The café meeting between Raizer Phoenix and Rias Gremory had all the makings of a disaster—and Raizer wasn't even trying to salvage it. Seated at the cozy outdoor table, Raizer remained calm, sipping his coffee as Rias glared at him from across the table, her queen Akeno sitting quietly beside her.
Yubelluna sat beside Raizer, cool and composed as always, but not lifting a finger to defuse the tension. If anything, she seemed content to watch the show unfold.
The Fireworks Begin
"So," Rias began, her sharp voice breaking the silence, "this is the infamous Raizer Phoenix? The 'brilliant' businessman who, if the rumors are true, spends more time dodging his responsibilities than fulfilling them?"
Raizer raised an eyebrow but kept his tone even. "I wasn't aware we were jumping straight to the insults, but if that's how you want to start, be my guest."
"I don't see the point in pretending to be polite," Rias snapped. "I don't want this engagement, and I don't want anything to do with you."
"I figured as much," Raizer said, setting his cup down with a faint smirk. "You've made it pretty obvious."
"And yet you're sitting here," Rias said, leaning forward, her crimson hair catching the light. "Do you really think you can talk me into going along with this ridiculous arrangement?"
"I'm not trying to talk you into anything," Raizer replied calmly. "I'm here because I was told we needed to meet, and I'm respecting that request. What you do with your side of this is entirely up to you."
Rias's eyes narrowed. "Respect? That's rich coming from someone like you."
"And what exactly does that mean?" Raizer asked, his smirk widening.
"You're arrogant, manipulative, and you clearly think you're better than everyone else," Rias said, crossing her arms. "I don't need to marry someone like you to know it would be a disaster."
Raizer's Poker Face
Raizer chuckled softly, a sound that only irritated Rias further.
"You're welcome to your opinion," he said lightly. "But since we're being honest, I've heard a few things about you, too."
Rias's expression darkened. "Oh, really? And what have you heard?"
"Well," Raizer said, leaning back in his chair, "there's the rumor that you're something of an anime addict. Apparently, you even convinced the Gremory family to let you study in Japan just so you could live out your high school fantasy."
Rias's cheeks flushed. "That's none of your business!"
"And then there's the bit about you using your… assets to get what you want," Raizer continued, his smirk growing. "I'm sure that works on most people, but unfortunately for you, I'm not 'most people.'"
Rias slammed her hand on the table, causing her glass of water to shake. "You're insufferable!"
Raizer shrugged. "And yet here we are."
The Peanut Gallery
Unbeknownst to Rias and Akeno, Raizer's peerage was hidden nearby, watching the exchange with varying levels of amusement and exasperation.
"Look at him go," Shiki said, peering out from behind a bush. "He's not even trying to win her over. He's just poking the bear."
"This is embarrassing," Mihawk muttered, standing stiffly in the shadow of a tree. "We're warriors, not thieves. Hiding like this is beneath us."
"Relax, Mihawk," Roger said from his perch on a nearby rooftop. "This is part of the fun. Besides, you're not exactly blending in with that giant sword on your back."
Mihawk scowled. "I'm a swordsman, not a voyeur."
"Call it reconnaissance," Beckman said, lighting a cigarette. "Makes it sound more professional."
Garp, leaning casually against a lamppost, laughed so loudly that everyone winced. "The kid's doing fine. She's mad, but at least she's still talking to him."
"Talking isn't the word I'd use," Whitebeard rumbled from a bench. "But he's holding his ground. That counts for something."
The Juice Incident
Back at the table, the tension between Raizer and Rias had reached a boiling point.
"You act like this whole thing is some kind of joke," Rias said, her voice rising. "Do you even take anything seriously?"
"I take plenty of things seriously," Raizer replied, his tone unflappable. "Just not baseless accusations."
"Baseless?" Rias picked up her glass of orange juice, her eyes blazing. "How about this, then?"
With a swift motion, she tossed the juice at Raizer.
Raizer didn't flinch. The moment the juice left the glass, it evaporated into steam, leaving nothing behind.
Rias blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Was that supposed to accomplish something?" Raizer asked, raising an eyebrow.
Akeno stifled a laugh behind her hand, though her amusement didn't go unnoticed by Rias.
"You're impossible," Rias muttered, crossing her arms.
"And you're predictable," Raizer said with a faint smile.
The Declaration of War
Finally, Rias had had enough. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the pavement.
"If you think I'm going to just sit here and let you mock me, you've got another thing coming," she said, her voice sharp. "I'm challenging you to a peerage war."
Raizer's golden eyes glinted with interest. "A peerage war?"
"That's right," Rias said, her tone defiant. "If I win, this engagement is off. And if you win… fine. I'll go along with the council's decision."
Raizer leaned back in his chair, considering her words. "You're sure about this?"
"Absolutely," Rias said firmly.
"Alright," Raizer said with a shrug. "If that's what you want, I accept."
The Peerage's Reactions
As Rias and Akeno stormed off, Raizer's peerage emerged from their hiding spots, unable to contain their laughter.
"I can't believe she actually threw juice at you," Shiki said, wiping tears from his eyes. "And the way you just stood there? Priceless."
"You should've caught it and thrown it back," Akainu said bluntly.
"That's not the point," Mihawk said, his voice irritated. "This entire situation is absurd. Declaring war over something like this? It's ridiculous."
"Ridiculous, but entertaining," Roger said with a grin. "I'm looking forward to this."
"Don't get cocky," Raizer said, standing up and brushing off his coat. "Rias's peerage might not be as strong as ours, but they'll fight with everything they've got. We need to take this seriously."
"Seriously?" Whitebeard rumbled, his deep voice laced with amusement. "I think you handled it just fine. But let's see if you can handle her temper in a fight."
Yubelluna, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. "This isn't just about the fight, my lord. It's about how we handle the aftermath. Winning decisively will send a message—not just to Rias, but to everyone watching."
Raizer nodded. "Then we'll give them a show they won't forget."
To Be Continued…
With the declaration of war, the stage was set for a clash that would test not only Raizer's peerage but also his ability to navigate the complicated politics of the devil world.
One thing was certain: the battle ahead would be anything but ordinary.
This first part balances humor, tension, and the setup for the peerage war while expanding the comedic hiding sequence and Mihawk's discontent. Let me know how you'd like to develop Part 2!