Chapter 728. Kinoshita Ryouko’s comeback

After warding off the Yakuza in the underground parking lot, we continue driving in the parking lot.

The second and third car follows.

After reaching the innermost wall, Nee-chan;

「 Everyone, stay alert 」

She gives instructions through the radio.

「 Edie-chan, Go outside and check for people hiding around 」

She tells Edie in the backseat.

Edie sniffs like a dog, then,

「 Looks okay, nobody’s here 」

『 Second car, no problems 』

It’s Rei-chan’s voice. As for the second car, Michi’s in charge of probing around.

『 Third car, I think we’re okay 』

Margo-san reports.

Looks like Margo-san and Nei checked around.

「 First car, roger that 」

Shou-neechan opens the window of the driver’s seat and sticks her face outside.

Oh, there’s a surveillance camera above the wall from that point.

Shou-neechan shows her face to the camera and makes a sign with her hand.

Then,

Wiiiiiiiiiiin

The wall opens.

It’s disguised as a concrete wall, but this is actually a gate leading to the inner side.

「 The hand sign is a fake one. We’re actually using retina scan 」

Shou-neechan tells me.

And then, our cars proceed into the hidden parking lot behind the gate.

As soon as Margo-san’s car passes through, the gate closes again.

「 Okay, looks like we have no intruders 」

Shou-neechan sighed.

「 It’s okay now. Everyone other than the driver can get off now.

She speaks to the radio.

Then that means that the Yakuza can’t come in here.

「 Darling, let’s get off. You too 」

Edie tells Kudou Haruka.

She looks uninterested in calling Haruka by her name.

「 W-What?! 」

Haruka tries to refuse but Edie’s showing off her overwhelming fighting power and so she looks a bit timid.

「 Come here, get off the car! 」

I get off the passenger seat, Edie and Haruka get off the car as well.

Michi and the Takakura sisters got off the second car. Nei and Minaho-neesan got off the third car.

「 Give us a second. We’ll park the cars on the garage 」

Shou-neechan talks to us through the open car window.

I looked around, then the door behind opens up.

Oh, this looks like an elevator where you only drive a car in, a multi-story park.

「 That computer can deliver the car to the owner from any floor, ground to the third basement floor 」

Oh, each floor in the parking lot has the same hidden room like this one and is connected to a multi-level parking lot.

Kouzuki group owns this hotel and Jii-chan is using it to make a deal with the Yakuza, it would be strange if I don’t see this secret system at all.

「 But, why do we have to go to the third floor underground? 」

I asked.

「 It’s a rule to not have people in the car while lifting. Well, that’s natural. There’s an x-ray check on the way to see if there’s anything dangerous loaded or whether people are hiding in the car 」

Yeah, even in an ordinary multi-story park, it’s forbidden for people to stay in there.

「 Then, we also have a lift to the 16th floor from the hidden parking space on the third basement floor 」

16th floor?

「 Kakka’s waiting over there 」

Jii-chan’s there.

「 Kakka entered this hotel last night. He did before telling the Yakuza the venue 」

I see. If Jii-chan’s here first, then,

There won’t be any terrorist acts on the meeting place as soon as he enters.

「 The other side of that door is the elevator hall, give us a moment 」

Shou-neechan said.

「 Shou-oneechaaaaan~ This door won’t open though! 」

Nei makes the doorknob clatter.

「 Oh sorry. That also needs my fingerprint 」

For now, Shou-neechan brings the car to the lift.

She gets off the driver seat and off the lit, then the car’s carried upwards automatically.

Then, another empty lift appears.

Rei-chan drives her car in there.

Then lastly, Margo-san.

Our cars are all sucked up to the parking garage.

「 Sensei 」

「 Kou-sama 」

「 Nii-san 」

The sisters in shrine maiden clothing come to me looking worried.

「 It’s okay. We’ll be able to move without problems now 」

I tell the sisters.

「 Yes, there’s nothing to be scared of anymore! 」

Nei cheers up the three.

Meanwhile, Shou-neechan opens up the cover for biometric verification and places her palm in it.

『 Pipi! Confirmed 』

Click.

I hear the door unlocking.

「 Alright, let’s go 」

◇　◇　◇

After entering the elevator hall,

There are two women in a suit waiting in front of the two elevators.

「 We’ve been waiting for you 」

One of them is Taki-san, I’ve been in her care before.

As for the other one,

「 We’ve confirmed your arrival via the surveillance camera and chief Yazawa has sent orders to pick you up 」

Isn’t that Banba-san from formerly Banbarubie-3?

Oh right. Barbie-san and Ruby-san followed after Kyouko-san.

Banba-san’s entered Kouzuki SS.

Still,

She’s no longer wearing the stupid Bikini and hot pants with a Japanese sword in her back.

Seeing Banba-san wearing an ordinary suit, she looks beautiful.

Although, she’s got a long handle weapon in her hands.

「 Thanks for the hard work. Taki-san, Kinoshita 」

Shou-neechan tells the two.

Oh, Banba-san’s real name was Kinoshita-san, right. I forgot.

「 Hmm, this elevator 」

Margo-san compares the two elevators.

「 The right one leads to the 16th floor, and the left one only goes to the first floor, doesn’t it? 」

「 Indeed, it’s possible to make an emergency escape from here 」

Shou-neechan replies.

「 Which part of the first floor? 」

「 The back of the lobby. You’ll exit on the employees’ warehouse 」

Margo-san thinks for a moment.

「 Can we go out for reconnaissance? 」

Reconnaissance?

「 Shou-oneesan and Minaho-san still have to give Kouzuki-san a report. Therefore, go with the Takakura sisters on the 16th floor 」

Margo-san said.

「 Edie, Nei, and I will go out for reconnaissance for a bit 」

Are you taking Edie?

「 I think that the enemies watching the fight in the underground parking lot earlier would react if they see Edie around 」

Just a few minutes ago, Edie took down the Yakuza ambush of more than ten people by herself.

There should be a guy watching it all with a hidden camera.

We’re aware of them, but we ignored them.

「 The Yakuza from earlier named themselves as Satake’s henchmen, but 」

Margo-san continues.

「 But, maybe, the orders from the attack earlier didn’t come from Satake himself 」

Someone else gave the order?

「 Indeed. The groups inside Yakuza may not be a single block. It’s possible that a mid-boss sent in the group without asking for the permission of their big boss, Satake 」

Nei nods.

「 Indeed. Naturally, someone plans to expand their power using this opportunity. Yakuza’s that kind of group after all 」

Minaho-neesan said.

「 I mean, the Yakuza on the upper floor are divided into the group of the old president Oodori, and the new head, Satake, but both group should have a lot of spies and traitors. Kansai Yakuza’s a small world after all. Some others could be aiming to profit from the fight 」

Yeah, the various ideas entangling and it’s getting confusing.

「 Therefore, I thought of coming out and checking the situation for a bit. Edie, come with us 」

Margo-san smiles.

That means if anyone overreacts when they see Edie knows what happens underground, saying, that is the person looking through the cameras.

On the other hand, if they’re not on guard with Edie, they know nothing about the fight earlier.

Edie’s existence becomes the litmus paper for the Yakuza.

「 Michi-chan, you can guard the Takakura sisters. Edie can do the same, but we’d like to keep the Qi skills as secret if possible 」

「 Roger that 」

Margo-san gives instructions. Michi nods.

「 Also, Haruka-san and you’ll come with us as well 」

Haruka and me?

「 You want to go and scout it out, don’t you? 」

Margo-san smiles.

「 It’s a power scouting, isn’t it? 」

I say the line I heard earlier.

「 You got it. While at it, we’re going to get them scared. We have to tell the Yakuza that Kuromori is much more dangerous than them 」

If I join up in this power scouting group,

And I keep a composted attitude as Margo-san goes wild,

Then the Yakuza would be cautious of me during the deal.

I don’t have the fighting power as much as Margo-san or Edie has,

But, if they become cautious of me, then I can break their concentration.

「 Okay, I’m going too 」

「 Sensei, it’s dangerous to go! 」

「 Nii-san 」

Yomiko and Luna cling to my arms.

「 No, if you say that, going here now is dangerous enough 」

I smile at the two.

「 It’s okay. I’ve got experience when it comes to danger. This much is nothing 」

「 Let’s leave it to Kou-sama 」

Tsukiko tells her sisters.

「 But, please be careful all the time 」

「 Yeah, I know 」

「 Edie-chan, protect Sensei, okay? 」

「 Nei-oneechan, please 」

Yomiko and Luna said.

「 Leave it to me 」

「 You don’t have to worry, you girls can go ahead 」

Okay, what’s left is

「 With that said, let’s go 」

I call Kudou Haruka.

「 Eeeeeh?! Wait, why do I have to join the recon? 」

It seems like Haruka’s brain has paused from the shock.

「 Isn’t that obvious? 」

Nei replied laughingly.

「 Didn’t you promise to sell your body, Haruka-chi? 」

Kudou Haruka lost to a fight against Michi, and she promised to be a prostitute once.

She’s beaten to a pulp.

「 And that’s why we’re going to look for your partners! 」

「 Partners? 」

「 Well, I think it’s mostly old men with bad breath 」

「 Hey! Wait! 」

「 No waiting, Ah, but of course, Haruka-chi can’t decide who’s the partner but Yo-chan will!

Then.

「 That’s it, Yoshinobu-kun 」

Margo-san turns to me.

「 How about you let me decide on Kudou Haruka’s partner instead? 」

Margo-san?

「 The promise was for her to sell her body to somebody in here, right? 」

「 Yeah, it was 」

「 Then I’ve got a good idea 」

Yikes, she’s planning something.

I guess I have to let her do it.

「 Sure, I’ll leave it to Margo-san 」

「 What are you saying!? 」

Kudou Haruka panics

「 If she decides who’ll be my partner who knows what kind of horrible experience I will go through!? 」

「 Yeah, give up 」

I said.

「 Hey! Michi! Say something! Your sister’s virginity is in danger! 」

「 Good luck 」

Michi says coldly.

「 Geez! Kiiiiiii!!! What the hell is wrong with you! 」

Then.

Edie’s toes stop right in front of Haruka’s eyes.

Just a few more millimeters and her high-kick would break the forehead.

「 You’re too noisy. Weak yet noisy 」

She bumps Haruka’s forehead lightly.

「 That’s right. Aneue’s weak and yet she’s too noisy 」

Michi said.

「 Me, weak? 」

「 Yes. You should accept the fact already 」

Haruka’s silenced from what her sister said.

「 Now then, Shou-neechan, if you don’t mind, could you accompany us along the way? 」

Margo-san tries to brighten up the atmosphere.

「 I don’t know much about the inside of the hotel, and even if we join them back in the 16th floor, there’s plenty of Kouzuki SS in civilian clothes stationed over there. I don’t like them stopping me every step I take 」

If someone from Kouzuki SS is with us, then they won’t bother.

「 Shall I go instead? 」

Rei-chan offers her service, but,

「 Reika-oneesan, you’re too popular in here 」

Margo-san smiled wryly.

「 Indeed, it would be a problem if the Yakuza reacts to Reika-san too 」

Minaho-neesan said.

We can see those whose complexion change when they see Edie, but,

If we have Rei-chan, a celebrity, the Yakuza would only pay attention to her while feeling high-tension.

It would be hard to find the subtle emotional changes.

「 Kinoshita, if you’d please 」

Shou-neechan ordered Banba-san,

「 It hasn’t been long since Kinoshita joined in Kouzuki SS, and so she shouldn’t be known well. She also looks fragile and cute, so the Yakuza shouldn’t be too cautious with her 」

Even so, she’s carrying a thick and long flail.

「 Guide Margo-san around and then take them to the 16th floor in the end 」

「 Yes. Certainly, uhm, by the way, Seki-san 」

Kinoshita-san asks.

「 I can’t cause troubles with the Yakuza no matter what? 」

Shou-neechan.

「 Not really, If you feel you’re in danger then fight them. They can’t do anything as long as it’s within the scope of legal self-defense 」

「 Understood! 」

Kinoshita-san smiled like a blooming flower.

She looks cute and timid, but,

She’s quite strong.

She beat up old man Dai Grepher mercilessly after all.

「 Then, we’ll be heading to the 16th floor first 」

Shou-neechan opens the elevator.

It’s a large elevator.

「 Be careful 」

Minho-neesan gets into the elevator following Shou-neechan.

「 See you later, Kou-sama 」

「 We’ll be waiting for Sensei 」

「 Nii-san, later 」

「 Leave these people to me 」

「 Margo-san Kinoshita-san. If you’d please 」

Tsukiko, Yomiko, Luna, Michi, Rei-chan goes to the elevator.

Lastly, Taki-san also gets in the elevator.

「 We’ll be joining you up soon 」

I said, then the elevator door closes.

「 Yo-chan, you feel lighter now? 」

Nei asks me, smiling.

「 Your stomach would hurt if we go and meet up with Kouzuki-ojiichan right away, won’t it? 」

Yeah.

It helps that I’m given time to think.

I have to ask Jii-chan to hand over the Takakura sisters to me instead of turning them to prostitutes.

「 Then, let’s be on our way too 」

「 Yes, please get inside the elevator 」

Kinoshita-san opens the elevator leading to the first floor.

This elevator seems to have fingerprint verification too.

Kinoshita-san’s fingerprint is registered, then that means,

She’s already recognized as a member of the top elites.

「 Uhm, back then, Kinoshita-san saved me. 」 Thanks for that 」

「 My, when was it? 」

Kinoshita-san’s making a curious face.

「 Well, it was on the day Cesario Viola attacked. While Misuzu, Ruriko, and Shou-neechan were driving the car from the theater to the hotel. I was also in that car 」

「 Hmmmmm?! Err, then that means, it was when I was in my previous team? 」

「 Yeah, that’s right 」

Kinoshita-san blushed.

「 I-I-I-I was a bit rude back then 」

「 Not at all, I’m the one who received help back then 」

「 No, but, y-you know how I dressed back then, right? It’s a black history for me. I want to bury them in the dark! 」

Oh, right.

「 I’m grateful to my previous team, however, thinking why they forced me to look like that, it embarrasses me now 」

「 Yeah, you dressed similarly to the other ones 」

「 What? 」

Kinoshita-san’s face turned stiff.

「 If I recall, it was micro bikini and hot pants. Then, a Japanese sword on your shoulder, riding a motorbike without a helmet, and then a flamethrower 」

「 Aaaaaaahhhh!!! You really knew it!!!! Forget it! Forget it! Please forget about it!!! 」

Kinoshita-san beats on my shoulders.

O-ouch. It hurts.

Though she looks fragile, she’s quite strong.

Oh, this is.

I better not tell her that I saw all of her fights through the camera in the hotel.

「 Okay. I’ll forget it 」

「 Really? 」

Her hands stop knocking on me.

「 Yes, I promise 」

「 Then that’s great! 」

What’s with her.

「 Darling, hurry, Banba-chan too 」

Edie enters the elevator.

「 Uhm, what did you say just now? 」

Kinoshita-san’s face turned stiff again.

「 I know that you’re Banba from Banbarubie3 」

「 Don’t say that name!!!!! 」

Kinoshita-san covers Edie’s mouth.

「 I am Kinoshita! Kinoshita Ryoukokokokokokokoko!!! 」

Ah, even though she feels grateful to Barbie-san and Ruby-san.

She really didn’t like her black history as Banba-chan.

「 H-H-H-H-How do you know my black history!!! 」

Then, Margo-san,

「 You see, we had another fight on that hotel 」

「 What? 」

「 I mean, We were with Shou-neechan and Rei-chan. Yazawa-san and Kouzuki-ojiichan were also there. That’s why we know 」

Nei smiled.

「 By the way, Yo-chan here is the one who finished off Cesario Viola 」

You don’t have to say that.

「 We’re in the same trade then? 」

「 Edie and me only. He and Nei are members of Kuromori, but they’re not fighters. Oh, also, this one’s just a brat, an amateur 」

Margo-san points at Kudou Haruka.

「 Yes, I knew it. Banba-chan’s strong 」

Edie smiled.

「 Edie, call her Kinoshita-san from now on 」

I said.

「 She’s Kinoshita-san now 」

「 Okay, sorry about that Kinoshita. Let’s get along 」

Edie bows her head.

Kinoshita-san;

「 Ahahahahaha, as long as you understand. But, please try not to tell anyone about my past if possible 」

She sighed.

「 Banbarubie3 is recorded as killed in action 」

Huh?