When the Uesugi family arrived at the funeral venue, only a few people were present.

Usually, funerals are organized by the deceased's family, but Watanabe Gengo's case was different.

Watanabe Gengo had no family.

Aside from Watanabe himself, no one knew the details. Dojou Kazuaki's investigation into Watanabe Gengo's past only revealed that he dropped out of high school in his second year and then wandered the streets.

As for Watanabe Gengo's parents, relatives, their whereabouts were either unknown or they had passed away, and it had been many years.

As mentioned before, only he knew what had happened to him.

And now, even he had passed away.

"Ah, you're here," Dojou Kazuaki greeted them as they entered the hall.

"Good morning, officer Dojou," Uesugi Tano, the head of the Uesugi family, approached and exchanged pleasantries with Dojou Kazuaki, handing him an envelope with the words "For the deceased" written on it, on behalf of the whole family.

Dojou Kazuaki hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight wry smile and gestured for Uesugi Tano to take it back.

Because there were no relatives of Watanabe Gengo attending the funeral, there was no need for offering money.

While Uesugi Tano and Dojou Kazuaki conversed, the others stood by silently, waiting for the funeral to begin.

Ziongzong stood beside Mizuo and Yuki, Mizuo remained silent with a stiff expression, while Yuki clung tightly to Mizuo, holding his hand.

Seeing them like this, Ziongzong decided not to say anything and quietly observed the proceedings.

During this time, Ziongzong observed the other people coming to pay their respects.

Who were the people who would come to attend the funeral of someone like Watanabe Gengo?

Perhaps they were all thugs or gangsters?

None of the attendees matched Ziongzong's predictions.

As time passed, more mourners arrived.

Among them were impeccably dressed, charismatic lawyers, friendly and convincing-looking doctors, and even government officials from Kyoto Prefecture and influential monks.

If passersby who were unaware saw these people, they would undoubtedly assume that the deceased was a highly respected individual.

However, Watanabe Gengo was not such a person, at least not within the scope of what Ziongzong and they knew.

Watanabe Gengo was just an inconspicuous thug.

Watanabe Gengo was just a waiter working in a cafe.

Watanabe Gengo sacrificed his own life to protect Koga and her daughter and Yuki.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, let's begin," said Dojou Kazuaki, who was in charge of the proceedings. With his signal, the officiator started the mourning ceremony.

Because of Watanabe Gengo's unique situation, the usual two-day funeral was merged into one.

Everyone entered the memorial hall, knelt down in silence and listened to the chanting of the monks. Surrounded by the fragrance of incense in the hall, they felt a sense of peace.

After the mourning, everyone lined up and took turns to pay their last respects in front of Watanabe Gengo's coffin.

There were no tears.

No one wept.

Not a single tear fell on the floor of the memorial hall.

Except for the Uesugi family and Mizuo, it seems that everyone present had already anticipated that Watanabe Gengo would eventually meet an unnatural death.

He was such a person.

Ziongzong stood in front of his body, quietly observing this wild and untamed lion.

Even in death, with closed eyes, cleaned and dressed in white mourning clothes, his rebellious aura could still be felt.

Perhaps, in a different era, in a different story, he could become a revered hero.

But for now, please help Mizuo one last time.

Ziongzong stepped back from the coffin and watched Mizuo approach.

Their battle has just begun.