Chapter 2: Castle on the Water

Your guide to Chapter 2: Castle on the Water in Like a Dragon Gaiden. Learn how to find Akame, navigate The Castle, and confront Tsuruno to save Hanawa.

Welcome back! In Chapter 2, titled "Castle on the Water," things get a bit more complicated as Kiryu tries to get Hanawa back. Let's dive in. Kiryu meets with Tsuruno in a bar. Tsuruno offers Kiryu protection for his orphanage from the Daidoji if he joins the Watase family. Kiryu, not wanting to jump from one bad situation to another, refuses and instead demands Hanawa back. Tsuruno, frustrated that Kiryu won't admit he's Kiryu, gives him a small red tiger figurine. He tells Kiryu that if he wants to rescue Hanawa, he needs to find someone named Akame in Sotenbori and show her the tiger. With no other options, Kiryu heads to Sotenbori. He starts asking around the local homeless population about Akame. Soon enough, some thugs try to take the tiger from him, but Kiryu easily handles them. After the fight, Akame finds Kiryu. She's a red-headed woman who apparently does a bit of everything – info broker, contractor, you name it. She sees the red tiger and gives Kiryu access to her office and a place to rest. Akame agrees to help Kiryu reach a place called The Castle, but first, you'll need to complete a few tasks for her. This involves setting up the "Akame Network" throughout Sotenbori and meeting an old arms dealer who'll give you some extra gadgets. After a couple of nights, Akame takes Kiryu to The Castle via helicopter. It's an amusement park run by the Omi, designed to look like Osaka Castle, but it's actually built into a container ship in Osaka Bay. It's where the wealthy and powerful go to indulge their wildest desires. Inside, Kiryu runs into Shishido again, this time without his Hannya mask. Shishido tells Kiryu that he'll only find out where Hanawa is if he wins a series of fights in the Castle's Coliseum. Kiryu fights through the challengers, all set up by The Castle's boss, Homare Nishitani III. After the fights, Kiryu meets Shishido again. Shishido questions why Kiryu is still using the 'Joryu' disguise instead of embracing his reputation as the Dragon of Dojima. After another failed attempt to get Kiryu to join him, Shishido reveals that Hanawa is being held in an office building back in Sotenbori. However, Tsuruno expected Kiryu to return and has filled the building with his men. Kiryu, undeterred, fights his way to the top. There, he finds a bloodied Hanawa strapped to a chair, with Tsuruno and his men present. The fight spills out onto the rooftop, where Kiryu finally defeats Tsuruno and frees Hanawa. In a last-ditch effort, Tsuruno tries to convince Kiryu to join him. He explains that stricter anti-gang laws are pushing the Yakuza towards extinction, forcing them to choose between government control or prison. To combat this, the Omi Alliance and Tojo Clan leaders plan to officially disband their organizations to avoid further targeting. They need Kiryu as a bodyguard to manage the fallout from this announcement. Tsuruno argues that Hanawa represents the government's desire to control or destroy them, and Kiryu can't save both. He offers that the Omi can protect Kiryu and his orphanage from retaliation if Kiryu kills Hanawa himself. Kiryu, sticking to his 'Joryu' persona, refuses and turns Tsuruno over to Hanawa and the Daidoji. When Hanawa asks why he rejected Tsuruno's offer, Kiryu explains he's seen too many good men die for their ideals and doesn't want to see more. Later, Kiryu is led to the Daidoji safehouse in Sotenbori, where Tsuruno is being held. The head of the Daidoji orders Kiryu to kill all Watase Family members who know he's Kiryu, including Tsuruno and Shishido. However, Kiryu can't bring himself to kill. He helps Tsuruno escape while fighting off Hanawa and other Daidoji agents. Hanawa then forces Kiryu's hand by threatening to destroy the orphanage, leaving Kiryu in a tough spot.