Chapter 129: Naoki is a genetic mutation, right?

"Tsuruko, are you really not planning on going with me?"

That afternoon, Naoki Nagayama, who was packing the New Year's gifts, asked.

"After all, he's a grandfather you've never met before."

"Yada!" Tsuruko Nagayama refused without hesitation. "He looks so scary! Yakuza and all that..."

"How can you say that? Grandfather is the boss of all the Yakuza in Shizuoka!"

"Doesn't that just make him a Yakuza?"

Naoki Nagayama was stumped: "Well, he is a Yakuza..."

He felt his IQ being suppressed by Tsuruko, who had suddenly become smart...

Heading alone to a Yakuza stronghold was, as expected, a bit nerve-wracking.

As for his father, Ken Nagayama? That guy had long since returned to the izakaya using the excuse of being busy at the shop. After all, he hadn't been favored since he was a child, and having not seen his father for over a decade, he really didn't want to see him.

"Naoki is just going to see his grandfather. He's such a grown man, does he still need me to accompany him?"

That was what Ken Nagayama had said before leaving...

Holding the slip of paper with the address written on it, Naoki Nagayama prepared to start the car, while his mother urged him from the side: "Naoki, be polite, don't make your grandfather angry..."

Tsuruko added fuel to the fire from the side: "Nii-chan, if you don't come back tonight, we will definitely call the police! Ah!... Gaa-san, why did you hit me!"

The headquarters of the Shizuoka Yamaguchi-gumi was actually also in Shimizu City, a large courtyard in Aihara-cho. It was both his grandfather's residence and the headquarters of the Shizuoka Yamaguchi-gumi.

It was a courtyard full of Japanese style, looking at a glance like the residence of a wealthy family from the past. The nameplate on the door certainly didn't say "Yamaguchi-gumi" in bright letters, nor did it say "Nagayama Family," but rather "Shimizu Family."

Naturally, there were two underlings in black suits standing guard at the door.

Seeing a sports car stop nearby, and then a very handsome young man get out holding something that looked like a bag of gifts, they knew he definitely wasn't there to cause trouble. The two underlings didn't have the look of thugs either, and asked in a disciplined manner: "May I ask if you are here for a visit?"

"Hai, I am here to visit my grandfather, Hayato Nagayama."

At a time like this, you naturally have to state your background immediately. If you try to play the "pig eating the tiger," you might get caught and beaten up by some guy in the Yakuza who doesn't like the look of you.

"The Boss? Grandfather?"

Both underlings were shocked. Wasn't the Boss's grandson Maple Boss? They hadn't heard that the Boss had any other grandsons.

But assuming no one would be bold enough to come to the Yakuza's door and impersonate the Boss's grandson, the two underlings still reported it to their superiors.

Before long, a very sturdy young man walked out. Seeing Naoki Nagayama at the door, he was a bit stunned. This person was the Nagayama family's Naoki?

He seemed to remember him as a wooden little brat who looked like a bamboo pole. What was going on with this big handsome guy at the door now?

"Are you... Cousin Naoki?"

"Ah, yes. Then you must be Maple Cousin!" Naoki Nagayama bowed. "It's been a long time since I've greeted you. Is everything well?"

"Hai, thanks for your concern, everything is well." Maple Nagayama subconsciously returned the bow because of this sudden gesture, and only then did he react. "What's this? We're all family, don't be so polite."

After saying that, he patted Naoki Nagayama's shoulder very boldly: "I couldn't tell, Naoki's physical fitness is not bad!"

Naoki Nagayama almost got injured. As expected, his cousin's physique followed his grandfather's...

Maple Nagayama welcomed Naoki inside very enthusiastically: "Ojisan is waiting for you. It's been a long time since I've seen him this happy."

"Er... Maple Cousin, I still don't know why he would want to see me?"

"This? Of course, it's because you won an award!"

"? Just that?"

"What are you saying? The Nagayama family hasn't produced a literary man in hundreds of years!"

Maple Nagayama led Naoki into the main house. After the Japanese-style sliding door was opened, an old man wearing a black kimono was sitting next to the tea table, reading a book. It was his own book, "Summer Garden."

"Ojisan, Naoki is here."

"Ojisan, it's been a long time since I've greeted you. Is everything well with you?" Naoki Nagayama bowed 90 degrees this time.

The corner of Maple Nagayama's mouth twitched. Are you planning to do this to everyone you meet?

Hayato Nagayama, on the other hand, looked very gratified. "Ah, everything is well with me. Naoki, is it? Sit down first!"

"Hai!" There were only a few cushions next to the small tea table. Naoki Nagayama could only sit on his knees opposite the tea table, complaining in his heart: "Why do these old fogies all like this kneeling business..."

After sitting down, he placed the bag he brought in front of him: "The New Year is approaching, and my family asked me to bring some New Year's gifts. It represents a bit of our heart."

Hayato Nagayama nodded: "Maple, put the gifts away."

"Hai!" Maple Nagayama honestly carried the bag to another place.

Then the old man looked at Naoki Nagayama with a smile: "As expected, the Nagayama family has produced someone different. According to scientific terms, it's that... a genetic mutation, right."

Naoki Nagayama choked. Old man, suddenly using such a trendy word from your mouth makes it hard for people to accept!

"... Ojisan is joking."

"Hahaha, the Nagayama family has never produced a literary man before. I heard from my grandfather that our family has been rough people in the mountains for generations." Hayato Nagayama seemed to be recalling something. "I, as well as your uncle and father, weren't very good at studying since we were young. I never thought anyone from the Nagayama family would win a literary award."

He then asked about the reason Naoki wrote this book. "Naoki, why did you think of writing this?"

"Actually, next to my house in Tokyo, there is such an old house, and there is also an old man and three elementary school students." Naoki Nagayama told the prototype of the story to his grandfather exactly as it was, which earned him constant nods.

"So there really are such people!" Hayato Nagayama continued to ask, "How is Naoki doing in Tokyo now? Are there any financial difficulties?"

Saying this meant he wanted to give a reward?

"Thanks to you, I'm doing fine for now. There are no financial difficulties."

"Oh? That brat Kenta shouldn't have much spare money. Can he provide help?" Hayato Nagayama frowned, and the aura of a Yakuza big boss finally leaked out. "Naoki, no need to hide it. If there are difficulties, I still have some funds here."

"Arigato, Ojisan." Naoki Nagayama answered honestly. "By chance, whether it's the royalties from this book or other things, I'm quite well-off financially for the time being."

This instead aroused Hayato Nagayama's interest: "What work is Naoki doing in Tokyo now? A writer?"

How should he say this?

Naoki Nagayama's current work was a bit complicated: "As a writer, that's just a part-time job. For now, I should be more of a freelance creator—writing lyrics, composing music, planning films, screenwriting, and the like."

"Oh? Is it profitable?" He hit the nail on the head.

"It's okay..."

"Alright, since you don't need help, then it's up to you. Young people always have to venture out."

Hayato Nagayama still didn't quite believe it, but young people's own affairs should be left to them. Isn't self-reliance and self-respect also very manly?

Next, he asked about other things in the Nagayama family—parents, older brother, younger sister, etc. Although they had separated, they were his own children after all, so he still cared. Otherwise, how could he have known about Naoki Nagayama's affairs so quickly?

He didn't usually disturb them, partly because he didn't like his second son's somewhat cowardly personality, and partly because he didn't want to disturb their peaceful lives.

The two grandfather and grandson, meeting for the first time, chatted like normal relatives. A plain and simple hour passed quickly, and Naoki Nagayama didn't feel like he was facing a Yakuza boss at all.

However, the strict rules of hierarchy still made Naoki Nagayama unable to relax—even though they were family, Maple Nagayama on the side kept kneeling and didn't speak at all unless asked.

Seeing that the conversation was fading, Naoki Nagayama decided to take his leave.

"Ojisan, we've chatted about so many things, but it's getting late. It's time for your grandson to take his leave."

Naoki Nagayama found an opportunity and said directly.

"Ah, indeed, it's been so long..." Hayato Nagayama didn't try to keep him too much. "If you have free time in the future, come visit me often."

"Hai, I will disturb you often in the future." Naoki Nagayama bowed deeply again, almost to the point of a dogeza. "Then I will take my leave first."

"Okay, see you again in the future." Hayato Nagayama instructed Maple on the side, "Maple, send Naoki off for me."

"Hai!" ===== CHAPTER 130 =====