up the pen and quickly started checking things off, without leaving a single line unchecked.

"Hey! Huaizhi, don’t write recklessly!" Yamada widened his eyes, angrily reprimanding, "Are you serious?!"

"I... I can handle it all!"

Huaizhi mustered up courage, lifted his head, and said tremulously, "I desperately need money, I can do anything, I beg of you, please!"

"..."

In the silence, the Yakutza in the room glanced at each other, revealing meaningful expressions.

"If that’s the case, then I’ll have to test it myself." Fujimoto slowly stood up, smiling as he loosened his belt and pointed to the door beside him, "You go in and wait for me, I’ll be there soon."

Opening the inner door revealed a narrow bedroom, littered with crumpled paper balls and a wrinkled, yellowing bed.

A smell of body odor, sweat, and a sour odor wafted through, making one frown uncontrollably.

Soon, Fujimoto came in humming a tune, swaggering, and smiling at Novice-kun, "Don’t be nervous, let’s get on the bed first."

He took the lead by taking off his shoes and sat on the bed, enthusiastically waving to the newcomer, "Come on, I’ve got something good to show you."

Once Huaizhi hesitantly sat on the bed, he saw Fujimoto manipulate something, and suddenly the whole bed began to descend rapidly, like an elevator, passing through quite a space, entering... a spacious basement lined with tatamis resembling a dojo!

Several burly men in the equipment area next to them were sweating profusely. As Fujimoto and Novice-kun came down, they warmly greeted them.

Without exception, these men had some strange features.

Either scales or fur.

"Where... is this place?" Huaizhi asked uneasily.

"Consider it a warehouse of ours, although it’s been a long time since we dealt with illicit drugs. We remodeled it into a gym," Fujimoto said, walking ahead, "Since you’re introduced by Tanaka from your hometown, I think you’re reliable so I won’t hide it from you because it’s just a gym after all. But, Huaizhi-kun, some things are not to be joked about."

He was holding the form Huaizhi had just filled out and waved it.

Debt collection, lending, and illegal labor columns aside, the red-marked sections for personnel dispatch and scapegoating were all ticked, even pointless sections like smuggling, illicit drugs, murder, and extortion were checked...

It’s determined to work in the underworld, with no turning back on this path.

"I’m telling you, Huaizhi-kun, we do occasionally perform intermediary work for people from our hometown here, although they are shady positions, but at least they can earn a meal.

These days, hybrids trying to live well is not easy, we lend a hand where we can, I have lived through it this way too. But this... is too much, isn’t it?"

Fujimoto took off his wig, revealing a bald top with three strange sharp horns, solemnly advising, "You’re only eighteen, there’s no need to be so aggressive when you’re not at a dead end."

"I... I..."

Huaizhi trembled with excitement, then shouted loudly, "I sincerely joined Green Day!"

For a moment, the room was silent.

In the silence, everyone exchanged looks with Huaizhi’s eyes turning cold and uneasy.

Fujimoto’s face gradually darkened, "Huaizhi-kun, some words should not be spoken lightly."

"Uncle Tanaka told me! Only this way is the fastest to make money! I came with determination!" Huaizhi’s eyes widened, forgetting his fear, blurting out jumbled words, "Please, Mr. Fujimoto, I’ll do anything, this is my life’s request, I beg you!"

Fujimoto said nothing, gesturing for him to shut up, several people immediately came over to guard him.

Then, turning back, Fujimoto took out his phone, went to the corner, and after connecting, began cursing Tanaka on the other end.

Tanaka’s voice could vaguely be heard from the phone.

"The child has no choice... It’s right, both parents have terminal symptoms, half dead... I’m just pointing him in the right direction... Besides, isn’t it known that hybrids and Green Day are involved together... How many yakutza hybrids haven’t had a thing with Green Day..."

While Fujimoto continued to curse, until he was finally relieved, looking back at the anxious Huaizhi, angrily scratching his bald head.

"Hey, Huaizhi, go back, I don’t need someone like you here."

Huaizhi struggled excitedly, shouting loudly, "Even if you don’t want me here, I won’t leave, I’ll look for Tiger King Group and Yamada Group, someone will want me!"

Fujimoto’s face turned more unpleasant, he understood very well the nature of his colleagues.

As a gang, Fujimoto Group transitioned relatively early, surviving nicely with some adult video productions and guiding tours on the red-light district. But Tiger King Group, they sell milk tea on the surface while hiding drugs in milk tea ingredients. As for Yamada Group, they even blatantly deal in organ trades... They truly have no humanity left.

Letting this little hybrid go to such places, even if he survives, it won’t be long before he dies without a trace.

"Are you... serious?" Fujidoor’s face was grim, asking coldly.

"I, I am serious!"

"...Very good, at least you’re showing some manhood now, Huaizhi."

Fujimoto took a deep drag on his cigarette, then lifted his foot, stamped out the butt, and exhaled smoke disdainfully.

"If you want me to introduce jobs from the Fujimoto Group, I can provide a subsistence wage, even... isn’t becoming an actor every man’s dream? The industry has so few male actors, you could do it until you’re exhausted... But Green Day, Green Day’s work is different."

He said coldly, "Huaizhi-kun, if you want to join, then pass my test."