Mob sorcery 5, p.66
Mob Sorcery 5, page 66
The table consumed itself with small talk about history, art, business affairs, and the quality of the performances over Lunar New Year and the Japanese equivalent. Vince remained largely quiet, save for when Momo and Sakura engaged him in conversation about his new home.
While the topic sent a message in and of itself, as it meant all of Houou knew he’d moved, it at least let him speak. Unfortunately, he noticed a few arrogant smirks from other foxes. Likely because Vince spoke of a relatively normal home by their standards as a mansion. Sakura nearly shifted the conversation to where he used to live, before Goro interrupted to talk about her dojo. Vince didn’t miss Goro’s knowing nod.
Goro might appear naïve, but he understood this realm of weirdly political small talk better than Vince.
Eventually, some real food arrived after a soup dish the waiter called “bisque.” A thinly sliced rare steak came out with thick-cut fries and a jammy onion sauce. Vince genuinely wondered if someone had broken into the kitchen and replaced the real main course with this one, given the abrupt shift from hoity toity fine dining to a hearty steak and fries. Even if it came with a red wine whose vineyard he wasn’t even going to try to pronounce.
Finally, after the waiters cleared the steak, the small talk dwindled away. All eyes turned to Toya, who had remained almost completely silent all night.
“Shall we take coffee and dessert in a private room?” Toya asked, staring at Alessia. “I’ve arranged for a room upstairs where we will be undisturbed, and the owner has agreed to bring the plate of petits fours to us.”
“Of course. Lead the way,” Alessia said.
The public aspect of the event ended so abruptly Vince almost missed the way the other foxes vanished into thin air. Only Sakura said a proper goodbye to Alessia and Vince before teleporting away.
Upstairs, they entered a room with tinted windows that overlooked the harbor and appeared to be for parties. Momo, Nina, and the Miura twins began casting wards the second they entered.
Toya sat down without ceremony while Cora and Lucia made coffee using coffee machines to the side. The two bodyguards glanced at each other while they worked, then teamed up.
Of the foxes, only the main Miuras remained. Toya, the twins, Goro, and Cora. Momo had come along, but all other foxes left. On Alessia’s side, she’d left most of her bodyguards outside and Trippych had left with his wife.
“I’d apologize for the circus, but I feel I was the most hard done by of all of us,” Toya said as he gestured for Alessia to sit. “This isn’t my field, Alessia. Even if it’s been forced on me.”
“It’s an important moment, especially if other clans are coming,” Alessia said. “I assume that means I should assume the worst.”
“That depends on what your worst assumption is.” Toya grinned. “What would you assume to be the worst, Vince? Goro?”
Goro frowned. “That we’re doing nothing despite everything happening around us, and a Yakuza traitor within reach.”
Toya raised an eyebrow at Vince, and Alessia looked at him. As did several others.
“That this is an ambush,” Vince said drily.
Peals of laughter erupted from Toya. “At least someone understands true danger. Politics is nebulous, but betrayal must always be on a warrior’s mind. Keep that in mind, Goro.”
Goro’s cheeks reddened, but Cora forced a cup of coffee on him and a small plate with tiny desserts before he said anything. The young fox struggled with his lack of a third hand, distracting him.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” Alessia said, annoyed.
“You need to be more straightforward with the old coot,” Momo said as she approached. “He’s not lying when he says he dislikes politics. We’re secure here. Cut the crap.”
“Then I will, and ask what you are doing here.” Alessia narrowed her eyes.
“Protecting an investment.” Momo nodded her head at Vince. “More than that, this is about Mei more than the civil war. Recent developments mean that Houou and Inaba have both pulled out of trying to deal with Mei, and it leaves Anzu and me in a difficult position.”
“Have you still been ordered to stay out of it?” Vince asked.
When the Miura twins and Toya frowned, he realized they hadn’t fully understood the depth of his involvement with Anzu and Momo. Best to keep it that way.
“That’s why I’m here,” Momo said. “Houou effectively collapsed this morning, and Inaba are taking the situation as it stands.”
Toya cleared his throat before she said more, as Alessia appeared confused. “Our opposition, the Miyoshi clan, officially protested Saito Fujiwara’s intransigence and recent treatment of the Lionetti Family. The fact you defeated a Qilin on par with a clan guardian is justification that you’re rising to the level of a true conglomerate once again. They argued Saito erred by punishing Masaki Hatoyama for his rash actions against you, instead of supporting him.”
Alessia visibly bristled, and her tail rose behind her. She’d kept it stock still most of the night, making the movement highly noticeable to Vince.
“Mei is vulnerable, and the Miyoshi clan moves to protect her?” Alessia asked. “We know someone in Houou has been actively dragging the conflict with her out, but this feels one step short of active betrayal.”
The expressions on the foxes turned into stone, save Momo, who gave Toya a pointed look.
“It’s a momentous claim to suggest any of our clans are working with the betrayers who slew our families and drove us from our homeland,” Toya said. “The Miyoshi clan’s behavior disquiets me, but without hard proof I’ll go no further. Mei is considered less dangerous than the Qilin by most.”
“I think we’re willfully ignoring the obvious,” Momo said.
“If you have hard proof, even Saito would act.” Toya glared at the gold-tailed fox. “Or have you forgotten that he lost a wife to Knightsgate? He wouldn’t even leave remains of any fox foolish enough to betray us to our greatest foes.”
Momo grimaced and looked away.
Toya sighed and took a long sip of his coffee. “To cut a long story short, the Miyoshi clan’s plan has failed. They expected the Yakuza to tie up enforcers and wished to remove Vince from the equation. By protesting against Saito, they’ll trigger the vote for the next clan leader.”
“Will he lose the position?” Vince asked. “Even though it’s an obvious ploy? Surely you can keep him in it for longer.”
“Saito doesn’t plan to contest it. He’s scheduled the meeting for Wednesday next week,” Momo explained. “Even if he did, it might not buy time. The Miyoshi’s are merely being polite. This is the start of a formal process. If we try to short-circuit it without strong reasoning, the civil war will just start anyway.”
“If they’re claiming the Lionettis are a huge threat, are we going to be targeted?” Nina asked.
Hyuga shook his head. “Nah. That’d be insane. You’re just a good excuse to kick things off.”
“As interesting as this is, I know you aren’t asking for my support in an internal conflict of Houou’s,” Alessia said. “You mentioned Mei explicitly.”
Toya nodded. “The incoming civil war is a backdrop. With the Miyoshi’s actions, the Golden Path all but collapsed this morning and we withdrew from Yakuza territory. But Vince approached Hyuga with a proposal to have Goro assist him defeat Mei. I understand that Immanuel has lent their assistance as well?”
“They have,” Alessia said.
“Then it would be remiss if Houou sat back and did nothing to rout our foes, given Knightsgate are our problem.”
“Are you only sending Goro?” Momo asked, half-pouting.
“There is a civil war coming,” Hyuga joked.
Vince ran a hand down his face. “Right. Inaba barred you and Anzu from fighting Mei if no other clan guardians helped. I feel Quintus would know some fancy sociology theory to explain this, but it’s that nobody will take the first step.”
“As much as I want Mei dealt with, I can’t risk my clan’s security and the future of Houou for minor revenge,” Toya said.
“It would be more than minor revenge,” Momo said, then sighed.
“For reference, it’s known as a social dilemma,” Alessia told Vince. “Cooperation is better than acting individually, or not at all. Individuals refusing to vote because their single vote means nothing, resulting in collective disappointment when nothing changes, is a classic example.”
“Thanks for calling us good-for-nothing lazy bastards,” Hyuga joked.
“As someone risking a great deal to do something, you’re welcome.” Alessia smiled sweetly, then scowled at Toya. “I welcome all assistance, but is this it?”
“Any alliance between us is historic,” Toya said. He leaned backward and looked at Momo. “However, Goro is the clan heir. He needs a clan guardian to accompany him and guarantee his safety, even if they don’t participate in the hunt.”
Momo blinked, then grinned. “Oh? So you can handle politics.”
“Warriors learn how to work around the restrictions the elders place on them.” Toya’s mustache wiggled. “I also believe you’ll need a way to restrict Mei’s movements. Enforcers and another purifier will accompany Hyuga and Goro in order to ward the area. Although I recommend preparing your own wards, too.”
“We already have,” Vince said. “More are welcome. Mei’s teleportation will be trouble.”
“Don’t expect any of us to block her short-range teleportation,” Toya warned. “With eight tails, she’ll be able to move far farther than you’ll expect.”
“I fought her, even if she wasn’t taking me seriously. I’m aware of how much ass she can kick.”
The clan head inclined his head.
“Is that enough for you to help?” Alessia asked Momo.
“Maybe.” Momo sighed. “Let’s be real, the Inaba elders don’t want us fighting Mei. Not with so much on the line as it is. I’ll work with Anzu to sweet-talk them, but I expect our assistance will be limited. It’s possible…” She bit her lip and glanced at Vince. “You attracted a lot of attention last night. It’s funny how fast Anzu’s fascination with you went from something the elders ignored to a brilliant plan.”
That boded poorly. Wasn’t the idea to avoid direct attention from Inaba, because they’d kill him?
“Bosses love to take credit for ideas they trashed the day before,” Nina said. “I take it you’re going to dangle Vince in front of them like a carrot?”
“Anzu doesn’t like sharing.” Momo shot Toya a look, and the old clan head snorted. “But I think it will happen. If Vince is going to help defend the Miuras in the future, it benefits the Inaba clan to keep him alive, and some minor assistance against Mei isn’t a big deal. Especially as she should be easier to deal with than Kigenai in their minds.”
“I doubt that,” Vince said.
Momo frowned. “The Qilin was vastly more dangerous than I expected. Perhaps it was your inexperience that allowed her to cast the mirror, but I’d expect a fight on par with her, not worse. Either way, make extensive preparations.”
“Indeed.” Toya stood. “Enjoy the coffee and desserts, Alessia. We will speak after Mei is dealt with, regardless of the results.”
They did not stay to enjoy the coffee and desserts. Alessia waited for the foxes to leave, before gathering everyone and returning to the SUVs. She glared at the ceiling.
“I take it you wanted more,” Vince said.
“After all that bullshit, I expected more,” Nina said. “God, I hate the immortal bullshit of ‘we have time and can let mortals do it for us.’ Didn’t Mei get their families killed?”
“Maybe living for centuries inures you against vengeance,” Alessia said sarcastically. “Except for all the bitter, vindictive immortals we know about. I appreciate the Miuras not being arrogant psychopaths like so many foxes, but it annoys me that I find Anzu more… human.”
“Kiho said that a lot of foxes are finding their ordinary lives more interesting than their old duties,” Vince said. “I wonder if that affects them. Toya is conversative as hell, and the Miura twins seem unwilling to act decisively.”
“They’re a clan known for doing very little, despite their powerful warriors, so that makes sense.” Alessia sighed. “But allies are allies. We need them, especially after what nearly happened to Pola.”
Speaking of the wolfgirl, Vince checked his phone to see a few messages from Pola. The latest one featured a selfie of her and Fia in t-shirts on the penthouse sofa.
“I think you’ll need to drop me off at the penthouse,” Vince said. “A puppy wants company.”
Chapter 45
Pola’s head and single ear greeted him when he stepped into the penthouse. He stared down the corridor toward the main room, where she kneeled on the sofa and peeked over its back at him. The tip of her silver tail swished nervously behind her.
“Are you pretending to be a dog?” he asked.
Her ear flattened against her head, and she lowered her head so he couldn’t see her pout.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he walked toward her. Fia’s voice stopped him as he passed the kitchen.
“Mind giving me a hand?” she asked.
“Hey!” Pola cried softly, head popping up.
Vince looked to his side to see Fia inside the kitchen with three tall glasses of cola, lime, and ice. The nearby dark rum told him they were Cuba libres. She winked at him.
Her pale legs enticed him to enter the kitchen, but Pola’s whining stopped him. Fia wore only a t-shirt and, presumably, underwear beneath it. It was one of his t-shirts. She tended to borrow one when she came over, then return it and steal another at some point. The fact Pola wore one in the photo suggested she’d picked up a similar habit.
“Those jugs look heavy, ma’am,” Vince said, winking at Fia in return. “Want me to help you carry them?”
Fia glared at him. “These are glasses, V.”
“You have jugs, too.”
“Shoo.”
“Mine are bigger!” Pola called out.
Fia bared her teeth and stormed over to the breakfast bar that allowed her to see Pola. She flipped the bird at her friend, and Pola sat up on the sofa, massive tits pushed together with her hands. They nearly spilled out of her shirt, and Vince saw first-hand that Pola was wearing a lacy black bra.
“Nice to see you have some fire in you.” He walked up to Pola and ruffled her hair.
She shrank in on herself, but her tail wagged happily. This close, he saw the runes shining through her shirt. He hadn’t realized how bright they were.
Pola remained still as he rounded the sofa and took a seat, then leaped into his lap head-first. She nuzzled against his stomach, purring more like a catgirl than a wolfgirl. His hands wound through her long, luscious hair and tail at the same time. As he’d suspected, she did wear one of his t-shirts.
Fia laid out a silver tray with three Cuba libres and a small bowl of salted nuts. Strange, prismatic colors glittered on each one, and he realized they used magic salt.
“Ally checked on her and said she needs a high-magic diet,” Fia said upon noticing his glance. “The runes are burning magic idly, even if Ally thinks it’s settling down now Pola’s awake.”
“I’m right here, you know.” Pola pouted up at them.
“Yes, puppy.” Vince tickled behind her ear.
Pola’s tail wagged happily and she bit her lip, as if to hide a happy sigh. Fia smirked.
“Do you call Alessia a puppy, too?” she asked.
“You’re all puppies.” He reached out to scratch behind Fia’s ear, but she batted his hand away.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Fia shook her head. “I’ll rub up against you like a bitch in heat, but I’m not doing puppy play.”
“Um, I don’t think this is play. We’re wolfgirls,” Pola said.
“Yes, wolves.”
“Wolves have puppies, too.”
Fia opened her mouth to protest, lowering her guard long enough for Vince to scratch behind her ear. She gasped and leaned into his touch. Her tail thwapped against the sofa even as she glared at him.
“Woof woof,” he drawled.
“Fuck you,” Fia muttered.
After a minute of petting two happy wolfgirls, he finally gave Fia a break and picked up his drink. Pola sat up, but occupied his lap. Her tail rubbed against his side as she leaned into his chest and her ears tickled his chin.
“So, how are you feeling?” He pressed a hand against the top of Pola’s head and looked down at her.
“Okay.” She frowned as she stared out the windows at the illuminated cityscape. Odd that the TV was off. “Did tonight go well?”
“Better than I feared, worse than I hoped,” he admitted. “The Miuras are sending Goro to help, plus assistance to ward Mei. Anzu and Momo might be able to help us, too.”
“Damn. Even if they’re not going all out, two clan guardians is massive,” Fia said. “Don’t tell Nina I said this, but you and Kiyoko carried our asses. Ashley and Nina did what they could, but they got bodied. Hamelin mostly took care of Juliet. Me, I just…” She looked at Pola guiltily.
The look didn’t go unnoticed. Pola hissed at Fia and slapped her friend’s thigh.
“I saved you because I love you, Fia!” Pola snapped, her eyes glistening. “I’d do it again!”
“I know.” Fia cupped Pola’s cheek. “That’s the problem. I did the best I could, and you nearly died for it.”
Pola bit her lip, unshed tears welling up in her eyes.
“Stop,” Vince said.
He placed hands on both wolfgirls’ heads, and they turned to face him.
“I know both of you have heard this before. You’ve been in the game longer than me,” he said. “Nina reminded me when I lost my shit last night. Enforcers get hurt when we fight. We take the risk of dying simply by taking jobs. I’ve killed my fair share of enforcers taking a paycheck, and they’d have killed me for the same. You never know if you’re ‘good enough’ until suddenly you’re not. Kigenai was hot enough shit that the Lionettis are being considered a real conglomerate again.”
