Kuoh Academy.
The old school building.
Luo Xiu pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He'd been invited here as a guest.
The inviter? Rias—Rias Gremory.
She was a top-shelf beauty: talent, power, looks—all elite level.
Of course, strip away the natural gifts, and she was little more than a figurehead.
But even as a vase, she was the premium kind—ornate and extravagant.
Devil King's sister, heir to a pure-blood devil house, killer figure, master of the Power of Destruction.
Those creds alone marked her as exceptional, downright regal.
...
Rias spotted him and offered a polite smile, uncrossing her legs.
The elegant redhead's thighs—soft and flawless as white jade—snagged Luo Xiu's eyes hard.
A stunning woman like her? No surprise she drew stares.
And besides...
Luo Xiu knew she was flaunting it on purpose.
Tease like that, then act all prim by looking away? He wasn't ascetic enough to ignore it.
He didn't bother hiding his gaze.
Rias noticed it roaming her chest and legs.
But instead of getting mad, she flashed a pleased grin.
With his succubus bloodline, holding his attention? That said plenty about her pull.
"Akeno, tea."
"Yes, President."
Rias called out, and a black-haired shrine maiden type poured with a gentle smile.
The pourer was Himejima Akeno—Rias's Queen.
At school, she was a beauty on par with Rias: one with that Western allure, the other pure Japanese grace. Put 'em together? A whole new level of heat.
...
Luo Xiu took a sip.
The refreshing aroma settled his nerves right away.
"No kidding—Akeno, your tea skills are unmatched."
Akeno hid a smile behind her hand, chuckling. "Ara ara~ Praise from Lord Luo Xiu? What an honor."
"Hey, this is too good not to share—mind whipping up a cup for my Agumon?"
Luo Xiu wasn't one to hog the good stuff.
Agumon had stuck with him since they were kids, inseparable. If he got a bite, she did too.
"Agumon?"
Rias paused, a flash of irritation in her eyes. She buried it fast.
"Agumon... that monster always hanging around you, right?"
She was annoyed because she'd never figured Luo Xiu would let a beast touch her tea.
In a bad light, it even felt like a slight against her.
"Akeno, another cup. Grab the bigger set."
She was irked, sure. But she went along with it.
After all, she'd called him here to ask for something.
...
A few minutes later, a giant cup—several times normal size—joined the table.
[*Rias swapped it for a cheaper one.*]
[*Can't blame her—pure-blood devil like her, looking down on monsters is par for the course.*]
[*My bad. If I'd fed Agumon more goodies, evolved her to Greymon by now... life would've been a helluva lot smoother.*]
"Agumon, out you come. Give this tea a try—it's killer."
Light flared.
The yellow dinosaur-shaped monster popped from his contract seal.
She trotted to the table.
No chugging or sloppy licking like a wild beast.
She picked up the cup like any person would—sipping with poise even classier than Rias, an upper-class devil.
...
That almost-human grace left Rias and Akeno staring in surprise.
"Luo Xiu, don't tell me this Agumon's mutated? You raising her as your Queen?" Rias asked, intrigued.
Plenty of upper devils started grooming their Queens young.
In a devil's retinue, the Queen ranked highest.
If this was his future Queen, yeah, her move might've come off rude.
She just didn't want low-tier monsters using her things.
But human-level smarts and real power? That flipped the script.
...
Luo Xiu shook his head.
"Rias, Queen stuff? That's way off for me."
"I'm not like you all—no pure-blood devil, and I don't even have Evil Pieces yet."
If he had pure devil blood, why scrape by feeding Agumon? He'd just use it himself—easy.
"Oh, right..."
Rias recalled something, laughed awkwardly, and jumped to the point.
"Truth is, Luo Xiu, I brought you here with two bits of good news."
"Oh? Two? Didn't see that coming."
He'd assumed it was just their routine trade. Extra upside? Sweet.
...
"First: those monster corpses and blood you had me hunt down."
"This dragon-type's around mid-class devil strength—not cheap. Essence blood's in here, body's in that."
Rias presented a tray.
Silver box for the spatially sealed corpse, red vial for the blood.
"Yeah, we've done enough deals. Skipping the check."
Luo Xiu tucked them into his jacket pocket.
Spot-on what he'd asked for—to juice up Agumon.
He had fallen angel hooks through Azazel for evo materials too.
But nurturing devil-side connections? Had to keep that line open.
...
"That's win one. Now spill on the second—I'm hooked." Luo Xiu said, eyes lighting up.
"Second goodie, eh~"
Rias licked her lips, smirking mysteriously.
"Behold—this!"
Snap.
Crimson glow lit up the room.
A transfer circle hummed on the table, revealing an elegant gift box.
"Evil Pieces."
Luo Xiu's eyes narrowed. That fancy box cradled the genuine article.
"Bingo."
"Luo Xiu, the real kicker: Underworld's approved you. You're good to go with your own Evil Pieces!"
...
"Rias, normally only upper-class devils get these. Giving 'em to a low-class scrub like me? You sure that's kosher?" Luo Xiu asked, puzzled.
"Totally fine~"
"Blame it on you being the 'Leviathan bloodline' heir."
"A true Maou successor without pieces? Underworld'd be a joke to the other factions~" Rias waved it off with a grin.
[*Makes sense—the reasoning tracks with what I figured.*]
[*Underworld's fixing up its optics. Devils are prepping alliances with other myth crews.*]
"It's staring me in the face. Guess I'll shamelessly take it."
Luo Xiu reached out, binding the contract to the set for real.
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Hey guys!I'm planning to drop around 10 chapters today. The story's getting really good (trust me on this one), so don't forget to add it to your collection!