(Chapter 71) The Secret Base

"This is what you wanted to show me?" Lewis asked Astrid when she stopped her car at an old warehouse. It looked to be abandoned for many years.

He was a little shocked when Astrid suddenly offered him to show him something, but seeing this 'abandoned' building, he started to understand.

"Since we have a beneficial relationship, I might as well show you this." Astrid opened her door and started to walk to the warehouse.

Lewis followed her inside and watched her open a side door and walk into a dusty room that was a little small...

Astrid walked into the corner of the room and put her hand on the intercepting part of the wall, and pulled to the side. Revealing a slowly emerging white wall from behind.

Lewis then smirked. He knew what Astrid was doing, and he honestly didn't mind. She was going to show him her base, her power. Most likely to threaten to him to not betray her. But he wouldn't do that anyway...

Astrid was doing exactly that, it wouldn't take a genius to figure that out. She went into the newly opened room and placed her hand on an electrical panel, along with inputting a 35 letter long code...

Lewis couldn't see the code but seeing her type it in quickly, but also take a long time. He was baffled, was the code that complicated?

The door then opened with a small beep, Astrid walked in and pressed a button on the other side, closing the door behind them...

Then another code was inputted and that led to an elevator. Going down the elevator, Lewis noticed how much colder it was getting. And looked at Astrid's clothing...

"This base is currently where I lead the operations from our mafia, I'll quickly show you around." Astrid explained in short, as the elevator stopped and the doors opened...

Lewis was quite surprised, the walls and floor were both made from marble, he adjusted to the bright lights quickly and followed Astrid.

"Do you like marble?" Lewis asked in curiosity, as he looked at Astrid with a short gaze.

Astrid didn't respond immediately. Did she like marble? Sure, it looked nice. But she never chose anything from aesthetics...

"Not really." Astrid responded, as she turned a sharp corner and knocked on a door 5 times in a rhythm.

Lewis watched as the door opened, revealing a room decorated with a sharp red and black. "I'll get someone to send some clothes for you. Do you want to cover your identity?" Astrid then started to walk into the ever-familiar room. As she reached into a wardrobe in the room.

The room had a desk and computer, along with a glass cabinet holding a plentiful amount of bottles of alcohol. While there was a wardrobe next to a door probably leading to another smaller room...

"No, I have no reason to hide my face." Lewis answered quite casually, he never hid his face when doing anything. It was quite known in the underworld who he was. But he also managed a good connection to the military since he could keep many people in control, and because of his family name.

Astrid simply nodded and sent a message on her phone. She then reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a different colour suit.

She didn't even look at Lewis, as she went into the side room. Which Lewis managed to see a bed inside.

"Shit, why are you doing this to me? It's hard enough to keep my composure as is." Lewis mumbled under his breath. He was a perfectly healthy male, and the woman he liked was changing in the room beside him... He had his issues here.

.......

Astrid only took a couple of minutes before opening the door again. Seeing a man wearing a black outfit by the door, handing over a bag to Lewis. She was impressed.

"I take you finished your work Inui." Astrid didn't ask, but it was a statement. To see this man here. It only meant he finished his work.

When Inui heard Astrid's voice he immediately straightened his back ramrock straight. "Yes Boss. The Katafawa clan enjoyed your gift." He reported in shaky Italian, but it was good enough to understand.

Astrid nodded and said nothing. She walked towards her wine cabinet and grabbed a bottle.

Lewis took the bag that Inui was giving him and took another look at him. He was short at 5 foot 9 inches. (175 cm) he was decent-looking, but nothing compared to himself. He was distinctively foreign, and basing on his accent probably Japanese. All in all... He felt no threat from the man below him.

Lewis then turned to look at Astrid. And was momentarily stunned.

Long black hair, a distinctively sharp and more masculine-looking face, brown eyes. And her breasts... Nothing.

"It makes sense now." He muttered, all that time he struggled to keep track of Astrid, he didn't know that she seemed to be an expert at disguising herself. He would never link the Astrid he knew, to this face.

"A drink Lewis?" Astrid continued to speak in her normal voice tone. She had no reason to fully embrace her outfit yet.

Lewis blinked. "Sure. Do you always dress up so much for this?" Lewis started to walk to the desk like nothing happened.

Inui looked at Lewis in surprise. When he first saw this 'man' suddenly turn into a female he was stunned, he then learned that the man who had humiliated him in martial arts was actually a woman! He couldn't live down the feeling of fear down his throat at that point.

But he was impressed seeing Lewis being so casual to his boss. He couldn't stop shaking after he saw his boss' cold glance at first.

"I do. Hiding my identity is something that is required." Astrid proceeded to pour a glass of white wine for the two of them.

Astrid then eyes Inui, who hadn't moved an inch. "Something caught your eye?" Astrid threatened the man. As he then proceeded to scurry away.

Lewis took the glass and sipped the contents. "He seemed quite skilled." Lewis commented, as he blinked at the wine he just drank.

"I suppose. Not to your taste?" Astrid also took a sip of the wine. But it tasted fine to her.

"I guess I like my drinks stronger." Lewis didn't know what to say, the wine just tasted like fruits... Could anyone get drunk off this?

Astrid nodded. "The strongest bottle is the top right. Drink as you see fit." Astrid sent him over to the wine cabinet. She didn't see anything wrong with the drink.

Lewis went over and poured himself a new glass, this time the alcohol was much, much stronger. He felt like he got a kick from the small sip he took. "Okay, now for what we came here for." Astrid then stood up, and started to walk out of the room with her glass of wine, Lewis followed closely behind.