3rd POV
Earth, Japan, Kuoh Town, Kuoh Academy - Occult Research Club Building
"Are you sure it is him, Shirone?"
Questioned Rias, a petite girl with white hair and gold eyes.
The girl's front of her hair has two long bangs going past her shoulders and several loose bangs hanging over her forehead, while the back has a short bob cut. She also wore a black cat-shaped hair clip on both sides of her hair.
She had a pair of white cat ears and a pair of matching white tails, and her golden eyes were more cat-like.
"Hmm... smells like Vali-niisama before they got Albion out... though the smell is very, very weak."
Answered Shirone.
She was a rare variant of Nekomata a Nekoshou.
Nekomatas was one of the Youkai species that bore a striking physical resemblance to humans, albeit with a set of cat ears and generally have two tails. They also have eyes with cat-like pupils. They have great reflexes and heightened senses, with a stunning talent for Senjutsu and Youjutsu.
The majority of Nekomatas and Nekoshou lived in the Underworld, and after the formation of the Chthonian Empire, they were absorbed into the growing Imperium.
Their species quickly proved itself to be crucial for information gathering and producing strong hand-to-hand combatants.
Shirone belonged to the Tojou Clan, which was the leading clan among their species, and bore the title of the Chthonian Lord, as Shirone's elder sister was Satan-Class Nekoshou. Additionally, she was also a fianceé of the Prince Elect Vali Lucifer.
"Then I think convincing Ddraig should be easier than one could think. Have you tried to sense his Soul Aptitude with your abilities?"
Those with high-ranking mastery over Senjutsu could learn a Secret Method to check up on someone's Soul Aptitude based on their Chi.
Shirone was able to learn that method from her sister.
"Hn... Inferior Level 1 or Superior Level 0."
Stated Shirone plainly as she continued munching on her sweets. Meanwhile, Rias's expression froze on the spot.
"With such Soul Aptitude, then even after reincarnating as Devil, there is a very low possibility of awakening the Sacred Gear, and if even, it should be only Twice Critical."
Said a beautiful young woman with a voluptuous figure, very long black hair, and violet eyes. Her hair was tied in a long ponytail, reaching all the way down to her legs with two strands sticking out from the top and sloping backward, with an orange ribbon keeping it in place.
"I am aware of that fact, Akeno, but right now, the only option. What else could we do... I just need to keep him around as long as Ddraig won't agree to my father's proposal. If not, then I can only call Elder Crom Cruach to make a short process with him."
Answered Rias to her best friend and also a Caster of the Servant Class Card Peerage, Akeno Himejima.
Akeno was the daughter of Shuri Himejima of the Himejima Clan of Five Principal Clans. Baraqiel was shown as one of the newly promoted Twelve-Winged Archangel-Class Fallen Angels of the Grigori, who benefited from Underworld becoming Baator.
When she was young, she and her mother were attacked by assassins of the Himejima Clan and Fallen Angels that were acting under orders of the Kokabiel, who was also promoted to a Twelve-Winged Archangel-Class Fallen Angel.
As the Empire closely monitored the movements of the Kokabiel, one of the commanding officers decided to intervene, killing the assassins and which resulted in Shuri asking for protection from the Empire, which they were granted.
"Empire has means to communicate with Ddraig even when Boosted Gear is not awakened; awakening Twice Critical is enough."
Answered Rias.
"I have seen him talking with Fallen Angel this morning; they probably detected the same thing as us and want to extract his Sacred Gear... though I don't really know how did they do it."
Stated Shirone as right now some Fallen Angels have infiltrated the Kuoh Town, and they didn't really kill them to see what they were after.
"That's okey... it would be a good opportunity for reincarnating him; they probably want to kill him or force him to show his Sacred Gear so they could extract it."
Answered Rias as she had a reason why she left the small group of Middle-Class Fallen Angels alive.
"I will send one of my familiar to deliver him the Magic Circle, afterward observe movements of the Fallen. They should be related to Kokabiel; Governor-General wouldn't send any Fallen into the territory of the Empire without noticing us in advance."
Ordered Rias as both Akeno and Shirone nodded.
"Also, Empire would send someone as reinforcement due to suspicious movement of several hostile factions, so prepare accommodation for them."
"Who shall be coming here?"
Asked Akeno as she prepared to leave the room to carry out orders from Rias.
"Lady Cleria said that Father has assigned a mission to Sardaukar Forces so that it would be Prince Elect Vali, with Khaos Brigade on the stand by."
Answered Rias as Akeno nodded a bit in anticipation.