After a series of blood-curdling screams, silence fell.
The once earthy-yellow fields were now stained with a thick layer of crimson blood.
Corpses lay scattered across the ground, their deaths horrifying and grotesque. Some bodies had been hacked into several pieces, others split cleanly in half, and some appeared to have been crushed into pulp as if by the hands of a giant.
Blood continued to seep from beneath the bodies, forming a crimson stream that carried along vividly colored organs, creating a scene straight out of hell.
Scorpion flexed his fingers slightly, standing before a kneeling, corpulent man—Kento Naganuma.
Beside him was another filthy boy whose trembling frame made it clear he saw the two figures before him as man-eating demons.
However, Kento Naganuma's expression remained eerily calm, devoid of any fear.
This was because his mind had already been taken over by Scorpion's Subconscious Sand Manipulation. On Sōmi's suggestion, Scorpion had developed this technique not only to seal certain critical memories but also to directly control the minds of weaker individuals, turning them into living puppets.
This method was particularly useful for extracting information, as it ensured the authenticity of the intel obtained.
Of course, this technique came with severe side effects, causing irreversible brain damage to the victim.
However, as long as the controlled state could be maintained long enough to serve their purpose, the consequences were of little concern.
"Hmm, let's keep this guy alive for now. We'll see if he proves useful later," Sōmi said with a harmless smile after Kento Naganuma had divulged all the information he knew.
"And as for you..." Sōmi turned his gaze to the boy.
"Sir, it's not my fault! I was forced to come here!"
"It was that guy who manipulated me! He said if I killed you, he'd give me enough money to buy my sister's freedom from the pleasure quarter!"
"Please spare me, sir!" The boy's body trembled violently as he hurriedly begged for mercy.
"I deserve to die for offending you, sir! Once I've earned enough money to free my sister, I'll come before you and take my own life!" The boy slammed his head into the ground with such force that it left a shallow dent.
Sōmi glanced at the dent in the ground, his suspicions further confirmed.
"No need for that. If I free your sister, will your life belong to me from this day forward?" Sōmi asked, watching the boy's hunched back.
"Really?!"
"Yes, sir! If you free my sister, my life will be yours!" The boy lifted his head instantly, his filthy face lighting up with hope.
"What's your name?"
"My name is Kazuhiro Mori, sir!" The boy's voice was filled with excitement.
"Scorpion, I'll take him with me for now. Are you coming along?" Sōmi turned to ask.
"No, I'm not interested in this sort of thing. I'll head over to the workshop first. Take this puppet with you. Use it to contact me when it's time to regroup." Scorpion's gaze lingered on Kazuhiro Mori for a moment.
Then, Scorpion retrieved a small, exquisitely crafted bird-shaped puppet from his backpack. Though only palm-sized, it was remarkably intricate.
"Scorpion, keep a low profile," Sōmi reminded him.
Scorpion glanced at the carnage around him but said nothing, simply nodding.
...
Ebara City—one of the most famous cities in the Land of Artisans. Its fame, however, did not stem from its skilled craftsmen.
Rather, it was known for being a gathering place for idle rich heirs and a large influx of visitors drawn to its reputation.
At the city's western gate lay a place known as the "Returning Willow Pleasure Quarter."
The western gate was where the river flowed into Ebara City. The area was crisscrossed with waterways, and lush green willow trees lined the streets on both sides.
By day, the area appeared normal enough, but at night, the entire western gate district was illuminated by various enchanting lights, luring in passersby.
Every side street leading off from the main road had wooden doors lining its edges. Behind these doors were brothels, also referred to as "Zhang Shops." The closer these establishments were to the main road, the more upscale they were, while those further away were of increasingly lower status.
At the very edge, near the high walls and deep ditches, was where the lowest-class streetwalkers could be found.
In Ebara City, the highest-ranking courtesans were known as "Oiran" or "Ebara Tayū."
Most of these courtesans originated from poor families. Girls aged 5 to 10 were sold by their parents for around 400,000 yen.
If the girl came from a more prestigious background, the price could be several times higher.
Newly purchased girls were tasked with menial chores such as cleaning, assisting higher-ranking courtesans, and learning how to please clients. They were taught the local slang, how to write "love letters," and even how to hide alum in their sleeves for use as tear-inducing agents.
Only by mastering these skills could they present a pitiful facade at critical moments, earning the sympathy of wealthy patrons.
According to Kazuhiro Mori, his father was a compulsive gambler who fell into a trap set by the casino owner and ended up owing over a million yen in gambling debts.
For a commoner, this was an astronomical sum. To evade the casino owner's wrath, he sold his wife and children, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Kazuhiro Mori led Sōmi hurriedly to the western gate of Ebara City.
"Entry fee!" Two arrogant samurai, swords at their waists, extended their hands aggressively, demanding payment from passing travelers.
Sōmi handed over enough money for two entries without a word, walking into the western district under the suspicious gaze of the guards.
Clearly, Sōmi's composed demeanor and clean attire made them wary. After all, the western district occasionally saw visits from influential figures seeking novelty. Offending such individuals could have dire consequences.
Upon entering the city, the first sight was a black stone arch bridge spanning the river. The bridge, weathered by the flow of the river, exuded a sense of ancient history.
From the highest point of the bridge, one could see rows upon rows of courtyards stretching into the distance. The layout was orderly, with buildings gradually increasing and then decreasing in size, forming a pyramid-like structure when viewed from afar.
Kazuhiro Mori confidently led the way into a narrow alley, with Sōmi following behind.
On either side of the alley were fences, behind which knelt numerous women in neat rows.
Their faces were painted with exaggerated makeup, and they wore brightly colored clothes that exuded a sense of cheapness.
The women smiled at Sōmi as he passed by.
Some bolder ones winked and licked their lips seductively, while others went as far as slipping their kimonos off their shoulders, raising their legs to hook onto the fence, and dancing provocatively.
Although Kazuhiro Mori had seen such scenes before, the explicit displays still left his face flushed with embarrassment.
Sōmi, on the other hand, observed the spectacle with interest. After all, seeing it on a screen in the past had a sense of detachment, unlike the vivid reality before him now.
He later learned that these fenced areas were known as "Zhangmise," places where the courtesans were confined.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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