We finally understood why Raiser had gone missing. But the "Champion" himself, Diehauser Belial, was still nowhere to be found. In all likelihood, he was with Rizevim.
Sona, having regained her composure, stood up and narrowed her eyes at the Maou.
"Ajuka-sama, what exactly is the Champion's ultimate goal in staying hidden?"
She had pierced through to the heart of the matter.
He had conspired with Rizevim, assisted in the theft of Agreas, and used Raiser as bait just to secure a meeting with Ajuka-san. Now that he knew the truth about the King pieces, what was his next move?
Ajuka-san's answer was chilling.
"He intends to reveal everything we've discussed here to the entire Underworld—and to every other faction as well."
A collective gasp filled the air.
If the citizens of the Underworld learned the truth, their entire world would be turned upside down. The Rating Games were a beacon of hope, a dream that even Low and Middle-class Devils could climb to the top through merit. To learn that the system was rotten to the core—that even the rankings were a rigged charade—would destroy the spirits of everyone who lived for that dream. Even the children who looked up to the players as heroes would lose their light.
For High-class Devils like Raiser, who approached the game with genuine passion, this was an unforgivable betrayal. What had they been fighting for? What was the point of staking their pride and souls on a lie?
And if the truth came from the mouth of the Rank 1 player, the "Absolute Emperor" himself, the world would have no choice but to listen.
The fallout would be catastrophic.
"The sacrifices… might be greater than anything we've seen so far," Sona murmured, her face etched with bitterness.
She was right. Once the truth was out, riots were inevitable. The resulting chaos and bloodshed would likely be far more horrific than the damage already done.
Ajuka-san let out a slow, weary breath.
"There will be sacrifices. The gears have been forced into motion. Between the theft of Agreas and what's coming, we can no longer ignore the cost."
Azazel-sensei chimed in, his tone sharp. "But if the surveillance footage was seen, that means the old-guard Devils heard your entire conversation with the Champion. For a bunch of fossils obsessed with their own profits, that conversation is a death sentence. They must be panicking."
"Indeed. I've falsified the recording of that encounter to an extent, but the elders are likely already moving on instinct," Ajuka-san replied.
"Thorough as always. I take it that even if the Champion makes his move, you already have a countermeasure in mind?"
"I am a King of Devils, after all. I consider it my job to do the things Sirzechs cannot. He is the face; I am the shadow."
"Fair enough. But when it happens, try to keep the body count low."
"I am well aware. I have no intention of letting innocent civilians pay the price for the elders' sins."
For a moment, Azazel-sensei and Ajuka-san locked eyes—two leaders, two titans of their respective races, sharing a silent understanding of the weight they carried.
Sensei broke the silence with a smirk. "Well, thanks again for the help with Raiser. My student here can finally breathe again." He reached out and ruffled Ravel's hair.
With Raiser being safely returned to the Phoenix estate, we had at least closed one chapter of this nightmare. Ravel and the rest of her family could finally find some peace. Once this meeting was over, I'd have to make sure Ravel got home to see him. Maybe I should go with her?
Ajuka-san smiled back. "It was the least I could do, former Governor. It would be a waste to let such promising young talent die. The current state of the Rating Games is a result of my own shortsightedness; I let my guard down."
"Hey, it's no different from international sports in the Human World," Sensei shrugged. "You invented the game, but in every era, the moment a creator takes a step back, the vultures move in. Don't beat yourself up too much."
Ajuka-san gave a small shrug. "Even so, I cannot simply watch. If I don't intervene where I can, things will only spiral further. However…" He turned his gaze toward us—the members of D×D. He looked at Rias, then Sona, and finally settled on me. "The current generation—especially you all—are becoming a true force in the Underworld. I believe that you, and even Raiser Phoenix, are the keys to changing the Rating Games for the better."
"Actually," Sensei laughed, "it might be fun to just have these kids go pro right now and break the elders' noses. With their current strength, they'd tear through the upper rankings in no time."
Sensei was laughing, but his eyes weren't joking. He was dead serious.
Ajuka-san looked intrigued by the idea. "That does sound entertaining. I'd love to see the looks on those old men's faces. Tell me, Sekiryuutei-kun…"
"Yes…?" I asked nervously.
"Why don't you go pro? With your current power and the strength of your Peerage, I suspect you could crush the top rankers with ease."
What kind of crazy proposal is that?!
"Uhh… well…" I stammered. If it were a straight-up brawl, maybe? But the Rating Games have all sorts of complex rules. I've barely played at all—my match against Sairaorg was basically my only real experience on that stage.
Well, I suppose I could rely on my manager, Ravel. She's been through pro matches as part of Raiser's peerage. She knows the ins and outs of the game better than anyone in my team.
I was about to turn to Ravel to see what she thought, but Sensei suddenly shook his head.
"Actually, let's forget I said that. If Issei enters the Pro League, the entire power balance of the Rating Games will just cease to exist."
"Hey! That's a bit mean, isn't it?!" I protested.
"Think about it, kid! You've got a 'King' who evolves into nonsense forms using 'Breast Power' or whatever you call it. Your 'Queen,' 'Rook,' and 'Pawn' are absolute monsters who made names for themselves in another world. Your 'Bishop' is the daughter of a Maou from another dimension and an immortal Phoenix. Your team is a walking cheat code. You're not 'young prospect' level—you're an anomaly."
Maurice-ossan chimed in then. "Hold on a minute, Azazel. Who are you calling a 'young prospect'? I'm a middle-aged man, can't you tell?"
"By Devil standards, you're practically a toddler," Azazel retorted. "For the record, Ajuka is centuries older than you."
"No way," the old man muttered, blinking in surprise.
Right, I keep forgetting. Maurice-ossan looks like an older guy to humans, but Devils live for thousands of years. Sirzechs-sama and Ajuka-san look like they're in their twenties but they've been around for ages. My sense of age is getting totally trashed lately.
Realizing he was technically a "youth," the old man rubbed his chin. "I see. So you're saying I'm still young enough to 'Let's Party'?"
"You bet," Sensei grinned. "In fact, I know a great place we can go. We can 'Let's Party' all night long."
"Oh, I'm in. Let's go."
The two "old men" actually shook hands on it.
'Let's Party'? What are you two planning to do?!
I noticed Reina-chan giving Sensei a look that could kill. She was clearly ready to shut down any "partying" to make sure he actually finished his paperwork. Good luck, Sensei… you'll need it.
I turned back to Ajuka-san. "I'll… uh, I'll think about the pro thing."
"There's no rush," Ajuka-san smiled. "I'm sure you're far too busy to play games right now anyway. But I do look forward to seeing your team in action one day."
Man, talk about high expectations.
Well, it wasn't happening today. But if I ever find the time, I should definitely study up on the Rating Games. If the system really is as black as they say, it might be satisfying to go in and smash the elders' toys right in front of them in a fair, public match.
Ajuka-san's expression softened. "I'm putting a lot of pressure on you youngsters, and I apologize for that. But please, persevere. We will handle the politics from above. No matter what happens next, I just need you to be where you're needed—fighting where you must, and protecting what you love."
It was a simple, direct request. Even if we shouted until our lungs gave out, the elders wouldn't change. So, we'd just have to do what only we could do.
Suddenly, Azazel-sensei held up a finger, his expression turning serious again. "One more thing, Ajuka. How many of those 'King' pieces are actually out there?"
"The production line was stopped after the initial batch," Ajuka-san explained. "I never shared the manufacturing process, and since I'm the only one capable of making them, it's impossible for more to be created—not even by a god from another world. Therefore, only the initial lot remains. By my count, there are nine in existence. I've recovered some, including the ones from the Champion. Including the one I'm holding, I have four in my possession."
As he spoke, a second King piece appeared in Ajuka's hand. This must have been the one he got from Diehauser.
Sensei's face darkened. "That means five are still in the hands of the elders. That's more than I'd like. In the wrong hands, that's enough to flip a battlefield. Depending on who uses them, you could end up with five new Satan-class threats. There's no telling what kind of monsters those pieces will create."
"I intend to recover every single one of them, even if it takes thousands of years," Ajuka-san vowed. "Since I created them, it is my responsibility."
It made sense. A piece that could multiply someone's power a hundredfold was too dangerous to be left in the hands of corrupt politicians.
A question flickered in my mind. "Does Rizevim know about the King pieces?"
"Most likely," Ajuka-san replied. "However, the King piece has a fatal flaw. If someone who is already exceptionally powerful—or someone with a highly unique ability—uses it, the piece causes a power 'overflow.' At best, it's useless; at worst, it's fatal. Even if you survive, the damage to your soul is irreversible. In that regard, Ophis's snakes are far more efficient. They offer a similar boost with virtually no risk."
I see. It was a high-reward, high-risk item. A gamble with your very life.
Rizevim might be a man-child, but he's still one of the "Transcendents." Using a King piece might literally kill him. Even a guy like him wouldn't take that risk just for a power-up.
As I was processing this, Ajuka-san turned to Sensei.
"Former Governor Azazel, a word of advice from my side."
"What is it?"
"You should be careful. Honestly, if I were the enemy, you are the first person I would target to dismantle Team D×D."
The room went silent. We all looked at the two of them.
"You are far too capable," Ajuka continued. "Not just as an advisor to this team, but as a bridge between all the factions. Your knowledge and your brain make you the linchpin of this entire alliance. Therefore, you are a target. Though… I suspect you already know that."
Sensei gave a dry laugh and shrugged. "A God of Destruction told me the exact same thing not too long ago. Don't worry, I've got a few defensive measures up my sleeve."
Targeting Sensei…
In terms of raw combat power, Team D×D might be fine without him. But we only made it this far because of him. He's the one who talks to the other factions, the one with the knowledge to navigate these crises, the one who plans our moves. To us, and to the VIPs of the world, he is irreplaceable.
That's exactly why the enemy wants him gone. He's the biggest thorn in their side.
Please, Sensei… don't do anything reckless. I thought. He's the type of guy who tells us not to take risks while he's secretly doing something crazy in the background.
Sensei shifted the subject back to Ajuka. "I hear you've been sticking your nose into some pretty strange places yourself. You've almost tracked down the remaining Longinus, haven't you? Innovate Clear and Telos Karma. I heard you were using your own 'Game' to handle it… does this space have something to do with that?"
Two more Longinus names I didn't recognize. And they were connected to this place?
Ajuka-san shook his head. "I'm afraid that is my private domain. Even with your knowledge of Sacred Gears, you won't be able to track them. After all, they exist outside the laws of this world."
"Is that so?" Sensei sighed, offering a wry smile.
And then—it happened.
Two small communication circles manifested simultaneously near Ajuka-san and Azazel-sensei's ears. Both men went silent as they listened to the urgent reports coming through.
Ajuka-san's eyes sharpened. Sensei went pale, his voice failing him.
Ajuka-san turned to us, his voice like ice. "Return at once."
"What happened?!" Rias demanded, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Ajuka-san's words hit us like a physical blow.
"Ophis has been attacked by Evil Dragons. And…"
Ajuka-san's gaze locked onto me and Miwa. At the same time, Sensei stepped forward and gripped our shoulders.
"Issei, Miwa… stay calm and listen to me."
"Sensei… what is it?" I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Sensei took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a grief I hadn't seen before.
"Just before the attack on Ophis… your parents were also targeted while they were out. And… Diarmuid is in critical condition. He's on the verge of death."
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