Izawa Risa

Hashiya Town was the liveliest place in the western district. Its sprawling estates stretched on without end, connected to one another, with bamboo groves, wooden bridges, and artificial hills scattered throughout. An air of refined elegance washed over the place.

But inside one of the houses on the left, what was happening was completely at odds with the surroundings.

"Please, sir, no! I only perform!" A beautiful young woman spoke to the richly dressed middle-aged man before her, her face full of terror.

"Heh heh! That's not for you to decide!" The middle-aged man was ugly, with a round head, tiny eyes, a pale, clean-shaven face, and only a fringe of hair remaining on either side of his scalp.

"Sir, if you come any closer, I'll call for help!"

"Ah!" The young woman let out a scream.

After seeing her graceful figure and pitiful expression, the man's breathing had already grown ragged.

He raised his thick palm and grabbed at the young woman's pale pink kimono.

A sheen of tears had gathered beneath her slender, willow-leaf brows, but she still struggled desperately.

"The madam said I have what it takes to compete for the title of oiran. She promised she wouldn't make me entertain clients yet..." The young woman's voice was full of defiance.

"Oiran? Ha ha ha! You think becoming an oiran is that easy? She's just waiting to sell you to the highest bidder."

"I've offered them several times the usual price. They'll make a fortune off me as it is."

"Don't worry. If you just give in to me, your deadbeat father's debt will be wiped clean!" The middle-aged man roughly tore open the front of the young woman's kimono. The faint glimpse of her smooth skin kindled the lecherous fire in his heart until it blazed out of control.

After catching sight of the young woman by chance some time ago, he had been captivated by her graceful figure and dignified bearing.

That refined air, the kind that could only be cultivated through years of immersion in books and painting, was exactly what he loved. But the exorbitant price of an oiran meant he could only admire her from afar.

The promising young women in this pleasure quarter had to learn a wide range of arts, including singing and dancing, calligraphy, the tea ceremony, musical instruments, conversation, and proper etiquette.

The highly trained courtesans possessed an air that was almost indistinguishable from that of noblewomen.

But their training also included special bedroom techniques designed to please clients, which made the noble lords all the more eager to visit them.

The middle-aged man had some connections with the person who managed this pleasure quarter. That was the only reason he'd been able to fulfill his wish today.

He grabbed the knot at the front of the young woman's kimono, shoved her down onto the bed, and pressed his heavy body on top of her.

"Ah!"

The young woman was frail, after all. A thick, greasy breath filled her nostrils, and the weight of more than two hundred pounds nearly made her faint on the spot.

"Hey, did you finish the task we were given?" Outside the compound, two guards chatted.

"No. This job's way too hard. Are we really going through courtesans this fast? How come even we've been forced to meet a quota of two?" A black-clad guard in his twenties complained.

"Heh! I've already met my quota four times this month!"

"I collected the reward each time!" The man beside him wore a proud expression.

"Wow, senior, where do you get so many prospects?"

"If I can't meet the quota again this month, I'll lose my job!" The black-clad guard looked envious and jealous.

"Heh heh! Since you've always been respectful to me, kid, I'll give you a tip."

"Ordinary families would never sell their sons or daughters. You need to look for people with habits like gambling or drinking too much."

"Spend a little time in taverns and gambling dens, and it's easy!" The man patted the black-clad guard's shoulder and spoke at length.

"But, senior... isn't that wrong? Aren't we luring people into selling their own daughters?" The black-clad guard hesitated.

"Hah! Who knew you were such a bleeding heart?"

"Then why do you do this job?" the man mocked.

"Well... I have a family to feed..." the black-clad guard stammered.

"Exactly! Money isn't clean or dirty. We're not forcing anyone to sell their daughters; we're just giving them a way to do it." The man offered his advice with a show of wisdom.

"Hey, enough chatting. Someone's coming!"

"Looks like a big spender. We might even get a bigger tip!" The man's eyes lit up as he looked at the two figures approaching in the distance.

"Sir, this is the place!" Mori Kazuhiro had been stopped by two guards. His ocher eyes turned toward Souya, full of hope and urgency.

Souya gave a slight nod, then glanced at the two guards. A heavy pressure bore down on them, as if a ferocious beast ready to devour them stood right in front of them.

"Take me to Izawa Risa!" Souya said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Sweat beaded on the young guard's forehead. The terrifying pressure left him rooted to the spot, but the other man was more experienced.

He hurriedly bowed and ushered Souya and Mori Kazuhiro inside, all the while frantically searching his memory for the name Izawa Risa.

"Sir, please wait here. I'll take you to see her shortly." The man led Souya to a tastefully furnished side room.

Maids in gray kimonos stood on either side. They were unremarkable in appearance, but their bearing was impeccable.

As soon as Souya sat down, the maids quickly served him tea and water.

Before long, a middle-aged woman came walking over with her feet turned inward. The guard was behind her, whispering something to her.

"Welcome, sir!"

"You'd like to see Izawa Risa, is that right?" After waving the guard away, the middle-aged woman immediately sat opposite Souya, smiling.

She studied Souya, and once in a while, discreetly glanced at Mori Kazuhiro beside him.

"Mm." Souya casually picked up the steaming teacup in front of him. He took a slight breath, and its rich fragrance filled his senses, like spring bamboo shoots sprouting.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but Risa has just gone to keep another client company." The middle-aged woman wore exquisite makeup and still had plenty of charm. She must have been a beauty when she was young.

Souya frowned and said impatiently, "Bring her here!"

"Sir, I... I'm afraid that's impossible. Every guest must be treated equally. There's an order to these things. You're a guest, but so is the other person!" The middle-aged beauty replied smoothly, her bright red lips parting and closing.

With a bang, Souya tossed a piece of pure gold onto the table.

After all, as someone who wielded Magnet Release and Gold Sand, Souya had never had to worry about money.

"Go get her. Now!" Souya's voice turned icy. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.