After dinner, everyone was resting in the hall. Le Fay emerged from her room and approached Tenraku.
"Lord Tenraku, there's a communication from Lord Vali."
"Vali?" Tenraku was somewhat surprised, and Rias and the girls nearby also paid attention.
"Well, this is quite rare. Connect us," Tenraku said, stroking his chin with a hint of a smile. Le Fay lightly tapped her magic staff on the ground, and a magical array formed. Vali's projection appeared.
"Kamiya Tenraku, Rias Gremory."
With his usual aloof demeanor, Vali glanced at Tenraku, Rias, and the girls before he began speaking.
"Vali, what's the sudden interest in contacting us?" Tenraku inquired with a smile on his face while petting Ophis' small head.
"I have some important information to share with you. However, before that…"
"Ophis, how do you feel being with Kamiya Tenraku?"
His gaze shifted to Ophis, and Vali asked.
"Not bad," Ophis replied indistinctly, sitting on Tenraku's lap and munching on an apple.
"Not bad, huh…"
Seemingly pensive, Vali didn't press further. Instead, he continued, "After Ophis came to your side, I had Bikou impersonate Ophis in the Khaos Brigade as her replacement. However, Cao Cao eventually saw through it. He and his Hero Faction are currently scouring for Ophis' whereabouts. Given their intelligence and resources, they'll likely find their way to your location soon."
Hearing Vali's words, Rias and the girls were taken aback, and Tenraku frowned.
"They're searching for Ophis. Do they want to bring Ophis back to the Khaos Brigade?" Rias asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"No, judging by that man's recent actions, he doesn't intend to bring Ophis back. He wants to eliminate her."
Though his tone was calm, Vali's words were astonishing.
"Eliminate Ophis? Are you joking?" Rias couldn't help but show a trace of anger, feeling as if they were being played.
While Vali couldn't be considered an enemy, he certainly wasn't a friend. Both Rias and Akeno, as well as the others, harbored a level of distrust towards him.
Furthermore, what Vali said was just too absurd. Cao Cao's group actually wanted to eliminate the invincible Ophis. Were they out of their minds? This was utterly impossible!
"Rias Gremory, whether you believe it or not, this is the information I've gathered." Seemingly irritated as well, Vali responded coldly.
Tension grew between the two parties and Tenraku knew he couldn't remain silent.
"Alright, calm down, all of you."
"Rias, while Vali's words may be hard to believe, he wouldn't use something like this to deceive us." Comforting Rias gently, Tenraku continued, "Vali, could you provide more details?"
"I don't know exactly what that man is planning, but they seem to have prepared some means to counter Ophis. That's all I know."
"Kamiya Tenraku, Rias Gremory, if Ophis is indeed killed, you know the grave consequences it will bring. I will take action on my end, and you should also prepare yourselves."
With a calm reminder, Vali cut off the communication without waiting for Tenraku and the girls to ask more questions.
"That guy!" Rias gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
Regardless of whether Vali's message was true or not, his attitude was incredibly irksome.
"Lord Tenraku, Lord Vali wouldn't lie."
"That… That…"
Seeing the tense exchange between Rias and Vali, Le Fay was somewhat caught in the middle. After all, she was also a member of Vali's team.
"Don't worry, Le Fay. Vali is Vali, and you are you. We have no reason to doubt the message Vali conveyed," Tenraku reassured while gently patting the girl's forehead.
"Yes, Lord Tenraku," Le Fay breathed a sigh of relief, her face lighting up with a smile once again.
"Ophis, Cao Cao is almost here to hunt you down. Don't you have any thoughts on this?" Watching Ophis, who was still carelessly munching on an apple, Tenraku couldn't help but smile.
"Cao Cao?" Tilting her small head, Ophis seemed to take quite a while before she finally remembered the name. "Let's talk about that when he comes."
Lowering her head, Ophis continued to gnaw on her apple. Well, she was indeed a calm Dragon God-Sama. Tenraku and the girls were at a loss for words for a moment.
However, Ophis' composure was acceptable. It was up to Tenraku and the girls to take this matter seriously. Vali, in his pride, wouldn't use such a thing to deceive them.
Therefore, the news that Cao Cao intended to eliminate Ophis should be genuine. However, that guy Cao Cao wasn't a fool; he must have had the confidence to target the invincible Ophis.
This was a significant matter. Tenraku had Rias contact Azazel's side. However—
"Lately, there's been some force stirring in the Underworld. I can't free myself up. I'll leave Ophis' matter to you all," Azazel directly handed off the responsibility to Tenraku and his group, infuriating Rias to the point where she nearly threw magic at his projection.
However, after confirming from her own older brother, Sirzechs, that this was indeed the case, Rias calmed down. The Hero Faction was hunting Ophis, and at the same time, something like this happened in the Underworld. Wasn't it a bit too coincidental?
"Tenraku, what do we do now?" The gazes of the girls all fell on Tenraku. After all, in this household, Tenraku was the backbone of the family.
"The situation does seem a bit unfavorable. For the next few days, no one should go out casually. Let's leave the matter with the school to Sona," Tenraku decided after some contemplation.
"According to Vali, it's likely that the guys from the Hero Faction will find their way here soon. Everyone, don't act alone in the next few days. Be vigilant and be ready for combat at any time!"
Though a bit conservative, it was the best course of action for now. With the enemy lurking in the shadows, since they couldn't take the initiative, they had to focus on strengthening their defenses.
Under Tenraku's instructions, the girls immediately sprang into action. Rias contacted Sona to inform her of the situation. Yubelluna and the others reinforced the barriers around the villa to prevent any potential enemy attacks. Even at night, their familiars kept watch and patrolled.
The entire Kamiya Family was on high alert, awaiting the potential arrival of the enemy at any moment.
The past two days had been peaceful, but soon, the time came for the Third Heaven…
To be continued…
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