Fate DxD

Chapter 44

"This key against my life, it's give and take."

"Ha! Have you forgotten what I told you? With us, we take and that's it! What we want, we get, no strings attached!"

"Do you want to try to sweet-talk them? Do you really think it will work?" Ryuji asks me.

"I understand they're dangerous, but they're still just villains who'll do anything for money, aren't they?" I ask a question in return.

"*Sigh* Listen to me Senji, there's no negotiating with these weirdos! This clan is indeed a bunch of thugs baited by money, if it were up to them, you might be able to bargain. But One is different! He doesn't play for money so much as for the pleasure of killing! That bastard... I'll never forgive him! He tore my little brother apart in front of my eyes... I'll kill him, whatever it takes!" Then he pulls out three grenades tied together.

"I understand your hatred for him better, but the situation won't be in our favor, you know that... What the hell?! What are you going to do with those grenades?"

"He's not easy to take by surprise, he'll vanish as soon as I pull out my grenades! I have to wait for the right moment, when he'll use his sigil to finish me off. All I ask is that you stay out of my way." Ryuji looks me straight in the eyes, determined.

(I know exactly what you're thinking Ryuji, sorry but I won't let you die with that guy.)

"You refuse my conditions? If that's how you feel..." I charge my magic circuits, putting the key in an aura of magical projections, ready to destroy it. "You leave me no choice! I thought you knew the value of this object."

One's face changes, he looks hesitant, even if he tries to hide it.

"Go ahead, destroy it, I don't care! It's not like your key is really the key to the treasure!" He tries to bluff.

"You'll have to take my word for it. In fact the number on the diamond was 888001 and I found out what it meant!" I'm lying through my teeth, Ryuji must be biting his fingers. "As you probably know, the numbers on the other bracelets gave the position of the station, so your mistake was to think the treasure was there. The number on the diamond is clearly in two parts! "888" and "001", in Shibuya station, 888 necessarily indicates the Hachiko dog statue. It was on its base that I discovered the key, and when I saw it, it clicked! It's the key to a bank safe. Once you understand that, the rest is obvious. 001 is the code for the Inaho bank, so that's where the treasure is!" My throat hurts after talking so much, having nothing to drink for a while.

There's a deep silence and One squints, probably trying to figure out if I'm lying or not. All that's left to do now is win this psychological war. A guy approaches him, probably to whisper something, so I strengthen my eardrums.

"It would be a shame to miss an opportunity like this, given the scale of the event, the reward must be incredible." At least this guy believes it.

"Buckle up Shinji!" One clearly hesitates.

Time is getting long, I can feel my magic circuits getting tired after this long day, even maintaining a projection is becoming complicated.

"All right!" One finally makes up his mind. "I guarantee your safety in exchange for the key, though... His life isn't part of the deal! Don't ask too much of me... I can't bear to stop once I've started a dissection!"