"Yasaka-sama," From a pink toy-like wand, a slightly translucent women with long black hair tied into massive twin ponytails that did nothing to stop them from dangling well beyond her waist. Combine that with her large, icy blue eyes she could be considered 'cute'. Someone people would automatically underestimate because of her innocent appearance. Not knowing that beneath that petite frame, was a massive serpent ready to devour you whole. Without letting your bones go to waste. "Thank you agreeing to meet with me on such short notice."
"Your envoy," The blonde kitsune, her golden eyes turning into narrowed slits as she glared down at the handsome devil. His arm outstretched as though to present the magical device as a shield from her ire, if anything he had the nerve to look a bit sheepish. "Has been rather insistent. He's made it out to be something of grave importance."
"It is." Serafall declared gravely. "We have a new condition for us to sign this sign treaty."
"Oh?" Yasaka quirked her brow, putting on a slightly mocking smile. "What ever could it be?"
"I suspect you already know, in response to recent events we have found that one our own has been brutally assaulted while in your territory. This victim has suffered severe injuries, both physical and spiritual. Not only that, they were also savagely mutilated." Being a politician required having extremely thick skin and a split tongue. They both knew the entire story wasn't being told but with outsiders around, the Satans were stepping carefully around the truth. It wouldn't do for the entire world to know the famed 'Strongest Queen' was this 'victim'. "This attack was an act of barbarism. A hate crime you could say. As you know, our wings are an important symbol for our people. To have them ripped off is akin to plucking one of your tails or horns."
A subtle threat, barely toeing the line but none of the council were fooled. Even the usually inebriated tanuki, Kiyo, narrowed their beady little eyes. Snout pulling back a smidgen to reveal a mere sliver of razor sharp teeth.
A 'threat' to remind them of their place. Yokai, like Devils, were innately magical beings. Meaning a lot of their own body parts are particularly valuable to mages during large scale rituals, and with their own history of conflict with the Five Principal Clans it struck out a rather sour note with everyone there.
"While that is terrible and you have our sympathies," A lie, bold faced but given what that 'victim' was trying to accomplish she wasn't all too beaten up over how things went. An assassination attempt on her master, no matter how useless it still didn't erase that fact. And maybe that in itself made her so snappy. "What is it that you want?"
"While we know the perpetrator," The Satan stressed those word, as though to convey exactly how vile they were for this 'assault'. "Is outside of our reach, that doesn't mean the relationship between our people needs to be damaged by an outsider. All we require, are the wings to be returned. A simple request. And in exchange we will sign the treaty right in front you along with this, I will offer up free treatment for the council and their families at any of the Sitri Clan's many hospitals."
Another slap to remind them of their place. Their 'kind' offers were nothing in the grand scheme of things. What did a bunch of Yokai need for hospitals? Sicknesses were rare and often spiritual in nature. Physical maladies could fixed up with their own healers, if their own constitutions didn't do that for them.
The council didn't comment and only looked towards their leader, it was clear the benefit to them was the immediate signing of the treaty and if all it took to do that were a simple pair of wings to be handed over then who would hesitate?
All of the council, besides an old man possessing an elongated head. His stooped figure looking frail, leaned heavily on a gnarled walking stick. Those small, beady eyes locking gazes with the kitsune before shaking his head a hair.
"While that offer is very 'generous'." Yasaka's scorn was apparent, what need did they have for doctors? "It is not enough to exchange for wings from an Ultimate-Class Devil."
Her words were like a time freezing spell being cast, as the room all froze in place. Her golden ears even caught a small gasp coming from behind the small door to her left, but chose to ignore it for now.
The council's eyes looked ready to pop out in shock and if anything, Nellial Vapula had expression as though his entire world had been flipped upside down. As from his perspective, Ultimate-Class Devils were the pinnacle all of Devil kind aspired to reach. An existence closest to divinity one could achieve. But now? That untouchable existence was smacked down out of the sky like an unruly child. Calculations whirled behind that glossed over gaze before his face paled a deathly white.
Arm shaking, he must've known there had been only a single Ultimate-Class Devil that had recently visited Kyoto.
"Then what is it you require?" Seeing the jig was up, Serafall directly asked. There weren't a lot of Devils at that level of strength, so digging any deeper would obviously reveal the identity of the proclaimed 'victim'.
"Turn over anyone involved the Underworld Nekomata Incident." Back then, they'd forced her to force down even the idea of getting justice for what to that clan of Nekomata. And while she might not be on the best terms with them at the moment, that particular branch of the clan had been completely innocent. In no way deserving of being slaughtered like mere cattle. She'd been helpless. But now? It was good to draw the line in the sand for all to see. "Then and only then will we turn over the Ultimate-Class Wings."
One house in exchange for the Strong Queen, the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation, to be back in order. It was a trade the Devils could never do. Not because they valued one house over a single, momentum shifting power house but because of their shared fatal flaw. Pride. By turning over House Naberius, it would be a clear indication that they were in the wrong. To admit to losing to compromising. Something they'd rather die than do.
"It seems we are at an impasse." A single brow twitched on Serafall's youthful face. "Until we come to a compromise, we will not sign this treaty. Meaning the previous treaty will still be in effect. I will return within a week and then we can have another discussion. Have a pleasant day."