Two days after visiting Ajuka, Merlin received her own set of Evil Pieces. She now had the capability to form her own peerage.
Victorius announced to the family that Riser would be the new leader of the Phenex family, following orders implanted by Riser through the Absolute Obedience Potion. Victorius acted in an unusually cooperative manner, which caused some surprise among the older family members who expected resistance from him. However, he presented the transition as a personal decision, highlighting Riser's competence and vision to lead the family into new challenges and opportunities.
Ruval, Riser's older brother, agreed to the leadership transition with visible relief. It seemed that a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he was extremely pleased with the decision.
Romina, Ravel, and Asia returned to the main Phenex family mansion. Romina noticed Victorius's unusual and kind behavior, but trusting Riser's words that all was well, decided to overlook his oddity and enjoy the new life at the mansion.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer received Riser's warnings with disdain, considering them little more than the bluster of a still inexperienced youth. In Rizevim's view, Riser was just a piece in his extensive plans, a youth whose utility lay more in his potential future than his current actions. Thus, he opted to temporarily ignore Riser, turning his attention to manipulating other devils to sow chaos in the world.
Diodora was consumed by uncontrollable fury. The perception that Victorius had cut off all contacts and had not fulfilled the promises previously made consumed him. He interpreted the silence and apparent cooperation between Victorius and Riser as a direct betrayal, a calculated mockery against him. He felt manipulated and scorned, which only inflamed his desire for revenge.
In his mind, the humiliation he had suffered needed to be avenged, and he saw Asia Argento as the focal point of his plan for retaliation.
Diodora was not discarding any options. He was willing to go to shocking extremes to achieve his goals, including manipulating or even marrying Rias Gremory if it meant putting Riser in a vulnerable position. Additionally, he had the support of Ophis, whose immeasurable power he believed to be sufficient to overcome any obstacle that Riser or anyone else could pose.
Merlin, after receiving her own Evil Pieces, returned to Riser's mansion in Kuoh to oversee Kuroka and Ophis. Few knew that Ophis was now allied with Riser, information that would certainly surprise a devil obsessed with fairs, who planned to use her against Riser. Merlin's presence was essential to maintain security and control of the situation, ensuring that no external force could take advantage of this secret alliance to destabilize Riser's plans.
After Vali's death and the disappearance of Kuroka and Ophis, Bikou returned to his ancestor. Fenrir set out in search of Loki, while Arthur Pendragon joined the Hero Faction, marking the end of Team Vali.
Baraqiel couldn't help but suspect that Issei or Sirzechs might have been involved in the disappearance of Azazel, but the lack of concrete evidence and Sirzechs's powerful position in the underworld placed him in a delicate situation. He knew that any unfounded accusation or rash move could not only dishonor Azazel's legacy but also put the entire Grigori faction at risk.
Baraqiel was aware that the Grigori, although strong, were no match for the powerful devil alliances if they chose to retaliate. This added an even greater weight to his shoulders—the fear of starting a conflict that could lead to the massacre of his own people.
The meeting of young devils from ancient and high-class families had always been a landmark in the social and political calendar of the underworld. This year, however, the event took on even greater significance due to the significant announcements that were to be made, promising to alter the existing power dynamics.
During the meeting, two main announcements were anticipated to capture the attention of all attendees. First, the promotion of Riser Phenex to a Supreme Class Devil would be officially announced—a rare and prestigious honor, especially considering his youth. This promotion not only highlighted Riser's power and potential but also solidified his position as the new leader of the Phenex family, a transition that had been smoothly orchestrated by Victorius, albeit under the influence of the Absolute Obedience Potion.
The second major announcement, potentially more explosive, was the marriage of Rias Gremory and Diodora Astaroth.
Issei, already frustrated upon discovering after waking from a coma that he was still not stronger than Riser, even with the dragon heart, was further devastated to learn that Rias was involved in another marriage contract. His hatred for Diodora, who planned to marry Rias, surpassed any previous resentment he had for Riser. Rias, confident in Issei's current strength, devised a bold plan that promised to shake the young devils' meeting.
Sona was relieved and pleased to hear from Riser that he wanted her to continue her studies. Despite her husband taking over the leadership of the Phenex House, the decision to continue in school was important to her. Riser assured that any bureaucratic issues would be handled by Victorius, allowing him to focus on bigger plans beyond just leading a family. This gave Sona the peace of mind to complete her remaining years at school without worries, knowing she had Riser's support to pursue her own goals.
Sirzechs was worried about Riser's rapid ascent to power. Recognizing Riser's aggressive temperament and tendency towards indiscriminate violence, Sirzechs saw Issei as a crucial piece to counterbalance this threat. He was impressed with Issei's progress and decided to protect him, planning to support him until he was strong enough to face Riser if necessary. Sirzechs knew he could not confront Riser directly without a justified reason, so his strategy involved discreetly strengthening Issei as a preventative measure.
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