Substory 18

Follow our guide to complete Substory 18, "The Reclusive Son," in Like a Dragon: Ishin! Learn how to start it, pick the right dialogue, and win the fight.

Alright, let's tackle Substory 18, "The Reclusive Son." This one kicks off in Chapter 3. You'll need to head over to the East Umekojicho area in Rakugai, specifically up north near the Unyuan building. Keep an eye out for a scene with a "Flustered Mother" and her "Angry Son" arguing. Just listen in, and the substory will start!

After the son storms off, chat with the mother. She'll explain some Japanese customs about second sons in important families – basically, if they don't have a role, their social standing can get pretty shaky. Ryoma can relate, being in a similar boat, so the mother asks you to go talk to her son.

You'll find Uchitaro, and honestly, he seems more like a spoiled mama's boy than someone genuinely pressured by society. He's living a life of delusion with standards way beyond his reach. When you get the chance to choose your dialogue, pick these in order:

1. ”What are you up to?”
2. ”Make a personal connection.”
3. ”Boost his self confidence.”

After Ryoma helps Uchitaro see that he needs to focus on self-improvement rather than just dreaming, Uchitaro will open up about a past trauma that derailed his swordsmanship career. Things seem to progress, and you'll find yourself back outside. The mother tries to give you a reward, but then a "Menacing Man" shows up and starts trouble. This is your cue to step in and help motivate Uchitaro!

This is where the action heats up. Uchitaro will step up, but the Menacing Man calls his buddies, turning it into a five-on-two brawl. Uchitaro can handle himself okay, but don't count on him to finish anyone off. Your main goal here is to avoid getting surrounded. Try to create some distance, lure enemies away one by one, knock them down, and use heat actions to finish them quickly. If you can take out two enemies early, the fight becomes much more manageable.

All five opponents are standard sword-wielding thugs, and while none are pushovers, they aren't super tough either. Just stay aware of your surroundings and don't let them flank you. If you're using the Wild Dancer style, its evasive capabilities can really help you get out of sticky situations.

Once you defeat the Scary Men, Uchitaro will be inspired to turn his life around. His mother, grateful and motivated, will finally give you the reward she intended: some Iron Gauntlets and a Rainbow Shard. This completes Substory 18 and earns you 525 Virtue.