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Chapter 2: The Voices II
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This world, it's fast to take everything away from you... This familiar world, 'If this is indeed the World I believe it is, then my destination should be Seireitei... Only there can I finally understand them... The Voices.'
Rukongai is divided into 320 districts, 80 districts in each cardinal quadrant, each numbered in descending order on how far they are from the center.
This results in the higher-numbered and farther districts decaying into slums.
Thus, while District 1 is peaceful and lawful, District 80 is a hardscrabble, violent, crime-infested area.
Apparently, Shinigamis are often seen in some districts, ones closest to the center, as their duty seems to include defending allocated districts of Rukongai.
The living standards in Rukongai decline sharply beyond the fiftieth district, with an increase in people wearing rags and no footwear.
It's to the point that people in the 80th District live like cavemen, most of them only wearing rugs hiding their bottoms.
That's the information that Akashi managed to collect through the Gang and recall based on his memory of this World.
However, he couldn't pinpoint the exact district he was currently in. No one knew. He could only scramble some information together to conclude that he was in one of the 60th or 70th districts.
"Kenji!" Akashi's voice resounded throughout the courtyard, the man named Kenji stumbling his way to him the moment he heard him.
"Schedule an assembly in the evening. Everyone, and I mean, everyone must be there, no matter what they have going on," He instructed before getting to work.
There was something Akashi realized about Rukongai. It's big, huge. It takes close to a day to walk to the closest district, and their current location is very close to it.
Akashi assumed that reaching Seireitei from here would take months, and it would be a very dangerous journey. Preparations were necessary.
He worked on mapping out his plans, thinking things through, and how much effort he should put into the Gang.
The conclusion he came to is as much as possible. The Influence he will get from being the gang leader will pale in comparison to the power he can get from being a Shinigami.
However, the Gang can bring him money and resources that he can possibly use for a lot of things in Seireitei, for example, bribes and even discovering special individuals.
That seems like a good way to grow his power within Seireitei, introducing his people into it.
It was soon evening, the time scheduled for the gang to assemble. There, Akashi stood with his scrutinizing eyes, observing them all.
And so did they, some of the new recruits having never seen their new leader.
Akashi was intimidating, even without the voices, quite tall, standing at 192 cm in height, with fair skin, short inky hair, and similarly dark eyes.
He walked up to them, closer and closer til they could finally hear them, the Voices. He walked around the group while eyeing them, observing the voices' effect on them, and instilling fear in them.
Only then did he stand back, "I'm sure all of us have experienced it. We have walked through chaos, fought for scraps, and endured the brutality of a world that sees us as nothing more than shadows in the gutters."
"For too long, we have been a gang; a collection of blades and brawlers bound by circumstance, not purpose. That changes today."
"We are no longer something as lowly as a gang. We are a family. A family forged in fire, bonded by blood, and driven by something greater than survival."
"I will not tolerate weakness, disloyalty, or aimless violence. From this moment, we are united by a single creed; our creed. It will shape us, bind us, and elevate us above the filth that surrounds us."
"First is the unbreakable truth of the Family. My voice is not just law; it is the very spine of this family."
"Every word I speak carries the weight of order, and every decision I make is for our survival and dominance. Questioning me is not rebellion; it is suicide. But loyalty? Loyalty to my will is a pact with power itself."
"Second, unity will be our strength. We stand as one. No rival, no outsider, and no ambition will divide us. When one of us rises, we all rise; when one of us falls, we all bleed. Betrayal will not be tolerated; it will be punished." "Not just by me, but by every brother and sister who values this family. Loyalty to each other, to this family, is loyalty to yourselves. Remember this: the only way to survive the abyss is to walk through it together."
"Finally, we are not animals. We are a force, and a force must be disciplined. If you've heard of how the gangs in other districts turned out, you'd understand."
"Those Gangs. They eat each other for survival. They fight for no reason, like fucking animals, as if seeking to prove to the world that they are in fact the garbage it thinks they are."
"Strength Through Order, Prosperity Through Discipline. Chaos is a tool we use, but it does not define us. While others squander their lives in mindless violence, we will rise through precision, control, and purpose." "Follow the creed, and this family will not only survive; it should dominate. Disorder is the path of the weak. We may be victims and creations of circumstances, but that does not mean that we can not change."
Akashi traced his eyes on his people, seeing their confusion, but also their fear, the voices still ringing in their ears.
He also saw some... Their eyes lit up as if seeing what he sees, some thoughtful, and others apprehensive.
"I understand that my plans are extreme, very much outside of your comfort zone, so you are free to leave if you so wish. For those who see the Vision, believe that I will bring about change."
"However, I also understand that this is not a place for the weak, so, at any time, you can challenge me for my position. The winner takes all. Loser attains eternal peace."
Akashi followed with a faint smile, narrowing his eyes as he made eye contact with all of those who dared look at him.
Across the next month, Akashi introduced many changes and new systems.
Enforcers that will secure the streets, ensuring that no rival dares breathe without permission.
Scouts and spies that will map out every shadow in this district, rooting out weaknesses and opportunities.
Their job is to know every inch of this territory, every rival's move, and every resource we can claim.
Suppliers that will gather what the Creed needs; weapons, food, and influence.
Recruiters that will find strength where others see nothing; souls with potential, desperate for purpose. Bring them to the Creed to forge them into useful pawns.
The Family was soon structured into a hierarchy, starting with him at the top, then The Inner Circle, A select group of lieutenants who report directly to Akashi.
These individuals would manage specific aspects of the family's operations such as security, logistics, intelligence, and finances.
The Captains follow, Mid-level leaders who oversee groups of 10-15 men.
Each captain would be responsible for enforcing Akashi's creeds within their squad and carrying out orders from the Inner Circle. And of course, the last would be the Soldiers.
"Kenji, speak. It is not as if I would kill you for an opinion," Akashi caught from the corner of his eyes, Kenji's hesitation to speak.
"I... I believe in you... I see your vision, but why change the name? You know, of the Gang, or Family now. It's the only legacy left by the big boss... Why change it?" Kenji voiced his reason.
"Hm?" Akashi blinked, eyeing Kenji carefully, 'Change is difficult. Even the tiniest of changes can create outrage, provided that you can even achieve change. That's the problem with democracy... Should I just send him off?'
Dictatorship is the most effective and efficient government approach... If the Dictator is flawless.
However, there is no man that is perfect, thus Dictatorship is inherently flawed.
Even if imperfect benevolent dictatorships can be the most effective and efficient government possible.
The issue is that they don't always stay that way, and even if they do, there's no assurance the next dictator will be even remotely proper.
The same tools that make them so effective make the bad rulers almost impossible to remove.
"It's exactly because of his legacy that I made the change. I'm sad for his departure, but it's exactly his passing that made me realize we need change."
"I don't want more of us to die pointlessly... He embodies the worst in all of us... The worst in me, and I want to change. Do you not want to change? To become a better version of yourself?"
Akashi narrowed his eyes as he questioned, awaiting a response he hopefully likes.
If his manipulation tactics fail, then the Voices will make him do something bad, something he wouldn't normally do.
Akashi must've received an acceptable answer, thus the faint smile on his face as he continued his work.
It's apparent that Akashi is a lot of things. Perfect, he is most certainly not, not that he actually wants to be a dictator.
'It's truly a hustle to build devotees all over again,' Moreover, Akashi seems to have the experience to do so.
And he would rather not do it all over again. After all, it was a mistake then, the actions of a broken kid living in delusion.
Then again, he now has experience and an actual unified purpose instead of delusions... Survival, the thing everyone in the farthest districts pursues.