Looking at the sword, Rhode knew exactly what was going on.
Another one here to bribe me.
But Rhode was a kind-hearted soul. Besides, unlike the original plot, Heaven had specifically sent Gabriel to meet him this time. They had clearly done their homework regarding his preferences. If it had been Michael, Rhode might not have been so easily swayed by material things, but sending Gabriel? Heaven's talent scouts were scarily accurate.
As Gabriel pulled the holy sword from the void, Xenovia and Irina's eyes widened. This sword wasn't Excalibur, but it was one of the legendary holy swords on par with Durandal, ranked just below the legendary King's blade.
"This sword is called Ascalon. Its original owner was the legendary Saint George. While it may not match Excalibur in unique abilities or Durandal in pure destructive power, it is a holy sword specialized specifically for slaying dragons."
Gabriel's voice was melodic. "If the enemy is a dragon, there is perhaps no holy sword stronger than Ascalon. This is a gift from us in Heaven to you."
"Since you're already here, there was no need for gifts. You're being far too polite," Rhode said. Even as the words left his mouth, he was already reaching out to take Ascalon from Gabriel's hand. He gave it a quick scan with the system panel to confirm it was the real deal, then tossed it straight into his storage space.
"..."
Gabriel's brow twitched slightly at Rhode's fluid, practiced sequence of movements, but she maintained her gentle, kind smile. "I'm glad you like it."
Turning to Xenovia and Irina, she spoke softly. "Next, I have some matters I wish to discuss with Mr. Rhode in private. Would you two mind waiting outside for a moment?"
The Seraph had spoken; the two girls naturally agreed immediately, closing the heavy doors as they stepped out.
With no one else around, Gabriel's expression turned solemn. "Regarding this summit, Michael and the other Seraphs view it as a golden opportunity for the Three Great Factions to shake hands and make peace. I know you might find this surprising. After all, whether in the Bible or common knowledge, Heaven, Fallen Angels, and Devils are mortal enemies. But... that is a thing of the past."
She paused, her expression becoming extremely serious. "Even though you aren't one of our believers, every species living on this earth is affected by what I am about to tell you. Please, do not be afraid."
"I'm a professional. I won't be afraid," Rhode replied. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, remained firmly "locked on" to her chest with unwavering determination.
Gabriel sighed softly and continued. "The truth is, the Creator of our Heaven—God—perished in the last Great War."
After speaking, Gabriel closed her eyes. Even though a thousand years had passed, her eyes still welled with tears whenever she thought of it. All angels were created by God's hand. To them, He was not just a deity, but their Father and Mother.
In the Bible, God was described as eternal, omniscient, and omnipotent. Yet even such a God had died from exhaustion during the war.
When they first learned the news, Gabriel, Michael, and the other Seraphs couldn't believe it. Their spirits nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Michael had reacted the fastest. After calming the others, he immediately sealed off all information to prevent the news of God's death from reaching the ears of ordinary angels.
After all, when it came to faith, even lower-level angels were fanatically devout. If the news leaked, a mental breakdown would be the least of their worries. Suicide, falling from grace, and mass desertion were consequences Michael and the Seraphs simply could not afford.
Luckily, God rarely appeared in person anyway. Aside from the Seraphs, no ordinary angel had ever seen His true face. Thus, Gabriel and the others were able to keep the secret tight.
However, they also worried that the Fallen Angels or the Underworld would leak the information to strike a blow against Heaven. Fortunately, Azazel and Sirzechs were men of vision. While spreading the news would have thrown Heaven into chaos, that chaos would have inevitably destabilized the Underworld and the Fallen Angels as well. The Three Great Factions existed in a delicate tripod of power; if one leg broke, the whole world would collapse.
Furthermore, they had to be wary of external pantheons taking advantage of the situation. Everyone knew how aggressive the expansion of the Cross had been in its heyday. If other factions learned God was dead, they would undoubtedly settle old scores. At that point, all Three Factions might face total annihilation.
Thus, even though relations had been tense when the war first stopped, everyone reached a tacit agreement to keep the secret.
Gabriel opened her eyes, expecting to see a look of shock on Rhode's face. Instead, Rhode remained completely unmoved, his gaze as steady as ever.
Gabriel's emotional momentum stalled. Even if you aren't a believer, shouldn't you at least look a little shocked to hear God is dead? This total lack of reaction is a bit much.
She didn't voice her complaint, however. "Our Heaven chose to give you this sword because we have given gifts of equal value to the Fallen Angels and the Underworld."
The implication was clear: they were placing Rhode on the same level as Azazel and the Maous of the Underworld. It was high-specification treatment for a single individual.
Gabriel suddenly stepped closer to Rhode, her "heavy artillery" swaying slightly as she reached out and grasped his hand with sincere eyes.
"Gabriel, we just met. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Rhode said, sounding shocked. In fact, he was so "shocked" that his eyes were wide open.
"In the past, the Three Factions joined forces once to defeat the White Dragon and the Red Dragon. We hope we can work together again just as we did then. We are placing our hopes in you."
If it had been the two girls outside or anyone else, they would have been completely swayed by Gabriel's heartfelt, moving speech. Whether it was sincere or not, the Church had always been masters of this game. Rhode couldn't tell if Gabriel was being earnest or just trying to "brainwash" him like a convert, but either way, he marveled at her holy innocence. The light radiating from her at this distance felt like it could purify a man's soul.
Thus, in order to "purify" his inner self, Rhode chose to stare at Gabriel without even blinking.
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High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (256 Chapters – Ongoing)
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