He didn’t reply, but the tightening of his hold around her was more than enough to convey his feelings. He hadn’t forgotten about the issue between her and Shuri, but he no longer pursued it. Everything was fine without the need for him to dig into other people’s secrets.


    And so as the sun set and the moon rose, they sat on the rooftop in each other’s embrace. They were silent, but their intimate contact spoke of the connection they shared. Just these little moments were more than enough for him.


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Today was a busy day. The sun was peeking over the horizon and the entire mansion was abuzz with activity. Breakfast had been had and it was time for everyone to get to work. Because today’s matter would be crucial, it was requested that Souji take care of the children while Sirzechs, Igor, and Aurelia made their way to the council hall.


    To say the girls had taken a liking to Isaiah would be an understatement. Rias was proud to show off her knight to her friends and it was only thanks to his thick skin that Isaiah wasn’t turned into a toy. It was the first time either girl had been in such close contact with a boy for long periods of time and it intrigued them.


    Downstairs, Sirzechs, Aurelia, and Igor were ready to leave. There were still two hours until ten but Sirzechs wanted to rendezvous with his fellow satans first and iron out the minor details. It was why that after a series of goodbyes, the trio finally left the estate.


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Lucifaad Parliament Hall, Underworld Devil Territory


    .


    The parliament hall, also known as the council hall was truly magnificent in its size and majestic in its architecture. Just standing next to its pristine white walls made one feel like a dwarf in front of a giant.


    The trio calmly made their way through the lush gardens. Because today was a special day, Aurelia had garmed herself in pristine white attire befitting a noble lady from the early 20^th century. Sirzechs was in his robes and armour like always and Igor was…Igor.


    Thankfully he had received a new dark blue coat when he returned from the Heavenly Realm. But Aurelia could never understand his obsession with sandals. The only thing she could manage to do was convince him to put on a shirt underneath that coat of his.


    As they walked through the gardens on a paved path, they soon met up with Serafall who was waiting for them outside. Clad in business attire, there was a stern aura around her. But her expression softened when she saw them.


    “Sirzechs-chan. Aurelia-san. Dimori-san. How are you?”


    She greeted them with a kind smile, one which Sirzechs reciprocated.


    “We are fine, Sera. I assume Falbium and Ajuka are inside?”


    “Yep~. We were waiting for the rest of you.”


    She led the way in and the interior was just as beautiful as the outside. When the receptionist saw the two satans and…humans(?), she did not dare remain seated. She quickly stood up and offered her bow, though her gaze did remain on the two non-devils.


    Sirzechs and Serafall inclined their heads to acknowledge her bow while Igor was a bit unnerved by her gaze. Were it not for Aurelia tapping his shoulder, he would’ve done something about that stare.


    Soon, they reached the elevator and after a while, they stepped into a hallway where they walked towards the last room. Upon entering it, it was a lounge room where as always, Falbium was sleeping on the sofa. The bald satan had his arms spread out like a king on his throne, all while his head reclined on a pillow.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Ajuka was sitting calmly on the other sofa and he seemed to be busy with some minor research. When Serafall and the rest entered, the magic circles around him vanished as he stood up.


    “Well. A pleasure to see you again, Dimori-san and Aurelia-san.”


    “The pleasure is ours, Beelzebub-san.”


    Ajuka shook his head.


    “Please. Call me Ajuka. Beelzebub is simply a title and nothing more.”


    Sirzechs also took this moment to speak.


    “I also have the same sentiments. Please call me Sirzechs from now on as well, especially since we’ll be working toge-”


    “Nope.”


    Igor was quick to refuse him.


    “Until you give me a good fight, you’re Lucy from now on.”


    “Wha-”


    “Nope. I’m not hearing it, Lucy.”


    Completely ignoring Sirzechs, Igor made his way over to Ajuka and stretched out his hand.


    “Nice to meet you, Ajuka. I hope you’ll take care of my sister.”


    Ajuka reciprocated the handshake.


    “Likewise, Dimori-san. I shall do so as well.”


    “Thanks, Ajuka.”


    Turning around, he came face to face with Serafall. Same with Ajuka, he stretched out his hand.


    “We didn’t meet under the best of circumstances, but I hope we’ll get along…what’s your satan name again? I honestly forgot.”


    “...”


    Serafall felt a bit miffed about that. Still, she shook his hand.


    “Hmph. It’s Leviathan, but you can call me Serafall.”


    “Right. I hope we get along, Serafall.”


    He then walked over to Sirzechs.


    “Alright. Let’s get this show on the road.”


    “...”


    Sirzechs wondered if Igor was ignoring Falbium on purpose, but it wasn’t his place to ask. Besides, he was more thankful he didn’t call him Lucy.


    “Alright. Then we’ll have to go through some things, Dimori-san. But before we begin, let me relay our findings from yesterday.”


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    Because of the capture of Eunice Gremory, the original plan had to be changed. For one, it seemed that the Old Satan Faction had penetrated into the Underworld deeper than they previously thought. And the only way they could do that upon reasonable conjecture was through the help of Zekram Bael and his Great King Faction.


    Through the help of Ajuka and Falbium, a lot more information was pried from Eunice before her departure from this world. Be it her equipment and concealment methods, they were not something of devil origin. Upon investigating further, it was found that her equipment was of Norse origin, equipment that cannot be stolen, but given.


    She didn’t know more, but this minor information led to the possibility of another larger international organization behind this series of events. That or the Old Satan Faction has gotten powerful enough to steal from the Norse. Neither of the possibilities were preferrable.


    The only good that came out of this was that her contact was from the Bael clan. Although they didn’t get a name, the satans now knew where to focus their investigations.


    As it stood, Sirzechs planned to reveal the death of Eunice. While he wouldn’t be confident in finding out those who had ties to his aunt, he had confidence in Igor’s sensory capabilities. If everything went well, they could find more moles from the Old Satan Faction and extract information.


    .


    |DxD|


    .


    The hour of the weekly meeting was close at hand. Since it was supposed to be a minor meeting, there were no clan heads present. Appointed elders from all the pillar clans and other substantial clans filed into the room and took their seats.


    Representative elders from all the pillar clans, from the Phenex to the Baels, and from the Agares to the Sitris all shuffled into the room. As the clock reached the ten-hour mark, more and more people entered. Soon, over forty people had taken the seats.


    Aside from the original thirty-two pillars, there were extra clans who had made achievements over the millennia that allowed them to earn a seat in the hall. As the hall quietened, the door at the side of the room slowly opened and soon, Sirzechs entered along with Serafall.


    All of them remained seated even as the leaders of their race entered. However, their disinterested gaze shifted once another person entered.


    *Doof*…*Doof*…*Doof*…*Doof*…


    His sandals reverberated against the carpeted hardwood floor. His posture was straight, his long blue coat adding to the majesty he was establishing. Upon reaching Sirzechs, Igor met every single eye that stared at him with varying levels of intensity.


    Some eyes looked at him with curiosity, others like he was a possession, and others with disgust.


    “...”


    His senses washed over each and every one of them. He felt their weakness and it disappointed him, especially when he sensed just how old most of them were. If this was the standard of the older generation, then no wonder the new generation was filled with weaklings.


    Fortunately, Sirzechs had brought him here to cull them. If before it was a simple task, now it had become a job he would do with fervour, especially when he saw how some elders were outright glaring at him.


    “Greetings esteemed elders. Thank you all for coming and without further ado, let us begin the first agenda. As you may have noticed, I have a new face standing next to me today. His name is Igor von Dimori, an Aryan and the newest ally of devilkind. Lord Dimori. Perhaps you might want to share a few words of greeting before we officially begin?”


    Sirzechs had a small smile on his face. But different from before, it was very, very genuine. The elders were behaving according to his expectations. The more they looked down on Igor, the angrier he would become.


    And what Sirzechs wished for the most was an Igor who would be extremely invested in culling the parasites.


    True to his estimations, Igor had a dark expression as he stepped forward.


    “My first impression of you all is…I don’t like you. I don’t like you at all.”


    .


    AN


    .


    Poor elders...