Strange Grief Wants to Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter's Hero Dream - Chapter 239 p2

Chapter 239 Byakko
Part 2
　Byakko-sama was silent.
　That was a close call. I had heard that the Boss was someone fearsome, but this Byakko-sama was too free-spirited.

　As I held my chest to soothe my *dokidoki* throbbing heart, Byakko-sama opened her mouth terrifyingly. Her tail was shining.

“That Kikkikan-san1 is――A consultant for our organization. I hired him to make our organization specialize in manufacturing Aburaage.” (Imouto Kitsune)

　!?

　That can’t be…… It doesn’t make any sense to have a secret organization manufacturing Aburaage. Are the other Bosses aware of what Byakko-sama is doing?
　Or rather, what is Kikkikan-san?

“Of course, the other knows about this. Kikikan-san is a nickname for 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. That is what we call him.” (Imouto Kitsune)

“Huh……” (Sora)

　As if she was reading my mind, her pinpointed answers made me open my eyes involuntarily.

　No way… To think even the other Bosses knew about it, what a frightening story. What in the world is happening to the organization? What will happen to the organization?
　She was talking about taking over the world with Aburaage, but a secret organization shouldn’t be something like this. As one would expect, even from an organization with a tight hierarchy like this one, there is no way that the other members will just go along with this.

　It is true that “Nine Tails Shadow Fox (Kyubi no Kage Kitsune)” is an organization where only the top sets the rules, but――Would you normally say that secret society are out of fashion?
　Maybe she can’t tell everything to someone like Sora, but in the first place, destroying and recreating with Aburaage…… What does that even mean?

　Unanswerable thoughts are *guruguru* going round and round in my head. Byakko-sama said while *furufuru* wagging his shining tail.

“I am the one――Who decides the laws. Secret societies are out of fashion now. As for the destruction and the recreation, I can’t tell you everything I know about that just yet.” (Imouto Kitsune)

“I-I…… See.” (Sora)

　I can only agree with her answer. As expected of the Boss, does it mean that she knows everything that is going on inside my mind?
　I could feel it thanks to the atmosphere she has around her, but what unfathomable strength she has.

　As Sora shuddered involuntarily, Byakko-sama nodded in satisfaction for some reason.

“However, Byakko-sama………… Even though we are going to destroy and recreate the world with Aburaage, the instructions don’t appear to have been transmitted. Wouldn’t that confuse the members of the organization?” (Sora)

　Like Sora, Gaff, a fairly high-ranking member of the group, did not seem to know about the new policy. Even with all the secrecy, this should never have happened before.
　And there, Byakko-sama asked Sora something for the first time.

“………… Sora, what do you think?” (Imouto Kitsune)

　Well…… First of all, she should contact her subordinates through the Boss’s communication network. It may have been an urgent matter, but the current approach is too unnatural for the organization.
　The leadership of the “Fox (Kitsune)” is quite high. If the order came through the original chain of command, it would have been able to convince them that there is nothing wrong, even if they may feel something strange about it.

　However, there is no way that Byakko-sama does not know such a thing.

　The tail that Byakko-sama was wagging *pitari* stopped. Then she asked in a small voice.

“By the way, just for the record――Sora, do you know…… How my chain of command works?” (Imouto Kitsune)

“N-No………… This, this is too much for a simple priestess to know……” (Sora)

　Why would she ask that? There’s no way I would know about the highest chain of command. The secrecy of the “Fox (Kitsune)” is a complex system.

“I see…………” (Imouto Kitsune)

　Byakko-sama fell silent as if she was pondering something.
　In any case, information sharing is essential if we are to truly change the guidelines. Although Byakko-sama gave orders to Sora’s Sensei, a priest is after all just a priest and is not in charge of the practical affairs of the organization.
　At this rate, the organization will be all messed up.

　And then, there was a fearful knock at the door. Very few people know about this kitchen.
　And the voice I heard was Gaff’s voice.

“Boss, are you there?” (Gaff)

“J-Just a moment!” (Sora)

　I answered hurriedly. Gaff has not yet met this Byakko-sama. Not only that, but he is also unaware that the fake Kitsune-sama is a fake.
　That part was resolved by the fact that the real thing is acquainted with the fake thing, but to begin with, Bosses seldom show their faces.

　The fake was just being open about it, but originally, the location of the boss is normally the most important secret.

“Byakko-sama, he is the one in charge of this operation. What shall we do?” (Sora)

“………… Let him in.” (Imouto Kitsune)

　Apparently, the real thing is just as bold as the fake thing.

　With her permission, I unlocked the door, turned around――And Sora gasped.

　Gaff, who entered, hurriedly stood respectfully by the sight of it.

　Standing there in a calm manner was――Cry Andrich, who certainly should not have been there a moment ago.
　The little lady Byakko-sama who was talking to Sora just a few seconds ago was nowhere to be found.

　And compared to the fake Kitsune-sama――His behavior was different from usual.
　His height and face are the same, but his expression is sharper than usual, and the pressure radiating from his body is off the charts.

　Gaff is pale at the sight of the fake Kitsune-sama, who looks completely different from before.

“T-That’s………… I-I have returned.” (Gaff)

　The fake Kitsune-sama grandiosely nodded. The gesture he made as he sat in the kitchen was unlike anything he had ever done before and was appropriate for the head of a secret organization.

“You did well coming back, the “Thief King (Tozoku Ou)”, Gaff Shenfelder. You don’t have to say anything, the look on your face――It looks like you have completed my orders.” (Cry?)

“Ha………… Thank you very much, it is an honor――” (Gaff)

　Said 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》 in a majestic statement when Gaff was solidified.

“You think I am too different from before, don’t you? My previous attitude was just a bluff. I showed myself in such a pathetic manner in order to, test you. I have certainly seen your loyalty to the organization.” (Cry?)

“!!” (Gaff)

　Gaff Shenfelder’s gestures were *gachigachi* tense. And then, Sora noticed.

　On 《Infinite Variety’s (Senpen Banka)》 butt――There was a white tail growing from it. I have a very bad feeling about this.

　The fake Kitsune-sama chuckled and called out to Gaff who was prostrating.

“Don’t be so scared, I will keep my promise. I will give you――This mask――and the guidelines for the future.” (Imouto Kitsune)

“Guidelines……?” (Gaff)

　Then, the fake fake Kitsune-sama who was being played by Byakko-sama, said in a confident voice that was uncharacteristic of the fake Kitsune-sama.

“The currently ongoing Plan A――The assault as well as the extermination operation during the Supreme Martial Arts Festival has been canceled due to unavoidable circumstances. Use all your resources to fry Aburaage. Communicate this to your men with your chain of command.” (Imouto Kitsune)