「 Now then, that’s the prep work done 」
Minaho-neesan ended the call with Tendou Sadao and looked at me.
「 Do you think that he’s deceived by that half-baked story? 」
Minaho-neesan said that he wants women to work on her brothel, and so she’s swapping the Yomi for the daughters of Yakuza.
Shou-neechan won’t stomach that, and Tendou will escape safely.
「 Naturally, Tendou-san doesn’t trust what I said either 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 But, that makes them understand that they’re pinned in their current location 」
Minaho-neesan mentioned the store name where Tendou Sadao’s hiding.
「 Then, they would panic and try to look for another location to hide in? 」
I asked.
「 Why would you do that then? 」
Minaho-neesan smiles at me.
「 I mean, it’s highly likely that Minaho-neesan and Shou-neechan are teaming up, in deceiving Tendou Sadao. It’s too strange that Minaho-neesan would betray Kouzuki house, and furthermore, trade the shrine maiden for girls you’ve never met 」
I think.
「 The risk is too high, is that it? 」
「 Right. If I were him, I wouldn’t trust Minaho-neesan 」
Kuromori’s connection with Kouzuki house is a lifeline.
Nevertheless, Minaho-neesan will not do anything that will make Jii-chan angry when discovered.
「 Right. You’re right; if you’re thinking straight 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 However, Tendou Sadao’s not thinking straight. Especially at this moment 」
Misuzu, Ruriko, even Torii-san are listening to our conversation.
Tendou Otome as well.
「 Do you know Xu You from the “Three Kingdoms”? 」
「 Nope, I don’t 」
Then.
「 In Jian’an poetry’s Battle of Guandu, he’s the counselor of Yuan Shao during his attack on Cao Cao 」
Edie, you even learned Chinese History?
「 Yuan Shao was leading a huge army, which puts Cao Cao at a disadvantage. But, Xu You betrayed his master, Yuan Shao, and defected to Cao Cao. He pointed out where the supply depo was, and they attacked that place. That turned the tides, and Cao Cao won the battle 」
Oh, I see.
「 At that time, Yuan Shao was coming from the north, attacking Cao Cao’s land, then, all of Cao Cao’s allies, powerful men on the area, allied themselves to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao was in a pinch. During the battle of Guandu, Cao Cao’s stronghold only managed to defend the attacks somehow 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 At that time, Yuan Shao’s counselor Xu You betrayed him. And because of that, Cao Cao turned the tides against Yuan Shao 」
「 Wow, that’s harsh. But why did he betray them? 」
I asked.
「 Because he thinks that he’s superior than his own boss from the situation? 」
「 It’s because Yuan Shao didn’t listen to Xu You’s advice, and Xu Yu allows his family to commit crimes and accept bribes 」
Edie said.
「 But, Edie-san, did you know that Xu You and his master, Yuan Shao are acquaintances since they were young, and that’s why they have a close relationship that when anything happened to Yuan Shao, he can call for the help of his friend 」
「 I know, he’s one of those friends he can run to 」
Minaho-neesan asks. Edie answered.
「 Huh? A man who he can run to when he’s in trouble betrayed him? 」
I’m surprised. Minaho-neesan;
「 Correct. Knowing that his master, Yuan Shao knows him from long ago and trusts him, he made the resolve to betray him 」
What’s going on?
「 When Xu You betrayed Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao starts attacking, Yuan Shao’s ma.s.sive army was still dominating but, they endured the situation to the end, and the case didn’t reach a conclusion as Yuan Shao first planned 」
It’s different from planned?
「 After all, he could attack with his huge army, even have the influential people on the land change sides to him, if everything goes as planned, then they could take Cao Cao down right away. But, it’s always so close, that they’re taking time to kill off the enemies 」
Y-Yeah.
「 The slow counter-attacks are bringing back the balance of power, but, even so, Yuan Shao’s army still has enough power to attack and take down Cao Cao’s. But… 」
Minaho-neesan looked at me.
「 Everything was already missing out from what Yuan Shao initially planned. He could go all out with his army and take down Cao Cao, but even if he wins that war… 」
Even if he wins that war?…
「 He knows Yuan Shao well enough that even if they win the war, he will receive punishment from him 」
「 Huh? Why? There were hardships along the way, but they still won in the end 」
Why would they punish their own subordinate despite winning?
「 It’s because nothing moved as he imagined, and so he gets angry and lashes it out on his subordinates. That’s how Yuan Shao is 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 Right, Yuan Shao is a guy who never thinks of the consequences and just flies to rage 」
Edie added.
「 Now then, the man knows that with the ma.s.sive army in front of them, they could all struggle to death and still win, but his master will still punish him, whether they win or lose 」
That was Xu You at that moment.
「 Therefore, how about changing sides with the enemy? Well, the allied forces could kill him for becoming a traitor, but there is also the possibility that he might live 」
If he stays with his current ally, Yuan Shao, he will die, whether they win or lose.
But, if he betrays Yuan Shao, and side himself with Cao Cao, he has higher chances of living.
「 People will choose that small chance, as long as they can live. On the other hand, if one thinks that they will die, no matter what the result, despite having a huge army backing them, one will run away 」
Minaho-neesan laughs.
「 Tendou Sadao will do the same. If this goes on, Kouzuki SS will catch up to him, and even if he could escape without committing seppuku, the Kansai organization will punish him in the end, won’t they? After all, they returned without any results 」
The orders from the Kansai Yakuza were to do anything to create a material to make a scandal on Kouzuki house.
「 And since Tendou Otome-san’s infiltration plan failed, they have no other plans at hand, do they? 」
Well, yeah.
They will do their first plan when they came from Kansai, they will use their daughters and kidnap the young ladies who come to Misuzu’s school.
But they can’t do anything with the current encirclement.
「 And currently, I gave them a suggestion to save their face from the organization, despite having low likelihood 」
In short, they can kidnap Yomi and return to Kansai with her.
If they bring back home one of the girls with Miko power, then that can hurt the honor of Kouzuki house.
It will become a great victory for the Kansai Yakuza organizations.
「 Not knowing whether it will go smoothly or badly, Tendou Sadao has to come with the terms. He’s got no chance of winning right now 」
That’s why he will take the bait, despite it being fishy?
「 People think that they’re either luckier than others or unluckier than others 」
Minaho-neesan.
「 What do you think of yourself? 」
I…
「 I think that I’m luckier than others. After all, I met everyone and this family. Everyone’s a good girl. If I say that I’m less fortunate than others when I have such happiness, I feel like I will receive divine punishment 」
「 Right, I know you would answer that 」
Minaho-neesan smiled and looked at Tendou Otome.
「 Tendou-san, which do you think your father is thinking right now 」
Tendou Otome…
She pondered for a moment and sighed.
「 That old man would be irredeemably happy! He thinks that he’s got to be the luckiest guy in the universe. That’s the reason why he’s always deceived because he does not think that it shouldn’t go that smoothly 」
Oh, like, selling some animation cel of a nonexistent lengthy shower CG scene.
「 I think so too. Therefore, he will come to the trap I set for him. The person himself is thinking, “Even if she’s suspicious, we can deal with it depending on the case. I’m a quick wit that I can cut my way through here” 」
「 That’s right! His stupidity is too high that he’s got some confidence that he can deal with anything, despite not knowing, that’s why he’s always failing! Despite that, he never reflects on himself! That b.a.s.t.a.r.d’s got deceived by the same thing so many times! 」
Then.
「 You seem to love your father 」
Adelheid-san speaks gently.
「 Haaaaah?! What did you say? 」
「 I mean.. 」
「 As if I will!! That sc.u.m only thinks of himself, he’s the reason why I went through so much pain! He’s! He’s!! 」
「 That 」
Tendou Otome screams. Adelheid-san muttered.
「 Either way, he will stand by on the karaoke box for one hour. Well, the subordinates could go and check the situation outside their room 」
Minaho-neesan’s waiting for their next action.
「 And among Tendou-san’s subordinates should be someone who came to monitor, they will tell Irokuchou Ichirou-san. Naturally, the information that we might bring Yomi will also circulate 」
The other Yakuza group too?
「 Then, what do you think Irokuchou Ichirou-san will do? 」
Minaho-neesan asks me.
「 They’ll s.n.a.t.c.h the achievement from Tendou-san 」
Torii-san replied.
「 Correct. Instead of taking back one of the shrine maidens, the plan of lowering the fame of Kouzuki house through scandals has a higher value, don’t you think? Ichirou-san will also doubt us, but they will keep watch on the situation from the shadows, and if they confirmed that Yomi shows up, they could s.n.a.t.c.h her from the sides, don’t you think? 」
I see.
「 In short, Ichirou-san’s group will not move out of this mansion’s circ.u.mference, is that it? 」
Misuzu asks.
「 Indeed, at least, they will not move until they make sure what Tendou Sadao will do 」
Now both of the groups can’t escape from our eyes.
They do it willingly.
「 In the end, Tendou Sadao-san’s group or Irokuchou Ichirou-san’s group are nothing but sacrificial p.a.w.ns for the higher-ups of the Kansai organization 」
「 What does that mean? 」
Torii-san asks.
「 In the Yakuza world, it means they’re the people sent out to attack and abandoned right after 」
Edie explained.
「 They will hurt or kill someone because someone ordered them. Naturally, they will get arrested, sent to trial, and moved to prison. And when they leave the prison, all they will receive is “good work” 」
「 That’s foolish, it’s a waste of life to spend years in prison 」
Torii-san said, but,
「 That said, it’s about their honor in their trade, isn’t it? 」
Minaho-neesan points it at Tendou Otome.
「 It’s for the sake of the senior who they owe grat.i.tude, or maybe, it’s for the honor of their group or themselves, or sometimes, it just happened to be a money talk, or it’s what he could accomplish to rise up in the ranks 」
「 That’s right, it’s all stupid 」
Tendou Otome muttered.
「 Sacrificial p.a.w.ns are stupid, so they do it 」
「 And today, Tendou Sadao’s team and Irokuchou Ichirou-san’s team, who’s here to monitor them…Anyway, the men sent to Tokyo are all sacrificial p.a.w.ns. That’s how the organization sees them 」
「 Even those who are only here for lookout? 」
I ask in surprise.
「 Correct. Don’t think of them as different people. If you believe that Tendou-san’s the only sacrificial p.a.w.n and Irokuchou Ichirou-san is related to the higher-ups of the Kansai organization, then you’re making a big mistake 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 The people the organization needs will not come to Tokyo just to monitor Tendou-san 」
R-Right, even the observers of the sacrificial p.a.w.ns, have a high chance that we would crush them.
If they were to lose any decent people, it would be the loss of the organization.
「 Therefore, be it Tendou-san, or Iroku-san, the Kansai Yakuza organization higher-ups will only pretend to not know what they were doing. Saying, “they’ve done it themselves,” and cut them off. That’s their answer to Kouzuki-sama or the police. That’s the plan from the start 」
「 Then that means, Tendou Sadao and Irokuchou Ichirou are both under pressure, that they have to do something on Kouzuki house, or the young ladies of n.o.bility, or us? 」
n.o.body’s going to take responsibility for them, then,
The sacrificial p.a.w.ns sent to Tokyo will have to act violently as they please.
「 And the Yakuza organization has so many personnel sent as sacrificial p.a.w.ns. Even if we can repel Tendou-san and Irokuchou-san, they might already send their next p.a.w.n 」
Minaho-neesan?
「 We must make it fearsome for them so they will no longer want to send sacrificial p.a.w.ns to Kouzuki house again 」
And so, we have to punish them, to make an example for others.
「 I feel sorry for Tendou-san, but that’s what will happen to your father 」
Minaho-neesan told Tendou Otome.
「 D-Do what you want! It’s their fault for living miserably so far. I-I’m… 」
Tendou Otome.
「 I won’t complain as long as you save Sonoko and the girls. 」 I don’t care about the old men 」
She speaks bitterly.
「 Also, you should show your real resolve from now on 」
Minaho-neesan told me.
「 So far, the people we’ve dealt with, even Cesario Viola, are people we can reason with 」
I recall the memory where I shot that devil to death.
「 And the people we’re dealing with now aren’t as atrocious as Viola. Should circ.u.mstances permit, they probably are people who are bright and fun. However, they’re idiots beyond saving 」
Idiots?
「 They don’t think. They only make temporary measures, acting depending on their emotions. They never think of their future. That’s the kind of animal we’re going to face 」
Minaho-neesan sighs.
「 It’s fearsome, and there are plenty of them. Such people who never think of their tomorrow 」
I recall Tendou Sadao’s conversation with his daughter.
Despite knowing that his daughter is captured, he continues to talk about business without care.
「 Huh? I thought that Tendou Sadao’s talking about business as a facade to check the situation here? 」
「 He was serious. That old man is always serious with whatever he’s saying 」
Tendou Otome said.
「 No, I mean, if he were to consider what to prioritize with the situation, then.. 」
Most of the time, it would be to rescue his daughter, Otome.
But, Tendou Sadao told Minaho-neesan that his daughter won’t become a hostage.
Wait, he wasn’t discouraging us, but he’s actually serious?
「 Crazy, right? 」
Edie said.
「 He doesn’t think of what’s the most important for him. He’s only prioritizing what’s on his mind 」
Huh?
「 One has bills to pay tomorrow and yet, they throw the coin in their pocket to pac.h.i.n.ko, that kind of personality 」
「 That’s right. Then, he would confess it all without care. Saying “My 10,000 bill should’ve been turned to five” 」
Tendou Otome mutters.
「 Well, if he wins, that 10,000 yen would turn to five. But, he’s almost always losing. Despite that, he wins sometimes, and so he would spend it all there again. If you look at the sum, his winnings will only be tens of thousands, and yet his losses are already past a million, yet he doesn’t notice that! 」
Haa. I-I see.
「 People like him exist. And, those kinds of people will come over to cause trouble to us, again and again, 」
They’re people who can’t be reasoned with, at all.
「 And so the only choice is to cut them off. They’re people who can’t coexist at a cellular level 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 I want you to understand and learn that when you find people with that stink, you need to sever connections with them right away 」
Learn to cut them off so that weird people don’t come at you.
「 If not, you will always try to understand people, won’t you? 」
That’s…
「 And then, I want you to understand, that it’s not just men who are hopeless 」
Minaho-neesan?
「 Women like those also exist. I don’t want you to pick them up 」
A woman like Tendou Sadao?
「 You see, if you come and pick that girl up, it’s already out. She will only cause trouble for you and everyone around you. It will fill you with stress 」
That’s…
「 I think that someone among the friends of Tendou Otome is like that 」
Huh?
「 Their fathers raised them. It would be rare to have someone like Tendou Otome-san」
Yeah, Tendou Otome’s…
She’s unlike her messed up father, she has a sense of responsibility.
「 What? Looking down on my friends?! 」
Tendou Otome bares her fangs, but,
「 I’ve spent ten years managing a brothel. I’ve seen a lot of women at that time. And, I know well that there are always troublemakers 」
She smiles coldly.
「 Well, I will keep my promise and save your friends. But to be honest, I think of only saving at least one among the girls 」
One.
「 It’s you, Tendou Otome-san 」
Minaho-neesan said. Tendou Otome’s shocked.
Is Minaho-neesan serious about turning Tendou Otome to a prost.i.tute
「 Well, the conversation’s derailed again. Kou 」
Minaho-neesan looked at me.
「 If you can’t reason with them or talk to them properly, then you have to use Miko power to control them 」
Huh?
「 For example, we may have persuaded Tendou Otome-san, but some of them will move with their fathers until the end. And they don’t care if they die, and they will start making noise and cry because of their mood 」
Right.
I can imagine the girl group that’s with Tendou Sadao.
「 When that girl starts screaming, they will no longer stop. They’ll begin to panic. And depending on the situation, her noise can influence the behavior of the operation, don’t you think? 」
To outwit Tendou Sadao and Irokuchou Ichirou, then,
We need to have the girls escape beforehand.
「 Therefore, we will forcibly control them with Miko power 」
Ignoring their will.
「 Ah, I can know what kind of girl we’re facing if I feel around 」
Yomi said.
「 If I judged that the person is dangerous, do I have permission to use my power from my judgment? 」
Oh, right.
Yomi’s going to a dangerous place together with us.
I have to pay attention to Yomi’s safety.
「 Okay. I’ll leave it to Yomi for tonight 」
I gave my order.
「 And then, you also know how to treat troublesome children, don’t you? 」
Minaho-neesan told me.
「 I think that you’ve learned lots of essentials for today 」
Yeah.
Also.
Rurururururu.
The extension phone rings.
「 Yes? 」
Minaho-neesan answers the call.
She looks at Misuzu.
「 Misuzu-san, Mizushima-sama has called 」
Mizushima.
Karen-san, who has been shrinking herself on Misuzu’s side, looks up.
「 It’s not the head, it seems that it’s her father 」
Earlier, Jii-chan made a call with Karen-san’s grandfather.
This time, it’s the father?
「 Kouzuk-sama also wants to talk to Misuzu-san 」
Misuzu.
「 I understand, I will take the phone 」
Misuzu takes the receiver from Minaho-neesan.
Minaho-neesan then pressed a switch on the extension phone.
「 h.e.l.lo, sorry to keep you waiting. It’s Kouzuki Misuzu on the line 」