Chapter 308. Kouzuki Kenshi

Gonehow?

When I askedMisuzu on the other side.

Grandfather said he wants to talk with her alone, so he went with Kuromori-sama in the monitor room. Then, they havent come out all this time

Jii-chan and Minaho-neesan

I thought that it was strange, so I tried opening the doorthen the two of them were gone!

They escaped the emergency evacuation room from the basement with just the two of them????!!!

Hello, its mecan you tell?

The line changed from Misuzu to Katsuko-nee.

Inside the panel of the wall of the roomthere is a hidden lifting device that caters one person. Since it can only go from bottom to top, I think that the enemies cant come down through this device

Was there an escape room hidden?

What to do? If you want, we can chase them with this lift, but

I look at Margo-san.

Margo-san.

Katsuko-san, stay inthere. Even if you chase them now, you cant reach to where Minaho and Kouzuki-san is right now. Besides, we dont know the elevator leads it from the hotel. Its just dangerous if you chase them unreasonably and encounter an enemy!

Thats right.

Jii-chan knows the structure of this hotel so he slipped out with an escape device, but.

It must be a secret route where he will go in the hotel after this.

But, Katsuko-nee doesnt have that knowledge so she cant chase them alone.

But, Im worried about Ojou-sama

Katsuko-nee says worriedly

I know how you feel butKatsuko-san, take care of Nagisa-san and the other childrens mental health. Im sure that everyones worried

Yeah. Misuzu, Megu, Mana, Ruriko, Yoshiko-sanare all afraid.

Katsuko-neecan you make everyone in the room hear my voice?

Margo-san nods at my proposal

Anyway, those girls need someone who can say words to ease them

Yes, wait a moment!

Katsuko-nee opens the line and after a while

Okay, go on!

Helloits me. Ive heard the situation from Misuzu and Katsuko-nee

Onii-chan

Yoshi-kun, are you okay?

The one microphone picks up the sound in theemergency evacuation room

Mana and Megus voice jumped into my ears at the same time.

Im sorryOnii-sama

The one grievingRuriko?

Even though Onii-sama has given me ordersI took my eyes away from Grandfather

Its done so theres no helping it. Dont mind it

Its too late to talk and scold her about it.

Jii-chan originally evacuated us to theemergency evacuation roomand planned to return to the upper floors of the hotel. You do know that, right?

Yes, there were signsso I shouldve never took my eyes off from Grandfather

Ruriko, thats already doneRuriko did her surveillance properly. Therefore, Jii-chan made an excuse to be alone with Minaho-neesan to escape Ruriko and others eyes, is that correct?

Yes, I wouldve never thought that he would escape together with Kuromori-sama

I think that Jii-chan explained his reason why he absolutely want to go to the upper floor to Minaho-neesan, instead of asking Minaho-neesan to overlook his escape. And, from what Ive heardMinaho-neesan decided to go upstairs with him

Thats the only scenario I could think.

Either wayJii-chan and Minaho-neesan arent people who would silently abandon us. Am I rightRuriko?

Yes, Onii-samaI know that, but

The dark shadow of anxiety is covering Ruriko

Misuzu, deal with RurikoYoshiko-san too

YesDanna-sama

Certainly

Ruriko has grown up dependent on Jii-chan

Even though she understand that there might be some reasonher mind cant able to respond to the reality that Jii-chan left her silently

Anywaywell be looking for Jii-chan and Minaho-neesans whereabouts Once we discover somethin, well contact you

PleaseOnii-sama

Yeah. Megu and Mana, try to get along with everyone and wait for me!

I know, Yoshi-kun

YeahOnii-chan

Nagisa tootake care of them

Yes. Leave this room to medear

If Nagisa watches over the room then theres no need to worry.

Rurikos anxiety should be eased with this.

Hows Mao-chan?

Completely asleep. She met various people today so shes too frolic and now tired

I seetheres so many fuss about today.

For the small Mao-chan, the day is already over, but

Our day isnt done yet.

Were in the brink of the game right now.

Katsuko-sanis all the data from the hotel being sent to themonitor room?

Margo-san asks.

Wellnot all of them are coming. Of course, the image date of the floor battling with the enemy are arriving. The data of the entire hotel arent sent, there are some floors that are completely hidden

As expected

Margo-san says while looking at the terminal borrowed from the headquarters earlie

Its the same hereChief Tanizawa doesnt intend to let us access the data except for those he want us to see

Does that mean?

There are things they definitely dont want us to see!

Margo-san smiles wryly.

Theres no doubt that Jii-chan has sent instructions to make Chief Tanizawa restrict our access.

What are they trying to hide?

But, this equipment is connected to the internet outside the hotel

Katsuko-nee said

I cant write but we can see the information outside freely

Can you check if the press picked up the current situation of this hotel?

Waitno, its not appearing on any news sites

Katsuko-nee answers Margo-sans question.

Its a news blackoutit must be the work of Kouzuki-san?

Shirasaka house is the only press organization that this house cant suppress.

Furthermore, I dont think that the Japan media has the power to control Cesario Viola, an American Criminal

What we know right now is that Kouzuki-san has plotted something to summon Cesario Viola to this hotel. Furthermore, he has his board and their children together

Arent we the same?

Yukino said.

RightWe were also invited by Jii-chan here.

Were the same butYukinos different.

Margo-san said.

The fact that we brought Yukino-san is unexpected Normally, you would be on the schools confinement room

No way, thats such a narrow room!

Yukino remembers being trapped in the confinement room at the basement of the principals officeshe makes a complaint

Anyway, Kouzuki-san is the one who gathered all the people in here. Then, purposely gathering uswe were isolated in a safe rom

Safe room?

He left the guards and escaped by himselfKouzuki-san has a lot of confidence in the defense of the emergency evacuation room in the basement. Otherwise, he wont leave both of his precious granddaughters together there

Yeahthat underground room should be completely defended.

Then, we werequarantinedin that room too. Neicheck the door

Got it, Maru-chan

Nei-san touches the door knob of the room

Gachagacha.

Its not openinglocked

Does that mean?

The keys not working from inside?

I asked just in case.

Of courseits not doing anything

Or ratherthis room, the normal hotel rooms are auto-licked so the door should open if you turn the knob from inside the room

Margo-san said.

If you close the door, its locked automatically so it wont open from the outside

In order for the people to evacuate immediately when a fire or something similar happens in the hotel

If you turn the knob from the inside, the door should open.

And yetthis room is locked.

Does this mean, as expected, Jii-chan?

Rather than Kouzuki-san, its Tanizawa-san. He operated it from theheadquartersand making us think that were using an electronic lock

In shortwere trapped?

Earlier, Tanizawa-san said that the 21st floor should be the absolute defense line. This is the 25th floor. I think that were absolutely protected if were on this floor

Speaking of whichTanizawa-san tried to pull Seki-san and Reika-oneesan away from us!

Nei-san

YeahThis room is an evacuation for usno, I think its intended to lock us. Earlier, I noticed it when entering the room, the door of this room is sturdy thats impossible for ordinary rooms. This is originally a room built assuming the restraint of an enemy. If Michi-chan and I were seriously refusing. Its not just the doors, but also the walls and windows are strengthened than usual

Margo-san says.

But you seeSeki-san and Reika-oneesan is with us!

Nei-san grinned.

Seki-san has her pistol so she can just shoot the electronic lock circuit of the door, Reika-oneesan

Rightif we have Reikas death cane, then we can easily take down the door

Should we break it?

Reika looks at Margo-san and me

Waitwe wont have any clues what to do after even if we get out right now. Lets gather information here for a while longer

Margo-san heads to the comm device

Katsuko-sancheck all the areas that can be accessed in that computer, then I think that the restricted areas would be coming out via reverse engineering

SureIll try

Well be doing the same thing on this terminal

Margo-san heads to the computer terminal.

Yeahif we know what Jii-chan is trying not to show us

Theres nowhere for us to move to

Over Margo-sans shoulderNei-san, Seki-san, Reika, Kouzuki Kenshi looks into the monitor.

Idont know anything about it so Im not butting in

Hey, is there any tea here?

Yukino asked.

Theres a pot in there isnt it?

True, theres a small pot for the guests.

Does it have water?

Lets seeoh, there is

The attendant had put water thinking about the guests wholl check in

Then, put in some tea

Yukino orders me

No, but you seethis room is for two people originallyso theres only two teacups, and the pot cant boil water for everyonebesides

What?

Theres only two packs of tea

Theres two isnt there?Then Ill drink so brew me a cup

This is what Yukino is about.

She doesnt think about the atmosphere around her.

Master, theres no need to listen to her orders

Michi whos been beside me all the time speaks

If you want to drink then do it yoursef

Michis eyes are cold

Right, then Ill do so

Yukino stands uppushes the switch to boil the pot and puts the teabag in the cup.

Firmlyshe drinks what she want to drink

it looks like we can see the hotels blueprint

Margo-san said as she look at the monitor.

This is where we are right nowthe route going down to first floor is shown through the maze shaped hotel. In case of emergency, we can descend by ourselves to the first floor by following this blueprint

Margo-san said

Lend it to meIll remember it all

Seki-san comes forward.

Memorizethats a different maze each floor isnt it? Besidesthis is the 25th floor

The maps you have to remember is 25 pieces.

Its not a big deal. Im originally familiar with the internal structure of the hotelits necessary to remember the pattern of the maze of each floor. Give me 5 minutes. Ill put it all in my head

I see.

Since its dangerous when it reaches the hand of the enemy so you cant take the map

You have to memorize it in your head.

Its fine. Thats what Im good at

As expected of a top elite guard.

Taking the terminal from Margo-sanSeki-san memorizes the map on the screen with a very fast momentum

OhsoKakkadiscloses this much information to you

Kouzuki Kenshi says as he look at the image of the terminal from behind

What do you mean by that?

I asked instinctively

Well you seethe executives and the other students are at the floor abovebut information isnt disclosed to them. Well, if you show them the map inside the hotel, those people might just wander around

True, Kouzuki Souji and the prince faction would do that.

Those guys dont know what fear is.

Reallyeveryone seems to be trusted byKakka

Kouzuki Kenshi grins.

Trusted, yetwhy are we trapped in this place?

Yukino said

As she drink the hot tea from the cupshe eats one of the tea cakes that only have two prepared.

Somehowarent you amazing?

Hes trusting you people thats why hes treating you carefully

Kouzuki Kenshi answers.

BeforeIve heard this from Kakka

From Jii-chan?

The human world has asurfaceandunderground People who only know thesurfaceare weak. Just like Kouzuki Souji-san. Butto say that youre free from the worry of the sadness and suffering from theundergroundmolds you into an upright man

TrueKouzuki Souji only knows thesurfaceof Kouzuki house.

Hes a fool, has a strong self-respect, annoyingbut, an upright man. Hes not a twisted, disgusting man.

On the other handthose who know theundergroundare strong, those who only knows theundergroundhave a twisted character. Theyre nasty, and sly people

Well yeah.

If you can only see the worldundergroundthat is painful on its own

Whats the best isyou yourself are in thesurfacewhile you know the existence of theunderground. Have someone stand negotiating with theundergroundand never coming to touch theunderground Kakkahas always been telling us his students to become those kind of people

YeahI get the idea.

You shouldnt be involved with theundergroundas much as possible

I am a member of the underground which isKuromoriso thats what I truly think.

IN the endwhats important is the sense of balance. You have to be well balanced accepting both thesurfaceandundergroundaccording to where you belong

The people in the surfaceas a person insurface

The personundergroundas a personunderground

ThereforeKakkahas divided the people he called into the hotel into three groups

Kouzuki Kenshi?!

For each groupits natural to make a difference in the information you want to tell. The ratio of thesurfaceandundergroundis different

Kouzuki Kenshi points to the figure of the hotel presented in the monitor

On the top floorwhere most of the executives and the students should be, have little to no information conveyed to them. They dont even know the purpose of the enemies attacking this hotel right now. However, some of the battles on the lower floor are shownmaking them horrified. Those people are; All people from thesurface Its enough to let them know the horror of the world behind usthats what Kakka must be thinking

Yeahthose on the upper floor doesnt need to know the whole truth of this attack.

No, we dont want them to know.

The continuation of Nei-sans sad past, and its fate

Besidesfrom what I hear from everyones talk, it seems that Ruriko-sama and Misuzu-sama are evacuated to the basement of this hotel. These people know about the worldundergroundmore than those on the upper floors. Or, Kakkahas judged that its better for them to know However,Kakkais worried that they might be completely dyed by theundergroundworld

Right. In order for Misuzu and Ruriko to manage the Kouzuki house in the future

They have to know about the worldunderground

Butthat said, they dont need to live in the worldunderground

That is true for Megu and Mana.

I dont want them to work in theundergroundinKuromori

I dont want them to be dyed further

Katsuko-nee and Nagisa who had retired as a prostitute already

Thencurrently, the people in this room. Everyones closer to the people of theundergroundthan those who are below

Kouzuki Kenshi looks at us.

Margo-san, Nei-sanand, Me

Were the execution unit who carry out the plan inKuromori

Seki-san, Reika, Michi

Though theyre named as guardsthey dont choose the means for the purpose.

Were all lacking the sense of hesitation to break the lawwere the same kind.

It is as Kouzuki Kenshi saidwere people who are closer to the world ofunderground

ButEveryones not a completeundergroundpeople Youre not people who are stained with evil. Thats what I thought after watching everyones actions for a while

We

I think that everyone here had been sent to theundergroundside in order to confront theunderground ForKakkahes expecting everyone as a human resource to set up counter-attacks in theundergroundworld

Were not like that

Thereforeif the complete information is disclosed, you would be convinced that you had fallen to theunderground Therefore,Kakkahas confined everyone heretrying to make sure that no further information is conveyed

Kouzuki Kenshi says confidently

Its a very interesting opinion butI dont think so

Margo-san answers.

Rather than thatwhats your position to say those kind of things to us?

RightKouzuki Kenshi is

What group does he think he belongs to?

I cant go back to the upper floor. My father, has betrayed Kouzuki group. Nofrom the start, I dont have ambition like the other students. Therefore, its an opportunity for me to be banished from the private school. I finally can reach the position I want to go to!

Kouzuki Kenshi smiles

I want to be a person from theundergroundside!