Chapter 11: A Talk

Chapter 11: A Talk

She was a stunningly beautiful young woman, appearing to be in her early twenties. Her long, wavy hair was the colour of cherry blossoms. The two horns protruding from her head merely added a more unique and mysterious element to her appearance, making her stand out even more.

The dress was made of a luxurious, silky fabric that shimmered in the light and the high slits on the side revealed a glimpse of her toned legs. Her ample bust and slim waist added to her alluring appearance.

She was a woman of class and beauty

Her piercing eyes locked onto her visitor's, a mixture of confusion, suspicion... and curiosity

Diablo's eyes lingered on her for a moment, before it shifted to look at her room. It was...liveable, well his standards may have been slightly increased ever since his reincarnation but still, her room lacked the opulence and luxury that one would expect from a woman of her standing, despite it being functional.

...but knowing her circumstances, he wasn't that surprised.

She rose from her seat and bowed, a formality that she once didn't have to do, but now had to.

"Greetings, Lord Barbatos. I apologise for not greeting you properly and forcing you to travel all the way here"

He waved a hand dismissively, "Its fine, Miss Belphegor. I understand your position right now"

"Roygun"

"Pardon?"

"Please, just address me as Roygun"

"Hmmm, alright...Roygun"

"Thank you, please take a seat"

As he sat down, with Grayfia standing behind him, he noticed that she was still standing. He was briefly confused before understanding that she was asking for his permission to sit. He gave her a nod, indicating that she could sit as well.

Roygun gratefully took a seat, smoothing down her dress as she did so, before turning her attention to Grayfia

"Miss Grayfia, you have always been a role model to me. It is an honour to finally meet the Silver Demoness of Ice, in person"

Grayfia simply responded with a nod, her expression stoic and unreadable. She didn't say anything in response, Roygun simply moved her eyes back to Diablo, taking no offence to it

"I must say Lord, it was quite a surprise to discover you here, seeking me out"

"Does that bother you?" His tone neutral

"No, no, it doesn't, I was simply curious"

Diablo contemplated for a moment, fiddling with a ring on his finger, before inwardly sighing, 'Well whatever, I'll just straight up go for it'

Diablo turned to Grayfia, silently communicating with her through telepathy. She nodded and with a wave of her hand, a transparent round barrier formed around them, blocking any sound from escaping. Roygun watched the exchange with interest but didn't attempt to stop them.

He turned his head back to her

"To be perfectly frank, the real reason why I came to your estate was you"

"Oh?" The eyes filled with the mixture of curiosity, suspicion and confusion were back

"Well, first of all," Diablo continued, "You're not supposed to be here, are you Roygun?"

She let out no seemingly obvious, outward reaction

"Devils from the Extra Demons clans are supposed to cut all ties with their clan if they want to join the Rating Games. And yet, you are still here..."

She responded, her expression turning unreadable, "...Since my father passed away. My uncle...Lord Belphegor has been taking care of me. He couldn't bear to let the only child of his beloved brother be cut off from the clan and thus is taking care of me"

He nodded, "..So I've heard"

Though her face had a light smile on it, there was a different sharp glint in her eyes as she uttered out, "He's a kind man and a good uncle...I'm immensely grateful to him"

"Yes, very kind indeed..." he said as he paused, his voice thoughtful, before continuing, "But that still doesn't explain why you're considering the Great King Faction's offer on taking the King Piece"

Her breath hitched, and she opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Diablo interrupted her.

"No need to deny it, you know there is no way I'm bluffing about something as significant as that" He leaned forward, his tone becoming more informal, "Let's speak more candidly. It's tiring to do otherwise," he said, clearing his throat and shifting his stance, uncaring of her reaction.

"Now, why would such an established Devil with so much potential, like you, throw away your position like this? Why would a Devil, part of the Extra Demons, try to join a faction, which I may add, is very active in politics?

The answer to the first question is quite simple. That was always your plan, even before your father died. You always wanted to join the Rating Games, it was your dream.

You were even willing to forsake your position, your family's name, prestige and all the luxuries that came with it for it. And so, you did it"

He halted, studying her expression before continuing,

"However, you quickly discovered that the Rating Games were no child's play. It was dangerous, and extremely hard to climb up its ranks, especially at your power level. You faced many challenges and obstacles, both physical and mental. But you persevered, and eventually, you got an offer...from the Great King Faction...A King Piece."

Her eyes narrowed as she sat across from him, clearly uncomfortable with the situation at hand. The way she shifted in her seat, the way her hands nervously fidgeted in her lap, it was all a clear indication that she was not at ease.

"It intrigued you, but at the same time you felt conflicted. The idea of cheating was tempting, but you were unsure. It wasn't the act of cheating itself that troubled you, but rather the thought of whether or not it would make the game less enjoyable, would make the game less 'fun', and if it would be much more 'fun' to genuinely grow stronger with time, as you trained for it...but that would take time, you didn't know how long. You wanted to climb the ranks faster, you were impatient. And thus, you found yourself caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do...

So, you decided to delay your decision, to have your fun on your own as you trained to become stronger. But you knew that once you reached the brink of frustration and got fed up with the time it was taking, you would be more likely to take the offer. For now, you would be on your own, that was your plan.

But then something unexpected happened, didn't it? Something that changed everything. In the most unfortunate of circumstances, your dear father unexpectedly passed away...or should I say murdered?"

If the previous gestures of hers were not enough to prove her disbelief, the gestures now were even more telling. Her eyes widened in response to his words, as the colour drained from her face

"Since you were young, and had wild dreams, full of excitement about the Rating Games. Your uncle always supported you, didn't he? He encouraged you to pursue your passion

While your father on the other hand, was rather more remorseful about it. He always wanted you to inherit his position, continue the legacy of the clan. But that was never something you wanted, was it?

A fact you didn't like, though your uncle was the total opposite. Supportive, egging you on, always there for you. A fact you adored about him. He was the one person who, seemingly, truly believed in you and your dreams.

At that time, you had no idea that your good, supportive and kind uncle, the one you looked up to and admired...was a total snake"

Her fingers tightened around the arm rest, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"You, eventually, finally got your father's reluctant permission after your endless pleading," he continued, his voice steady and even, "He loved you too much to break your dreams. And so, you excitedly ventured out, eager to take on the Rating Games

But that was the moment when your uncle finally revealed his true colours..."

His words hit her like a ton of bricks

"He poisoned your father, and cleaned the situation up as discreetly as possible. With you off to the Rating Games, it meant that you were no longer the heiress. You were off the equation. That means the next in line to become the head, would be your 'kind' and 'supportive' uncle"

She shut her eyes momentarily, as she bit her lips

"A seemingly perfect plan, with no apparent witnesses or evidences pointing against him. He used his new power to cover his tracks, and much bribery here and there to keep things hushed. Certain individuals looked away, either out of fear or greed. He had orchestrated everything to become the head of the family.

That is also the reason why your uncle is trying to set up a business, to regain the loss of income on this...project, of his."

He finally paused, and silence embraced their surroundings. Roygun looked to be in pain, overcome in grief and regret, her eyes on the verge of watering. Which she quickly seemed to notice, as she turned her head away, hiding it. Not wanting to show any more vulnerability.

After a few moment, she faced him again

Words left her lips, her voice shaking, "How...how do you know this?"

"I have my sources Roygun" he said, his voice low, "The same sources that the Great King Faction has. They were the ones who contacted you about it, right?

I'm sure you had your suspicions before, but you were in denial, refusing to believe it. Your personal investigation led you nowhere, giving you all sorts of leads with different outcomes. But the confirmation from them was the one that ultimately made you accept it."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "But still, that doesn't tell you how I got this information. If it was the Great King Faction, then it's obvious. Everyone knows of their might and connections. But how did I know?" he asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.

He turned his head to gaze at the blazing fire in the chimney beside them, the flickering orange light casting shadows on his face, his expression unreadable.

"Ever since my grandfather died, everyone has seemed to underestimate my clan. It only intensified as it slowly became extinct. People often forget the massive influence behind it, not even mentioning its wealth. The name itself is power" He said absentmindedly, "...That's the only thing I posses in the world...but soon, that will be changed...I will be known not just because I am the heir of the Barbatos, the grandson of the Great Yamamoto, or the Young Lord of the Silver Demoness of Ice. I will be known as myself, as Diablo. I will make sure of that," he ended with determination in his voice, as he leaned back in his seat

"...Well, anyway...for the information, let's just say I have my means..."

Roygun stared at him, taking in his every move and gesture, a measured glance at the maid behind at him as well, who was completely expressionless throughout the entire conversation

"...What do you want?" The estranged heir sharply asked

He turned his gaze away from the fire, and back towards her

"I said it before, didn't I? I want you"

"...Aren't you afraid that I'll tell the Great King Faction that you know about the King Pieces?"

He shook his head slowly, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips, "Not really afraid, to say so. Rumours of its existence had already been spread, but it was never confirmed, it's like a myth. Even if you were to tell them, there would be two outcomes.

They would use any means possible to silence me, which would be difficult. My status is high, and my clan has somewhat influence. But, most importantly, you forget my backer, Rizevim Livan Lucifer. He would not allow them to destroy me and my clan...at least not openly

They cannot brazenly crush me, I haven't done anything either that they can use against me. So it will be discreet methods, assassination, trying to frame me somehow. But this will be risky as well, because I have a pretty powerful Devil serving me, one that is fiercely loyal and would stop at nothing to protect me. So they would have to go through her first. It also doesn't completely assure that Rizevim would allow these methods as well, so they would have to take a pretty big risk"

He paused for a moment, deep in thought, 'Which is nonsense, Rizevim likely wouldn't care if I were to die. He would probably look down on me and sneer in disdain. At least...I hope that he would prevent them from directly attacking us. It's a gamble, but no one knows that except for me and Rizevim himself'

"Now, the second outcome of the situation would be a much more nuanced and complex scenario. They would get in touch with me, and would likely launch a concerted effort to recruit me to their side. If they held the opportunity to get the heir of Barbatos on their side, the NAME of the Barbatos Clan behind their faction, the desire of all the other factions, as well as the powerful Ice Demoness...they would use any means possible to make this a reality

They would likely use a variety of tactics, from persuasion to enticement, to convince me to join them. As you know, the second one of my backers is Zekram Bael, and he quite 'coincidentally' is the leader of the Great King Faction.

He would likely support this approach, as he has a favorable opinion of my grandfather, and aligning with me would benefit his own faction as well. He might even personally come to persuade me to join him, using his charisma, his persuasion skills, and his reputation to try to sway me. He would likely use his position of power and influence to try to convince me that aligning with him would be in my best interest, and that it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

However, even with his support, if I refuse their advances, the first outcome - violent confrontation - would likely become a reality. It's important to note that, while Zekram may favour me, he would not hesitate to eliminate me if I posed a threat to his power or ideals. He would not let personal feelings get in the way of his ambition.

He will favor me at first, but if I don't join him, he will not spare me. He will see me as a potential obstacle to his own goals, and will eliminate me without hesitation if it becomes necessary.

...It would be much more beneficial for me to embrace this opportunity, rather than refuse it. I would have to reluctantly accept. I would then have to climb their ranks, accumulating power and influence along the way. My ultimate goal would be to tear down their faction from within, like a silent but deadly cancer infesting them from the inside. It would take time, and a great deal of patience on my part. I honestly do not want to go down that lane, that's why I would be extremely annoyed if you were to reveal this information to them

They would be curious, of course, about how I had acquired this knowledge. I would have to come up with a plausible excuse, something that they would likely accept without questioning too deeply. But it wouldn't matter to them in the end. Rumours of its existence had already started to spread, and they saw me as nothing more than a malleable child, a puppet to be controlled and manipulated. They greatly underestimated me...but they couldn't be more wrong.

That's why it wouldn't matter if you were to tell them what I am telling you right now, about my plan to be a cancer in their midst. They would likely laugh it off, dismissing it as the ramblings of a child. The only real concern they would have, would be Grayfia.

Well, actually, speaking of that... if you do choose to tell them, they would likely believe that the real mastermind behind it all is Grayfia. They would assume that she somehow discovered it's existense and informed me of it.

They would see her as the true threat and would likely try to eliminate her before she becomes too powerful for them to handle. They would see her as the one who could potentially stop their plans to manipulate me

I am also aware of the rumours circulating about me, that the heir of Barbatos is nothing more than the boy-toy for the Silver Demoness of Ice, and that she is grooming me. They believe that she is the true shadow head of the Barbatos, the real mastermind pulling my strings. But that could not be further from the truth

That's also the reason why your uncle had been more careful of Grayfia and more uncaring in-front of me, that is also the reason why you have been furtively glancing at her during my explanation right now, unable to believe that a mere child could come up with such a scheme... Even now, you are shocked and confused"

He was right...She was bewildered, she had heard about the rumours, of how the heir was a child with perfect mannerisms, behaviour, responses...A perfect puppet made by the Silver-haired demon. The reputation of her family didn't help against those accusations against her either.

But now she could see, with clarity and certainty...Oh, how wrong were they all... This was no ordinary boy, no mere puppet to be controlled and manipulated...Her eyes went to the maid, and she almost had the urge to look away instinctively, seeing the sharp, cold gaze.

But then she noticed it...that overwhelming, undying loyalty. A devotion that seemed to border on fanaticism, or maybe even surpass it...?

How in the Seven Hells did he manage to make someone that loyal, especially her...How?

She didn't know the answer, and it only served to make her feel both uncomfortable and intrigued by him

"That's...that's a lot of assumptions there, my Lord."

"True, there are other things that could happen that I haven't even thought of...but are you willing to take that risk? All I have said to you has been perfectly sound, it's the most likely outcome"

Again...bewildered, her eyes betrayed her as she looked at the maid behind him again, in disbelief that these were the words of a mere child

"What do you exactly want?"

"I said it before, but I'll say it again...I want you"

"...If you're seeking to bed me, my Lord. I apologise to say this, but you are...a little too young, for my taste"

"Oh, no, no, no, nothing like that," he replied quickly, "Well, not that I'm saying you're not beautiful, which you are, incredibly-"

A crack of knuckles resounded behind him, as a chill ran through his body, he hurriedly interrupted himself with mild panic

"-But that's not what I'm asking! I want you to join me, to work for me, to serve me."

"Why? I'm just an ordinary High-Class Devil, if you have a need for a strong Devil under your service, you need only to look behind you. She's much more stronger than me"

A faint smile that shone with mystery stretched on his face, "While it's true, you're just a High-Class Devil, for now. You have potential...a lot of it. How do I know this?

You are reading story Diablo in Highschool DxD at novel35.com

Well let's just say, it's simply a whim of mine"

Her eyes dug into his, desperately trying to find any signs that could give her any answers, but alas, there were none. He really seemed to believe she would be beneficial to him.

She let out a sigh

"Is this a blackmail then?"

"No, no. Of course not, loyalty based on that would only be frail and weak. I assure you, I have no intention of blackmailing you, obviously I will give you benefits."

"And what would those benefits be?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Hmm... I heard that you no longer have your peerage," he said, his tone careful, "Am I right?"

Her eyes narrowed in slight sadness, "...Yes"

"In that case I can offer you something that may be of great value. I have information on certain individuals, individuals of great potential. I can give you this information. These individuals could be the recruits for your new peerage"

If it had been before, she would have shook her head in disbelief at the statement. But now, she really didn't know what to make of it

"And along with that, I will sponsor you...You still like the Rating Games don't you?" he continued, his voice low and persuasive, "You will have the name of the Barbatos Clan behind you. Despite the fact it has little-to-no political power, you will have its influence and standing. The thing that every faction wants...you will have it. Its massive wealth will be used to nurture you and your peerage. In the future, when it grows and has a massive standing in the Underworld politically, you will be the target of everyone's envy."

Oh she didn't doubt it, with this boy...If what he was showing her, right now, was his true personality, then the Barbatos Clan would definitely rise once more

...That is, if he would be alive by then and not hunted down before reaching his full potential

"Don't you think my Uncle would be suspicious?"

"He wouldn't," the boy reassured her with a confident grin, "If you agree to my demands, the moment I go out, I shall expertly display to him, how I have been deeply 'enamoured' by you. A silly, childish crush. That should squash out any suspicion for the sponsoring, along with the fact, my other acting of my impressions since I came here, that would only serve to reinforce my 'naivety'. Actually, he might even be happy with it and keep you under his thumb alive longer, waiting to suck as much profit from me as possible"

She could only shake her head...

"By the way, speaking of him, he's the reason you're still here right? He's been holding you captive, albeit indirectly, under the guise of a 'concerned' uncle providing support to his 'heartbroken' and 'mourning' niece, monitoring your every move, keeping tabs on your activities and limiting your freedom. He's suspicious that you know what he did, so he wants to keep you close, under his watchful eye at all times.

And after a while, he would eventually finish you off. The only reason why he's not doing it instantly is because it would attract too much attention and be very suspicious, if you were to pass away so soon after your father's death. He's waiting for the right moment, biding his time

Thus, at some point in time in the future...I will also help you kill him"

Her hands once again clenched her seat, as her heart raced

"Yes, I would. I would also pull some strings and aid you in becoming the head of your clan"

Before she could open her mouth, he continued

"Yes, yes, I know. Devils from the clans of the Extra Demons who participate in the Rating Games are cut off from their clans...but still, with some means, I will find a way to make you the head of Belphegor. I will make you the Clan Head." He finished, his mind racing with thoughts of how he would make it happen. He couldn't help but think to himself, 'Even though, in canon you find some way to become the Head yourself. I don't know how you managed to do it, but the fact that you did, shows it's possible.'

"I see...so this is what you wanted, the power of the Belphegor clan" Though the reasoning seemed obvious to her, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of hurt and disappointment

"Hmmm, well not really. As I said before, I want you. The clan is just an added bonus"

She shook her head, as a faint amused smile stretched across her face as she heard the overly repeated phrase again, 'This boy...' she thought to herself

"There is one more thing, I can offer you"

She gazed at him, resting her cheek on her hand as she curiously stared at him. Intrigued at what he had to say, she leaned forward.

"Have you ever wondered why the two remaining houses of the Extra Demons were weaker than the Six Houses of Lucifer?"

She frowned, not liking the term 'weaker'. Even though it might hold some truth, it still irked her. She knew that the Extra Demons were powerful in their own right, but for some reason, they were not as strong as the houses of Lucifer, even though all of them were part of the Extra Demons

"I apologise if that offended you, but that is the truth."

She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why?"

"Because they serve the Lucifers"

Before she could say something out in disbelief, he interrupted, "As you know, Fia, my maid, is from the Lucifuge clan. One of the clans that were in service to the Lucifers, if not their most fierce and loyal, a fellow Extra Demon like yourself. Recently, she brought some very intriguing information to my attention.

It seems that all the member of the direct line of the clans in service to the Lucifers were a part of some ritual to bond them, in a Lord-subordinate bond. The ritual involved the consumption of the Lord's blood, but only the Lucifers had performed this ritual, not the other Satan clans. Which may be a hint at something unique... something to do with the origins of the Lucifers, perhaps?

The benefits of this ritual were...as you can see

They were tremendous. The bonded individuals were not only stronger than average devils but their potential was also greatly enhanced and their loyalty was unshakable.

Now, just imagine if this ritual happened with my blood - the blood of the Barbatos. The blood that flowed in the veins of Yamamoto Barbatos, who was significantly more powerful than the Original Lucifer himself. I have already weakened the bond of Grayfia as much as I can, it's nearly nothing. To completely sever it and bond her to me, so she has my blood instead, I need to become a little bit more stronger.

But you, Roygun, are different. You are part of the Extra Demons, a top-class Devil clan that is not part of the ones serving the Lucifers. You have no previous bonds. My blood combined with your inborn potential will result in something absolutely catastrophic...in a good way.

So...what do you say?"

She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the information that had just been presented to her. She felt a sense of uncertainty wash over her as she struggled to come to a decision.

Finally, she found her voice, "What about this invitation from the Great King Faction? If you want the King Piece, you should know that I don't possess it at the moment. Even if I did, they wouldn't just hand it over to you. If, however, you do not want it and just want me to join your side, they wouldn't let me deny their offer and leave with the information about its existence. They might even side with my uncle and reveal everything to him as they finish me off together"

"I don't want the King Pieces," he replied calmly, "It's nothing more than a crutch. A temporary power that I don't want anyone in my service to rely on. And do you really want to join the Great King Faction and be used by those old geezers at the top? Do you really want to rely on strength that could be stripped from you at any time and isn't truly yours? I offer you something different, something better. The opportunity to be part of something greater, something that is truly yours and cannot be taken away.

You don't need to worry about the Great King Faction coming after you, as long as you don't openly go around stating its existence or actively seek out certain influential individuals like Ajuka, you will be alright. While you may be left alone for the time being, it is important to keep in mind that you will be under constant surveillance. If they gain even an ounce of any suspicious activity on your part, they will not hesitate to take action to eliminate you.

So stay low for a while, I will minimise contact as well. Play your Rating Games, kill your uncle and become the Head. By the time they realise something is amiss or the drastic changes you have undergone, it will be too late for them to do anything about it. By then, both your standing and mine will be quite high and I will hold enough power for them to do anything

However, still keep in mind that even with these precautions, there are always risks involved. The outcome may not always go as planned, and unexpected events may occur that could jeopardise your safety...But, aren't there risks in every choice?"

She paused once again, deeply contemplating his words before she hesitantly let out,

"I...I still don't understand...Why, why are you doing all of this? Why me?"

He replied with a smirk, "As I said before, it's just a whim of mine. I'm the spoiled heir, you see. I get what I want."

His smirk faded slowly away, as he deeply stared into her eyes, "Look, I understand that you may have your doubts and reservation, but I assure you, I will do you no harm

I will help you

I will support you

I will protect you

I will make you stronger

I will aid you in whatever goals, dreams, ambitions you have

Your enemies will be my enemies, my enemies will be yours

All I ask...is you"

He extended out his arm

"I will be your Lord, your guide, your protector. Just take my hand...and I will give you everything"

She gazed at his otherworldly eyes, he seemed so confident, so sure of himself, so in control.

It was as if she was making a deal with the Devil himself. The irony of the situation was not lost on her.

The thoughts and emotions running through her mind were unreadable, her expression giving nothing away, no one knew what was going on inside that gorgeous head of hers. An eternity seemed to pass as she stood there, contemplating his offer. Finally, her rosy lips parted and she spoke,

"I..."

...

Diablo stepped out of the grand, ornate doors of the mansion, taking a deep breath of the fresh, cool air that greeted him. The breeze was invigorating, and it lifted the weight of the day's events from his shoulders. A fresh diagonal cut was present on his palm, which was already showing signs of healing.

He cast his gaze towards the carriage that awaited him, the stallions that led it shifting restlessly in their harnesses. The carriage was a sight to behold, with its gleaming black exterior and gold trim. He could hear the rough whinnies of the horses, and the distant clatter of the wheels on the cobblestone driveway.

He couldn't quite recall when he had taken his seat in the carriage, or when it had set off on its journey. He had been lost in thought, pondering his recent interactions and the events of the day.

The idea of bringing Roygun to his side had never crossed his mind before. It was a total coincidence and too much of a hassle. He had carefully considered all the steps he would have to take to secure a meeting with her and gather the information he needed.

'Who was the idiot who said money can't buy happiness?' he thought to himself, 'You could get anything with money'

Yes, it took him some time...but with patience, and the right bribes here and there. Some threats made by his beloved maid and some 'unfortunate' passings...He got everything, well mostly everything. Other things his own personal knowledge filled out.

He sat there, fidgeting nervously with the ring on his finger, a tired chuckle escaped his lips. That was all self-improvisation back there, he tried to remain aloof, the one in power in the conversation. He was determined to maintain control of it at all times. It was the first time he had ever attempted anything like this...

'...but it worked' he thought feeling a slight tinge of pride

Roygun Belphegor, from what he remembered, was a formidable opponent. She was the second champion of the Rating Games, and had achieved this feat despite using the King Pieces. Crack, the inherent ability of the Belphegor clan, was very useful as well. It allowed her to create a 'crack' in almost anything, and even disrupt her opponent's attacks using it. Though it couldn't produce tears on those whose power exceeds the user's

This was one of the reasons why he had chosen to come here, despite the risks. Roygun had potential and a strong inherent ability. With his blood, she would become even stronger than her, King Piece using, canon self.

In the future, her clan would also prove to be a valuable asset to him. As the head of the clan, she would have access to more resources. He would break the clan's rule of not interfering with the government as well, making it a loyal vassal clan to his own.

One of the more crucial reasons for his decision, was also her information network, that she would create in the future. She was able to gain information on Sacred Gears even before Heaven and Grigori made an announcement on them. This made her an invaluable asset, one that was worth taking the risk for.

All the outcomes he made back there, were as she said, assumptions. But, they were the most logical and likely outcomes. If she indeed had tattled on him, he would have to go into hiding. though that was an extremely rare outcome, from what he had read about her, she was supposed to be a kind and a noble woman, even going as far as to stop her allies in the Great King Faction from killing certain individuals...but again, he couldn't rely solely on what he had read and apply it to this world.

That's why he had a failsafe, just in case things went awry. He had contingencies in place, even for Lord Belphegor himself, if he decided to do something stupid and take things too far.

The carriage came to a sudden halt, its wheels crunching against the gravel path as it came to a stop. The horses whinnied in protest as Grayfia opened the door and stepped outside. The air was chilly and crisp, and the sun shone brightly. They were quite a distance from the mansion right now

Diablo sat inside the carriage, his eyes scanning the vast forest for any sign of movement. He heard Grayfia's footsteps as she walked away from the carriage, her movements slow and deliberate

A few minutes passed before she returned to the carriage, her hand outstretched and holding a small, smooth stone.

She gently handed it over to Diablo

Diablo examined the stone, running his fingers over its surface. It was cold to the touch and had strange symbols etched into it

"Do you think they noticed?"

"No, Young master. Even a Satan-Class who was in the top ranks of it, would have trouble detecting them. The rune stones of Barbatos are immensely effective."

He nodded, as he carefully placed the smooth, polished stone in the pocket of his coat. It was a Barrier Stone, a powerful tool that, with just a single mental probe of his, it would create a huge semi-circular barrier that would surround the Belphegor estate. The Barrier Stone was one of the Barbatos mansion's exclusive products, like how Phoenix Tears were to the Phenex Clan. Though now that the clan was almost extinct, the stones were no longer sold. The only available Barrier Stones would be those that were held by the Barbatos mansion.

There may be a few rune stones saved by the other houses, but he couldn't be sure. 'Hmm, that may be detrimental,' he thought to himself

He doesn't know how to make the Barrier Stones, so he would have to use it sparingly... but he knew how to make some other rune stones from the material he found in the library, but he wasn't going to sell them. This was too good of an advantage

Why the hell would he sell this...? So that his enemies can eventually have it?

Money?...Dude, he was so damn rich, that he and his next ten generations could live lavishly.

No, this was something he would keep for himself, and for the protection of his loved ones and estate

Besides, these rune stones were a display of the power and skill of the Barbatos, the masters of space. It belonged to him

The Barrier Stone was a formidable defence, it allowed no one to enter or exit, except for those who were Satan-Class. It was virtually undetectable and left no traces, though they were a one-time use.

That was his failsafe. If things had gone wrong, he would activate it and Grayfia would eradicate everything inside. No survivors would be left

The destruction would be so complete that it would be as if the individuals in question had never even existed. Lord Belphegor had taken great care to ensure that this meeting was kept completely secret. There were no apparent traces or clues that could lead back to them, no one except the individuals in that mansion knew about their visit.

But even with the utmost caution, there was always the possibility of unforeseen consequences...but that fallout would be dealt later. The risk of the information that the heir of Barbatos knowing of the existence of the King Pieces leaking out was far too great. He couldn't afford to make enemies with the Great King Faction right now, so he couldn't take any chances.

But alas, he was lucky...it all worked out in the end

A relieved sigh escaped him, as he gazed out the window. He couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu as he remembered how his position was exactly the same when he first arrived at the estate.

However this time, when he was leaving, he didn't come out empty-handed...

---

{{NOTE from Author-san: A mix of actual canon and AU nonsense...Voila!

Enjoy :D

TO Swolfie: Thank you so much for your support, I really appreciate it. Your suggestion about Vali is interesting. I did want a powerful rival, that could challenge Diablo. This might work...welp, I'll see in the future. But still, thank you once again! Hope you continue reading this in the future!
TO Boran sahan: Nah, I don't think I'll do that. Just feels weird

-Ask any questions that you may have, I'm always happy to answer}}

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