Episode 18: "Power Abusing Boss"
Tsuki Iroha
"Aaah, I'm so full! Thanks a billion for preparing us food, Minami!"
Everyone had woken up in the evening and ended up eating a late breakfast at the restaurant that was next to the hotel's entrance.
Their meal included a rice ball, a rolled omelet, pickled vegetables, and miso soup.
It had been a while since they had a hot meal, and it helped soothe their bodies.
Minami Oi
"It's nothing. I simply heated up and prepared what was in the refrigerator."
The restaurant had closed down when the governing rules went into effect. Its function now was allowing people to cook using the ingredients that were in the refrigerator.
Minami Oi
"The person we should really be thanking is the hotel's manager.
It seems as though she made various preparations in the event she died."
Earlier, Yo and Minami had looked through the kitchen.
They found a large amount of well organized food and ingredients.
Along with them was a note explaining where they could acquire more supplies in case of emergencies.
Yutaka Gotanda
"She had allowed me to use the hotel for business negotiations on a few occasions. There aren't many people in this world who worked as hard as she did.
To think such a precious life was taken from us..."
A stillness fell in the room after everyone finished eating. They reflected on the fact that the Manager was no longer there with them.
Tsuruko Semba
"Um, could I please have everyone's attention for a moment?"
Tsuruko, who had left to use the restroom, came running back into the room.
It seemed like she had been in a hurry.
She almost fell over as soon as she stopped, but managed to grab onto Q, and narrowly avoided hitting the ground.
Q
"What's the matter?"
Tsuruko Semba
"K-Kazuma's at the entrance!"
Yo Kuronaka
"Huh?! Are you serious?!"
Tsuki Iroha
"Thaht means trooble. Lesh go!"
Tsuki spoke with half an onigiri in her mouth, everyone quickly jumped up to their feet and rushed out of the restaurant, making their way to the entrance.
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"P-Please forgive me! It was my mistake!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Your idiocy is truly astounding. To think there are people out there who can botch such a simple task.
Now, tell me. You're not doing this to illustrate the stupid mistakes humans are capable of, are you?"
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"U-Uh..."
Kazuma Ichinose
"C'mon! Speak up! Are you so useless you can't even talk now?!"
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Guh, it's... it's not like that! I mean..."
Kazuma Ichinose
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop making that face! Are you tryin' to make it seem like I'm bullying you?
It's obvious you're just faking being hurt to garner some sympathy. I can see right through you, y'know."
When everyone arrived at the scene, Kazuma was there yelling at one of his subordinates.
The person being yelled at was clearly one of the 24 City Enforcers.
They couldn't see their face because of the mask, but from their voice and build, it was obvious it was a woman.
It was painful to see her trembling with fear, so Yo took a step forward and got in-between them.
Yo Kuronaka
"I got no clue what you're doing here, but you're taking things too far."
Kazuma Ichinose
"My, my. Look who's turned up. Aren't you all the members of the Sewage Tribe?"
When Kazuma noticed Yo and the others, the corners of his mouth curved upward.
He fiddled with his scarf before donning a smug look on his face.
The enforcers around him held their breath; only the petite subordinate who was being scolded showed any signs of movement with her trembling.
Hyakuichitaro Senju
"It's the Trash Tribe, get it right! And to think you'd go and yell at a crying girl, you really are the freakin' worst!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Don't go interfering when I'm disciplining my subordinates. These days there's no difference if you're a man or a woman. If we went and showed favoritism toward one or the other, wouldn't that be a form of sexual harassment? Or am I wrong?"
Kazuma shrugged his shoulders and put both of his hands in the air.
There was a coldness in his gaze that suggested it would be laughable to make a counterargument.
Yutaka Gotanda
"Good grief. What a textbook case of a superior abusing their position. I'm at a loss for words."
Kazuma Ichinose
"You... I feel like I've seen your face before."
Yutaka Gotanda
"I'm—"
Yutaka slipped his fingers into his breast pocket, took out his business card holder, and opened the lid with his thumb.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Ah, ah, ah! No need to tell me your name. I'm not in the habit of using my precious brain space to store pointless information."
Kazuma brushed him away as if he was shooing away a bug.
His gesture made the air around them tense. Yutaka stopped his movements, and then quietly put away his business card holder.
Tsuki Iroha
"You're such an annoying prick! The Manager loved this hotel with all her heart, she wouldn't want scum like you here!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Quiet down, girl. Low level employees such as yourself don't have the right to speak to the Director.
What's the point of bringing up that dead woman anyway? She was the one who denied my accomodations at this hotel over and over again.
So, in the end, she got what she deserved. That's what happens when you go and disrespect your betters."
Before he realized it, Yo's fists were shaking.
He silenced the anger welling up in the back of his throat, barely managing to stop his legs from moving forward.
Yo Kuronaka
"How dare you! You were the one who got her laid off! What are you even doing here anyway?!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"For a while now, I've been thinking this hotel would be the perfect fit for me as Number One.
And considering that the Manager is now six feet under, there's nothing stopping me from taking the suite on the top floor as my own starting... how about today?"
Tsuki Iroha
"There's NO way in Hell we're going to let that happen! Not a chance, you piece of crap!"
Tsuki's voice echoed around the room, causing Kazuma to frown.
Kazuma Ichinose
"You're really getting on my last nerve, girlie.
At any rate, it must be fate that we're all meeting here. I have some welcoming news for you."
Yo Kuronaka
"You? Have news for us?"
Kazuma Ichinose
"You see, I did some research on you all. Some of you are rather noisy and boisterous, but there's also a few of you who are quite excellent.
I'd be heartbroken to take the lives of those who have prosperous futures ahead. So I propose—"
Kazuma's mouth was ever so slightly open, and just as he was about to continue his rambling...
Tsuki Iroha
"NOT. HAPPENING. NOT IN A MILLION BILLION QUADRILLION YEARS."
Tsuki loudly cut him off.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Tch, kids these days! I was still in the middle of making my proposal! Can't you bother to wait until the very end to freak out?!"
Kazuma gave a rather over the top shoulder shrug and then cleared his throat.
He straightened his back out and acted as if his anger from before suddenly vanished. Then he began speaking with a more eloquent tone than before.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Let me make you an almost irresistible offer. How would you all like to become my subordinates? If you do so, I vow to not lay you off."
Yo Kuronaka
"Dunno what that brain of yours is thinking. You really came all the way out here to say that?"
Minami Oi
"He's most likely aiming to cause a divide among us. Just like he did to the Shinagawa Tribe back in the day."
Minami quietly walked up to Yo and whispered those words into his ear.
It was true, though. Kazuma's underhanded tactics were what created the internal discord amongst the Shinagawa Tribe Members.
Yo could feel his anger toward Kazuma bubbling back up in the back of his throat after suppressing it just moments ago.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Why the hesitation? For the likes of you, this is the best offer you're gonna get, ain't it?
I mean, getting to work under someone as excellent as myself will guarantee you future success—"
Just as he was going to continue his speech, a sharp shattering sound cut through the air.
Everyone's attention quickly snapped to what looked to be one of the bigger enforcers. He had just destroyed the suitcase he was holding, shattering it into little pitiful pieces.
Buff 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Nooo! I-I'm so sorry! It was an accident!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Was that... my suitcase?!
Ohh, you! What are you DOING?! That was a limited edition item that's not in production anymore!"
Once more, Kazuma's attempt at eloquence was smashed to bits.
His face had twisted and warped as he spiraled into a full rage. The image of the calm Director he had maintained until now was completely gone.
Buff 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Y-You see, I thought I would bring it up to your room, but it seems like I applied too much force and..."
The subordinate who had managed to destroy the suitcase was buff enough to be a professional wrestler.
He could probably squish an ordinary person like a grape, so it wasn't really that surprising that he shattered the suitcase, which sounded to be an antique.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Are you telling me you can't even carry out a simple task like carrying luggage? Are you more inferior than a carriage horse? Huh?! No, perhaps you're more like the horse's excrement!"
Buff 24 Tribe Enforcer
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Gah! Whatever! Just go to the room and... do something! Make the bed! We'll discuss the details of your punishment later!"
Buff 24 Tribe Enforcer
"U-Understood, sir. But, uh, about the room key..."
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Don't worry! I-I have the key! Wait, huh?"
Kazuma loudly slapped his forehead with his hand and let out a deep sigh.
His words were as cold as ice, yet his tone was both angry and surprised.
Kazuma Ichinose
"Ohh, there's no way this is happening. Genuinely, no way it's possible but I'm going to ask anyways: did you lose the key?"
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Of course not, sir! It's... it's just I can't find it right now, that's all!"
Kazuma Ichinose
"Don't you go changing your words around in an attempt to trick me! You can't remember where you put the key!
Or perhaps it's actually your brain that you've lost? No, no. Knowing you, you never had much of a brain to begin with!"
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"I'm sorry, sir..."
Kazuma Ichinose
"Bah, I think I've been yelling a bit too much. Hey, you!"
Kazuma's voice had grown hoarse from yelling, and he seemed slightly out of breath.
Lazy 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Yeah, yeah. What do you want?"
Kazuma Ichinose
"A single word reply would've sufficed. Before we walked into the hotel, didn't I order you to bring me something to drink?
So, where is it? Did you get something that's invisible to the Director's eyes or something?"
Lazy 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Ah, well, you see. I completely forgot about it."
Kazuma Ichinose
"You IDIOT! Who do you think you are?! Do you want my throat to be drier than a desert?!"
Lazy 24 Tribe Enforcer
"It wasn't my intention..."
Kazuma Ichinose
"You're so so SO annoying! I don't want to hear one more excuse out of you, you lazy slob!"
The lazy enforcer shrugged his shoulders, his bodying trembling at the angry scolding.
But all his nonchalant attitude did was add fuel to the fire.
Yo and the others found themselves at a loss for words, utterly flabbergasted by the back and forth transpiring in front of them.
Yo Kuronaka
"What's even going on here anymore? Is this really how Kazuma constantly treats his subordinates?"
Tsuruko Semba
"It's like he's just vomiting out insult after insult. Just hearing it non stop is making me sick..."
Super Thin 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Wait, wait, wait, one second sir!
I know everyone's made some kind of mistake, but there was a lot that went on leading up to now!"
The super thin enforcer who had been silent the whole time decided to take a step forward.
Yo really admired the enforcer's courage to take action, but their knees began to buckle, and their body was swaying back and forth like a pendulum. It was like looking at a small animal being sucked up by a storm.
Kazuma Ichinose
"You... Do you even know who you're talking back to?! I'm the DIRECTOR! And unfortunately for me, that makes me your superior!
If you can't even remember something as simple as that, then you need to have your brain examined by a neurologist!"
Super Thin 24 Tribe Enforcer
"E-Eeek!"
Having been yelled at by Kazuma, the thin enforcer cupped his ears with his hands and crumpled to the ground.
He looked so pathetic, it was painful to look at him.
Kazuma Ichinose
"...Damn it, damn it, damn it all!"
As he repeated angrily to himself, Kazuma walked over to a nearby waiter.
The waiter deftly poured some water into a paper cup, and Kazuma downed it immediately.
Kazuma Ichinose
"See?! Why can't any of you do something as simple as that! It's as if I'm asking the impossible!
I thought making a group of low skill employees work together would create something beautiful! That you'd be able to at least do something! But, as it turns out, everyone besides me will always be useless!"
Kazuma spat those words out, then crushed the paper cup in his hand.
Yutaka Gotanda
"...I can't forgive the way he's treating them. I'm at my limit."
The one member of the group most enraged was Yutaka.
He had managed to keep quiet during the business card incident, but now he looked just as angry as Yo.
But unlike Yo, he couldn't hold it down. It had boiled over and he had a demonic scowl on his face.
Minami Oi
"Please, control yourself! If Kazuma targets you at this point, it'll hinder our plans!"
Yutaka Gotanda
"Are you telling me to just stand here and do nothing?!"
Minami Oi
"No, but I'm asking you to leave this to me."
Minami took a deep breath, and pushed up her glasses.
With tablet in hand, she walked up to Kazuma with a calm and collected stride.
Minami Oi
"Pardon me. Mr. Ichinose? Could I please ask for a moment of your time? Take a look at this.
There's a master craftsman very close to the hotel here. If you have him repair your suitcase, he can restore it to perfect condition."
Kazuma Ichinose
"Oh? You're quite a tactful woman. You've certainly caught my attention. You know, you can come and work for me whenever you like."
Despite being in a full blown fit of rage just moments ago, Kazuma's anger seemed to have subsided.
The corners of his mouth had transformed into an unpleasant smile.
Minami Oi
"I may just have to take you up on that offer. Now that I've had the chance to see you up close, I can see you're quite charming."
Minami casted down her eyes slightly, and complimented him with a slightly seductive tone.
Everyone freaked out after seeing her put on such an act.
Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Eh?! Surely she can't be serious!"
Tsuki Iroha
"Well, remove the crappy personality and he is quite a looker."
Yutaka Gotanda
"..."
Q
"Gotanda? You okay? You've gone pale."
Yutaka Gotanda
"I-I'm okay... I think."
Kazuma Ichinose
"Ah, I see! I suppose this is one of those cases of one superior individual recognizing another!
I wish my hopeless birdbrains would learn a thing or two from you."
However, it seemed Minami's seduction had no effect on Kazuma.
Perhaps it was because he didn't seem to have much interest in women to begin with.
But it seemed as though having his ego stroked improved his mood.
Petite 24 Tribe Enforcer
"Guh... We do try our best..."
Kazuma Ichinose
"Having to discipline my worthless employees has made me quite hungry. I'm off to eat."
Kazuma turned on his heel with a big smile on his face, perhaps due to Minami's compliment.
He disappeared through the hotel's entrance, leaving behind the subordinates he had just yelled at just moments ago.
