The room's atmosphere is tense, and I can see the people behind Okayu start to fidget under Yasaka's stare and aura. However, to my surprise, Okayu is the only person on that side who is not fidgeting.
She looks at the leader of the East Youkai Faction with a frown on her face. She stays silent for a few seconds before saying.
"I cannot give you any good reason for you to accept us."
The elder behind Okayu gasps and shouts as one.
"Lady Okayu!"
Okayu ignores them and keeps her gaze on Yasaka.
"We don't have anything to give the Youkai faction. We are a poor race who do not have anything but our bodies. I know that I ask too much from you, Lady Yasaka. However, I can only ask for one chance. One more chance to prove ourselves. We will prove that we will be useful to the Youkai faction as a whole, and we will work hard to reach that goal."
Okayu bows and lets her forehead touch the table.
"We beg you. I beg you. I beg you to give us a chance. I know we are in the wrong, and our past actions caused many Youkai to lose their lives. Let us seek redemption and clean our past wrongdoing. We will work hard to obtain that. I only ask for a chance and fair judgment of our hard work. As long as you give my people a fair judgment and chance, I'm willing to give my body, blood and soul to you. Make me your slave; I don't mind. As long as my people are free from their sins and can join the society not as a pariah but as fellow citizens, I'm willing to bear their burden."
I can feel it. I can feel her conviction in her voice. She is truly willing to be a slave in body, blood, and soul as long as her people get a fair judgment for their hard work and a chance to prove themselves.
While Yasaka still has her poker face in place, I feel she is also impressed by Okayu's conviction.
The room stays silent for a minute, and I can see the people behind Okayu start sweating, waiting for Yasaka's answer.
After one more minute, she sighs and says.
"Very well. From this moment, I shall acknowledge Okayu and her tribe as my faction members. However, I will watch your people closely. One more betrayal, and we will hunt your kind openly. Don't make us do what we need to do and declare you as a traitor to the Youkai faction and declare extermination like the Jorogumo in the past."
Jorogumo? Isn't that the name of a Spider Youkai? What happened to them? Are their races gone extinct? I need to read them.
I snap from my thoughts when I see all the elders behind Okayu bow at once.
"Thank you, Lady Yasaka! We will not disappoint you!"
"Hmph. Thank that woman, not me. If not for her, I will not accept you into my faction."
Yasaka gets up from her chair and says.
"Okayu will be the leader of Nekomata from now on. She will be the one to watch over Nekomata and be responsible for them as well. This is your last chance, don't make me regret it. Someone will come here tomorrow morning to let you stay in one of my territories."
Okayu stands up and bows deeply at Yasaka's words.
"Thank you, Lady Yasaka! We will not disappoint you!"
Yasaka only nods and looks at me.
"Jordan, can you follow me?"
"Sure."
I nod and follow Yasaka to the back of the building. I can see her guard to make sure no one follows them. I wonder why she asked me to go to this place.
"Let me make something first."
I feel a wave of energy wash past me and create a dome around us.
"And done."
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Truthfully? Nothing. I come to check on you to see if there is some kind of charm magic that makes you call me here. However, as I get closer, you did not have any foreign magic influencing you."
"Paranoid much?"
"When you are a leader of your faction, you need quite a bit of paranoia. Anyway, the other thing I want to ask is, is there any reason why you are coming to this place? I thought that you wanted to visit the Wizarding World."
"I remember that I want information about someone or something."
"Oh? Who or what is it?"
"Do you know the Dragon of Infinity?"
"Dragon of Infinity? Ophis?"
"That is the name? Ophis?"
"Yes. It is one of the two dragon gods. The strongest will be the True Dragon, Great Red and the second will be the Dragon God, Ophis."
Dragon God, huh? How in the fuck do I search for that thing?
"Do you know the latest location of Ophis?"
"Before I answer that, can I ask why you want to search for that thing? Ophis is dangerous, you know? Even the faction leader thinks twice or thrice before searching for it. The only one I can think of fighting that Dragon God is the Trimurti of the Hindu Faction."
"I don't want to fight Ophis but rather want to ask a question or two."
"Truly?"
"Yes. I still value my life and rather not provoke a very powerful being like Ophis."
Yasaka nods and says.
"Very well. The last time people saw it, it took the form of a small girl and was spotted in England."
"Which city?"
"London."
"London, huh? Thank you. Can I ask how you know this?"
"All factions will make sure to spread info when something as powerful as Ophis sighted in their territory. In case Ophis went rampart, the other faction can help evacuate and maybe calm it down."
"Really? That is a bit much, right?"
"Not really. We used this system when the Two Heavenly Dragons were still alive in the past. They are the most destructive dragons and like to fight each other. When they fight, there will be many casualties, and all factions do not want that to happen again. You can say that this system is a truce between all factions."
I nod at her explanation. That is kind of nice, I guess.
"Anyway, if you want to search for Ophis, England will be your first place to go. However, I should warn you that Ophis is more sneaky than people give it credit for. Ophis might as well have already gone from that place."
I nod and say.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Also, do you want me to prepare a plane for you?"
"Don't worry. I don't want to bother you more."
"No. You don't need to worry about it. I have a personal plane and you can use it."
"What? Really?"
"What? Do you think I don't have a couple of perks as a leader of a faction? Don't worry. You are not a bother, and I rarely use that thing. Let it fly once in a while. I will also give you an entrance for the Wizarding World in England if you still want to visit that place."
I smile at Yasaka and say.
"Thank you, Yasaka."