On the bridge of a black battleship, the God-Wanderer, that was docked near the detention camp, a group of anxious and nervous people were led inside the bridge by Noa, Ezrah, and Zestia towards Zeno, who sits leisurely on the captain chair with White Dream floating in the air like a ghost closely beside him.
"Master, we have brought you all the representatives from the island that were on the list!"
Noa immediately announced her mission success with a smirk underneath her helmet as she stepped aside, revealing a group of individuals behind her, which included the worn-out and disheveled Kalawarna, who had seen a better day after Noa constantly bullying her on the way to the ship, an apprehensive Father Marquez, and several other figures that represent various factions on the island, both big and small factions. It could be seen that everyone in the representative group has a black metallic collar wrapped around their necks.
When they arrived before going inside the ship, they were all forcefully collared by the energy disruptor device on their neck, which will prevent any attempt to use their supernatural power. Some resist being collared, of course, but a little bit of violence from the overly eager Noa has solved this mild inconvenience problem.
Zeno looked over his 'guests' with a mix of curiosity and amusement at the sight of Kalawarna's appearance, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm on the arm of the chair for a couple of seconds before he rose to his feet, his crimson cloak draping over and concealing his body as he approached them with an amused smirk still on his lips while White Dream followed along with him like a bodyguard.
"Greeting everyone, I am glad that you all could make it here on such short notice."
Zeno's calm voice filled the bridge with a mysterious sense of oppression that made all of the representatives of various factions on the island have goosebumps as they felt like they were in the presence of a dangerous predator who is currently playing with its prey.
"We have much to discuss, and some new rules need to be established... for your own safety mostly."
He began while standing in front of them as he glanced at the bruised Kalawarna, who had been glaring at him since the first time she stepped inside the bridge.
"Grrr..."
She will never forget the face of the man who attacked and humiliated her in Kuoh Town, but too bad for her; that glare was the only thing she could do at the moment since she is not stupid enough to make a scene on this occasion and end up getting another dose of violence from Noa, who was looking at her like a hawk waiting for the chance to assert her dominance against her sister's origin template.
"Tsk..."
Noa clicked her tongue in secret, seeing that Kalawarna is not willing to do anything after meeting her master. She would love to hit that Leila-like face some more.
"Well, first..."
And then Zeno began informing them about the new rules on the newly named Freedom Island regarding the supernatural side of things. Most of it is just him telling them that if they want to stay here, they have to obey the same laws as the mundane side, and they can't go out of the designated supernatural zone without the authority's permission, and they will be under constant surveillance 24/7 but with the right to live on the island with free healthcare, education, electricity, water, food, and shelter.
"What the hell..."
"If you want to drive us out, then just say so...!"
After hearing him, the representatives feel both appalled and disgusted at the rules Zeno will impose on them. Some of them looked at each other, their eyes speaking volumes of their dissatisfaction and barely hidden contempt for obeying the human's laws, but none dared to voice it out loud. They knew that any misstep could be fatal or cause unnecessary injuries to themselves.
"Now, I know this is not acceptable for you all, but let me put it into simple terms. If you obey and stay, you get to live comfortably for the rest of your life, or you don't and just leave. I don't care which choice you will choose, but if you don't choose the two options for whatever reasons, then you can expect to be treated like the illegal immigrant on this island."
Zeno shrugged his shoulders with a nonchalant smirk, his icy blue eyes gazing from one representative to another like he was looking at random people on the street that he would forget after a minute.
"..."
The representative could feel the disregard in his words, the unspoken threat of what would happen if they chose to ignore his warning. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the ship and the sound of their own heartbeat.
"I-I'm sorry, but I can't make this kind of important decision on my own; I must consult with my superior first..."
Father Marquez was the first to speak, his voice shaky but determined, as well as some of the representatives from big factions who also nodded their heads since they couldn't just abandon their post without an order from their superior.
"Understandable, but I will expect you guys to answer tomorrow at noon; otherwise, you will be driven out of my island by force, be warned."
Zeno nodded his head with an understanding expression on his face, and then he waving his hand in a dismissive manner to all of the representatives, implied that they could leave now.
The representatives exchanged nervous glances before they were led out of the bridge by the Geborgs and Ezrah and Zestia; their collars will then be removed once they are out of the ship. Most of them will probably leave the island, but some might decide to stay as spies for their faction, or they just simply don't have anywhere else to go.
As the representatives left the bridge, Zeno's eyebrows rose with curiosity at the sight of Kalawarna, who was still staying on the bridge, drawing the attention of everyone inside the bridge to her.
"You don't look like you're leaving, Miss Kalawarna."
Zeno said with a smirk, his eyes narrowed with amusement at the sight of the hesitant and somewhat reluctant fallen angel, who was beaten up and molested by him in the past. He finds it amusing that she coincidentally got sent here as a replacement for the previous fallen angel who stationed at the outpost of Grigori on the island the same day he attacked.
"Yeah, and why are you still here, huh? Do you need me to help you with the walking part or something?"
Noa on the side also chipped in with a smirk, expecting Kalawarna to leave with the rest of the group, but she remained unmoving, her eyes never leaving Zeno's.
"I... I am not leaving."
Kalawarna spoke through gritted teeth, her pride bruised just like her face but not broken like her nose that was beginning to heal.
"I need some answers, Zeno Zavior."
Kalawarna's voice was filled with a mix of anger and curiosity, her eyes locking onto the man who had once again brought misery to her life. Zeno tilted his head slightly, his smirk never wavering as he folded his arms across his chest. He wonders how he should treat this woman since he feels a bit reluctant to use violence against the woman with the same face as Laila.
"Hmm, and what might your question be~?"
He walks toward her slowly, his tall and muscular frame starting to fill Kalawarna's entire vision, making her realize again how small and seemingly powerless she was in front of him. She tries to keep her composed, but the smirk on his face is starting to annoy her even more as she recalls the first time they met.
"Why did you attack me that night, and was it you at the abandoned church that captured me for the devil?!"
She asked heatly as she recalled all the humiliations she received for him; she doesn't want to admit it, but sometimes she also has wet dreams about him tormenting her with his tentacles and taking her forcefully in many positions.
Zeno's smirk grew wider as he looked down at the flustered fallen angel. He knew exactly what she was referring to and had been expecting this confrontation since he received the report of her capture.
He took a step forward and became even closer to Kalawarna, making sure she could feel his powerful presence on a spiritual level and reaching out his right hand to grasp on her neck softly while she was disturbed by his power.
"You still remember those two times we met, I see. It was quite... memorable, wouldn't you say? Well, as for why I attacked you, that's because I wanted something from you, and the second time is just me doing my job."
Zeno says with a chuckle; his voice was low and teasing, his grip tightening slightly on her neck before he stopped and pulled his hand away, making the blushing Kalawarna clenched her fists, fighting the strange feelings of arousal and the urge to lash out, knowing full well the futility of her actions against him.
"You finally have your answers, so what now? What will you do?"
Zeno's voice was filled with both amusement and curiosity, and his blue eyes were locking with her yellow eyes. The hint of challenge was clear as Zeno stepped back, giving Kalawarna some space. She continues glaring at him with a complex expression; the helplessness in her eyes was badly concealed by her defiance.
"I will not forget what you've done to me...!"
After a few seconds of struggling with herself, Kalawarna finally burst out something with a trembling voice, her eyes never leaving Zeno's, despite the fear that seemed to cling to her very soul after she felt his power. The memory of their first encounter in the dark alley and the second encounter in the abandoned church was still fresh in her mind—a mix of anger, humiliation, powerlessness, arousal, and an inexplicable attraction toward Zeno that made her confused with her feeling. She doesn't even know what she was saying or what her expression is currently like.
"Huh? Yeah sure..."
Zeno, who heard Kalawarna's declaration, also doesn't know what to say to her and just replied perfunctorily. He wonders if he has made her weird from his powerful soul pressure.
"Heh... what a masochist."
Noa, who was watching the drama between them, scoffed at the contrast of Kalawarna's declaration and her current expression, which looks like a pervert who just discovered her hidden fetish. Now I can make fun of Leila for this! Noa thought with amusement as she giggles impishly.
"I wonder why I have to witness this..."
The deadpan Ruth, who was staying quietly in the bridge all this time, muttered to herself with some annoyance in her voice.