Chapter 96
[It's a long story... First, I should start from early last Sunday morning, when our Nakamura-kun cut off Man Hunter's Arm and a conflict broke out with those Russian BratvaБратва bastards.]
Man Hunter.
It felt like something from the distant past, but in reality, it was a story from just four days ago.
[As Minna (Everyone) knows, those Red Mafia bastards are truly vicious. They call each other tovarishch (товарищ, Comrade) and protect their own so fiercely that if an Organization Member gets hit, they act incredibly annoying, claiming they'll exact Blood Vengeance. Regarding this, I can't help but bring up a story from my Ronin Days...]
Blah blah blah-.
An incredibly long and rambling explanation passed by.
It was complicated, but the point was that Man Hunter Alexgey was a Bratva-affiliated Ronin, and
since I had cut off such a guy's arm and crushed his subordinates, retaliation might come at the gang Level, so Dragon President had stepped up.
It was something I had expected to some extent.
Because I had heard the situation from Sey after waking up from fainting that day.
“Boss stepped up to handle the aftermath, so you won”t need to worry about Man Hunter.'
Sey had said it firmly like that.
At the time, I had thought that no matter if it was Dragon President, he wouldn't Recklessly storm into the Red Mafia gang, surely...
But listening to him speak, it seemed like that 'surely' might just catch me off Guard.
"Did you seriously storm into the Bratva gang Headquarters?"
When I asked in shock, Dragon President stared at me as if looking at a strange person and replied.
[Uh... Iya (No). I'm not that much of a Crazy person. I appreciate the high evaluation, but I can't storm Alone into a Mafia Den armed with Advanced Weapons and Defense Facilities. Even I would die if hit by something like a High-Output Plasma Weapon. I could get caught in Traps or Bombs and be buried whole... Anyway.]
He was just reciting all sorts of flashy heroic tales, but at times like this, he's needlessly realistic.
I got my hopes up for nothing.
So that kind of Stealth Action Play where you sneak into a Mafia base Alone and kill everyone is something you'd only see in movies or games. As expected, it must be impossible in reality.
Then again, As Expected of a Cyberpunk World, Security or Surveillance would be incredibly Thorough. In a way, it's a given.
As I pouted my lips in slight disappointment, Dragon President continued.
[So at first, I made a Plan to Infiltrate. I thought about sneaking in at dawn, avoiding the Surveillance network of drones and turrets, to assassinate the Executives and blow up Major facilities to cause the Organization to splinter... Wait, why are you looking at me with those eyes?]
"Uh, isn't that exactly what storming in is?"
[No way. Doesn't storming in mean going in proudly from the front without hiding and smashing everything? I can't do that. Maybe in the past, but I've gotten older these days. Doing something like that is a perfect way to get myself killed.]
"..."
No matter how I look at it, he really is just a Crazy person.
Well... if he says so. Having nothing to say, I kept my mouth shut.
The words of a former Ronin and Veteran Soldier would be more correct than a layman like me.
[But then a good idea suddenly came to mind. You could say I thought of a way to solve it cleanly all at once without the hassle of going around the Mafia's occupied territories one by one. To explain this, I can't Leave out the story of the time I was active as a samurai of the underground Gladiator Arena...]
Blah blah blah-.
This Crazy Too Much Talker Dragon. What even is a samurai of the underground Gladiator Arena?
Feeling my patience slowly reaching its limit, I suppressed it and listened.
To summarize, he had formed a Friendship with a Red Mafia Executive in the past, and because they still kept in touch occasionally, he was able to get help in handling the Problems Related to the Bratva gang.
[So I promised to treat that Punk to a drink. He said he'd visit our bar sometime soon, so treat him well.]
"What is his name?"
[I don't know. I don't remember.]
"Excuse me?"
Then how am I supposed to treat him well?
It's not like I can tell he's a Red Mafia Executive the moment I see him.
[We aren't close enough to call each other by our Namae (Name). You'll just know when you see him. He's A Guy Who Looks Very Russian. Resembles a Brown Bear.]
But it seemed I would be able to tell the moment I saw him.
A Mafia Executive who looks so Russian that he's told he Resembles a Brown Bear... It's terrifying just imagining it.
Personally, he didn't fall into my Welcomed Customer Type.
Anyway, for me, it would be enough to just Guide him to a seat, and the Full-fledged Customer Service would be handled by Bartender Tony and Sey, so there shouldn't be any particular problem.
...Right? Probably not.
Just as an Ominous Premonition brushed past me, Dragon President continued speaking.
[Anyway, I settled the matter with that guy, and we also cracked open and drank the 'Real' Vodka he had personally distilled, made, and stashed away...]
"So you were late because you were drinking in the end, weren't you?"
My sharp question piercing right through his opening!
Dragon President panicked greatly, Waving Hand.
[Chi, Chigau (No)! I only did that to dig up information.]
"Information?"
[Yeah. They say there's a proverb like this in Russia.
“
If you want to know the thoughts in a person”s head, examine their tongue when they are drunk.' It means Drunken Truth!
To get what you want from a Russian, you have to feed them plenty of alcohol. It's Zettai (Absolutely) not because I was curious about the taste of Genuine Handmade Vodka that I haven't drank in a long time.]
I see. What an incredibly persuasive argument.
His fierce denial was truly impressive.
As Sey and I stared at the Drunkard Dragon from both sides with pathetic gazes, he Read the Room and stopped his hand, which was heading toward the Large Beer Mug Nearly Half Empty.
[Strange... I'm definitely the Employer, so why do I have to walk on eggshells around my Employees just for drinking a little alcohol? Shouldn't it usually be the other way around? I'm so sad. I can't even drink beer to my heart's content.]
I let Dragon President's grumbling complaints go in one ear and out the other before opening my mouth.
"So, what information did you get out of that Bratva acquaintance?"
It was a question thrown out without much expectation.
Because looking at that tipsy Drunkard Dragon, digging up Useful Information was bullshit; it would be a relief if he didn't just run his mouth and spill everything he knew instead.
But surprisingly, Dragon President snorted with a 'Hmph.' and crossed his arms in a majestic posture.
It seemed he really had found out some Useful Information.
[Hah... If I say this, you'll all be so shocked you'll fall over. What information did I get?]
Dudung!
Suddenly, a Drumming Sound Effect played from the speakers of the Dragon Helmet.
[What I found out is, don't be surprised. It's none other than...!]
Dugudugudugudugu...
Dragon President shouted, having built up the atmosphere to the max.
[Why the surroundings have gotten so noisy lately, why so many Ronin are flocking to the bar, I've found the reason for it!]
Uh...
Somehow, I could predict what he was going to say next, so my expression stiffened.
The Excited Otaku Dragon must have thought my reaction meant I was anticipating his next words, as he shouted vigorously.
[This is Hard-Earned Information... I don't know if you've Ever heard of the Dead Cell gang.]
Ah. I knew it.
The slight bit of expectation I had cooled down completely.
What followed was a series of stories I already knew, or had somewhat figured out through guessing.
The story that Dead Cell seemed to have robbed Militia's Secret Research Institute in East Monica.
The story that although Militia and DCPD tried to control the information, rumors spread secretly, causing Nearby Major Gangs or Mercenary Agencies, and the Dark Net Ronin Community to slowly catch on,
and because of that, mercenaries had secretly begun gathering at the Border Between East Monica and Sprawlfield, the location of Dead Cell's Headquarters.
Rather than wandering around and conducting a search through the Vast District of East Monica just to chase a single Dead Cell gang member, it was a Judgment to lie in Ambush and snatch them as they fled to their base in Sprawlfield.
Because of that, Well-Informed Ronin had stepped up, taking requests from different Employers to extort the confidential data, or to return it to the Original Host to receive a reward.
[Sorede (So) that's why our shop was swarming with Ronin! Because the Bar's location is right on the border between the two districts.
Everyone came into the Bar and was keeping an eye on the situation Outside in their own ways. Everything fits together perfectly like puzzle pieces!]
Dragon President struck a cool pose as if he had become a Great Detective, but then received a massive shock at my slightly frowning, serious face and the sight of Sey expressionlessly chewing on Chlorella Sushi.
[Eh... Why are your reactions like that? I barely found this out after drinking a ton with that guy and coaxing him. He strictly told me never to tell anyone because it's High-Grade Information, and I'm specially letting only you guys know!]
"...The thing is."
[I was expecting you to be shocked, so why are you so unenthusiastic! Hurry up and be surprised! Right now!!!]
Kkieeeeeek! Dragon President let out a bizarre shriek, grabbed my shoulders, and shook me violently.
A terrible tyranny of repeatedly forcing me to act surprised.
Only after I created and showed him a spectacular reaction that satisfied him was I barely able to be freed from that Strong Grip.
Just how much did he want to hear admiration? And to think he told me not to be surprised earlier.
*Meanwhile, Sey was also just quietly eating without any reaction, but he's only doing this to me.*
Isn't this discrimination?
When I massaged my sore shoulders and protested that point, Dragon President briefly looked at Sey's Dark Gray Eyes as she silently swallowed Factory-Made Ramen Noodles into her mouth, then shook his head.
[Dame (No).]
"Why?"
[Sey is scary. You must have heard the saying too. “A God Not Touched Does Not Bring Calamity (Sawaranu kami ni tatari nashi).” When the Dragon's Lair Head Bartender is eating something, it's best not to touch her carelessly. Keep that in mind.]
"Do you think that makes any sen...!"
I flared up and shouted, but then made Eye Contact with Sey, who was staring blankly in this direction.
That tingling, ashen gaze that felt like being swept up in a storm. In an instant, I felt like a mouse in front of a snake.
It really felt like she was expressing the intention of,
'Don't touch me.'
so I ended up nodding my head without realizing it.
"...I guess it does Make Sense."
Acknowledged.
Sey is scary.
Only chopsticks, spoons, and forks moved back and forth across the quieted table.
Having Subdued Veteran Sasha Dragon and Aaron Nakamura, Who Wasn't Intimidated even in front of Ned Ludd with just a gaze, Dragon's Lair's #1 Head Bartender continued her meal aloofly.
As we sat there, a doubt suddenly crossed my mind.
Why wasn't Sey surprised?
Even if she's a bit Cold as a person, she isn't the type to not show her emotions on her face to that extent.
Did she already know this beforehand like me... but how?
I had managed to obtain the related information through a series of overlapping coincidences—the monorail Platform, the Encounter at the Game Center, and tricking the DCPD Patrol Officer—but how on earth did Sey find out?
Just as Dragon President said, it should be High-Grade Information that isn't easy to find out.
Hmm...
As expected, there were still many Unresolved Questions remaining.