Chapter 4: Sirzechs' Request!
After returning to the Gremory estate, Akeno seemed to be in an exceptionally radiant mood.
Ever since the events that had just unfolded, she had become the only person—including Rias—who knew Akira's secret. This special status filled her heart with a bubbling sense of joy she couldn't quite suppress.
"What's gotten into you, Akeno?"
The moment they stepped back inside, they ran into Rias, who was followed by Koneko, Asia, Xenovia, and the rest of the group. Seeing the lingering smile playing on Akeno's lips, Rias immediately asked with a look of confusion.
"Oh, it's nothing at all, Rias."
"Your face definitely doesn't say 'nothing.'"
"I was just thinking about a few... pleasant things."
"I see..."
As her childhood friend, Rias could tell that Akeno was checking a secret behind that smile. However, she didn't press the issue. Everyone was entitled to their privacy, and even her close bond with Akeno wasn't an exception to that rule.
Sniff, sniff.
On the other hand, Koneko stepped forward, her small nose twitching as she caught the scent lingering on Akeno.
"I smell Shin Akira... and one other unfamiliar scent," Koneko noted. Being a Nekomata, her sense of smell was incredibly sharp, far beyond that of a normal Devil.
"My, Koneko-chan is as sharp as ever. Akira-kun's scent has changed drastically, yet you still recognized him."
"No matter how much he changes, he is still Shin Akira."
"How adorable, Koneko-chan."
"Mmu..."
Koneko's actions didn't draw much attention from the others, though. This was the Gremory estate, after all; people were constantly coming and going. Besides, Koneko wasn't exactly the most social person, and there were plenty of guests around. It was only natural for Akeno to pick up a stray scent or two.
The encounter was just a small blip in the day, but as Akira returned, the very atmosphere within the Gremory household seemed to shift, becoming more refined and subtle.
Meanwhile, in a private study within the mansion, Akira sat across from Sirzechs. At their side, Grayfia performed her duties as a maid, gracefully serving tea for both of them.
"We haven't seen each other for only a few days, yet your power has increased again. It's truly hard to believe," Sirzechs said with a warm smile. He had already heard reports of Akira's strength from his mother, Venelana, and his wife, Grayfia.
From Venelana, he knew that just a few days ago, Akira's power had already reached the Ultimate-class. The bottleneck that locked away so many would-be Maou-level fighters across the world had been bypassed with ease by his mysterious brother-in-law.
And from Grayfia's observations, it was clear that Akira's current power was already well above the Maou-class.
In Sirzechs' mind, there were only two possibilities. First, even if Akira's base power hadn't hit the Transcendental level yet, his foundation was so overwhelming that he could perform at that scale. The second possibility was that Akira had already broken through to the level of a Super Devil. Sirzechs was leaning toward the latter.
He trusted his mother's judgment implicitly. Unlike his father, who was "only" a High-Class Devil, his mother was a true, veteran Maou-class fighter. As a daughter raised by the Bael family, Venelana's strength was beyond reproach.
Both Sirzechs and Rias were living proof of Venelana's greatness as a mother. In the race of Devils, the inheritance of bloodline was absolute. This was why pure-blooded status was held in such high regard.
While it was true that "all roads lead to Rome," some people spent their entire lives just trying to get there, while others were born inside the city gates. The difference was staggering. Take the Phenex family, for instance; their immortality and Phoenix flames alone were enough to secure their clan a permanent seat among the elite. Even Riser, for all his spoiled behavior, was still top-tier among High-Class Devils before Akira utterly crushed him.
"Alright, let's skip the formalities," Akira said, leaning back. "Sirzechs, you didn't look for me just to catch up. You have business, don't you?"
Hearing Akira address the Great Maou by name so casually caused Grayfia's brow to twitch slightly. In the Underworld, the status of a Maou was absolute. There was no questioning it.
Sirzechs, however, didn't mind. He caught Grayfia's eye and gave a subtle look to stop her. He realized something profound: he could no longer see through Akira. Despite how difficult it was to wrap his head around, his brother-in-law was far more mysterious than he had ever imagined.
"Straight to the point as always. I like that." Sirzechs chuckled. "Regarding my business with Rias, you surely know my stance. For her sake, as long as it doesn't violate basic principles, everything is negotiable."
"Then I'll be direct as well," Akira replied.
"In that case, I'll say it plainly. I was hoping you could help me with something."
"Hm? What kind of help?"
"I need your assistance in investigating a certain individual."
As he spoke, Sirzechs' expression shifted. The kind, approachable older brother persona vanished, replaced instantly by the stern, cold gaze of a ruler. This sudden transformation didn't catch Akira off guard. In fact, he felt this was Sirzechs' true face. He was a Maou, after all. Just like the emperors of old, no ruler stays a smiling commoner twenty-four hours a day.
"If it's enough to make you this concerned, this person must be quite the character," Akira remarked.
"Indeed. He is a traitor to the Underworld, and a madman to boot. Because of that, I'm hoping you can help me track down information on him."
"Who is he?"
"Rizevim Livan Lucifer!"
The name hung heavy in the air as it left Sirzechs' lips. Upon hearing it, Grayfia's pupils shrank, her eyes flashing with a mix of intense seriousness and suppressed rage.
The name Rizevim Livan Lucifer was certainly not foreign to Akira.
The man was a master conspirator, the true mastermind behind the Khaos Brigade, and a "Super Devil" born from the original Maou Lucifer and the Mother of Devils, Lilith. He was a direct descendant of the original Lucifer, his bloodline as pure as it could possibly get.
He was also the figure Grayfia's family had served for generations. However, during the Great War, Rizevim hadn't cared in the slightest; he was simply bored. Despite possessing the power to potentially end the war, he didn't. Instead, he abandoned his post, dismissed his subordinates, and even disbanded the military corps directly under Lucifer's command.
With the descendants of the other three original Maous lacking any real talent, Grayfia had been the only one capable of propping up the Old Maou Faction during that era. But as a mere servant, her position had been awkward. Eventually, the Old Maou Faction lost the war, and Rizevim vanished without a trace. No one knew where he had gone.
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