Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 9 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.07 Shiika Part 3 ==
This was Shiika’s second time being invited to a party by Nanana.

The first time was the party conducted on top of the pleasure boat floating in the lake. That party sponsored by the Round Table was chic and had a calm atmosphere.

This night, however, the party she’d been invited to was extravagant and its scale was much larger. It rented an entire floor in a high-class hotel and everything there was sparkling. The center of the hall had a champagne bottle tower, and the jewels sunk into the glasses reflected the illumination, shining in all seven colors.

Shouts rose from somewhere around.

A lady was being ecstatic about something she was holding up. Apparently, she’d found a diamond ring inside the cake she was eating. A round of applause thundered at the hosts’ generous plan.

“Oh wow…”

Shiika, clad in a dress borrowed from Nanana, tried digging in her own cake. It had only strawberry mousse inside it, but no ring.

“Yahah. It’s plain impossible. It’s obviously all an act. That woman’s a major stockholder of the jewelry company sponsoring this party. She probably ate the cake brought to her by the waiter.”

After drinking the entire glass of champagne, Nanana snuggled her reddened cheeks to Shiika. The disappointed Shiika brought the ruined cake to her mouth.

“I-I see.”

“Well, we can’t know unless you eat all the cakes here. If you want a ring, should I buy you one?”

“No. I just thought it’d be fun to find one in a cake.”

Other than Shiika and Nanana there were Aijisupa and Pochi clad in formal suits, and Nihei was also there for some reason. Nanana’s secretary was apparently conducting business at some other place, so she wasn’t coming.

“I’m glad you invited me to a party, but is it fine? I mean, I’m… the SEPB might…”

“It’s fiiine, this place is beyond the law. If you’re near rich people, nothing can get you. —Well, the Central Headquarters are the only exception. But if you stay out of their jurisdiction and stay near me it’s fine!”

“…Rich people sure are amazing.”

If what Nanana said was true, she was like a goddess. Shiika feared the SEPB, but they could even keep away from such an organization.

“See that white beard over here? He’s the prime minister of a small country. That uniformed man over there is the major general of an oil-producing country. Oh, we also have the religious leader of a disputed territory. Everyone in the jewelry business have such vulgar faces.”

“…”

“This place has no conflict or wars. Those who’d normally shoot missiles at each other can smile here and raise glasses. Yahah, isn’t money incredible? In a certain sense, don’t you think this is the very image of world peace?”

Money makes one forget wars.

If that was truth, would money also erase the fights between Mushitsuki?

Shiika couldn’t fully say it was impossible. If she was rich, even if she announced herself being a Mushitsuki, the people here would probably outwardly greet her with a smile.

“And if… the money’s gone?”

“Oh. Then they won’t even be looking in your direction.”

Nanana’s index finger poked the nose of the now-silent Shiika.

“Ah… w-what?”

“You’re making that face only because you don’t know the power of money. You’re thinking that this connection is superficial anyway, right?”

“…”

“Even so—it’s much better than vanishing without saying anything. As long as I make money, it’ll never vanish.”

A shadow befell Nanana’s drunken expression. Perhaps something like that happened to her before.

Shiika left the cake and intertwined her fingers.

She could understand what Nanana said. She had no intention to deny the fact that there were these kinds of relationships and that people treasured them.

“What is iiit? You look like you wanna say something. Do you think I’m lonely? Pokey poke.”

“Uh… I do think there are such relationships.”

“But?”

“I just wonder if they have any other important things… like family, friends, or lovers—”

“That also depends on money.”

“T-that’s not true.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I too had family, friends and other people important to me. —But they’re all gone.”

“…”

“That’s why I’m trying to buy them back with the power of money.”

Nanana grinned. Was she actually drunk or just acting? Her tone was certain and Shiika knew that the girl really believed she could do it.

Even so Shiika simply couldn’t agree with her. She fidgeted.

“Did the people important to you want money…?”

“…What does that mean?”

“I can’t say that relationships made with money are bad… but buying people who want other kinds of relationships… isn’t it a betrayal?”

Nanana’s face stiffened. Her cheerful smile vanished and she glared at Shiika.

“Then what are you telling me to do—”

''What are you telling me to do then.

About to say this, Nanana was surprised at the man who suddenly appeared right in front of her eyes, becoming speechless.

It was Nihei. He held a plate with a mountain of food on it, stuffing his cheeks full. He hadn’t a shred of manners.

“Nanana-hyan.”

“Eek…! W-what do you want? You’re looking like a squirrel there with all that food!”

“Ngh… Mm. Say, isn’t it about time to tell me? Why did you bring me here?”

“T-there’s no reason in particular. I just wanted to show a wannabe businessman how the top looks like.”

“Hmm…”

As Nanana spoke while backing away, Nihei looked around the venue with a cold face.

“I can’t sense any value from what I see around, though. …Oh, but the ring that lady got just now was nice.”

“Acting like you’re a hotshot is fine and all, but your legs are shaking… aren’t you eating to hide your nervousness?

“A-at least say I’m excited.”

While Nihei tried acting brave, Nanana lowered her voice and spoke.

“—Have you been able to find Chronicler?”

“Oh, so you’ve seen that video. Wasn’t it amazing? You could feel her conviction.”

“I want to meet up with Chronicler. Could you get in contact with the one you bought the video from?”

“Hmm, that’s impossible. Apparently he was caught by the SEPB.”

“What about the possibility of other such videos? Even word of mouth from other aficionados is fine; just find someone who looks like they have such a video, can you get their information?”

“Oh, to think the great Chairman of Akasegawa Foundation would have a request for me… did something happen?”

“I don’t want the company to know about it. There’s not much money in it, and you should know better how to get in contact with those people, right? I’ll pay you, of course.”

As Nanana glared at him, Nihei’s face turned serious and he lightly slapped his own cheeks.

“I am very sorry for being rude and making fun of my client. —Fine, I’ll do it. Three-way satisfaction is my conviction.”

“Not that three-way satisfaction again? Won’t you stop that? It’s not going to end well.”

“It’s fine. I told ya I’ll do it.”

Finishing the conversation that Shiika didn’t understand, Nihei who was about to go load up on some food again stopped his legs.

“Oh right, Nanana-chan. How’s the auction going?”

“I’ll win this time.”

“Oh, how much did you bid?”

Nanana responded to Nihei’s question with only a grin. Her face was full of confidence.

Shiika tilted her head.

“Who was the other bidder anyway?”

“Who knows… but it doesn’t matter anymore. There won’t be any next bid.”

“Whoa, it means that no one can pay any more than that? I’m glad I didn’t ask the sum.”

It happened as Nihei groaned with a shudder.

Pochi noiselessly approached Nanana, handing her a cellphone.

“—Say what?”

Nanana speaking with someone, her face changed.

“I’ll head out.”

Pushing the cellphone back to Pochi, the girl spun her dress. Shiika and Nihee hurriedly followed her.

“W-what’s wrong?”

Shiika asked, but Nanana stayed silent.

Cutting through the party hall as if running, she leapt to the elevator. Arriving at the first floor and ignoring the hotel worker calling out to her, she entered the limousine waiting at the entrance.

“Nanana…?”

Even inside the car Nanana kept being silent. She didn’t even touch her wine, but bit her fingernails with an angry face. Shiika exchanged glances with Aijisupa and Nihei.

The white limousine and escorting guards rushed through the night capital.

The blinding lights outside the window passed as if being blown away.

Soon the limousine arrived at a large, circular building. The relief engraved on the main gate informed that this was the Akasegawa Group’s headquarters.

As it was way past office hours, the lighting was very sporadic. There were no people walking at the gate.

After the limousine parked right in front of the building, Nanana leapt out of the car. Shiika followed her.

“—What does that mean? Explain, now.”

The woman standing at the center glared at Nanana.

“Just like I explained on the phone.”

The woman holding the hand of a teddy bear—Nanana’s secretary—spoke in a mechanical tone.

“The affiliated businesses of Akasegawa Foundation are being bought.”

“I’m asking how come you haven’t noticed!”

“They were aiming for the drop in the Foundation’s stocks these last few days.”

“As if that sort of sniping could be so convenient! I don’t even know why the Foundation’s value dropped, and yet you look as if you already—”

A light shone on Nanana’s profile. She became speechless.

A new car appeared, driving through the Akasegawa Offices’ gate.

Getting off the car parked at the entrance was a gentleman in a wheelchair.

“Munakata-san?”

The surprised Shiika looked at the man, Munakata Kaiji. Nanana furrowed her brows at this sudden visitor.

“…”

Without any greeting, Munakata slowly rolled himself beside the secretary.

And that was when ''that'' appeared.

“…!”

The sound of shoes being dragged made everyone look back.

Appearing at the gate was the abnormal auctioneer clad in shabby suits and coat, Sotheby.

“Sotheby…? Today’s not a payment day, though?”

Nanana welcomed him with a puzzled expression. But Sotheby just passed by her.

He dragged his decayed leather shoes in front of the wheelchair man—Munakata Kaiji.

“—”

Perhaps realizing something, Nanana gasped.

Shiika recalled at the same time.

Aiming for a person’s assets as if one knew something like this was going to happen—

She’d already heard of this way of doing things.

That was definitely when Munakata Kaiji went missing—

“The payment’s deadline presses closer…”

In front of Sotheby lowering his head, Munakata pulled a card out of his pocket.

Its pitch-black surface had a golden circle on it. And it was studded with jewels that spelled the letters “XIII”—

“The board meeting has reached a decision about the responsibility for the losses of assets.”

Hearing the secretary’s words, Nanana’s shoulders trembled.

Shiika too was speechless at this sight.

Why did Munakata have the Round Table card?

Not to mention it was the ''thirteenth'' member card that wasn’t supposed to exist—

The secretary and Sotheby’s voice overlapped.

“Akasegawa Nanana, you will now be removed from your position as the Chairman, and the entirety of your assets will be used to provide for the losses under the jurisdiction of the Foundation.”

“Will you bid or fold?”

Nanana widened her eyes, shouting.

“Munakataaa!”

''There was one.

They existed there.

A person who was neither one of the twelve members nor a rich outsider—

The thirteenth Round Table member, the unbelievable rich person among their allies, was right in front of them.

“W-wait, so Munakata-san was—the other bidder…?”

Shiika groaned in shock.

Even in such a situation Munakata Kaiji couldn’t look Shiika in the eyes. He just spoke calmly.

“—Fold.”

Nanana’s expression froze.

Sotheby turned back.

“The other bidder declared he was folding!”

The auctioneer’s declaration echoed through the empty building.

“Congratulations! Just now, Akasegawa Nanana-sama had been declared as the winner of the auction!”

“A-ah…”

Nanana’s expression kept twisting.

“Please pay up, Akasegawa Nanana-sama!”

“—She can no longer pay.”

The secretary said mechanically. Sotheby’s movements stopped completely.

“Why, this is a breach of contract! The violators must be penalized!”

“Aaah… Uaaaahhhh!!!”

Nanana, shocked at losing all her assets, held her head and crouched.

A singing voice echoed around.

It sounded somewhat familiar. A beautiful soprano—came from above.

“…!”

Looking up the night sky, Shiika became speechless.

She could see a woman clad in an evening dress falling down like dancing flower petals. Her lips, adorned with lipstick blacker than the darkest night, were singing high above.

“Christy! Punish the violators!”

“Waaahhhhh!!!”

Sotheby’s declaration.

Christy’s song.

Nanana’s scream.

Aijisupa, Pochi and the other bodyguards of Nanana moving at the same time.

While watching this scene straight out of a nightmare, Shiika—

Felt like she could hear the popping sound of the bubble of greed.


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==Notes==
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