Endou called the girls back in to listen, and Takumi told them every detail on Ichiko Ayase`s situation. About how her previous deeds have accidentally messed with the yakuzas and how she is suffering right now.

“So they first used this video to blackmail her, threatening that they would upload it… And after that they escalated their revenge by holding her scumbag dad hostage… Basically she`s their sex slave now?” Kirishima`s voice trembled in anger.

“Sadly… yes. But if we can get the police involved,…”

“Don`t get your hopes up Nishimura-kun. How are you so sure that the yakuzas were the ones who planted that spycam? Why is it on the internet already if they plan to use that to capture her?” Endou pointed.

“In case you didn`t notice, this link is a .onion link, which means it belongs to the deep web, and it`s very difficult to access sites like this with a normal browser. Basically only people with the whole link can get to this content. I`m guessing that the yakuzas uploaded this to the dark web for commercial purposes, like selling the link to degenerate middle-aged men and such.”

“Hmm, but then, is the camera still there?” Said Endou.

“Eh…” Takumi was shocked to realize he did not consider this possibility.

All of them sighed, and the “sukeban” was the first to speak:

“So I say we do a full scale attack on those yaks when they attempt ta rape her! They do it at her house right? So why don`t you ask her the address and we`ll come to her rescue! I`m really gonna do a number on these trash!”

“Yea! Let`s kill em!” The other two followed.

“It`s not that simple. We don`t know what we are dealing with here. Yakuza gangs vary in size, and big gangs have access to firearms. We can`t risk blindly running there and getting shot. Also, even if we succeed, it is guaranteed that they will take revenge on us. I don`t want to drag anyone into this, especially you three. Stay out of this.”

“Like hell we are! Let us meet that Ichiko girl! We`ll definitely save her!”

“No, you are not. It`s late already so go home!” Takumi snapped.

“What if we don`t? Don`t act like a coward! I thought you are a real man!?”

“Honestly speaking, Takumi-kun, Sougo-kun would have taken them all on and beaten them into a pulp.” Kirishima added.

Takumi grinded his teeth.

“What do you expect me to do? I care about your safety! Grow up already! This isn`t anime where you can disarm knife with bare hands or dodge bullets! Have some sense for fuck sake!”

(What would Kyoya do in this situation… Yea he would definitely put himself in danger… I can`t let him know…)

Meanwhile, at an obscured workshop, some were still working without regards to time. Pulling the crucible along with the glowing metal inside it out of the kiln, the aged craftsman could tell its temperature just from one look. Hurrying in a precise manner, he clamped the crucible and poured the molten metal into the hole on the mold. The flow was constant and accurate, for this particular product needed perfect resemblance to its blueprint.

The last of his worker bowed and left, as the old man nodded without looking away from the casting station. The sharp eyes on his wrinkled face paid close attention to the shape of the mold, seeing how much it is expanding.

A few meters away from him, another worker is on the sanding belt. It seemed that they were the only two left in the workshop at this hour.

That worker has been wearing a rebreather and shaded goggles ever since the first day he stepped into this place, not taking it off even once.

Having finished his piece, he went to another station. An unassembled firearm lied flat on the crafting table. He quickly assembled the gun, using the new part that had just been made. An Auto Assault model 12 took shape, and he cocked the gun.

The weapon operated smoothly in full auto and single shot. To his left, a dozen of other legal AK-47, Uzi, and Thompson SMG have been successfully tweaked into full auto after having their body replaced.

[a gun`s body is where the code n stuffs are written on, which helps the government manage the firearm. You can basically order every other part online and just make the body of the gun by yourself to craft a ghost gun in America. However gun parts are hard to come by and it`s illegal to buy in many countries. In America, fully automatic version of many firearms has very limited civilian ownership.]

This metal workshop is private property of Boris, under the name of a close Japanese underling. He has been working with the Tokyo police dept, buying large quantities of firearms as well as smuggling gun parts into Japan for the growth of his clan.

Once, Kyoya overheard his conversation with this old craftsman on how to upgrade his current arsenal. After just 2 weeks of research, Kyoya suggested that he could help by rigging the guns into full auto. At first Celestyna laughed, but still told the craftsman to lend Kyoya the workshop and a gun anyways. To their amazement, Kyoya`s first attempt was a success. The shounen`s value in the clan rocketed, after which he only needed less than 100 hours to figure out the way to turn every gun model Boris had into full auto weapons.

“You`re done with today`s batch?” the old man asked.

The masked worker nodded. Then he inspected the products, pointing out the imperfections as well as ways to fix them.

His new student obediently nodded.

“Hey, how about working here full time? I`ll teach you even more things for free, and your wage will be just as high as mine? You have that dedication, young fella, and with experience you`ll become one of Japan greatest metal craftsman.”

He silently rejected.

“Well, your choice. But are you really ok wearing that all day? It`s spring, but the workshop is hot like hell. Some newcomers have even fainted from the heat.”

He signed that the old man need not worry, before they said their goodbye.

“Ah, I almost forgot… Here`re your brass knuckles, wrapped with the most durable leather I have. It feels really nice in the hand, and also looks much better.”

He handed the masked worker some silver brass knuckles, with a spike protruding from the pinky ring. It looked exactly the same as what Kura had given Kyoya for his birthday.

Outside, drug addicts shambled around Tokyo`s darkest alleyways. Those who could no longer stand littered the asphalt like corpses, waiting for the next human to fall victim to mugging or rape.