Kuoh Academy.
Occult Research Club room.
At this moment, a gentle breeze rustled the beige curtains. Beyond the dancing light and shadows was an exquisite, expensive desk.
A cup of black tea had just been brewed on the desk, emitting an intoxicating aroma.
A fair, slender right hand picked it up, and the red-haired girl took a small sip, then smiled with satisfaction.
"As expected of Akeno, your tea-making skills are getting better and better."
"It is my greatest honor to satisfy the President."
"Oh, there are also snacks here. Let's eat together."
"Mm."
Himejima Akeno accepted the invitation and sat on a long bench to one side.
"President..."
"There are no outsiders anyway, you don't have to call me that."
"Rias, regarding the previous arrangement, are you sure you want to make contact with him?"
"Of course."
Taking another sip of black tea, Rias replied with a firm tone.
Rias Gremory, the younger sister of the Devil King Lucifer, holds the identity of the successor head of the High-Class Devil Gremory family and the President of the Kuoh Academy Occult Research Club.
With these identities, she is currently entrusted by the upper echelons of the Devil world to take over the territory of Kuoh Town, Japan, in the human world, and, along with her peerage, manage devil businesses such as forming contracts with humans for a price and hunting Stray Devils.
However, she was not satisfied with just this town.
For this, Rias arranged for temporary familiars to investigate the surrounding areas.
She had recently received feedback.
"The neighboring city, only a twenty-minute drive from Kuoh Town, has not yet been designated as managed territory by the devils, so I've been investigating it."
"And you finally found that person, right?"
"Exactly. The temporary familiar detected a remarkably powerful energy. After locking onto it, the next step is contact."
Upon hearing this, Himejima Akeno showed concern.
"If Koneko goes alone..."
"I've given her the right to fight freely. If there's really a problem, we can teleport there immediately."
"What if he refuses to accept?"
"Then I'll go personally."
"That's a bit rash."
Akeno said, then changed the subject.
"Before Toujou Koneko acted, I actually gave her a photo to use."
"A photo? Whose?"
"Rias Gremory's."
"No, wait? Akeno…?! "
Upon hearing this, Rias Gremory's eyes widened.
Himejima Akeno first apologized.
"I apologize for acting on my own, but… that photo can help us confirm the other party's location, and once time passes, the image on it will disappear, so there's no need to worry."
"What magic did you use?"
"One must always learn new things."
That was true.
Rias Gremory nodded.
"An invitation from the beautiful club president of the neighboring school, I think the other party will accept it."
"My original intention wasn't that."
Hearing Himejima Akeno say this, Rias Gremory sighed softly.
But then she had a change of thought and couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.
"If the other party comes for that purpose, there's no harm in it, at least… it proves he's an easy existence to manipulate, right?"
"Indeed."
The two exchanged smiles, their impressive figures indeed holding great value in front of lechers…
Toujou Koneko left.
She didn't give Bai Li and Sakurajima Mai much time to question her, quickly disappearing at the end of the street ahead.
Bai Li, holding the envelope, was a little curious.
Could it be that the previous exorcism was detected?
Or was there another reason?
To get an answer, Bai Li naturally had no intention of refusing the invitation.
He then looked at the invitation and opened it.
Inside, besides a simple invitation letter, there was surprisingly a picture.
The person in the picture was Toujou Koneko's master—Rias Gremory.
"Wow, she's a beautiful redhead, they intentionally used such a photo, didn't they?"
Sakurajima Mai's gaze fell on the photo, and she immediately guessed the other party's intention.
Bai Li put away the envelope and said with a smile,
"It seems the other party considers me a lecher."
"Don't all boys like beautiful girls?"
"That's right, but I'm different."
"Does that mean… Bai Li-kun will refuse?"
"I will accept."
"…"
As soon as he said this, Sakurajima Mai's expression changed.
After all that, he was still going!
In response, Sakurajima Mai warned cautiously,
"It might be a honey trap, Bai Li-kun, be careful. The sudden invitation proves one thing: they might be monitoring us."
"Then all the more reason to go."
Who could refuse the invitation of a beautiful demon girl?
Moreover… compared to Evil Pieces, Bai Li believed his Fate was superior.
"Perhaps I'll encounter valuable candidates."
"New… Path Striders?"
"Yes."
Whether demons or humans, Bai Li was very willing to accept them as his own.
Because on the chaotic Fate, he would equally bestow power upon them and gain their faith.
After discussing this, the two, having experienced a small interlude, arrived at school.
Sakurajima Mai, a third-year student, went to another floor, while Bai Li parted ways with her midway.
Arriving at his classroom, Bai Li walked straight towards the seat by the window in the back row.
Seeing him appear, several students gathered around.
"I heard Bai Li is disbanding his band?"
"That's sudden, your band's previous performance was quite amazing!"
"Is there a reason? We can help!"
Facing the enthusiasm of his classmates, Bai Li merely gave a perfunctory reply.
These answers made the surrounding boys and girls stop bothering him.
"Everyone, return to your seats, class will start soon."
The teacher, who had arrived in the classroom early, reminded everyone.
"Teacher Kirisu is too serious!"
"Honestly, you're already second-years."
Teacher Kirisu Mafuyu, holding textbooks, lectured with a serious expression.
Bai Li, long used to this scene, yawned.
The morning classes passed in a leisurely, noisy manner.
At noon, Bai Li was reminded by a classmate standing at the door,
"Bai Li, a first-year is looking for you."
"A first-year?"
He looked up, towards the back door.
Chihaya Anon was standing there.
Bai Li didn't make her wait long and walked straight over.
"Can I pay the 10,000 yen for introducing the live house with a bento?"
Chihaya Anon held up her bento box.
Her action made a name pop into Bai Li's mind—Old Eight—Yanamami Anana.
However, using a bento to pay off money did fit Chihaya Anon's personality… Please give flowers! Please collect!
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