DXD: Catalyst of Legends

That was a nice try. Good night.

" He turned to leave again.

"What about the Fallen? Have you got a plan for them?"

Connor stopped and turned around again, simultaneously curious and annoyed at this man's persistence. "If I did, why would I tell it to you?"

Tobio held up his hands in a placating manner. "Look, I don't want a fight any more than you do, and I also don't want to cause any kind of trouble that could get people killed.

But killing Dohnaseek put you on the Grigori's radar, and that man had some friends who are not happy about his death. So what I'm suggesting is a deal.

Something where the both of us benefit. "

"You just tried to blackmail me. And how do I know you what you're offering is real?"

"Because I'm one of Azazel's best fighters," Tobio answered. "A vast majority of people within the Grigori value strength above all else.

In that regard, I can match most anybody there, so my word carries weight. If I say to leave well enough alone, people will listen.

Azazel will make them listen. Anyone that doesn't can be written off as rogue, and you can do whatever you want with them.

I'm offering you a choice, Mr. Lochlainn, because I can promise you that no one else will give you that option."

Connor looked to his right, thinking it over. He knew he couldn't hold off everyone that came after him forever.

Sooner or later, he'd be caught unawares. If what Tobio said was true, then this arrangement would be better than anything Connor could do on his own without any resources or contacts.

When he looked back, he saw Tobio remaining right where he was before, not even shifting in his posture.

"What's this deal?"

"We keep it civil and inconspicuous. I just got a part-time job at an izakaya here in town to maintain my cover.

You drop in once a week and fill me in on your activities, and I'll keep the more wily members of Grigori off your back while the investigation continues. " He raised a hand, anticipating Connor's protest.

"I'm not asking you to divulge family secrets or anything like that. I know how much you magi like to keep them.

All I'm asking for is your day-to-day goings-on, that's it. " (4)

A tense silence followed. It was a very generous deal, all things considered.

Tobio didn't have to go to such lengths and actually make contact with his target, but he did anyway. Then again, a simple weekly meeting to stave off retaliation seemed too good to be true.

For his own peace of mind, Connor had to make sure.

Connor closed his eyes, then reopened them with the Mystic Eyes active. Guaranteed backlash aside, being able to discern one's intention(s) was a blessing in disguise because, through eye contact, in addition to correctly predicting a target's next possible movements, they could detect when said target was attempting to mislead him through words or actions.

In essence, they took a glimpse into the mind, past the surface thoughts and into the self-perceived future of that target. He stared into Tobio's eyes for several seconds, searching for any kind of deceit.

To his surprise and unspoken relief, he found nothing: Tobio was telling the truth.

Tobio tilted his head slightly in intrigue at the luminescent orbs boring into his own. He had heard Kalawarner and Raynare talk about the eyes from within the Grigori's interrogation chamber, but here it seemed unreal to behold.

One would almost mistake it for a Sacred Gear, except that Kalawarner asserted that it wasn't. If not a Gear, then what could it-

"Fine. "

The curt answer to his proposal seemed to snap Tobio out of his thoughts. "Then, it's settled.

Stop by Nomura's Bar & Grill next Sunday at 6:00 P. M.

That's when my shift ends. " He turned and began to walk away before throwing another comment over his shoulder.

"And when you get there, act like we're old friends. "

Connor waited until Tobio was out of sight and the chill in the air was gone before sitting down on the closest park bench. Head in his hands, he shut off the eyes and braced for the inevitable stinging.

Like clockwork, the sensation flared to life and subsided within a span of a few minutes.

Leaning back against the bench, Connor stared up at the darkened sky and breathed in the crisp spring air.

He trusted his eyes, and after thinking about it a bit further, he figured he really wasn't going to get much better than what he'd been offered. It was about as close to a proverbial olive branch as he was ever receive from the Grigori.

If a weekly meeting at a restaurant was all he had to do in order for Tobio to keep his word, then that was fine. Of course, he would be on his guard at those meetings, but that was a bridge to cross later.

With a tired sigh, he stood back up and began the trek back to retire for the night. If this worked out, then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't feel the need to work himself into a coma with putting up all his defensive measures.

'While I'm out, though… ah, what the hell, might as well work on the Bounded Field. '

Then again, the old habits of a magus never truly die. They just have a long half-life.