Put at Ease

The Golden Pleasure Group.

A name that was a pretty easy indication of what business the company deal in. They also did a pretty good job in it as well, I would know, I had partaken in some of the 'extra-curricular' activities they offered from time to time. Its establishments were pretty generic but high-end, the women they offered much better than the usual lot being served up at other establishments, making it worth the more expensive entry fee.

From escorts to strippers, whores to waitresses, everything about the Gold Pleasure Group was meant to create an environment that was both appealing to the eyes and the senses. It was why the Red Light District in Kouh had been shaken up when they heard the news about the company building an establishment here.

It had even been spoken about excitedly by some of the male students in Kouh Academy.

However, they only talked about the public image of the Gold Pleasure Group. Just as it was connected to the Kengan Association Tournament, a dirty little secret that no one knew about. It also had another secret, one that allowed the rich and famous to satisfy all their little sexual fetishes, so long as they had the money to pay for it.

This was something Rino had brought to the table upon taking over from her father, something he had been unwilling to do just because of how depraved some people could be. Yet Rino was willing to provide the services that could see those desires satisfied.

I respect the effort really.

She's determined and willing to do bad things to get what she wants. Precisely like how I was willing to do the same, I could take a few lessons from her on that front.

Approaching the queue of people, all lining up to enter the Gold Pleasure Group centre, I instead moved towards the back entrance. Going down a few side alleys and coming across a door. Moving forwards, I knocked once, a hatch sliding open as a pair of eyes looked out at me.

"Mikoto Hyoudou, Kaede Akiyama should be expecting me." I said, the hatch closing, moments later the door opening as I stepped inside.

The guy himself, a bouncer looked me up and down, lips twisting into one of displeasure. Honestly, I could care less what the guy thought of me, but if he said something or did something, then I'd break his jaw. I was much more valued than he was, I was the fighter that managed to earn a huge amount of money in the Kengan Association that enabled the Gold Pleasure Group to rapidly expand as it had.

What had this bouncer done besides stand watch over a backdoor that rarely received much foot traffic if any?

Besides, I was here personally at the request of Kaede, she hadn't said why, but I imagine Rino had told her to do it. Either that or Rino was here personally, though I doubt that very much, if she was, Rino would have just messaged me herself, or turned up at my house.

One or the other.

Making my way towards the elevator, I pressed the top floor, listening to the generic elevator music play. Who even made this music and what went wrong in their life to have to create something like this?

As the elevator came to a stop, doors opening, I stepped out and made my way directly towards the office, the only room on this floor. The two bouncers outside opened the door to let me inside revealing Kaede sat behind her desk, looking over the reports.

Just from looking at her she seemed stressed.

For the most part, she looked normal, her hair was perfectly in place, her makeup on, even as she sat there, she looked in control of herself. But her eyes were slightly bloodshot, there was a little more makeup under her eyes to cover up the bags there than there was on other parts of her face. I could even see her foot tapping rapidly beneath the table, could even hear it.

She was stressed, but I'll admit, she still looks hot.

"Yo, Kaede." I greeted moving to plop myself on one of the seats, leaning back comfortably against the chair. "What'd you need me for?"

"I need to know more about the supernatural world and what the hell that means for me." Ah, so that was what this was about. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, me and Rino did kind of drop that bomb on her without a care to explain more about it. Though I am surprised it took this long for her to ask, then again, the grand opening of this establishment had not been long after that revelation so she was probably far too busy handling the flood of customers.

"Is that the only reason you asked for me to come here?" I wondered.

Kaede nodded her head. "You think I asked you here for any other reason? I have been handling the opening weeks of this business so I haven't been able to focus on what information you dropped on me. After that, I tried to convince myself it wasn't real, felt stupid to ask anyone else. But I just couldn't shake the idea that there was something more going on. For example, Rino's ability to make everyone she meets just instantly submit to her."

Ah, I can understand how that would be a strange thing to see, but would also be explained as magic. I personally had wondered how she did it, but the revelation of it being a Sacred Gear made much more sense to me.

"And you want to know more about this world?"

"I want to know how much danger I'm in." Very pragmatic of her, I like it.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'd wager that you're in very little danger if any at all," I said, speaking truthfully. "Fact is, you don't have a Sacred Gear or any magical abilities therefore the only thing of value that most Devils or other supernatural beings would view you for you is your beauty."

Kaede's look made me chuckle, raising my arms up in defence.

"I'm being serious, really." I laughed out. "You're beautiful and therefore, you'll have some horny Devil come along and want to recruit you to his Peerage, effectively making you his slave. But you're also part of Kouh, which is under the purview of the Devil Heiresses, Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri, Devils from two powerful families and the siblings of two of the four Satans. Devils recruiting from here would be stupid to do so considering it's effectively stealing from those two. So you're safe."

"Really?" She questioned, disbelieving. "Satans?"

"Oh yeah, Satan isn't just one person. It's the title of Devil Kings and there are four of them." I said. "Look, Kaede, you're not in any danger. The only thing that could bring attention to you was if you had a Sacred Gear or magic. That's the only thing that would incite Devils or other supernatural beings to target you, even when in the territory of the Devils. Without that, no one's going to risk the ire of two of the Satans and two powerful Devil families, not unless they're stupid."

I didn't mention the Magi because quite frankly, they had less impact on this meeting. They may be the original owners of Kouh and also the ones in an alliance with the Devils. But the ones who brought more political sway and influence to the table were the Devils. Maybe Kaede wouldn't fully understand what I was trying to say, but she was smart enough to know that what I was saying, was truthful.

Despite how ridiculous it might sound.

"Besides, I'm not letting anything happen to you," I told her plainly. "Anything happens, just let me know and I'll handle it. Now if you don't mind, I have school tomorrow." Just the thought of it made me feel some measure of disgust.

School truly was the bane of my existence.

However, it was the best way to build connections with influential people and that's exactly what I needed to do at this point in time. All the while I steadily built up my power to a point I was the one people wanted to build a connection with.

The tables would reverse eventually, all it would require was patience.

Maybe not my strongest suit, but there was no better excuse to change who you were than for survival.