The jet-black Toyota Century sedan smoothly traversed the coastal road leading to Toaru Port.
The interior of this vehicle has undergone special bulletproof modifications, isolating it from all external noise and making it exceptionally quiet.
Nakamura held the steering wheel with one hand, occasionally glancing at Ryuzaki Makoto, who was lounging lazily in the back seat, through the rearview mirror, and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"Ryuzaki Makoto, you brat, you've really grown up this time. You've gotten our young lady to personally escort you to the door. You've got some nerve. I've been in the Sasaki family for so many years, and I've never seen our young lady so attentive to any man."
Nakamura and Ryuzaki were old acquaintances, so they naturally didn't hold back when speaking.
Ryuzaki Makoto was toying with an exquisite card in his hand, which still carried a faint, delicate fragrance. It was the business card that Kyoko had personally handed to him before she left.
He curled his lips into a wicked smile, leaned forward slightly, placed his hand on the back of the seat in front of him, and moved closer to Nakamura.
"Brother Nakamura, what's so strange about this? I'm handsome, talented, and a rising star in Toaru. Isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to attract a young lady? You should be prepared. It might not be long before you have to respectfully call me son-in-law."
Upon hearing Ryuzaki Makoto's shameless boast, Nakamura couldn't help but laugh and curse:
"Pah! You really dare to take advantage of this! You can't even keep your mouth shut. But... if you actually manage to do this, to be honest, I'll feel much better. After all, I feel like I'm practically your True Dragon Society's personal driver now."
He sighed and shook his head helplessly.
"It's not just you who treats me like a driver, but also that girl, yes, that Nanako! That girl really doesn't treat me like an outsider. She just mentions your name, Ryuzaki Makoto, and calls me all the time to pick people up from here, treating me like a taxi driver."
Ryuzaki laughed heartily, patted Nakamura heavily on the shoulder, and said with a spirited air:
"What's the big deal! It's all for building a better new Hoyaru! Brother Nakamura, you've worked hard. Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll definitely get Kyoko to give you a raise, I'll make sure you get double... no, triple the pay!"
Nakamura looked in the rearview mirror at Ryuzaki Makoto's smug "you're welcome" expression and felt speechless.
That kid really knows how to take advantage of kindness.
What is the size of the Sasaki family?
That was a true aristocratic family.
Even though you, Ryuzaki Makoto, are doing very well now, you only have a little reputation in this small town of Toara.
If you really want to win over that discerning lady, your skills are far from sufficient.
However, Nakamura isn't the type to discourage people.
He didn't say anything more, just held the steering wheel firmly and focused on driving.
The Toyota Century smoothly entered the unloading area of Toaru Port.
Nakamura parked the car in a secluded corner.
Once here, what follows is a top-secret internal matter for Ryuzaki Makoto, and even Nakamura, who is practically one of his own, can no longer get too involved.
Ryuzaki Makoto pushed open the car door, got out of the car, and had only taken a couple of steps forward when he heard the sound of the car window rolling down behind him.
Nakamura leaned against the window, his playful expression gone, replaced by a deep and complex look in his eyes.
He looked at Ryuzaki Makoto's back, his tone inexplicably heavy.
"Kid, do you know why my old buddies and I suddenly left those battlefields overseas, where gunfire raged, and gave up the life of mercenaries who made a fortune and lived on the edge?"
Ryuzaki stopped and turned around, looking at Nakamura with some confusion.
"What? Have you made enough money? Or are you getting too old to keep up?"
Nakamura shook his head in annoyance at Ryuzaki Makoto's roundabout way of cursing.
"You little rascal, your words are really unpleasant to hear."
He paused, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag. Amidst the swirling smoke, his voice carried an unmistakable sigh and a sense of vicissitude.
"Money? There's never enough of that. As for our health... although our old bones aren't as strong as they used to be, we can still kill a few people on the battlefield."
"The reason we came back is because we watched with our own eyes as our brothers, who once drank and ate meat with us and swore to live and die together, left this world one after another for various reasons, even some extremely stupid and worthless reasons, without any warning, and even... without leaving behind a complete corpse."
Ryuzaki looked at Nakamura, at the glimmer in his eyes.
At this moment, Nakamura was no longer the frivolous old man he used to be. His gaze was unusually serious, even carrying the solemn entrustment of an elder to a younger generation.
"Kid, nothing in this world is more valuable than life. Only by living can a person have infinite possibilities, the opportunity to create miracles, and the chance to realize their dreams."
"If a person dies, even if you are a peerless hero, even if you leave behind a legendary story that will be told by people, what does it matter? You can't see anything, you can't feel anything, then you really have nothing left."
Ryuzaki Makoto remained silent.
He understood why Nakamura had suddenly spoken these heartfelt words to him.
Since Ishida Goro was seriously injured and hospitalized while helping him with something, Nakamura has frequently visited him in the hospital.
This person, who had experienced life and death, recalled his past and realized something when he saw those bloody wounds.
The higher the Shinryu Society climbs and the farther it goes, the greater the storms and dangers it faces, and the closer Ryuzaki Shin and those around him get to death.
He didn't want to see this young man with unlimited potential end up like his comrades from back then because of a moment of impulsiveness and adventure.
A gentle smile appeared on Ryuzaki Makoto's lips.
He did not refute, nor did he utter any grand pronouncements.
He simply turned around and walked into the deeper darkness of the harbor.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a very long shadow of Ryuzaki Makoto.
He didn't turn around, but waved to Nakamura with his back to him. His voice came from the sea breeze, carrying a hint of unruliness and a promise that only men could understand.
"I understand, Nakamura. Don't worry, I will be the first to attend your funeral. I will absolutely not go before you."
Nakamura watched Ryuzaki Makoto's figure gradually recede into the distance and finally disappear into the shadow of the container, shook his head with a wry smile, and exhaled his last smoke ring.
"That brat..."