「 I don’t think Grandfather needs a prostitute nowadays 」

Yoshiko-san said.

「 Grandfather is already old 」

Jii-chan’s 82-years-old this year.

He’s showing off that his sexual desire is strong even at his old age, but in reality, his body can’t have sex anymore.

Only Minaho-neesan and the former prostitutes like Katsuko-nee knows that fact.

「 I think that he needs someone who soothes his mind more than physical pleasure 」

Yoshiko-san said. Misuzu, Ruriko, and Michi listens.

「 We have a lot of lively girls in here. I believe that it would be better for Grandfather if he watches over the growth of little girls than playing with prostitutes instead 」

Watching over the growth?

「 Indeed. Grandfather might be happier if there are young and lively girls with him like Mao-chan and Agnes, instead of dazzling prostitutes 」

Misuzu nods.

「 To be honest, after Ruriko-sama has moved to this mansion, Grandfather looked a bit sad, days where he shows a gloomy face has become more frequent. I don’t think I can fill in for Ruriko-sama no matter what 」

Ruriko’s got the same face as Jii-chan’s first love.

He holds more than love for his granddaughter.

That’s why he sold Ruriko to me.

He feels sorry to keep Ruriko under his control and in isolation.

Above all of that, with Jii-chan’s old body, it’s impossible for him to have sex with Ruriko anymore.

And so, to give up on his evil love,

「 Is that so? He’s never shown such a face in front of us before 」

Ruriko sighs.

「 As usual, the Kouzuki mansion is lonely. It’s just Grandfather and me in the dining table. Having lunch in this mansion is lively and fun. That’s why I thought of bringing Grandfather here 」

Yoshiko-san said.

「 But, this is a brothel though 」

I tell Yoshiko-san.

「 If Jii-chan’s visiting regularly then we can convince the Kouzuki house and the executives from the group that he’s doing it out of his hobbies, but, 」

Jii-chan is quite the ladies’ man, after all.

He frequented the brothel when he was young after all.

「 But, if he were to live in the brothel, then 」

Will they accept that he’ll live and stay here?

Kouzuki group?

Or maybe, the society he’s around with.

「 I think it’s possible to manage it 」

Misuzu replies.

「 Grandfather has already ruled his descend from the throne of the group, and he will let Shiba-san run the management. The formal takeover will be held at the general meeting of shareholders, but everyone already knows that Grandfather would be retiring 」

「 Indeed. The group will remain as they are and since the head of Kouzuki house won’t change, I think that his influence on the group will continue in the future, but he no longer needs to go to work every day, and he can live a relaxed life 」

Ruriko said.

As he’s entrusted the management to Shiba-san, Jii-chan’s personality won’t make him say anything extra.

「 Yes. It can be a personal investment, but he won’t be steering the whole group anymore 」

「 No, Misuzu, sure, Jii-chan’s retiring and is now free, I understand that. But I don’t think that he can live in a brothel even with that reasoning 」

This isn’t a place for an 82-year-old man to live in.

「 Well, that’s where Grandfather’s whims come in 」

Misuzu smiles.

「 In Kouzuki Shigetaka’s life, he’s never made an odd choice. The legend of Tiberius’ Capri island does exist after all 」

「 What’s that? 」

「 There was a legend about the Roman Emperor, Tiberius going off to a secluded island on Capri, and it is said that he’s enjoyed himself with indecent acts every day by collecting boys and girls 」

So that kind of person exists too.

「 The legend now has a strong theory that it’s a story creation of Suetonius but, if it’s that Kouzuki Shigetaka, then maybe he could carry out that kind of secluded life...or so the thoughts of the others would be. As long as they know Grandfather well 」

I see. If it’s Jii-chan, people could think that he could do anything more than choosing a brothel as a place of residence after retirement.

「 But, even if Jii-chan manages to do something... 」

I look at Minaho-neesan.

Minaho-neesan’s meeting is on a break before I noticed it.

They’re listening to our conversation.

Our talk is about the foundation of Kouzuki house and Kuromori after all.

「 Indeed. If Kakka were to live here then, it would be impossible for the brothel to continue activities as usual 」

Shou-neechan said.

「 It would need to have all the customers have a close relationship with Kouzuki house. Some could pretend to be customers of the brothel and try to talk to Kakka directly 」

That’s right.

As this will reopen, there will be various customers. There’d be some who are against the Kouzuki group’s business.

With Jii-chan here, those customers won’t come anymore.

「 Indeed. I plan to cooperate with Kouzuki-sama. I can accept him as a customer, but I won’t allow ourselves to become subordinates of Kouzuki house 」

Minaho-neesan smiles.

If Jii-chan lives here, people would think that he has Kuromori under his control.

That’s bad.

「 However, I don’t have any intention of reopening the brothel at this mansion. As I said before, I plan on doing business in the underground facility in the hotel in front of the station 」

Kuromori has a secret playroom in the basement of the hotel in front of the station.

I’ve been there once.

「 Either way, the plan is to resume only for five years. We only have to satisfy the customers for now, and we have no intention of expanding our business. Our facilities here and there are enough 」

Minaho-neesan said.

「 I’ve also said before that I don’t want to raise Agnes and the young girls in a place where prostitutes are doing business. That is why I want to get out of here as soon as possible, but there’s no place with a fully equipped defense system like this house, is there? 」

We’re under the eyes of various enemies.

The police are still following us due to Kyouko-san’s case.

Misuzu and Ruriko always need bodyguards, as there’s the possibility of them being abducted all the time.

「 Katsuko and Nagisa are already planning to build a multi-floor building. 」 Margo and I are both investing in it too 」

A building with Katsuko-nee’s bakery and Nagisa’s shop together in it.

And then, the upper floors will be our living quarters.

The plan is for the whole family to move in there.

「 However, it’ll take several years to complete that building with a perfect defense system in it. We’d like to finish it by the time Yoshinobu graduates, but, But if that’s the case, we still have to use this mansion for at least two and a half years, right? 」

Yeah, if it’s until I graduate, then,

We’ll continue living in this mansion for a while.

「 Therefore, I don’t intend on opening the brothel here but instead over there 」

I see.

「 If that’s the case, Minaho-oneesama 」

Ruriko speaks.

「 Could you sell this mansion? 」

Huh?

「 This is a memorable place during the youth of Kouzuki Shigetaka. Therefore, I think he’d want to live in here after his retirement. It doesn’t sound strange 」

「 indeed, in fact, when Grandfather was young, this mansion wasn’t just a brothel but also a secret social club for the influential people in political and business circles 」

Misuzu nods.

Minaho-neesan’s grandfather, Kuromori Kounosuke, opened this place as Kuromori tower.

「 This brothel hasn’t been open for almost a year. We can say that Grandfather bought this residence out of the nostalgia of the old building 」

「 Oh, you mean that I’ll be using the capital from selling this mansion to Kouzuki-sama and reopen the brothel? 」

「 If you’d like, it can also be an exchange for a real estate owned by Kouzuki family. I think that it’s more real 」

Misuzu said.

「 Indeed. If Kuromori opens up a new shop, then we’re likely letting go of this mansion. It may be a building with lots of memories for the old customers, but there are also memories of Shirasaka Sousuke in here 」

Shirasaka Sousuke took over Kuromori over 15-years ago.

Now that Shiraaska Sousuke’s gone,

It won’t sound strange if Minaho-neesan and the remaining prostitutes want to resume their operations on a new location.

The customers know that Minaho-neesan herself was a victim of Shirasaka Sousuke.

「 Grandfather purchases this mansion and then he’ll gift this to me. If the deed is mine then even if anything were to happen to Grandfather, nobody can take away this mansion 」

Ruriko said.

So the plan is to make it Ruriko’s property before the inheritance?

「 And I will return it to Minaho-oneesama in the end 」

Ruriko?

「 Ruriko knows that to Minaho-oneesama, this mansion is an important place. However, please think about the idea of selling it and changing the name of this mansion. Grandfather can live here in peace and eventually when he no longer needs this house, we can always return it to Minaho-oneesama. Would you please lend this house to us for a while?

Jii-chan is 82 already.

He’ll die someday.

He might even skip hospitalization.

Once that happens, Ruriko will return this mansion to Minaho-neesan.

「 If this house belongs to Kouzuki house in documents then I think we can convince the people outside. What do you think, Minaho-oneesama? 」

Ruriko asks.

「 But, won’t it look strange if we’re living in a property owned by Kouzuki house? 」

Ruriko is Jii-chan’s daughter, so she’s okay but, Megu, Mana, all the other girls, and me, we’ve got nothing to do with Kouzuki house.

「 Besides, wouldn’t it be strange if Minaho-neesan’s living in a place that she just sold? 」

Kuromori members won’t be able to live here.

「 That’s not true. It’s Kouzuki house’s freedom to choose who lives in the mansion 」

Misuzu said.

「 Let’s see, if that’s what Kakka wants, then I don’t think there would be anyone who’ll point fingers at whoever lives in here. The only problem is whether the people still see this place as a brothel. I don’t think there’s a problem even if he performs trades in here. It’s Kakka’s business either way. We’ll be manipulating the information anyway 」

Shou-neechan said.

If Jii-chan lives in here, then the personal information of the residents in this mansion would be top secret.

Kouzuki SS would do their work.

「 I’d be glad to do the same. If this happens, then I can stay here as a bodyguard. Don’t you want the same, Reika? 」

「 Yes, I’d like to live together with everyone, not just staying in 」

Since they’re Jii-chan’s bodyguards, it wouldn’t look strange if Shou-neechan and Rei-chan live in here.

In a sense, Ruriko’s plan on naming this house for Kouzuki house seems reasonable but,

「 Yeah. That’s a good idea Ruri-tan 」

「 Yes, Ruriko-sama, I think we should do that 」

「 What do you think, Minaho-oneesama? 」

The three cousins of Kouzuki house asks Minaho-neesan.

However.

「 That is indeed an interesting offer, it’s worth considering 」

Minaho-neesan smiled.

「 But, aren’t you forgetting something important? 」

Something important?

「 First, I think that you should discuss it with Kouzuki-sama first. Then, that’s when you’ll talk to me 」

Misuzu, Ruriko, and Yoshiko-san have to discuss it with Jii-chan first.

「 Where Kakka should live after his retirement should be discussed within the Kouzuki family. You haven’t consulted Kouzuki-sama about this, and yet you brought up the topic to me 」

I see. We just made decisions without Jii-chan’s permission.

「 I’ll forget what I heard just now. I like that the three daughters of Kouzuki house are concerned about their grandfather. But, if he discovers that you’ve made decisions without consulting him, then it would anger Kouzuki-sama. No, instead, it would make him sad 」

Minaho-neesan said.

「 How would you feel if someone talked about your future without you knowing and even consulting an outsider about it, wouldn’t you feel sad? Don’t you think you’re not treated like family? 」

That’s true.

「 But to us, Minaho-oneesama is already family. Our bonds are stronger than blood 」

Ruriko said.

「 It may be right for Ruriko-san but what about Kouzuki-sama? 」

Minaho-neesan’s words are cold.

「 To him, I’m still a lass. He doesn’t think that I should worry about him! Even now we’re still business partners! 」

I see.

To Minaho-neesan, she has a clear line with her relationship with Jii-chan.

「 I don’t want to be depending on Kouzuki-sama nor the Kouzuki group just because you’re staying in our house. It’s not that kind of relationship. Do you understand why? 」

「 No 」

Ruriko replies on behalf of the three.

「 That’s because I lived using my strength until now. Some prostitutes supported me, helped me. Therefore, I can deal with Kouzuki-sama in business, but we can’t have a relationship deeper than business partners 」

Minaho-neesan.

「 Similarly, I can’t simply tell you that Kuromori will deal with things smoothly because you’re from Kouzuki house!!! I want to stand on my feet all the time 」

I see.

Among those who helped Minaho-neesan, some prostitutes have died already.

Therefore, Minaho-neesan cannot show herself to be close to Jii-chan too much.

They have to show that they’re equal business partners, using each other.

She doesn’t want just to borrow the power of Kouzuki house.

「 I don’t mind selling this mansion. But, I won’t sell it for anything less than three times the market price. Kuromori Minaho had trade with Kouzuki-sama, and she made a profit. It was a good deal for her. If the people don’t see it that way, then I would lose my position 」

A fair exchange is meaningless?

People could only see it as Jii-chan giving an order to sell the land and us obeying it.

Well, that’s obvious.

Kuromori has been operating in this area ever since post-war.

If Jii-chan said that he wants to live in a house with the memories of his youth and bought this at the market price, then,

The people will only see it as Minaho-neesan surrendering to Kouzuki house.

Kouzuki house has too much power and money after all.

「 E-Excuse our impoliteness! 」

Ruriko bows her head in panic.

「 We’re sorry! 」

「 We’re very sorry!!! 」

Misuzu and Yoshiko-san also apologized to Minaho-neesan.

「 I don’t mind. You’re family, so I forgive you. But you must remember this; no matter how rational and perfect your thoughts may seem, people have different perspectives, you have to think of that or else you’ll only hurt them 」

Minaho-neesan said.

「 The three of you are daughters of Kouzuki house, you must keep that to your heart 」

「 Yes 」

Misuzu nods.

「 Anyway, we’ll talk to Grandfather first, Then, we’ll give Minaho-oneesama the revised proposition 」

「 We’ll be sure to satisfy Minaho-oneesama 」

「 We’ll consider it carefully and ask Grandfather to make sure we won’t cause any inconvenience 」

Misuzu, Ruriko, and Yoshiko-san said.

「 Uhm, I think you already understand but still, 」

...I

「 All you have to do, especially Ruriko, is to ask Jii-chan that you’d like to live together 」

「 Onii-sama? 」

「 Look, I know that the problem is that Jii-chan is lonely but, you girls should think about how to make Jii-chan if you talk it out with him. Don’t use logic or be rational 」

These three are too smart.

Therefore, they make simulations in their mind and make up an answer right away.

But, they’re forgetting the delicate feelings of people.

「 This is an advice from me 」

Margo-san said.

「 You shouldn’t talk like “This is the problem, now this is what we should do” 」

She smiled.

historical

「 Just talk about the problem and don’t derive a solution from it 」

「 Why? 」

Ruriko asks.

「 Kouzuki-san doesn’t want you to bring a “conclusion” Making a suggestion like “This is the problem, let’s solve it this way,” will never make the plan bear fruit. He’d be desperate to build logic to break your suggestion 」

That’s.

「 Kouzuki-san’s got his pride after all. Do you really think that he’d accept if his granddaughters tell him to “do this”? 」

「 But, the conversation can’t progress unless we show the solution to the problem 」

Misuzu said.

「 I wonder? If you just point out the problem and ask Kouzuki-san, saying, “Grandfather, what should we do?” I think that he would give out the answer you’re supposed to present him, nothing changes 」

Margo-san chuckled.

「 You know, Kouzuki-san is a man who won’t move all-out unless it’s a decision he made. Therefore, you should ask Kouzuki-san for his decision 」

「 I-I see 」

「 But, will it go that smoothly? Grandfather could give a totally different answer than what we had 」

Yoshiko-san asks anxiously.

「 Well, all you have to do is guide him while presenting the problem. “But Grandfather, this is another problem. What should we do with this?” 」

I see.

「 Kouzuki-sama wants you girls to rely on him. And so, do depend on him. You also want to live with Kouzuki-san because you are also sad. But, Misuzu-san, Ruriko-chan, can’t separate themselves with Yoshinobu-kun. “What should we do? Grandfather?” and that’s all you have to do for now. Your Grandfather has made a lot of hard decisions up until now. He’ll surely give you the right answer. To be honest, I think that Kouzuki-san would think about the best solution coming from Minaho’s position 」

I think so too.

Jii-chan is a man who has lived in the business world.

I think that he’ll be facing Minaho-neesan about this.

「 I understand 」

The three nod.

「 Well, try your best. That’s all from me 」

Margo-san said, laughing.

「 Let’s talk to Grandfather tonight 」

Misuzu said.

「 Yoshiko-san will be coming back to Grandfather’s mansion once Takakura-san’s case is over, aren’t you? Ruri-tan and I will ride the same car that’ll pick you up 」

「 Indeed. I think doing that would be faster 」

Ruriko also agrees.

「 Danna-sama, we’ll stay here, and so we’ll discuss this further with the three of us 」

「 Yeah, but don’t think of it rationally but instead think of Jii-chan and Minaho-neesan’s feelings, I think you’ll reach a better conclusion with that 」

「 Yes, certainly 」

Misuzu and the two are smart.

I’m sure that they understand it after being told once.

「 Thanks for the wait 」

Then, Nei and the girls came back after changing clothes.

「 Well then, shall we go already? 」

Shou-neechan tells Minaho-neesan.

「 Yes, let’s go 」

It’s finally time to face the Yakuza.