Bonten's Advisor

Eight

Mikey walked silently to the couch and placed the suitcase on the table. He entered the code, and the lid flipped open, revealing a couple of thousands of dollars on banknotes. You grabbed a small stack and inspected it.

"What's with all this money?" Mochi asked, breaking the silence in the room. 

"It's fake, don't even bother with it," You said, noticing the minor changes in detail in the corner of the note, as you lifted it to the light holding the corner with a tissue. Mikey nodded his head at you, indicating that it was in fact, fake. 

"So? Are we meeting with Ashinuke or not?" Rindou asked impatiently. "Why do they even want to meet with us?"

"They have offered us better access to the underworld auctions," Mikey stated, closing the suitcase.

"We already have all we need, what's the point?" Koko announced, glancing quickly at Mikey. 

"Exactly, we don't need their help," Takeomi backed Koko up. 

"I don't think that's their main initiative." You spoke up, as their heads turned to you. "You know what? Sanzu and I will go meet with them alone. You can wire us, listen into our conversations. We'll talk to them about what they want, and if it satisfies you guys, then we'll accept. If not, we'll just politely decline."

"You can't just politely decline. They'll know the identity of two of our members. That's risky," Mochi stated, as the rest of the executives agreed.

"Better two than all, no?" You chimed in, as you made your valid point. 

"Better one than two?" Kakucho quickly said, earning a small laugh from the executives. 

"You're right, Kaku. Then I'll go alone. How's that? Mikey?" You said, looking over at Mikey's direction. He gave you a blank look. 

"Do what you like. Just make sure you come back." He said coldly.

"Where am I meeting them?" 

"They said somewhere private, where it suits us," Kakucho explained giving out the details. 

"FNN club then, that way you guys have private and clear access in case something does happen. Accept their meeting proposal for me, Kaku. Tell them to be at the FNN club at 4 pm tomorrow evening." Kakucho nods his head at your orders, standing up and leaving the room to do exactly what you asked. "Alright, now that's solved, let's eat something. I'm starving." You made your way into the kitchen as Sanzu and Takeomi followed, helping you with the setting up of dinner. 

You were waiting in front of the FNN club in your uniform, disguised as the manager and owner of the club. You had your mask over your face as you stood patiently at the door, waiting for the arrival of the Ashinuke members. Soon enough, two black cars pulled up in the front of the club, and out stepped all familiar members of Ashinuke. 

"Good evening gentlemen. I'm the owner of the FNN club. The Bonten members are expecting you. Please follow me." You opened the main door and held the door open for a slight moment until you walked through the main door. Walking towards the VIP room door, you entered the pin code and the door beeped open. "Enter the first door to your left please gentlemen. The members of Bonten will be with you shortly." They followed your instructions, opening the first VIP room door to their left. Once the last member entered the room, the door closed. You walked out of the VIP room corridor and walked back to the main door where you peaked your head outside before closing the door, bolting it closed.

You opened the bar flap and removed your bartending uniform, before changing into your black suit that you wore as a Bonten executive that you had kept under the counter in preparation for today's meeting with the Ashinuke members. Untying the bottom half of your hair, you quickly braided it as you normally did with the hair ties around your wrist. You folded your club uniform and tucked it under the bar counter and began making six drinks, the first drink you had learned from John. The basic martini. Placing it onto the tray, you removed your face mask and entered the VIP room corridor. Knocking three times on their door, the door opened inwards, revealing Akio who had pulled open the door.