Raiser sat at the head of the table, his expression composed and controlled, as he looked at the group before him. His voice was calm, almost too calm, as he said, "I will also be present during their training sessions."
A tense silence filled the room, broken only by the soft sound of Akeno's voice as she comforted Rias, who was visibly distressed. "Why should you be present during our training time?" Akeno asked, her tone sharp and suspicious.
Raiser met her gaze, his expression unwavering. "I don't want any misunderstandings between us. It's crucial for us to form a better relationship, especially between Rias and myself. Her pride has taken a significant hit, and knowing her, she might attempt something reckless to restore it. I intend to prevent any foolish decisions from being made."
The mocking undertone in his voice did not go unnoticed, causing a wave of discomfort to ripple through the room.
Grafia, standing off to the side, recognized the tension rising and decided to intervene before things escalated. "Sir Raiser, your presence during the training will be discussed with Maou Lucifer. You will be informed of the decision." Her tone was firm but diplomatic, leaving no room for further argument.
Raiser gave a small nod, acknowledging her words. "Very well, I will be going now. We will meet tomorrow, right here. Oh, and do pay attention to the news; something of interest might come up." With that, he vanished, leaving the room heavy with unresolved tension.
As soon as Raiser was gone, the room seemed to exhale a collective breath. The silence that followed was thick with the weight of everything that had just transpired.
Grafia was the first to speak, her voice laced with a rare hint of weariness. "I will be going now to report the summary of this meeting to Lord Lucifer. Akeno, please take care of Rias, and Yuuto, see to Issei." Her gaze softened briefly as she looked at each of them, her usual stoic expression marred by a hint of concern. With a final glance at the room, she too vanished, leaving the peerage to grapple with the aftermath.
Asia, who had been nervously fidgeting throughout the meeting, finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "He… he didn't seem like the person you all described. He didn't act like a playboy at all. He was… cunning and calculated." Her words hung in the air, echoing the confusion that everyone felt.
Koneko, who had been silent until now, finally let out a shaky breath. "Yes, Asia-nee, he's not the same person. His aura has completely changed. In the past, he seemed like a foolish, lustful chicken, but now… now, it's like standing before a cold and noble Phoenix." Her voice cracked as she continued, her eyes welling up with tears. "But… I can't help but feel that everything he said was true. Rias-nee… did you really try to lose your virginity to that lustful idiot? You didn't trust us from the beginning, did you?"
Her words struck like a thunderbolt, and before anyone could respond, she burst into tears and ran out of the room, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.
"Koneko! Wait!" Asia called out, quickly chasing after her, desperate to console her.
Kiba, sensing the need to give Rias some space, quietly ushered Issei out of the room, leaving the two girls alone.
Rias clung to Akeno, her body shaking with sobs as the weight of the situation finally broke her. "Why, Akeno? We were happy just yesterday, united just a few hours ago, and now… now, everything is falling apart. Why is this happening?"
Akeno's face softened momentarily as she held Rias, but her voice remained firm as she spoke. "Rias, you made a mistake. You should have trusted your peerage instead of making such decisions on your own." Her words were blunt, the truth harsh and cutting.
Rias pulled away, her tears mixing with anger. "You! You know the situation I was in! I had no other choice, so I did what I had to. I am not wrong! You're all just not understanding me!" Her voice rose in frustration as she pointed an accusing finger at Akeno. "Get out!"
Akeno's eyes hardened, the warmth fading as she took a step back. "You're truly prideful, Rias. You can't even accept your own mistakes. Raiser was right—though you say we're your family, deep down, you still see us as your pets and servants." Her words cut deep, and she turned to leave, her expression cold. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Despite her anger, Akeno couldn't completely abandon her concern for Rias. She quickly sent a message to Lady Gremory, urging her to check on Rias.
It wasn't long before Lady Gremory and Lord Gremory arrived at the Occult Research Club, their expressions full of concern as they found Rias curled up on the couch, still crying.
"Rias, my darling, are you alright?" Lady Gremory asked softly, rushing to her daughter's side and wrapping her in a comforting embrace.
Rias looked up at her mother with tear-filled eyes. "Mom, they don't understand me! They all think I'm wrong! Raiser said I'm too prideful, that I treat my peerage like pets, and… and Akeno and the others agree with him!" Her voice broke as she clung to her mother, desperate for some validation.
Lord Gremory's face twisted with anger, his paternal instincts flaring up. "How dare that brat talk to you like that! I'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget!"
But before he could storm off, Lady Gremory sharply cut him off. "Shut up, Zeoticus!" Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "You know very well that what he said is true. We've ignored this problem for too long, thinking she would mature with time, but look at what's happened. Her pride has torn her peerage apart. If anyone is to blame, it's you and Sirzechs for spoiling her too much!"
Lord Gremory's anger quickly subsided, his wife's words striking a chord. He sighed deeply, knowing she was right.
Venelana Gremory turned back to her daughter, her voice softening again. "Rias, come home with us. You need to rest, and we can talk about all of this tomorrow." Without waiting for a response, she gently guided Rias to her feet, and with a wave of her hand, they all vanished from the room.
...
In a grand office adorned with the symbols of power, a bright light flashed, revealing the silver-haired maid. Grafia immediately approached Lord Sirzechs, her expression as serious as ever.
"The meeting has ended, my Lord, but it did not go as expected," she reported, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words.
Sirzechs sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It was not as I expected," he admitted, his tone heavy with disappointment. "I anticipated a rating game, but not like this. And the way Raiser spoke of my sister... it infuriates me." his tone changed from disappointment. to anger
Grafia's usual stoic demeanor slipped, and she let out an exasperated breath. "Is that all you took from the summary?" she snapped, dropping her formalities. "You and your father are the reason for this mess. You spoiled Rias, coddled her too much, and now her pride has nearly destroyed her peerage!"
Sirzechs fell silent, the truth of her words hitting him hard. Seeing his reaction, Grafia softened slightly and shifted the conversation.
"Let's focus on the main point. Do you really think Raiser was acting all this time and has now achieved his goal, allowing him to show his true self?" Grafia asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
Sirzechs shook his head, his thoughts racing. "I don't know. But something serious must have happened within the Phenex Family. They suddenly changed their heir, and now it's Raiser. They even invited Ajuka for an important discussion. There's some inside news suggesting that Raiser is planning to change his peerage for blank pieces from Lady Phenex. From your report, it sounds like it's true—after all, he challenged Rias and her peerage to a rating game, not his own peerage."
Grafia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "What could have happened to cause such a sudden shift in their decisions?"
Sirzechs looked out of the window, his gaze distant as he pondered. "I don't know, but we'll find out once Ajuka returns."
Grafia hesitated before speaking again, her voice low. "I'm not sure if this will help, but when I met Raiser, I felt the same way I did when I first met Sir Maou Lucifer—not in terms of strength, but as if I were facing a predator. It sent a shiver through my blood."
Sirzechs's eyes widened in realization, his voice barely above a whisper. "Like Lucifer... a predator... No! If that's what I think it is, the political landscape of the Underworld will change drastically. There will be great upheavals."
He turned away from the window, his mind racing with possibilities. "Grafia, inform them that the rating game will be held in two weeks."
...
"They don't yet realize that these two weeks will feel like years for some, and they will bring changes that will reverberate throughout the entire Underworld."