Interlude III Envoy of the city

How the hell did it all come down to this?

"Boss, they're ready for you; I'll stay nearby."

"Sure you can do that. "

After Mr.Park died, I ended up taking charge of whatever remained of the stadium. I expected the other heads outside of the city outskirts to come to my head, but they all retreated as soon as they heard that the Nishiyama clan was going to talk to our new leader themselves. As soon as that happened, no one wanted to come forward and I was stuck as the de facto leader of the snakes. Huh, I'm starting to get why Mr.Park never stopped complaining about his job.

"Mr. Nishiyama is ready to see you. " A woman spoke to me, forcing me out of my anxious thinking. She was a short woman in a blue suit with no tie. I could tell she was a woman from her voice but her head was wrapped in multiple white sheets and a black face mask. She seemed to be a bodyguard of sorts and had come in an almost robotic manner to accompany her employer.

This was just ridiculous. Why would the very chairman of one of the five great families come for something like this in the middle of nowhere? There is a lot of unnecessary danger of something any subordinate could have done. I couldn't even wrap my head around the idea of it and didn't want to either. I was simply too scared of meeting him even if it was in my own meeting room.

Was he just that confident he couldn't be killed? I'm sure he has a demon. I bet the woman does too.

Still, I had a guest to meet. I needed to remain positive. If things work out here, I may be able to permanently remain as the leader of the snakes. The rest of them won't bother me if the chairman gives his approval.

I entered the room followed by my own guard. Mr. Nishiyama never requested us to be unarmed, so my bodyguard kept his gun. It didn't look like the woman was carrying any sort of gun... but that means nothing to a demon. I saw him, the chairman of the Nishiyama clan, the yakuza that controls one of the districts of the city. Mr. Park had a meeting with him before, but this was my first time seeing him.

He was, by all accounts, an unassuming old man with a small white mustache and a long traditional Japanese kama in dark black. He smiled with a perfectly kept white smile. His skin was rough and creaky, but he didn't appear to be tired as he bowed respectfully with his walking cane behind his back, as did the woman behind him to greet my arrival.

I awkwardly bowed as well.

"I thank you for coming Mr. Nishiyama." The old man nodded.

"Greeting Mr.Franklin, May I have a seat, I had a long day of walking around. " Waling around? In Creakc district? Forget it, we both should stay on topic, or else I may say something I will regret.

We both took our seats opposite each other, knowing how important proper manners were to the Japanese. I was at the edge of my seat, but the old man leaned casually on his chair holding his walking staff over his lap... I suppose, since I am not Japanese, he may be giving me some slack. He must know how to negotiate with people of other cultures, but that will only go so far.

"Great, this district is just as I remember. It was good to get my chance to stretch my legs again. "

Still, he didn't feel dangerous at all, his casual mannerism just made him feel rather like an average old man. His tone was rather jolly as well. Was he really Nishiyama Haruto?

"It is our honor to have a visit from our most renowned supporters. We are truly glad to see you." Nishiyama leaned back and looked at the ceiling above him.

"But you see, I'm really sad I didn't get to see Mr.Park. I thought he was a very hardworking boy, really respectful too. I feel really bitter that this reunion couldn't have been a happier one. I hope I can give my respects. "

"Same, I always stood by Mr. Park's side. I knew well that he worked harder than anyone. "

"Haha, yes, he was almost too much into work. You have to enjoy yourself a little. That makes work feel even more worthwhile, so I take it you were his second in command? If that man chooses you, I'm confident you'll do an excellent job."

"I'm very honored."

"But you see, we still have a deal we have to look over. Everyone in the clan is very concerned about it. We asked for about forty people to be delivered to us, but we've heard you don't have a single one right now. So I decided to hear your side of the story myself. If my lieutenants were to do it, they might just kill you all. They are a bit hot-headed like most youngsters. " Haruto put his hands on his cane and looked at me with his black eyes as solid as stone, even if he kept a smile on his face all the same.

"I understand, we were attacked and Mr. Park also gave his life to stop it."

"I heard both of the demons you had in your possession couldn't be summoned again."Is that true, Mr.Franklin? " I was sweating profusely as I tried to hide it; it was impossible; I had never negotiated before in my life, and it was painfully obvious. How does he know? No, of course, he does. I better assume there is no point in hiding anything.

"We have tried to at least attempt the ritual but there was no response. The people that attacked us probably killed the summoner of Seir as well... They attacked the wolves just a day ago. It is possible that they may have killed the demons or something.... "

"Hahaha, I've never heard of anyone killing demons before."He laughed and I was left completely speechless, barely able to look him on his face. That was not the reaction I expected.

"Well, whatever it may be, I'm sure Mr.Park fought well, so I will honor that. Unfortunately, I will withdraw my offer to have some of you work for us in the city; without any devils, it is much better if you all concentrated on the outskirts; believe me, it is for your own good.'' He quickly changed the subject and I was not going to insist, the less we talk of our failures the better it will be.

"I understand."

"That said, we are still willing to work with you, but you will have to fulfill your part of the bargain. I understand your situation, so I will only request twenty living people to be delivered to the worms for smuggling into the city. " I tried to show no emotions, even with my clear relief.

"I'm deeply grateful. I will be sure to deliver twenty people to you in about two weeks." Haruto tapped the floor with his staff, taking a more strict pose as he looked at me with disappointment.

"The time for the request was today. If you don't have at least twenty people, then we will simply have to take those sacrifices from among your numbers. "Today? That is simply impossible; we barely have enough manpower to even attempt an attack on the center city.... wait, our numbers, is he going to demand us to be his sacrifice? " I almost stood up from my seat.

"All right, I'll round up twenty people here; that should be more than enough." It's okay, I'll pay enough of our soldiers to round up twenty workers; as long as this isn't leaked, we can capture some low-ranking members...This will be a terrible blow to us, but I'm sure I can make it work. "

"Glad to hear this, but I believe you are forgetting something boy. You still haven't made amends for embarrassing us with this deal. "

"I'm sorry, what more can I do?"

"Haha is obvious really. As the leader of the snakes, you must take responsibility for the failures of your group. I will be taking you as one of those twenty. It is only fair that your life is given for the future of the snakes. " He looked at me with a gentle expression while measuring all that I was. He had already decided, that man now looked like an unmovable force.

"There is no other way right... AGHHHHHHHHH!'' I pulled out a gun I had hidden in my chair and pointed at.... nothing. He wasn't there anymore. The chairman of the Nishiyama family wasn't on his seat as if he had simply never existed there.

"That was a mistake, you are nothing like Mr.Park. What a pity. " I could still hear his voice as I aimed around the room. The woman in the blue suit was still standing still in the room, staring at me with her cold eye.

"Shoot them. '"I screamed at my bodyguard, who was at that moment holding his throat as blood was spilling from it. He was already gone. "Is this a joke? I'm really just going to be sacrificed here. The bodyguard collapsed and in a panic, I rushed out of the room and into the hallway away from the woman.

The hallway... was this really the hallway? It was unfamiliar to me.

As I ran, the walls stretched and I was rendered speechless as the distance to the exit became infinite; something was falling around me, pink petals raining down and quickly forming mounts of petals all around my feet.I looked back behind me at a long red arch-like structure that seemed to lead into utter nothingness, an expanding emptiness. There was a ringing as well. The sound of a bell getting closer and closer.

I ran through the hallway away from that darkness as a rain of petals danced all around me. Was this a dream? Is it possible that I'm dreaming? The path twisted, there were no turns ahead of me but the path still twisted, the walls that kept stretching seemed to be made out of wood now. I couldn't possibly be in the stadium. I screamed as I kept running till I finally saw the exit, a door I could recognize a door that could take me to a safer place. I opened in desperation and rushed in.

Arriving at the meeting room.

"I can't be here again." The woman in the blue suit walked towards me. I was shaking but I still tried to point the guna at her. She cut the air with her arm as if playing to slash at something and I immediately felt immense pain in both of my ankles and fell down hard.

My legs were bleeding and I couldn't move anymore. That gesture alone was enough to cut off my legs.

"I suppose if you are not willing to give your life for the snakes, then they must not be something worth protecting. I will be taking all forty sacrifices from your numbers, someone else will take your place, someone always does." Nishiyama Haruto walked in front of me as my consciousness began to fade. I could only see the bottom of his cane.

"Is it best if you don't do it yourself, grandfather. " I heard the voice of the woman already becoming distant to me.

"I know, I know, let's banish for now. We'll tell the men to start rounding them up. It appears that without Park, there's nothing of value here, is unfortunate, but we'll have to make do."I heard the sound of a bell as everything vanished and my consciousness slipped away.