"I'm hurt, Griselda. We've been 'together' for so long, and yet you still won't believe in me."
"I want to believe in you, but defeating an opponent of Kokabiel's level is... a bit beyond my imagination." Griselda took a deep breath. "It seems Lord Gabriel was right; you truly have potential. If you were to join our Church..."
"Pass. I'm used to my free and easy life," Rhode yawned.
He would take on missions with good value; if there were none, he could just ignore them. He had seen the treatment Xenovia and Irina received. To investigate a case as big as the stolen Holy Swords, the Church only gave them a budget that barely covered food and lodging. When they wanted more, they were just fed "pie in the sky" promises and "PUA" (Pick-Up Artist manipulation) tactics. While the Church in High School DxD was technically a "righteous" faction, their treatment of staff and their brainwashing methods made Rhode cringe. Going to Heaven after dying for the Church just meant continuing to work for the Heavens. It was more capitalistic than actual capitalists.
"Sigh, I knew you'd say that. Regardless, I have to trouble you with Xenovia and Irina. I can't reach them, and they don't know the news yet. Although you aren't part of the Church, if they do anything out of line, I give you the authority to discipline them."
After hanging up, just as Rhode was about to dial their number, Akeno called him first.
"Mr. Rhode! Do you happen to know two girls named Xenovia and Irina Shidou?"
"Hm? What's up with them?"
"They suddenly showed up at our school and told Rias they were here to investigate the stolen Holy Swords. They demanded we don't interfere with their investigation. Since the girl with twin tails mentioned your name while we were talking, I wondered if it was you."
Akeno wasn't surprised Rhode knew Church people. As a mercenary who had traveled the world, it was normal to have many acquaintances. However, those two Holy Sword users were being quite rude because they were talking to Devils. Akeno was afraid of a conflict, so she found an excuse to slip away and call him.
Rhode understood the situation. In the original story, the first thing Xenovia and Irina did upon arriving in Kuoh was find Rias to state their intent and warn her not to interfere with the Church's business with Fallen Angels. Later, they recklessly tried to challenge Kokabiel. If Kokabiel hadn't been such a talkative villain with a weird logic, they would have died. If he were more sinister, they might have suffered fates worse than death.
Thinking about it, Kokabiel hadn't actually killed a single major character in Kuoh. Since Rhode had killed him as soon as they met, it made Rhode look more like the "big bad."
"Give them your phone. I'll talk to them."
"Alright." Akeno didn't doubt him. She pushed open the clubroom door and, under everyone's surprised gaze, handed the phone to Xenovia.
"Hmph. I will not accept anything from a Devil," Xenovia said with a look of disdain. If the higher-ups hadn't repeatedly ordered them not to have unnecessary conflicts with Devils, she wouldn't have tolerated speaking civilly to them this long.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Holy Sword user. Mr. Rhode wants to speak with you personally." Faced with the girl's blatant hostility, Akeno's expression remained cool.
"Rhode?" Hearing the familiar name, Irina and Xenovia looked at each other in surprise. How did these Devils know Rhode?
Still, Xenovia took the phone. "Hello?"
"I figured it would be you two. Griselda already called me and told me to keep an eye on you."
The girl, who had thought it was just someone with the same name, immediately had a change in expression upon hearing the familiar voice. Xenovia's cold face turned into one of shock.
"Eh? Rhode, it really is you?!"
"Who else would it be? Griselda already explained the situation. Come over now. I'm at address XXX."
"Alright. Once we finish things here, we'll meet up with you."
"Now. Immediately. This instant," Rhode said coldly.
Xenovia was baffled and was about to ask why when Rhode pulled out the big guns. "I don't really want to meddle, but I promised Griselda I'd look after you. She also gave me the authority to discipline you. I assume you don't want me 'snitching' to Griselda, do you?"
Xenovia froze, her entire body trembling. Her delicate face flushed with indignation. "Rhode, I never thought you were that kind of man!"
Xenovia's greatest fear in life was Griselda's anger. To her, Griselda was not just a mentor but a sister figure.
"So, are you coming or not? My finger is hovering over Griselda's number."
"Curse you! Fine! I'm coming right now!" Xenovia groaned. Men who snitched really were the worst!
"Let's go, Irina!"
"E-eh? Okay, alright." Irina scrambled to her feet, then waved to Rias and the others. "Well, see you later! But we still hope you won't interfere in our business with the Fallen Angels, otherwise, it'll be very difficult for us."
Rias remained noncommittal.
"Wait!" Just then, Kiba Yuuto—who had been standing behind Rias with a look of intense grievance—stepped forward to stop them. The usual gentle expression on his face was gone, replaced by a surge of killing intent. "Holy Sword users of the Church, do you dare to duel with me?"
"Hm? Am I to take this as a challenge? A mere Devil daring to speak such words... Gremory, it seems your education is lacking," Xenovia said, her tone unfriendly.
Rias looked at the emotional Kiba and said coldly, "Yuuto, stand down. Now is not the time to be willful."
"But—"
"Mr. Rhode is our friend."
"I... I understand." Hearing that name, Kiba took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The killing intent faded.
Xenovia gave them a surprised look. It seemed Rhode was on quite good terms with the local Devils. In any case, they had many questions for Rhode to answer.
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High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (200 Chapters – Ongoing)
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