Returnee from Another World - Chapter 54: The Breaker Woman

Chapter 54: The Breaker Woman

“Anyone you know among them?” I asked.

“Hm? My acquaintances? Nah, probably not,” Yukari Higuchi replied.

“Good. That’s fine then,” I said.

While the rough voices of what sounded like gangsters echoed in my ears, I questioned Yukari. It wasn’t a coincidence that we ran into yakuza at this restaurant. Just like when I tracked down the Hayashi-do gang’s office, I relied on my abilities. From the glimpses of their backs, I was sure these were the yakuza I was targeting. I hadn’t told Yukari which restaurant we were going to, so it might’ve seemed like I picked this Chinese place on a whim.

According to Yasunaga, this area was the territory of the 4th Generation Shoryu Family. They were a group expanding from Kansai, rivals to Yasunaga’s Sanriku-kai faction. When Yasunaga repeatedly warned me about avoiding trouble with other organizations, he likely meant these guys. There might be smaller groups around, but only the Shoryu Family could rival Sanriku-kai. Yasunaga wouldn’t bother cautioning me about minor players.

“If that’s the case, what do you mean by ‘good’?” Yukari asked.

“Just that if you knew someone, it’d make things trickier,” I replied.

“Trickier? For what?” she pressed.

“I’ve mentioned before, but becoming my thrall didn’t just awaken your bloodlust. It’s likely changed your mental state too,” I explained.

“Oh, you mean how I’m constantly craving your cock, Sienna?” Yukari teased.

“Yes, that’s part of it. But isn’t there more?” I asked.

“More? Like what?” she said.

“Don’t you feel anger or irritation over small things?” I probed.

“Yeah, I remember you saying something like that. I get a bit irritated sometimes, but screwing you calms it down,” Yukari said.

“I see. For now, satisfying your lust seems to vent it. But that’s not a long-term solution. I can’t always be around to satisfy you,” I said.

I came to this restaurant targeting the Shoryu Family to let Yukari unleash her violent impulses on them. I also needed her to understand how much force could seriously hurt someone and learn to hold back. These guys were perfect practice dummies—my faint conscience wouldn’t care what happened to them. Yukari seemed to be suppressing her violent urges for now, but they could explode anytime. For a monster, violence is instinctual. Even my orders might not keep her rational. If she snapped and attacked someone close, it’d be a disaster—imagine it hitting the morning news.

“So what should I do?” Yukari asked.

“That’s why I want you to take on a job that doubles as stress relief. Someone from another organization hired us to rough those guys up a bit,” I said.

“Huh, a job? You’re into that kind of thing, Sienna?” she said.

“Well, I dabble. Plus, you need to understand your current strength. They’re perfect for practice,” I replied.

“Got it. So I just pick a fight and take them down?” Yukari said.

“Something like that. No need for a fair fight, though. Don’t kill them, but a sneak attack or hitting from behind is fine. Just make them unable to move for a while,” I clarified.

“Not my style, but okay,” she said.

“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t a fight, so there’s no such thing as dirty tactics. Do it however you want, but don’t forget it’s a job,” I said.

“Got it. Do I take out everyone there?” Yukari asked.

“I’d say go for it, but avoid the boss types for now. Hitting the higher-ups first will put them on guard. Take out the small fries gradually, then crush the head later,” I suggested.

I was making it up, of course. No one had hired us. I didn’t see an issue with being honest, but Yukari didn’t fully grasp her own violent impulses. Giving her a clear motive seemed easier for her to accept. She wouldn’t defy my orders anyway, so the reasoning didn’t matter much.

If a single woman took down a bunch of Shoryu Family members, their reputation would be ruined. I wasn’t trying to curry favor with Yasunaga or feel camaraderie. If things went south, I planned to pin it all on the Hayashi-do gang and slip away.

I’d even revealed part of my secret by letting Yukari use the Shapeshifter Mask. If it became a police matter, it’d be hard to trace back to us. I’d frame it as a yakuza feud. A mysterious foreign-looking woman with James Masuda in the background might lead to the Hayashi-do gang, but the police would likely see it as a yakuza-related incident. The Shoryu Family wouldn’t easily turn to the cops, but if Yukari went overboard, it could become an assault case. Her full strength could cause injuries far beyond a few broken bones. I’d make it look like the Hayashi-do hired a foreign “breaker.” I’d only show myself if things went wrong. Appearing as James Masuda would tip off Yasunaga, likely ending our deal with the Hayashi-do. I’d made decent money from them and had plans to squeeze Nishikuse, so cutting ties with Yasunaga wasn’t an issue.

“Got it,” Yukari said.

“For now, memorize their faces. Start with a lowlife-looking one,” I instructed.

I wasn’t worried about Yukari getting hurt. As a Lesser Vampire, even if stabbed with a long knife, her wounds would heal instantly. Her reflexes were superhuman—she wouldn’t mess up. A bullet to the head might be a problem, but given vampire regeneration, she’d probably be fine. That world had bows, not guns, so it was untested. Yakuza don’t carry guns daily—unless they’re raiding another gang, they’d keep them hidden. Just in case, I’d tell Yukari to protect her head.

“My memory’s not great, but I’ll try,” Yukari said.

As we spoke, an older female server approached to take our order. While placing it, Yukari and I discreetly glanced at the Shoryu Family members seated in the back.

◆

It was probably past 2 a.m. In a dimly lit alley off the main street, lined with red lanterns, the only light came from the shops. The last train had long gone, and hardly any regular people were around—just sex workers or drunk salarymen opting for a taxi.

In that alley, a chubby man in a G〇RFY tracksuit, clearly a lowlife thug, was crumpled on the ground.

“Guh… what the hell are you!” he groaned.

His strained cry was understandable. After finishing guard duty for the young boss, he was heading to a cheap red-lantern bar to drink and maybe pick up a woman when a stranger—a woman—suddenly kicked him. He’d noticed a stunning blonde approaching and was debating whether to hit on her, staring her down. In a dark alley, she might just have heavy makeup and not much else, but her slim, well-proportioned figure seemed promising, even if her face wasn’t great. She was probably a sex worker, likely with a boyfriend—or worse, a mistress of some big shot. Hitting on her without checking her face was risky.

As he hesitated, she kicked him. The blow was unlike anything he’d felt, like being smashed with a wooden beam.

“Who do you think I am!” he shouted.

“Dunno. Just a perv, right? Staring at my body without permission,” she snapped.

“Who’d stare at a skank like you!” he retorted.

“Huh? Who’re you calling a skank?” she shot back.

Rubbing his aching leg, the thug looked up to see a blonde woman—foreign or Japanese, he couldn’t tell. Up close, she was even more beautiful than he’d thought, and despite the situation, he felt a stir of lust, wondering if he could extort her for sex as compensation. Before he could act, another kick came.

“Gah!” he yelped.

All he registered next was a storm of violence raining down on him. Like the people he’d intimidated before, he curled up like a turtle, desperately shielding himself. He thought he heard his bones crack, but he’d been hit so much he wasn’t sure. Even so, the thug’s fading consciousness was consumed with thoughts of how he’d make her pay.