—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Although it wasn’t officially announced that Ko-zaka was raising a ‘ninja’ unit, it was a fact already known to many people living in Neon City.
Similarly, there were the Heishuqwai’s tactical operatives and Monolith’s Asymmetric Security forces.
Among those special employees of mega-corporations, the ninjas… The captain of the Hato unit, directly assisting Ko-zaka Kohaku, couldn’t believe the reality he was facing.
Even moving a single eyelid was difficult.
In such a state, even after struggling to open his closed eyes, all he could see was the tatami pattern on the floor.
The current situation felt like a nightmare to him.
‘Move…, move, damn it…!’
Even when he focused his mind and exerted strength throughout his body…
Like a puppet with its strings cut, his sprawled body wouldn’t budge.
Only one thing was possible for him. To grit his teeth in frustration.
Was his training insufficient? No, that couldn’t be it.
He spent every day training until he vomited,
and he made every effort not to be a burden to his master.
Then, was it a difference in technology? Probably not that either.
The Ko-zaka family he served belonged to one of the world’s leading mega-corporations.
This could be seen just by the types of implants installed in the unit’s rank-and-file employees, excluding the ninja captain.
The ‘anti-hacking measures’ they received for information warfare numbered in the dozens,
and even the types of implants they received to block electromagnetic pulses were too many to count on one hand.
And the result was… All the ninjas, including the captain, were lying on the floor, neutralized in an instant.
The captain closed his eyes and activated his visual interface to check the last warning message that appeared in the system notification.
《Hacking Risk Detected》
“…….”
Looking at the warning message, he thought,
‘This… can’t be called hacking.’
It was practically impossible, even for the hacker units secretly operating in the city.
At least, that was within the realm of his common sense.
‘…My Lady, even if you say you can’t catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s lair, just who did you bring here?’
The ninja captain couldn’t imagine who they were.
In such a situation, while the ninjas were still crawling on the floor…
One of their companions, Lee Shiun, approached where the ninja captain had collapsed.
Lee Shiun slowly opened his mouth.
“Where’s the kitchen here? I need some popcorn….”
…….
‘Just who did you bring here…?’
Unable to speak due to the hacking, the ninja captain couldn’t answer Lee Shiun’s question.
Of course, even if he could speak, he wouldn’t have answered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Too bad. I thought as I picked up a confection.
There wasn’t any popcorn or soda, but at least there was green tea and sweets.
“This is delicious.”
“I agree.”
“Indeed.”
We briefly savored the treats on the tray, filling our stomachs.
One reason was that Eve had said, “There’s no poison,” right before we ate.
We seemed too relaxed, but…
Honestly, even if we wanted to be tense,
it wasn’t easy to maintain tension in this situation, with the continuous marital quarrels.
“I told you they were important people!”
“…So, I conducted a test─.”
“Stop it!”
Slurp, I drank a cup of tea.
The girl who, just moments ago, had been raising her voice while pulling the hair of the middle-aged man (who had entered wearing shoes) was nowhere to be seen.
The girl couldn’t do anything except cautiously object in a very small voice.
Does the mind regress when the body becomes younger?
Ko-zaka Kohaku’s eyes glistened with faint tears. With puffed cheeks and a pout, she walked out through the sliding door.
She looked like a girl of her apparent age, but…
…Hmm.
Come to think of it, in my memory, Ko-zaka William was close to 80 years old.
Also, she said she was the ‘eldest daughter’ of Ko-zaka’s founder, Ko-zaka Nobukirō.
Then, the question is, just how old is she?
Curious about this, I had asked her about her ‘age’ a little while ago, but I hadn’t heard an answer yet.
I could only guess she was around the same age as Ko-zaka William.
Ko-zaka William, looking triumphant after his victory in the argument, turned his gaze towards us.
As if he had momentarily forgotten our presence, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
As he walked toward us, his previously proud shoulders gradually slumped.
Ko-zaka William let out a short, awkward laugh and said to us,
“Ahem, I apologize for that. Perhaps it’s because her body has become younger, but my wife is a bit… childish.”
She seemed less childish and more like someone who didn’t think about the consequences of her actions, but…
I didn’t bother correcting him.
“Well, these things happen.”
And if, just if, a fight broke out here right now…
I had nothing to worry about. Just in case, I was preparing by gathering mana.
Ko-zaka William’s complexion brightened at my reply.
He must have thought I’d make things difficult.
Ko-zaka William adjusted his tie, cleared his throat, and composed himself.
It seemed he was now embarrassed about having a marital quarrel in front of guests.
“Anyway, I showed you an unsightly scene.”
“It was quite a spectacle.”
“…….”
I had replied lightly, meaning not to be embarrassed, but Ko-zaka William looked at me with narrowed eyes.
Well, it was true, wasn’t it?
It was a sight you couldn’t even pay to see.
Ko-zaka William sat down facing us.
Perhaps his throat was dry from the argument,
he gestured to an employee standing behind him to bring new tea.
The ninjas who had collapsed, by the way, had all gotten up and disappeared somewhere as soon as Eve ended the hack.
The ninja whose head I’d messed with in the kitchen stared at me with a very intense gaze, but I dismissed it as my imagination and looked away.
Ko-zaka William took a sip of the warm tea and said,
“Did you hear any explanation about him while I was gone?”
“No.”
“…Sigh.”
Ko-zaka William sighed lightly.
His intention in introducing Ko-zaka Kohaku to us was to hear an explanation about Smile John, but…
Since we hadn’t heard anything, he seemed to have a sudden headache.
…….
Wasn’t Ko-zaka William also largely at fault for barging into the house with his shoes on?
I quietly pondered this.
As we were drinking tea, waiting for Ko-zaka Kohaku, who had gone outside, to return…
I suddenly felt the air change.
After a long life as a mercenary, you learn that ‘gut feelings’ aren’t fake.
A different scent wafted in, and I felt every cell in my skin stand on end.
In a word, it was a ‘bad premonition.’
It wasn’t just me.
Catherine also put down the confection she was eating.
She hardened her expression and assumed a stance ready to spring into action at any moment.
Eve, noticing the sudden change in Catherine’s and my expressions, seemed to sense something was amiss and looked around.
It was then that Ko-zaka Kohaku walked in from beyond the sliding door.
Her hair was still disheveled from the quarrel, and the tears in her eyes remained.
“…Um…”
She started to speak but trailed off, hesitating.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Ko-zaka William spoke to her as if he also felt something was wrong.
“…I was too harsh earlier, so quickly wash your face and come back─.”
“Ko-zaka Nobukirō contacted me.”
“…….”
Ko-zaka Nobukirō. The girl’s father.
Also known as the mascot character, Pete Mac. To us, the terrorist Smile John.
“He told us to ‘all’ come upstairs…”
He was looking for us.
Hearing that, I stood up. Catherine and Eve also rose with me. Eve, seemingly unfamiliar with the tingling sensation in her legs, stamped her feet.
“Well, we should go when we’re called.”
I spoke as I prepared to move.
In truth, I had anticipated this to some extent from the beginning. It was rather late, if anything.
We weren’t disguised, nor did we sneak in avoiding cameras or people.
I thought there was no way Smile John wouldn’t know we were coming, crossing the amusement park.
“…Wait.”
Ko-zaka William tried to say something to us, but I waved my hand to stop him.
“No, if he already knows we’re here, there aren’t many options left.”
“…Even so, this is Ko-zaka’s headquarters. What if he’s prepared a trap?”
I turned my head to look at Catherine and Eve.
…….
With Eve (a super AI) and Catherine (the game’s protagonist) with me…
There wasn’t much to fear.
“It’ll be fine.”
I meant ‘fine’ even if we had to fight.
However, Ko-zaka William, who seemed to have understood my words differently, slowly nodded.
“…Right, you must have a plan.”
My plan was to fight if things went south, but since amicable relations were preferable, I didn’t bother explaining it to him.
“Let’s go and hear what he has to say.”
At my words, Ko-zaka William took a deep breath as if preparing himself.
Catherine stretched her arms, and Eve quietly came behind me, ready to follow.
Only Ko-zaka Kohaku, unaware of us
and the situation…
Looked around with wide, innocent eyes, bewildered.
In any case, I didn’t stop gathering mana.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Beyond the giant monitor, a character resembling a humanoid mouse moved.
【I lost! I surrender!】
“?”
What the…
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
