Chapter 23: Planning going to Japan

"Please. Please heal me so I can watch my daughter grow."

Aria bows her head, and the young man behind her bows as well.

"Please help our boss! Tell us the price, and we will pay it!"

Even Reborn jumps away from my body and says.

"Help her, and you will get anything you want."

I get up from the ground just in time for my guardian to arrive. Seeing my clothes get dirty as I just get up from the ground, they are about to take out their weapons. I raise my hand to stop them from doing anything reckless.

"You guys did not need to bow or something. I will help you. You guys are friends of Byakuran, and I will help my brother's friend. As for payment… we can talk about it after we are done treating your curse."

I release a sigh and say.

"For now, we need to communicate with the Youkai. They are the easiest way at the moment. They are rather open to trade, and humans have a good relationship with them. We will be received with a smile as long as we do not do anything stupid. While we did not have any connection to them, we do have an invitation from the leader of the West Youkai Faction."

"West?"

I look at Reborn and say.

"Ah, you guys did not know this, but Youkai is divided into two factions. The first one is the East Youkai Faction or the Old Youkai Clan. The leader of this group is Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of the Nura Clan. He is not the most powerful Youkai but the most dangerous. He is sneaky and can be ruthless to his enemy."

This is one of the few things I asked Luca to gather—information about the leader of each massive faction around the world. Some of them are something that did not appear in the anime, like there are more Youkai other than the one in Japan.

I guess I should not be surprised by that news, but it does surprise me. The most notable Youkai factions are the West and East Japan Youkai factions, the Dokkaebi Kingdom of Korea, and the Five Pillars of Yaoguai from China.

They are the people who can heal Aria, but among them, the Japanese Youkai is the one who is easier to ask. The reason? Dokkaebi is a race of demons that lean over to fight rather than heal. They can heal, but it relies on their natural healing regeneration. Yaoguai is a reclusive race. The book says something about them living in the mountains and rarely leaving their mountains unless something is happening. I did not know where I could encounter one of them and how to communicate with them. The only thing I have in mind is to ask the Jade Emperor or any gods in China for their location, but I know it is easier to fight a dozen vampires at once than to meet one of them.

I shake my head and say.

"Anyway, the West Youkai Faction, or the Nine-tailed Fox Faction, is the second faction of Youkai. Their leader is Yasaka, the Nine-Tailed Fox Youkai, who has enormous power and rules over Kyoto. Her faction is the one that is most open for visitors and customers. We can go there tomorrow after I answer their invitation."

Aria looks at me with a new hope and says.

"Thank you so much. Please tell me the price for this information."

I wave my hand and say.

"Think nothing of it."

"I cannot do that, Sir Valerian. In the Mafia World, information is a treasure, and you have given me the biggest one."

I release a sigh when I feel that she will not let this go.

"Fine. Give me more Weapon Box and Animal Box. You do not need to give the strongest one. A mass-produced one will do."

She nods and says.

"For the rest of your crew, huh? Very well."

She turns around and looks at the blond young man standing next to her.

"Gamma, can you take care of this?"

"Of course, my lady. It is not a problem."

After saying that, he quickly leaves. Aria looks at me and says.

"I will be in your care from now on."

"Of course. Please follow me. It is time for lunch."

I look at Martha and say.

"Martha, can you take care of the others? Make sure to heal them and tell them to join us for some food."

"Of course, sir!"

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|3rd POV|

"You look happy, Yasaka."

The blonde woman looks to the side and smiles. The nine tails behind her are swinging around lazily.

"Of course, I am happy. A chance to get out of those boring meetings is something that needs to be celebrated."

"You really hate those meetings, huh?"

"Of course! Those old people keep forcing me to marry someone and get an heir. It makes me annoyed."

"But I do agree with them, you know? Not with producing an heir but for getting a mate. You are what? A hundred and fifty now, I think?"

"One hundred and forty-eight, thank you very much."

"Same difference. It is prime time for you to search for a mate, you know? I hear there is a great Youkai from Hokkaido, Yasaka."

"Urgh. Not you too, Hinoka."

The Yuki Onna, Hinoka, shakes her head and says,

"You and your free-spirited energy will make you an old virgin, you know?"

The blonde, Yasaka, shakes her head and says.

"I will search for a mate when I feel like it. For now, I do not need one, and I only want to take care of my territory first."

"Fine. Fine. Anyway, you said something about getting out of a meeting."

"Oh, yes! You know the new faction from Romania, right?"

"The only human faction in Romania? I know them. They are the only ones who manage to kick those arrogant vampires in the butt. Why?"

Yasaka grins and picks a letter from her cleavage.

"Their leader agreed to meet with me."

"Oh, my~ Really? I hear they only accept humans in that place."

"No. Not really. They also accept other races. One of the injured Youkai healed his injury while he was on vacation. They are a guarded people, as expected, but did not belittle or even attack other races. As long as we are not doing something that makes them angry, we can go there without a problem unless you are a vampire, of course. I don't think they are willing to accept a vampire."

"Fair enough. What do you think about their leader?"

Yasaka smiles and says,

"I don't know. However, the youkai told me that he is warm and very welcoming. It is as if he is the home he never had. I cannot wait to meet him. Valerian Millefiore."