RH Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Persuasion

Resonance 3, Part 4

Novel Title: 共鳴発情 オメガバース (Resonance Heat: Omegaverse)

Author：岩本薫 (Iwamoto Kaoru)

Illustrator: 蓮川愛 (Hasukawa Ai)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 本浄天音 (Honjou Amane) & 苅谷煌騎 (Kariya Kouki) / 首藤煌騎 (Shutou Kouki)

*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

֍֍֍

“We’re still investigating the cause of death. So any kind of cooperation would be appreciated. Did Shou have anyone he would secretly sneak out to meet at night? Do you know of anyone he was close to?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t think he had any friends. He was always quiet, just reading books by himself.”

“What about any conflicts with the other hostesses?”

“No. He didn’t really mingle with the others. And there were no disputes over customers.”

“I see. If possible, could you show me the list of Shou’s regular clients?”

As soon as Amane broached this, the madam’s expression changed. Raising her heavily lined eyes, she firmly refused, “Absolutely not!”

“It’s to investigate the alibis of those connected to Shou. Please cooperate.”

Amane’s repeated request caused the madam to stand up from her chair, visibly agitated.

“Don’t be so presumptuous! Our business is built on trust. I can’t just hand over our customers to the police – that would ruin us in an instant with all the rumours!”

Shaking her large frame, she thundered the words. She then stomped her foot, causing the whole room to seem to tremble.

“This is all you’ll get from me!”

“Please, let’s discuss this a little more-“

“-That’s enough!” 

Cutting off Amane’s attempt to persuade her, the madam pointed decisively at the door.

“Get out of here!”

***

Expelled from Kamokuriya without obtaining the crucial client list, Amane clicked his tongue in frustration as he rummaged in his coat pocket. Pulling out a pack of cigarettes, he shook one out and lit it with his lighter. 

Next to him, Kouki muttered, “That madam doesn’t seem to have benefited from Shou’s death as a valuable ‘product’. And the woman who guided us didn’t know about it until we arrived.”

Responding sharply in a pointed low tone, Amane retorted, “So what the hell is your point?”

“Even if this turns out to be a crime, those two don’t seem like viable suspects,” Kouki replied, looking pensive.

“Hmph.”

“And since there were no conflicts between the hostesses either, it doesn’t have the smell of an inside job.”

“You’re sniffing around like a dog, aren’t you?”

Ignoring Amane’s jab, Kouki moved on. “By the way, the woman who guided us seemed to have the madam’s trust.”

“…”

Amane didn’t disagree on that point.

When they had entered the room, the woman had taken her place behind the madam with a very natural demeanour, as if it were her rightful position. The Kamokuriya madam was known to be shrewd. In an industry as cutthroat as this, she likely wouldn’t have positioned someone she didn’t deeply trust right behind her, risking a potential backstabbing.

“…She had the same tattoo as the victim on her wrist.”

“It was a gecko design,” Kouki promptly answered. He must have checked it closely.

…His keen observation and insight were quite impressive, both in assessing the madam-woman relationship and now this detail.

“That tattoo is proof of being a Kamokuriya hostess. So she was either still a hostess or at least used to be one.”

“Meaning she’s a Stray Omega?”

“That’s the implication.”

“Judging from her age, if she’s no longer a hostess, she may now serve as a close aide to the madam, tending to her needs.”

“That’s possible,” Amane agreed, exhaling a plume of smoke. Seemingly pleased to be taken seriously for once, Kouki’s sensual lips relaxed slightly.

(Look at that mutt, wagging his tail like he just got a bone.)

Regarding the young man with a cool gaze, his mystical bluish-grey eyes standing out even more against the royal blue of his necktie. Amane straightened up as Kouki addressed him.

“Can you let me handle this?”

“Handle what?”

“She might be able to get us the customer list.”

Amane raised an eyebrow. ‘She’ must be referring to the madam’s aide.

“…What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll try to persuade her.”

“Persuade her? To betray the boss and hand over the customer list? There’s no way she’d take that kind of risk.”

Amane dismissed the idea with a half-smile. But Kouki didn’t back down, his expression earnest.

“I know. But if we have no other options, it’s worth trying.”

“…”

In reality, they had no other options. Even if it failed, it couldn’t make the situation any worse.

After some consideration, Amane stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, crushing it with his heel. “Let’s wait in the car,” he told Kouki.

The rookie, pleased that his proposal had been accepted, responded with a bright “Yes, sir.”

Boarding Kouki’s car, parked within sight of the Kamokuriya entrance, they waited for the woman to emerge. If she was the madam’s aide, she must have errands or shopping trips that took her outside.

They waited for about half an hour. As Amane’s last cigarette ran out, the sliding door rattled, and the target peeked out.

“There she is.”

Stubbing out the last cigarette in the ashtray on the dashboard, Amane jumped out of the passenger seat. Kouki also got out of the driver’s side.

“It’s up to you how you do it. Go get her.”

“Understood.”

Dressed only in her earlier dress and a shoulder bag, the woman seemed to be running an errand or going shopping. After locking the entrance, she started walking. Amane and Kouki tailed her for a while, until they reached a less crowded area. There, Kouki called out, “Excuse me.”

The woman turned around, letting out a surprised “Ah.”

“I’ve been waiting to talk to you. Do you have a moment?”

As Kouki spoke in a strangely alluring tone, the woman readily nodded, “Yes.”

Even if she didn’t intend it, she sounded like she was being sweet-talked. Was it Kouki’s voice, or his persuasive manner?

(He’s trying to act coy, but he’s actually quite pushy.)

In any case, he had cleared the first hurdle. Now it was time to see the rookie’s skills in action.

Deciding it was best not to add unnecessary pressure, Amane kept his distance, observing from afar.

“May I ask your name?”

In response to Kouki’s question, the woman replied, “Sumire.”

“I gathered that you’re in a position close to the madam, Kanna-san.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m in such an important position. But I do help take care of her daily needs.”

Just as Amane had suspected. Kouki had hit the mark.

“Have you known the late Shou for a long time?”

“He was brought here when he was 10 years old… So it’s been about 7 years.”

“7 years. So you were quite close, almost like siblings…”

Sumire nodded.

“We had an age gap, and he spent a lot of time reading books alone. So we weren’t that close-knit. But I did think of him like a little brother.”

“It must be a shock that your ‘little brother’ Shou has suddenly passed away…”

“…Yes. It still doesn’t feel real that Shou is no longer in this world. I can’t believe it.”

Solemnly nodding, Kouki reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a smartphone. He then held it out to Sumire. “Could you take a look at this?”

Accepting the phone, Sumire peered at the screen, her breath catching. 

“Shou…”

From her reaction of covering her mouth, Amane deduced the display must be showing Shou’s body as it was found.  Staring intently at the screen with wide eyes, Sumire suddenly murmured, “There are marks on his neck…”

“Yes. But that wasn’t the direct cause of death,” Kouki explained in a controlled tone.

“Homicide, accident, or suicide. It hasn’t been determined yet. But the higher-ups in the police seem intent on ruling it as an accident or suicide.”

Lifting her gaze from the phone, Sumire asked, “Because Shou was a Stray Omega?”

Accepting her sombre look, Kouki affirmed, “Yes.”

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Honjou-san is good at being direct and aggressive, while Kariya-san is good at using his charms. I think they made a great partner! Below is a promo for Alpha’s Bride manga.  -K

Here’s the translation:

Alpha’s Bride: Resonance Romance  

Original work: Iwamoto Kaoru, Art: Yukimura Kanae

“Accept the pleasure I give you obediently.”

A fateful love between two prideful Alphas!  

Emori Riku, a high school student born as an Alpha, attends a party hosted by the Shutou family for his debut into high society. The Shutou family is known as one of the most prestigious Alpha lineages. The head of the family, Shutou Keiki, is said to possess an allure so overwhelming that it can dominate not only Omegas but even other Alphas. Riku, seeing Keiki up close for the first time, cannot help but feel admiration. But that night, Riku’s body—despite being an Alpha—begins to burn with heat and exude a sweet scent…!?

Now serialised to great acclaim in e-bookstores!

Next update: 2024.12.05

֍֍֍