8 months ago Inside a lavish, dimly lit penthouse overlooking Tokyo, a Yakuza crime lord sits at a low wooden table, his dark kimono embroidered with silver dragons. He takes a slow drag from a long kiseru pipe, the air thick with incense and quiet menace. On either side of him, two massive tiger-headed enforcers stand in black silk suits, their striped fur rippling over powerful muscles. Their clawed fingers rest near the hilts of their katanas, waiting for a signal. Across from him, a rival gangster bows slightly, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. The deal is fragile—one wrong word, and blood will stain the tatami floors. f3e932facd3 0 94