Ojou-sama

Naturally, our group was way too big and conspicuous to move about all together and I doubt Ojou-sama would let Sylphid into her mansion again. There was some grumbling but ultimately only Cassandra and myself took a carriage to the noble hill district to meet with the crime boss.

Compared to the first time, which had us jump through a ridiculous amount of hoops to yesterday, in which Ojou-sama didn’t even bother to show up, this time the meeting was arranged astoundingly quickly. No strip was required and neither were we asked to give up our weapons. The treatment was almost suspiciously courteous.

Just as last time, Ojou-sama awaited us behind her desk puffing on one of her cigars. After what Sylphid pulled, the crime boss was apparently shaken up quite a bit, but now she was calm itself.

“Mr. Beta. I did not expect to see you again in person. I trust Feena was a proper host to your party, yesterday?”

I glanced to Feena who stood next to Ojou-sama like a shadow, sporting a friendly smile. “Yes”, I responded somewhat warily. “I thank you for your hospitality.”

“Lets zip the niceties, alright?”, Cassandra wasted not time and cut straight to the chase. “What’s your plan on handling the cunt?”

Ojou showed Cassandra a thin smile. “If you are referring to Miss Margaret, I believe Feena has already briefed you yesterday.”

“We are monitoring the situation”, Feena responded, probably more for my sake then anything.

Cassandra snarled. “Bullshit. This isn’t the times for games, Ojou. Cunt’s coming for you and you know it.”

“That is pure conjecture on your part.”

“Oh fuck off!”

Ojou-sama calmly puffed at her cigar. “Miss Margaret has not interfered with my business since her exile. You could say we have a sort of...tacit understanding to ignore each other. Why should she wish to break that?”

That only enraged Cassandra more. “Are you fucking kidding with me, Ojou? The cunt’s a fucking Dark Lord!”

“Which puts her under the direct control of the Demon King. If anything, she is now even less likely to act out.”

“BULLSHIT!”

“Ummm…”

My timid interruption go all three of the women to stare at me. “I would just like to make sure. There is no way to talk things out with Minerva and handle the situation amicably?”

“Amicably?”, Ojou-sama raised an eyebrow, while Cassandra only groaned.

I ignored that. “You said it yourself, Minerva has left you alone for a decade. And it seems neither side wishes bloodshed. Surely, there is grounds for a peaceful resolution?”

Both Cassandra and Ojou-sama stared blankly at me. Only Feena seemed amused. Then Ojou-sama puffed at her cigar.

“Mr. Beta.”

“Yes?”

“Are you a moron?”

“B-but you said…”

“I know what I said, Mr. Beta.” Ojou-sama sighed. “The Sama syndicate and Miss Margaret are in what can best be described as a cold war. We have our spies, of course, do our due diligence, but in essence we both ignore each other. Any contact would risk escalation.”

“I see…”

“If my read on the situation is correct…”, the crime boss continued. “You wish for the safe return of the Valkyrie, as well as safety guarantees from Miss Margaret.”

“Right”, I gave a nod. “I don’t think these are unreasonable terms.”

“I agree with you, but the Sama Syndicate has no reason to support you in that.”

Oh.

I took a deep breath. “Look, I know you three had your differences. But if nothing changes Cassandra will be enslaved.”

“She is enslaved right now”, Ojou-sama coldly responded.

“But…”

“Cass is an adult”, the crime boss continued. “Actions have consequences.”

“Fuck, Ojou”, Cassandra growled. “Do you want me to beg?”

“Suit yourself.”

Cass abruptly stood up from her chair. It was so abrupt that the guards stirred but Cassandra made no attempts to move from her spot. Instead she slowly started to undress herself.

“H-Hey what are you…”

“Let her do it”, Feena interrupted me. “She needs this.”

Ojou-sama silently regarded her sister, not even a hint of emotion on her face.

Before long, the huntress was completely naked. Then, she lowered herself to the floor on all fours and pressed her forehead to the ground.

...

“Ojou-sama, my Mistress, I beg you, please help us.”

It sounded sincere. Certainly more humble and demure then how Cassandra tends to speak to me.

Ojou-sama just kept smoking her cigar while Cassandra remained motionless. Only Feena showed some signs of pity and sighed softly.

“Did she do the same to you, Mr. Beta?”, the crime boss finally asked. “Perhaps show you her scars to get you to agree to this meeting?”

“D-don’t be absurd.”

“You disappoint me, Cass. Did what Feena told you yesterday affect you that much? If you wished to grovel in front of me you should have done so years ago.”

“H-hey…” I tried to interject but Feena silently shook her head.

“The answer remains the same”, the crime boss stated with finality, her voice still devoid of any emotion.

Cassandra was trembling now, while I was at a loss on how to proceed.

“I knew it…”, Cassandra slowly raised herself up. “Fucking knew it.”

“It simply can not be done”, Ojou-sama continued. “Any agreement would be broken by Miss Margaret at her earliest convenience. The core ingredient for diplomacy, accountability, is missing.”

“Finally we agree on something”, Cassandra responded, her voice flat, hollow and defeated.

“So, this was completely pointless”, I added bitterly.

“My apologies, Mr. Beta. If you care for my advice…” Ojou-sama was interrupted by a loud beeping noise on her desk. She immediately pushed a button. “What is it?”

The panicked, crackled voice on the other end was shouting.

“WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! MINERVA! MINERVA IS ATTACKING THE ESTATE!”

“Well, Mr. Beta.” Ojou-sama calmly puffed on her cigar.

“It appears the odds have just shifted in your favor.”