Freesia 75

Freesia, Chapter 75 (Monthly Ikki, March 2009)


<1>
=May I,
=Join you?


<2&3>
Chapter 75: Special Provisions


<4>
=We've come,
=To fucking kill you.


<5>
=Huh?

[bubble]GUCK
KASHINK

=AAAAAH.

=Tanaka-kun!
=It's an emergency! Everyone stay alert!

=What's wrong? Are you alright?
=Help me...


<6>
=He... He was in my room. Guy with the glasses...
=Huh? In your room!?


<7>
=There's nobody in the room. No signs of entry, either.
=We've checked the back exit and the roof, but it's all clear.
=Copy that...

=It's probably those sleeping pills, Tanaka-kun...
=Some people get side-effects where they start to conflate dreams with reality...

=...Fucker...


<8>
[bubble]BZZ—

=What the hell are they doing?
=Something's up.


<9>
=We don't intend to start up a war... So we'll be finishing this as quickly and efficiently as possible.
=However, even with the introduction of the special provisions, we couldn't get military support, and Tanaka's security force is massive, so it's going to be difficult.

=This past month, Keita Tanaka has avoided crowded places, and at least 20 bodyguards have always been standing by at his home and office.
=Which means we have to execute him outside when he's left his vehicle. They'll be caught off guard thinking we won't execute in broad daylight.


<10>
=Even still, we want to avoid involving innocent bystanders. So for that,
=We need to make preparations beforehand at the site of the enforcement.

=Therefore, we need to be absolutely certain he will show up at the site we've prepared.
=The results from the investigation are as follows,

=On Fridays, Tanaka always visits YO-KO at the hospital, and if he has time, he goes shopping at the Marucon department store in the government quarters on his way home.
=Little elf, data #12. Pronto.
=I believe our best chance will be on the first floor of the department store.

=We'll evacuate the customers beforehand as discreetly as possible.
=The enforcers will then await his arrival at a predetermined location.

=The problem is, the store is unlikely to cooperate with the enforcement, and...
=Whether we'll be able to keep these preparations secret from Tanaka's security...


<11>
=Director.
=Are you listening?

=I'm listening...
=How big is Tanaka's security force?

=He's been accompanied by 7 to 8 bodyguards each time.
=They're equipped with 9mm pistols.

=However, last week, they filed a city grant to obtain 4 machine guns.
=If the inspection goes smoothly, they may get them in time for next Friday.

=So it is gonna be a war.


<12>
=You're serious about doing it?
=Like that?

=I told you.
=These are special provisions.


<13>
=You're taking this way too far.
=Ms. Higuchi's gone off her rocker.

=We got these provisions straight from the Justice Bureau.

=Deploying an illegal number of enforcers in a non-enforcement zone,
=To have a gunfight. Is the Bureau aware of those provisions!?

=You can quit if you want.
=Won't hold you back.

=Someone else'll just take your place.
=I wanna quit too, but unlike you, I don't have a sub to pinch-hit for me!


<14>
=I get where you're coming from.
=This is all just a political farce disguised as a vengeance enforcement.

=But this ain't gonna be the end of it.
=Same as war.

=Fighting for the sake of justice and world peace,
=Grunts like you are the only ones doing that stuff.
VRRR—

=Keita Tanaka is definitely guilty.//So he's gotta be punished, right?

=That's the only thing you need to think about during an enforcement.
=Can't run a war if soldiers start thinking about other things.


<15>
=I'll say it again.
=You can go ahead and quit if you want.

=I'm not forcing anyone.

=When'd it become like this...?
=You've all gone crazy.

=HAH-HAH-HAH.

=You're too slow, dimwit.


<16>
=Here you go—
=The mackerel lunch set—

=You can have an espresso or a royal milk tea after you finish.

=Uh—I'll just have green tea.
=It has to be coffee or tea.

=...Coffee, then.

=All I really want is green tea—
=Hey-ya—C'mon in!

=You know, the coffee here is actually pretty good...


<17>
=Kaneko...

=Oh yeah—You were at that meeting just now, so...
=You're gonna participate in Tanaka's enforcement, too?

=Yes.

=I've handled about a dozen cases,

=Since that one.

=I won't let you down this time.


<18>
=So... You don't have any qualms about this?
=What do you mean?

=Even with the provisions,//This is unheard of.

=If the Justice Bureau finds out afterwards...//We're gonna be in big trouble.

=They can just cover it up.


<19>
=Happens a lot in the industry, right?
=You did it too, Mr. Yamada.

=What are you talking about!
=This has nothing to do with what I did!

=Ah.

=It's the same.
=Smoothing out ideals and duties is the norm in this industry.


<20>
=You see, the enforcement is on,
=Whether I like it or not.

=Sure, some enforcers do it just for the thrill of killing,//Like "Iijima."

=They don't care how many innocent bystanders they kill.

=Can you trust guys like that for this enforcement?//I can't.
=They need me on this one.
[bubble]GATHUCK

=Anyone who takes pride in being an enforcer should accept this mission.


<21>
[sign]Central Hospital
=In reaction to the Justice Bureau's approval of Mr. Keita Tanaka's vengeance enforcement just last week,
=Mr. Tanaka's supporters have raised an outcry, prompting the bureau director to hold an emergency session in front of the national assembly.

=Mr. Tanaka's office has denounced the decision,
=And have stated they will not tolerate any attempts to carry out the sentence.

=Hah-hah... Listen to them talk.//All part of the smear campaign before the start of the election.


<22>
=Kusaka says its doubtful that they'll actually try and execute me, but...
=I don't care if they try.
[bubble]BLIP

=I'm not gonna run like I did before... Hah-hah-hah.

[pad]If K-kun is innocent there's nothing to worry about

=...Right.
=Well, yeah.

[pad]Plus I believe in K-kun

=Thanks...


<23>
=By the way,

=Why'd you get all these books on flowers?

=Huh?
[pad]Studying to start a flower store
=Why?

[pad]I can't sing anymore so I'm going to sell flowers


<24>
=...Gotcha.

[pad]Name the flower
[x2]CLICK

=Huh?

=Dunno...
=I'm not good with that stuff.

=It's FREESIA


<25>
=Huh?

[pad]Flower language: Prospects for the future

=Cool—
=Didn't know that.


<26>
[x3]=TRRRRRRR


<27>
[x3]=TRRRRR

=It's been ringing for a while.
=Your phone.

=So it was ringing after all...
=I thought it was just another hallucination.


<28>
=TICK

=Ah—Ah—
=Can you hear me—?

=I've been calling for 2 hours, why didn't you pick up?
=You've got important work to take care do.

=Work...?
=What work...?