Fate DxD

Chapter 59

Accompanied by Rain and Ryuji, Liu Xuelan takes us out of Danjo's club and across the street to a Chinese restaurant. We pass through the back of the store and enter a small room containing only a round table and four chairs.

"Sit down, after all we're here to talk." She invites us.

With some hesitation, we all sit down at the same time. Then a waitress enters and serves us glasses of water, before leaving as quickly as she came in.

The room is filled with tension, Rain looks around insecurely. Ryuji concentrates on his glass, glancing discreetly at Liu Xuelan before looking back at his glass immediately afterwards.

(Judging by their reaction, this woman has quite a reputation, I'm not even surprised, she really is terrifying, I wonder how she and Danjo met...)

As for her, she sits upright, arms crossed and eyes closed, as if meditating. Then she grabs her glass and drinks half of it, before putting it back down and staring at me.

"Why are you staring at me? Do you like my face that much?" She asks me very seriously.

"I wonder what you want and expect from me. There's nothing exceptional about me, on the contrary, I'm more likely to jinx things than anything else."

"I spotted you when you won the Shibuya treasure hunt. People looking to stand up to the Eighth aren't a dime a dozen, so I was intrigued. You see, I'm looking for associates, and after seeing you in action, you seem like a good candidate."

"A associate? Why?"

"Peace." Her answer makes me raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"What are you looking for, why are you participating in Darwin's Game, why are you creating a clan and making an alliance with Danjo?" She asked me as if she knew the answer.

"The Darwin's Game itself doesn't interest me one bit. If I create a clan, it's to protect ourselves and deter attacks against us. The alliance is an added security."

"Hm Hm." She nods. "The same goes for me. Darwin's Game doesn't really interest me anymore, which is why I'm looking for associates, I wish to create a clan with someone strong enough to inspire fear with both our names, to have peace."

I don't answer right away, searching her face for signs of deception. But I see nothing. I pick up my glass and take a sip.

"Sorry, that's not going to be possible." I put my glass back down.

"Oh... You're quite a joker!" Despite her words, she's dead serious.

"On the contrary, I'm very serious. We founded our clan for a specific purpose, and I have no desire to put myself under the orders of someone we've only just met."

"Yet our goals are pretty close!"

"You'll just have to join our group then. As number one in the ranking, you'll be most welcome!" I can thank Rain for warning me just before who she is.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I can see Ryuji looking at me insistently, as if warning me to be careful what I say.

(I know Ryuji, but I can't afford to take it easy, or she'll get the better of me...)

"Well listen, there's no point in rushing! Let's leave it at that for the moment, and we'll look into it on our own!" Rain tries to calm the situation.

"What's the point? We'll always come to the same conclusion." I refuse, knowing full well it won't end that way.

"I hate procrastination; only the indecisive like to talk for nothing!" Agrees Lui Xuelan.