Ookuma's trap

Aside from some minor provocations from the gourmet elite supporters, the next few days went by normally for the restaurant. Rika happily brought water to a young man, and asked what he would like to order.

"Madam would like to order you," the man grinned as he slipped a note to Rika.

Rika's cheery demeanor vanished as she read it.

"I'll be there, now get out," Rika glared.

The man quickly chugged the water before bolting. Today was the day when Rika was supposed to aid Ookuma in her inhumane scheme. Once the man was out of sight, Rika grinned and went to the back to make a phone call.

                                                                              ...

At the designated spot, Segawa greeted a crowd clad in plain clothes.

"Everyone, today we will begin our march to protest the degeneracy this nation is besieged with. Madam Ookuma will be joining us along with many others from our movement throughout the march," Segawa stated.

The crowd cheered as Segawa continued.

"We will courageously march forth through hostile territory to sway voters and show them the way to prosperity!"

The crowd roared as Segawa motioned for everyone to begin marching. Suddenly, a rain of dynamite showered the crowd as Segawa froze in horror.

"Won't be killing any innocents now," Hanabi glared as the crowd of Ookuma supporters went up in flames.

Segawa turned to run, but found herself tumbling towards the fire before her. She then realized she had been decapitated as she saw Izumi hurl her headless body towards the fire. Hanabi and Izumi then killed all the stragglers before leaving.

                                                                              ...

Rebelle stared in horror at the live feed.

"M- Madam Ookuma! It's terrible!" Rebelle cried as she showed the footage to Ookuma.

"And Kabuki Dakota dared to claim these very supporters would slaughter innocents disguised as opposition supporters. It seems Rika fell right into my trap. You have done well Chef Adler," Ookuma smiled.

"I'm so glad my intel helped our cause. What should I do with my footage of Ryono slapping me though?"

"We unleash it in a year's time or sooner if the situation calls for it. The image of him assaulting Segawa too. You'll also leave an anonymous tip that he hired Izuhana to assassinate Segawa to permanently shut her up."

"Yes Ma'am, Madam Ookuma."

                                                                            ...

As Rebelle walked through the halls of the Diet, she noticed the woman that had previously been working at the rooftop lounge in the Tt hotel.

"So, you're running for the house of councilors under Ookuma's party now, Sayuri Benise?" Rebelle glared.

"Indeed. I am to fill Segawa-san's now vacant seat," Benise stated.

"Really? And when did you become a hardcore supporter of Madam Ookuma?"

 I've ALWAYS been a hardcore supporter of Madam Ookuma," Benise huffed.

"Really? Well I am too."

"You are not off the hook for loosing your blackmail servers. If you dare bring Madam Ookuma down, I'll send you to the cult immediately, and they WILL assimilate you. I know not what you said to their leader to make them let you go, but know that you're at 2 strikes. One more and it's over, Milverton."

As Benise stormed away, Rebelle thought back to how she weaseled out of certain assimilation...

A few weeks ago...

Rebelle awoke bound and gagged to a chair staring face to face with 5 demon queen cultists. One approached her with a pair of hairclippers as Rebelle attempted to negotiate.

"Mmmph ngh mmph ngh mmph," Rebelle stated.

The cultists didn't stop.

Rebelle then desperately began trying to finesse the tape off her mouth as the cultist with the clippers removed her beanie.

"MMPH NGH- *PEH* I KNOW YOUR SECRET MAIN GIRL, YOU ARE ----."

The cultist immediately froze as the clippers buzzed mere millimeters away from Rebelle's hair. The cultist then sheathed the clippers and left with three other fellow cultists.

"So like, what do you want?" the remaining cultist glared.

"Simple. Let me go, or Madam Ookuma will destroy you. You fear her don't you?"

The cultist glared and freed Rebelle. Rebelle was then led out and allowed to go free.

Back in the present...

Rebelle snickered as she hit the replay button on the video of Masaru slapping her.

"Oh Ryono, I'm so glad you were so sheltered and raised by spartan gourmands. Now the seeds to completely destroy you and Rika are planted. All you have now is the time it will take for the police to launch and complete their investigation," Rebelle thought.

                                                                                 ...

Ookuma stood before the press as she addressed the incident.

"Earlier today, my courageous supporters gathered for a march to rally voters to our cause. However, they were inhumanely murdered by two assassins. Police are currently working to identify the parties responsible for this atrocity. Many prospective candidates that were running as well as incumbents like name Segawa were killed as well. On the topic of Segawa-san, she sent me an image her staff had secretly took while she was dining at a restaurant. It was a meeting between political leaders which I myself was present for. However, it seems that after I left for the night, the owner of the cafe attempted to rape Segawa-san. Since I have shared the image with the police, I will not be able to share it publicly so as to greater the chances of the vermin being brought to justice. And mark my words, he will be," Ookuma declared.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"I suspect said owner to be heavily involved in this as well as some of the opposition leaders, assuming this was a targeted hit. I'm positive it is though. However, regardless of if it isn't, a large chunk of the blame for this falls on Kabuki Dakota for her false rhetoric," Ookuma declared.

                                                                                   ...

Hanabi slammed her fist in frustration.

"Shit. That bitch used us to better her position," she fumed.

"Izumi's sorry," Izumi bowed.

"It's not your fault. We just did a job. Ookuma is a really crafty bitch too. Well don't worry. I'll make sure that she doesn't outwit us ever again."

"Are we going after her next?"

"No. I doubt we could take her. The Ookuma's 10 times stronger than me, in both offense and defense. I've seen her swat away a cannonball with ease. You'd need someone way stronger to even compete with her sadly."

                                                                                 ...

In the restaurant, Rika gritted her teeth as she read about the incident.

"Shit, I was completely played," Rika thought.

She then gazed at Masaru absorbed in his cooking.

"I hope we can weather this storm together," Rika silently trembled.