Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Who Is He (3)
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Under the smog-shrouded clouds, the silhouette of a luxurious mansion began to faintly emerge.
Whether it was a measure to deter intruders or not, intense floodlights constantly illuminated the building.
The outer walls were tall.
The garden was vast.
Thanks to that, the area around it felt like broad daylight.
"Hmm..."
The sight gave him no small amount of pressure, but the size and scale of the building didn't tell the whole story.
"Grocery store close call."
"...What did you just say?"
"Ahem. No, nothing."
He flinched at the limousine driver's voice, shoulders hunching up.
He must have muttered to himself without realizing it.
Anyway.
"We've arrived."
By address alone, this place would be classified as the old city district.
But looking at the mansion's interior, ornately decorated in antique style, it felt like stepping into a scene from a Hollywood movie.
The problem was that the genre was noir.
At the mansion's entrance, a guide who seemed to have been notified in advance was waiting.
"...We sincerely welcome the visit of Hotdog Man, who has graciously accepted our invitation."
A voice trembling with nervousness.
He looked fairly young, but like the other organization members in the mansion, he was dressed in a crisp black suit.
'A newbie?'
Tension seeped through his speech.
Where did that uncle from last time go...?
"The Boss is waiting inside right now. I-I'll guide you."
I nodded without a word.
Truth be told, I was just as nervous.
The nameless newbie seemed satisfied with that, letting out a small breath as he pushed open the mansion door.
This was my third visit to the mafia's grand mansion.
I was starting to get familiar with the interior layout.
However, the sidelong glances and whispers from the surrounding organization members were somewhat bothersome.
"That guy's..."
"Hey, they'll hear you. Use the internal network."
The guide leading the way, too.
And the organization members scrutinizing me.
It felt different from the last visit.
'...Are they on guard?'
It wasn't outright hostile.
But discomfort, unease, or what could be called resentment faintly leaked out.
The shoulders of the organization member guiding me now trembled intermittently, confirming it wasn't just my imagination.
No way...
'Did word already spread about the chaos I caused at the Hakuga-gumi club?'
There was no other explanation for their reactions.
Asking the reason with capybara-level affinity would be tricky in this relationship.
So I kept my mouth shut and just followed quietly.
At that moment, a handkerchief fell from the pocket of the young organization member walking ahead.
"Excuse me."
As someone from 21st-century Korea, land of etiquette, he couldn't ignore picking up a dropped item.
The guide's steps halted awkwardly.
"...Yes? D-Did you call me?"
What rumors about me had spread that even a mafia family member looked this terrified?
"You just dropped this."
The guide's breathing grew ragged, so.
I quickly conveyed, 'I had no intention of speaking, but you dropped your handkerchief, so I'm picking it up.'
"...Ah, thank you."
He fumbled in his pocket with a flustered expression, then bowed lightly in thanks.
Chance.
"No problem. Everyone makes mistakes."
But my icebreaker skill must have been too strong.
Suddenly, the guide's face drained of color.
"Y-Yeah..."
What?
I finished what I was saying first.
"I drop 'items' a lot too. Haha."
"Wh-What did you drop!?"
"No, items..."
He gulped hard,
the guide's pupils shook aimlessly.
'...This is really weird.'
As I tilted my head at the odd reaction, the guide snapped out of it, bowed his head, and hurried down the corridor.
This was alarm-level strange.
Not full-on awkward roommate vibes, but the uncomfortable guidance ended.
"W-We’ve arrived."
"Thank you. Next time, be careful not to 'drop' any 'items'."
"...Hic!"
I didn't know the exact reason, but he was particularly sensitive to the word 'item' and the verb 'to drop'.
Anyway.
Leaving behind the guide who scurried away like he was fleeing.
As the presumed bodyguards stepped aside one by one, a luxurious wooden door engraved with mahogany patterns slowly opened.
This time, it wasn't Luciana's office like before.
A grand dining room unfolded before me, complete with a long table for receiving guests.
Why was the ceiling so high?
Thud.
The door closed naturally.
I stared awkwardly at the closed door, then locked eyes with the beautiful woman seated at the far end of the long table that could seat dozens.
"Hello."
"...Yes, nice to meet you."
The Boss of the underworld mafia family.
Luciana.
"Yeah, nice to meet you. Abel Anderson."
A languid smile traced soft lines.
But I knew well that if she wanted, she could easily blow up a few buildings, so I didn't relax.
Luciana waved lightly at me still standing.
"Sit if you're here."
The long table was laden with all sorts of lavish feasts.
It looked like we'd walked into a Michelin restaurant.
"You said it last time. Let's have a meal together sometime."
"...I did."
Pure Korean-style pleasantry.
- Hey, long time no see! Let's grab a meal sometime!
- Oh, sure! Definitely next time!
In reality, if making plans, you'd set date and time first.
In other words, a promise with no fixed date.
But the mafia Boss, who didn't need cushion words, seemed to have taken my words seriously.
Faded blonde hair swayed lightly, ruby-red eyes fixed on me.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, not at all. I'm grateful you went to the trouble of setting this up."
"Hehe."
No more empty words now.
I calmly pulled out the chair opposite without showing reluctance.
Then.
"Not there."
"Pardon?"
What now?
"The food's too far from there."
Luciana pointed to the seat beside her.
Not right next to her, but close enough to reach out and touch.
"...Thank you."
If she says sit, I sit.
I quietly took the chair she indicated.
I just want to go home and eat a hotdog.
I picked up fork and knife without awkwardness, but facing these fancy dishes I'd never seen before, I had no idea where to start.
If I'd known it'd be like this, I'd have studied table manners first.
"Hmm..."
But Luciana seemed to misinterpret my unspoken dilemma.
She dabbed her lips with a napkin embroidered with golden thread.
"Shall we talk about why I called you first?"
"Sure, yeah..."
I didn't correct the misunderstanding.
"Why did you call me?"
The question came out easier than expected.
Rather than displeasure, Luciana's translucent eyes narrowed in interest first.
"But before that."
Clap, clap. She lightly clapped twice.
Suddenly, over ten people surged into the dining room from the back.
I clenched my fist in surprise at the overwhelming crowd, but soon realized they were all 'female androids'.
A faint sense of familiarity.
These people...
"The androids rescued from the Paradise Hall building back then... It's them."
"Right."
The ones Luciana had said she'd take care of reappeared before me after some time.
"Showing photos of them doing well might not be enough."
She interlaced her fingers on the table, watching like it was an amusing spectacle.
"Of course, not all of them. Some wanted to leave Area 49, so I gave them financial compensation and helped them relocate to the 30s district."
"Th-Thank you."
I hadn't expected her to take care of them this well.
Honestly, I'd even forgotten about them.
"And..."
But I knew Luciana hadn't helped the androids out of pure goodwill.
"The ones gathered here didn't want to leave right away, or wanted to give you their thanks before going."
"...Thanks?"
At that moment, the over ten female androids approached me all at once.
Sensual body scents wafted naturally.
Soft skin fully revealed above carefully lowered garments.
I looked at Luciana in confusion, but she just watched me intently.
"Yeah, thanks. No coercion or force. I didn't suggest it first."
They were all androids, but their appearances were indistinguishable from humans.
Different nationalities, skin colors, tastes, but.
All beautiful women's sweet voices echoed in my ears.
"It's true. We just want to express our gratitude to our benefactor."
"I even got a new part there, in case you're uncomfortable... If it's okay, please."
"That place was real hell. You saved us from hell, so this is only natural."
The inescapable honeypot trap for any man.
A few days ago, I might have gritted my teeth in desperate deliberation.
But.
Now, no emotions stirred.
A few days ago, I'd acquired a new trait.
I calmly pushed them away and spoke gently.
"I'm really fine. I didn't rescue you for this. If anything, you've got Luciana to thank more."
Praise the mafia Boss first.
"It's not because I dislike you or feel uncomfortable. There's just no need."
I draped their fallen clothes back over their shoulders.
"So, no need to feel indebted. Truly. Start fresh with peace of mind."
Cheap cyborgs couldn't shed tears, but gratitude didn't fade.
The noisy dining room quieted.
As I looked at Luciana with lingering unease,
she stared straight back with even more vibrant eyes than before.
"Unexpectedly ascetic in this area. You could've just accepted."
"Was I different from what you expected?"
It was clear Luciana had tested me, so my tone wasn't gentle.
But she smiled nonchalantly, sensing it.
"Exactly. That's what makes it more interesting."
Only then did I grasp the essence of this mafia Boss, Luciana.
Interest and curiosity.
And a touch of responsibility.
Nothing more.
And unfortunately, her attention was now fully on me.
'...I want to go home.'
That was my earnest wish.
But the meal had just begun...
* * *
The day before Abel Anderson received the invitation from the Sparo Rapido family.
In the center of a pitch-black conference room, a holographic report summarizing the incident at the Hakuga-gumi-operated club 「Möbius」 was being presented.
Sottocapo, Consigliere, Caporegime, etc.
Various high-ranking members of the mafia family were gathered.
The Soldato who had verified the scene and returned.
The young man, an excellent investigator who had been assigned to guide 'Hotdog Man' the next day due to the Boss's whim, continued his report in a trembling voice.
"...The number of Hakuga-gumi organization members killed inside the club is estimated at around 50. Exact count still pending. As you can see from these photos, unlike the entrance, the bodies grow more gruesome the deeper inside─."
The club interior, now brightly lit with breakers up, was a complete hellscape.
From Abel Anderson's perspective, it was just a failure to control his rising physical abilities, but to the investigator who saw the scene, he didn't look human.
"And this is a photo of the body of Bansho Takemaru, the Hakuga-gumi squad leader killed on site."
One of the listening executives spoke up in dissatisfaction.
"It's surprising enough that he pinpointed the rat's location perfectly in just a few hours, but he took him down alone? And trashed the club interior like that? What kind of nonsense─."
"Quiet."
At the Boss's low remark.
The executive shut his mouth immediately.
Luciana gestured for the investigator to continue.
"Continue."
"...It's confirmed that Bansho Takemaru is a beastman hybrid. But no traces of firearms use in the corridor, so the person we suspect is 'Hotdog Man' appears to have engaged him in close combat barehanded."
The hologram photo showed completely shattered ceiling, walls, and floor.
"And..."
The investigator trailed off.
The hologram screen switched again.
"...We confirmed 'internal organs' of a 'male' 'dropped' on the corridor floor."
Everyone swallowed hard.
"...Heh."
"What the...?"
"......"
In general combat, there are tacitly agreed non-target areas.
But he...
Didn't follow others' rules.
In the silent conference room.
Someone's mutter voiced everyone's feelings.
"......He's completely insane."
It was a 100% factual statement.