Chapter 49: I Bought a Whorehouse (Part 2)

"This is where we're supposed to be meeting one of the more influential people across all of the realms?"

"Well it was this or a strip club, take your pick of venues and tell me this isn't the one you would have chosen."

Yukikaze offered Cayman a sour look that he responded to with a winning smile, the Taimanin huffing out a breath before sullenly letting the matter slide as the two of them alongside Natsume, Kuroka and Till headed towards a craft beer pub off of the Shimokitazawa district, the venue somehow packed to the brim with attendees despite it being one in the afternoon on a Tuesday.

"Seems just like the place a Fallen Angel would enjoy, packed to the brim with sin and excess. Seriously, who uses their lunch break to go to a pub and not an infinitely less healthy fast food joint?"

Tabling that idle thought - and then forgetting it entirely - he instead watched as Kuroka unleashed a titanic yawn, sunglasses and mild Youjutsu illusion that made her raven hair more of a chocolate brown a low level disguise that matched her current level of energy, the Yokai blearily complaining, "Don't you know you're not supposed to wake cats up until nighttime, nya?"

"Perhaps you should not have stayed up late watching the entirety of the Shrek series with your sister, Miss Toujou."

"Hey, I was just trying to be a good big sis! There's something truly addicting about cuddling with the best little sister in the world in a home theater marathon, you know? Also drop the Miss Toujou crap, Miss Toujou is my mother and we're 99% certain she's dead."

Natsume merely nodded without comment as Yukikaze seemed weirded out by the blunt admission, Till being her usual good samaritan self before cooing, "So you raised your sister all by yourself? Well you did a good job!"

"Aww, aren't you the sweetest thing ever~!"

Cuddling Till with zero shame - the Fairy quickly regretting her words as she was smooshed against Kuroka's cheek - Cayman abruptly thought back to one of the more ludicrous developments in DxD's story, where Shirone's hairclip had contained the franchise equivalent to Death Star plans and no one had ever realized it because the sibling's parents were actually mad scientists or something?

He'd like to give Zelretch credit - and there was no guarantee the Toujou's had been who they were in DxD canon - but he made a mental note to check that damn hairclip regardless…alongside figuring out if Lilim remembered anything about being a really damn powerful member of the Demon royalty and a couple other vague plot threads that needed to be verified.

"Is something on your mind, Cayman?"

Snapping out his meandering thoughts at Natsume's attentive question he settled for a shrug, replying, "Just another bullet point that I need to add to my list."

"Of course, although I freely offer my services in tracking down or affirming whatever curiosities you may hold about any number of topics."

The Taimanin offered a winning smile, cheerfully stating, "After all, I am rather accomplished in using unconventional sources to discover unconventional answers."

Yukikaze was quick to scowl at the older woman's demure attitude, complaining, "You do realize how suspicious it is that you have one of our best black ops fawning all over you, right?"

"Now now, Miss Mizuki, I promise that if you were to receive the same adoration and attention that I did you would quickly come to realize that a pleasant and friendly working relationship is merely the most sensible course of action for such…medication."

"I've seen the thermometer he stuck up your ass during the last checkup, tiny girl like her would get her coochie split in two, nya."

Yukikaze was quickly turning an interesting shade of red despite her dusky skin, stammering wordlessly at Natsume and Kuroka's casual words before squeaking out, "W-w-what do you mean?! What is he, part Orc or something?!"

"I'm more than willing to submit myself to a physical checkup if you're feeling doubtful, Yukikaze."

Looking for all the world like a deer in the headlights the Lightning Taimanin essentially bluescreened, Till coming to her rescue by swooping in and ordering, "All right, all right, stop teasing her and let's go and meet with this Azazel guy."

"Aww, just as she was about to pop from embarrassment."

The younger Taimanin seized on the Fairy's offer like a drowning soul at sea, marching into the pub without a backwards glance as they followed suit with varying degrees of smugness, Cayman instantly liking the atmosphere despite the cramped conditions, spotting the Fallen Angel in question after only a moment's search.

While there was the familiar disconnect between a 2D anime or VN character making the jump to real life Azazel was distinct enough with his shock of blonde hair and ruggedly sophisticated looks that it wasn't an impossible task, the Surveyor leading his group over to the Grigori's leader as his sharp eyes immediately began looking over Natsume, Kuroka and Till with clear appreciation.

Cayman tried not to laugh as Yukikaze also got a look but one that didn't slip below the neckline…he couldn't possibly imagine what had drawn the man's attention.

"Greetings to the newly formed Pier 16, I've been wanting to meet up with all of you for awhile now. And I am not disappointed."

Natsume didn't even try to be subtle, smoothly sitting herself at the table and squaring her shoulders in a way that emphasized her bust, Kuroka being less openly flirtatious about things but nonetheless oozing sex appeal as she placed her chin on her palms and ensured her assets got a bit of help from gravity.

Till contented herself with pointedly sitting on her Contractor's shoulder in a clear showing of where her interest lied, Yukikaze catching on to the insinuation as her eye dangerously twitched.

"Got a tsundere and two flirty femme fatales duking it out with the archetypal perverted old man. When truth becomes stranger than fiction."

Setting aside his inner monologue for the moment Cayman extended a hand, Azazel firmly returning the gesture as the Gamer responded, "Glad to know my companions meet your truly exacting criteria of having boobs."

"Oh it's so much more than just breasts, my young friend. Asagi and Zelretch were quite eager to show off their latest subordinates and it's not every day you run across the combo of bouncy beauty and excellent talent."

Natsume turned her charm up to eleven, blushing as she submissively responded, "My my, I find myself at something of a loss when being so earnestly complemented by such a powerful personality…"

"Heh heh, of course someone with my beauty and talent is recognized among those with good taste, nya~!"

Yukikaze looked ready to burst a blood vessel, growling out, "Well isn't that good for them? Really, I'm SO happy for you."

Meeting the Taimanin's gaze Azazel shamelessly responded, "Hey now, no offense met. The Lightning Taimanin is no slouch, you just don't end up in the circles I run in that much."

Cayman debated pointing out those circles probably didn't notice anything smaller than a b-cup but decided he valued his life, since a stray spark of electricity had already snapped out of the girl's body.

"Well then! Introductions are out of the way and we've got stuff to talk about so go ahead and order up, I've got the bill for today."

"I think we'll just have what you're having, unless anyone has other ideas?"

None in his group did, Azazel snorting before wryly commenting, "Put all the pressure on me, huh?"

"More like we have faith that one of the longest living samplers of vice and sin has a refined palate and knows the good shit."

+5 REP with Azazel [5/100]

"Well don't blame me if this ends up ruining beer for you moving forward because I just so happen to know a great deal about 'good shit'. Your loss."

Getting up to place their orders the Fallen Angel returned a few minutes later, Kuroka not wasting any time satisfying her curiosity as she asked, "So how do you know so much about us, nya? Like, I know my employer has his conniving little fingers in a whole lot of pots but it seems you're pretty tight with him."

Passing around a number of glasses with a frothy brown liquid inside of them Azazel replied, "While I'm technically not a part of Sanctuary I collaborate and share with them enough that I'm more of an honorary member than I am anything else. And if there's one thing I've learned when working with your superiors it's that they love to talk up their subordinate's achievements and victories. Considering all the shenanigans your crowd has been up to Zelretch and Asagi have been hyping you up for awhile. Honestly I think Shiva is starting to get a little annoyed."

Taking an appreciative sip of his drink the Grigori leader pointed towards Cayman, remarking, "The only wild card was you, since your record was pretty sparse until just a few weeks ago."

"And as much as I would leave to hear about how my team and I are just the most awesome thing ever we do have business to attend. Nice choice of beer, by the way. Fruity, but with enough hops to not make it seem like we're sitting at the kid's table."

"And as much as I enjoy people telling me how good of a job I do the fact remains that you're suggesting we actually do work instead of hang out and get blackout drunk. Ugh. Why is it that perfectly sensible suggestions always seem like the least fun option?"

"Because responsibility is often sensible. It's why I avoid it like the plague, nya~!"

Azazel toasted Kuroka's way, nonetheless adopting a modicum of seriousness as he stated, "With all that we've learned about the Khaos Brigade and who's a part of it we've begun shuffling around personnel and putting the word out for anyone willing to give us a few pointers in the right direction, no sense in playing coy when you've come into direct contact with some of its leaders and they'll have every reason to believe you're talking to us. Unfortunately, I kinda wish you'd done that a few years ago."

Natsume frowned, asking, "They have proven to be more powerful than we first estimated?"

"Kinda putting it lightly. Our first wave of sniffing around and buying of information has revealed a pretty tight knit and far flung operation with a depressing amount of capital to its name. Nomad and the Old Satan Faction would be a migraine yet manageable if it was just them but we've got at least a dozen possible hits on smaller groups that could very well be a part of this merry band of maliciousness, none of them upstanding paragons of moral fiber or willing to help little old ladies cross the road."

Azazel took a massive quaff of his beer, grumpily stating, "The Incubus King and Asmodeus are relatively big names but they don't have the power or the clout to hold together an organization that looks to be as big as this Khaos brigade does."

"Then we will have to assume that there are other leaders - perhaps even ones more influential than our current roster - that comprise the Khaos Brigade's ranks."

Natsume's remark was met with a sour expression from Yukikaze, the younger Taimanin complaining, "Hold on, how do people like that just fly under the radar with all of this stuff, shouldn't we have figured out that the axis of evil or whatever was getting together?"

"That's part of the mystery, now isn't it, nya? Keep your tits on, you don't have much to spare in the first place."

"What did you just say to me-"

Quickly heading off the - halfway literal - catfight between Kuroka and Yukikaze Cayman said, "I may or may not have a list of possible targets, I guarantee you're going to hate them."

"I love it when someone tells me precisely what I want to hear when I least want to hear it. This a benefit from your 'origins'? The Wizard Marshal was hinting that you'll know more than you probably should."

"That's pretty much exactly it. Although bear in mind this is knowledge that might be true, judging from what I've seen so far my experience is typically proving only half right. The broad outlines are spot on but the details are different."

"Uh, quick question? What the hell are all of you talking about?"

All eyes turned Yukikaze's way, the Lightning Taimanin testily remarking, "What's this about you knowing all this secret information no one else does? I thought you were just a part of Sanctuary."

"I am a part of Sanctuary, not to mention that I tend to work for Zelretch the most…partly because he's the one who 'brought' me here."

The lithe girl took a moment to process that…and her eyes widened, sputtering out, "W-wait, does that mean you know the future or something?!"

"Ahh, it's so much nicer being able to say 'Zelretch did it' than have to explain a planetary consciousness brought me here to run damage control."

He also had to once again hold back on the urge to tell the feisty Taimanin that he knew about her 'lore' because she was one of the stars of an eroge series.

"Probably an existential revelation too cruel. I'll save that one for a rainy day."

Snapping out of his ruminations the Surveyor instead tilted his hand back and forth, replying, "Not really. It's more accurate to say I know the present and past of three disparate realities that have a decent amount of overlap with this one. Hence, my knowledge should only be used as a guideline or point of interest rather than gospel. And on that note…anyone got a paper or pen?"

Azazel snorted, stating, "I'm not so drunk that I can't remember important details, lay it on me."

Drawing upon his 'meta' knowledge Cayman took a sip of his beer, recalling, "Hades, God of the Underworld. The reincarnated hero aspect of Cao Cao, heading up a group called the Hero Faction and who wields the True Longinus. Rizevim Lucifer. Dragon God Ophis. And a fair few others that I can list off provided we don't want to be sitting around all day, there's also a lot of 'maybes' that don't belong to the Supernatural but the Moonlit and Demon worlds as well."

Thump!

The Gamer glanced at Kuroka with open amusement as the Nekoshou had let her head bang against the table, complaining, "This sounds like so much work and bullshit, nya! Why can't the bad guys I'm sent after be super lame and easy to beat up for once?"

"If it makes you feel any better, Kuroka, I'll find some hapless mugger for you to tenderize."

"It really doesn't."

Natsume quietly sighed, expression hardening as she mused, "It seems we have much work to do in the future, then. A network this potentially massive will require a fair bit of rooting out before it can be safely declared…pruned."

"Yeah, I'm not nearly drunk enough for any of this. Anyone want more beers? Because I'm ordering more beers."

"I'll toast to a clusterfuck."

The Fallen Angel released an amused snort at Cayman's dry words, swirling his beverage before remarking, "Well as unpleasant as it is to hear what we might be facing down in the future at least forewarned is forearmed. Any chance you can get around to making that list of suspects or whatever? I take back what I said earlier about being too drunk to remember stuff."

"I'd be happy too. Although before I do so I think I'd like to request your help with a tricky situation I find myself in…"

"Oh? Go on."

Sensing his companion's eyes upon him - and no doubt wondering what the fuck he was up to - Cayman stated, "I'm planning on taking down Real's little funhouse soon and it just so happens Under EDEN has the backing and patronage of quite the number of well connected figures. If I want this to go cleanly I'm going to need a bit of aid from someone high up on the food chain that isn't Sanctuary and only Sanctuary."

"And just why, exactly, do you want this place out of the picture so badly?"

"Mostly because - as we just recently discovered - there's the risk his little brainwashing and mind altering schemes are going a step up in intensity and applicability. All this despite the fact that Asagi and her sister paid him a visit not long ago and offered a polite reminder that people are keeping a close eye on him. Obviously, that threat has gone unappreciated and there's a very real risk that super automaton has fallen into his clutches. We already know the Incubus King can subvert people to an alarming extent and the last thing we need is some kind of biomechanical equivalent."

Azazel leaned back in his chair, idly remarking, "It's to my understanding that the effects of Under EDEN's brainwashing can already be counteracted, one of those very examples sitting at this table."

Yukikaze stiffened, evidently touchy about that particular subject as Azazel nonetheless continued with, "Not to mention you've already proven capable of freeing people from the King's influence, is going after Under EDEN to this extent really worth it?"

"No, there are easier alternatives but I don't really feel like explaining that I have a quest and promise made with Till to go through with this."

"I believe so. For one thing that treatment for Under EDEN's alterations takes a long ass time to work and the process was stopped before it was really complete. And Natsume was only under the King's influence for a very short amount of time, there's no guarantee it'll work on someone who's been dealing with it for years on end. Besides, do you really expect me to go on a cross country all you can fuck buffet to free who knows how many people as opposed to doing Survey work?"

"Sounds like a good deal to me."

Smirking at Azazel's petulant reply Cayman said, "I prefer a bit of variety in my diet."

Huffing out a breath the Fallen remarked, "All a bit of a moot point, I'm afraid. You see, we have a very tenuous balance of power going right now where no one can make any sort of open play for more power without having dozens of competing factions looking to snuff them out for less than altruistic reasons. The realms have unofficially agreed to an unspoken set of rules where we conduct war and subterfuge through proxies, expendables or plausible deniability. If I, as the head of the Grigori, openly back and sponsor a Sanctuary led takeover of the personnel retreat of a bunch of oligarchs, politicians and select few Extranatural then everyone is going to have a whole bunch of incentive to bring down the proverbial hammer, if only because it's the perfect excuse to knock my people down a peg. The attendees to that little club won't take kindly to such an abrupt shift in management."

That was more in line with what Cayman had expected, even if Yukikaze and Till adopted glum or frustrated expressions, Natsume and Kuroka seeming nonplussed at the response.

"And now for the main thrust of the deal…"

"That tracks. So what about you instead provide me a list of people who would be interested in having the chance to play and earn favor with some wealthy Humans? Demons, Moonlit, Supernatural…I'm sure there are enterprising souls that would leap at the opportunity to work in someplace like Under EDEN and I have a way to ensure they get that opportunity."

Azazel raised an eyebrow, waiting for Cayman to continue with obvious intrigue.

"The issue right now is that Real uses EDEN as a front for his experiments, the brothel is just an excuse for all sorts of powerful figures to cover for him that may or may not be interested in what he's cooking in the basement. If that part of the equation doesn't change and those with membership passes don't notice anything different about what they're getting…why would they interfere?"

Azazel lazily replied, "You're talking about taking on a whole lot of risk. You take away the toys or privileges that everyone previously enjoyed in that dump and they're going to come out swinging. Not everyone who goes there is just in it to get their dick wet off of some mind broken soul."

"Azazel, I'm a Surveyor."

Cayman smirked.

"Getting into trouble for all the right reasons is the whole damn point."

Azazel barked out a laugh, amusedly commenting, "You really think you can hoodwink that many people, huh?"

"Hey, I've got the apprentice of the Wizard Marshall, a Youjutsu specialist and I'm a fair hand at summoning myself, if we can't work out some kind of pretty damn good illusion that makes twisted old idiots think they're raping some mind broken chick against her will then we're not applying ourselves hard enough."

Now openly laughing the Fallen Angel finally managed to bring his mirth down to mere chuckles, draining his beer in the process.

+10 REP with Azazel [15/100]

"Well if you can get that kind of a system up and running then I guarantee you'll have no shortage of curious volunteers. I'm on good terms with various groups and a Succubus coven or two-"

"Of course you are."

"-and they'll at least want to hear more about this, if nothing else. You draft up that list of potential threats and I'll send you the names of those who'll be all about this takeover of yours."

+15 AFC, +10 DEV with Till, [10/100]

+10 REP with Yukikaze, [80/100]

+10 AFC with Natsume Amadare [20/100]

While briefly thrown by the increase with Till and the appearance of a new tier of affection he nonetheless kept his mind on the present, Azazel raising a glass in toast as Kuroka mused, "You know, it's kinda weird to see such a big and important deal carried out in such a casual way, nya."

"I'd say this is business as usual, actually."

"Of course you would, you deal with weirdos all the time, nya."

Cayman chuckled, motioning to Kuroka as he joked, "Better get used to weirdos, Kuroka. You're living with them."


"So is it possible?"

"Possible? Sure. Doable? Different question. Making and keeping Youjutsu illusions when I'm in the vicinity is like taking candy from a baby. Making sure they stick around and last for weeks or maybe even months when I'm not present? That's gonna require some outside the box thinking, nya."

Sliding the Nekoshou a bowl of spiced almonds he'd bought on their way back home - which she was only too happy to start snacking on - Cayman posed, "Well if those Youjutsu illusions were tied to a Bounded Field could that work? We could mix illusions with a bunch of other effects as well if it's possible to integrate different fields of magic or whatever."

The black cat languidly shrugged, popping an almond into her mouth with obvious relish as she replied, "Combining different schools and stuff isn't a new concept, problem is most people that have the means and power to do so keep their research and the results under lock and key. The only open source records of stuff like that are academies and institutions like the one in this city and they don't tend to delve into or allow stuff that could be pretty damaging."

A thoughtful twitch of her ears.

"Doesn't help any that there's, like, a bajillion different ways to make something work and hundred bajillion ways to fuck it up."

"Guess you and Rin have your work cut out for you then."

"Bleh. I hate work."

An abrupt cackle left the Nekoshou despite her complaint, Cayman raising an eyebrow as golden eyes sparkled with glee.

"That poor little Magus…she's going to have to see all sorts of naughty and hardcore scenes if she wants to put them into a Bounded Field. Which part do you think will start crying first? Upstairs or downstairs?"

"I think I almost feel sorry for her. Well, better that Magus than Touko. I was originally going to have her on this project but, well…didn't want to upset the lady in charge of my report card."

"Wow, nya. Way to kill the mood by bringing her into the conversation."

"It is a nice ambience we have going on here, isn't it?"

They were seated in a corner of the dining area, most of the warehouse's lights turned off aside from a few soothing night lamps as everyone else slept the hours away, the Gamer feeling a pleasant sense of relaxation even as Kuroka rose to her feet, languidly stretching as she moaned out, "Well, it's been a busy day and I better start getting to making those illusions…I might just develop an itch that needs scratching in the process, though. Think you can help little ol' me with that, nya~?"

"I'll try to live up to your expectations, my door's always open."

The Yokai smirked, brushing past him-

-and leant down next to his ear, breathily whispering, "Making exceptions for me even though the Aozaki bitch would have been the better choice? You really are a softy, huh?"

"When I can afford to be. Good night, Kuroka."

"Hmm…I think it will be."

The Nekoshou walked away with a noticeable sway to her hips, Cayman appreciating the swish of tail and sway of ass even as he read,

+10 REP with Kuroka [55/100]

"All in all, not a bad day."

He quickly flipped through his phone, smirking at the text he'd gotten from Yukikaze not more than an hour ago.

[Hey, uhh, thanks for earlier today. Inviting me, I mean. I've always wanted a crack at those sons of bitches in Under EDEN for doing what they did to me and Rinko. Putting a bullet in Zokuto's face is gonna be an image I sleep pretty soundly too. So, yeah! Thanks.]

"It's adorable that she couldn't work up the courage to say that directly to my face."

Tucking his phone away the Surveyor reflected that he still needed to bring up his possible means of healing Yukikaze of her Under EDEN modifications with [Tantric Rejuvenation], although there was an interesting angle he wanted to try if she was willing. Since his abilities weren't some nebulous 'Gamer' bullshit but liberal interpretations of various magi and heroic Spirit talents it stood to reason Rin might be able to observe and replicate them in a Bounded Field.

…It would also be the funniest damn thing imaginable if he fucked the Taimanin right in front of Rin as they both tried to pretend it was for science.

"Ah well, maybe if I get lucky."

Arriving at his room and fully prepared to call it a night he was instead greeted with an eager Till flying into his face at full speed, the Fairy planting a passionate kiss on his upper lip as Cayman bemusedly asked, "No complaints here, but what was that all about?"

"For being my beloved Contractor, obviously. Or did you think I was just going to forget about you trying to make my selfish request a reality despite all the trouble you're going through to make it happen?"

"I mean I was more than happy to do so because you're my leading lady, Till."

"Well I don't really care, I think it's only fair that I repay you in some way…"

Finding himself incredibly turned on by Till's suggestive words the Surveyor regretfully replied, "As much as I would love to have a fun time of it tonight, Till, I need to save my energy since I've got an expedition to plan. All of us need to learn how to work together, after all."

While the Fairy sagged a little in disappointment Cayman was quick to let a finger slip between her legs, smoothly massaging her loins as he purred, "But once we're all settled with that…I think you and I deserve a night together."

Till seemed all too delighted by that, flying over to his bed where she enthusiastically patted the pillow for him to join her, the Surveyor reflecting that she was really testing his self-control as he joined her, giving his stats one last once over with mind awhirl at all the possibilities a 'DEV' level granted him.

Cayman Lute, LVL 33

HP: 1850

MP: 7200 + (1440)

STA:3600

STR: 195

DEF: 205

AGI: 400

MAG: 605 + (125)

MAG DEF: 780 + (156)

REIGN: 41

EXP: 900/3400