It was preordained—
The moment the white-bellied birds flew over this land, the countdown for the lives of the thirty-seven members of the Tanaka family officially began!
But they were unaware.
They still bathed in the peaceful, warm twilight, their faces lit with the most benevolent smiles.
Today marked the sixtieth birthday of Tanaka Hisashi, the patriarch of the Tanaka family.
Apart from his second son, Tanaka Gen, who was in the Blackwood Forest in Europe and could not be present to offer his heartfelt blessings to his beloved father, all his elder son Tanaka Mingfo's family of five, his three daughters and their two husbands (his youngest daughter was not yet married), as well as his two nephews, one niece, and others, were all in attendance.
Thirty-seven members of the clan, plus friends and relatives who came to celebrate.
Tonight, the number of people at the suburban villa exceeded eighty.
With so many people, there was no need for a formal banquet like in a hotel.
Following the suggestion of his youngest daughter, Tanaka Kofang, they decided to have a cocktail party at the villa.
Here,
Tanaka Kofang deserves a special introduction.
The Dark Web had three division presidents in Toyo.
The identity of the first president is not mentioned for now.
The third president was Sakai Momoe, who was summoned by Jiao Yin to the Imperial Dynasty Apartment and tragically slaughtered by a certain individual.
And the second president is Tanaka Kofang, who is currently twenty-seven years old!
In fact,
It was precisely because Tanaka Kofang secretly joined the Dark Web nine years ago and, through her outstanding performance, became a "Swallow" of the Dark Web within two years, that the social status and scale of the Tanaka family, originally belonging to the Toyo Black Dragon Syndicate, began to skyrocket.
Especially.
After Tanaka Kofang was promoted to Second President three years ago.
Even Kumamoto Rokuro, the boss of the Black Dragon Syndicate, would bow and scrape to Tanaka Hisashi, his former subordinate, when they met.
No matter how powerful the Black Dragon Syndicate was.
It was merely a local snake.
The Dark Web, however, was different.
It was a dragon that could stir up storms all over the globe!
Of course.
Apart from Tanaka Hisashi, Tanaka Gen, and Tanaka Kofang, no one else in the Tanaka family, let alone ordinary people, knew about the information mentioned above.
After all, the Dark Web operated in the shadows.
Kumamoto Rokuro knew because the Black Dragon Syndicate had been secretly supported by the Rhodes family for seventy to eighty years, serving as their representative here.
It was precisely because they had the immensely wealthy Rhodes family as their backing that the Black Dragon Syndicate dared to compete with the globally renowned Yamaguchi-gumi locally!
The sky.
Gradually darkened.
The atmosphere of the birthday banquet reached its climax as Tanaka Hisashi, wearing a "king's crown" and with a benevolent smile, blew out the candles on the cake.
"Dear guests!"
After the guests' applause of congratulation subsided, a woman in a white suit, beautiful and with a visibly swollen belly, walked onto the makeshift stage, holding a microphone and smiling.
Everyone instinctively paused their conversations and looked up at her.
This woman was the daughter-in-law of Tanaka Hisashi's eldest son, Akino Ayako.
She was a financial host on a television station, from a scholarly family, intelligent and capable, yet gentle in nature, the epitome of a traditional virtuous wife and loving mother.
"Thank you to all our dear guests for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend Father's sixtieth birthday banquet."
Ayako Akino had been designated by Tanaka Hisashi as the "spokesperson" for this banquet.
After all, hosting events was her forte.
And indeed, it was so.
Ayako Akino's voice was not loud, her wording was not flowery, and even after speaking for more than ten minutes, no one felt impatient.
Because her face was filled with a smile that made people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze, and the happiness of her imminent motherhood, as she unconsciously rested her left hand on her abdomen, was infectious to everyone present.
They couldn't help but strain their ears to listen to her speech.
There wasn't much to say, really.
It was just to thank the guests, and to let them witness the younger generation of the Tanaka family standing in six rows, six people per row (she was hosting the event, and Tanaka Gen was not present), bowing to the birthday celebrant Tanaka Hisashi and presenting their respective birthday gifts.
"I dare say, within three to five years, the Tanaka family will ascend to become one of the top ten families in the Toyo night."
Kumamoto Rokuro, representing the Black Dragon Syndicate, looked at the kind-faced birthday celebrant. He felt a pang of regret that the gift he brought might not be substantial enough.
After all, he had heard that Tanaka Hisashi's second son, Tanaka Gen, was following Rhode to the Blackwood Forest and performing exceptionally well.
Coupled with Tanaka Kofang's immense rising potential in recent years, there was a high probability that she would become the chief president of the Dark Web in Toyo within the next decade.
Thinking of the chief president of the Dark Web's Toyo division, Kumamoto Rokuro subconsciously glanced at a woman standing in a corner.
This woman had a good figure but an unremarkable appearance. She appeared to be around forty years old and was rather inconspicuous.
However, Kumamoto Rokuro had a strange feeling that her complexion was unnaturally rigid.
In other words, she might be in disguise!
This woman had been brought by Tanaka Kofang.
At the time, Tanaka Kofang had only vaguely introduced her to Tanaka Hisashi as "Yamaguchi," without revealing her full name or profession.
Tanaka Hisashi assumed she was a colleague of his youngest daughter from the Dark Web and simply shook her hand benevolently, thinking nothing more of it.
If the birthday celebrant paid her no mind, why should anyone else?
But Kumamoto Rokuro, who was adept at observing people, had keenly captured something at a certain moment when Tanaka Kofang spoke to Yamaguchi.
Tanaka Kofang, as the Second President of the Dark Web's division, spoke to Yamaguchi with an outward casualness that actually masked profound respect!
"Could this woman named Yamaguchi be the legendary Chief President of the Dark Web, Yamaguchi Jiao Xiu?"
Suddenly, Kumamoto Rokuro had a thought.
Coincidentally.
Yamaguchi also casually looked in this direction.
The moment their eyes met—
Kumamoto Rokuro's heart inexplicably pounded, and he instinctively bowed, smiling obsequiously as he nodded at her.
The woman standing in the corner, upon receiving his fawning smile, turned her gaze towards the stage.
On stage.
Ayako Akino was speaking to the birthday celebrant: "Respected Father, your second son, Mr. Tanaka Gen, who is on a business trip in Europe, has requested a video call with you. He wishes to bless you with a happy birthday via video."
"Heh heh."
Tanaka Hisashi chuckled and bent down to pick up a little boy.
This two or three-year-old boy was the son of his second son, Tanaka Gen, and the only male among Tanaka Hisashi's four grandchildren.
The phenomenon of preferring sons over daughters was still quite prevalent in Toyo.
This point.
Could be seen from the delighted smile on Tanaka Hisashi's face as he held his grandson.
Ayako Akino, who already had two daughters, observed this.
But her gentle nature prevented her from feeling envious.
Because she knew very well.
That within three months at most, she too would give birth to a second son for the Tanaka family!
"Taro, shall we video call with Daddy together?"
Tanaka Hisashi held up his grandson's hand and asked.
"Okay, Grandpa, I miss Daddy too."
The child asked in a childlike voice, "Grandpa, when can Daddy come home?"
"Soon, soon!"
Tanaka Hisashi said, "When the video call connects, Taro, you must tell your father he's worked hard. After all, your father is working diligently outside for you, and for our entire family to have a happier life."
"Okay."
The child nodded again.
Ayako Akino initiated the video call.
She projected the video window directly onto the background wall.
Everyone looked up.
The first thing they saw was a snowfield.
A vast, white snowfield—
The wind howled fiercely!
"Wow, Tanaka-kun's working environment is so harsh."
Many guests were surprised to see this.
Especially when Tanaka Gen, bundled up in thick clothing and with a scruffy beard, appeared on the screen, they found it even more unbelievable.
After all, Tanaka Gen was the Vice President of the Tanaka family's enterprise.
If the Vice President was on a business trip to Europe, even if he wasn't attending high-class banquets every day, he shouldn't be out in a snowy wilderness looking like this, right?
"Tanaka-kun is in Europe this time to survey energy resources like oil and natural gas."
Ayako Akino smiled and introduced to everyone.
The guests suddenly understood.
Kumamoto Rokuro, however, scoffed inwardly, "Hmph, he's actually killing people in the Blackwood Forest."
"Respected Father! From thousands of miles away, I sincerely wish you a happy birthday."
Tanaka Gen, holding his phone high and looking at the banquet scene on the screen, said this to his father, his eyes visibly reddening, his emotions stirring.
He—
No matter his age this year or the achievements he had made, in front of his father, he was still a child!
"Good, good."
Tanaka Hisashi nodded repeatedly, saying emotionally, "You must take care of yourself out there, especially your safety. Taro and the entire family, and I, all hope you will come home soon. May our family be reunited soon."
Before he finished speaking—
Suddenly, a cold, chilling female voice came from the doorway: "Your family will never be reunited in this world."