Seeing Horitake raise his hand to strike again, the delinquents scrambled to the ground, instinctively clutching their heads in a desperate "protective crouch." They looked as though they were on the verge of tears.
Looking at their pathetic display, Horitake lost the will to hit them further.
What are a bunch of grown men doing, imitating a little girl's 'moe' pose? It's not cute at all—in fact, it's hideous. Downright eye-searing!
"Stand up! All of you!"
The thugs snapped to attention instantly, standing before Horitake with the rigid discipline of fresh recruits.
"It started with a simple question, and you lot had to go and make it complicated," Horitake grumbled. "Fine. Let me ask you again: do you know of any place in this city where the Yin is strong and the Yang is weak? A place thick with the scent of rouge and powder?"
The delinquents exchanged knowing glances.
The leader's eyes suddenly lit up with a flash of "revelation." He rubbed his palms together, scurrying to Horitake's side with a fawning, oily smile—the kind of look shared between men who think they're on the same wavelength.
"I see, I see! So that's what the Boss is looking for! Why didn't you say so earlier?" he chirped, oozing sycophancy. "You must be new in town, so you wouldn't know where the real fun is. Don't you worry! Tonight, the boys and I will treat you. We'll take you somewhere you can really... enjoy yourself!"
Horitake's face remained stone-cold. He swung a heavy fist, and a second later, several large, steaming lumps sprouted on the delinquents' heads.
"Who said I wanted you to treat me?" Horitake barked. "Stop wasting my time! Just tell me where the damn place is!"
Clutching the new welt on his head, the leader's eyes welled up with genuine tears of frustration. He finally answered honestly.
"Y-you see... things are a bit different here compared to other cities. In most places, there are dozens of little spots to find 'entertainment.' But here, there's only one. It's the largest, most extravagant establishment in the city. You could say it stands alone at the top."
Horitake's interest piqued. If it's the only one of its kind in town, it's almost certainly the place.
"What's the name? Where is it? Give me the directions, and make them clear!"
"The place is called 'The Solitary Bloom.' On the surface, it's a massive bathhouse, but in reality... well, you understand, Boss. Its full name is the Solitary Bloom Hot Springs and Bathhouse. Just keep going straight through two intersections. At the third, turn right and keep walking. You can't miss it. It's a huge, bustling building—the most obvious thing in the district."
Listening to the description, Horitake felt a wave of speechless disbelief.
I thought a place like this in a small town would be like the Yoshiwara—a sprawling district of tea houses and brothels. I didn't expect a single, massive bathhouse. Isn't this just a high-end spa club? They've certainly kept it modern!
And the name... The Solitary Bloom.
It was a curious choice. Normally, the idiom implied someone standing out from the crowd due to their excellence. But in a place of ill repute, the mind tended to wander toward more... suggestive interpretations of a "solitary branch" or a "lone bloom."
Horitake couldn't help but let his imagination drift. Does the name imply one-on-one service? No 'group activities' allowed? Is that why it's a 'solitary' bloom?
Wait, stop. My head is going to the gutter! Snap out of it!
He rubbed his temples, forcibly ejecting the inappropriate thoughts and returning to a serious mindset. He looked back at the thugs, his expression softening slightly.
"See? Was that so hard? If you'd just answered the question, you could have skipped the beating."
The leader hovered closer, still trying to score points. "So, Boss? What do you think? If you're looking for a good time tonight, the tab is on us."
"Get lost!" Horitake sent the man flying back into the dark alley with a well-placed kick. "I'm done with you. Don't let me see your faces again!"
He then turned and gestured to Shinobu, who had been watching from a distance.
"Shinobu-nee, I found it. Let's go!"
Shinobu, who had been observing the "negotiations" with a look of mild amusement, nodded and fell into step beside him.
The remaining delinquents, those who hadn't been kicked away, watched the pair depart. Seeing the handsome young man and the strikingly beautiful woman walking together, they exchanged puzzled looks.
Wait... the Boss is going to a place like that for fun, and he's bringing a girl like that with him? Is that even allowed?
And that girl... she's a total beauty. What is the Boss planning? He couldn't be planning to wreck the joint, could he?
Despite their curiosity, the memory of Horitake's brutal efficiency kept them rooted to the spot. None of them dared to follow.
Following the thugs' directions, Horitake and Shinobu soon arrived at their destination.
They looked up, taking in the sight of a massive, multi-story structure that covered a staggering amount of land. It was a gargantuan bathhouse.
They watched the entrance, where a sea of luxury and decadence played out. Shimmering lanterns and vibrant lights illuminated the night. Wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials flowed in and out, almost every man with a beautiful, elegantly dressed woman draped over his arm.
Their gaze traveled up to the giant sign hanging above the main gate, which bore the bold characters: THE SOLITARY BLOOM BATHHOUSE.
Horitake and Shinobu both fell silent.
Shinobu's silence stemmed from her upbringing. As a relatively traditional young woman, the sheer, unabashed stimulation of such a place was difficult to process.
Horitake, on the other hand, was stunned by the sheer opulence and luxury. Looking at the sprawling architecture, he felt a fleeting sense of deja vu, reminded of the grand bathhouse from Spirited Away.
Of course, this place couldn't truly compare to a spirit-world palace, but it possessed a similar, overwhelming aura. Even without stepping inside, Horitake could feel the thick, cloying atmosphere of extravagant debauchery.
This place is a gold-sink, he thought. In a town this size, the annual revenue from this one building alone probably accounts for half the local GDP.
They had found the location. But that brought up the next problem: how were they supposed to get in?
If they couldn't even cross the threshold, they stood no chance of rescuing Senjuro Rengoku, who was likely being held captive within those walls.
Poor Senjuro, Horitake thought grimly. What kind of treatment is a boy like him receiving in a place like this?
Comparing it to a lamb entering a lion's den didn't seem quite right. It was more like throwing a choice cut of meat into a pack of starving wolves.
The two of them stood at a distance, staring at the lavish bathhouse, neither speaking for a long moment. Finally, Shinobu let out a soft, weary sigh.
"There's no other way," she said quietly. "I'll have to go in and scout the place."
Horitake's head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing with immediate suspicion.
"Scout? How exactly do you plan on 'scouting'?"
His tone had turned uncharacteristically sharp, bordering on menacing.
Shinobu didn't need to ask to know what was bothering him. Horitake's eyes were bloodshot, his voice aggressive, and his entire posture radiated a fierce, protective intensity.
"Don't even tell me," Horitake continued, his voice low and dangerous. "If you're thinking about disguising yourself as one of the bath girls to get inside, let me make this very clear: I will never, under any circumstances, agree to that! Don't even let the thought cross your mind!"
To Horitake, Shinobu was off-limits—a sacred existence. The mere idea of her entering such a den of iniquity was a line he refused to let anyone cross.
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