The spider rubs against his hand, making a sound that seems strangely like purring. The doors slides open, revealing a circular chamber like the one above, but covered in the same luminescent moss. The sapphire is there in the middle, atop a dais, held on a plinth. "W-Who's there! Get outta here!" A female voice sounds. Unlike Priya's silky voice, carrying with it a tinge of danger, this one sounds cute and girly. "Seriously, get out before the boss finds out you're here! He'll hurt you bad."
Jian looked around for the origin of the voice, it seemed like disembodied voices were a hallmark of these catacombs, 'Which boss would that be? Who are you? Show yourself.'
The woman chuckles. "Your new owner." She leans forwards, and their lips touch. The mysterious stranger makes out passionately with Kina, and as she does, Kina feels a level of devotion for the woman that approaches the way she felt about Lord Jurobei. As she pulls away, she gives a giggle. "Looks like our time is almost up." She kisses Kina again. "Now, listen, whenever you hear my voice in the future, you'll feel compelled to obey. When I leave, however, you won't remember me, or this meeting, until I bring it up again." There's a snap of fingers, and suddenly, Kina's alone in the room. She doesn't remember the woman, or what was said to her, but she knows that something extraordinary has happened. As she tries to remember, she hears Shintaro's gait as he enters the room. "Good girl. You know how to display yourself for your master." He slides the door shut behind him. Despite everything that's happened, she's still deeply devoted to her Yokuboo masters.
Yuki nods, lying back on the futon. A new day comes quickly, though Midori's thoughts are filled with her tasks. Soon enough, the sun rises, shining through the window.
"A temple I just bought is currently occupied by a gang." Kyouka replied. "Clear them out without damaging the building further. You may use your guns, or your swords. Once they're cleared out, those of you that's still alive can consider themselves employed." She said, and if they agree to do it, she tells leads them to where the temple is.
He hears footsteps, and the speaker reveals herself, bathed in the blue light. The girl, who Jian assumes must be some sort of nature spirit, looks at him quizzically. Whaddaya mean which boss? The boss." She shakes her head. "Silly outsider."
"Well, I doubt they'd have any loot. But sure." Kyouka replied in an uncertain tone, since she didn't think the gang would have anything worth while.
Jian looked the strange woman up and down, 'You're the one controlling those vines?' He chuckled, 'Let's assume I am daft, which I am not. Who and where would THE boss be?'
"Job'll be done by the end of the day." He nods, before leaning in. "Then, we can talk about our ongoing business relationship." He shouts to the men. "Alright, arm up, boys. We've got killing to do!" The men go to make their preparations.
"Some of them." She gives him an odd look. "He's down a few levels. Down there." She points to a trap door at the foot of the dais. "Don't go down, though. You'll die."
"Can't wait." Kyouka cooed, "Oh, hope you don't mind. I'll be going with you to watch how you operate. Don't worry about me getting in your way." She said as they prepared, once they were ready she leads them to the temple. Waiting outside to see how things go.
'Why are you so concerned for my safety now? Your vines tried to grab me all the time before,' Jian looked at the strange woman, 'You have a name? I am Jian. Are you some kind of nature spirit?'
Midori yawned as she looked at the light streaming through the window. Alright, what should I do today... I think I will start by trying to find Kyouka and ask her about Oichi and the shipyard. Maybe about the robbed warehouse, too, in case she has heard something. After that... depends on what I will learn from her. Maybe I will visit the nanban cathedral and check out the gardens there, that the ambassador likes to visit. Se nodded to herself as she planned her day.
The men spend about half an hour scouting out the temple and its defences. Afterwards, Manuel decides to employ a blunt approach. He lights his matchlock and strides up towards the facade. The temple is surrounded by a wall, about as high as two men standing atop one another's shoulders, but the front gatehouse has been obliterated by an explosion, letting the nanban casually walk inside. The guards, confused, don't even stop him, as he walks into the courtyard and fires, his bullet ripping into the stomach of one of the emaciated gangsters. As the gang is still stunned by the brazenness of the attack, Manuel takes the opportunity to run away, back onto the street. After a few more confused seconds, the gang rallies, gathering weapons and charging out after Manuel, but stop as they see that the nanban has an entire group with him. The sailors form a firing line, two ranks deep. The first rank fires, before kneeling to reload, the second rank firing over their heads. Charge ruined, the gang runs back into the temple, but the sailors give chase. Afterwards, Manuel wipes his blade on a corpse, as Kyouka surveys her new property. The temple itself is mostly undamaged, with a large dojo taking up most of the space, a zen garden behind it, and a five story pagoda off to the side, rising up over the wall.
"A lot of those were the boss." She shakes her head. "But I'm not concerned for you. I just want you to leave. LEAVE!" She shouts at him at the top of her voice, but the effect just seems cute, rather than frightening. "I-I'm Koko."
As they dress, Yuki says "Oh, sis, Kyouka's been hanging out a lot with Lord Shintaro. He might be able to tell you where to find her, if she isn't in." She gives a chuckle. "You'll have to deal with his incompetent attempts at flirting, but he's harmless."
Jian chuckled at her attempt to make him leave, 'Nice to meet you, Koko.' He slowly approached her, 'How come you live down here with no sunlight at all?'
Once the raid was over, Kyouka begins clapping as Manuel cleans his blade. "Well done." She said as she surveyed her new temple. "Congratulations on your new employment." She starts looking for things that may be considered loot.
