"You're a pain…"
In the empty room, Ophis looked at Azazel expressionlessly and delivered her judgment in a flat voice without the slightest emotion.
Azazel's eyes widened instantly. He wanted to run, or at least open his mouth and argue a few words, but invisible, formless Magical Power pinned him in place in an instant, leaving him unable to move. All he could do was watch as that small, adorable hand aimed at him, and then…
"Smack!"
It was an attack no one had even realized was coming, yet the arm, halfway through its swing, was stopped with perfect ease by another hand, one much larger than Ophis's.
"Cid, why?"
Ophis blinked in a dazedly cute way, showing no anger at all over her attack being stopped. She simply looked at Cid in confusion and asked.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Isn't there something wrong with trying to kill someone the moment you disagree? You weren't like this when Cao Cao and the others attacked you earlier."
Cid criticized Ophis's logic. Cao Cao had attacked her right to her face before, and she had barely cared, yet now Azazel had only said a few extra words and she was already attacking him. Didn't she think that was a bit of a double standard?
"But letting Azazel live would be troublesome."
Ophis explained calmly, feeling that there was nothing wrong with her logic. Although she looked easy to fool, she did actually have a brain.
Even now, she was still invincible, but cleaning up everyone would be a little troublesome. The others had probably gone from insects to kittens and puppies.
In any case, Azazel was definitely thinking of using her, so to avoid trouble, it would be easier to kill him outright. That way, no one would know any clues about her, and there would not be an endless stream of enemies popping up.
"You still can't just kill people because they're troublesome. If you killed everyone, that kind of world would be really boring."
Completely failing to notice anything wrong with Ophis's logic, Cid earnestly educated her from a place of personal understanding. Sometimes, he also felt this world was so boring that he might as well wipe it out all at once, but every time he thought about how much trouble it would be to bring everyone back afterward, he gave up. After all, a world with only one person in it would be boring.
"Boring…"
Ophis murmured Cid's words, then fell silent, seemingly thinking about something. Even so, she obediently withdrew the hand that had stopped halfway through the attack.
"Phew… Thanks, little brother Cid. You saved my life there!"
Feeling the force restraining him disappear, Azazel let out a sigh of relief and walked forward with a grin to thank Cid. But the next second, as Azazel approached, Ophis raised her arm again, scaring him into immediately taking a step back.
"I don't really think so. Anyone would have stepped in to stop that, wouldn't they?"
Cid glanced back at Azazel and spoke with little patience. To be honest, he personally did not like Azazel all that much. After all, he had already been kind enough to hint at it earlier.
"Hahaha, there aren't many people who could make Ophis stop attacking. It already sounded ridiculous in the report, but I didn't expect reality to be even more ridiculous. Little brother Cid, you actually know Ophis, and from the looks of it, you're pretty important to her.
I'm impressed. Hey, little brother Cid, don't tell me you're hiding some secret strength. Otherwise, how could you possibly pull off something like this…?"
Azazel, tactfully keeping his distance from Cid and Ophis, laughed loudly and praised Cid. Out of habit, he used his roguish way of speaking to close the distance between them, completely unaware that Cid's body had stiffened for an instant before naturally relaxing again.
"…Actually, I just noticed from Ophis's sudden movement and your strange expression. It's nothing impressive."
"Don't sell yourself short, little brother Cid. Even so, realizing it that quickly is already excellent…"
Azazel spoke sincerely, and he truly did not think he was wrong. Just look at Asia and Astarte beside them. Even now, neither of them had realized that he had almost died a moment ago. They were listening to the conversation with blank confusion on their faces.
Sorry, Ophis. I shouldn't have stopped you. This guy's brain works a little too well.
Cid regretted his hesitation just now. He never imagined that the one time he made a move, the other party would immediately connect it to the possibility that he was hiding his strength. Even if it was only a joke, Azazel's threat level was unprecedentedly high.
"Mm, looking at it this way, Cid, in a certain sense, you really are quite the remarkable talent. With reaction speed like that, no wonder you know so many powerful people…"
Completely unaware that he had successfully drawn attention to himself, Azazel saw Cid stand up and, acting very familiar, took a few steps forward to stand beside him and chat.
"Thank you for the praise, Governor General of the Fallen Angels. The Governor General of the Fallen Angels must be here to see Ophis, so I'll be leaving first…"
Cid smiled as he spoke, setting Ophis down and taking a few steps back, intending to abandon Ophis and Lilith and leave with Asia.
Although he knew there was a high chance Azazel had come for him, Cid felt that with the value of Ophis's title as the Infinite Dragon God, Azazel probably would not care about a small fry like him… right?
"No, no, no. Although my attitude earlier wasn't great, I came here for you, little brother Cid. There are a few things I want to ask you."
Azazel blocked Cid's path and spoke with a bright smile.
"Hey, no matter how you look at it, I saved your life just now, didn't I? How about letting me off?"
"Relax. I, Azazel, have always been clear about favors and grudges. I'm just asking a few questions. I definitely won't hurt you, little brother Cid. Besides, this counts as me helping you…"
Azazel said this in a tone that Cid found utterly shameless. Once again, he truly regretted stopping Ophis.
"Cid, you seem very troubled. Need…"
"Thank you very much, Ophis-chan, but good children shouldn't spend every day talking about killing people."
Cid smiled and refused Ophis's help, then looked expressionlessly at Azazel, intending to see what he was really after.
"Ah… I thought being able to exchange a few words with Ophis was already impressive, but I never expected the legendary Infinite Dragon God to listen so obediently to a Human. Looks like I'll have to make a more comprehensive and objective assessment of your social skills, little brother Cid…"
Azazel stared in surprise at Ophis, who had stopped aiming at him after Cid's order, then turned his assessing gaze toward Cid. Cid's choice was…
"Ophis!"
"Ahem, sorry. I slipped into my usual habit of evaluating people."
After being threatened, Azazel immediately became serious and stopped running his mouth. Seeing that, Cid quickly signaled to Ophis that nothing had happened.
"Little brother Cid, according to your description in the incident report Miss Minamiya gave me, the Infinite Dragon God was taken away by Shadow. You deliberately hid…"
"Lilith!"
"Sorry, I'm just used to talking like that."
Seeing the other Infinite Dragon God crouched in the corner turn her gaze over because of Cid's order, Azazel hurriedly apologized for his usual way of speaking. He did not want to get slapped to death by the Infinite Dragon God.
"All right, let's get back to the topic, little brother Cid. You hid the existence of Ophis and the other Infinite Dragon God. I just don't know why you chose to hide that information…"
Yeah, why? I'm looking for the answer too!
That was Cid's honest thought. Even now, he had not figured out why he had helped Ophis hide her true identity… Probably because Asia had pleaded for her, and because Ophis did not have any ill will toward him.
"I can tell that you wanted to keep this hidden, little brother Cid. Indeed, although these two are still invincible, as Ophis said, her existence will bring you trouble…"
"So… what you mean is that Ophis should kill you right now?"
Cid tilted his head slightly, seriously suspecting that the man before him had something wrong with his head. Saying something like this made Cid want to silence him even if he had not planned to. After all, with Ophis as his borrowed authority, he had far too many options right now.
"How could that be? What I mean is, little brother Cid, are you interested in legally adopting them?"
"Huh?"
Cid let out a stunned sound at Azazel's shocking statement. No matter what, he never imagined that this was what Azazel wanted to say. Ophis was old enough to be his ancestor.
At the same time, Ophis's gaze landed on Azazel, and the pressure of death bore down on him.
She could ignore Azazel. Kittens and puppies were a little troublesome, but it did not matter. In the end, they were only a little troublesome and could not threaten her.
But the premise was that Azazel did not show himself as a threat, or act in a threatening way. Otherwise, to avoid trouble, she could only take action now and swat this small nuisance to death.
Obviously, if Azazel could not give a reasonable explanation next, she would directly kill him.
"I know you're confused, little brother Cid, but please believe me. I'm doing this for your own good…"
Meeting Cid's puzzled gaze, Azazel gave his explanation.
"Because of the Hero Faction's complicated internal relationships, we don't want to pay such a huge price only for the Hero Faction to reap the benefits in the end. And considering Ophis's close relationship with you, little brother Cid, I came up with this plan."
At this point, Azazel pointed at Cid.
"You, little brother Cid, will adopt the Infinite Dragon God Ophis and the others. Then, through my persuasion, I'm confident I can get them to tacitly give up on taking action, treat Ophis well, and unite against the Hero Faction…"
"Wait…"
Cid was dumbfounded. He knew very well what the Hero Faction under Ophis had done, so how did this guy have the nerve to say something like that?
"Ophis is still wanted for what she's done. Old man, are you really that confident you can convince them?"
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. As long as everything is explained clearly, they'll understand."
Of course, the premise for all of this was the absolute strength of one person suppressing the world. Without that…
Azazel quietly glanced at Ophis, thinking about whether Ophis's current strength was enough to suppress the world. In the end, he reached a conclusion. Not counting the world's top five, aside from Shiva, none of them could withstand three moves from her.
"You people really have no principles, do you?"
"Ophis is too important. Besides, we don't want to risk being wiped out in a fight with her. For faction leaders like us, what truly matters is the stability of our factions."
Azazel spoke calmly, without the slightest embarrassment, as though that was simply how things worked. It successfully silenced Cid.
Compared with the major factions Azazel described, the ones that knew when to bend and compromise, Cid still preferred the ones from back then, the ones who proudly declared that they would use him as a target to display their military might. At the very least, they had been interesting.
"So, old man, what you mean is…"
"I'll lobby the leaders of the major factions to tacitly accept Ophis's existence and hide yours. In return, I hope you can convince Ophis not to oppose us anymore."
"Tacitly accept?"
"This can't be done openly. After all, the Hero Faction acts under Ophis's name."
The terms were generous, generous enough that even Ophis's attention was drawn, and she began considering whether to agree.
But Cid only stared quietly at Azazel, as though he had not been moved at all. After all, so far, this matter seemed to have nothing to do with him, so he simply pointed at himself.
"Why am I the one adopting Ophis?"
"Little brother Cid, who else besides you has such a good relationship with Ophis, even to the point of being able to negotiate for her right in front of her?"
Azazel seemed to find it amusing and shook his head with a smile. Cid was not surprised either, since he had already guessed as much. He simply looked at Azazel.
"What do you get out of this?"
"…No benefit. Probably just a little peace and a backup plan."
Cid quietly looked at Azazel and did not speak, but his eyes had already told Azazel his attitude.
"Maybe… there's also a little desire to win you over, Cid. But that's normal, isn't it?
Hey, little brother Cid, don't you think your connections are a little too terrifying?"
Azazel spoke softly. There was no doubt that Cid, who knew so many powerful people and had fairly deep relationships with each of them, was someone outsiders would have to think twice about offending, even if he were just an ordinary person with normal strength. They would have to weigh whether they had enough influence of their own.
"Let's formally introduce ourselves. My name is Azazel, Governor General of the Fallen Angel organization, Grigori. Nice to meet you, Cid Kagenou."
As he spoke, Azazel reached out to shake Cid's hand, but he was blocked halfway.
A blue Beast Vassal covered her hand, and Astarte stopped Azazel from taking his next step.
"According to Captain Minamiya's order, the Governor General of the Fallen Angels must not be allowed any possibility of contact with or action against Cid."
"That's taking it a little far, isn't it?"
Azazel muttered, trying to move around Astarte, only to be blocked again immediately.
"According to Captain Minamiya's order…"