Oda and Kiryu take Tachibana to an underground clinic in Little Asia, where Tachibana is given dialysis. Oda tells Kiryu that Tachibana requires this treatment daily due to the blood loss he suffered after losing his arm. He also says that Tachibana lost his arm defending him from Omi Alliance thugs he'd infuriated, back when they led a gang together in Osaka. Both men are then called into a meeting with Little Asia's local triad leader, Elder Chen. The Elder informs them that Tachibana and Oda will be granted refuge because Tachibana is part Chinese and because of all the help they've provided to Little Asia's people. Kiryu, however, will not be granted sanctuary since he is an outsider, and harboring him would bring the Dojima Family's wrath down on Little Asia.
With no other place to go, Kiryu takes shelter with the homeless of West Park, who also owe Tachibana a favor. The next day, Oda picks up Kiryu from the park and takes him to the Tojo Clan Headquarters, where Tachibana has arranged for them to meet with the Clan's Second Chairman, Takashi Nihara. Tachibana requests that the Chairman pardon Kiryu's life, offering one billion yen in recompense. Nihara is skeptical, questioning why he should spare the life of a yakuza who flagrantly acted against his own boss. Tachibana argues that Kiryu only acted to stop the uncontrollable expansion of Sohei Dojima's power, which he knows the Chairman is also interested in stopping. Tachibana promises that, if Kiryu is spared, all three of them will carry out Tachibana's plan to stop Dojima's power grab. Swayed, Nihara agrees to pardon Kiryu. However, as the three men leave, the Chairman sends dozens of his men to attack them as a test to see whether they have the might to face off against Dojima. Despite heavy resistance, the three men manage to escape with their lives.
In Little Asia, Tachibana tells Kiryu and Oda that he has confirmed the identity and location of the Empty Lot's owner, claiming that they live in Dotenbori. However, he warns that the third Dojima lieutenant, Keiji Shibusawa, has been sending men to Dotenbori, so he may know as well. Faced with this, Kiryu and Oda decide to go to Dotenbori to fetch the owner and escort them to safety. Satisfied with this plan, Tachibana tells Kiryu that the Empty Lot's owner is Makoto Makimura.