Assessment

"He frequents a Loli cafe? What is a Loli cafe?" Daija asked. 

Maid cafes, cat cafes, owl cafes, hug cafes - well, those I had heard of. A Loli cafe sounded like a cafe that popped out of the anime world. 

The target was Jisho Tonma, nicknamed the 'Self Proclaimed Nerd', a 69-year-old fatty. Definitely one of those otaku from that habit. Who said otaku were all young? Some never grew up from their fetishes in the 1960s. 

Ryuu chuckled, "a cafe full of innocent-looking young girls, barely legal aged. Yako can tell you more later but that old thug is fairly regular there, three times a week. The front is legit but the back... is a gray."

Gray. Most likely sexual perversion, judging from Ryuu's almost blushing face. Oh yes, human men will be human men. You could smell the arousal from their pores, see it on their faces, and judge it from their erection.

Daija was there with his arms folded. Quietly scheming and mentally etching the plan. 

"It is preferable if the person goes in as a Loli." Yako leaned forward, close to my face. 

He was expecting me to flinch. No way am I backing down from this Kitsune's show of dominance. Anything more is a sign of weakness. Daija gave a death stare with an intimidating smile. Yako moved slightly back. 

Daija had a reputation. That deadpan face of his hardly showed emotions. If he smiles, you are in deep shit. Heck, even any expression of his was scary. 

Last time, he smiled was over 300 years ago at the famous 1707 Hoei eruption of Mount Fuji. Many of the yōkai suspected that the amount of human casualties was inflated from the eruption. Death rampaged through ash covered villages on the outskirts but they didn't die of suffocation from ashes or the poisonous gases despite the frothing. Most thought it was me. I knew better - Daija went on a feeding frenzy. 

"Don't tell me... and the dress code is?" Daija raised his eyebrow.

I clenched my teeth. This did not bode well. Kink came hand in hand with kitsune. 

"Oh, don't fear, just a little short. Nothing too revealing on the top. We can get the uniform," Yako answered.

"But I supposed she is the correct fit for it." Ryuu motioned his head to me. "Young, petite, has the figure but how experienced is she in assassinations?"

Old enough to be your first great multiplied by ten times great grandmother, you fuckwit.

One issue with these types of men was the constant underestimation of females. Typical of businesses around here. Those businessmen on the top didn't like to talk to females. Same with the yakuza. Centuries and the same shit still stink at a different era. Another reason to bring Daija to the table. 

Men like dealing with men in the business of actual bloody killings. 

The male black magicians were opposite. They regarded females as more vicious and hence more respect was due. They were also shit scared of the female ghosts. Male ghosts were nothing compared to the long suffering vengeful female. Death comes and BOOM, all the resentment explodes like a massive atomic bomb. Sorry, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Didn't mean to remind myself of what happened to both of you. 

"Experienced enough. She has made more kills than you can imagine. Over 20. Knife, guns, strangulation, poisoning. We don't send out inexperienced assassins."

Over two thousand successful assassinations over centuries, you cunt.

Even great Daimyos who lorded over the samurai were not off-limits. Even had one, or was it two, shoguns in my count. Daija has to make it realistic for your puny male mortal brain to absorb. 

"Oh good, don't you hate it when someone mistakes youthful looks for inexperience? I apologise." Ryuu bowed his head slightly. 

Fine, apology accepted. Probably doesn't want to get murdered on his way out. Self preservation was the reason. Pussy ass.

"We need her to have a visible tattoo. Can't look too fake like those stick-on types or wash off with the rain. You know. Of the rival. Two assassins, so if hers isn't obvious. Then the other has to be. The payment will be adequate for removal too - if not, I can up the price," Ryuu continued talking like I was some object in the room. A wallpaper flower. 

"Can be arranged. What do you have in mind?" Daija asked . 

Ryuu took a couple of photos and placed it on the table. Smart. He didn't want his mobile phone tainted with yakuza material. Daija and Yako took a few to examine.

A smiling Ryuu handed a photograph to me. "This, you think it will be okay?"

I took a glance. F**k, full sleeve tattoo on an arm. And they want me to wear a Loli uniform? That's too hardcore for the innocent look. He was throwing a wrench into his own plans. Or… he wants two. Best to stay quiet. 

"You need two then," Daija said. "We will need to adjust pricing for that."

Atta boy. That's why I like you. You read my mind. Money, here we come. 

"As for the girls who actually work there…," Yako mused. 

"Keep them alive for witnesses. There's bound to be one rat in the police force who will squeal to their masters," Ryuu said. 

Yeah, you better keep them alive because we charge killings by the head, not time rate. Extra charges for damaging or killing more humans than required. 

"That should be easy for you, Yako. Just drug them long enough. The usual," Daija said. "Plus this additional price will be between you and Ryuu."

Yeah, no package deals, I don't package deals with the kitsune. Daija's suggestion would satisfy Yako with a share, which I had a stinking feeling that he will slap us with a commission demand later. 

"Here's the layout of the cafe." Ryuu pulled another folded piece of paper from his man clutch and passed it to Daija. "Exits all covered. They have barely any security since they are just an ordinary cafe. Just the usual closed circuit surveillance cameras, easily disabled."

Daija unfolded it. 

"Buella's Loli Cafe. 1-chome-5-53… heh… a suburban area, CCTV is internal." He muttered. "We will assess the physical location later."