Japan, Kyoto.
In the Onmyou Agency headquarters at Shugakuin, illuminated by candlelight.
A pure white puppy with small wings, carrying a letter in its mouth, stepped from the spiritual world into reality and came before a wine-red-haired boy, letting out joyful barks.
"What a good~ child..."
Just then, a hand wearing a black glove printed with a pentagram pattern, with fingers exposed, reached over. It offered a piece of chicken breast to the puppy's mouth, then patted the puppy's head. Amid the dog's happy barks, it took away the envelope the puppy had been carrying.
Rip!
The sound of an envelope being torn open echoed.
Under the candlelit table nearby, Onmyou Agency director Ariyo Tsuchimikado looked up at the wine-red-haired boy who had taken the envelope.
At that moment, Hao Asakura, draped in a white cloak and sitting cross-legged on the tatami opposite, finished scanning the letter and sighed:
"My, my... So that girl Joan actually failed?"
"I thought she would succeed in stopping this calamity, but unexpectedly, she still failed in the end."
Hearing this, Ariyo Tsuchimikado looked expressionlessly at this ancestor who appeared half his age and asked directly:
"If you're so concerned, why not take action yourself?"
"Before the True Dragon Legacy appeared, whether it was you, or that Saintess from the French Union, or even the Patch Tribe elders, all predicted the coming of a great calamity through the Order of the Stars."
"Since that's the case, why didn't you personally handle this matter?"
Hearing his inexpensive descendant's question, Hao Asakura simply smiled, a crimson flame igniting at his fingertip as he set the envelope alight from the right corner.
As the burning envelope illuminated his face, Hao Asakura said lightly:
"If I were to take action, things would only become worse."
"In that domain created by the True Dragon, aside from myself, who possesses the Fire Spirit, only the Clyne family's young chairwoman, capable of activating the Water Spirit, can completely erase that True Dragon."
"Given our unique natures, we could indirectly awaken the Order of the Stars through the Great Spirit, thereby completely killing that True Dragon."
"But should such a thing occur, the ultimate outcome would be triggering a war at the Angel level, resulting in two among myself, Lacus Clyne, and that True Dragon perishing together in mutual destruction."
"And if things were to develop in that manner..."
Hao Asakura lifted his head, gazing at the wooden ceiling above as if his vision pierced through it, through the sky, viewing the planet below from a space perspective, overlooking the winding lands of Japan.
In his spiritual foresight, his vision seemed to show the entire Japanese archipelago being swallowed by black currents of death, even affecting the three northeastern provinces across the sea and reaching Las Vegas in America, creating massive voids.
Contemplating this outcome, Hao Asakura sighed:
"That result is not what anyone wants."
"Comparatively, Luo Shu, who bears lighter burdens yet possesses sufficient combat power, or Joan of Arc, who can channel that sun god and borrow its power, are actually the most suitable handlers."
"And with both of them acting together, this outcome... is probably the lowest cost conclusion currently possible."
Hearing Hao Asakura's words, Ariyo Tsuchimikado remained silent for a moment before saying:
"Then, what impact will this incident cause?"
Hearing this, Hao Asakura chuckled lightly, flicking the remaining ash from the envelope off his hand:
"Nothing more than an increase in Abyssal visitors."
"If my predictions aren't wrong... next, the Australian Demon Realm is likely to become quite lively!!"
Upon hearing this, Ariyo Tsuchimikado fell silent again, sighing as he said:
"Where should the Onmyou Agency go from here?"
"That's something for you, the director of the Onmyou Agency, to consider."
Hao Asakura pushed himself up from the tatami, a smile playing on his lips as he said:
"If you lead the Onmyou Agency to destruction, then that simply means your capabilities as director are limited to that."
"Don't expect me to offer assistance. Those who grow up eating from honey pots yet become worthless are, in my view, less useful than a pile of shit."
"At least shit can fertilise fields, while trash lacks even that value."
With these words, Hao Asakura's figure quietly vanished from the Japanese-style room, leaving Ariyo Tsuchimikado sitting in wordless silence.
...
DxD Underworld.
Sirzechs, who was reviewing documents, suddenly received an urgent fax from Ajuka.
When Sirzechs picked up the fax and saw its contents, he couldn't help but show an astonished expression:
"The Second World is emitting strong signals outward?"
"What has happened?"
Meanwhile, in a secret base controlled by the Council elsewhere in the Underworld.
Rizevim looked surprised at the kneeling researcher before him:
"Another world is sending strong signals toward us?"
"What is going on?"
"The current situation remains unclear, but one thing can be confirmed for now."
The researcher in a white lab coat spoke with evident excitement.
"What is it?" Rizevim inquired curiously.
"With precise coordinates, the energy consumption for our teleportation array to the Second World will be reduced to one-thirtieth of its original amount."
Hearing this, Rizevim couldn't help but curl his lips into a wide grin, his face brimming with exhilaration as he declared:
"This is truly thrilling news indeed..."
...
In the city of Melryln, surrounded by forests.
Within a laboratory built beneath a massive banyan tree.
An elf researcher specialising in spatial magic was reporting to a golden-haired elf girl seated above, dressed in light attire with four diamond-shaped gems adorning her forehead:
"Flower Crown Minister, the sixth laboratory has detected unusual spatial signals, suspected to be coordinates emanating from another world..."
"Another world?" The buxom golden-haired girl lifted her head from her research, a contemplative expression crossing her face. "First, seal the information. Control a few slaves to conduct preliminary tests and verify the situation."
"If it truly is another world..."
Considering this possibility, Think Nirvalen couldn't help but show a look of fascination.
"Perhaps our elf race might embark on a different path in this endless war ignited by the gods."
...
The present world.
In a dim room in Tokyo, the glow from a computer monitor faintly illuminated the youthful face of a golden-haired girl.
At that very moment, a circular angelic halo suddenly appeared above the golden-haired girl's head.
Multicoloured streams of light began shimmering across the halo, as if some will was transmitting a signal here.
Realising this, the golden-haired girl swiftly shut down her computer and sat primly amidst the pile of junk filled with instant food containers, listening to the words transmitted through the halo:
"What? A coordinate signal?"
"I haven't detected any such thing being broadcast at all... Yes... There's no related information spreading within the Hell Sect either..."
"Eh, no, I'm not playing online games, I am properly monitoring those True Hell demon worshippers... Please rest assured... Huh? Double the allowance. How could I possibly accept..."
"Understood, Gabriel White Tenma will definitely investigate this signal matter thoroughly, I swear to you, Academy Director!!"
After the call ended, Gabriel breathed a heavy sigh of relief while simultaneously turning on the computer with its previously black screen, picking at her toes, and even sniffing her fingers as she complained:
"Ah... what a pain, it's actually an investigation mission. How am I supposed to do this kind of thing..."
Amid deep resentment, Gabriel glanced at the +3 equipment displayed on her computer, then thought about the work content, immediately reaching a decision:
"I'll go investigate after enhancing my equipment to +12!!"
With this pleasant decision made, Gabriel buried herself back in her gaming endeavours.
As for the intelligence the Academy Director requested?
Homework like this definitely needs to be done at the last moment to be most meaningful!