A couple of days after school started, Sitri decided to visit her friend and resolve some issues. Therefore, both entourages are now in the CON building, even the people who were recently converted to brunettes, who have long been brought up to speed.
"Rias," Sona put a cup of tea on the table, "We have to decide what to do with some people. Who gets who." The girl adjusted her glasses.
"We've been dragging our feet on some matters for too long," agreed the red-haired girl. "You knew that the supposed bearer of the red dragon's hand lived in this city, didn't you?"
"Are you kidding?" Sona raised an eyebrow.
"No, but some time ago, he and his friend, who was also supposed to be the bearer of a dragon artifact, disappeared.
"Where did you get that information?" Sitri was already going through all the information channels available to her friend, and none of them could provide any details.
"Hedo. She told me about her brother as a bearer, asking only for my family's protection and knowledge of magical disciplines in return.
"And what has changed?" the brunette raised an eyebrow.
"Her brother disappeared on the day of our negotiations, along with his friend, the bearer of the second dragon artefact.
Sona shifted her gaze to Miyuki, who was listening indifferently to the conversation, not moving a muscle, seemingly unconcerned.
"And the disappearance of the boys only confirmed her words," the brunette said, more to herself than to anyone else. "It also means that someone who was able to pull this off so quietly and unnoticed has made their way into our territory."
"Exactly," nodded the redhead. "I asked my brother, but he gently hinted that I shouldn't get involved. She grimaced slightly in dissatisfaction."We can conclude that he at least knows who did it, because it's impossible to miss the appearance of the Dragon Emperor on the political scene, but he won't tell us to avoid our hasty actions. Does Hedo accidentally want to get even with his offender?
"If he does, he won't admit it," she glanced at Rias, "In any case, I doubt that the current Dragon Emperor will be in our city, let alone at the school," the demoness snorted.
"You're right, let's forget about the incident for now. What shall we do about the candidates? We both know who we want," Sitri flashed her glasses, lifting the corners of her lips slightly.
"We both want the guy," Gremory nodded, blushing slightly, "Even despite his... tendencies."
"Madam President," the non-human spoke up, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, which made her blush.
"Yes, Koneko," Rias smiled encouragingly, "Don't be shy, we're all friends here."
"I crossed paths with the people you're interested in. You know that Nekomat have a special sense of smell; we can sense magic." The lady's nod prompted her to continue. "These Borgias smell strange, as if something is preventing us from sensing their true nature."
"Are you saying they're not who they seem to be?" Sitri narrowed her eyes, and her entourage tensed up, as did Gremory's.
"I can't say for sure, but there's something about them..." The cat shook her head, indicating that she couldn't explain her feelings.
"Interesting, but they didn't show anything out of the ordinary. They lived normal human lives," Rias said, placing her hand on her chin. "And why would they live here, in the middle of nowhere, and behave like ordinary mortals?
"Maybe they're not here of their own free will? Perhaps they're pursuing their own goals?" Queen Gremory, Lydia Fry, spoke up.
"The most likely reason is us," said Sona, "the sisters of the lords of hell. Are they gathering information? Are they watching us? Are they planning a kidnapping or murder?" Sithri got carried away, her mind conjuring up more and more theories.
"Sona! Stop it. These are all theories. After all, they have never shown any connection to the supernatural. Koneko herself cannot understand what she is feeling. Perhaps there is a long-standing connection to some magical species. They can't have such an appearance with a 100% human lineage.
"Maybe," sighed the brunette, "but we haven't solved the problem. Akeno and Vergil are the only candidates left in the city. We need to decide what to do with them."
Sona took off her glasses and massaged her nose.
"I had such a hard time documenting the consequences of his fight.
"You mean his exemplary beating?" Grémory snorted. "You liked what he did, so consider it payment for defending your figure.
"Yes, yes," the girl waved her hand dismissively, but blushed slightly. "I doubt we'll be able to separate this inseparable couple, so let's come clean and offer them a deal. Let them decide for themselves.
"Okay," Rias agreed easily, thinking about how to lure the people we're interested in.
"Now that we've decided on that, tomorrow after class they'll come here and we'll talk. Now let's discuss your budget." The red-haired girl's face twisted. "Come on, friend, what are you spending so much money on?"
"This is going to be a long conversation," thought Gremory as she drank her tea.
***
"Sazex, your sister has taken action. Why all of a sudden?" I asked Satan through the communication circle.
"The elders of the Gremory and Fenex clans have started pressuring her to finally get married," the man sighed. "So she's tearing her hair out. Have you invited her to tea at the club yet?"
"She wants to. Right now, she and the younger Sithri are discussing which of us sisters will get which husband," I grunt irritably, because the dragon inside me doesn't want to submit to the weaker ones, and part of Lucifer is rebelling and demanding that we kill them all. Hmm... Should a white cat have developed feelings? She seems to reject her power.
"My sister's queen decided to talk to the non-human and made her work a little with senjutsu. How did you know about the conversation in the club?" my companion asks, eagerly awaiting my answer.
"Gracia gave me the keys to the city's defences so I could keep an eye on the situation," I explained to Sazex. "And since she put defences not only around the city but also around the school and the club, it was just a matter of time before I figured out the keys, simply by trying them out based on the ones she gave me.
"Is she that predictable?
"No, it was just more convenient to have similar protocols for one city. Why bother, especially when the keys themselves are so complicated? Without them, it would have been VERY difficult to take control. Then I changed the defences a little, adding tracking spells, just in case.
Satan's heavy sigh was his answer. And judging by the sound, he had opened the bottle.
"I spoke with Azazel," the man began after taking a drink, "there are only a few months left before the summit, so various marginalised individuals and mercenaries are becoming more active. We are giving you the go-ahead to reveal yourself. You can go to them right now and tell them everything. You have almost completed your task in any case. So if they kick up a fuss, it won't change anything. A small seal appeared next to me, from which an envelope fell out. "This is my signed confirmation of your work for us. To everyone else, you're a mercenary.
"Strange, tomorrow I have a 'difficult' conversation with the kings, so this will come in handy." I took the envelope, checking what was written inside.
"You understand why we'll present you as a mercenary, don't you?" Sezeks hinted.
"You really don't want this engagement to happen," I roll my eyes, "Do you really think she'll want to hire me?
"Graphy has already hinted at something like this to her, I just hope Rias hasn't forgotten all those conversations. And since you're a demon, you're allowed to participate in the rating games under the old rules.
"What should I take as payment?" I said thoughtfully to no one in particular. "What resources does your sister have at her disposal?"
"You've already taken money, knowledge, and blood from me, and she won't agree to anything dark and black, so don't expect any souls. By the way, how's your experiment with my blood going?
"After the summit," I remind the impatient demon, "when, or if, you all sign, I'll give you a full answer. And not just to you, but to Az, Shamhaza, and maybe Ajuka. We'll never become one faction. And all you can demand from your sister is favours," I snap, "nothing useful to me.
"All right," Satan exhaled, relaxing, "have there been any problems lately?"
"Strangely enough, no. There were only two renegades in the territory of Kuo, six outside the city, in Japan, and no spies, although Kokabiel's angels have started appearing at the border.
"So he's chosen sides.
"You know his reasons, he wants to restore the angels' power and position on the world stage, which were lost after... you know what. You, Azazel, and Michael want the same thing for your factions, only Koki is too intolerant.
"If possible, capture the angels who have come to the city; Azazel and I will be interested to hear what they have to say. — said Tsuzeks," — Got everything?
"Yes, everything has been discussed.
"Good, I'm counting on you. Only a few months left, Vergilius." And he cut off the connection.
"How did it go?" asked his sister, who came in ten minutes later.
"Fine," I said, showing her the envelope with the contract. "We have a 'license to kill' and permission to provide security. And tomorrow we're invited to tea with the demons." I pulled the girl towards me and sat her on my lap. "They're going to recruit us!"
"Ooh-hoo-hoo," Akeno giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Judging by the look on your face, you want to do something out of the ordinary?
"Perhaps beyond the bounds of decency," I nod, "And there will be a cat there whose sense of smell can detect a great deal," I stroke the girl's thigh suggestively, sending a small electric shock through her arm, sending a wave of goosebumps across her body. "How would you like to make her blush with just one appearance?"
"Definitely..." she exhaled, taking off her oversized T-shirt and sending a magical impulse into the house. A couple of minutes later, her mother joined us.
***
The last lesson was over, and we were already gathering our things when we heard the screams of running baboons. More precisely, the screams of girls who had seen their beloved bisen, who had taken my first place in the school popularity ranking. And that was only because of my aloofness and the fact that I was always with my sister, which led all the boys to call me a sister lover behind my back. If only they knew they were right.
"Kiba-ku-u-un!" — the united cry of the kids pierced my ears.
The swordsman himself approached me and, with the most saccharine smile possible, which made my teeth literally ache, asked me to follow him.
"Hello, Borgia-senpai, the president and Citri-senpai would like to meet you and your sister.
"Why the honour?" — my dumb mode kicked in — "I don't think I did anything wrong."
"Oh, nothing," the guy raised his hands palms up, "just a chat."
"All right," I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Lead the way, Susannin. Akeno," I motioned to the girl who was waiting for me to make a move, "let's go."
"Who's Susannin?"
"There was one, a hero," I grunted.
"Oh," the blonde's eyes lit up, "He must have been a great man."
"Certainly. By the way, now that we've left the crowd, can you tell me what your president wants from us?
"I can't," the guy smiles apologetically, "I was only told to bring you here, no details."
"What a pity," I said, shaking my head dramatically, "I'd like to know what to expect."
"Here," the guy stepped away from the club door, holding the handle, "Come in, they're waiting for you."
The KON room greeted us with a slight dimness, the smell of paper, some incense, a pentagram in the corner and, yes, that very shower. My sister immediately noticed it and giggled.
Kings sat on small sofas around a table in the centre, while the other figures lined up against the wall. Except for the queens, who stood behind their kings.
On the table were cups of tea and bowls of various cookies, which the cat was devouring with her eyes, paying no attention to anyone around her. But sensing my sister's scent, her face turned an impossible shade of red, and she whispered, "Impossible," "perverts," "wow," and swallowing, tried to distract herself.
"Borgia-kun," — my face contorted at this address, which Sona saw.
"Just Vergilius, without the kun, titles, and other annoying nonsense, please, Citri.
"All right, Vergilius, Akeno, shall we get straight to the point?" A nod. "So, are you devout people?"
"Ahem," I tried to hide a chuckle, but failed, though my sister was more successful in this regard. "If you're asking if I worship any gods, then no.
"Is that so?" Rias raised an eyebrow. "Do you believe in the supernatural?"
"Yes, I do, because we've encountered it. It was a terrible story," I prepared to feed the people around us a line. My sister, sensing my mood with some kind of sixth sense, decided to play along.
"You're not talking about that case, are you?" Akeno looked at me fearfully, grabbing my hand tightly.
"What are you talking about?" The kings leaned forward intrigued, and even the entourage became interested, because no one had ever seen such emotions on my sister's face before.
"It's one of those stories that starts off badly," I said, leaning back on the sofa, sensing Lucifer's interest in my story. Even the dragon woke up. "It was a long time ago, we went to England. We were visiting one of my father's acquaintances, a lawyer who was supposed to describe the property of a family that had died in a swamp.
I clear my throat and continue, watching the redhead twitch slightly. Ah, she's very fond of the family.
"So, he had to live on the estate for a while and invited us to stay there. Everything would have been fine if it weren't for the locals, who tried to dissuade us from visiting the place, telling us about the ghost of a woman who killed children if anyone saw her.
Everyone around us tensed up, none of them liked the idea of children dying, and Sona's reaction was strange. She leaned back, took off her glasses, and stared intently at my face. Only her teary eyes spoiled the image of a strict teacher.
"The lawyer saw her first, and the next day a girl died after drinking acid, thinking it was water. Or maybe she was forced to drink it..." I said in a whisper, but the demons caught every word with their keen ears and tensed up even more. "Then I saw her when I decided to have some tea on the veranda. She was standing by the family cemetery, watching me with her dead eyes, but as soon as I blinked, she disappeared, and a dead crow fell onto my table.
God, how I want to know what they're thinking. Those faces... At least I started recording everything using their surveillance network. I'll show it to Azu and Sazu. And I'll review it myself.
"And that same evening, she attacked Akeno," — I take my sister by the hand and hug her, and she starts crying, "When I burst into the room, I saw a towel strangling my sister, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the woman holding it in the mirror. Then I managed to save her. And you're probably wondering why you didn't leave. At that time, there was a high tide, and it was impossible to leave the mansion, which was located on an island.
"What did you do?" asked Rias, who was dying of impatience.
"We decided to find out the history of that place and the reason for the ghost's appearance. It turned out that it was the ghost of a woman whose child had been taken away from her and who had soon drowned in the swamp, and she had committed suicide out of grief.
"And?" Sitri leaned in closer.
"We had to find the place where the car with the family drowned and pull out the child's body to reunite it with its angry mother." I shrugged, and Akeno hid her face in my chest, shaking with laughter, although from the outside it looked like she was crying.
"You... you dove into a swamp just to find a child's corpse?" Tsukaki looked at me in shock, and the others weren't far behind. I had expected this reaction.
"Yes," I nod sadly, "I found the body, the lawyer helped me get it out, and then we wrapped it in a blanket and buried it with its mother. And then it all stopped."
Everyone exhaled, not expecting such a reaction from themselves.
"Until I found out that the lawyer died saving his four-year-old son from a train when he deliberately walked onto the tracks. And now I don't think we've managed to put her to rest.
The girls (and Kiba) shuddered. Well, yes, to get rid of ghosts, you need special spells that not everyone knows. Demons can banish them because they are not so afraid of the restless, but souls like the Woman in Black cause problems even for them. Such entities can be too powerful at times.
"So our introduction to the otherworldly has been... unique," I shrugged.
"Wow," Gremory blurts out. "What if we say we're demons?"
"Show us and prove it.
Kings release their wings, and their entourage follows.
"And now?
"Compared to what I've seen, you're the nicest inhabitants of the otherworld," I compliment them, earning a pinch from my sister.
The girls blushed. So did Kiba... Wait a second. No, no, no. Come on.
"Ahem, we wanted to invite you to join our retinue. Mine or Sonya's. It is customary for demons to gather trusted people around them, whom they turn into demons with evil figures. — She showed me a figure of Rias' horse. "This will give you eternal life, wealth, and protection from other factions: angels, fallen angels, yokai, and the like.
The kings talked at length about the past war between the three factions, the redrawing of the world and spheres of influence. They talked about the prospects of becoming a higher demon with his own retinue and a possible harem (when they talked about him, they cast interested glances, which did not escape my sister's notice).
"That's all wonderful," I said, crossing my arms and sitting up straight on the sofa, just like my sister. The others noticed the change, but only Kiba was ready for battle. "Let me show you something."
I took the document Satan had given me out of my pocket and placed it in front of Sona and Rias. They began to read it, and as they realised what it was, their faces changed colour.
"Do they think we're completely helpless?" Gremory sighed, trying to calm herself.
"That's why I'm here," I said, drawing their attention. "I'm protecting you from outside attacks, from those who could disrupt an important event with your deaths. Even if you join forces, you won't be strong enough to repel the attack.
"And yours will be enough?" Sitri narrowed her eyes.
"May I?" I nodded. I removed my disguising artefacts, revealing part of my power.
"A fallen one, a demon, and a dragon?" the white cat gasped, "How is that possible?"
"So your story about the ghost is a lie?" Sona asked.
"No, it was just me. That creature didn't want to die, devouring the souls of children. So for me, it was the perfect candidate to test an artifact that was given to me by an acquaintance." I lied brazenly so they wouldn't find out I was an artifact maker.
"Who are you?" Rias flared up, summoning spheres of destruction, and her entourage sprang into action behind her.
"Calm down, you're too quick-tempered, Ria-chan," I called her the same name as Sazex, which shocked her, but she removed the sphere. "Strange. Who am I? Well, it's simple, I'm a fallen angel who became a demon. I was hired to protect the sisters of Satan to maintain balance in the world and prevent a new war.
"And your sister?"
"A fallen dragon," her sister replies, removing her disguise.
"I have been allowed to help you with some matters, of your choosing. But you must also pay for my services." Rias caught my hint and began to think about it intently, ignoring her friend who had looked away.
"Your reasons are clear," Sitri rubbed her nose. "But you really don't want to join one of the retinues?"
"No," I waved her off, "I'm already a demon, I have eternal life in my pocket. Literally. I also have artefacts," I summoned my mechanism, causing everyone to gasp, and one of the pervert's sisters squinted.
"So you took him from me," Rias says, "you're responsible for the disappearance of Hedo Issei?
"Yes," I nod, enjoying the reaction, "I took him out and brought the guy back alive. But I had to kill him at my friend's request.
"Aren't you afraid to admit it to us? His sister is here," Sitri hides her surprise.
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm stronger than all of you. I studied your powers in the documents from Sazex. And I confessed because I'm interested in your reaction. Especially that of that lovely lady over there, whose face... what emotion is that?" I can't even read her feelings, it's such a mess.
"Why are you so interested in our reaction?
"I'm bored, I haven't done anything big in a year. I'm itching with excess energy, and committing genocide on some imps in hell is boring.
"Who asked you to kill Hedo?" Miyuki asked coldly (?).
"I did," came the voice from the mechanism, "Ddraig, the red emperor of dragons. I wished death upon your brother for being weak, stupid, and perverted. His soul will suffer!
Why the hell did you say that? You're a piece of junk. Strangely enough, Ryu supported me.
"You did... what?" Sona managed to squeeze out.
"Oh, I condemned him to eternal torment in the mechanism. But I had a reason. — I raise my finger," — If you knew what I know, you wouldn't judge me.
What is this wave of happiness mixed with relief, lust, and adoration? I glance at Miyuki, whose eyes are filled with hearts. Literally. I can see them! But she quickly regains her composure without giving herself away.
"It's impressive. Not everyone knows about such rituals and spells. Especially modern demons of the New Lords faction," Sithri sighed.
"I can do a lot, even 'break chains imposed from outside' — well, I can't hint any more subtly than that. Rias, don't be stupid, please.
"Hn," — and Sona understood, look how she's smirking, "— We understand you. You won't join our retinue, but you'll help us for a fee. — I nod, "— Then I think we're done. All the best, Vergilius, Akeno.
"Bye, bye, Sona," — nod, "— Rias," — nod, "Girls, Kiba," — a chuckle, "Miyuki," — and a sly smile that I learned from Lucifer, or rather, he passed on some of his memories to me, thanks to which I learned a few tricks in magic and more.
We went home, wanting to take a walk before bed.
***
"Miyuki? Where are you going?" Gremory narrowed her eyes.
"I'm going for a walk. Don't worry, I won't do anything to them. I just need to think..." After receiving a nod, the girl headed for the exit.
***
As I approached the house, I sensed that Hedo had caught up with us and was already approaching.
"Master!" she threw herself into my arms, much to the amazement of my sister and mother, who had come out to meet us.
"What?" — my phone displayed a blue screen.
***
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