“Kichijōji.”

This city has two appearances, day and night.

“West Tokyo’s best place to live”, bustling with people, is its daytime appearance. When the sun goes down, the lively shopping street transforms into an entertainment district for adults.

「Are there really any store in a place like this?」

「Ouch! Uuu…… Why is the ceiling so low here……」

The entrance was located in a commercial building tucked away in a back alley, in the midst of bustling life. The steep stairs leading to the basement is narrow enough for one person to pass through.

At the bottom of the stairs was a single black wooden door with a small plaque over a sign that read “Today’s private party”. Rintaro, who was leading the way, checked the name of the restaurant on the plate.

「Hideout bar “Kemo Kichijōji”…… We found it, It’s here!」

When Rintaro opened the door, the first thing he saw was the long counter that occupied most of the narrow, dimly lit store. It was a small bar with no table seats and only seven counter seats.

「Welcome, nyan.」

Behind the counter, against the backdrop of sparkling bottles, a girl in a crisp bartender’s outfit was shaking a shaker. However, contrary to her adult atmosphere, she has cat ears that looked like a joke on the top of her head.

However, in the back seat was a customer who stood out far more than the cat-eared bartender.

The figure, which was clearly too large compared to the size of the chair, exuded a tremendous sense of intimidation even from a distance.

The shirt, stretched so tight by the thick pectoral muscles that it could be mistaken for an encyclopedia, looks as if it will tear at any moment.

When the giant figure saw the faces of Rintaro and the others, he burst into a hearty laugh, showing off his white teeth like a boy.

「Yoo, I’ve been waiting for you, brother! Now, come and sit, gahahahaha!!」

The leader of the beast-type mysterious beings, Hundred Beasts General Bearion… Perhaps he should be called Kumada Iwao since he’s now in human form.

This time, this man suddenly picked up the phone and called Rintaro’s group.

Rintaro sat the smaller Samecchi between Bearion and himself, as Bearion is almost two people wide. Minato and Kirika were sitting at the counter on the opposite side of Rintaro.

「Oh, an adult atmosphere…」

The atmosphere of the bar made Samecchi very nervous. It was no wonder, since it was not a place for children to come to begin with.

「What do you want to order, nyan?」

「Samecchi will order the one with the cute name “Pinyancolada”, ssu!」

「I won’t let you drink, you know? Orange juice for Samecchi and Kirika, and the rest can order as you like.」

「Understood, nyan.」

After placing his order, Rintaro turned to Bearion.

「So, what’s the purpose of calling us to a place like this?」

「Gahahahaha!! I heard, brother, that you’re in trouble because of money!!」

「……As always, you got your info quick.」

Rintaro was about to say, “It’s the vice president of your place who was the cause of the problem,” but he held his tongue. Bearion was just insensitive, and probably had no intention of provoking him.

「I’m actually grateful to you, you know? I wouldn’t even be able to open this bar without you, brother…」

「We are really thankful to you regarding that, nyanna. Here, it’s your “Screwdriver”, nyan.」

「……Thanks.」

That probably referred to a previous incident in which the Hundred Beasts Legion disappeared one after another. While picking up the cocktail, Rintaro looked around the store.

This restaurant must be run by a member of the Hundred Beast Legion, after all. The furnishings, such as paintings depicting the savannah grasslands, are somewhat beastly.

「I see. So this is how the Hundred Beast Legion raises funds.」

The reason why he called Rintaro’s group all the way to West Tokyo was to introduce them to this bar. Then, there was only one topic that Bearion and Rintaro should talk about.

「Let’s stop talking about the boring stuff. Let’s talk about how to make money.」

「As expected of my brother, straight to the point!」

Beirion laughed and gulped down a bottle of whiskey. He is not the type of person who would fit with such a quiet store.

A new cocktail was added to the list before Rintaro’s dismay.

「Your “Sex on the beach”, nyan.」

「I didn’t order that.」

「It’s from the customer over there, nyan.」

He looked at the end of the counter and saw Kirika winking at him while shaking a glass of orange juice. Then, he aligned his index and middle fingers and gave a flick to her forehead.

It’ probably fine to ignore her.

「General Bearion, I’m embarrassed to say that the heinous legion is seriously short of money. We can’t afford to open a store and collect money like you do here.」

「Hey, who told you to take such a leisurely approach to making money? Who do you think I am? It’s obvious that I must have come up with something that will make you more money quickly, right?」

Bereion smiled and gave a thumbs up.

「We should help each other in times like this, right? Please let us, Hundred Beasts Legion, repay our debt!」

「General Bearion……!」

To be honest, Rintaro was wary of Bearion’s call. But how reassuring it was to have a “brother” supporting Rintaro’s back as a senior executive.

Rintaro was ashamed of his own lowly heart for being wary of this spirited man. As expected, what one should have is a dependable brother (friend).

「Thank you, General Bearion.」

「Gahahahahaha, don’t worry about it! You and I are brothers, It’s all good!」

「……Oops no good, it seems I drank too much. Where is the toilet?」

「The door in the back, nyan.」

Rintaro looked at the bathroom door and saw a poster advertising a wrestling show. It may not match the atmosphere of the bar, but it is typical of Hundred Beasts Legion.

Super Strongest Japan Pro Wrestling Spring Tour “The New Beast Generation” will be held!

The schedule starts tomorrow, the location is Green Dome Maebashi, and the performance is…

――Green Destroyer Kuriyama.

「Let’s go home, guys!　We can’t stay here!」

「Huh, aniki, are we leaving already, ssuka?」

「Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong brother, the night is just getting started?」

「There’s nothing to be done! What is that malicious edited image?!」

Rintaro pointed to a poster on the bathroom door and shouted in protest. A macho man with Rintaro’s face cut out pasted on it was placed prominently at the center of the poster.

「Oh, you found it. I’m looking forward to your tour starting tomorrow!」

「I won’t do it!　Why am I being made a member of Super Strong Japan Pro Wrestling without permission?　I’ll definitely never stand in the ring!」

Minato looked at the poster and held her head while her face turned bright red, as if she remembered something. The surrealistic image made even Samecchi and Kirika a bit flustered.

「Damn! It was a mistake to answer the call so openly! I’ll have to go home and rethink my strategy!」

「Gahahahaha, that can’t happen, you know? Oi Nyanzo!」

「The total cost for 4 people including charge fee, service fee, weekend fee, appetizer fee, and drink fee is 3.8 million yen.」

「It’s a rip-off bar!!!」

Bereon held Rintaro firmly by the shoulders with his log-like arms.

As if his spirits had swelled, his kind friend Kumada Iwao was no longer there. A lion’s mane covered Rintaro’s face, and the vicious beast’s face peered into his humiliated, contorted features.

Arc Dominion’s strongest physical fighter, Hundred Beasts General Bearion, rattled Rintaro’s body with his fangs.

「Gahhahahaha, just kidding! I can’t possibly get “additional fees” from my own brother! What, I will give you the fight money so go ahead and smash it out of the park!」

Bearion formed a circle with his sharp clawed index finger and thumb.

---

<155: Heinous Legion Emergency Meeting
157: Green Destroyer Kuriyama>