Kuoh Academy, Occult Research Club.
Koneko ate potato chips, sitting on the sofa, expressionlessly gazing at the empty club room.
As Rias's servant and Kuroka's younger sister, Koneko currently follows Rias, who is studying in the human world, coming to Kuoh City in Japan and attending Kuoh Academy.
The Occult Research Club is a school club taken over by Rias. The current number of members isn't large. Besides Rias, all the others are her Devil servants, equivalent to the position of Feudal Knights.
But today Koneko felt something was wrong.
"The President and Akeno-senpai haven't returned, and Gasper is still hiding in the classroom. Really boring."
She quietly finished her potato chips, then took out latiao (Chinese spicy snack), dried squid, roasted pork... As the snacks were gradually consumed, her expression gradually became unpleasant and more serious.
"Something has happened!!"
"It's past the return time the President mentioned. There's a problem in Kyoto!"
She immediately stood up, walking to the corner of the activity room. There was a magic circle there connected to the Underworld.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time, in the Devil King Castle.
Sirzechs received information from his subordinate, and his expression immediately changed.
"Rias is missing? Since when?"
"Just now, this is a report from Your Highness Rias's servant in the castle, Toujou Koneko today."
The Devil subordinate knelt on one knee and answered somewhat nervously.
"How did she disappear? Where did she disappear? Were there any abnormalities found before?"
Sirzechs suppressed his frustration, frowned, and forced himself to remain calm.
"According to available information, Your Highness Rias and her Queen, Himejima Akeno, went to Kyoto..."
"Kyoto?"
Sirzechs's face suddenly turned green.
(You don't think my little sister is really that stupid, running to Kyoto to get captured, do you?)
He had just confidently told Ajuka not to worry about his little sister.
But now Sirzechs only wanted to say one word.
Damn it!
"Really captured?"
The bespectacled Ajuka asked with a strange expression while holding a stack of documents.
"Yes."
Sirzechs, sitting in his chair, rubbed his forehead.
"Judging by the current situation, she should be captured."
"Although I want to offer condolences, didn't you say she would be fine earlier?"
"Don't mention it."
Sirzechs's expression was slightly distorted.
"I don't know what she was thinking either, maybe because of Akeno? Or because she wanted that young fox?"
Sirzechs paused briefly, then continued.
"Akeno is Baraqiel's daughter."
Akeno wanted to hide her bloodline, but it was completely useless against Sirzechs.
In fact, when Akeno fled to the Gremory Family territory back then, Baraqiel had negotiated with him.
"You knew this, and you still told me it was okay?"
Ajuka was speechless.
He really didn't know Akeno was Baraqiel's daughter. Why should he pay attention to the parents of Sirzechs's little sister's servant?
The Devil King's work is very busy, plus he has his own research to do.
Devil reformation can't be done just with great power.
"Aren't you afraid Baraqiel will take his daughter back, and then capture your little sister too?"
Ajuka's tone was very helpless. He felt this Rias had fallen into a trap.
"Shouldn't be, Baraqiel and Azazel aren't that kind of people. There's still some understanding between us."
Sirzechs shook his head.
"The only thing to worry about now is that Holy Son's attitude. If he's the one who captured Rias, that would be troublesome."
Hearing this, Ajuka rubbed his forehead and said with some pain.
"Originally, we still wanted to investigate the situation, but now it seems we have to go."
"Can only be resolved personally."
Sirzechs also found it a bit hard to restrain himself. Why is his little sister so unreliable?
Just a fox can lure you away?
Sirzechs knew full well that Baraqiel isn't the type to directly seek out his daughter; even if he wanted revenge on the Himejima Family.
If he were to look for her, he would go through channels.
Conversely, because of the Khaos Brigade, it's more likely that Yasaka, the Youkai Ruler, entrusted her daughter to Rias but didn't give her, which sparked Rias's curiosity.
"So, now you go or me?"
Ajuka said with a headache. Currently, Sirzechs is the strongest among Devils, or even Biblical Mythology.
And an expert that strong, of course, shouldn't roam around. On one hand to deter, and on the other hand, if something happens to him, it would be very troublesome.
Because compared to the benefits Sirzechs brings, other losses are almost meaningless.
Whether for Fallen Angels, Angels, or other god factions.
So usually Ajuka is the one who moves, but now it's his little sister who has problems.
Sirzechs hesitated for a moment and said.
"How about we go together?"
"Together?"
Ajuka frowned and spoke with some hesitation.
"Although possible, the movement would be too big; I'm worried it will be difficult to resolve quietly."
"Very easy, just cover it up with a bigger matter. And there's something that must be done anyway."
Sirzechs straightened his back, narrowed his eyes, propped his chin, and said.
"The ceasefire issue is urgent."
"Ceasefire?"
Ajuka hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
"Indeed, it's time to stop, but are you really prepared?"
The war between the three factions of Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils dates back to ancient times, and bloody battles have never stopped over the years.
Even now, bloody battles still occur, just that the intensity has drastically reduced.
The reason is simple: everyone can no longer bear these losses.
However, it still has to be done, even must be done openly. Even Angels occasionally descend, declaring they have received God's command to exterminate heretics. Regarding this situation, the three factions have sufficient consensus.
All this is done to maintain the illusion that the Biblical God is still alive.
But now they truly can no longer bear the losses, and if negotiating for peace, thanks to Sirzechs and Ajuka's efforts over the years.
The Devil faction won't suffer too much loss.
Conversely, the Angel and Fallen Angel factions will suffer greatly, especially Angels. Once the news of God's death comes out, who knows how many Angels will fall?
Even Heaven will surely be besieged by wolves.
Ajuka sighed thinking about this.
"I'm just worried the Angel faction won't agree."
The Fallen Angel faction doesn't need worry. Azazel is also a peace advocate, and he can restrain the aggressive Fallen Angels.
Only the Angels are the most difficult, and this is what worries him most.
"I've already met Michael. The Angel faction also can't bear the losses anymore."
Sirzechs narrowed his eyes and said. Sometimes, to maintain affairs that are too big, the investment is greater than the return.
Although the Angel foundation is very rich, after thousands of years, to maintain the Church, operate the system, maintain God's existence, and wage war, they are also almost exhausted.
Better to cut losses. At least they can still maintain Heaven and the system God left behind, right?
"If so, I have no problem."
Ajuka said relieved.
After all, if the news is revealed, the ones bearing the pressure will be the Angel faction. Conversely, the Devil and Fallen Angel factions don't need to worry too much.
He and Sirzechs are also confident they can drive away those wolves.
Sirzechs nodded in agreement, then said.
"Then let's go to Kyoto together. Resolve the matter earlier, and we can be at ease sooner."
"Incidentally, to save your little sister, right?"
Ajuka rolled his eyes.
"Consider it so... Hahaha..."
Sirzechs laughed heartily.
"You damn Siscon (Sister Complex), after going around in circles for so long, you just want to save your little sister, right?"
Ajuka couldn't help but curse while laughing.
Then he said with lingering fear.
"This creature called a Siscon is truly too terrifying. Good thing I don't have a little sister."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the backyard of Yasaka Shrine.
In the courtyard where Aslan currently resides.
"Has the power of the Five Principal Clans been integrated?"
Aslan, who was sketching a draft of the Mechanical Dragon, asked.
Behind him, in the corridor entrance, Suzaku, wearing a red and white kimono, knelt there, nodding and answering.
"Yes, including the Hyakki Family, the other four families have voluntarily pledged loyalty to you."
When Suzaku said this, she completely ignored Rias and Akeno beside her, not worried at all about leaking secrets.
She wasn't even concerned about Aslan sketching designs.
Although they weren't restricted at all, after all, what could two little Devils who didn't even dare to send messages do?
"Hmm, good work."
Aslan stopped sketching the design, turned around, and gave an order.
"Then, find a suitable empty space to build a factory. I'll use it for experiments."
"Understood."
Aslan stretched, looking satisfied at the design sketch in his hand. Finally finished.
Imitating the Beast of Ophiuchus, the satellite incarnation flying in solar orbit, the strongest Dragon aligned with the human worldview.
Through disassembling Mechanical Evil Gods from the ExE world, combined with the technology of the Leticia Vampire Clan before coming to Little Garden, as well as Machine God technology from the Type-Moon world, and assistance from the Mother of Evil Gods.
Aslan finally sketched the preliminary draft of the Mechanical Dragon.
After all, he will inherit the territory left by the Chinese Pantheon in the future, but what if the territory is too large and there's no one to guard it?
Easy, use machines, right?
Coincidentally, there indeed exist Mechanical Dragons in Little Garden, and the Chinese Pantheon in Little Garden should actually be called the Dragon Faction.
So Aslan creating a Mechanical Dragon is no problem.
The territory left by the ancestors is very vast and rich. High-level Heavenly Treasures might have been looted, but they couldn't possibly dig out all the ore veins for him.
Impossible, truly impossible.
If that were the case, then Aslan would have to reconsider the inheritance issue.