The longest day X

17:30

Cassandra

"You have quite the nerve to show your face again after the stunt you pulled.”

The room I was brought into was, to describe with one word: Oppressive.

It was a small circular shape. Painted on all walls with an eerie red color. There was a bed in it and a table. That was it. Feels like a fucking **** chamber.

On the chair opposite from me, sat Ojou, looking at me with her usual ice bitch persona. Tough luck, I don’t want to be here either. This crazy idea was completely the little brat’s fault. I know I was the one who riled her up but still, wasn’t expecting the absolute lunacy she pulled.

As such I replied with a shrug. "What can I say? I believe we both have an interest that Daddy wins tomorrow."

As small as this room was, that did not stop Ojou from smoking her precious cigars stinking up the place in the process. “This chamber’s walls are infused with goblin skin. Barring devils, it is completely magic proof. That, of course also accounts for the spell of obedience. You are not under its influence as long as you are in here. As such...” She glared at me. “Do not use that distasteful word in my presence.”

“I don’t see you stop smoking this crap either”, I spat back. “This your plan? The great Mistress Ojou-sama, hiding in a small closet, hoping her devil protects her? Guess Sylphid really did fuck you up good.”

Ojou didn’t respond but she drew on her cigar as if it was a fucking pacifier.

I smiled at her. “You’ve become quite good at it. Hiding your tells, but thing is Ojou, I know you for a long time and you are far from perfect. Right now...you are absolutely scared shitless.”

Still no response, so I continued.

“Ever since yesterday, when it became apparent what Minerva did or perhaps even before that, when she acquired the Dark Lord you were running around frantically, trying to find a solution on how to deal with this fucking clusterfuck of a situation you created. And you came up with jack shit. Sounds about right?”

Ojou took a puff from her cigar, once again saying nothing.

“You should have fucking killed the cunt when you had the chance but you didn’t. So let me tell you what’s going to happen. If that cunt makes it out of the arena tomorrow, you’re fucked. You are near the top of her shitlist and the only reason cunt hasn’t yet paid you a visit is cause she’s after me first. So, why don’t you cut it with the fancy mind games and work the fuck together with us!”

Ojou finished her cigar.

Then she pulled a gun on me.

I smirked as I stared down the barrel. “Feels quite familiar, eh, Ojou?”

“With one difference.” She showed me the loaded chamber.

It wasn’t the only gun either. Behind me, the head maid had her own weapon trained at my head. Trying some fancy tricks won’t help.

“So, what now?”, I asked calmly.

“What now?” Ojou looked at me coolly. “This is the part where you go down on your hand and knees and beg for forgiveness.”

I laughed. “I would Ojou, if I knew it would make a difference.”

“Killing you might placate Minerva”, Ojou pondered.

“You know the cunt wants me alive, If anything you do me a favor.”

Ojou spend a few more moments simply looking at me. “Knowing you, you did try to get Mr. Beta to run away. I assume he refused?”

“Yeah.”

“And I assume the reason for that is because he felt a sort of obligation towards the Valkyrie Minerva enslaved? The one who took part on the raid on my estate?”

“Nothing gets by you, eh?”

“It would have been the correct decision. It appears Mr. Beta hasn’t grown wiser, these past few days.”

I chuckled. “If anything he grew only more of a fucking moron.” I braced myself for the orgasm that never came. Ojou was not kidding about that Goblin skin.

Through all this Ojou kept her gun primed at me. “There is no sense in following a fool to his demise. If you wish for it, I can save you.”

“By killing me?”

“Considering the alternative...”

“What? Don’t you even want to hear our brilliant plan?”

“I despise wasting my time on nonsense, Cass. Answer the question.”

I stared at her gun. Weird, how calm I was. Maybe it’s because the smart choice is kinda obvious, isn’t it? If I end up that cunts’ **** I will suffer a fate far worse then ****.

I screwed up. First, when I became the boy’s ****. And then when I didn’t got him to drop out of the tournament. No, in truth it was way, way earlier. When I decided to pull that fucking trigger.

The smart choice is to end it here. Always pick the smart choice. Wasn’t that what that rotten piece of shit drilled into our head?

But just once.

Just once I want to try making the fucking right choice.

“No deal, Ojou.”

As expected, Ojou just continued to stare at me for a few moments. I didn’t expect the next thing though.

She put the gun against her own temple and pulled the trigger.

I screamed.

But the terror only lasted for a split second.

“It fires magic bullets”, Ojou casually explained, before showing me a faint smile. “Scared shitless, was it?”

“You fucking psycho bitch”, I growled, trying fruitlessly to get my raging heartbeat under control.

“We are planning to upgrade a part of our personnel with these”, Ojou mused. “The newest models from Zeth’s defense ministerium. They should prove to be much more effective against foes of Sylphid’s caliber. I could show you, but we would have to step outside for that.”

At last she put the fucking gun away. This is why I hate the fucking bitch. Always ready to **** me. But at the very least Ojou’s look had slightly changed, she was curious now. “Very well, tell me that plan of yours.”

…

..

.

Once I finished, Ojou first let Ria lit herself a new cigar. Then she puffed on it, once and long. “What a ludicrous proposition.”

Tell me about it. “But you can do it, right?”

“As for your first request...no. Asmodeus is out of the question.”

Figures. The brat told me that devils are not allowed to go after the same target. Not that I expect Ojou to give up her safety net even if it was possible. But this is the basis for negotiation. Always demand more then you want. “What about the rest?”

“If your intel is correct...” For the briefest time there was a glint of a smirk on Ojou’s visage. “By the way, where did you come across this information?”

“Some bratty acquaintance.” Yeah, initially Bea wanted to show up her as well to explain her genius plan in person. I hard denied her, that girl would have gotten us both killed, jury’s still out if that isn’t the better option.

“That hardly sounds like a reputable source.”

“Don’t worry. It’s correct.”

“Is it?”, Ojou called my bluff.

I shrugged. “Even if it’s a gamble, sometimes you just gotta roll the dice. Isn’t that your motto?”

Ojou’s only response was to puff on her cigar. “Setting this up will take time. It will also have to involve a rather displeasing large amount of people. Not to mention the PR hit. The loss in shareholder value would be tremendous.”

Cry me a river. “But you can pull it off right?”

Ojou remained silent for a few more moments.

“Should I consent to this, there will be a red firework, towards the Noble Hill district.”, she finally stated. “That will be your signal.”

“Uhu, awesome. When will that happen?”

She puffed her cigar. “Sometimes during the match.”

The notion of bitch slapping her sounded sweeter and sweeter.

“There needs to be at least a measure of plausible deniability”, Ojou continued.

“Cut the shit, Ojou.” I glared at her. “You can’t play around this late in the game.”

“Cass”, she smiled. “Playing around is the only reason I made it this far.”

Annoying to the end. But I guess this is the best I could hope for.

“As for the payment...”

Oh fuck me…

…

..

.

Yeah, figures that she wants something like that. “That’s fine by me.”

“Can you make that call? Will Mr. Beta agree?”

“Well, I can’t fucking tell Daddy about this, can I?”, I snapped. Urgh, that “Daddy” came out voluntarily.

Ojou nodded. “I see your point. Very well, I decide to put me trust in you.”

That’s my line, you bitch.

But I guess now that this greedy bastard gets even more out of this she is less likely to fuck us over. At least if my read on her is correct. But when was that ever the case?

Whelp, no reason to waste anymore time in this shithole. I did my part and probably doomed myself in the process, time to go back to drinking again.

“Cass.”

Just as Ria was about to escort me out, Ojou stopped me once again.

I looked back at her. “What?”

For a long time she said nothing. Then, just as I was getting annoyed again, she put her cigar out. “Have you never considered it?”

My face was a mask. “Consider what?”

“To apologize.”

I almost wanted to laugh her in the face. “Can’t you cut it with the psycho shit for five seconds, Ojou?”

But Ojou just continued. “I wouldn’t bring this up, but this feels like a watershed moment for all of us. This time tomorrow one of us might no longer be alive.”

Shit.

I’m fine saying this myself but I don’t want Ojou spouting that crap. “Stop, being dramatic. It’s not cute at all.”

Ojou replied with a shrug. “Seeing you tear yourself apart with guilt was pleasant for a while but Feena and myself have forgiven you years ago. It is time that you did too.”

Fuck.

She got me.

I pushed the emotions back down with all my might. Don’t get fooled, Cassandra. This is her playing the game. It’s just more of her shitty mind games. She made a fool out of you this entire conversation.

And thus, I smiled. “I am happy to hear it. Please make sure to hold up your end of the bargain tomorrow. Goodbye, Ojou-sama.”

Femto’s estimate on victory over Minerva

Devil of time(1 hour) (13.6%/6.8%)

Sylphid is doing something (1%/0.5%)

Hebi-san’s hypnosis (+4%/+2%)

Amber Dominator Mari Beta invigorated (+5%/+2.5%)

Bea with a plan (+12%/+6%)

upgrade to high grade equipment (+10%/+5%)

mental anguish due to excessive spending (-5%/-2.5%)

Operation divide et impera (+13.6%/+6.8%)

chances of victory by kill: 42.2%

chances of victory via surrender: 21.1%