บท 32: Showcase

"God I fuckin' hate this place, how're the Japs more stuck-up than the 'Slap your face' Chinese?" Ori angrily mutters as they walk through the awkwardly structured Japantown markets. In certain areas they just got completely cussed out for either not wearing the 'traditional' clothing, or for not being Asian.

In Kabuki or Little China this wasn't a problem, mainly due to how poor everyone was, everyone suffering together and all that, but still the point stood. If Bats hadn't given him the translation software he wouldn't even be able to read anything, not the street signs, not the advertisement billboards, not the shop names... Everything was in Japanese, as if the place was a giant embassy for that country.

"You seem to say that about a lot of places... Just ignore it and carry on, we're almost there anyway." Bats simply says, deciding not to argue with Ori on this. He agreed with the sentiment, but voicing it out in the middle of the street was kind of dumb...

Eventually they make it to the shop where the 'auction' was supposedly being held. The entrance was around three stories up along a mall-like area, structured with random escalators and even more random pathways... How was a dingy back-alley filled with shit and stolen vehicle parts a valid route to reach places anyway!?

"Hey handsome, why don't you take me somewhere I can pop your cherry?" some random Japanese joytoy woman says, stepping forwards towards Ori while licking her lips.

He gives her an utter look of disgust that almost shocks her into complete silence, kids his age weren't usually so restrained... "The only cherry you're popping is a hemorrhoid, piss off." he spits at her, causing her eyes to widen before she hurriedly walks off, cursing under her breath as she does so.

Bats lets out a spluttered cough at that and quickly drags Ori away before her pimp decides to try to kick his ass. "Seriously, we're in enemy turf here. Calm the fuck down." he curtly says.

"Whatever, we're here now." Ori retorts, gesturing at the place. "Junko's Spar and Nail Salon... Creative." he drawls, as if this wasn't the most obvious laundering scheme in existence. It wasn't helped either by the Tyger Claw gangers acting as security in and around the place.

They approach and the Tygers immediately block their path, glaring at them with suspicion, "Neither of you seem the type for a pedicure..." a guy wearing a tight black and red leather bodysuit states with folded arms.

Ori nods, "Yeah, we're here for the auction, ain't startin' for two days but I was under the impression we could have a look at what we're buyin' first."

"Auction ey? Then you've got the Eddies to pay the entry fee."

Ori crooks a brow, "Entry fee? Sounds like you're skimming some cash off the top before the owner can even see it. He know about your 'operation' here?"

The man huffs at him with a smirk, "She. And yes, she supports the Tygers."

"Didn't answer my question-"

"Ori, just leave it, we ain't got time for this." Bats urges.

...

"Fine." Ori mutters before digitally sending the guy five hundred Eddies. Not much for the usual baller who'd attend the auction, but a painful amount for Ori who valued every penny.

He was well aware this was a just scheme though, they didn't care about entry fees or anything, they actually just wanted some fort of contact in case Ori tried something. They'd be able to trace him via the transfer... He'd need to ask Bats about some software to get around that in future, it was a huge weakness in his security.

"Enjoy your stay." the man smirks, stepping to the side and letting the duo pass.

"Whatever."

The salon itself was basically empty aside from a few Tyger Claw girls who basically got the treatments for free. A woman in the stores uniform approaches them and leads them through the store and through a hallway, seemingly connected to a large storage room that'd been heavily modified.

Colourful lights, nice seating, all placed around a central dais that the auctioneer would presumably stand on. Holo emitters were placed strategically around, and would display the items once the auction began. Around the outskirts of the room however were the items in question being sold, all set up in glass casing, security cameras hovering every virtually everyone.

Ori was certain he'd be instantly caught if he tried anything, you'd need a crazy good Netrunner to get anything done at all, actually. The sheer amount of security might've given the NCPD Precinct a run for its money, and that was saying something.

"There." Bats states, pointing over to a glass case which had a hologram hovering over it showing its specs... Mk.2 Kiroshi Optics.

Ori just numbly walks over and stares down at the eyes, a shiver creeping up his spine as he stares into them... They were dad's alright, he remembered being frozen under them when he'd stolen a bag of food from some beggars, thinking that they were dead instead of asleep.

He unconsciously touches the glass case but freezes as a notification pops up in front of him.

[DO NOT TOUCH]

He snatches his hands back and sheepishly glances at the nearby camera, which had a flashing red light on it as it tracked his face... Thankfully his software wouldn't obscure his face from the device itself, but merely corrupt the recording it made.

He gives an awkward smile and raises his hands, as if surrendering at gunpoint. The red light switches off, determining him as not a threat.

"Can I help either of you gents?" an authoritative voice questions as it approaches Ori and Bats from behind.

They turn and find themselves face to face with a portly Asian man wearing a suit too fine for his figure. Judging by the almost comical-looking monocle flashing with holographic information, Ori surmised him to be the auctioneer, if not the owner himself.

"Er, I don't think so? We're just taking a look around..." Bats offers

"Actually, I was wondering if you could tell us where you got these?" Ori asks, gesturing to the eyes, "I have some things to discuss with the 'supplier'."

The man purses his lips, "I think not, all of our seller's identities are strictly confidential, for obvious reasons." the man explains.