Osaka.
This city at night is a true marvel, especially its hotel, frequented by associated members—in other words, only assassins.
Every person drinking in this hotel was here working, and each of them could easily take a life for the right price.
At that moment, around fifteen people had gathered around, just observing, and each of them had a cross tattooed on their right cheek and a ring with a strange rune as a tattoo.
Akira, as the hotel's concierge, was at the reception, receiving guests. "Welcome to the hotel; how can I assist you?"
"I would like a room," said a dark-skinned man who was with a dog. He placed a golden coin on the table, and Akira, knowing he was a guest, took the coin.
She looked at the dog and said, "I'm afraid animals are not allowed in this facility."
"This is an emotional support animal," said the man called Tracker.
Akira nodded and asked, "So, is this your emotional support dog?"
"No, it's the other way around; I think he supports me more," said Tracker, petting his dog.
Akira closed her eyes with annoyance; she was not in the mood to deal with special clients, so she left the room key card and said, "You can leave him in your room."
"Enjoy your stay."
Tracker nodded and said, "Thank you for that."
At that moment, Akira looked at her father, perhaps for approval, so she approached to give him the nightly report, as was customary.
"There's a dog in my lobby," said Koji, glancing at the dog.
Akira, understanding how special the clients were, said, "It's an emotional support dog."
"Of course, it must be an emotional support dog." Koji knew that was a coworker's companion but didn't mention it explicitly.
As they walked a few steps further, Akira handed him a folder with documents and said, "This is your schedule for tomorrow; you have a meeting with Suzuki, and the Tarasovs request a meeting at two in the afternoon."
"Is this meeting at eight?" Koji looked at a strange meeting he had later.
"That's a dinner with your daughter; she says she's worried that you've been working too much these past few days," said Akira, hiding a smile.
"What have I done to deserve such a considerate daughter?"
Akira looked around and said, "It's good karma, I suppose."
"That might be true; how are the guests?"
"Some members of the gold club are anxious." Akira pointed this out, trying to emphasize her own concern.
But Koji didn't pay attention and said condescendingly, "As always..."
"It's about New York..."
"And how's my concierge?"
"Restless..." Akira said, a bit annoyed by her father's calmness.
"Then we should get her an emotional support dog."
When Akira saw that she was now alone with her father, she asked, "Should we be worried?"
Koji shook his head and said, "We haven't done anything to offend the order."
"But your friendship with John is no secret; the order is coming."
"And they will be received with the utmost decorum," said Koji, showing no concern.
Akira wanted her father to see reason and said, "Everything he touches extinguishes."
But Koji, hearing these words, turned around and, with a stern look, said, "Do not speak to me about a man I've known since before you were born."
"Forgive me, father..."
"Akira... Please tell my daughter that I look forward to dinner," said Koji, turning away.
Akira smiled faintly, and just as she was about to turn away, an assistant rushed in and said, "Miss Akira, you have a visitor..."
"Is it so urgent as to bother me?" Akira showed annoyance when someone barged in like that.
"Your fiancé is here..."
Akira, upon hearing this, fell silent, looked where her father had gone, and turned away, annoyed.
As she headed to the lobby, Akira saw Anton standing in front of the vestibule while smoking a cigarette.
"Have I left you so in love?" Akira asked with a smile that she didn't want to hide.
Anton looked at her and said, "I came to take care of you."