Yakuza 0

Chapter Five Part Two The Squatter

Oda: You got the gist of that, yeah? Basically, we just need to clear that squatter out of the building. I'll handle the negotiations. You just watch and learn.

Kiryu: But this squatter guy's got the yakuza backing him, right? Do you really think negotiating is gonna cut it?

Oda: Guess that depends on how good I am. In the meantime, Kiryu-kun, I'll bestow upon you your first mission.

Kiryu: And what's that?

Oda: Run along and fetch me a confectionery gift box.

Kiryu: Huh?

Oda: Even if we're dealing with squatter trash, you don't show up to the negotiating table empty-handed. We're back to business etiquette 101, kid.

Kiryu: Tch, this again? ...Fine, understood.

Oda: Once you've got those sweets, meet me in front of the Sugita Building. I'll wait for you there. See you soon.

Kiryu: Yeah. (He said this Sugita Building was on Tenkaichi Street. Can't say the name rings any bells, though. That whole area is Dojima Family turf, so I know it pretty well, but I don't remember any place like that... Might be tucked away on one of the smaller streets off Tenkaichi. I'll have a look once I've got this gift box.)

[After going around a few shops, Kiryu finds candy. He comes up to Oda waiting for him.]

Oda: Hey, Kiryu-kun. You buy that confection gift box?

Kiryu: Yeah, this one work?

Oda: Nice. Gotta be able to handle errands this simple, right? Well, this is the Sugita Building.


Kiryu: So our squatter's holed up in here?

Oda: Right. Let's head on up.

Kiryu: Yeah. Time for you to show me what you got.

Oda: Heh, watch and learn.

[They go inside the building and go up to the right floor.]

Oda: This should be the unit. (knocking) Excuse me! Are you in, Tsuji-san? We're here on behalf of Yamanoi-san!

[The door opens and the untidy man looks out of it. Oda and Kiryu give him their business cards.]

Oda: We're with Tachibana Real Estate.

Tsuji: Tachibana Real Estate?

Oda: (giving him a box of candy) Here. It's not much, but enjoy it with our compliments.

[Sleeping Tsuji's guard down, Oda opens the door to the apartment abruptly.]

Tsuji: HEY! Who said you could come in here!?

[The apartment is a mess - there are boxes and sake bottles everywhere. There is a Sega Genesis connected to TV on the floor.]

Oda: Ah, this place is a pigsty. You're gonna have your work cut out for you cleaning this all up so you can move out.

Tsuji: Move out? What're you talking about? I'm not going anywhere.

Oda: Well, you can pretend, but this building is Yamanoi-san's, now that he bought the place. And you outstaying your welcome isn't doing him any favors.

Tsuji: Civil Code, Article 395.

Oda: Come again?

Tsuji: If you're in real estate, do your homework. In the case of mortgaged property, short-term rental tenants are legally protected from the mortgagee's demands. In other words, the law's on my side in all this. You wanna take this to court?

Oda: Let's not be so obstinate, hm? If you agree to move out, we would be happy to cover your expenses. My firm can point you to a new location quite similar to this one.

Tsuji: Hey, I happen to like it here. And I don't take kindly to you thinking you can throw money at me to make me go away.

Kiryu: Says the squatter who's only in it for a relocation payment.

Tsuji: What's all this "squatter" talk about? Are you slinging baseless accusations at me now?

Oda: C'mon, Tsuji-san. Let's drop the act. The new owner's eager to bundle up this rat's nest and flip it for a tidy profit.

Tsuji: That sounds like his problem, not mine. I'm done talking to you errand boys. You bring the owner here to talk to me, eh?

Oda: ...Then why don't YOU bring out the yakuza you work for?

Tsuji: Yakuza? I don't know what you're talking about.

Oda: I told you not to bother with your piss-poor performance. Don't think for a second you're anything more than a warm body to park in this shithole. I'm sure they don't.

Tsuji: The hell did you say!?

Oda: The owner's got better things to do than meet with the likes of you. Go on, pass the word along to your yakuza handlers. Tachibana Real Estate's handling this case.

Tsuji: You talk an awful big game for a fucking real estate agent.

Oda: You have your message. We're done here, Tsuji-san.

[Oda and Kiryu are leaving the building.]