Xi Yeused his magic to extract the Sacred Gear from Hyoudou Issei's body. The Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet was enveloped in a cloud of blue magic.
Behind him, Amano Yuuma wore a greedy expression. The Fallen Angel Governor Azazel was an artifact collector with a particular fondness for powerful Sacred Gears. It was no surprise that Yuuma, who served under him, felt the urge for such a prized possession.
"I didn't even realize this disgusting guy was hiding a Sacred Gear. I thought he was just a low-class owner still developing," she remarked. Greed overtook her heart; there are only eighteen Longinus-class Sacred Gears in existence, each granting its wielder immense influence and power.
"I have a proposal. I'm not sure if you're interested, but I'd like to discuss it," Yuuma said, stepping away from the body on the ground to address Xi Ye.
Xi Ye placed the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet into his body and replied casually, "Do you think there's anything more valuable than a Longinus-class Sacred Gear?"
"The pendant you're wearing must also be a Sacred Gear or some divine weapon. Humans are limited to one Sacred Gear, so you won't be able to use that one," Yuuma said while moving closer to him.
"I'm going to acquire a nun with the 'Twilight Healing' ability soon. Surely, you must find that more entertaining than this useless guy, right?"
"A nun? The reach of your fallen angels is impressive if you can even kidnap nuns," Xi Ye replied sarcastically.
"That child was just abandoned by their so-called hypocritical church, there's no kidnapping involved!" she shot back.
"So, what do you say? You seem interested. Why don't we cooperate?" The corners of Amano Yuuma's mouth curled into a smile as she noticed the mysterious man before her taking the bait.
Originally, she intended to take the nun's Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, to give to Lord Azazel. However, now that a Longinus-class Sacred Gear was in play, her plans suddenly lost their appeal.
"Cooperate?" Xi Ye's eyes turned cold, and instantly, he appeared beside Amano Yuuma.
With one hand on her throat, he said, "I hate being threatened. Not killing you is already a gift."
"You're still pushing your luck? The nun, I'll make that decision, and you'd better not have any devious thoughts about this Sacred Gear."
The crimson-faced Amano Yuuma was being choked, her hands frantically trying to break Xi Ye's grip. But everything was in vain; she was just a fallen angel with mid-class devil strength.
"I know I'm wrong, my lord! The nun, I will bring her to you. She hasn't arrived in Kuoh Town yet. Please be patient!" Xi Ye didn't release her neck until she surrendered.
Snap!
Her body, like a moth with broken wings, slumped to the ground. She gasped wildly and coughed.
"Don't test my limits with your ignorance. Remember your promise," Xi Ye warned, gripping Yuuma's jaw with one hand.
As he was about to turn around, he suddenly thought of something.
"Do you have any money with you? Hand it over."
"Money?" She thought he would leave, but he was asking for money now. Would even a powerful person like him be short on funds? Amano Yuuma was confused.
Xi Ye was short on money. He planned to live off-campus, as the school was too close to Rias's Occult Research Club, which meant he might be monitored.
But Xi Ye's eyes in the next second made her whole body shudder. She immediately took out a large sum of money and handed it to Xi Ye, which he easily accepted.
He glanced around but didn't see Rias appearing. This puzzled him slightly. Looking at Hyoudou Issei's body on the ground, Xi Ye said, "Let's finish here," then left the area.
When Xi Ye departed, Yuuma breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Issei's corpse on the ground, she waved her hand, and the bloody scene returned to its original state.
"Damn, if only I had discovered this earlier, it wouldn't have fallen into someone else's hands," she spread her fallen angel wings and flew into the air, her figure gradually disappearing.
When no one remained at the scene, a blood-red magic circle suddenly appeared on the ground. After a flash of white light, several figures materialized.
It was the members of the Occult Research Club, but Koneko was missing.
"It should be here," Akeno Himejima, who was positioning the coordinates, glanced around, then said suspiciously, "It doesn't look like anything happened here!"
"The scene can be covered, but the magical residue cannot." Rias looked at the spot where Issei's corpse had been.
Then a magic circle formed in her hand, and she chanted a spell. The next second, the body eliminated by Amano Yuuma reappeared.
Himejima Akeno voluntarily approached the corpse lying in a pool of blood, stared for a while, and began to analyze.
"President, he just died not long ago. Looking at the wound on his body, it was likely caused by a light spear! Those weapons are typically used by fallen angels."
"Akeno, given the current situation, conduct a thorough investigation and set aside the matter of Koneko for now," Rias ordered, interrupting Akeno's concerns about Koneko.
"Yes, the fallen angel acted with such arrogance, even killing an ordinary person. That's a violation of the 'Peace Treaty.' We have the right to punish them," Akeno replied. As the vice president, she was responsible for investigations in the club, and she took her duties seriously in light of the circumstances.
"Kiba, be prepared to assist Akeno at any time," Rias instructed. "We're dealing with fallen angels this time, so do not act alone."
"Understood," Yuuto Kiba responded from the side.
"Are fallen angels involved in this as well?" Rias asked, gazing thoughtfully at the moonlight.