The more the deviless spoke, the more disappointed Altair became. The information was useful, yes, allowing him to create a better profile of his father. But it didn't reveal anything fundamental.
It was as if Asmodeus had deliberately avoided telling her anything about his plans. As if he had always intended to send her as a test for him.
That showed that his father wasn't an imbecile, although he indeed doubted it since the first time he met him.
He also learned nothing about Asmodeus' identity. The man only claimed the name but provided no proof beyond his strength. He didn't need to; only one man could claim to be his equal among the faction of the old Satan: Rizevim Livan Lucifer, descendant of the original Lucifer.
The woman was still kneeling on the floor. She was his to do with as he pleased. Was she the former lover of his cousin? His uncle? He didn't know exactly what her relationship was to that person. The woman was a formidable opponent, likely giving him more points than Rias and Akeno combined.
She told him about the Chaos Brigade, the organization to which the cat that had recently invaded his house belonged. An organization led by Ophis, a dragon god. One of the most powerful beings in the entire world. She also showed him a snake given to her by Ophis, which granted her unimaginable powers, albeit only temporarily.
He didn't learn much about his father, but he did know about the organization. It was divided into several factions. Katerea belonged to the ancient Maou faction.
Altair wondered if he should give this information to Serafall for free. He probably would. There was no bad blood between them. And he didn't think she would leave him without a reward.
As for Katerea, she was strong. He would have fucked her right there if it hadn't been Sona's house.
With her soon to be part of his nobility, he still hadn't decided whether to make her a bishop or his queen, but he had nothing to fear from Riser. Although he still wanted to win on his own strength, it was better to secure Lavender's fate.
"Who are you loyal to now?" he asked her.
"To you," her voice was a shameful whisper.
"Good," he removed his feet from her back, setting her free. He ordered her to follow him, but forbade her to speak unless he told her to. He also took the snake from Ophis, planning to study it, although there was a risk that Ophis would appear before him. From Katerea's words, it was clear that she was a little naive.
They went out into the hall. Whispers filled the room like oxygen. He found Serafall near the door, looking on guard, ready to act at any moment. It moved him a little.
He nodded in her direction before walking toward Sona. The girl was with Rias, both frowning as they seemed to be arguing. Akeno watched everything with an amused smile.
Issei looked depressed.
"Rias, Sona," he greeted them. They both stopped their argument, probably about him, to look at him. Their eyes shifted to the person following him.
"Who is she?" Rias asked jealously.
"Katerea Leviathan, descendant of the original Leviathan. The one who should be Maou instead of Serafall. Or at least she was a moment ago. Now she's my... bodyguard," he introduced her. Sona frowned at first and only spoke up at the end.
"Bodyguard?"
"Yes, she found pleasure in it," he said. "Right, Katerea?" he asked her.
"No."
"Say you find pleasure in serving a half-breed," he ordered.
"I find immense pleasure in serving a half-breed," she said, pressing her lips together afterwards.
There was silence among those who heard him, who were only the pieces of Sona and Rias. Although no one objected, perhaps they only knew the kinder side of him. But that wouldn't work in the long run. He looked at Sona, who had a conflicted expression.
"My parents wanted to talk to you." She had a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue.
"Then I'll go right away," he said.
"You don't want to... huh?" Rias began to think of excuses for avoiding his leave. "Fuck?"
"Buchou, why?" Issei fell to his knees. The sparkle in his eyes dimmed when he heard her. He seemed to have the look of a thousand yards.
Or the look of a thousand NTRs.
"We have a whole life for that, Rias," said Altair.
She blushed at the implications of his words.
'A life together'.
Altair walked with Sona toward her parents. They both spoke politely, although Katerea raised some eyebrows.
Finally, they asked him to follow them to Sona's father's office.
"I'd like a minute to talk to Sona," he asked them before entering the room.
"We'll wait inside," said Lord Sitri, leading his wife inside.
"What do you want to discuss, Altair?" Sona asked.
"What do you think of Katerea?" he asked.
"I... I don't have an opinion about her."
"She's my slave," he blurted out.
Sona's face remained stone. She didn't show the slightest expression. The way he treated her moments before was harsh and showed the typical master-slave dynamic.
"Why?" was the most logical thing she could say.
"She was sent to spy on me," he confessed, looking at Katerea, who was glaring at him.
"In that case... I don't know," she confessed.
"I'm not as nice as I seem," he said. "Do you still want to marry me?" Altair asked.
"Yes. It's a little strange to know that you have a slave. But she was your enemy. I'm not so stupid that I don't understand how the world works. But," she took his hand. "Would you use senseless violence just to satisfy yourself?" she asked.
"I only play dirty when I have to," he replied. Sona looked him in the eyes for a few seconds, until she nodded.
"Let's go inside, they're waiting for us."
Lord Sitri's office was pretty standard. Luxurious, yes, but it didn't have anything that a typical Muggle office wouldn't have. It just looked a thousand times richer. Altair noticed that the sofa was incredibly soft and comfortable.
"Lord Asmodeus," began Sona's father. "My youngest daughter, Sona, has always been problematic."
"Father!" The girl didn't shout, but she did protest slightly.
"She has rejected so many suitors that our family is beginning to be seen as arrogant," confessed Lord Sitri. "It has been a headache to find a young man who meets Sona's strict conditions and ours. I thought I would never find him until you appeared. I'll be honest, despite all your achievements, I would not have considered you for Sona's hand if it weren't for Serafall and her," he said at last.
Altair understood to a certain extent. In Lord Sitri's eyes, he was a man with great potential, but that did not mean that potential would develop properly. But to say it so directly. Lord Sitri was either a frank man, or he did not want the marriage at all.
"You know where this is going, don't you?" Lady Sitri asked with a loving smile.
"It's pretty obvious at this point," Altair said.
"In that case, I'll state our conditions. Is that acceptable?" Lord Sitri asked.
"Go ahead, I'm all ears," Altair said.
"Good. We want the formula for creating Phoenix Powder. We want the right to raise your children. Also, you will renounce the magical world, including that... coven of witches you have formed," Lord Sitri said in a soft but firm voice.
Altair looked at Sona, who looked surprised and frightened. Just by looking at her, Altair knew then that she had no idea about these conditions. Altair was not willing to give up any of these three conditions.
For a normal low-class devil, it would be heaven to move up the social ladder. But he was no normal devil. The Sitri would give him a lot of prestige, yes, but they weren't the only ladder he could find.
He didn't even need a ladder. He would find a way to fly.
"In that case... I refuse. With courtesy, of course," he added at the end.
He looked at Sona, her face down, staring at the floor. She knew the answer before it left his mouth.
She didn't love him, but she could find in him the things she was looking for in her ideal partner.
"Altair, listen," said Lady Sitri.
"All the things you asked for... I am not willing to part with any of them." Sona was interesting and beautiful, but she was no more valuable than his coven.
"Witches will be allowed to be part of your harem... only as lovers, and they wouldn't be reincarnated," Lord Sitri tried to negotiate, but he didn't seem so much interested in.
"The answer remains the same," Altair said.
"Your status... is lower than Sona's. You must be willing to compromise to have a claim on her hand," Lord Sitri said.
The man was kind and all that, but he was also a man who ran one of the 32 great houses that remained in the underworld. Altair understood his motivations and did not get angry with the man, but with the system. Still, he looked at Lady Sitri with renewed interest.
"Have a good evening, Lord Sitri. I will go speak with the heiress Gremory," he said before leaving his office. Katerea looked at him with interest, silently mocking him.