As one of the most influential families in the Land of Ninjas, the Sato family controls the largest underground force, the Triad, in the country. Their industries span various sectors, and they also hold a pivotal position in the martial arts world.
Like all colossal families, the Sato family is numerous, divided into direct and collateral branches. However, a family member's status within the family is not determined by whether they are from the direct or collateral line, but by their contributions to the family.
For instance, the brothers Sato Takagi and Sato Asada are from collateral branches of the Sato family, but due to their outstanding abilities, they hold prominent positions within the Sato family.
The former is the most renowned executioner of the Sato family and the Triad, with countless blood-soaked hands.
Not long ago, the secret training base of the War God Hall was annihilated, an act carried out by Sato Takagi. He brutally killed five of Jiang Wuming's disciples and issued a fierce ultimatum: the Hall Master of the Dragon War Hall must personally bring Jiang Wuming to the Sato family to commit suicide as atonement, or the War God Hall would be eradicated!
Sato Asada is Sato Takagi's younger brother. His martial arts talent is mediocre, but he is exceptionally intelligent. In his childhood, he did not pursue the path of martial arts but focused on diligent study.
The studies here included not only textbook knowledge but also anything he deemed useful.
At the age of forty, he successfully took charge of the Triad, the largest underground force in the Land of Ninjas, becoming the overt godfather of the underworld in the Land of Ninjas.
One visible, one hidden; one scholarly, one martial.
The brothers Sato Takagi and Sato Asada are renowned throughout the underworld of the Land of Ninjas and even globally.
As the largest underground force in the Land of Ninjas, the Triad's headquarters is located in the famous Imperial Building in the heart of Kyoto City, occupying a full twenty floors.
However, this is the Triad's overt headquarters.
To be precise, this is the headquarters for the Triad's legitimate businesses.
The Triad's true headquarters is located in Kyoto Bay, at a golf club named Triad Club.
Late at night, the brothers Sato Takagi and Sato Asada met at the Triad Club.
"Brother, the Patriarch just called. He wants you to take people and assassinate Jiang Wuming from the Dragon Country!" Sato Asada said.
"Killing that Ninja dog is easy. But he's with members of the East Sea Martial Arts Academy delegation, including Natsuyuki. Natsuyuki is a Three-star War God, and her swordsmanship is said to be formidable. I'm no match for her," Sato Takagi frowned.
"The Patriarch has naturally considered this. He wants you to select your men and await further notice. When Jiang Wuming goes to Tenglong Hospital to visit that little bitch Huangfu Weixia, Akita Shingen, the Dean of Kyoto Martial Arts Academy, will find an excuse to lure Natsuyuki away."
Sato Asada said gravely, "This way, Jiang Wuming will be alone."
"If it were just that Ninja dog himself, would I need to pick my men? I could crush him with one hand!"
A cruel, cold smile flickered across Sato Takagi's lips, as if killing Jiang Wuming were as easy as slaughtering a chicken.
"In other words, if the Patriarch hadn't sent that good-for-nothing Sato No to the Dragon Country back then and sent me instead, that Ninja dog would have died long ago. How could all these subsequent troubles have arisen?"
"Brother, back then, Jiang Zhan killed Sato Ren. The Patriarch was extremely heartbroken, and the family was greatly affected.
Now, that Jiang Wuming has arrived in the Land of Ninjas with such fanfare, killing Akita Hideko in one move, and stomping on the martial arts world of the Land of Ninjas at the Kyoto Martial Arts Academy!
Because of all this, the Patriarch is risking the wrath of the Dragon Country's martial arts community to assassinate Jiang Wuming.
We cannot be careless about this matter. Not only must we ensure Jiang Wuming is killed, but we must also do so without exposure and then frame other enemies of Jiang Zhan!"
Sato Asada reminded him solemnly.
"Rest assured, I will handle this."
Sato Takagi nodded. In the entire Sato family, he only took orders from two people.
One was Sato Tenichi, and the other was his brother, Sato Asada.
This was because, without Sato Asada's brilliant strategizing and meticulous planning during their upbringing, they would never have achieved what they have today!
"Mm."
Sato Asada nodded. He had absolute faith in his brother Sato Takagi's strength. With Sato Takagi's abilities, there was no target below the Three-star War God level whom he couldn't assassinate!
In Sato Takagi's own words, if he knew the whereabouts of the Dragon War Hall Master, he was a hundred percent confident he could assassinate the Hall Master, ranked first on the One-star War God list!
"By the way, I heard that the Patriarch instructed Akita Hideko in the Kyoto Martial Arts Academy's training ground to chop that Ninja dog into pieces?"
Sato Takagi suddenly recalled something.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
Sato Asada nodded first, then asked.
"Since the Patriarch said so, after I assassinate that Ninja dog, I will stomp his corpse into pieces and feed it to the dogs, then take pictures. The Patriarch should be very pleased to see the photos."
Sato Takagi said menacingly, baring his snow-white teeth.
Whoosh!
This time, before Sato Asada could respond, the lights in the room flickered and then went out.
Simultaneously, all the lights in the entire Triad went out, even the streetlights in the club's courtyard, plunging the entire club into darkness.
Huh?
The sudden event caused the brothers Sato Takagi and Sato Asada to be taken aback.
Kyoto Bay was the most prosperous area in Kyoto, with land worth its weight in gold. All facilities here were the best in Kyoto and even the entire Land of Ninjas, and power outages had never occurred.
"What's going on?"
Still stunned, Sato Asada asked coldly.
"Sir, it seems to be a power outage. I'll have someone investigate immediately!"
As soon as Sato Asada spoke, a voice came from the doorway.
It was Sato Asada's bodyguard, a One-star War God ninja, a devoted follower of the Sato family. He had no name but possessed strength superior to Akita Hideko, who was listed on the One-star War God list. His sole purpose was to protect Sato Asada's safety.
Besides him, the club housed five One-star War Gods, twelve Nine-star martial artists, and thirty Five-star to Eight-star martial artists.
These were the elite forces of the Triad and Sato Asada's trusted subordinates.
"Investigate quickly."
Sato Asada issued instructions.
"Yes, Sir!"
The One-star War God immediately accepted the order and retreated, using a radio to relay Sato Asada's instructions.
In the room, Sato Asada frowned, his face filled with suspicion. "It has never been powered off here. How could it suddenly go out?"
"Are you worried something might happen? Don't overthink it. Looking across the entire Land of Ninjas, which force would dare to cause trouble for us? Besides, I've been sensing the area since the power went out and haven't detected any unfamiliar presences around the club..."
Sato Takagi said with a slight smile, then spoke with conviction, but his words trailed off at the end, his pupils widening, and his brow furrowing.
"What is it?"
Sato Asada, sensing Sato Takagi's abnormality, quickly asked.
"Someone is here. It's a One-star War God!"
Sato Takagi said, then his feet blurred as he moved to the window.
Sato Asada followed closely behind.
The next moment.
Under the moonlight, they saw a figure striding towards the club.
The person was dressed in black, wearing a ghost-faced mask, and exuded an aura of overwhelming killing intent!
Jiang Wuming.
Just as the Sato family was plotting to assassinate Jiang Wuming, Jiang Wuming struck first, arriving at the Sato family's Triad headquarters.
One person.
Unconcealed.
Tonight, he was the Hall Master of the Dragon War Hall!
...