Vol 2 Chapter 14【Vol 2 – Lies and Truth】

“Who is this person? Can you let me verify?”

“That’s something I’m obligated to keep private. But there’s nothing to worry about. I’m not in a line of work I can discuss publicly either, so I have every reason to keep what goes on in this group completely to myself.”

Illicit operation. Outside the law. He was pulling terminology he barely understood from memory — bluffing hard on pure bluster. If this didn’t land, it didn’t land.

“Hmm.” She let a beat pass. “Our group requires a cash joining fee of ¥1,000,000. On top of that, each attendance requires a donation of ¥1,000,000. The joining fee is payable immediately.”

¥1,000,000 in cash. She was testing him — right now, this second. Say he couldn’t produce it, and it was over. He’d just claimed to have money. Claiming otherwise now would be a contradiction. It stung, but ¥1,000,000 was manageable — roughly the cost of one item. Wasteful, but if completing this conquest paid out anything like the last one, it was a necessary expense.

“That’s not a problem. I can have that to you right now.”

“In cases where the referrer cannot be disclosed, the joining fee is held as collateral. You’re also welcome to name your referrer, have the fee waived entirely, and proceed that way.”

She glanced at her watch as she said it. He stood.

“I’ll go get it.”

She nodded. He walked out of the café and went straight to the bank. He hadn’t anticipated needing money on this scale, but there wasn’t a choice. He withdrew the cash, came back, and set it on the table in front of her.

“¥1,000,000. Please count it.”

She counted it with an expression that didn’t invite conversation, then slid it into her bag.

“Very well. Welcome to the group.” She didn’t sound particularly welcoming. “The purpose of this gathering is sexual liberation — and the cultivation of connections between members who share that experience. What some might call an orgy, yes.”

“Understood. Something to look forward to.”

“You’ll have the opportunity to meet certain influential figures in politics. Any actual arrangements will require additional payments, of course — but simply having a venue where you can encounter such people without formality, and without anyone asking questions, is itself significant. I trust you understand the value of that.”

“Yes. More or less.”

“Good. Please bring the participation fee and arrive at this location by 7 PM tonight.”

She slid an envelope across the table. Inside was no text — just a map to a specific location.

“We’ll see you this evening.”

Akamine Miyuki picked up her bag — the one now containing his ¥1,000,000 — and left without looking back.

He was in. Somehow. But what came next? Was he supposed to expose this group somehow? He still had no idea what the actual conquest condition was. The hint had only said to approach through the social party. That was it.

Go to the gathering and see. But it was still hours away, and the location was nearby — going home would be a waste in every sense. He started walking with no particular destination, burning time.

* * *

The social party’s offices occupied the entire top floor of a commercial building — purchased outright and extensively renovated. In the VIP room, the man who could be called Akamine Miyuki’s first love, Shigemichi Kageharu, leaned back in his chair.

“She walked in with a million in cash on the spot?”

He reached for the bundled bills as he said it. Miyuki nodded.

“He was trying to hide who referred him, but he looked like he had money, so I let him in for now.”

“Can’t just let every nobody through the door.”

“Don’t worry. He’s just a cash source.”

“Mm. Going to squeeze him with the drugs again?”

“Yes — the fact that he wouldn’t name his referrer tells me he’s probably a nobody who got hold of a card by accident. Getting him hooked is the cleanest way to handle it.”

“Keep it tidy when you do.”

Miyuki smiled at the unnecessary concern.

“By the way — when are you finally taking over the Tatsuya-kai? You’ve put quite a bit of money into that already. Seems like it’s taking longer than expected.”

“It’s fine. Almost time to move. Do you have a girl ready for the politician tomorrow?”

“Yes — I asked Ariga-san to arrange one of the girls who’s been popular lately.”

“Good. Squeeze the suspicious ones dry with the drugs, strip the upper tier with the women — hahaha. Though I’ll say, your product is half the reason we’ve gotten this far.”

Miyuki’s expression soured.

“Would you not say it like that? It’s annoying.”

“A gathering that’s supposed to be all about connections and networking — and here you are, running it like this. You really are sharp when it comes to the crooked side of things.”

He pushed himself off the sofa, picked up his suit jacket, and headed for the door.

“I’m heading out.”

“Fine by me. Don’t expect a send-off.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He gave a lazy wave and walked out of the VIP room. Miyuki stayed behind, alone in the room.