Chapter 280. To the panic room

「Minaho, that’s an exaggeration」

Margo-san chides Minaho-neesan.

「For people who don’t know about Shirasaka Sousuke’s connection with us...they would only think that the scandal of Shirasaka Sousuke suddenly revealed to the media and Shirasaka house being involved is planned by Kouzuki-san...」

I see...there are people who don’t know the existence of『Kuromori』

Minaho-neesan and others hate the man named Shirasaka Sousuke so much that they continued making a revenge plan for many years.

Originally...Shirasaka Sousuke’s crimes should be kept secret so it won’t leak outside as he’s born in a family with a great influence on media, which is Shirasaka house.

No matter how much information you release on the internet, it won’t reach the flow of the people in the press industry to make it an article.

And yet...this time, the people from the same press industry, have abandoned Shirasaka house and reported Shirasaka Sousuke’s crimes.

It was Shirasaka house’s network that refused to make a report till the end.

As for why the other media companies didn’t try to protect Shirasaka Sousuke...

That is probably because Jii-chan made a move from behind.

With Kouzuki house’s power...Shirasaka Sousuke’s crimes can be reported as a big campaign.

The three anti-mainstream faction of Shirasaka house...

Can only think of that.

They’re frightened only from Kouzuki Jii-chan’s power alone...

In the first place...Shirasaka Sousuke’s kidnapped in Australia...and was charged for raping a girl by the local police...

The leaked evidence of Shirasaka Sousuke’s crimes and influencing the opinion on the internet...are Minaho-neesan’s act...

They aren’t thinking who’s behind the scenes.

As for why Shirasaka Sousuke had gone through such horrible experience?

They don’t imagine it.

They don’t question it.

They don’t even try to investigate.

...That is.

「Actually...the fight is between us and Shirasaka house...Kouzuki-san is just a mediator」

That’s right.

This is all Minaho-neesan and『Kuromori’s』revenge

Jii-chan is just a helping hand.

「And yet...those people have been convinced that this is all Kouzuki-sama’s 『takeover plan』」

Minaho-neesan leaks a sigh.

「Well yeah...those three only thinks that『Kouzuki-san will use any method to make Shirasaka Moritsugu lose power and take over the newspaper and television company』 The matter about Shirasaka Sousuke is just a strategy to shake the Shirasaka house...it’s possible that Shirasaka Sousuke’s sins might’ve just been made up by Kouzuki-sanーor so they think」

Margo-san said.

「Really...they’re rude」

Minaho-neesan mutters.

Those people think that Minaho-neesan’s revenge is only a part of Jii-chan’s strategy.

They haven’t noticed『Kuromori’s』fierce vengeance at all...?

「Either way...those three don’t care about Shirasaka Sousuke anymore」

「That’s right. Shirasaka Hiromitsu-san and Vice president Yamada only have the newspaper and TV station important to them. As for Shirasaka Ayako...she’s fine as long as her son becomes the head of Shirasaka house even just by name」

Katsuko-nee said.

「Even as a member of the clan...they don’t have to be concerned on a member of the advertising agency if it’s not in the TV and newspaper company of theirs」

Margo-san said

「Shirasaka Sousuke’s scandal is socially fatal...only to his close family...in short, they think that it’s only Shirasaka Moritsugu who’ve been cherishing Shirasaka Sousuke all this time. They think that even if they’re also in the same house, they’re not responsible」

Nagisa said.

Margo-san smiles.

「Therefore...the three of them were being cocky at Kouzuki-san at first」

Now that Shirasaka Sousuke’s downfall becomes realistic...

They have the desire to be the next leader of the Shirasaka group.

To them, they’ve got nothing to do with Shirasaka Sousuke’s scandal.

Rather, in order to settle the group after Shirasaka Moritsugu’s defeat, their power is absolutely needed...that’s what they think.

「Therefore, I kicked their asses as hard as I can. There’s no helping on those foolish people. They selfishly misunderstood my motives. At such times, I just kick them hard to let them know. Making sure that they won’t ever try underestimating me again...!」

Jii-chan smiles wryly.

「But...it’s miserable but I think that most of the people in the world will have the same view as those three」

Minaho-neesan said.

「Apart from the general public...people of the financial and political world would only see it as...Kouzuki-sama fighting Shirasaka Moritsugu」

...Does that mean?

Depending on the point of view, Jii-chan’s forcibly taking away Shirasaka house’s coverage network...

Jii-chan would become the bad guy?

「I don’t mind it anyway」

Jii-chan tells MInaho-neesan.

「You’ve already become my『family』...I’ll endure any back biting if it’s for my『family』 In the first place...I’m a man with a lot of enemies. Increasing the number of people who are badmouthing me won’t matter. Besides...」

Jii-chan smiles.

「I thought that I should set my hands on reforming the news agencies in Japan someday. Since this is a good opportunity, I’ll start working on this. Minaho-kun and Katsuko-kun will also cooperate...right?」

Minaho-neesan bows to Jii-chan...

「After going this far, we’ll do what we can」

Jii-chan stares at Minaho-neesan...

「But still...you’re still too distant. Call me『Grandfather』soon」

「That is...you see」

Minaho-neesan’s tense.

「Well...you can take your time. I’ll be training you and Katsuko-kun in management thoroughly after all...!」

「...Kouzuki-sama?」

Minaho-neesan’s surprised.

「If you don’t follow up, then who’ll support Misuzu and Ruriko? It’ll take time before my students become usable. Besides...though I can leave the official work to them...they won’t be able to do work behind the scenes very well. You two have a broad face in the underground...」

「However, we are...Kuromori’s...!」

Before Minaho-neesan was able to say『Former prostitutes』, Jii-chan interrupts her.

「...It’s the past. Don’t mind it. Rather, thanks to that past you’ve got a lot of connections」

Minaho-neesan and Katsuko-nee...knows a lot of political and financial names who were customers of『Kuromori』

「You know well how to argue with those big names... Could you make used of that ability for Misuzu and Ruriko’s sake?」

Jii-chan looks at the two.

「But...I want to do a bakery. A normal bakery」

Katsuko-nee says painfully

...I

「Katsuko-nee...leave the bakery to me」

「...Dear?」

Katsuko-nee looks at me.

「I’ll put on effort to make bread as delicious as Katsuko-nee’s. I’ll make lots of bread everyday and have Katsuko-nee taste it. Then, I’ll only sell bread that has Katsuko-nee’s approval」

「Ah, I’ll make bread along with Yo-chan! I’ll be the seller!」

Nei-san says.

「Of course all of the new products will be made by Katsun! Then, of course when you’re not busy, you can help making and selling bread too. It’s Katsun’s store after all!」

「Un...I’ll help out too」

Margo-san adds...

「Michi, you help too」

Misuzu tells Michi

「B-Bread?」

Michi looks uneasy.

「It’s fine. I’ll learn to make one from Katsuko-nee so we can learn together. We’ll have a competition on who can make a delicious bread first」

「Yes...Master!」

It seems Michi’s fighting spirit gets fired up when it comes to competitions

Either way...

This girl should experience girlish things like making food...

「I’ll also help out. I’ll relocate the shop and we can have Katsuko’s shop as our neighbor. Then, I can also manage the shop right?」

Nagisa says.

...Katsuko-nee’s in tears.

「Idiot...Nagisa’s here」

「Here?」

「Even I have a lot of acquaintances you know?」

Katsuko-nee...suggests Nagisa should also join as Misuzu and Ruriko’s follow-up support.

「...Oh right. Of course」

Nagisa smiles.

「There’s no helping it...It’s for the family’s sake!」

Ruriko then ask me.

「Uhm... Is there anything I can do to help?」

「Then, Ruriko can also make bread」

I told her

I’m worried on Ruriko who’s a super-Ojou-sama being on a store but...

There would be no problem if she only makes bread inside the shop.

「Understood. Let’s make breads together Yoshiko!」

「...Ruriko-sama」

「Even if she’s like this...Yoshiko’s good at making sweets」

「My, an immediate asset!」

Nagisa looks at Yoshiko smiling.

「Y-Yes...thank you」

Yoshiko-san feels happy that she found something she can do with Ruriko.

「Reika-oneesan, what about you? Want to go to join the bakery too?」

Margo-san turns to Reika.

「Is Katsuko-chan’s bakery going to sell only bread?」

Reika asks Katsuko-nee.

「While at it...how about making it a cafe?」

「Hmm...a cafe where you can eat freshly baked bread looks good」

Katsuko-nee answers.

「Reika-oneesan...are you interested in cafe?」

Nei asks...Reika.

「Yes...a full fledged British style cafe」

I see...she’s an extreme British fan...

「Eh, then that means the clerk’s going to dress like maids and butlers?」

Nei-san bites.

「The maid cafe isn’t trendy nowadays. If it’s a shop that produces tea time like a noble in British tradition...there will be those who will want to try it」

Reika smiles

Yeah, this『Beat to death Swordswoman』lady too...

Though she’s distorted in various ways, she’s still a girl inside.

She wants to try a stylish and cute cafe.

「Good, that’s great! Let’s do that! I’m going to wear maid clothes!」

Nei-san’s in high spirits.

「A flower shop, a bakery, and a cafe...if we’re going to have three shops then we need a huge property」

「Better yet, why not buy an entire building?」

Nagisa and Katsuko-nee begins consultations.

「Hey hey, let me participate too」

Jii-chan laughs.

「I’ll put investments. I’ll find for a good land so you can decide where you want to be」

「...Land?」

Katsuko-nee asks in surprise.

「Yeah...let’s build a new building. I’ll make it sturdy that it won’t even yield when earthquake comes...I’m worried about my 『daughters』after all. The first floor can be a store and you can live on the upper floors. We can ask a top-class engineer to build it however you want it. It’ll be your castle」

「Wow, my longtime ambitions are becoming reality at once!」

Katsuko-nee said.

「It’ll be『Kuromori sister’s』building right...」

Misuzu smiles.

「When that happens, we’ll make rooms for Misuzu-san and Ruriko-san and Yoshiko-san. Ojii-chan’s room too!」

Nagisa winks at Jii-chan

「Hmm...that’s appreciated」

Jii-chan said satisfied

「The bath is obviously where everyone can enter...Hmmm, but I wish for an open-air bath on the roof too. Also...what about the bedroom?」

Katsuko-nee asks Nagisa.

「What to do?」

「Should everyone sleep on the same room?...Or do you want to make love with just the two?」

「Well...we need both It feels good to have sex with everyone but a night where it’s just the two at the bed is also needed」

「Right, of course!」

Hmm...the 21 year old former classmates combo are having their delusions...

...But

What happened to Mana who takes the initiative joining in the talk?

Also...Megu

Yukino’s not talking at all too...

The three of them are limp...just listening to our talk

...As expected.

They must be shocked that Shirasaka house has completely abandoned them.

The head, Shirasaka Moritsugu even hired Shirasaka Sousuke to kill Shirasaka Sousuke’s relatives.

The three from the anti-mainstream faction completely ignored them.

...Hmm

Anyway, it’s bad if this continues.

I try to talk to Mana but...

「...Leave them for now」

Margo-san whispered to my ear

「Eh...why?」

「Just do it...these girls don’t see their own position」

...Position?

「In groups...there are roles」

I don’t get what Margo-san’s saying

「Until they see that...they won’t be able to have the energy to talk about the future with us」

...But, I can’t just leave those three.

...Then.

The door of the room opened and Seki-san comes in.

「『Kakka』...we’re ready to go」

...Go?

Oh right...we also have to move around the hotel so Viola’s army won’t know where we are.

「Then, let’s go...everyone」

Jii-chan looked at everyone then said.

◇ ◇ ◇

The four combat personnel are dispersed in the formation decided a while ago.

Reika’s walking ahead of the group.

This is so the rear group won’t be damaged when we’re suddenly attacked.

Behind...Seki-san is in front of the group.

Seki-san is holding her favorite pistol.

While guarding us...she’s also supporting Reika when attacked.

Behind is us...Jii-chan, Misuzu, and Ruriko are in the center.

Of course, Nei-san who’s Viola’s target is also at the center.

Michi is behind Misuzu, Ruriko, and Yoshiko-san.

The four of them are wearing the same school uniform.

She can be a dummy in the moment...and can guard Misuzu and others up close.

Lastly...Margo-san is at the back checking the situation behind.

I decided to stay close to Margo-san.

The two elite can deal with the attacks in front but...

As of now, the back feels weak.

I don’t think I can do anything of help but...

I think I can be a shield when there’s a gunshot.

「Seki-san...Route B4 would do?」

「Chief Tanizawa ordered so」

Reika and Seki-san exchanges few words.

They have decided patterns in correspondence to emergencies.

We left the wedding hall...

Used the stairs to go down two floors.

The fire doors on the route we’re going through are already up.

「Raising and lowering the fire door can be freely done from the control room」

Misuzu tells me.

「The fire door in this hotel prevents ordinary rifle shots, and is structured to be strong against exposions」

In that case, the primary target of the intruder will be the control room?

If they open al of the fire doors in the corridors and stairs, the intruder can come inside the hotel freely.

「It’s fine. The control room is at the headquarters of Kouzuki security service. It’s the place where most of the security department are in」

Then that means...it’s under director Yamaoka’s jurisdiction

That person made a lot of blunders.

...Also

「Uhm...there used to be a movie where they repelled the terrorists inside the hotel by crawling through air ducts」

Even if you close the stairs and corridors...

If they come out of the duct...

「That’s quite an old movie isn’t it?」

Misuzu answers.

historical

「This hotel is built after the movie was screened. Therefore it’s okay」

...Really?

「There’s not many ducts where humans can get through, and on the way, there are wire mesh too. It’s only a dark place with no light sources...you can’t get out of such a three dimensional maze」

I see.

You’d get lost if you make a single mistake on the duct.

As expected the movie’s a fiction.

It’s hard to pass through and get out on the place you want.

「...This way」

Reika arrives in front of the room with『Supply Room』wriiten on it.

「Here’s the key!」

Seki-san throws the key to Reika.

She must’ve taken the key from chief Tanizawa too.

Reika opens the lock

「Please come in」

We all entered the room.

The room have layers of movable shelves...and equipment the hotel don’t use everyday.

The movable shelf sticks to the wall normally...If there’s a shelf where the thing you want to use is located, you turn the handle and make the space between the shelves be passable with one person only.

Reika and Seki-san moves one of the shelves.

Opening it to a person’s width...they head to a box located on the interior.

It’s a common plastic glove...

Opening the lid...there’s flags of nations jammed inside.

Nowadays...where does modern hotel use this?

Reika then takes out a flag from the case.

...Then.

There’s a numeric keypad remote switch coming out from the case.

「Gimme」

Seki-san takes the switch and enters the PIN

「『Kakka』」

「...Umu」

Following, Jii-chan typed in some numbers

「This should be good」

「...Yes」

Seki-san presses the main switch...

Then the wall in the back of the room opens up.

...Is this?

It’s an elevator.

「It’s an elevator used for emergency situations.」 You can only enter through this room and this floor」

Jii-chan said.

This hotel is made for important conferences with Kouzuki group from the beginning.

Therefore they have designed such an evacuation system during the blueprinting.

Jii-chan stays close to the floor where the emergency evacuation elevator is...

When trying to cope in a sudden situation...

「...This elevator will not start unless it confirms the vein on my right hand」

Jii-chan puts his right hand on the panel next to the emergency elevator

『Approved!』

The announcer voice echoes from the elevator and it opens up.

「This elevator can only have five passengers at a time. Enter in turns...!」

First is Ruriko and Yoshiko-san. Then, Minaho-neesan and Nei-san. Then Seki-san enters as guard.

Though it may be impossible...we have to assume that the enemy is waiting in the emergency evacuation room.

Jii-chan Misuzu and Ruriko not riding in together is also another of those assumptions.

If everyone’s captured at once, then there’s no saving.