(Black Dog Bar, Ryoukou Town, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, Earth, DxD / Draconic Deus Universe)
--------------------------------
(Ryūjin Himejima POV)
--------------------------------
Ryūjin sat leisurely at a corner area of the bar. A Private booth, and the Wards around it kept nosy humans away. Anybody who felt the need to approach the bar that wasn't carrying a certain card with a rune engraved on it would be overcome with an overwhelming and very real need to both shit and puke their guts out.
He might be the reason for the meeting, but he wasn't the main speaker. Azazel and his father were here to meet Sirzechs, Grayfia, and himself. No doubt his father would have more than a few choice words for him, but with respect, fuck him. As a father himself, he could see Baraqiel's point of view, but coming here didn't exactly help him. If anything it both undermined their position and helped their position. To the rest of the Devils it would seem like weakness, to Sirzechs though, it was something that the Redheaded Satan, Baraqiel, and Ryūjin could respect.
''Tell me why I shouldn't destroy you now?'' Despite the calmness in which Sirzechs spoke, there was no ounce of mirth there. It was a serious question.
''In the first place, you can't, in the second, it would mean war. And third, she came to me, and while I won't deny I indulged in her body a little bit, the truth is she came to me, and I let your maid in. Didn't have to. Could have even had her expelled from my house, but I didn't. I let the wards drop, and I did it in a way that kept everyone happy.'' Ryūjin said, before frowning. "Well, mostly everyone.'' Says Ryūjin.
''Frankly Sirzechs, We should be demanding answers from you. Kokabiel is already rallying troops. Do you have any idea how much of a pain in the ass that bastard already was? He's already spreading propaganda that your sister tried to seduce the kid to your side. The kid's got more than a few fans clamoring for retaliation.'' Azazel snarks.
''How did your investigation into those other matters go?'' Ryūjin speaks up.
Sirzechs clenches his jaw, clearly trying to restrain his emotions.
''Your…claims, on both matters have been proven true. But that doesn't win you any favors.'' Says Sirzechs.
''Then this next bit will really piss you off.'' Ryūjin says just loud enough for Sirzechs to hear. ''The time for the frontal assault is coming. When your sister loses your planned Rating Game, and she will, me and my deck will raid the Phenex estate. My sister is in danger for as long as the betrothal is intact, so write up whatever bullshit you have to, just know we're coming. And either an official fight can be made, or you can consider this a declaration of war.'' Says Ryūjin.
''You don't have the authority to make that decision.'' Sirzechs counters evenly.
''Actually he does. Ryūjin's mandate is protect Grigori and all Fallen Angels. If he feels anybody with Fallen Angel blood is in danger, he is authorized to use any and all means at his disposal, up to and including war powers.'' Baraqiel speaks up at last.
''Look, you feel your sister was violated, fair enough. But if you want someone to blame, go find her, because at the end of the day, there is one simple, indisputable truth: She came to me, she could've gone to anyone else, any other student at Kuoh, even her knight. Simple solution. But she came to me. She gets points for desperation, but the fact she came to me is rather telling.'' Says Ryūjin.
''He's right you know, and the kid did let the wards drop. He could've kept your Queen at easily enough, but the truth is that he let her in. He didn't have to do that.'' Says Azazel.
''That might be true, but this is damaging if it ever gets out. Not to mention the political repercussions.'' Grayfia interrupts.
''Well maybe if you protected your sister better, she wouldn't have come to me.'' Ryūjin doesn't regret his words, despite the small earthquake Sirzechs lets happen.
''Is that supposed to frighten me? I've stared down Shiva, the literal God of Destruction, you don't amount to much.'' Ryūjin snarks, ''Look, you don't have to like it. You don't have to like me. But I've never lied to you yet, I gave you information you've confirmed is true. I didn't have to do that, I could've blackmailed the clan's. Or I could have released it publicly, causing chaos. I gave it to you as proof of concept. Now I'm telling you that not you, not my father, not Azazel, nor anyone else, will stop me from fighting Riser Phenex and anybody else in my way. Because at the end of the day, using what occurred between me and Rias to goad Riser as well as storming the Phenex Estate will make him do anything to avenge the disrespect.'' Says Ryūjin.
''Look, you don't have to like it. But I'm in agreement with the kid. And he's right, because once Phenex tires of your sister, he'll go for Akeno. And despite the conflict of interest it raises, the requirements that have to be met to make Ryūjin's mandate valid will be met. War is inevitable, because Ryūjin won't care who gets in his way.'' Azazel interrupts.
''War benefits no one.'' His father stated.
''No one, except the Khaos Brigade.'' Ryūjin states.
''Pardon?'' Asks Sirzechs.
''You heard anything out of Romania recently?'' Asks Azazel.
''Aside from the missing Tepes Princess? No.'' Sirzechs states, and Ryūjin barks out a sarcastic laugh.
''Missing? She's in my damn house! I rescued her myself. You wanna guess who was holding her captive? Her own brother, and he was serving the interests of one Euclid Lucifuge and by extension, Rizevim Livan Lucifer.'' Ryūjin laughs again.
''That's how you know Euclid?'' Grayfia asks.
''It gets worse, they were trying to resurrect Evil Dragons.'' Says Baraqiel.
''Ryūjin came to me, some…two and half years ago. This was almost a year and a half to the day after the Heavenly Aloha incident was rectified. He informed me that the bad apples of almost every faction were being united. The Old Satan Faction from your side, Satanael from ours, and more than a few dozen stray exorcists from Michaels. Their leader was Ophis. I didn't believe it until Ophis showed up a few days later. The kid spied on their meeting, Ophis noticed, but naturally cared little. They were actually more interested in him. Ophis seems to be infatuated if such a thing was possible.'' Azazel said.
''Wrong choice of words, Zaz, curious and intrigued is more accurate. Don't ask me why.'' Ryūjin grunts.
''It was enough to open a dialogue with Michael. This tenuous peace won't last long if you insist on pressing this matter. And while we're a long ways off from peace. It's an unfortunate reality that we actually need to start setting it up before its forced onto us and we're woefully unprepared.'' Says Azazel, continuing on despite his interruption.
''I'll take my leave, I have an important meeting to attend. It's parent day at Kouh's Primary school division. Lavinia and I were thinking of enrolling Alice into the school.'' Ryūjin says, noticing that Sirzechs eyes soften however slightly.
''Do you require me?'' Baraqiel asks.
''No father, thank you though. I'll be at Kuoh until the end of the second period, after that I promised Alice we'd visit Memphisto.'' Says Ryūjin, as he gets up.
--------------------------------
(POV Shift: Azazel)
--------------------------------
''He has children?'' Sirzechs asked.
''Several, with more on the way.'' Azazel says. ''What exactly do you want, Sirzechs? Ryūjin has offered you exactly what you wish.'' Says Azazel.
''If Rias does lose the Rating Game, then I'd consider a contract for an independent third-party to resolve the matter.'' Says Sirzechs. ''However, it would be extremely difficult if the boy storms the Phenex Estate.'' Says Sirzechs, and while he can acknowledge the point there is a glaring issue.
''Be grateful it's my son, and not myself.'' Baraqiel says with a stormy look. ''The only reason I allowed your sister to have my daughter is because she wanted to stay with her. Ryūjin, would happily destroy the entire Supernatural world if it meant Akeno was safe. The fact he's generous enough to offer you ways to make it legal and more acceptable is more than you deserve if Phenex so much as touches my Daughter!'' The sky outside lights up with Thunder and Lightning.
''The kids right about one thing though, you don't have to like any of this, but your sister came to him. And while I wouldn't have phrased it as he had, you could have arranged a more suitable match for her, Ruval Phenex comes to mind.'' Azazel added.
''Perhaps we should all be given some time to think about this?'' Grayfia suggests.
--------------------------------
(POV Shift: Sirzechs Lucifer)
--------------------------------
It wasn't easy, but an accord was reached. Thus far, Ryūjin Himejima hadn't lied to him. And what he had told him, had proven helpful.
Nevertheless, however much that gave the boy, the only thing that did him any favors was the admission he'd let the wards drop before he and Rias crossed a line that would have called for both their heads. The fact that Ryūjin and Rias were still nevertheless intimate was an issue.
But Sirzechs was more concerned about that Ophis pipe bomb. The Ouroboros Dragon leading a Brigade Of Terrorists? To call it problematic would be a Monumental Understatement. If she were to lend the remaining Old Satan Descendants even one tenth of her Power….it could be catastrophic. And if Michael and Azazel were already having a dialog…then they were late to the party.
Azazel mentioned Mephisto. Clearly there was a connection between Grigori and Grauzauberer's Chairman that beyond standard services.
''Grayfia, set a meeting with Mephisto. I need to know how deep the connection between Grauzauberer and Grigori really is.'' Sirzechs says.
''Should I keep an eye on the boy?'' Asks Grayfia.
''Let him enjoy some time with his daughter.'' Sirzechs decides after several minutes of thought. ''Try to delay the Phenex child. At least until I've had a chance to speak with Rias myself after.'' Says Sirzechs.
''Very well.'' Says Grayfia.
''Also, set a meeting with the others. If Ophis really is leading the bad apples of the Supernatural Word, we need to prepare.'' He adds as an afterthought.
''Do you think he was lying? About Euclid?'' Asks Grayfia in a bare whisper.
''He hasn't….'' Sirzechs pauses. "We were able to get confirmation with the truth about Koneko and Kuroka as well as Diodora. I don't really want to trust him after what occurred with Rias, but he hasn't lied to us yet. He's been cooperative, and everything thus far has been confirmed. If Rias admits to going to him and asking for…you know… I'll be more open to utilizing him as a last resort against Ruser if she loses.'' Sirzechs admits. ''As far as Euclid goes, the inly way to confirm would be if the Tepes princess offered up memories that confirmed the story, since I doubt that Euclid would show up to confirm it.'' He adds.
''I'm sorry.'' He tells her, gently.
The Civil War was a sore topic for anyone who survived. It was a bad situation from top to bottom. No one really survived unscathed.
Mentally or Physically.
--------------------------------
(Author's Note:)
--------------------------------
Eighty five words short of 2k on content word count. I was going to save some of the later parts of this for next chapter, but I didn't want this to be a one POV chapter. Plus putting a definitive end on the meeting between the Devils and the Fallen Angels seemed prudent. I'm sure more than a few people will be objecting to the Khaos Brigade pipe bomb being dropped, but something I won't to have as part of the story and Ryūjin's character is that early on he's a bit of a maverick and will not willingly play by anybody else's rules without a fight.
He'll make things difficult if they suit his needs and goals, but not necessarily for himself, this is as much a part of his mental health battle as it is for the story. Ryūjin will start to fully mature by the time the Kokabiel arc starts. The keyword there is to start to fully mature. I'll explain that in greater detail in the next chapter, but for now I best move onto other topics.
I will probably have to push the stuff with Raynare, Kalawarna, and Mitleet onto at least the second to next chapter at the earliest considering what will occur next chapter. Also, I am really beginning to look forward to the climax of the Riser Arc, it's gonna be a fun write, but I'm also seriously considering having Ryūjin take part in Isane's training for the Rating Game. There hasn't been much in the way of development for her, and I think it's high time she made both her POV debut and proper entrance into the story.
So the people who will debut next chapter? Isane Hyoudou as a POV Character. Riser Phenex, Ravel Phenex, and Riser's Peerage, and I've got a special scene planned for the next chapter.
That's all I've got for now, I still have some work to do before my monthly allotment of Chapters are done. I mean this was finished on the twenty sixth, and I release chapters publicly on the twenty ninth, so three more days to get some writing done is worth all the effort.
--------------------------------
Join my Discord via this invite link:
https://discord.gg/4TTZkVMMnq
--------------------------------
Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Maciek, and Tom A for their support on P-atreon.
And also a big thank you to Cody, Luci Alarra, TJ Cruz, Beastmode2003, Kunta, Availon90, Gavin Barclay, Dragonslayer29, Jacarya Robinson, Nathan Just, Francisco J Guzman, Axlii, Reece Hutton, Ken Harris, Zeldris Wrath, Duy, lonelynib _, Mudit Chadha, Austin, D3EATH707, Dwhateverprof, Cutler1812, Aleksander_402, Lewis Wilson, Profound Magician, Arzard, HxC 740 VxD, and Attila Kovács for their past support on Patreon.
The next Chapter is currently available on my relaunched and rebuilt P-atreon, to access simply search the following link, but without the dash between the P and A, Two tiers with the same benefits but different contexts. The chapters on P-atreon will be published when the chapters following them are done and dusted and ready to publish over here on this site.
p-atreon.com/TheRagFromTheCragCorner23