The screams grew louder and, as the metal door of the small passageway swung open with a bang, the distressing sound filled the air.

Heath watched as a hulking man in leopard-print fur—looking more like a bodybuilder in drag—cried out in agony, lifted off the ground by the deceptively diminutive Ayane Kumiko, who held him up with one hand.

Her delicate fingers now bore sharp, silver claws that extended from her nails.

The claws of her right hand were buried deep in the man's flesh, seemingly penetrating the bone of his shoulder.

The fresh blood flowing from his wound stained Ayane's large floral-patterned kimono even redder.

"Stop screaming, it's disturbing the customers," Ayane said as she carried the man towards the entrance of Fish Pond, leaving behind a trail of blood.

Her face was obscured by large sunglasses, but her expression was stone-cold.

Devin continued to prepare food and drinks behind the bar, utterly indifferent to the commotion.

The patrons in Fish Pond, totaling seven or eight, acted as if nothing unusual was happening. Aside from greeting Ayane with "Mama" or "Miss Ayane" as she passed, they continued with their own business as usual.

Heath felt bewildered. Was he the only one who could see the muscled man? This couldn't be a hallucination, could it?

He glanced over at Miss Sakai, who was growing increasingly excited as if she'd cracked the code to stardom:

"I should get my nose done again; I've never been quite satisfied with it. What do you think of a cat nose for uniqueness?"

As he turned back, Ayane was already by the door with the silent hulk of a man, his head brushing against the noren as they stepped outside where several agile figures awaited—female mercenaries from Lorna's group.

"So you're 'Bat,' huh? The one who thought to sneak off from The Lustrous Club to join some club downtown?" one of the female mercenaries, smoking a cigarette, slapped the man's sweaty, pale face before blowing smoke in his direction. "Ayane Mama pulled you from the gutter, treated you well, and this is how you repay her? Betrayal?"

"Ungrateful," another mercenary shook her head. "In this world, those who appreciate virtue are always in short supply."

"Hand him over to Lorna," Ayane said coolly, as if discussing how to dispose of a piece of junk.

"Find someone to remove his penis and a kidney first, then hand him over to The Arcade Gang. Sell him off to the Western Industrial District—make sure the buyer puts him to the harshest labor so that he dies on the 261st day, not a day more or less."

"I was wrong, Mama Ayane!" the man broke down, pleading. "I was blinded by folly; I'm a fool—give me another chance!"

"I already gave you a chance, which you failed to appreciate."

Ayane peered down at him, her glance as brief as it was chilling. "You've been with me for 261 days; let's call it even."

With that, the claws on her hands retracted as if sucked back into her fingertips.

At the same time, the man let out an even more agonizing cry as blood gushed from his shoulders, his body writhing in pain.

Groaning, begging, and struggling, he was dragged away by the female mercenaries like a piece of butchered meat.

Heath's smile was on the verge of cracking...

Ayane, having dealt with the man, walked back towards Heath, her demeanor changing as she approached the table. She removed her sunglasses, revealing her hypnotic eyes, and her voice softened, "Heath, entertaining guests, I see. Miss Sakai, Heath is new here, so please forgive him if his service falls short."

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"Mama, Heath is excellent," Sakai Hanazu beamed.

"Then I won't disturb you further." Ayane bowed slightly before returning to The Lustrous Club, the metal door closing behind her.

She was so poised and polite as if the Ayane from moments ago was another person entirely...

But the bloody trail on the floor of Fish Pond bore silent witness to the event that had just transpired.

Heath, at a loss for words, felt he was the only one who didn't understand what had just happened.

He had to ask, "Miss Sakai, what just happened?"

"Never betray Mama Ayane," Sakai responded with absolute reverence.

"Such things do happen from time to time, though. Some people just don't understand gratitude and get blinded by the glitz and glamour of The Lustrous Club, doing unforgivable things."

She took another sip of sake, frowning as she asked, "Heath, you're not like that, are you?"

"Me?" Heath, recalling Ayane's steel claws, quickly replied, "Of course not!"

"That's good to hear." Sakai Hanazu sighed in relief. "I'm just a 'Dirt Dog,' haven't really been to the affluent districts, but I've been around and seen a lot. Ayane Mama isn't someone you just come across.

"Mama Ayane is a good person, someone who values traditional virtue and reason.

"She has her principles, and they're simple: if she's good to you, be good to her in return. If she's good to you and you're bad to her... Do you know what happened to 'Fudotoku Ichiro,' the former top male escort of The Lustrous Club, after he betrayed her?"

"What happened?" Heath swallowed hard, sensing a dreadful story.

"Mama Ayane personally switched his head and penis."

Sakai Hanazu sighed, "It's a shame, really. Many remember Fudotoku's charm—a versatile man who could be both masculine and feminine, a shape-shifter who became the Night King. What a waste."

Heath's eyes widened in shock.

He remembered Ayane once telling him: You are meant to become the Night King...

"Heath?" Sakai Hanazu's amusement at his nervousness was evident, "Mama respects those who are honest, kind, and grateful. She says that's the quality she cherishes most in people. For such individuals, even without repayment, she's willing to help, willing to invest and nurture.

"In fact, Mama herself is that kind of person. There are too many in Shouei Street who owe her favors. I'm one of them; the money for my surgeries was given by Mama—just between us, I've yet to pay her back..."

Sakai Hanazu flashed an endearing smile, "You're that kind of person too, right? Mama told me so. You resisted the temptations at The Arcade Gang and didn't play their games. You're a good person."

"Uh..." Of course, Heath nodded.

So that's why Ayane held him in such high regard, always speaking well of him.

And it was clear from Sakai's words: don't do anything foolish or you won't make it past this street without Ayane's permission.

"People change, I hope you don't," she advised like a reverse psychologist, "You should know, Mama used to be a member of the Yakuza Gang and still has countless connections there."

"Yakuza Gang?"

"Yeah. It's the biggest gang in Kabukicho District, even Sando Corporation gives them face."

When Sakai mentioned "Yakuza," her voice carried a mix of fear and respect.

Heath's heart sank. Was that Ayane's and The Lustrous Club's protective umbrella...?

"People from the Yakuza Gang are not to be trifled with." The fear in her expression deepened, and she spoke in hushed tones, "Fudotoku's body was made into an exhibit by them."

Time to sort this out... Heath, seeing her speak with such conviction as if she witnessed it, asked urgently, "You heard about this, right? The story about Fudotoku, the top male escort?"

His head and penis switched places? That had to be just an urban legend...

"I saw it," Sakai affirmed. "Fudotoku's preserved body hung on the alley wall outside Fish Pond for several days."

Heath was baffled, "That... didn't cause trouble? Didn't the police care?"

"The police?" Sakai laughed dismissively, "Heath, do you know where the most garbage in Liuguang City is?"

Heath already anticipated her answer...

"It's not the Mud Pond landfill." She paused for effect, "It's the Police Headquarters."

"The Lustrous is under Yakuza's care. Besides, what do you think the Western Industrial District is? A place where everything illegal is done legally—no cop dares to make arrests there."

Sakai's refined surgically-altered face betrayed disdain, resembling an indignant little raccoon.

Heath slouched back in his chair, speechless, looking over at Devin bustling behind the bar.

Considering the large characters on Devin's chef's coat—Content with Life and Girth—compared to Ayane's recent display, maybe it wasn't just for show...

Otherwise, his morning dalliance in the restroom, wasting water, might have cost him a finger for ingratitude.

He should have known already! Thinking of Landow and others acting all sweet around Ayane...

To run such a large male escort club in a place like this, a legendary figure of Shouei Street.

Ayane Kumiko, how could she be just an ordinary faithful person?

Heath sipped his now bland goji berry water, gazing around at the curtains, lanterns, wall paintings, the bar, and the patrons.

Leaving The Arcade Gang, he had escaped the wolf's den only to enter the tiger's lair.

"Heath? Heath? For my nose, should I go for a cat or dog look?"