While the kids were out having fun; the adults were hard at work.

“So, kindly explain, why shouldn’t I just fucking remove that little fuzzy head from your shoulders?”

The ruler of all oni leered at the cat who sat across from him - the three leaders of the factions present staring at each other as they were given their own side. With the cat snorting. A sly smile appeared on her face as she leaned forward with both her hands on her cane.

Over her shoulders was a coat that some of her well-dressed birds draped with obvious care. All of the besuited figures gave harsh gazes towards the more savage looking oni. Clearly willing to get into fight as the sounds of clicking were audible in places none of the other factions could see.

Meanwhile Cheshire herself just chuckled as she leaned forward, a crimson light flickering in her eyes, as her gaze seemed to calmly study the male oni who had his legs up on the table.

“I mean there is nothing stopping you from trying… Yet I think you’re a bit too prideful to lose your title of strongest to a little kitten like me, no~?”

Raising her eyebrow as the smirk on Shuten Doji’s face promptly departed. Unsurprisingly there was no anti-monopoly principles when it came to the world of crime; a factor that led to the yakuza essentially being unchallenged for most of history. Yet out of nowhere came the mafia.

A group under the control of a certain little black cat who brought a level of professionalism that the brutish oni were sorely lacking. They didn’t approach with overt aggression like the violent oni. Simply treating the world of crime like an upstanding business as they had their own easy to understand rules.

Unlike the oni who were too confusing to understand.

It was hardly surprising that they didn’t get along when put into the same room and yet that was exactly what the {Grand Shrine Maiden} needed to deal with. That kitsune couldn’t help resting her elbows on the table while silently screaming into her hands. These two truly brought out the worst in eachother.

The proud head of the yakuza couldn’t help moving his legs down as he leaned over the table while a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

Freely exposing the terrifying fangs used to tear flesh from bone.

“Oh~ho~ho brave words for a pussy~!”

“Did our shared “friend” give you that one chehehe~?”

He clearly was out of his league in a battle of words, something anyone who knew both factions could have told him, yet he simply couldn’t accept a loss like that. Slamming his palms on the table which resulted in its legs collapsing under it. Fortunately no one had their legs actually under it.

Cheshire because she expected such a reaction (only offering that iconic smile as a reaction) while the fox had backed away to let those two go at it. Enjoying herself a nice cup of tea that was prepared for her by her talented servants. Being so attuned with nature meant they made a mean pot of plant juice.

That cat just laughed at the angry warlord.

“Aw~ is the big boy upset~?”

Growling in raising anger that he couldn’t one up the cat in a fight of words - he was at least smart enough to know he’d be admitting a loss if he resorted to violence. However he also couldn’t accept this sort of disrespect from someone he could kill by sneezing. He just didn’t know how to win when it wasn’t war.

No one understood war better than him but he had to hesitantly accept that the cat was a genius in her own right.

“Can we get on with why we are actually here?”

Standing up to move closer to the other two as her loyal servants, cloth over their faces to hide any defining features from one another, moved her chair to catch her as she went to sit again. Her eyes turned serious as she studied the cat in front of her. She heard about the mafia even before this.

Yet she heard about this cat from a certain snake who didn’t exactly seem to be trying to find her for a minor health check.

Still she accepted the invitation since she could hardly ignore the dragons now that they have directly attacked her people. Such an act was something not even the peaceful kitsune could ignore. If it meant making friends to help her avenge those they lost… She couldn’t exactly say no.

Although that in of itself made this all the more suspicious; unlike a certain man she at least knew how to keep her opinions to herself. Giving that usual foxy smile as she studied the cat. In return that cat seemed even more confident than she was of Shuten Doji.

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An undoubtedly impressive feat since she was the most talented fox (until her kids) while Shuten Doji only ever had Atlas himself as a rival.

Of course she also picked up on the mention of a “friend” that this strange cat and the strongest among the realms apparently shared. It was a factor that was… Concerning. That meant these two had some prior connection which she didn’t even know about and so could be just putting up an act.

“I suppose that is for the best since even those lazy lizards will begin to act up if we give them enough free time to share around their single brain cell chehehe~.”

Hitting the floor with her cane which resulted in one of the corvids stepping forward to raise their hands as the shadows answered their call. Those shadows rising up to envelop the wooden remains. Consuming the collapsed table only to raise further before sinking back down yet leaving a brand new table behind.

Both of the other factions were quite shocked at that display of power since they had never seen anything like that before. Cheshire, for her part, seemed completely unbothered by their gazes or the display. Since it was her who developed such magic in the first place.

She could have done it herself yet why would she waste her limited energy when she looked far more intimidating if she had one of her servants do it for her.

Plus it had to be mentioned the corvid were a bunch of birds that were often looked down on for only being able to hide in the shadows like crafty little thieves. Not helped by the fact they liked shiny things a little too much. Though fortunately Cheshire was very good at bringing “shiny” things in.

Not that they actually cared about valuables but just the shiny nature of certain items.

“Please pull in your seats; we have a lot to talk about~?”

Without any reason to resist they decided to go along with the crazy cat - Cheshire tapping her staff again as a map of the world appeared upon the table. Little shadowy figures danced across to represent the information her mafia had gathered. Actively adapting in response to anything new her agents learned.

They all took a few seconds to study the map with them quickly taking note of the positions of the various draconic races that littered all over. It almost appeared like an infestation on the realm. Of course there was also the kingdom of the beasts and that of the empire belonging to the phoenix royal family.

Thanks to this map it also became clear which races were intermingling with each other as well as where any hidden outposts may be located.

Those dragons were too prideful to do sneak attacks. The same couldn’t be said for the beasts who appeared to be ready to unleash their own ambush as soon as the foxes let their guard down. All the more clear by the multiple powerful dragons that were quite comfortably within the royal palace of the beasts.

Fortunately the same could not be said for the birds who, just like they always presented themselves as being, seemed to be completely untainted by their scaled companions. Those from other nations that were within their borders seemed to be under ridiculously scrutiny. Whether this was to protect their foreign guests or themselves from hidden plots was irrelevant as far as the trio was concerned.

“So those beasts have already chosen their side…”

So she said while grinding her fangs together at the clear betrayal of those apparently proud beast king who, just like the dragons, wasn’t prideful enough to not resort to sudden attacks.

“They have chosen poorly then~.”

“How do we know that you won’t side with them since you’re a noble lady of that place?”

Snorting as he looked towards Cheshire in a sardonic manner; in return she just snorted while waving his concerns off without caring.

“Why would I care about a bunch of neophytes who can’t even tie their own shows - not to mention they are hardly fangs of a weakling like me showing them all up. The people who have gotten in my way the most are those beasts. Unable to accept a weakling can be successful.”

“Hmm… Plus she needn’t even share their mingling if she was on their side.”

Shuten Doji just huffed as they continued discussing the movements so they were all on the same page.