Sirzechs: So this is the famous boy that Serafall keeps telling us about?
Sona: Lucifer-sama, Belzebub-sama why are you here?
Sona exclaims, which attracts the attention of the Gremorys on the train looking out the window, Rias opens one of the windows.
Rias: Onii-sama why are you here?
Sirzechs: I'm here on business, with this young man about Riser's case, and you're going straight to the mansion?
Rias: Yes, I would like to present my new pawn to our parents and then start our training.
Sirzechs: I see, do your best, mother should be home if you need help Grayfia will be able to help you.
Rias: I get it, one last thing Onii-sama, or rather a piece of advice, make sure that Zero doesn't get too upset or something bad might happen.
Sirzechs: What do you mean by that?
Rias: When you see, you'll understand.
Then the train starts and goes to the Gremory territory leaving Sirzechs thinking about what his little sister just said and then he remembers that his Queen said the same thing to him before he came.
The latter turns to Zero and looks at him, he feels something in him but he can't figure out what it is.
Zero: Sera-nee, let go of me.
Then everyone looks at me trying to get away from Serafall who is clinging to me like a leech.
Serafall: I don't want to, let me hold you longer.
Serafall's giving me puppy dog eyes to try to coax me.
Zero: Making those eyes won't help you either.
Serafall: You're no fun.
Zero: I wonder how you became a Maou with that personality.
Serafall: You want to know?
I smile at her and then tell her
Zero: I don't want to.
Serafall: Ouin So-tan, Zero-chan is mean to me.
Serafall pretends to cry, and everyone's acting like a sweatdrop.
???: Serafall stop playing, we're here on business.
Then the red-haired man turns to us.
Sirzechs: I am sorry for the inconvenience and welcome to the underworld, I am Sirzechs Lucifer the big brother of Rias and at my side my friend Ajuka Belzebub.
Ajuka: Nice to meet you
Zero: I am Zero Akatsuki, and at my side are my little sisters Ilya, Kuro, Miyu, Atalanta, Kiana, my cousin Ruru, Miyuki.
When Sirzechs and Ajuka heard my surname they were suddenly frightened.
My family: Hello
The girls all say at the same time.
Serafall: They're so cute, oops I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Serafall Leviathan, Sona's older sister.
Zero: And my maid Belfast.
Belfast: Nice to meet you Lucifer-sama, Belzebub-sama, Leviathan-sama.
She curtseyed, of course, the men on the platform of the station having seen and heard Belfast blush, even Sirzechs, and Ajuka were bewitched by Belfast beauty for a few seconds before recovering.
Sirzechs: Since the presentations are made to the reason of our coming.
// TimeSkip //
I, Belfast, and Sona are in a horse-drawn carriage with the three Maou, on the way to the place where I am to meet the Phenex family, according to Sirzechs his father Zeoticus Gremory should also participate.
As for the other girls, Tsubaki has taken them to the Sitri estate, for the time being, I have asked Scathach to look after their protection just in case.
We arrive in front of what appears to be a building that looks like a restaurant, getting out of our carriage I and Belfast looking at the building with a neutral gaze.
Sona: What do you think of this restaurant, it's one of the top ten restaurants in the underworld.
Zero: Let's see, I've seen much more impressive restaurants following my father on one of his trips in the past, but I prefer to wait to taste the food they offer first.
Serafall: You seem to be well versed on the subject Zero-chan, you seem so confident in your speech.
Belfast: That's because Master Zero is a chef himself.
Sona: Zero's food is delicious, especially his pastries.
Serafall: Oh! I want to taste it!!!
Zero: Maybe some other time.
Sirzechs: Tell me, Akatsuki-kun, where did you learn to cook? If you don't mind my asking.
Zero: I learned by watching my father mainly because he's a great chef and his work always made me curious, then when he saw that I had some interest in cooking he taught me the basics, and a few years later I learned by myself here and there.
Sirzechs: I see, if you don't mind my asking, what's your father's name?
Zero: Saiba Juuichiro.
Sirzechs/Ajuka/Serafall: What????? You're the son of the famous Saiba Juiichiro.
Zero: Wow, even my dad's reputation got this far.
Sirzechs: Of course, me, Ajuka and Serafall had the chance to taste his food at a banquet in the United States, I was shocked because it was the first time I had ever eaten something so good.
Serafall: I still remember the taste until today, I am really lucky that you are my new little brother.
Zero: Oh, you're only interested in me because of my connection to my dad Sera-Nee? I'm shocked.
I tell her, pretending to have tears in my eyes...
Serafall: No, that's not it Zero, I meant...
Zero: Ahaha, Sera-nee, I'm just messing with you.
Serafall: Huh?!
Sona laughs at her sister's expression and takes a picture of that moment, and then Serafall starts to understand that I'm acting.
Serafall: So-tan stops laughing, Zero-chan you too.
Arriving one the inside of the restaurant, the receptionist leads us to a box that is located on the top floor of the restaurant which seems to be reserved for VIP customers.
As I entered the stall, there was a large table with people already seated, whom I recognize.
A man in his thirties, red hair, dressed in white.
Zero (thought): It must be Zeoticus Gremory.
At his side are two men, a woman, and Ravel.
Zero (thought): And here it must be Lord and Lady Phenex, and the young man must be Ruval the brother of Riser and Ravel, and the next heir of the Phenex family.
When Belfast came into the box the three men seemed to be surprised by the beauty of Belfast, which I can't blame them for, even I'm not yet used to the presence of Belfast and I blush from time to time when she decides to tease me.
But I notice that Ruval has a behavior that seems to indicate that he is falling in love with Belfast.
Zero (thought): Ouch, poor thing he's going to fall I hope his mind is strong otherwise.
I make eye contact with Belfast to point out Ruval and being the super maid I know, she understands immediately what I mean and decides to kill the chick while it's in the bud.
While the two Lords are talking to the Maou, Belfast is talking a little bit apart with Ruval under the gaze of Lady Phenex and Ravel to whom Ruval's expression has not escaped.
And the next two minutes Belfast takes off one of her gloves to show the ring on her finger, then she seems to apologize to him and then comes back to me leaving Ruval speechless and perhaps heartbroken who is joined just afterward by his mother and sister who comforts him.
Zero: Did you need to show the ring?
Belfast: The words of a woman with a wedding ring carry more weight than one without.
When my eyes and Ravel's eyes met, she blushed at what made me frown, and then everyone gathered around the table.
Zeoticus: Lucifer-sama, Leviathan-sama, Belzebub-sama, and also dear guest welcome.
Sona: It's been a long time Lord Gremory, good morning to you too Lord, Lady Phenex, Ravel-san, Ruval-san.
Lady Phenex: It is good to see you again Sona-chan, how are your parents?
Sona: They are well, thank you.
Zeoticus: Oh, Sona I didn't know you were coming, why are you here?
Sona: I'm here as a witness in this case and for something else.
Zeoticus: Oh I see, I heard you finally found a fiancee, congratulations.
Sona: Thank you.
Lady Phenex: Congratulations and you said you had another reason, what is it, if I may ask?
Sona: To stop the fiancée from doing something stupid at that meeting.
She said, pointing at me while blushing a little. Those present are shocked to know that the person they have summoned is the fiancé of Sona Sitri, the future Lord Sitri.
Zero: Sona your line is saying I'm going to do something stupid.
Sona: I wouldn't have said that if you hadn't made a big scene yesterday.
Zero: You say that but if someone came to eat your cake that I made what would you do to them?
Sona: Of course I would make them wish they had never been born.
She says to me with a serious face and without shame.
Zero: And you say I'm the one acting like a fool, we'll talk about it when we get home.
Lady Phenex: Ara~ so young and already a couple's fight
Zero: Sorry for the inconvenience, miss...?
Lady Phenex: Where are my manners I didn't introduce myself Ruvia Phenex, the matriarch of the Phenex clan, I think you already know my daughter Ravel, next to my husband my eldest son Ruval.
Zero: Nice to meet you Lady and Lord Phenex, Ruval-dono.
Ruval gives me a nod but Lord Phenex and Gremory just stare at me and don't react.
(Zero will remember their action)
Then everyone takes their seats, I sit in one, then Belfast sits in the back on standby.
Sirzechs: While waiting for the meal to be served, talking about the reason for this meeting...
Lord Phenex: Indeed we want explanations about the injuries caused to our son Riser...
Sirzechs: Well, putting the situation in context, Serafall...
Serafall: Yes.
Serafall takes a serious look and is told what happened, leaving some details vague of course when hearing Serafall's report Lord Phenex and Lord Gremory have a rather dissatisfied expression but hides it, as for Lady Phenex she sighs, about the attitude of her son.
Sirzechs: Now that the facts were in, can Zero Akatsuki-kun explain to us the reason(s) for your action towards Riser?
When my name was spelled Lord Gremory and Phenex were taken in the same fright as Sirzechs and Ajuka and stared at me even more.
Throughout the conversation I sat with my arms folded and my eyes closed thinking what to do, I have several choices open to me
First of all, either I stay quiet and answer the question and calm the Phenex family or rather the two lords as Sona wishes.
Zero (thinking): Na, they're not worthy of my respect so I don't show them. They don't show me so I don't show them.
The second choice, I create chaos, no mercy.
Zero (thought): Now it could get interesting.
When my name was called I opened my eyes as I was about to get up Sona whispered in my ear.
Sona: Please don't get into trouble.
Zero: ..., I will try.
Then I put a smile on my face, and get ready to talk.
Zero: Mm-hmm. Hello Mrs, Sir, my name is Zero Akatsuki, and I'm going to tell you the reasons why Chickenhead is bedridden for the next two months.
Lord Phenex: Young man, please behave yourself, you're talking about one of my children.
Zero: I'm aware of that. Where was I?
Sona facepalm, because of my behavior and now she knows I'm not going to behave properly, Ruval is calm to my little remark, as for Ravel she says nothing at all.
Zero: Oh yes, my reasons...
Then I take a break and everyone waits for my answer.
Zero: He underestimated me, he pissed me off and I beat him up, that is all.
Everybody looks at me unamused by my answer, as for Serafall she tries to hold her laugh.
Ajuka: Akatsuki-kun could you please be a little serious.
Zero: Sorry, I just wanted to lighten the mood a bit.
Sirzechs: Please abstain, this is a serious meeting.
Zero(thought): It is you who makes this meeting serious and believe me I am not going to let you off the hook without good compensation.
Zero: I have nothing to say, Leviathan-sama has explained the situation well and her testimony weighs more heavily than mine.
Zeoticus: We want to hear your version of the facts - the fact that you attacked a high-class devil is a serious act.
Zero: Oh, are you telling me that you don't trust the word of one of your leaders, I'm lucky I'm not a devil then. And for your information, the fact that Riser interrupted a meeting with a Maou on a subject that could be prejudicial to the devil is also a serious act so.
That nails the beak of almost everyone in the room if you analyze what I said in the first part of my answer it can be taken two ways.
Zero: But since I was well brought up and I am amused by this situation I will answer the question.
This pisses off the two lords with gusto, and it shows the other two Maou that inviting me to this meeting was a very bad idea.
I sit down and then I look serious this time and my eyes start to lose their color as if I were an empty shell, something that someone my age shouldn't have.
Eyes that have seen death and war, it doesn't please Lady Phenex at all, that a child like me should be assailed with questions to the point of showing eyes like mine. And it shocks the maou and the two lords, they know by the look I give that I have met death more than rightly.
Zero: Well getting serious again for a while, to answer the question, that day I wasn't really in a good mood and as Serafall was saying we were in the middle of a meeting on a subject that can impact all three factions which adds to the stress, so when Riser came unannounced and started disrespecting me and my fiancées, I was already at the limit of my patience but Grayfia-san stepped in to calm us down so I gave him a warning. Then one thing leading to another, Riser summoned his peerage while my back was turned he ordered one of his pieces to attack me and of course, I counter-attacked as I had previously warned him hence his current state.
As Lord Phenex is about to speak, Ruval goes ahead of him and asks me a question.
Ruval: Akatsuki-dono, I heard from Ravel that you absorbed and used the flames of the phoenix against Riser, how do you justify that?
Lord and Lady Phenex are all ears, and so are all the other devils.
Zero: I have nothing to say about that.
Ruval: I want a reasonable explanation, that the flames of our family being taken by someone else is a big problem for us.
Zero: And again I have nothing to say about it, what's in it for me to tell you how I managed to acquire those flames, and even if I came to get something in return you couldn't give it to me because the price of that information is really expensive.
Ajuka: What would the price be?
Zero: I'll leave that question up to you, but I'll just say this, the world is bigger than you think and you're just toads at the bottom of the well.
Lord Phenex: I don't give a damn about your word, I demand reparation for the damage done to my son and the honor of our family.
Serafall was about to intervene when I motioned to her to let me take care of it.
Zero (thought): Okay, payback time.
Zero: Ah ah ah.
Lord Phenex: Why are you laughing?
Zero: You know what's great about being around heirs who care about their responsibilities is that you learn a lot from them, and I'm lucky to be one of them. Being around Sona, with her perfect knowledge of devil society and a lot of other things has taught me a lot. And let me tell you that Riser flouted many of the precepts of devil society and the non-aggression pact of the Great War.
Hearing my words the 2 of the 3 maou begin to sweat cold, then at that moment, Sirzechs remembers what Rias told him.
Lord Phenex tries to keep calm and tells himself that I must bluff
Lord Phenex: Do you have any evidence to justify your words?
With a smile, I take out an envelope from somewhere,
Zero: As some of you seem to have noticed my last name, let me tell you that indeed I belong to the Akatsuki family of the 6 great families related to the Shito pantheon and I am the grandson of the current Patriarch Shigure Akatsuki but you should know him as "The Black Beast of Kyoto". I am also the current supervisor of the Shinto faction to monitor the territory of Kuoh and its surroundings.
That's when Lord Gremory and Phenex know they've screwed up but masterfully.