Li Wei: Ch.1 "War in the Shadows"

In the sterile, clinical glow of a Tokyo hospital room, Li Wei sat quietly next to the bed of his compatriot, Thanh Son Tran. The steady beep of the heart monitor punctuated the tense silence, serving as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked violence in their world. Thanh lay motionless, tethered to life by machines, his vibrant spirit dimmed by the shadows of betrayal and attack.

Across the room, Duc Huy Nguyen—widely known in the wrestling world as "The Ruthless Dragon"—was locked in a heated argument with Devin Zeagal, Vice President of Ultimate Wrestling, and Rupert Mudcock, the influential owner. Duc's voice, thick with anger and betrayal, echoed against the cold walls.

Duc: We should have been warned about Tanaka growing hostile toward Ultimate Wrestling! None of us had any idea how serious this was! Now, one of my countrymen is in a coma, and the other may never fight competitively again!

Zeagal: We misjudged the situation, Duc. The threats were never expected to escalate to this extent. We had no idea Tanaka's ties to the Yakuza ran this deep.

Duc: You had no idea? How long have you lived in Japan?

Rupert: Enough! Let's focus on rectifying the situation rather than casting blame! Zeagal and I have calculated a plan to fight them using all the tools I have as the owner of the M.O.X media empire, which I would like to remind you are substantial.

Li Wei: You do what you can, Rupert, but Duc and I need to address the root of this aggression head-on.

Rupert Mudcock: What are you suggesting?

Li Wei: Duc, you used to wrestle for AAPW. I'm sure you still have close connections with people in management and the wrestlers on the roster.

Duc: I can make some calls...

Devin Zeagal: Don't do anything, hasty boys.

Li Wei: I suggest we find out when and where to surprise Tanaka. Perhaps he can reasoned with in person?

Duc: Hah! Fat chance. The man is incredibly stubborn, and right now, he thinks he has the upper hand. I say we find him, let him know we know he's behind it, and then put the fear of God into him.

Rupert Mudcock: I don't need two of my wrestlers in jail for assault, Nguyen. A powerful and wealthy man like Tanaka will have well-trained security. But please go ahead and find him if you're able. If you find him, let him know Rupert Mudcock is not a man to be trifled with and that retribution is coming.

The Next Evening

Duc discovered that Haruki Tanaka had eaten at a private underground sushi bar owned by the Yamamoto Yakuza every Monday evening since the Blovid 13 lockdowns began. The venue was known for its discretion and quiet atmosphere, where conversations could happen away from prying eyes and the authorities. After paying the security guard at the establishment's door a hefty sum, Duc was allowed to enter with Li Wei.

Haruki Tanaka: This is quite unusual, gentlemen. I did not believe they let washed-up wrestlers and Chinese dogs like you in here. Please sit and join me; I'm sure you have something important to talk to me about if you went to these lengths to find me.

Duc snorted harshly before pulling the chair from under the table and sitting down. Lie Wei followed his lead and sat down as well. A waiter came by to take their order and bring them chopsticks. Duc immediately ordered the most expensive Japanese whiskey on the menu, to the surprise of Wei, who declined any service out of respect.

Duc: Been a little while, hasn't it, Tanaka?

Haruki Tanaka: Honestly, once you dropped the Vietnamese Heavyweight championship to Thi Bich Tram Bui and were fired from AAPW, I thought you'd return home to Vietnam and drink yourself to death. Either way, I'm shocked to have dinner across from you this evening, Duc.

The waiter brought a glass to the table, set it in front of Duc, and then began to pour a glass of Yamazaki, a 55-year-old Single Malt Japanese Whiskey. A glass that ranged between $2000 to $5000 on average in most restaurants.

Duc: Well, what can I say? Zeagal and Mudcock offered me a contract that was too good. Twice what your cheap Japanese ass was paying me. Oh, waiter, please put this on my good friend Tanaka's tab.

Duc raised his glass to Tanaka, who seemed perturbed but played along and clinked glasses with his former wrestler.

Haruki Tanaka: I will call it your severance package. Anyway, I can't blame you. If those Gajin idiots think you're worth that price on their roster, let them pay you. By the way, I caught your last match; the way Lightning Man disposed of you in that triple threat was quite impressive. The bump through the announcer's table looked painful. How's your back feeling?

Li Wei suddenly slammed his fist on the table, catching Duc and Tanaka off guard. His eye twitched a bit as he ground his teeth in frustration.

Li Wei: Enough with well-mannered passive-aggressive bullshit! You know why we're here, Tanaka.

Haruki Tanaka: Sonny, I don't have the faintest idea.

Duc: Don't play dumb Tanaka. We know you are the one who orchestrated the attacks on the wrestlers from the Ultimate Wrestling roster who were attacked.

Li Wei: Two dead! My friend Thanh Son Tran is in a coma, and others were seriously injured by your Yakuza friends!

Haruki Tanaka: My dear boy, I'm not sure what sort of fantasy your Gajin employer has filled your peanut-sized brain with, but Haruki Tanaka is not affiliated with the Yakuza. I run a legitimate wrestling business. A business that has been threatened ever since Rupert Mudcock brought Ultimate Wrestling to Japan!

Duc: Play coy all you want, Tanaka. We're just here to deliver a message from Mudcock himself.

Haruki Tanaka: And what message is that?

Duc: You may not realize it yet, but you've made an incredibly powerful enemy in Rupert Mudcock. Li here hoped you could be reasoned with, but you obviously have no intention of calling off your Yakuza dogs. I knew you couldn't be reasoned with, but I came along to tell you that you've started a war that will cost you everything. You might be a powerful man in Japan, but Rupert Mudcock is one of the most powerful men on the planet.

Haruki Tanaka: Hah! Hahaha! Do you think I'm afraid of an old Gajin man who can't even move without a mobility scooter? Tell your boss that I have no idea what you all are accusing me of, but if he believes I am behind these attacks, then he should call the authorities and have them come and arrest me.

Duc finished his whisky and stood up.

Duc: Alright Tanaka. Have it your way. It's not like I didn't try to warn you.

Li Wei stood up, his expression resolute as he faced Tanaka.

Li Wei: This isn't over, Tanaka. We will find the truth; when we do, you and your Yakuza friends will pay.

Haruki Tanaka: (smirking) I eagerly await your findings. Excuse me, I have more important matters to attend to.

As Duc and Li Wei left the underground sushi bar, the weight of their failure hung heavy in the air. They had hoped to confront Tanaka, to make him see the gravity of his actions. Still, his arrogance and denial only fueled their determination.

Duc: We need to be smart about this. Tanaka is protected, but he can't hide forever. We have to find proof that ties him directly to the attacks.

Li Wei: Agreed. But where do we start? The Yamamoto Clan is a shadow that covers everything in Japan.

Duc: We start with the people. Someone must have seen something or heard something. The Yakuza operate in the shadows, but they leave traces. We need to follow those traces.

They decided to split up and gather information, using their connections in the wrestling world and beyond to piece together the puzzle. Li Wei reached out to fellow wrestlers, friends, and even some of his former rivals, while Duc tapped into his old network from his days in AAPW.

A few days later, Li Wei found himself in a small, rundown gym in a quiet part of Tokyo. The gym was frequented by local fighters and had a reputation for being a place where the underbelly of the wrestling world could be found. He approached an old trainer, a man known as Saito, who had been around the wrestling scene for decades and had deep connections.

Li Wei: Saito-san, I need your help. I'm seeking information about the Yamamoto Clan's involvement in the attacks on Ultimate Wrestling's roster.

Saito looked up from the punching bag he was working on, his eyes narrowing as he studied Li Wei.

Saito: You're treading dangerous waters, Li Wei. The Yamamoto Clan doesn't take kindly to outsiders poking around in their business.

Li Wei: I know, but my friend is in a coma, and others have been seriously hurt. I can't let this go.

Saito sighed, wiping his hands on a towel before sitting on a nearby bench.

Saito: I admire your determination, but be careful. The Yakuza are like a serpent; they strike without warning. I've heard whispers, though. There are rumors of a meeting between high-ranking members of the Yamamoto Clan and certain individuals within AAPW. It will take place at a secluded warehouse near the docks tonight.

Li Wei: Thank you, Saito. I owe you one.

Saito: Just make sure you come back in one piece, kid. The wrestling world needs people like you.

Meanwhile, Duc was at an underground speakeasy bar known for its connections to the wrestling underground. The place was dimly lit, with a smoky atmosphere that reeked of cheap alcohol and desperation. Duc approached the bartender, an old acquaintance from his days in AAPW.

Duc: (leaning against the bar) Heard anything interesting lately, Kenji?

Kenji looked up, his eyes widening in recognition before narrowing suspiciously.

Kenji: It depends on what you consider interesting. What are you looking for, Duc?

Duc: Information about the Yamamoto Clan and their recent activities. I heard there's a meeting going down tonight at the docks.

Kenji leaned closer, lowering his voice.

Kenji: You're playing with fire, Duc. But yeah, I've heard the same. High-stakes meeting, lots of security. If you're planning on crashing the party, you'd better be prepared.

Duc: Always am. Thanks, Kenji.

As night fell, Li Wei and Duc met near the docks, their expressions grim and determined. They knew they were walking into a dangerous situation, but the need for justice drove them forward. The warehouse loomed ahead, its shadowy form starkly contrasted against the moonlit water.

Li Wei: (whispering) We need to be careful. If Tanaka and the Yamamoto Clan are involved, they'll have eyes everywhere.

Duc: Let's stick to the shadows and find a vantage point. We need to see who's meeting and what they're discussing.

They moved silently, their training as wrestlers giving them an edge in stealth and agility. They found a spot overlooking the warehouse, concealed by crates and shadows. Through a dirty window, they saw several figures gathered inside, their faces obscured but their intent clear.

Among them, Li Wei recognized Tanaka, whose posture was confident and commanding. Next to him stood Etsuji Yamamoto, whose presence exuded menace and authority. As they listened, their worst fears were confirmed. Wei pulled out his smartphone and began recording what they were hearing, praying that the phone would pick up the conversation.

Etsuji Yamamoto: It would seem that the messages we've been sending to Mudcock have been received.

Haruki Tanaka: They sent me a messenger who confronted me at the Sushi bar. It would seem that the injuries and deaths of his wrestlers have not convinced him to shut down his Ultimate Wrestling operations here in Japan.

Etsuji Yamamoto: That is a shame... Then it would appear he is willing to go to war.

Haruki Tanaka: Most likely, in more ways than one. I'm sure he will attack us systematically and multifacetedly like we attacked him. At this point, it's time for some of my strongest wrestlers from AAPW and me to lay down the gauntlet on their primary broadcast, Friday Night Clash.

Etsuji Yamamoto: So you plan to take them head-on in the ring? Do you think your boys have what it takes to crush them? To prove to Japan that AAPW has the best fighters in the world?

Haruki Tanaka: I believe so, but it won't be easy. Your men should continue to attack their roster when opportunities present themselves. The more chess pieces we can take off the board, the higher our chances of winning this war.

Duc: (whispering) We need to get out of here. We've got what we need.

As they turned to leave, a loud noise echoed through the warehouse, drawing the attention of the men inside. Li Wei and Duc froze, their hearts pounding as they realized they had been spotted.

Etsuji Yamamoto: (shouting) Intruders! Find them!

Li Wei and Duc sprinted towards the exit, footsteps and shouts growing louder behind them. They knew they had to escape, but the odds were against them.

Li Wei: (breathless) We can't let them catch us!

Duc: Keep moving! There's a back alley that leads to the main road!

They dodged through the maze of crates and containers, the warehouse a labyrinth designed to trap and confuse. The adrenaline coursing through their veins gave them an edge, but they knew they were running out of time.

As they reached the alley, they saw a group of Yakuza thugs blocking their path. With no other option, they prepared to fight, their training as wrestlers turning into a fight for survival.

Li Wei: (gritting his teeth) We have to break through!

The battle was fierce and brutal, with Li Wei and Duc using their wrestling skills to fend off the attackers. The thugs were well-trained but lacked the discipline and determination that had brought Li Wei and Duc to the top of their game.

With a series of swift, powerful moves, they created an opening and sprinted towards the main road. They could hear the distant sound of sirens, a sign that the authorities were coming.

As they reached the safety of the main road, they knew they had only just begun to uncover the depths of the conspiracy against Ultimate Wrestling. But they also knew they were not alone. The fight for justice and revenge had only just begun.