--Castor Family (Family).

　They are known as the Three Mafias of the Land of the Sun (Highland).
　One of the most famous mafias on the Western Continent.

(I only just found out about it...)

　I didn't know that the mafia Peter belonged to was that big....
　I thought they were just a minor mafia.　
　He himself was not very strong.

"The Castor Family, the Shoura Family and the Deneborougha Family run the underhanded business in the capital city of Sinfonia.
　Fujiyan explained to me.
　I've heard that its subordinate organizations are scattered across the continent.

The Castor family is a mafia........that organizes the gambling business.
　Nina has a look on her face as she bites down on a bitter worm.
　What's wrong with her?

"Lord Nina is a mafioso who owes money to the Fire Nation. You were enslaved and I bought you out.
'Oh no, don't tell me!　It reminds me of that!
　Nina is buzzing her long ears.
　It's kind of cute.
　By the way, did I mention that Nina-san used to say that she got in debt for gambling (gambling)?

By the way, what's the price of the Nina you're wondering about?
　I asked Fujiyan.
As I recall, it was exactly one million Gs. I bought it right off the bat!
Ooh, affordable.
　I don't know the price of a slave, though.　

'Master!　Mr. Takatsuki!　Don't say anything funny!
Nina you will never be allowed to gamble again.
　Me and Fujiyan, who was in a bad mood. Chris-san was there with a dumbfounded look on his face.
　By the way, Sa-san took Lucy to the bedroom.

'Brave man Makoto. Do you accept the invitation of the Castor family (family)?
　We were talking about something stupid when Princess Sophia's cool voice pulled me back.

'Hmmm, what does the invitation say?　Fujiyan.
Would you like me to read it out loud?


　--for my brothers and sisters.
　We've arranged a big party and a big meal to celebrate our everlasting friendship.
　We wanted to thank you for all you've done for us.
　And of course, you'll have to bring that strong young lady with you.
　The place is the VIP area on the top floor of the Grand Highland Casino.

　P.S. Show the badge you gave me and I'll give you a free pass to the casino. You can play in the casino, if you want. Just mention my name and they'll give you a free pass.
　　　　　　　Peter Castor--

"..........
　Well.

"What's going to happen to me when I get there?
I think you'll get a very nice reception.
And I suppose there's no turning back on the sly...
　From the looks on Nina and Chris' faces, it looks like they're against going.

'Mister Tacky?　What's the badge you're writing about here?
This one.
Show me.
　I give Fujiyan the golden badge that Peter gave me.
He is staring at it as if he is doing an 'appraisal'.

........the twin emblems engraved on the badge. It definitely belongs to the Castor family.
Speaking of Peter, he is the fifth son of Genoa Castor, the head of the family (Don). He's a big man....
　Fujiyan sighs, and Princess Sophia is calm but mindlessly quiet.

'I mean, it doesn't say when to come,'
　The message only specifies the location.
　Did you forget the date?
"Mister Tuckey, that's a peculiarly mafia way of saying 'you can come in any time'.
We're ready to welcome you, so you should be ready to come to us.
　Yeah ... ready?
　I don't want to join the mafia in the slightest.

My main concern is the aristocrats behind the Castor family.
Is the mafia connected to the nobility?
　Chris-san's statement makes me cringe.

'Takatsuki-sama, that's the common sense of the Highlands.......unfortunately.
Each of the three major mafias has an aristocratic backing. Behind the Castor family is the Ballantine family.
The "th.
　Seriously?
　That's Gerald's parents' house, isn't it? Oh, no.

Do you think you'd get kidnapped if you were invited to this place?
''The relationship between the mafia and the nobility is only a trade of back-up and top payments by power.... I don't think the mafia will be able to get back at Sir Gerald for his loss.
In case you didn't know, Lord Tuckey saved the Castor's son's life and...
　Chris-san and Fujiyan will try to reassure me, though.

'You are a brave man, Makoto. You are the representative of the Water Country (Roses). There's no need to worry.
Princess Sophia...
　His strong voice reassures me a little.

''Well, I'm afraid of keeping them waiting too long, so I'll just go quickly today, return the badge and come back.
Takatsuki-kun, where are you going?
　Mr. Sa-san, who has put Lucy to bed, comes back.
　I grab her hand.

"Come with me, Mr. Sa-san.
'Huh?　Umm, yeah. Where?
　Involve Sa-san, who hasn't been following the story.
　Huh, you agreed.
　You can't take that back now, can you?
　I'm sorry, but if it's a rough affair, I can't leave out Sa-san, who is the strongest in proximity.

''Let me go too. You'll need someone who can negotiate with them when they have some kind of cause to do so.
Thank you, Fujian.
　Oh, I'm sorry.
But if you're going, I'm going.
　Even Nina.
　You look like you don't want to go very much.

''Then some knights from the Water Country (Roses)........''
'No, Miss Sophia. If that gets you in trouble, it could be a matter of state. I think it's best to leave it to your husband. Nina, please.
Chris. I'll take care of it!

　We got our story straight.
　Me, Sa-san, Fujiyan and Nina's party of four headed to the mafia's headquarters (hiding place).

　I'm getting nervous.....


　◇


　--Grand Highlands Casino

　It is apparently the largest casino in Sinfonia.
　The building has an odd presence.
　The building is probably about 10 stories high.
　It's probably one of the taller buildings in this world, but it's not as tall as a Japanese skyscraper.
　It is modest compared to the Highland Castle and St. Anne's Cathedral.
　What makes it stand out?
　The whole building is glittering with gold.

'The Golden Pavilion?
It's much bigger than that, Mr. Takatsuki.
　Me and Sa-san looked up at the building with a blank stare.

''It's the place in the royal capital, Symphonia, where the biggest money is moving hardest.
I can gamble with all kinds of gambling.
　Nina happily adds to Fujiyan's explanation.
　Nina-san, you didn't come here to gamble (gamble) today, did you?

It's in a weird place, by the way.
　The golden building was built to smash through the walls of Sixth and Seventh Ward streets.

''The inside of the casino is a kind of extraterritoriality. The entrance is divided into two sections, one for the human race and the other for the sub-human race, but there are many different races mixed inside. Discriminatory remarks are not allowed in here. In a sense, this is the most equal place in Sinfonia.
Well, that's ironic.
　I guess race doesn't matter to entertainment lovers.

"Hey, Takatsuki-kun, Fujiwara-kun, let's go inside! Huh?　Is it too early for a child?　Rude!
　Sa-san was fluttering and running to get inside, when a gangly black-clad Ni-san caught him.
　I approached him.

"Um...
'Oh?　What is it, girls?　Is he with this girl?
　I show him my golden badge and invitation.
'I was invited by someone called Peter, my name is Takatsuki. May I come in?
"Ta, Lord Takatsuki!　We've been waiting for you!　This way please!
　The attitude visibly changed.
　I had the heavy door opened and we entered the casino.

"'Ooh!'
　A bright red carpet.
　A lot of slot tables are lined up and you can hear the sound of jingling and coins flowing out.
　A dealer in a tight-fitting suit stands at the roulette and blackjack tables.
　Walking briskly through the casino is a...bunny girl?
　A swimsuit-like outfit and netted tights with garter straps.
　Erotica!
　And are those ears real or are they fake ears.....

　I couldn't help but compare it with Nina next to me.
'Takatsuki-sama?'
Oh.
　My eyes met with Nina's.
　I looked away in a hurry.

(Makotori, don't look at your friend's wife like that!)
　Goddess!　You're wrong!
(Really?!)
　Bullshit.
　I'm curious about both Bunny and Nina! (Ears.)

All the bunny girls in this casino are rabbit-eared beasties.
　Fujiyan told me with a wry smile.
'Heh, Nina-san looks good on you!
　I wondered too, but I don't know if I should say it out loud.
"You were in a bunny when we met, Nina-dono.
　Fujiyan says, looking nostalgic.

''What?''
　Me and Sa-san are surprised.
　Nina was a bunny girl?
　Did you buy the bunny girl (Nina)?
　You son of a b*tc*!　...I like it.

'Oh, dear, didn't you say?'
I don't know.
Fujiwara-kun no Sukebe.
　Me and Sa-san tease Fujiyan with our classmates' flirtation.
　Nina is scurrying around and looking at the casino's play table with sparkling eyes.
　If we leave her alone, she'll go to the gaming table.
　Sa-san pulls Nina to the table.

'Over here, Takatsuki-sama.
　While we were wasting our time talking, the staff (in black) showed us around.
'We'll take you to the VIP room,'
　I thought I was going to take the stairs up to the top, but I was brought to a vaulted area.
　There, there was a place surrounded by an iron fence and a single wizard.

'I'm coming to the top!'
　We're on the floor and it's going up.
　What the hell is an elevator?
It's going up with levitation magic!
　As expected of a different world of swords and magic.....
　However, the rising speed is quite slow.

''Hey, Fujiyan.''
'Oh?　What is it?
Who in the Castor family needs attention?
　Talk to them in a whisper.
　During this time, I'll review the notes.

The leader of the Castor family, Lord Genoa Castor, of course. But, as expected, he is not here today. He is the face of the underworld and rarely appears in public. Also known as 'Scarface', he has a big scar on his face.
'Yeah, I see. What else?

Then there's Jacques Castor, eldest son of House Castor. I think he's the most likely person to be here today. A big, strong man with blond hair, good looks.
Well.... By the way, what species are you from?
　Peter had wolfish ears, as I recall.
　Remembering that, I asked him.

'Lord Tucky. Most of the Castor family leadership is human.
'What?　Yeah.
However, I hear that some of the leader's concubines are sub-humans. Some of the chief's concubines are sub-humans, I hear.
　I see.
　You have a son of a human and a son of a subhuman in the right place.
　He's a businessman.

　While we were chatting about this, we arrived at the top floor.

　The casino floor on the first floor was full of luxury, but the top floor was something else.
　The décor was black and heavy.
　A gorgeous chandelier glittered in the air.
　Underneath it, a group of black-clad people were waiting for me.

　A frivolous-looking man in the midst of them approached in a hurry.

'Yo, Brother (Brother)!　I've been waiting for you!
Oh, yeah.
　He smiles and puts his arm around my shoulder, Peter.
　This friendliness.
　There's a Yankee-like quality to his classmates.
　But he doesn't seem like a bad guy, is that because of his personality?
　Or I could get used to it.

I'd like to introduce you to my family. I'm very proud of my family.
　There were all kinds of powerful men lined up there.
(Oh........it's the mafia. (It's a serious mafia.)　

　Behind them is a row of good-looking women in fine dress.
　Is it a prostitute?
　But what's more striking than that is the fact that...

　A middle-aged man sitting in the middle of a group of black-clad men, wearing expensive-looking clothes and luxurious accessories.
　He had a large scar on his face.