Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.
"What do we do about Euclid?" Sirzechs asked in a tired tone as he tapped a finger on the table in the Satans meeting room. "After several days of... high-intensity interrogation... We've gotten nothing about Rizevim or his plans."
"Didn't Ajuka-Chan say that he had something to help with that?" Serafall asked while tilting her head cutely.
"It turns out that my truth serum is not strong enough to work on a minor god-ranked being." Ajuka replied calmly. "And it will take quite some time to get the formula correct for a stronger version. And with the other research I have going on, it isn't exactly on the top of my list of priorities."
"I see." Serafall said, tilting her head in the other direction.
"Anyway, what do you all think our next move should be?" Sirzechs asked.
"I'm not sure." Ajuka replied. "With no information, we can't make a plan of attack against Rizevim. On top of that, we have no idea what he's even planning."
"*Sigh* I know." Sirzechs said, clenching his fist in frustration.
"On another note!" Serafall said excitedly. "This weekend, So-Tan will begin building her [Rating Game] School on the outskirts of the capital."
"It's that time already, huh?" Sirzechs asked with a gentle smile on his face. "Congratulations, Sera. I'm sure you're feeling quite proud."
"That's right!" Serafall said, keeping her excited tone. "So-Tan is so amazing! But it's thanks to Jay-Kun that So-Tan didn't face any real obstacles from those old corrupt councilmen."
At the mention of James, Sirzechs gritted his teeth. Even though James had done much for the Underworld, not to mention helped his sister grow stronger much faster than she would have, the young devil's presence and ambition of becoming the strongest made him quite uncomfortable.
"Speaking of Jay-Kun, how are we going to reward him for bringing in the criminal, Euclid Lucifuge?" Serafall asked, her excited expression morphing into one of seriousness.
"What do you mean?" Sirzechs asked, breaking out of his own thoughts with a frown on his face. "Why should he receive a reward? Helping society should be honor enough."
'If we reward him for it, we'll have to announce it to the public.' Sirzechs thought to himself. 'And if we do that, the citizens will adore him even more than they do now. I won't allow that.'
Like they had been more and more in recent months, Sirzechs' thoughts had move in the direction of suppressing James' influence. Though he had not gone as far as wishing to suppress James growth in strength, not that he could if he wanted to, he was terrified at the thought that James would take his place in the hearts of the population at large.
Understanding what Sirzechs was thinking, even Ajuka was beginning to get fed up with his best friend's pride. So, he took it on himself to speak on the matter.
"Sirzechs, are you suggesting that we not reward a promising young devil for his merits?" Ajuka asked with his eyes narrowed. "If we were to do that, no one would be willing to..."
"I know what you're going to say, Ajuka." Sirzechs cut him off while waving dismissively. "But, as an Ultimate-Class devil, what more could we reward him with?"
Ajuka knew what Sirzechs said was nothing more than to cover up his pride and maintain his outward appearance as a good ruler. However, Ajuka also could not argue with the logic. As an Ultimate-Class devil, there was not much that James could not obtain for himself.
"There is, actually, something we could grant him. *Yawn*" Falbium said in an exhausted tone.
"Why do you seem so tired?" Serafall asked curiously. "With the alliance, who do you even have to defend the borders against?"
"There's always a chance that someone could attack." Falbium replied shamelessly. "Staying on guard constantly will keep the devils in the Underworld safe."
At Falbium's declaration, the other three Great Satans rolled their eyes.
'We all know it's because you're lazy and that you're hooked on Super Smash Bros.' They all thought simultaneously. 'You don't have to put on an act for us.'
"More importantly, what ideas do you have, Falbium?" Ajuka asked, trying to move the conversation back on topic.
"Well, it's quite simple." Falbium responded. "Though I don't blame any of you for not thinking of it."
"Stop beating around the bush, Falbium." Sirzechs said with a slight frown. "Just tell us."
"He's an Ultimate-Class devil, but he doesn't have territory of his own." Falbium replied, finally ending the suspense he had built.
"But his family already has territory of their own." Sirzechs countered.
"Do you mean that estate in Gremory territory?" Falbium asked with a bit of disappointment in his tone. "As an Ultimate-Class devil, his rank is now higher than that of the Gremory House. Or have you forgotten?"
At that, metaphorical lightbulbs lit up over Sirzechs, Ajuka, and Serafall's heads. However, in the next instant, Sirzechs' expression darkened.
*Clap!*
"Then it's settled!" Serafall shouted excitedly. "That's the perfect reward."
"Technically, it's a terrible reward." Ajuka said while shaking his head slowly. "As an Ultimate-Class devil, who isn't part of another's peerage, James should have received his own territory to build his own clan when he was promoted to High-Class."
Serafall opened her eyes widely at Ajuka's words. Not only her, but even Sirzechs realized that was the case.
"Then, why did he not receive his territory back then?" Sirzechs questioned with a frown. Though he had a guess as to the answer.
"Because the council kept putting it off, sighting that there were more important issues to deal with." Ajuka replied. "Once again, technically they were right. We had put all our attention to choosing candidates for training under Scathach. Eventually, it slipped to the back of our minds."
Sirzechs and Serafall both lowered their heads. For Serafall, she was ashamed that she did not remember something so important. Sirzechs, on the other hand, was upset that he had been played by the council and had not noticed it. As for James not getting what he deserved, it did not bother him all that much.
"What makes that even worse..." Falbium said with his eyes half closed, as if he were fending off sleep with all his might. "Is that James is the one that secured us that deal with Scathach in the first place. We blew him off for something that he had obtained for us."
While the silence in the room grew heavier, Grayfia who was acting as secretary to the Four Great Satans as she had done for centuries, noticed the look in Sirzechs' eyes.
'He's not upset that James had been wronged, he's upset that the council pulled one over on him back then.' Grayfia thought to herself in disappointment. "*Sigh* What happened to being the ruler who cared most for his people?'
Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
The day after the Four Great Satans met, Sona received the news that the establishment of her [Rating Game] School had finally been confirmed. Naturally, when she did, she ran straight towards James. Getting in the elevator and pressing the button for the training room's floor, Sona excitement grew as the seconds passed.
"James!" Sona shouted uncharacteristically. As she exited the elevator and sprinted towards James.
Hearing Sona's shout, James distanced himself from Cu Chulainn, who he was sparring with, and turned his head in Sona's direction. When he did, he saw Sona, in mid-air, flying toward him. On reflex, he opened his arms and caught her while Sona wrapped her arms and legs around him excitedly.
"What's got you so happy, Sona?" James asked with a smile.
Instead of answering directly, Sona pulled him close and planted a passionate kiss, causing Cu Chulainn to scratch the side of his head and awkwardly look away.
"You guys aren't gonna start banging right here, are you?" Cu Chulainn asked.
Hearing that, Sona broke the kiss immediately. Then, she buried her head into James neck while she turned red up to the tip of her ears. Meanwhile, James glared at Cu Chulainn while the look in his eyes promised pain in their next spar.
'Damn it.' Cu Chulainn thought to himself. 'Why do I always open my damn mouth? James is gonna beat the shit outta me.'
Meanwhile at the Hyoudou residence, Issei was sitting in his bedroom. Beside him were Asia and Irina, helping with the homework in the subjects that he was struggling in.
"Ise, you're Japanese, right?" Irina asked with a mischievous smile on her face. "Then, how is it that Asia-Chan has better grades in Japanese than you do?"
However, instead of answering Irina's question, Issei stiffened. Then, he began to shudder violently.
"Issei, what's wrong?" Asia asked after noticing Issei's state.
"I... Just got the feeling that Senpai was pissed and wanted to beat someone up." Issei said while taking shallow breaths.
"Are you serious?" Irina asked in confusion. "Did you do something? You did, didn't you?"
"No, not since he slapped me into the pool a couple of weekends ago." Issei replied. "I don't think this one is aimed at me, actually. But my body just reacted instinctively."
Asia and Irina could only look at Issei with pity in their gazes. They both wondered if all the beatings had knocked something loose in his brain. In fact, Asia's hand even began to light up with a green glow as her vision shifted continuously between her hand and Issei's head, wondering if her [Twilight Healing] could heal mental damage.
"Oh well, whatever!" issei exclaimed with a smile. "There's nothing I can do about it, other than feeling sorry for the poor bastard that pissed Senpai off this time."
Back at the Alaverus Estate, James had finally decided to stop glaring at Cu Chulainn, who had sweated more due to James' stare than he had throughout their entire spar. Then, James turned his attention back to the embarrassed Sona.
"Anyway, Sona, I'm guessing you just heard some good news." James said with a smile. "So, what's got you so excited."
Hearing that, Sona looked up from James shoulder, with her face still red. However, her eyes had lit up again with excitement.
"Yes, I did, indeed, receive some good news." Sona said, the excitement returning to her tone. "The Council has finally given me permission to open my [Rating Game] school!"
Hearing that, not only James, but even Cu Chulainn smiled. Both were happy for Sona, knowing that her biggest dream was to open a school that would teach devils of all social classes about the [Rating Games]. They also knew that was Sona's way of helping the entire population of devils grow stronger.
"Congratulations, Sona." James said happily as he tightened his hug.
"That means I can contact all the guest lecturers who agreed to teach a few classes once the school opened."
"Oh, who did you get?" James asked in curiosity.
"Well, the first person I got to agree was Sairaorg. In terms of building physical strength, no one in the Underworld compares."
James and Cu Chulainn could not agree more with that statement. They knew that Sairaorg had recently broken through into the advanced-level of the ultimate-rank, recently. And unlike other devils who relied on their demonic energy growing to advance through the levels and ranks, Sairaorg had grown almost entirely due to his physique.
After mentioned Sairaorg, Sona continued to list off people she had gotten to agree to teach at her school occasionally. To James and Cu Chulainn's surprise, she had even manage to get a promise from the current champion of the [Rating Games], Diehauser Belial. However, before she got to the last one, Sona separated from James embrace.
"That's right, I need to go talk to Rosseweisse." Sona said as she began walking toward the elevator. "I need to go tell her that her grandmother will be coming soon."
"Rose's grandmother?" James asked curiously.
"That's right." Sona replied without turning around. "The former captain of the Valkyries and the greatest rune magician among them, Gondul."