Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 420: God’s Downfall (12)

Dragon Raja 3

Caesar had to admit Finger was right—having a hostage was far more reliable than trusting the resolve of the Orochi. At least this way, the Orochi wouldn’t rashly attack High Heaven Pavilion.

“Is there really anything to talk about in an entertainment venue?” Fūma Kotarō looked at the luxurious building and its towering neon signs through the rain.

“How can you call it an entertainment venue? We provide a new form of relaxation and health services for high-end career women!”

Finger forcefully pulled Fūma Kotarō toward High Heaven Pavilion.

“Doesn’t your establishment have a strict ‘no men allowed’ policy?” Fūma Kotarō, helpless against this audacious guy, remarked.

“We’re not offering you any companionship services. Surely a drink is acceptable!”

Fūma Kotarō slowly raised his hand, and hundreds of guns simultaneously cocked. He waved his hand again, and the gun barrels all shifted, aiming at both himself and Finger.

“The third time I wave, they will open fire, and we will both be riddled with bullets. You still think I’m a useful hostage?” Fūma Kotarō said calmly.

The situation was at an impasse. Finger wasn’t willing to release Fūma Kotarō, but he also couldn’t drag him any further. In truth, there wasn’t much to discuss. The Orochi wanted Chime, but the college wouldn’t hand him over—this was an irreconcilable conflict.

“Still not sleeping after closing time? Planning to greet your customers tomorrow with dark circles under your eyes, you lousy boys?”

An impatient voice boomed, shaking the rain curtain.

The door swung open, and under the glow of crystal chandeliers, a woman strode out, arms crossed, surveying the standoff on the street below.

She wore a gray business suit and black high heels. A diamond earring swung from her right ear, gleaming in the light, and everyone’s gaze was unconsciously drawn to the swaying earring.

The shopkeeper, Humpback Whale, stood respectfully behind the young woman, holding her purse, coat, and umbrella, vividly illustrating her high status.

“Is that… the Boss Lady?” Lu Mingfei was stunned.

He had been working at Takamagahara for two weeks and had never seen the Boss Lady. The one managing the place had always been Humpback Whale, who carried titles like “The King of the Male Flower Path” and “The Emperor of Kabukicho Men.” Despite his tough appearance, he would say strange things like, “Now is not the time to be proud of your sales, gentlemen. Twenty years ago, before I became the manager, I was the hottest boy on the streets of Shinjuku.” Now it seemed Humpback Whale was merely a subordinate, and behind him was the true Boss Lady. If the subordinate was this fierce, just how powerful was the Boss Lady?

To everyone’s surprise, the Boss Lady had an innocent, “forest-girl” face, with long, naturally flowing hair. She wore no makeup and looked more like a banker than someone who ran a host club.

“What’s all this noise at the entrance?” The Boss Lady frowned, a rather charming expression on her face. “Heracles, what’s with all the bonding with an old man?”

Lu Mingfei thought to himself, Even though it’s our first meeting, you sure know how to use their stage names. But, come on, you’re asking the obvious. There are hundreds of guns and swords outside—clearly, this is a gang seeking revenge!

“This doesn’t involve the store’s business. It’s just some friends from the streets stopping by for a chat.” Caesar was intrigued by this suddenly appearing Boss Lady. “Are you here to watch?”

“Friends, huh?” The Boss Lady smiled. “I apologize then, I didn’t wear my glasses and can’t see clearly. With all this rain, if they’re friends, please invite them in.” She casually pulled out a pair of glasses from her pocket.

Lu Mingfei thought, No wonder she’s so calm—she doesn’t even realize what’s happening. Once she puts on those glasses and sees all the guns and swords outside, she’s going to scream.

“No need, no need!” Lu Mingfei quickly rushed in front of the Boss Lady, blocking her. “It’s fine if the friends chat outside. It’s nice and cool out there, and their clothes are already wet, so we wouldn’t want them dirtying up the couches. You should head to bed and get a good night’s sleep!”

He frantically signaled Humpback Whale to help, hoping he’d take the clueless Boss Lady away, but Humpback Whale remained aloof and didn’t even glance at him, as though he were a giant robot controlled by the Boss Lady, only moving on her command.

The Boss Lady, however, warmly hugged Lu Mingfei and patted his shoulder. “Such a thoughtful boy, little Sakura.”

Lu Mingfei was overwhelmed by her soft and warm embrace, lost in the faint, pleasant scent of her perfume. Compared to the girls at Cassell College—like Nono and Zero, who could kick a grown man across the room—this woman stirred his protective instincts. Just as he was about to lower his voice to say something impressive, the Boss Lady whispered sharply, “Idiot! What are you standing there for? Trying to grope me? Move aside! Let me deal with that old fox!”

She shoved Lu Mingfei into Humpback Whale’s arms and put on her glasses.

With those thick black-rimmed glasses, her face appeared even more delicate and flawless, like polished jade. As her eyes slowly opened behind the lenses, an aura of divine authority seemed to envelop her—majestic and intimidating.

Without sparing a glance at the gun barrels, she looked down at Fūma Kotarō from the steps. The reflection of hundreds of swords illuminated her face.

“So, it turns out you’re their friend, Mr. Fūma. I didn’t expect that after just acquiring this women’s relaxation center, we’d have such esteemed guests as yourself paying a visit.” The Boss Lady suddenly smiled.

What a clever rebranding—turning the host club into a “women’s relaxation center.” She must have been eavesdropping behind the door.

“Suzue-san, this place is your property? I never would have guessed,” Fūma Kotarō was visibly shocked at first but quickly composed himself, bowing respectfully.

Caesar and Chu Zihang exchanged glances, realizing it had been this Boss Lady who had been secretly protecting them all along. Who could be so powerful as to not fear crossing the Orochi and make someone like Fūma Kotarō show such respect to a young woman?

“I bought it not long ago. I’ve always wanted to run my own shop and watch it grow—it makes life feel more real,” the Boss Lady glanced over at Caesar’s group, as if inspecting her handsome soldiers. “With these handsome boys keeping me company, life feels quite fulfilling.”

“I’ve just joined the ranks as well!” Finger instinctively lined up at the back.

“Great! I think the shop could use someone with a sense of humor to entertain the guests.”

The Boss Lady nodded slightly.

“Su-san, are you stepping in to protect them?” Fūma Kotarō asked.

“Not so much protection. They’re my employees, so it’s my responsibility to take good care of them.”

“When one of your employees affects the future of the Orochi, and they refuse to hand that person over, while we respect you greatly, we cannot negotiate with you on this matter.”

“I also have no intention of negotiating business with you on this matter. But neither side is willing to compromise, and a continued standoff isn’t a solution. Why don’t we suspend this negotiation for now? I give you my word of honor that within 24 hours, these people won’t flee Takamagahara. Tomorrow night, Takamagahara will open its doors to welcome guests, and at that time, we would be honored to host you and the patriarch. We can discuss everything clearly in a peaceful atmosphere, wouldn’t that be better?”

“Are you suggesting that we leave?” Fūma Kōtarō raised one of his long, snow-white eyebrows.

“Just like that, leave.” The lady boss handed her phone to Fūma Kōtarō.

Fūma Kōtarō pressed the phone to his ear and listened silently. The veins at the corner of his eyes twitched slightly, clearly hearing something that unsettled him. The always-unflappable Fūma Kōtarō, who never negotiates under pressure, seemed to yield to the voice on the other end of the line.

“Su-san’s suggestion is a good one,” Fūma Kōtarō returned the phone, “If Su-san gives her word of honor, then there’s certainly no issue.”

“Mr. Fūma is truly magnanimous,” the lady boss smiled.

“My apologies for disturbing you tonight.” Fūma Kōtarō slowly retreated, raising his hands above his head and clapping.

The gun barrels lowered, the swords were sheathed, and the tense standoff dissolved in an instant, all because a young girl offered her personal credit as a guarantee.

Fūma Kōtarō clapped again, and from east to west, the streetlights and neon signs along the road shut off in succession. In the darkness, hundreds of pairs of pupils glowed faintly with golden light.

For a moment, the long street was utterly silent, even the cats on the rooftops dared not breathe. These weren’t just hundreds of men, they were hundreds of beasts! In just a few hours, the Yamata no Orochi had assembled nearly a thousand hybrids to lock down the Shinjuku district. If a fight broke out, the College’s side had no chance of winning.

No wonder the Orochi claims Tokyo as their territory, not the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s. They even have an army within the city’s populace.

The silent gang members parted in the middle, stepping back through the rain, but the pressure they brought still hadn’t dissipated. Lu Mingfei felt as if high walls stood on either side of him, and he couldn’t imagine how they’d survived this long in Tokyo without the lady boss’s protection.

His knees weakened, and he almost stumbled, but Chu Zihang swiftly kicked the back of his knees, causing a reflex that made him stand straight. They now represented the College’s forces in Japan, and the College wouldn’t show weakness to Yamata no Orochi.

At some point, the lady boss had lit a long, thin peppermint cigarette. Finger, ever quick to sense the mood, hurried forward to light it for her. She smiled and blew smoke into his face, then gracefully walked into the rain, with Humpback Whale holding an umbrella and following closely behind her.

The only ones left on the street were the lady boss and Humpback Whale, who held her umbrella. She waved lightly at Fūma Kōtarō’s retreating figure, as if in farewell.

This was the first time in Lu Mingfei’s life that he had encountered such a terrifying yet graceful girl. Her high-heeled toes lightly touched the ground, and she stood alone in the storm, like a solitary white lotus blooming on a black pond.