52 Chapter 52: Negotiation

"Mind explaining...Hoko"

Hoko was standing next to another Yokai, a middle-aged man with fox ears just like her, both were wearing robes of white and red colors like the other youkai only there hoods weren't up. Hoko was looking down not daring to stare Lambert in the eyes, she had reported evrything she knew about Lambert and his group just like she was supposed to, she also mentioned that Lambert said that they were merely staying temporarily, how was she to know that her superior not only informed his higher-ups but immediately gathered a force of Kitsune (Fox Yokai) to confront them.

"Allow me..."

The middle-aged yokai stepped forward, he looked Lambert up and down as if sizing him up while also using some Youjutsu to probe him openly, but just like Hoko he could he found that Lambert was nothing more than an average human being. He was somewhat surprised but immediately recovered.

"My name is Kioshi, Hoko's superior. I have come here to invite you and your group"

Lambert gave a light snort when he heard the man, then ignored him as he turned to check on the frightened Tosca, who was grabbing onto his clothes as she hid behind him, he gave her a light smile and petted her head to calm her down before turning to the Yokai man named Kioshi.

"If you came to invite me, what is the meaning of surrounding us, is it to flaunt your none existent strength or to boost your courage?"

Lambert spoke impolitely not caring if he offended the yokai.

"WHAT!!! How dare you speak like that, you are in our territory, here we are the law, to even invite you instead of outright attacking is already giving you some respect!"

Kioshi yelled, losing his temper.

"I have been kind, so you will either come with us or...ugh"

"Or what?"

Lambert suddenly appeared in front of the enraged Youkai, his hand tightly clenching the man's throat.

The other youkai were stunned before they became inraged.

"Let him go!"

"Release him"

They screamed as they readied their weapons and Jutsu's. Poor Hoko stood there stunned next to the captured man, she couldn't process what was happening. They were speaking and then yelling and now her superior had his throat in the silver-gray-haired old man's grasp, what was even more surprising she didn't see how he moved.

"Aura, bind them"

Receiving Lambert's order, Aura waved her hand, and a massive amount of white chains sprung up under each of the youkai, restricting their movements and levitating them in the air, even poor Hoko wasn't spared, worst she was even hung upside down.

'Got you little bitch' Aura taught as she saw Hoko hang upside down with a shocked expression her robe falling over her ace revealing her pink underwear and tail and legs flailing around.

"When one invites others, one does so with proper etiquette"

Lambert spoke as he lifted Kioshi into the air, the youkai man struggled for breath while pulling with all his strength at Lambert's arm trying to release himself.

"I wonder what was going through your mind when you thought it was a good idea to come here and threaten us into compliance, I'm sure little Hoko told..."

At this moment Lambert finally saw Hoko's current situation, staring at her flailing around was a bit funny but improper for the current situation.

"Aura, would you be so kind as to release the poor girl from her suffering"

Aura snorted and the chains around Hoko disappeared, leaving her at the mercy of gravity as she fell to the ground. She quickly picked herself up and straightened her robe with a very bright and red face. She glared at Aura before remembering Aura's power and lowered her head again.

"Hum...as I was saying little Hoko must have told you that our strength was at least ultimate rank, so why in the name of all that is divine would you confront and threaten us with such a pitiful force, the most powerful one being you having the strength of around high rank, and by the looks of it the very bottom of low rank?"

"..."

Lambert waited for Kioshi to reply before he remembered that he was still holding the man by his throat, he released him letting him fall to the ground in a coughing fit.

"Why didn't you tell me you couldn't talk."

Lambert said shaking his head at Kioshi as if he was an idiot, leaving everybody there speechless.

"The epitome of shamelessness", Aura lightly whispered under her breath as she stared at Lambert with stars in her eyes, "I still have much to learn".

Cleria and Masaomi were just standing there not knowing what to do, so they chose to remain quiet and stand near Aura. Tosca walked up to Lambert and took the hem of his shirt in her hand as she stood behind him, it somehow made her feel more secure as she stared at the group of robed people dangling in the air, bonded by white chains made of light with a light curiosity.

"Speak fool"

Lambert said as he kept staring ant Kioshi, who at this moment regretted ever provoking the man in front of him, he still couldn't understand it since Lambert looked like nothing more than an ordinary mortal, even with his jutsu he couldn't reveal anything yet the speed and strength he just showed was insane.

"I..I apologize for my rude behavior, please...allow me to invite you to...to... be our guests, I am sure my superiors would be delighted to speak to you."

Kioshi said trying his best to seem as friendly as possible while trying to figure out how to take care of this man in front of him, he knew his higher-ups wouldn't be happy with him threatening such a powerful being.

"I don't care about that, answer my question"

Lambert said as he gazed down at Kioshi, given Lambert's hight it was quite intimidating causing Kioshi to shrink back in fear.

"I think I might be able to answer that"

A sweet voice sounded out from behind the group causing everyone to look towards its origins.

Lambert also looked back, as his eyes fell upon the figure that appeared some few meters away from them his eyes couldn't help but lit up when he recognized the person.

"Oh my"