No fuss.
It linked up smooth.
From today on, he could strut as a "King."
Low-class devil power, but King title? Luo Xiu almost cracked up.
Devils in a nutshell: blood rules, strength crushes, profits seal it.
...
Luo Xiu was a transmigrator.
Over ten years ago, he'd jumped worlds.
Nothing flashy—no system, no prodigy vibes.
What he packed: a trace of succubus blood, a wisp of Leviathan lineage, and his bonded Agumon.
But even a hint of Leviathan? That put him on Underworld's radar.
No helping it.
The ruling Four Maou needed a propaganda prop.
...
The current Four Maou? Not the originals.
After the first gen fell in battle, their blood heirs kept the devil throne warm.
Those heirs? Now stuck with the "Old Maou" label.
After the big three-faction war, devils splintered from within.
The fallout? Devil Civil War.
The new Four Maou came out on top—"New Maou."
Old Maou and their crew? They balked at the reforms, wouldn't kneel. Some went underground, others bolted.
Luo Xiu? Word was, he got snagged—no clean getaway for this small fry.
...
New Maou craved a legitimacy boost.
So this nobody flipped the script: dubbed "Leviathan bloodline heir." Hell, he even landed a stunning, powerhouse fiancée.
Maou Lucifer? He married the Lucifuge heir who'd served the old Lucifer—Grayfia Lucifuge. Locked in his "Lucifer" cred.
Maou Leviathan? She tied the knot with the Leviathan heir... yeah, him.
Right.
Luo Xiu's fiancée was one of the Four Maou: Serafall Leviathan!
No curveballs, and he'd marry in post-adulthood—her official husband.
But.
Curveballs always land.
Three years back, Underworld buzz: fiancée switcheroo. Now it was Maou Leviathan's sis—Sona Sitri.
Luo Xiu got the why crystal clear.
He was just cosmic dust. A pawn for New Maou to steady the ship and flash their clout.
World spun on. His shelf life shrank.
He had to hustle before it expired.
...
To sidestep a grim end in this cheat-code plotfest, Luo Xiu stacked his decks.
One: Grind studies—chess mastery, Rating Game deep dives.
Two: Leverage Maou perks for monster corpses and essence blood. Fast-track Agumon's gains.
Three: Scout plot Sacred Gears and Longinus. Snag compatible ones, implant 'em.
Four: Build ties with key folks via his origin powers and foresight—Azazel, Vasco, Vali the White Dragon Emperor, Lavinia, Griselda, Serafall, Ravel, and the list goes on.
Five: Poach safe plot grabs like Gaspar, Irina, Asia.
Progress? Rocking so far.
Three, four months max—Agumon levels to Greymon.
That's why no quickie breakup for him.
Dumping him? Value nosedive.
Resources? They'd trickle dry.
Even just to mooch more, he wouldn't let it slide easy.
...
"Oh yeah, Luo Xiu—past those two things, I've got a trade in mind."
Rias finally dropped the true hook.
"Trade? Spill—what?"
He drew a blank on what he could offer her.
Unless... she was onto his Boosted Gear snag?
...
Under his stare, Rias set her cup down and smiled warm.
"Luo Xiu, what if five years' worth of monster resources... got you to play my temp fiancé?"
Luo Xiu's brow arched. He mulled it a beat. "Rias, you know I've got a fiancée. Use me as cover? Underworld won't swallow that."
She pursed her lips, then chuckled soft.
"Spot on—you're Sona's. So me claiming we're smitten? They won't buy it."
"But life's full of twists."
...
"Rias, you mean..."
Luo Xiu's eyes sharpened.
"You catch my drift. Yep, Sona's scheming your split right now~"
"Got it. So your angle?"
He sipped his tea. This plot twist? He'd half-expected it.
"Simple: we sync our story. Tell the world we're crazy for each other."
"Gives me ammo to dodge my bro and those Underworld relics."
"Post-college, we part ways clean."
"I'll snag freedom, power to fight back. You? All the resources you need."
Her scheme? Solid.
Or better—right up his alley.
He'd bet the Sona engagement was toast anyway—planned to wring resources till Agumon evolved.
Now? Five-year lock-in. Who needed extras?
"Rias, you front it all at once?"
"Five years straight? Nah. But one year up top? Doable." She paused, then nodded.
"Done. I'm game."
"Awesome. Partners from here on, Luo Xiu. Smooth sailing to us."
Rias grinned, extending her hand.
They shook mid-air. Hands dropped, eyes locked, smiles traded.
*Plan's clicking.*