The room grew more somber on the Yokai front as their leader mentioned their darkest moment of weakness. It had probably been the primary lever a lot of their enemies had used against them politically. Their own citizens had demanded blood, cried for justice and nearly marched off to their own deaths. But they had been stopped, sometimes physically, from striking out against the House responsible for that massacre.
None of the 72 Pillars fought alone. Despite there being internal strife, they had a united front whenever against an outsider. If the Yokai truly tried to go to war against House Nebiros, then they would be fighting the entirety of Devil kind.
So for their own people's safety and freedom, they had no choice but to swallow back their righteous fury and smile at the empty platitudes given to them from the Devils. It was like their faces had been slapped bloody and then they had to ask the other party if their palms were okay.
It was disgraceful and thinking back on it, Yasaka could tell that was the moment when everything got worse for them. Seeing their weakness, multiple Factions had started to test their territory and demand resourced whenever any of those members were injured.
Nellial paused in his tirade, green eyes taking in the dark expressions on the powerful Yokai's face. There was nothing he could say in response to that. Anything could and would be used against him if he tried to deny that they had.
Yasaka could see the moment when he decided to let that point lie and nearly pumped her fist in joy. It was regrettable that she needed to use that massive point of leverage, but it needed to be done.
'No child deserves to be on the run for that long…'
Maybe she was just being too soft, but imagining her own daughter in that position was both easy and heartrending. It struck at her very core and nearly made her violently expel bile all over the table.
"We cannot let her go free." Nellial said after a moment of silence and simply dealt with the glares that weighed down heavily on his soul. But despite that, he did not flinch. "Letting her go would cost us a lot of prestige and House Nebiros would demand for my head even if I agreed with it. This is above me. If you will, may I pulled in Satan Serafall?"
At the mention of the Satan, there was visible ripple across the room. Yokai and diplomats throwing uncertain gazes alike. Everyone has heard of the Satan. An incredibly powerful mage that could freeze an entire continent with a singular spell. An even more devilishly powerful politicians. It didn't matter how cute her act was, they all knew better. The woman was like an angler fish. Drawing in unsuspected fools with her appearance only to gobble them up. Bone included.
It didn't matter what situation she was in, Serafall always came out on top when it came to situations like these.
But Yasaka wasn't afraid. This was a term she wasn't willing to budge from. And there was another reason why she mentioned the increased Spirit Plum productivity besides pissing off the Devil. If need be, she was willing to leverage these new Plums without hesitation.
Receiving her nod of agreement, the Devil slumped before reaching into his side pocket with deliberate slowness. When his hands seemingly found what he needed, he paused with a grimace on his face. He seemed hesitant and unwilling, but still pulled out a rather strange object.
It was a fuzzy, pink wand with a bright red heart near the end. Ribbons curled around it's body, and light glimmered off the surface.
Nellial didn't dare to meet the looks being sent his way and grew slightly red around the ears. With an effort of will, the glass-like heart pulsed with a wave of pink. This wave exited the surface, expanding and retracting until it formed a small sphere that hovered just above the wand.
An image slowly formed in the pink orb, the outline of a small woman taking shape. As the details became more apparent, the room grew more tense.
Long black hair tied up in twin tails, milky pale skin and large icy blue eyes. She wore a dark blue business suit that hugged her impressive bust, a long skirt that covered every bit of her skin and a pink cloth tucked into her collar. The woman looked ever bit the noble she grew up as.
Nellial let out an audible sigh of relief at the sight.
"Hello Yasaka-sama, Yokai Council." Serafall smiled professionally and bowed slightly to the group of Yokai," Please do excuse my absence, there was an emergency that required my full attention."
A hidden knife slashing on the wrist.
"It's no worries, Satan Leviathan." Yasaka smiled equally as frostily, her golden eyes not slits as she stared at the noble Satan's image. "I'm sure it must've been of great importance. We do not wish to waste your time with these...unimportant matters, so we'll try to accommodate you."
A quick riposte and a stab coming at the face.
"Thank you for your graciousness, Yasaka-sama," The Satan gave ground with a smile," I assume this is about your wishes to judge criminal Yokai under your own authority?"
"Yes, Satan Leviathan."
"While we do agree that every independent faction has a right to try their own people, this situation is special."
"Oh?" Yasaka quirked a brow," How so?"
"Kuroka killed her Master." Serafall said simply," A member of the Nebiros family after they took her and her sister in after their parents died. Not only that, she has also harmed or killed multiple teams sent to track her down. She hasn't just spilled Nebiros blood, but the blood of mutilple different members of the 72 Pillars."
The kitsune didn't flinch at the Satans words, she already knew this. Kuroka had grown a lot over the years, growing into a SS-Class Devil in less than 5 years was nothing short of monstrous. These Houses were probably terrified of the Stray reaching Ultimate-Class and coming back to enact vengeance for their hand in her misfortune. The Nebiros being the most primary target.
"And thus," She continued," If we were to agree to this term, it would only lead us into a bind. Either we give her up to you when we capture her, and lose face. Or kill her and pay the price for doing so. If those are our only options, then there's no reason for us to sign."
'Playing hardball already?'
Yasaka would've most likely already caved in at that when she heard the mention of the Devils pulling out of the negotiations. They would've ran rampant through her territory and possibly even attacked shipments of their lifeblood. And not to mention, they would send every unruly youth there just to cause more trouble. Touching even a single hair on their head would give them all the reasons they needed to launch a full on assault on the Yokai and with their 'allies' turning their gaze, it would be a slaughter of epic proportions.
They all knew this.
There was nothing fair about all this. Serafall represented the might of 4 Satan-Class Devils and a handful of Ultimate-Class. This was their foundation to keep all the other factions at bay. They made it so that anyone who truly wanted to annihilate them would have to pay a price just to stand a chance.
It was a not too subtle threat, a stick to beat back these unruly Yokai.
But despite the future of her people resting firmly on her shoulders, she wouldn't retreat even a single step. Weakness here wouldn't do her people any good, especially not in front of all these diplomat. They would eat her alive otherwise.
"It is regrettable." Yasaka nodded sadly, her fan extending back out," While you will be missed, Satan Leviathan, if this is your bottom line, then there is nothing I can do. Do not worry, no Devils currently in Japan will be harmed when they are escorted out of Yokai territory."
A long spear the size of a mountain was leveled full stop into the Satan's face, a threat equally as crippling as it was personal. If the Devils were truly cut out of the Spirit Plum trade then their youths would quickly be outstripped by their foreign peers. The faction as a whole would get weaker until eventually their only advantage would be their impressive population.
Plus, everyone knew exactly where the 2 Satan's little sisters and their peerages were going to school.
Threaten my people, and I'll do the same to you.
The silence that followed was as still as the grave, the metaphorical sparks that clashed between the 2 powerhouses was nearly suffocating. Ancient blood-lust warred with familial bonds. And with a small smile, the Satan retreated first.
"Let's not be too hasty." She said, her expression becoming much more relaxed and casual," There must be a middle ground that benefits us both?"
Translation: Offer me something worthwhile.
"Thanks to Grandmaster Yamato Iori," Yasaka silently thoroughly enjoyed the slight twitch from the woman and continued," We will soon have some other Spirit Fruits up for trade, along side the improvement of Spirit Plums. Council member, Brew Master Kiyo can attest to the increased potency."
The tanuki only hiccuped in kind with a wide smile stretched across their reddened face.
"Existence is a lie," They mumbled," Lesser than dust in the grand expanse of the univers-"
"It's all still a work in progress." She said quickly as Marui clamped his massive hand over the drunk Yokai's snout," We will have to edit the potency for...more commercial sells."
"Please." Serafall watched on as the tanuki kept speaking," Please do so. I must ask, with these new Spirit Fruits be equal to Spirit Plums?"
"No." She smiled," They'll be better."
Shock rippled through the room as the diplomats tried and failed not to look ready to bolt. This was big news. Really big news. If Yokai could truly preform on their promises then the opportunities it'll provide for their factions would be massive indeed.
"Is that so?" Serafall expression remained unchanged," Then if that's the case, I don't see why we cannot accept these new terms."
"But Lord Sat-"
"But," The Satan held her small hand up to forestall Nellial who looked infinitely unwilling," There's a price for this privilege. When these new Spirit Fruits are ready to be shipped, we would like first pick. We'll send a team that'll act as our representatives and they'll be allowed to purchase any ripped fruit at a slightly increased rate."
"You are being much too greedy, Devil."
Bishop Yarrow said, tea long forgotten as he stared down at the small image of his faction's most hated foes.
"As much as I hate to agree," Iaoel looked equal parts pained and disgusted with her words," But the Church is right… This is not something Devils can monopolize. The Grigori will not allow it."
"Neither with Olympus."
"Nor Asgard."
If there was 1 thing to get many diplomats to agree on, it was the unwillingness to allow their rivals to benefits where they cannot.
"How about this." Yasaka had already gotten what she wanted, and it honestly didn't matter even if they were could buy up all the fruit anyway. She would always put some aside strictly for her own people anyway," Each faction can send a small of team of representatives to buy these Spirit Fruits from us. Besides the Spirit Plums, everything else will be put up for auction. And anything that doesn't get sold, will be sent to the open market for any other faction to get."
If there was anything all diplomats loved, it was getting one over on their rivals.