Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 2, also called Chapter 23, is the twenty-fourth chapter of the Black Lagoon manga. It was originally released in May 2004.
Plot[]
Although Rock assures Revy that the street stall vendor will refund her money, she asks him whose side he is on and asks "Jumbo" if he understands English. Ginji calmly tells her to be reasonable, and she smirks and walks up to him, causing Rock to urge her to let it go. Nervously interrupting them, the young girl advises them to have some nice tea in the cold weather. As both express a dismayed face, Rock holds his hand up in agreement with the girl. Subsequently, Rock and the girl sit on one bench while Revy and Ginji sit on the other bench. Rock and the girl try to speak, making each other apologize reflexively. Rock asks her if she is one of the vendors. She confirms, specifying that her father was a vendor while Ginji is basically his protégé and the festival's peacekeeper, and she herself was on her way home from school to close up shop when she saw the fight.
Rock then speaks about how Revy is Chinese-American and is accompanying him on an interpreting job for Russians, impressing the girl. Rock remarks that his job can be dangerous, surprising her, but he tries to clarify. Hearing them, Revy grumpily comments on their nervous politeness. Laughing, Ginji tells Revy that her eyes are different from everyone else, and she states that he also smells like blood. As Revy sips her cup, Ginji recommends to the student that they leave since it will get cold, so the two bid goodbye but not before the girl tells Rock that her name is Yukio. The next morning, Balalaika and Boris eat breakfast at a restaurant, and Boris informs his leader that their men took out two Kōsa Council casinos, some offices, and killed a dozen yakuza gangsters without suffering any casualties. Finishing the report, Boris states that the Washimine Group has recorded the local police's radio communications but they are waiting on a translation from Rock, so Balalaika orders him to get Rock on it as their lives depend on it.
Sitting at their table with them, Vasili Laptev commends the strength of Balalaika's forces, saying that he sees why Boss Slevinin holds her in high regard. Finishing her drink, Balalaika sternly reminds him that she is in Japan to clean up his mess, insulting him as a disgrace to Hotel Moscow. Angered, Laptev responds that he is a high-ranking member back in Moscow, to which Balalaika sarcastically retorts that she should respect him since he bought his position. When Laptev insults her back, she turns around and slams his head onto the table, warning him that she despises ex-KGB agents and that he should avoid getting hit by bullets.
Elsewhere at the festival, Tsugio Bandō meets with the sitting Ginji, saying that he just wants to talk. Bandō asks him how much longer he plans on doing small jobs, to which Ginji responds that he is a vendor and it will stay that way. In response, Bandō remarks that his earnings provide little to their already dwindling group, but Ginji says that it is better than pimping out women. Smoking a cigarette, Bandō replies that he is not doing so because he enjoys it but because he wants the group to survive, reminding him that things have turned south ever since their leader died and with the Kōsa Council bossing them around. Bandō elaborates that he owes a great debt to the previous boss for taking him in, saying that he will pay back the debt to maintain the group even if it means selling drugs, guns, or women. Maintaining his stern look, Ginji recalls that their boss never said anything about engaging in such crime, but Bandō says that it is about survival and they do not have the room to consider honor. Placing his hand on Ginji's shoulder, Bandō whispers to him about his recent alliance with the Russian Mafia, saying that they need a man in case the Russians turn on them.
As Ginji is confused, Bandō urges him to take up his white scabbard once again and fight for the Washimine Group as Manslayer Ginji. Although he thanks Bandō for helping Yukio's life go smoothly in terms of money, Ginji denies his request since he specifically fought for their previous boss due to his struggles' honor and humanity. Putting out his cigarette, Bandō accepts his answer and leaves, but not before Ginji asks him what the Russians' interpreter was like. Bandō smilingly remembers that the Japanese man was a clueless civilian with a tough female bodyguard.