Eden of The Villains: Part 1 Story 4

 

Part 1 Story 4: Date and Secrecy

Translator: Ririi Rain

 

 

 

　Yokohama Station was crowded with people even during the daytime on weekdays. There were busy office workers who walked hurriedly and also people who came to shop going back and forth quickly.

　Moving on, we could find a young woman raising her lovely voice on the fashion floor inside the station building.

"Eeh, this is cute!"

"They also come in trendy colors for this season〜. It's like the one I wear right now, but you can make it a little more classical with spring-like tops such as this〜"

"You're right, it's really cute〜. May I try them on? "

"Ye〜s, certainly. Is it okay to bring out just these two kinds?"

"Ah, add this one too."

　Ringo was restlessly standing alone, glancing at Secret who talked happily with the shop assistant of the apparel shop.

　It seemed that he was kind of not used to the shop assistant's nasal voice. The people around him who were 100% female also made him uncomfortable.

"...Are you really going to buy that much?"

"It’s because I had a lot of extra income yesterday. It is a reward for myself!"

"I see.."

　A moment later, she had changed into a denim dress that she had just bought. She left the shop while holding shopping bags from multiple places. Secret seemed happy.

　The strangely flashy and highly exposing clothes were like work clothes for her, and when she wore ordinary clothes, her adorable features were more noticeable.

　The sighs of men and women passersby of all ages could even be heard.

"Fufu, the Terada group officially agreed to look after Grand Lou’s butt (ketsumochi)¹, so it was solved, and I got a lot of brokerage fees."

　Taking the request fee from Grand Lou, taking advantage of the Terada Group's underlings’ protection fee case as she please, and making the Terada Group do shinogi² for real.

　At a side, a man was fascinated by Secret and even wanted to call out to her. She looked like a porcelain doll, but the details of her talk were awful.

"What do you mean by looking after their butt (ketsumochi)?"

　He asked while frowning because he was pressed by some shoppers.

"We talked about the protection fee yesterday, right? In return for receiving the protection fee, for example, if a lady got stalked, then the yakuza will take care of it for the shop they had ties with. When something like that happened, the yakuza acts like a bodyguard. That's what ketsumochi is."

　Stopping in front of a mirror in a nearby storefront, she tied her long chestnut-colored hair with a new red ribbon.

　Leaving the shopping bags on a nearby locker³, she held Ringo's arm tightly with both of her free hands.

"Eh, eh eh?"

　A soft sensation traveled from his arm and reached his brain.

　Secret looked up at him with a full-blown smile, without seeming to mind Ringo who was panicked and had a bright red face.

"It's the long-awaited day off, so let's have a date today?"

"Date?!"

　It was a word that was too out of reach for the boy who attended an all-boys school junior high school.

　Even at the high school that he had attended for only a few days, he had only talked to his aunt and an elderly female teacher.

　His arm was pulled with enthusiasm and he was taken around the station.

　First, the two stopped by a bookstore and browsed the new mangas that had just been released while standing side by side. Then, with a single sentence from Secret, which was "I’m  curious〜", they watched a recently released action movie.

　They talked about their impressions of the movie and together, they lined up at a popular bubble tea shop to take a break and drink the lump of tapioca pearls.

"Is it okay to play so much like this?"

　He had spent his youth studying and studying for the last few years. It had been a while since he went out with someone like this.

"Do you feel guilty about playing, Ringo-kun?"

　Secret tilted her head to the side while she relentlessly chased the remaining boba at the bottom of her cup.

　When he was about to answer her, they overheard the conversation of two high school girls who were sitting next to them.

"You know, yesterday, Lena met a strange person! It's super scary."

"What? Such as a molester?"

"Hmー, the man was wheezing, slobbering, and she said that he was chasing her with great speed. When she was running, she crashed into a trash can."

"What's with that, scary! Is Lena okay?"

"Since she was at the station, it seemed that the station officers helped her. And, there was a good-looking guy that made her heart skip a beat."

　The high school girls were giggling together at the unexpected outcome.

　Ringo and Secret looked at each other, thinking that this was not a jolly conversation.

"Most of the stores in Chinatown are always crowded, but there is a little-known good restaurant over there."

　As the sun goes down, Ringo and Secret boarded the Minatomirai Line and got off at the Motomachi-Chukagai Station.

　As Secret told him, the restaurant they went to was sparse with customers and they could enter immediately.

　Ringo asked a question while having fried rice in his mouth

"Secret, you are quite familiar with Yokohama, aren't you?"

"Well, it's already been three years since I started living here. It seems that you who used to live in Tokyo are not used to it yet."

　At a table where a lot of dim sum was placed on it, they had their meal face to face.

　There was a couple who seemed to be college students sitting next to them, and Ringo ended up being nervous again as he was thinking of whether the two of them also looked like lovers from other people’s perspectives.

"Um, can I ask you a question?"

"What?"

"Secret, are you a Japanese?"

"Nー, well, I have Japanese blood."

　With a smile like a flower in bloom, she snacked on the steaming xiaolongbao⁴ and downed the Chinese rice wine.

　Secret had a peculiar face. She would be convincing to be both East Asian and Westerner, and if she wore a hijab, she would even look like she came from around Iran in the Middle East.

　Because of the ambiguous reply, Ringo asked again after a little silence.

"How tall are you?"

"It's as you can see, maybe it’s around a bit under 160cm."

"What is your first language?"

"Wellー, that's a secret〜"

"What kind of family structure do you have?"

"Secret."

"Your eyes are blue, does that mean you are half Japanese?"

"Ehe, secret.”

"Who is the client who asked you to protect me?"

"Professionals have the obligation to keep confidentiality, you know!"

　He tried asking a question that went a step further, but she placed her index fingers in front of her mouth and made a cross mark.

　Ringo relaxed his shoulders as if he had given up, and he smiled bitterly.

"What is your favorite food?"

"This, xiaolongbao! And then there is chocolate."

　Secret answered cheerfully as usual, and Ringo picked up a xiaolongbao with his chopsticks, dipped it in soy sauce, then threw it into his mouth.

　Soup that contained umami was bursting in his mouth. After chewing and swallowing it, he stared at the mysterious woman in front of him.

"Your real name, what is it?"

"It’s a secret!"

　It had been a week since she helped him from the brink of death because of a false charge and also since he started living together with her.

　It seemed that she hid Ringo for a job, and Ringo still only knew about the occupation of this woman, along with her favorite food.

 

***

 

 Notes:

1 Ketsumochi(ケツ持ち): a slang, it means to place stores and the like under protection by receiving compensation. Secret will give you more details in a few more sentences after this^↩
2 It was the same as in the previous chapter. If you forgot, it is the yakuza’s job, in other words, the group was working for real, not a scam^↩
3 The translation literally means locker, but I think it is coin lockers (コインロッカー). In Japan, there are automated lockers that can be used to store things, anytime you want. They are most often used for storing luggage, but people regularly also use it while they are out shopping. They store their many purchases, so they don't need to carry heavy bags around all day. ^↩
4 Xiaolongbao: Soup dumplings. Inside the dumplings are little pockets of gelatinized broth made from chicken, pork, and cured ham.^↩

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Eden of The Villains: Part 1 Story 3

 

Part 1 Story 3: Chains and Yakuza

Translator: Ririi Rain

 

 

 

"What is a protection fee?"

"Simply put, it's like a store opening permit fee. In order to do business in that place, you have to give a certain amount of money every month to the one managing the territory."

　After finishing the business meeting with the hostess bar manager, Secret, who had just called someone with her phone, started walking elsewhere in a good mood.

"It is called shinogi, which is also what the yakuza do as their source of income. This time, the shop manager was somewhat prepared to pay the protection fee to the yakuza, but the people who came to the shop were only the guys who looked like the underlings of an underling."

"Shinogi, yakuza ..."

"In addition, they charged the shop more than 10 times than what the shop manager paid back in Tokyo. That's why it's strange."

"The underlings were wielding the name of the group without permission, so does it mean that the underlings are filling their own pocket by taking advantage of their position?"

"Right, right, as expected, the top student of a prestigious high school is different, huh."

　Being teased, Ringo was miffed, but he kept it in his mouth.

"But, shouldn't the shop side inquire directly to the group which the underlings belong to?"

　After he asked while tilting his head in contemplation, Secret raised both of her hands and took a ‘giving in’ posture.

"In that case, if the underlings are really instructed by a great man of the group, then that shop manager along with the shop will be crushed. That's why a management consultant like me is asked!"

　This woman called herself a management consultant.

　Identifying the management issues of the associate as per the received request and providing new solutions.

　There were many things to complain about, but Ringo, who had accompanied her on two or three jobs in the past week, understood it.

"... So, you’re going to do something about it with force again, right?"

　The reality was, it was a job like Jack of all trades that preyed on the problems in the underworld and solved the rough affairs on their behalf.

"That's unpleasant, Ringo-kun! This time I'm just doing a little illegal intermediary business."

　Secret, who was angry at Ringo and had her cheeks puffed up, stopped in her track. They were in front of a certain pachinko parlor.

　The time was just before 4 p.m.

　The sun was going down, and the multi-tenant buildings around this place were also tinged with maroon red color. There were no people in sight, and the smell of exhaust fumes, car’s running noise, along with the vibration from the running cars on the main street were distant.

　Two boorish-looking men came out of the pachinko¹ parlor as if they had been waiting for Ringo and Secret to arrive.

"Hey! Big brothers, are you from the Terada Group?"

　The woman rushed up to them in a chirpy manner and get to the main subject right away with casualness as if she was talking to her friends.

"Hah? What's with you?”

　Terrified, the boy, who was an ordinary person until just last week, involuntarily backed off.

　He had no weapons, no experience in martial arts, and also no muscular body.

"I have something to ask your father², so could you take me to the headquarters?"

"Hah, who will bring in an amateur-looking person like you?"

"Hmーm, in other words, you guys admitted that you are members of the Terada Group, right?"

"Whut?"

　Tattoos were peeking out from the sleeves of those men’s clothes. The picture of two big and brawny guys facing one delicate woman in the city at dusk was funny. Even in this situation, Secret kept her lovely smile.

"Come on, take me there."

　When Secret got closer, one man was irritated and stuck out his hand to shove her.

　But in the next moment, his body leaned forward and he greeted the ground with his forehead.

　Ringo's eyes caught sight of the dull-colored chain in Secret's hands.

　In an instant, she wrapped it around the man's wrist and pulled him with it, breaking his center of gravity.

　Perhaps noticing Ringo's gaze, Secret swung the chain over her back and said,

"Ah, this is called manrikigusari³, one kind of hidden weapons. It's very convenient."

"You son of a bitch, what the hell are you doing! Who do u think you are!"

　The remaining one swung down his fist to hit her.

　The woman calmly avoided it, and using an opening, she kicked his torso with a roundhouse kick.

　It beautifully struck his solar plexus, which was enough to make the man lose his fighting spirit. Ringo, who was anxious, finally felt relieved after he witnessed the spectacle.

"Shit!!"

　A short moment later, the man who had been beaten at the start got up and headed towards the boy.

　It was a wise decision to aim for a companion who seemed to be weak first rather than facing Secret's skill head-on like before.

"Uwaaagh!"

　Ringo covered his face. But no matter how long he waited, he felt no pain

"I won't let you touch my cute subordinate."

　On Secret's long chain, there was a heavy weight on each of its endpoints.

　She unleashed one of the blunt weapons and hit the man’s back head in front of her splendidly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

　Brawny men with tough looks were lining up in a row. At the Terada Group’s headquarters, where you could be shot dead by their gaze if you made eye contact, Ringo was trembling even more than before.

"I see that you went through a lot of hassle. I'm sorry for what our youngsters did."

"No, no, after all, Father wasn't involved."

　At first glance, the leader of the group, Domon Terada, was an ordinary middle-aged man with a beefy build, but the air he was clad in was anything but ordinary.

"I'm not proud of it, but our group has a rule that we shouldn't take money from ordinary people unreasonably."

　Terada looked sideways.

　On that side, there were some pathetic men who got disciplined by their big brothers as their punishment until just a while ago.

　They were beaten with ashtrays and had their bones broken with metal bats, so, at first Ringo was worried that they might die.

　In addition to the group leader, as many as five gangsters fixed their gaze at the two visitors in the office. It felt too awkward and really uncomfortable to make even the smallest movement.

"So, how much did these guys take?"

"Ehh, how much was it again?"

　When Secret tilted her neck, Domon Terada glared momentarily at the two of them.

"You guys, did you accuse our cute youngsters without any clear evidence?"

"It, it's 507,400 yen⁴!"

　He shouted in panic, so he stuttered his words. The gazes in the room gathered at Ringo, and he gulped down his saliva.

" That's the total amount of damage? You remember it in detail, don't you, brother? You're sure about that, aren't you?"

　There was so much pressure.

　However, if he lost his backbone here, he would be subjected to the same fate as those who were half-dead on the floor. Ringo faced the group leader.

"I had Yokohama Grand Lou’s manager show me the list of the damages. These people came to the shop to take the protection fee twice in total. On the first visit, they took black suits that are worth 150,000 yen⁵, and for the second visit, they took 300,000 yen⁶ directly from the cash register. "

"...The number doesn't seem to add up, though.”

"When they came to the shop for the second time, they got angry at the shop manager who previously refused to pay and they rampaged. They broke a 25,000 yen⁷ bottle of wine that was carried by a waiter at that time, and then they ran away with a bottle of champagne which costs 32,400 yen⁸ including the consumption tax that was placed on a nearby table."

"Ha! It surely fits."

　The boss who was using a calculator raised his face.

"The two of them first visited the shop at 10:53 p.m. on April 2nd and stayed for about 15 minutes. The next one was at 09:45 p.m. on April 11th and they stayed in the shop for 30 minutes. On both days, their means of transportation was a two-seater motorcycle. The license plate number was Yokohama C, 40-23. The model was a blue Suzuki GSX-R600."

　As soon as the boy finished speaking, the man standing at the group leader's side whispered something to him.

"Certainly, that guy's bike seems to match that model."

"My subordinate is amazing, isn't he?"

　Secret boasted happily, but there were pricking gazes that seemed like they were going to pierce their backs much more than before.

(I want to leave this place as soon as possible.)

" I'll send these guys to the shop to apologize when they can move. But girlie, giving in to the city's cute younglings will make our group's men lose face. Image is very important in our business. What will you do about this debt?"

"No way! Even though they were the ones who laid their hands on us as they like first!"

　Ringo shouted unintentionally. It can be seen that the beast-like men, including the group leader, had set their sights on him.

　Ringo froze and he held his mouth shut. He felt as if his back was being poured with cold water.

　It was Secret who broke the tension. She gently put her hand on his shoulder, which was tense and stiff.

"I'm sorry for what my subordinate said. But, I didn't hit your members for free either, because I’ve got some delicious news for you, Terada-san."

　When Ringo looked at Secret with a fearful sideways glance, he saw that a fearless smile with overflowing confidence was carved on her cheek.

***

 Notes:

1 Pachinko: a type of mechanical game originating in Japan that is used as a form of recreational arcade game, and much more frequently as a gambling device.^↩
2 Not the biological father, she means their group leader. That nickname is a form of respect in the yakuza.^↩
3 Ninja weighted chain weapon.^↩
4 About 4600 USD^↩
5 Around 1300 USD^↩
6 Around 2600 USD^↩
7 Around 220 USD^↩
8 Around 285 USD^↩

------------------------------

Ririi Rain: I'm sorry I can't show you how Secret's weapon looked like here. But I can show you on patreon!

------------------------------

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Eden of The Villains: Part 1 Story 2

Part 1 Story 2: Hostess Bar and Protection Fee

　Translator: Ririi Rain

 

 

 

　It was a windy day, but the sky was bright clear and the blooming flowers can be seen. The weather made it seem like one would be sweaty even for just going on a small walk.

 

　On Sunday, Minatomirai was overflowing with tourists from afar, families with children, couples, etc. Everyone was heading to their own destination. It was so lively as if the poisonous gas incident had never happened.

 

　Ringo walked to the inland area from Sakuragicho Station, weaving through the tourists.

 

　There were no tourist spots in this direction, so, after a while, the people on the streets became sparse.

 

　Secret was wearing a sleeveless, super-mini one-piece dress with slits. And she also wore black shorts. Of course, it was to hide her underwear from exposure.

 

　However, what didn't change was that her thin limbs were mostly exposed. In addition, the dress itself was designed to show off body lines, so it was somewhat sensual.

 

　She wore a pair of sparkling and dainty glass earrings in each, which made her stand out.

 

　She had a young face, yet her appearance is mature and sexy. Just by walking around, she caught people's attention.

 

"Today’s request is from a new client〜"

 

　 She told him with a laid-back, gentle smile.

　He was holding down the beret on his head with one hand to keep it from being blown away by the wind, but he had a calm facial expression.

 

"Is that so..."

 

　Speaking about Ringo, he was dressed in a navy blue T-shirt with black chinos. Those colors absorbed a lot of sunlight.

 

　Because of that, coupled with the clear and bright weather, he was dripping with sweat. The sweat flowed from his temple to the tip of his jaw, and then it fell on the asphalt. His shirt was sticky and it clung to his back, which made him feel uncomfortable.

 

　Ringo's face was displayed all over the country as the much-talked-about poisonous gas boy. He was beaten up like crazy even on the internet. Maybe it was because he took off his unfashionable glasses, cut his thick-long bangs, waxed his hair, and colored his black hair into a flashy blonde, but no one doesn’t seem to recognize him.

 

　In the first place, it had been reported that the suspect had died, so no one would think that he was alive and wandering around.

 

　He was nervous at the beginning, but now that a week had passed, he can go out without being afraid.

 

"Here it is. Yokohama Grand Lou"

 

　They stopped in front of their destination.

 

"Yeah, good job in leading the way."

 

　When he turned around, Secret had already changed her expression into a dignified and somewhat fearless look. Then, she put her hand on the doorknob of the shop which had a sign that told people that the shop was still in preparation.

 

"Hello! I'm the consultant that you have contacted."

 

"Oh, I've been expecting you."

 

　The manager, whose age seemed to be around 40s, came out from the back of the spacious shop.

 

　The shop manager had a youthful appearance because the skin was tan and clean, but there were wrinkles because of age, and this person looked a little tired.

 

"I'm sorry for the sudden change of time, but I had some urgent business to attend to."

 

(What are you saying?)

 

　 Ringo looked at Secret, who said it without any hesitation.

 

　Then, he took a deep breath in the air-conditioned shop. He finally felt alive, but he turned pale after looking around him.

 

"Thi-, this place..."

 

"Eh, Ringo-kun, is this your first time in a hostess bar?"

 

"Is, is it alright for me to come!?"

 

"You're so upright, huh. It's not the adult corner of a video rental shop, so it's okay."

 

　First of all, the smell was stabbing his nose. Like an overripe fruit, it was full of a sickly-sweet scent.

 

　In the dimly lit shop, where the lights were set to be low, there were only the two of them and the shop manager who was the client.

 

　Luxury leather sofas were lined up in a row, and an elegant, glimmering chandelier was overlooking the shop from the ceiling. The color of the wallpaper along with the floor was a gaudy shade that combined black and pink, but it created a coquettish atmosphere in the large space.

 

　It can be seen that Ringo practically had no prior involvement with such places. The hostess bar that he saw in dramas was right in front of his eyes.

 

"Then, let’s talk in the back office."

 

　The shop manager guided them in a familiar manner, and the 15-year-old boy who followed behind Secret was surprised.

 

　When the door with the ‘staff-only’ sign was opened, there was a dissonant office that had white walls and fluorescent lights. Ringo let out a breath of relief.

 

　The two were urged to sit on the guest’s sofa and to sip the hot tea that had been brewed for them. The shop manager sat on the other side of the table.

 

"Um, you’re the management consultant... Secret,-san¹, is that right?"

 

　 No wonder that the shop manager was hesitating.

　It was a strange name that wasn't suitable for business.

 

　Ringo had guessed it in the past week, but this woman didn’t give out her real name.

　It wasn't known who suggested it, but 'Secret' was a suitable nickname for her who never reveal her real identity.

 

"Yes, that's what I'm called."

 

　Secret was facing the shop manager with a face full of smiles.

 

　The shop manager's dubious gaze then turned towards Ringo.

 

　Even though Ringo had been touched up to look like a hoodlum, it can be seen with a glance that he was a teenager. It wouldn't be appropriate to talk about business with him.

 

"And this person is?"

 

"I am, her assist——"

 

"He is my subordinate². I'm bringing him to the scene so that he can get used to the work."

 

　He was instantly intercepted by Secret.

 

 ('Subordinate’, you say? How are we the yakuza³?)

 

　Ringo desperately kept his straight face from distorting.

 

"Can you tell us about the request?"

 

　 Secret was calm and composed as she asked. Perhaps relieved to see this, the shop manager also started to open his mouth regarding the request.

 

 

 

 

 

"——I see, in other words, the people with yakuza on their back came and threatened you to pay protection fee."

 

　Secret crossed her legs while drinking the cold tea.

 

"Yes, to put it simply, that's the case. I worked for the main shop in Tokyo for many years, and this time I’m entrusted to be the figurehead in opening the shop in Yokohama, so I was prepared for the protection fee to some extent."

 

"But, the amount was abnormal."

 

"Yes. The requested amount was abnormal, so I'm wondering if the organization that was mentioned is really involved. I'm a newcomer to this land called Yokohama, and I'm in trouble because there is no source of information."

 

"As for the content of the request, is there really yakuza at the back of those people? If there is one, is the amount of the protection fee really reasonable? If there is no backing, it would be a cleanup, is that right?"

 

"That’s correct."

 

　Ringo was silently listening to the conversation between Secret and the shop manager, but he could barely understand the talk.

 

　There were too many words that he didn't usually use, so it was quite hard for him to understand.

 

　 All he knew was that the talk was definitely about something dangerous and illegal.

 

"But I have one proposal."

 

　The woman who called Ringo as her subordinate had her sea-colored pair of eyes shining. She was talking about awful crime-related security, but her face was somehow rational.

 

"Even if this is resolved, another similar problem may occur again."

 

"Well...that’s true."

 

"You mentioned that you were having trouble finding sources of information, so I think that if Grand Lou could secure organizations and human resources that can serve as sources of information, we can prevent possible problems in the future."

 

　Secret’s eyes were shining brilliantly.

　It hadn't been long since they were acquainted, but if it was just this, Ringo understood. This was the face that she makes when she was thinking about making money.

 

"How about, in addition to the initial fee of 500,000 yen⁴, we offer solutions to all of your problems for an initial price of 200,000 yen⁵ for our future relationship?"

 

"I, I see..."

 

"If you're worried, it's okay to reply after you see the results of our rough work. We will have all your problems solved within two hours!"

 

　The shop manager blinked rapidly and then nodded at Secret who made that statement energetically.

***

 Notes:

1 San: (～さん) is a title of respect added to a name. It can be used with both male and female names, and with either surname or given names. It can also be attached to the name of occupations and titles.^↩
2 舎弟 can also mean someone's underling/disciple/pupil/follower/little brother/etc. Just an addition: for superior yakuza, they often mean ‘little brother’, and it's never used to refer to one's blood-related younger brother in modern Japanese.^↩
3 Yakuza: a Japanese organized crime syndicate similar to the Mafia.^↩
4 Around 4400 USD^↩
5 Around 1800 USD^↩

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