Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week
Chapter 73 - 72: Does Japan Have Such Awesome People? (Seeking Followers)_1

Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Does Japan Have Such Awesome People? (Seeking Followers)_1

Shinjuku, Kabukicho. Hundred Herb Bookstore stood modestly, flanked on either side by adult entertainment establishments with brightly colored signs. Even though Hundred Herb Bookstore’s sign was plain, its neighbors made one imagine that the books sold inside were of the ’improper’ sort. However, anyone who entered knew it was a legitimate bookstore. The shelves were filled with genuine academic materials, completely devoid of any improper content. An outdoor staircase on the side of Hundred Herb Bookstore led straight up to the second floor.

At this moment, inside the study, Takahashi Saeko was dressed in a silver-white robe that concealed her figure. Her head was covered by a futuristic helmet mask, and her voice, even when replying to Ayatsuki Ayaka, sounded somewhat muffled through it.

"Saeko!"

On the screen, Ayatsuki Ayaka’s eyes widened as she moved closer to the camera. Even at such proximity, her tan cheeks appeared almost poreless, highlighting the girl’s delicate skin. "Why are you dressed up like that?"

"It’s a hobby of mine. What’s up?" Takahashi Saeko replied casually, steering the conversation toward why Ayaka had made the video call.

"Oh~" A meaningful smile spread across Ayatsuki Ayaka’s face. Saeko’s antics are just as wild as Maru’s, she thought. "Nothing much, I just wanted to tell you. I just gained a new subscriber, and they even left a comment praising me. Hehe, maybe I really do have a talent for being a fashion vlogger."

Takahashi Saeko was long accustomed to Ayatsuki Ayaka’s brand of optimism—give her an inch of encouragement, and she’d think she could open a dyehouse. A smile crept onto her face behind the mask. Realizing Ayaka couldn’t see her smile, she spoke up, "Congratulations then. I’ve always thought you’d make a good fashion vlogger."

"Hehe, Saeko, have you watched my new short video yet?"

"Not yet, I’m busy right now. I’ll watch it later."

"I get it. Well, I won’t disturb your ’session’ then. See you tomorrow~" Ayatsuki Ayaka waved her hand and hung up the call with a cheerful smile.

The corners of Takahashi Saeko’s mouth lifted slightly. She didn’t mind Ayatsuki Ayaka’s habit of wanting to share everything with her. In fact, she quite welcomed it. Even when she was busy with work, she was willing to pause and answer this call, which might seem boring to others. The reason was simple: in Takahashi Saeko’s heart, every choice Ayatsuki Ayaka made held significance. One’s first friend always enjoys certain special privileges.

She put away her phone and pressed a switch on the side of the mask to restart the voice changer. Takahashi Saeko then turned and opened the door to the study.

「...」

Outside the study was the second-floor living room of Hundred Herb Bookstore. Warm lighting brightened the area where a middle-aged man in a black suit sat on a genuine leather sofa, looking stern, a pitch-black briefcase at his side.

"Street Cleaner, are you finished with your business?"

"My apologies for the delay. Let’s get down to business." The distinct mechanical voice responded through the mask.

Takahashi Saeko, aside from being a student, had another identity – that of a Street Cleaner in Tokyo’s underworld. It was a hereditary profession. She hadn’t gone to New York during her summer vacation *just* to find out if Black, White, or Asian men offered different experiences. Rather, she was there to accept freelance assassination jobs, hired by either the Mafia or influential political figures. Everyone knew that Street Cleaners, aside from being exceptionally well-informed, were among the world’s top snipers.

Her sniping range was two kilometers. While this was a far cry from the world’s longest sniper kill record of 3,450 meters, her strength lay in her high accuracy. Within a range of two kilometers, her accuracy rate was as high as ninety-nine percent. Few assassins in the underworld could reach such a level.

"I want you to kill the woman in the middle of the photo." Taro Takiyama pulled out a photo from his pocket and laid it on the table. It depicted three people. The one in the middle was a foreign girl, as cute as a doll. "She never introduces her full name to anyone and calls herself Emily. She’s a renowned detective, both nationally and internationally. I’m willing to pay three hundred million Yen for her life!"

Takahashi Saeko looked at Emily in the photo and shook her head. "I will not accept this mission. Emily’s companion, Katerina, is no ordinary woman."

Taro Takiyama’s brow furrowed slightly. "I’ve seen Katerina. Her muscles are impressive, but even the strongest muscles can’t stop a bullet."

"But a bulletproof vest disguised as muscle *can*." Takahashi Saeko patiently explained, "Katerina’s ’muscles’ are actually a special bulletproof vest from the former Soviet Union’s super-soldier program. Only ten such vests exist globally, capable of stopping 20mm anti-materiel rifle rounds. At close range, even if an entire platoon of soldiers armed with AK-47s opened fire on her, she could eliminate them all with a knife. She’d be like an ancient, heavily armored general, impervious to the blades and axes of the surrounding soldiers, slaughtering them at will. The M31 body armor was designed precisely with that philosophy."

A mere three hundred million Yen wasn’t worth Takahashi Saeko risking her life to assassinate Emily.

"But don’t lose heart," she continued. "I know an assassin who specializes in poison. The chances of success are greater than with my sniper rifle. The referral fee is fifty million Yen."

Taro Takiyama pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then nodded heavily. He was the general manager of Kitazhi Intelligent Company. Recently, Emily had been investigating internal transactions within the company. If anything were discovered, he would be the scapegoat offered up by the board. Taro Takiyama didn’t want to sit around and wait for his doom. He decided to gamble, using his own resources and money to have Emily killed.

If successful, there was a high chance he could cover up the whole affair. Failure wasn’t a major issue either. In Japan, even assassinating the Prime Minister doesn’t carry the death penalty. He’d likely only spend a few years in prison before getting out, especially with the board members pulling strings for him. However, he would lose his current position and job. Taro Takiyama couldn’t accept a future stripped of his power. He had to gamble on Emily’s life.

「...」

In this era, information and networks meant money.

Takahashi Saeko closed the deal, saw Taro Takiyama off, and turned to go back to the living room. She lazily lay on the sofa, feet propped up on the table, watching Ayatsuki Ayaka’s newly uploaded short video. As was her custom, she first liked the video, then left an encouraging comment. Then, she began to watch Ayatsuki Ayaka’s summer fashion guide for hot girls.

After a while, the doorbell rang. Takahashi Saeko exited YouTube and switched to the exterior camera feed. She saw a group consisting of two women and one man.

It’s quite lively today, she muttered to herself, put away her phone, went to the door, and opened it, saying, "Welcome, renowned detective. Would you care for some tea?"

Emily spread her hands. "No, thank you. Drinking your tea feels a bit risky. I came to ask you for information on Dio. He’s a criminal linked to the Ishida and Konishi Financial Company. Caucasian, estimated to be over 1.9 meters tall. He has sharp facial features, a good physique, and his assassination techniques are extremely professional."

"Dio?" Behind her mask, Takahashi Saeko was bewildered. When did such a formidable foreigner appear in Japan?