Chapter 26 - 24. Empress: Kawashima Miki

Chapter 26: 24. Empress: Kawashima MikiThe night deepened. Two kilometers away from Asakusa Temple, the Yoshiwara District flaunted its myriad of neon lights. Once Japan's premier pleasure quarter, this place has been an officially sanctioned concentration of brothels since the Edo Period... After the amendment of the "Entertainment Business Law" in 1966, it became a "special area" akin to Shinjuku Kabukicho, preserved under the principle of not expanding existing venues. During the day, Yoshiwara is quiet. Come nightfall, the hustle and bustle here surpasses all imagination. The multi-story department stores, dazzling array of international cuisines, and the bustling drugstores; bars and izakayas lined up one after another, young people smoking in small groups, discarded beer bottles on the streets, and strange graffiti in the underground passages... Amidst this clamor filled with worldly desires, the customs shops are the liveliest and most popular. Under the red, yellow, and pink decorative lights, the vehicles coming and going with guests create an atmosphere of intoxication and extravagance, casting a sensational aura over the streets at night. The Yoshiwara District's soapland services claim to be the best in the nation. And the "Empress" high-class soapland is renowned as Yoshiwara's finest. This accolade not only refers to the superior service quality and hostess caliber at "Empress," but also because its owner, the ruthless and cunning beauty labeled as the "Empress," is Kawashima Miki. With strong connections in both the underworld and legitimate society, those who cross her nearly always end up in Tokyo Bay. But lately, this enchanting beauty seems to have encountered troubling matters. "Elder brother, go without worry. I will take care of sister-in-law for you..." Hiraki Niro silently thought, knocking on the door. After hearing someone inside say "Come in," he adjusted the collar of his wine-red suit slightly and entered. The room was a luxuriously decorated office, with soft Persian carpets covering the floor. The reception sofa was large, with a few ornamental plants by the window. On one side of the desk was a file cabinet, and on the other was a wine rack, inside which laid a few porcelain plates that seemed to be precious antiques. As soon as Hiraki Niro entered, his gaze was drawn to the woman standing by the window. She held half a glass of whiskey, wearing a red pencil skirt, the tight material passionately hugging her curvaceous figure. From the back, her waist seemed astonishingly slender, as if there was a period during her growth where it forgot to grow. And the legs exposed beneath the skirt hem. The calf's skin was smooth and sleek, the curves taut like those of a carnivore, exuding a healthy and carefree allure, full of wild temptation. Hiraki Niro took a deep breath, his heart ablaze. His elder brother, named Hiraki Dairo, was a Spider Demon, who had inexplicably died a few days ago. In Niro's heart, his brother had been genuinely good to him. Though he had died, he had lovingly left behind a beautiful sister-in-law and a Black Spider Group with hundreds of small followers... This kindness, Hiraki Niro had no way to repay. "What does sister-in-law want from me?" He walked forward, silently promising himself: come the Obon Festival, he would definitely thank his brother multiple times and ensure he takes good care of his sister-in-law. Kawashima Miki turned around, her skirt gently swaying with her movement as the light from the ceiling poured down, adding a layer of ethereal beauty to her silhouette. The woman before Hiraki Niro embodied a cold and elegant beauty, her skin as delicate as snow. Her bare little feet stepped on the carpet, ten toes resembling pearls, smooth and round, with toenails faintly glowing. Hiraki Niro found it hard not to be drawn to these feet. If he could, he would let these perfect feet trample over him right now. "Hmph!" Kawashima Miki's expression turned cold, as she raised her hand and flicked her fingertips forward. The next moment, two streaks of pitch-black venom shot from her tender fingertips, piercing Hiraki Niro's eyes like ice spikes, causing them to burn and ache excruciatingly. Even worse, the venom seemed alive as it continuously gnawed at the surface of his eyeballs. "I'm sorry!" "Sister-in-law, I'm wrong, please spare me—" Hiraki Niro immediately fell to his knees, shamelessly pleading. It was only natural. In both ordinary spiders and monstrous spider-kind, females usually surpass males in strength. "Look again, and I'll send you to reunite with your brother!" Kawashima Miki huffed coldly. Her words, indifferent and unrestrained, dispelled from her thin, heartless red lips, instantly making the office's air icy. She raised her hand again, summoning from a distance. Two streaks of venom leaked from between Hiraki Niro's fingers, flying back to her palm, becoming visibly two small liquid-like black spiders under the bright light. Hiraki Niro trembled slightly. The pain in his eyes gradually dissipated as his vision restored, now he dared not show any dissatisfaction, dropping to his knees decisively, his expression reverent and respectful. "That little priest named Fujiwara Reya," Kawashima Miki raised her glass, watching the chandelier through it, "I had you investigate for so many days, did you find any useful information?" "...Uh," Hiraki Niro shook his head cautiously, "Big brother died at his hands, I'm not as capable as big brother, how dare I investigate him..." "Bang!" Kawashima Miki slammed a glass. The thick glass shattered on Hiraki Niro's head immediately. To be honest, if not for the bigger picture, she would have sent this useless spider, just like his brother, to fill Tokyo Bay right now. "Use those grievances your brother raised." The somewhat indifferent voice arose again, Hiraki Niro raised his head, wiping the alcohol off his face with a sleeve, genuinely loyal: "That's doable. Sister-in-law, rest assured!" Kawashima Miki couldn't be bothered to look at him, turned, and walked to the wine rack, pouring a new drink into a cup, commanding: "In three days, test that kid's strength, or cut off two fingers to apologize." Hiraki Niro's heart trembled, nearly crying: "Why two?" "One for the lecherous look, one for incompetence." "Give me a chance, sister-in-law..." "Get lost!" Kawashima Miki showed a look of impatience. Hiraki Niro dared not say more, hurriedly crawled up and exited the office. Left alone in the office, Kawashima Miki naturally relaxed, sinking into the soft sofa, merging entirely with the surrounding air. Sipping whiskey slowly, her expression reverent, savoring it like a magnificent piece of literature. She hadn't drunk before, but ever since accepting the organization's arrangement to come to Tokyo, secretly operating in this big city with Hiraki Dairo under the guise of husband and wife, due to pressure, she grew fond of the slightly tipsy feeling. Hiraki Dairo was responsible for the shadowy matters within the group. While she handled things on the surface, dealing with various complex social relationships. Compared to arson and murder, interacting with people is evidently much harder, Kawashima Miki over the years had passed many exhausting nights with the aid of alcohol. "Asakusa Shrine..." Nails painted with light-colored nail polish gently tapped the marble tabletop. "Fujiwara Reya..." "Did you kill that stupid spider, or were you just coincidentally there, and it was actually a miko from the Tokyo Grand Shrine who did it..." "Well, whatever, dead is dead... Sister is more interested in the land of your Asakusa Shrine, it's large enough, and the surroundings are bustling, if only it could be acquired..." Murmuring to herself, as though she had thought of some incredibly good thing, Kawashima Miki gazed at the neon flickering Asakusa night view not far away, smiling with immaculate perfection, her lips blossoming suddenly, dimples forming at the corners, adding a unique allure.