Well, things are pretty rough in Susukino these days. Isn't it hard to do business in peace?
Well, that's a pretty blunt line.
'It was a very peaceful town until someone came along, you know? Until someone else comes along.

　A large commercial building in Susukino, Tokyo. In one room there, a small, overweight, middle-aged man speaking in an impostor Kansai dialect, a graceful woman in kimono, and an eccentrically dressed, skin-headed, muscular man were having a discussion.

'Who are you referring to, Mr. Somebody? I've never been more committed to the safety of Susukis,
It's too much of a lie. You hurt my girls the other day. Don't let a rich guy who looks like a yakuza get away with it!
"Oh, scary, scary. Our ultimate man has a temper.
'The Great Ultimate Yayoi! Don't give me that weird abbreviation, please! At least make her the ultimate woman!

　The skin-headed, muscular man who is abbreviated as "The Ultimate Man" is a fierce businessman who goes by the name of "Great Ultimate Yayoi". He owns several gay bars and cross-dressing cafes in Susukino, and is responsible for protecting the nightlife in Susukino by resolving disputes between bars and helping to maintain public safety.
　He is also a man with the heart of a woman.

Benihan should choose who he hangs out with. Benihan's dignity will decline if he is paired with a man and a woman like this.
It's none of your business. I chose it well, and I'm working with Yayoi-chan. Hirugai, at least he's a much better person than you.

　A woman dressed in kimono called "Beni" is the owner of a fancy restaurant and cabaret in the Susuki area, and together with Yayoi, she is the reigning leader of the Susuki area.

"d*mn. The employees won't be able to keep up with you if you're old-fashioned. Not long ago, Benihan and this cabaret lady quit.

　On the other hand, the fat man known as Hirugami is a businessman who has just started to move into Susukino, but with his enormous financial power, he is already as influential as Beni and Yayoi.
　However, he is also the one who disturbs the peace of Susukino by blackmailing and holding hostage shops under his control and interfering with Beni and Yayoi's businesses.

You don't have to worry about me. The girls will come back to you once Susukino is at peace.
I see. Well, we need to make our town more peaceful. I've got to work harder than ever before.
'More than ever? You, stop licking it!

　Reacting to Yayoi's anger, the two strong men who had been standing behind her step forward. They, like Yayoi, are men in body but with the heart of a woman.

The best way to do this is to have a look at a few of them. I can't get enough of the hubbub.

　As soon as Hiruge muttered that, the three guards who were waiting behind Hiruge also stepped forward.
　The two who had been waiting behind Yayoi and Hirugei's three bodyguards. While their gazes crossed each other with a mixture of killing intent, Beni quietly opened her mouth.

''Dees.''
That's okay. We'll get it down before anything happens.

　Hearing Dieth's words, the five guards who had been glaring at each other stepped back.
　Diess, who had started working as Red's bodyguard just a month ago, had created an extraordinary anecdote about how he had defended Red by subduing dozens of leech-injured goons with just one person.
　Since that incident, Diess's ability has become known to the fierce men in Susuki, and he has become a respected presence for them.

''Hee! It's quite a feat to make my guys back down with a single word.
Hi. Hi.
"Dies-han. I don't know how much Reddish hired me, but I'll pay double, or even triple that amount! What's up? Do you want to work for me?
It's not possible. I don't want to be hired by anyone until my contract with your sister is up.

　Hiruhiki solicits Diess in his poor Kansai dialect, but he doesn't make any move.

''Well, it's too bad. It's a shame, but I'll destroy Diess and him too.
"Leeches!
"Oh, scary. I'm just kidding. Ultimately I made a mistake, don't take it seriously, Yayoi.

　Hiruhiki continued the conversation in a provocative manner to Yayoi who was shouting at him, and then he got up and headed for the exit.

Since there is no point in discussing at this point, I'm going to go home first. I'll go home now, since we have to make peace in Susukino with all our might.

　After Diess rejects his invitation, Hirugami leaves the room with his men.
　In the room where Hirugei had left, Yayoi opened her mouth.

''I'm sorry, Beni. The discussion ended because of my emotional reaction...''
'It's not Yayoi-chan's fault. It seems that Hirujiri had no intention of backing out from the beginning. It's more important to worry about Hirujiri's movements now. There's a possibility that a full-blown war could break out.

　Since Beni understood early on in the conversation that Hiruhara had no intention of reconciliation, he was already thinking about the next step in the process.

''It's tricky. Hiruhara's subordinates are numerous. I've been talking to some of my fellow daughters (Han and the others) that I think I can rely on, but it's still not even close to enough.''
''I was going to ask the security company to get a few things together too, but the leeches were already pressuring me, so it was impossible. I guess I'll have to think of another move.
He has money. He's a real pain in the ass.

　Beside the two men with their heads in their hands, Diess quietly ponders.

(It's troublesome to have a few.

　Without knowing what Diess was thinking, the meeting between Red and Yayoi continued until late at night.


◇


That was a waste of time. How'd you do, by the way? I went out of my way to attend this trivial meeting in order to get you guys to meet Diess. I guess we've got something to gain.

　After the meeting. On the car ride home, Hirugami, who was complaining, asked the three guards.

'To be honest, I didn't really understand it. There is no indication that it is equipped with a bulletproof vest or any kind of weapon based on the thickness of its body and center of gravity, and its clothes are not made of special fibers. Nevertheless, the way it stood was gaping and there was no indication that it was alerting us at all. I don't think that's someone to be wary of.

　A woman with short black hair and a black suit opened her mouth first, answering Hiruko's question. Her name is 'Nikela'. She is a top-notch assassin who has killed a certain country's senators and generals class tycoons.

''I generally agree with you. I saw your hands and they were beautiful. I guess he doesn't usually hold a weapon. Either he's just an amateur or he's such a monster that he doesn't even need to warn us. Well, I think I'm the former.

　The next person to open his mouth was a strong-faced, elderly man with sunglasses hiding his eyes.
　His name was 'Tojo'. He is a professional mercenary who has traveled the world in search of battle and has made a name for himself on the battlefields around the world.
　Even in his eyes, Dieth's appearance did not appear to be someone worthy of caution.

''I'm not a martial artist unlike the two of you, so I don't know if you're strong or not, but you didn't seem to have any signs of just lying to me. Either you're really capable of holding us down or you're quite confident.

　Finally, the third guard, a thin-eyed man, opened his mouth. His name was 'Jaspa'. He is a top-notch magician in the underworld who specializes in sabotage and inducing internal strife by using illusion and mental magic.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

I'm sure that's what you guys say. It's just that the thugs who set you up to capture Red and her daughter just screwed up, right? We lost our money by worrying too much.

　After listening to the three of them, Hirugei expressed his dissatisfaction but also relief.

The funds are still plentiful. We still have plenty of money, and we also have the cooperation of you guys. The day is not far off when you will be able to take over all of Sapporo from Susukino as that man wishes!

　The leeches declared in high spirits and disappeared into the night.