As an oiran renowned throughout the country, Komurasaki's status was beyond question. Countless wealthy men could lavish fortunes on her without ever getting to meet her.
And then there was Kaido's daughter.
Rumor had it that Kaido's daughter stood eight meters tall, had four arms, and ate ten cows every day-a monster through and through.
Yet in reality...
She was drop-dead gorgeous!
Yamato wore light makeup that day, along with a cheongsam and twin buns. She looked every bit the charming face of the establishment.
As for why she wasn't wearing a kimono, the reason was the same as for the hostesses' cheongsams: differentiation.
In other words, a signature style!
When running a business, you needed to excel in at least one of three things: quality, service, or atmosphere. Otherwise, why would anyone come?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the ribbon-cutting ceremony concluded, fireworks burst across the sky.
Next came the most important part!
Collecting money!
Good gave a meaningful look.
Seated at the entrance to collect the gifts, Blue Worm and his three companions caught on immediately and shouted, "Ulti, Shinuchi of the Beasts Pirates, presents 100 gold! Congratulations to Princess Yamato on her grand opening! May her business prosper!"
One hundred gold!
Enough to buy a mansion!
The guests sucked in sharp breaths.
Of course they knew they needed to prepare cash gifts or presents, but they hadn't expected the very first guest to offer a whopping 100 gold. Suddenly, many of their own gifts seemed too embarrassing to present!
They were all people of standing, and none wanted to lose face. But what happened next made them fully understand the gulf between them.
"The Kuri Daimyo presents a pair of White Jade Lions worth 100 gold! Congratulations..."
"Boss Kyoshiro presents 500 gold! Congratulations to Princess Yamato..."
"King, an All-Star of the Beasts Pirates, presents 1,000 gold! Congratulations..."
The Daimyo of the Various Regions, the Beasts Pirates' All-Stars, Boss Kyoshiro...
Though these important figures hadn't come in person, they had all sent people with money or gifts, each more extravagant than the last.
Soon, the cash gifts piled up like a mountain!
"Lord Fukurokuju has arrived!"
The appearance of the Oniwabanshu brought the gift-giving to its climax.
"On behalf of Shogun Orochi, Lord Fukurokuju presents 10,000 gold! Congratulations to his niece Yamato on her grand opening!"
Ten thousand gold!
The whole crowd erupted.
"As expected of Shogun Orochi!"
The guests' eyes burned red with envy.
Merely opening a Hot Spring Shop had brought in tens of thousands of gold in gifts, and even the shogun had shown his support. Such treatment was simply unheard of.
Standing beside the cash gifts, Good's eyes had turned into dollar signs.
What had blinded him?
Oh!
It was sweet, sweet money!
It's all mine!
These gifts appeared to be for Yamato, but their real purpose was to please Kaido. In the end, however, all of it would land in Good's pocket.
In effect, he was using Yamato to rake in money in Boss Kaido's name.
Heh heh heh heh...
Good's smile was as radiant as a sunflower in full bloom as he enthusiastically invited them in. "Honored guests, please come inside!"
"Mm."
The distinguished guests entered the establishment.
They also wanted to see just what Kaido's daughter had managed to put together. After spending so much to support her, they might as well enjoy themselves properly.
"Welcome!"
Now the remaining young ladies came into play. Each attended to one distinguished guest personally, introducing the services on offer.
"Sir, would you like to try our signature foot treatment?"
"We also offer oil massages, cupping, manicures, ear cleaning, and many other services!"
"To celebrate our grand opening, everything is half price today!"
"And we have discounted packages to choose from!"
"What's more, for just 998 silver, you can experience every treatment we offer!"
"Oh, and sir, we also provide dining and accommodation, as well as a game room, gym, concert hall, and other amenities."
The guest gaped.
Huh?
What was all this?
Hadn't he come here to soak in the hot springs?
Watching the guests' reactions, Good's lips curved into a smile.
Bathing, massages, dining, entertainment-a complete package, with a lovely young lady dedicated to making each guest feel good.
Now that's what you call crushing the competition!
Hah. These backward feudal people.
Let me teach you what real pleasure is!
As long as you have money, you can live here for the rest of your life!
I'm a goddamn genius!
Across from the Hot Spring Shop, in a dark alley.
Hakumai, Kibi, Ringo, Uwan.
The yakuza bosses of the four regions had gathered together, each puffing silently on a pipe.
They couldn't afford a cash gift and didn't want to go out and embarrass themselves.
They might have looked impressive on the surface, but life wasn't easy for them. Because they refused to side with Orochi, his faction had been suppressing them all this time.
Even their casinos, once their most profitable businesses, now faced closure. The rich all went to casinos run by Orochi's faction, leaving theirs with nothing but poor customers and plenty of debts they couldn't collect.
On top of that, desperate samurai occasionally came to them seeking relief, making their lives harder still.
They didn't even have enough money in their pockets for a drink.
Gongoro looked down at his patched clothes, sorrow weighing on his heart. These were already his best clothes.
Damn it!
How had things gotten this bad?
Suppressing his irritation, Gongoro looked at the other yakuza bosses.
"What do you think we should do about this?"
"What else? Fight Kaido to the death!"
Omasa of Uwan swore bitterly. Looking at the luxurious Hot Spring Shop in the distance, he couldn't help wanting to destroy it.
If only we could steal all that money-
"Calm down, Omasa."
Acho, the boss of Ringo, sharply rebuked him.
They hadn't reached the point of no return yet. Acting rashly would only cost them dearly.
The real issue now wasn't them, but the Kozuki Samurai from the various regions who had lost their minds. They had already assembled outside the city. If no one stopped them, trouble would break out tonight.
Killing Kaido's daughter was far easier said than done!
Chapter 18: A Barrage of Precipice Blades!
Night fell.
Under the enthusiastic guidance of the female attendants, the guests soaked in the hot springs, had their feet massaged, and enjoyed premium services they had never experienced before.
After the full course, their bodies felt as though they had been polished. They sprawled across soft, comfortable fabric sofas, resting in a state of unprecedented physical and mental satisfaction.
They were blissed out.
"It feels... like I've attained enlightenment."
"Me too."
"This truly is the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."
"Heavenly Residence... it certainly lives up to its name!"
Though the prices were a little steep, they now felt every coin had been well spent. Even Shogun Orochi probably hadn't experienced service this relaxing.
By comparison, the other Hot Spring Shops were garbage. Even the Pleasure District, the Flower Capital's largest entertainment venue, fell far short.
They absolutely loved it here.
Just as the guests prepared to head home or stay the night, the Heavenly Residence still had more to offer.
Good came to the lounge.
"Honored guests, we have one more special performance for you. Please do us the honor of joining us on the top floor."
"There's a performance too?"
The guests exchanged looks.
Everyone lounging here was either rich or influential and had little interest in ordinary performances. But after so many delightful surprises that day, they couldn't help feeling eager.
A short while later, all the guests arrived on the top floor, which offered an expansive, unobstructed view of the surroundings.
It was already dark, however, hardly the right time to admire the scenery. The guests couldn't help wondering what the proprietor had up his sleeve.
"Please wait a moment. The performance will begin shortly."
Good gazed into the depths of the darkness.
Rewards and risks went hand in hand.
Not all pirates were fools. He was openly milking Boss Kaido for money. If he failed to produce some results, even if Boss Kaido was magnanimous enough to let it slide, the officers would skin him alive.
Especially that Mr. King.
Not only had he shown his support, he had sent a hefty 1,000 gold. Aside from his affection for his boss's daughter, there might well have been a warning behind it.
Kid, I'm watching you!
Onigashima, the banquet hall.
Kaido and his three senior officers were all present. A Visual Den Den Mushi sat before them, monitoring every move at the hot spring club.
King's gaze was icy.
He had long since learned that Good was secretly orchestrating all of this.
It was fine if Good was truly one of their own. No amount of money was too much if it changed Yamato's attitude. But if he was deceiving Yamato and the rest of them just to rake in cash...
The consequences would be severe!
Before you continue