Chapter 65: Act as an "Undercover Agent" in the Ordinary World! "Infernal Affairs" Reaches 1 Billion

Chapter 65: Becoming an 'Undercover Agent' in the Ordinary World! Has "Infernal Affairs" Reached 1 Billion?

The year 1988 passed just like that, and Iwata Takeshi did not miss it in the slightest.
……
"Fine then, but let's get this straight first—this movie has to be absolutely amazing!"
"You can rest assured. Once this film is released, you'll definitely become even more popular, kid."
"I don't care about that at all! As long as the movie is good, that's enough."
"Besides..."
"Besides what? Hurry up and tell me, Uncle!"
"You'll probably get to sing the theme song in the movie."
"Really?!... Wait, won't that affect the overall quality of the film?"
"Haha... So you actually know about that."
"Uncle! You're so mean!"

Oshinobu agreed, and Iwata Takeshi admitted there was a bit of sweet-talking involved. But he guaranteed that this movie would truly be fantastic!

Having secured his leading lady, Iwata Takeshi slept soundly. When he woke up, it was already 1989. After muttering a brief thought to himself, he completed his morning routine of three essential tasks.

It was the first day of the New Year—a holiday, meaning even Yakuza got a day off. Neko, Fuyu, Kiyoshi, and Matsushige Toyofutsu were naturally all busy with their own affairs. Iwata Takeshi, on the other hand, needed to prepare for his new film. However, this particular movie was rather unique; he didn't plan on preparing any script at all.

"A Scene at the Sea" probably didn't need a script; improvisation for the lines and performances on the spot would be more than enough. However, he still needed to draw the storyboards. As for how to approach those storyboards, Iwata Takeshi felt he needed a trip to the seaside, so...

Just as he was about to head out to grab a bite to eat, several Yakuza members in black suits suddenly appeared at the Iwata Crew's headquarters.

Don't you guys get a holiday? Which boss do you follow? This is way too harsh, what the hell!

Iwata Takeshi briefly contemplated crushing these fellows' testicles and asking them for their thoughts on working during the holidays. But upon closer inspection—oh right, those had already been crushed once before.

"Boss Iwata, please don't be upset. Just come with us."

Considering how exceptionally polite they were being, Iwata Takeshi nodded.
……
Sunlight streamed through the window, and Akina couldn't help but raise a hand to shield her eyes. So it was already this late.

Yesterday's Kohaku Uta Gassen had been a massive success! Whether Matsuda Seiko or Nakamori Akina would overshadow the other was a topic of intense interest among countless fans. In fact, they had even split into two competing factions—the Seiko Faction and the Akina Faction—arguing endlessly. Akina actually felt immense pressure; even Koizumi Kyoko was part of the Seiko Faction. That guy...

Yet yesterday, she had undoubtedly won!

However, so what if she won the Kohaku? She still lost. Why did that jerk have to do such a thing?

Akina desperately wanted to accuse him, roar at him, or even... actually slash that bastard with a knife! How strange; whenever these thoughts crossed her mind, a very, very fierce face would pop up in her head from time to time.

Iwata Takeshi.

Why would she think of him? How had he managed to get back to Shinjuku that night?

At that very thought, a smile, carrying a hint of mischief, appeared on Akina's face.
……
It was the first day of the New Year, and despite the holiday, workers were already preparing the coastal highway in Kanagawa for the Hakone Ekiden. Tomorrow, runners would race past this spot, and crowds of citizens would cheer them on.

No one noticed the yacht drifting out on the ocean surface, nor the people aboard it.

"Do you know how to fish?"
"No."
"Haha... Fair enough. At your age, it's hard to understand the joy of fishing."
"Probably."
"Come on, be patient. Hold onto the rod."
"Like this?"
"Right."

Iwata Takeshi had known for a long time that Japan had many fishing enthusiasts, and last year's film "Tsuribaka Nisshi" had been a massive success. To be honest, he found it hard to understand why people could be so obsessed with fishing, but right now, whether he understood it or not, he had to try.

The old man sitting beside him—wearing a fisherman's hat, a gray vest, and staring intently at the tip of his fishing rod—was none other than the boss of the Yamamoto Group, Yamamoto Hiroshi.

When those Yakuza appeared, Iwata Takeshi had known he was going to have a chat with this boss. But never in his wildest dreams had he expected it to involve fishing. In this freezing weather, catching the sea breeze, his nose was about to start running, for goodness sake!

Other people enjoyed a romantic rendezvous; was his version of a romantic start to the new year supposed to be this?

Still, there was no helping it. He just had to tag along and fish.

And sure enough, it wasn't long before a large fish took the bait.
"Haha... How's that? Not bad, right?!"
"Terrific!"

Watching Yamamoto Hiroshi's joyful expression, Iwata Takeshi felt a momentary sense of surrealism. This guy wasn't a Yakuza at all; he was just an old fisherman.

Next came rebaiting, casting, and a whole series of bustling activities. Once the two of them were sitting side by side again, Yamamoto Hiroshi suddenly broke the silence.

"Takeshi."
"Hmm."
"Do you know about the history of us Yakuza?"
"Oh, I don't know much about it."

History? What kind of history?

Yamamoto Hiroshi kept his eyes fixed on the bobber. "Back in the earliest days, our predecessors were people who did all the dirtiest work—the Eta. You know about them, right?"
"I do."
"Eta" was the term given to people whose occupations left a persistent odor on their bodies.
"The Eta later became the Burakumin. Even if a samurai chopped off their heads, it wasn't considered a big deal."
"..." Iwata Takeshi listened quietly. He knew that piece of history; a Burakumin's life was valued at roughly one-seventh of an ordinary person's, meaning killing seven Burakumin finally constituted a crime.
"But what about before the Eta?" Yamamoto Hiroshi posed a question.

Iwata Takeshi shook his head. "Not clear."
"They were samurai too, just defeated ones," Yamamoto Hiroshi chuckled. "Later on, the Burakumin became samurai again."
"Ah, I see..." Iwata Takeshi began to understand.
"During the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, those bastards wanted our predecessors to act as cannon fodder. Kono yarou, everyone isn't stupid."

Yamamoto Hiroshi finally turned his head to look at Iwata Takeshi.

The fierce-looking man now roughly understood the situation. He met the gaze and nodded.

Yamamoto Hiroshi nodded as well, then said with utmost solemnity: "I can nominate you to become a Wakagashira right now! Tell me the absolute truth, do you want it or not?!"

Wakagashira, this position again. Iwata Takeshi knew he couldn't hesitate.
"I don't."
"Plenty of people would kill to get this seat."
"I don't."
"Why so lacking in spirit?!"
"Still don't!"

Yamamoto Hiroshi stared at him for a long time, then laughed.

Iwata Takeshi didn't laugh; he knew this was the critical moment. "If I had a choice, I'd rather be an ordinary person."

This line clearly echoed "Infernal Affairs," even if it wasn't an exact match.

Yamamoto Hiroshi sighed softly. "I originally thought you had even greater potential. Looking at it now, it seems you're only suited to be an undercover agent."

Hearing this, Iwata Takeshi was slightly stunned.
"An undercover agent in the world of ordinary people."
"This..."

He still didn't quite get it.

Yamamoto Hiroshi laughed heartily. "Stop playing Yakuza! Go be an ordinary person!"

Upon hearing this, Iwata Takeshi froze entirely. This was one of the goals he had been striving for! To have it happen so easily... wait, that undercover agent part—

Yamamoto Hiroshi continued: "There are conditions. In the future, many Yakuza will be transitioning to legitimate professions, and you'll have to help them. Of course, nothing that will put you in too difficult a position."

Iwata Takeshi finally understood it all.

Yamamoto Hiroshi had always wanted to steer the Yamamoto Group onto a righteous path, and frankly, this was the inner desire of many Yakuza as well. However, walking the straight path wasn't that easy. Iwata Takeshi had already achieved considerable success; he represented hope.

When many Yakuza left the organization, what could they do? They needed to stay alive, to have jobs. That responsibility was going to fall squarely on Iwata Takeshi's shoulders.

Truth be told, for anyone else, this would be terribly troublesome. Finding jobs for a bunch of former Yakuza was definitely a massive headache. But for Iwata Takeshi, it was simple—bubble tea shops instantly came to mind. If worse came to worst, the truly unruly ones could be shipped off to Thailand and brought back to debut as idols.

And so... he nodded with extreme solemnity.
The job of an 'undercover agent'—I, Iwata Takeshi, accept it!

Seeing this, Yamamoto Hiroshi was overjoyed. Suddenly, the fishing bobber stirred again.
"Fish! There's a big fish!"

And the flurry of activity began anew.

Iwata Takeshi's thought was: the more Yakuza who transitioned to legitimate businesses, the weaker Yamamoto Group's overall strength would become. A line from a video game inexplicably floated into his mind:
*‘I have seen the noblest of orcs and the vilest of humans.’*

By the time they returned with a full haul, Iwata Takeshi stepped off the boat.
"Takeshi, being an ordinary person isn't that easy."
"I understand."
"Originally, I planned to let you... I watched your movie; it was indeed exceptional."
"Ah..."
"Anything else you want to say?"
"Nothing left."

The yacht sped away, the figures on board shrinking smaller and smaller. Yamamoto Hiroshi picked up his fishing rod and cast it out once more.

Iwata Takeshi watched the scene unfold, his mind deep in thought. What he had actually wanted to say earlier was: Was Takenaka your arrangement?

Perhaps the thought was shocking, but what if the truth was actually this: Yamamoto Hiroshi was the fisherman, Takenaka was his rod, and Iwata Takeshi was merely a piece of bait that could be swapped out at any time.

Fishing really was interesting. Now, this piece of bait had unhooked itself...

Of course, Iwata Takeshi knew very well that he probably wouldn't be able to completely cut ties with the Yakuza anytime soon. Much like in "Infernal Affairs," he now walked the boundary between the Yakuza underworld and the ordinary world.

But that didn't matter. At the very least, he could shout out loud:
Starting today, I am no longer a Yakuza!

Iwata Takeshi didn't actually yell it out loud. Given how fierce his face already looked, he didn't want people mistaking him for a mental patient.

Meanwhile, another thought was running through his mind. Perhaps one day, he too would become the fisherman holding the rod.
……
Iwata Takeshi returned to the Iwata Crew headquarters in high spirits, almost tempted to call everyone back to share the good news. But a phone call interrupted him.

"Moshi moshi... Ah, Shimoya-san."
"Iwata-san, I wanted to congratulate you in advance."
"Congratulate me on what?"
"The total box office for 'Infernal Affairs' is about to break 1 billion!"

So soon...
The year 1989 was off to an auspicious start.