Chapter 17 War Strategy
Chapter seventeen
War Strategy
Nyomi
Twenty minutes later, we finished eating and the guards wheeled in a table—larger, heavier, and draped with a black silk cloth that concealed whatever lay beneath.
My heart kicked up a notch.
They positioned it carefully next to us.
Next, the guard pulled away the cloth.
I sucked in a breath.
It was a board—but not like any chess or game board I'd ever seen. This was a masterpiece, a work of art and strategy combined.
The surface was painted to look like a world map, countries rendered in meticulous detail. But what made my skin prickle were the pieces on the countries.
Tons of them.
Scattered across continents.
Kenji stood and moved to the board.
I rose on unsteady legs and came to stand beside him.
"There’s the world you know, Tora." Kenji pointed to the board. "And then there is the criminal underworld, pumping danger, violence, and vengeance beneath it.”
I swallowed down dread.
“Every piece you see represents power. Territory. Blood." His finger moved to Japan first, where two large pieces sat side by side.
A Dragon, carved from dark jade and eyes made from rubies. Next to it was a Fox piece, sleek and silver, teeth bared in a permanent snarl.
"My father and I. To the world, we rule together in Japan. But now all know in our underworld that I set off those bombs to fully take the throne. For these days of war, everyone will be waiting to see which one of us survives."
The weight of those words settled over me.
His hand swept to the smaller pieces throughout the continent of Asia.
"India." He pointed to a serpent piece, coiled and ready to strike. "The Naga Syndicate controls that country. They run drugs, arms, trafficking. They’re ruthless."
Thailand had a golden elephant, small but ornate. He touched its horn. "This is the Royal Ivory Cartel. At this time, they have moderate power, but could be a problem in the years to come."
Malaysia's piece was a tiny tiger.
Korea had a steel crane.
Then China. . .it had a blue Ace card stood upright, medium-sized, painted with gold trim.
"This represents the Four Aces. While they control China, they operate from the United States. Their business is mainly weapons, but they dabble in gambling, tech, and money laundering. I would say that the Four Aces are dangerous because they have roots in two continents."
My eyes moved west, across the ocean to the United States where their Four Aces piece stood right next to a massive diamond and appeared to dominate all of the States.
Kenji noticed me looking over there. "That’s the Diamond Syndicate, the biggest criminal organization in North America. The Four Aces is a part of them.”
“And the Diamond Syndicate is power?”
“They own politicians, judges, entire police departments. When I need something done in the States, I typically go to them. For example," Kenji looked up at me. “Their people are in Riker’s Island watching your father for me.”
“Oh.” I widened my eyes. “So you trust them?”
“I do. . .as much as trust goes in our world.”
“Okay.” I spotted Mexico.
It had a jaguar piece in the center—vibrant, painted in colors that reminded me of Day of the Dead celebrations. There were tons of small pieces representing so many other countries.
But it was Europe that made my breath catch.
Damn.
The Lion piece in Russia was enormous—easily three times the size of the Dragon, Fox, and even the Diamond in the States. This piece was carved from what looked like real bone and then painted gold.
Kenji noticed me staring in that direction. "Kazimir Solonik. The Lion. He controls Russia and half of Europe. He has some territory in other continents too, especially South America and Africa.”
“Asia?”
“Not as much as he would like, but yes. He's the biggest player on this board. Even my father fears him."
I thought about Kenji’s trip to Paris and looked in that direction. "And France?"
There, a medium-sized piece stood—a butcher knife standing upright. Its blade gleamed.
"Jean-Pierre Laurent. The Butcher." Kenji's hand hovered over the piece. "He controls France's underworld. Weapons manufacturing. Black market arms. Assassinations for hire."
I looked at all the pieces—the way they were positioned and the territories they claimed. "So. . .the size of the pieces matter?"
"Exactly. Bigger piece, more power. More control. Medium sized and it says we should keep watch of what they’re doing. Small and. . .they’re not too important at this time."
“So you must change the pieces and the board a lot?”
“Yes. We have five people that monitor the situation and change when necessary. They let Reo know of the changes and he reports what is significant back to me.”
“Efficient.”
“Indeed.” Kenji smiled and leaned over the board. "Now let me show you what I've done."
“Okay.”
His finger moved to France, touching the butcher knife piece. "My father helped the Butcher rise to power years ago. They're close friends."
My stomach tightened. "You were just in Paris."
"I was." His voice went cold. "I asked the Butcher for weapons. Guns, ammunition, bombs."
"To use against your own father?"
"Yes." No hesitation. No shame. "Of course. . .the Butcher had no idea I planned to turn his weapons on his friend."
I stared at the board, at the Fox piece in Japan and then at the Butcher’s piece in France. "So. . .after this news hitting the world. . .the Butcher is probably furious right now."
"I’m certain of it, but he’s very smart too. Jean-Pierre knows the bombs that went off in Tokyo are his, but he doesn’t know why I chose him to be an accomplice. I’m sure he’ll ponder that for a while.” Kenji frowned as if he didn’t want the Butcher to think about that for too long.
“Okay.” My mind started twisting with this move. “I’m sorry if I’m a bit slow—”
“Take your time and ask any questions.”
“Alright. I’m just wondering why would you go all the way to France for weapons, especially when it is your father’s friend? Surely, you could have gotten weapons from one of the groups in Asia like. . .the Naga Syndicate or even the Four Aces.”
"The groups in Asia would have known immediately I was moving against my father and they would have refused. We’re more powerful than all of them, except the Four Aces.
They definitely would not have wanted to tango with the Fox later.
However, the trip to France was about something more than weapons. ”
“Oh.” I tried to see where he was going with this, but couldn’t see it.
“The trip had to look legitimate. A son visiting an old family friend and maintaining relationships." His hand moved to Paris on the map, and I noticed tiny red dots there I hadn't seen before. "But the weapons weren't the real reason I went to Paris."
My pulse quickened. "What was the real reason?"
"Spies." His finger traced the red dots. "And hackers. During our trip, my Fangs planted the spies and hackers throughout the city while I was there. The Butcher doesn't know they came with me."
Oh shit.
The pieces were falling into place now, the strategy revealing itself like a puzzle.
Kenji picked up the Fox piece, turning it in his fingers. "I knew that once the bombs hit Tokyo—which they already have—my father would go into hiding. What does a fox do, Tora?”
I thought about it. "It. . .hunts."
"Yes. What else?"
"It outsmarts larger predators."
"In what way?"
My mind worked through everything I knew about foxes. "It adapts. Changes tactics. Plays dead when cornered and. . .it burrows."
"Very smart. It burrows." He set the Fox piece back on the board. "My father is notorious for going underground when threatened. The Fox has tunnels throughout Tokyo, secret bunkers, places even I don't know about. He could hide for years, so I had to set a trap."
I stared at the board, at the intricate web of pieces and territories, trying to see the trap Kenji had laid months in advance.
He picked up the Butcher piece. "Using the French’s weapons, I bombed all of our weapons and killed my father’s men. Now, he needs more of both, if he plans to fight me.”
I scanned the pieces throughout Asia. “And no one in Asia will help him, they're all waiting to see who wins."
“Very good, Tora. You are catching on fast.” Kenji smirked. “No one in Asia will help. That is our way. It is very different from the Western groups. We do not interfere in each other’s domestic wars.”
"So. . .” I put my gaze back on France. “Oh. Your father will have to call the Butcher and ask for help.”
“Yes.” Kenji chuckled. “My Tiger is very fucking fast. And so, due to the bombs, my father will ask Jean-Pierre for weapons and men, maybe even asylum in France, and when he does. . .”
I stared at the red dots. “Your spies and hackers will know.”
“And they will track the call. We'll use that to find my father’s location under Tokyo. And then we'll end him."
I stared at the board, at the intricate web of strategy he'd woven. "That's brilliant."
"But there's a problem." His voice went hard.
"The spy on the island."
"Exactly." He moved the Dragon piece slightly, positioning it defensively. "If my father still has a spy here. They'll report to him my location, my numbers, my plans, even. . .my Tiger. And the Fox will come for me while we’re exposed."
The room felt smaller suddenly, the walls pressing in.
"That's why we need to find the spy," I whispered.
"That's why I need you." His hand found mine. "You can read people, Tora. You can find the lie when no one else can, and you’ve already knocked out two of his fucking spineless spies."
The pressure of that responsibility hit me.
I stared at the board, and my mind raced.
Still, this was fascinating.
Intricate.
A puzzle of power and violence spread across continents.
Kenji wasn't just dangerous because he could slash throats or pull triggers. He was dangerous because his mind was a chessboard that never stopped moving.
Every piece had a purpose.
Every action had layers.