"The Betrayal of a Lifetime." A DxD Fanfiction
Chapter 17. "Power Play"
Scene (Gregori)
Sitting in a large and obsidian colored brick room, we see a few people sitting at a large and equally black table. At the head of this table, Azazel can be seen, wearing his ever usual yakata. He has a very serious look as he waits for a reply. Across from Azazel, we can see Vali Lucifer who has an equally serious look. Sitting in the middle of table, we can see Penemue, (who is wearing a black blazer with matching skirt). She has a tablet of sorts as she is waiting to resume her typing. Vali simply shrugs. "As fun as it is to pluck your feathers, to be perfectly honest with you, no, Azazel, I am not hiding the Sekerutai, nor do I have him in a kidnapped sort of position. I mean, seriously, what would I have to gain in taking that boy against his will?"
Trying to find anything that would tell him that Vali was lying to him, Azazel scans the devil with scrutiny only to find nothing out of the ordinary. "Well, Vali…I do indeed have a plausible scenario in which you would hide him at least. He is your rival. But knowing you, it's all about the fullest extreme, going all out in a fight. With that, my assumptions would lie in the fact that you would want Issei to get stronger. Heck, you might even be training him yourself for all I know." Vali smirks. "Azazel, I think you are just having a bit of wishful thinking. Wouldn't it be convenient, dare I say, "a cut and dry case", if I were to indeed know of Hyoudou's whereabouts?" Being smacked in the face by the very thick book of logic, Azazel relents.
"Alright, brat, maybe you have a point. I have a proposal, will you listen?" The whitehaired Lucifer slightly nods while maintaining a grin. "Right, well let's say that you, or I, hear anything about said Red Dragon Emperor, in the near or later future, how about we offer exchanges of information on a temporary basis? That is, until Issei is found." Vali retorts, "IF he is found, you mean.." Penemue stands up as the two on each end of the table look up toward her. "Azazel, show some respect. Vali, stop being a pessimist. And you over there, don't you have anything to add?" Azazel and Vali train their eyes on who Penemue is speaking with. Standing up from a chair in the corner, we see a blond man with a wild type of hairstyle. He is wearing a maroon outfit with his chest exposed. Grinning while showing a few of his canine teeth, the blue eyed man opens his mouth.
"Riser doesn't have an opinion. Riser only cares about bringing that kidnapped shrimp back to Riser's sister. Riser will burn anything that gets into Riser's way." Rolling his eyes, Azazel thinks to himself, "STOP IT with the third person shit ALREADY! Seriously, was he born like this? Did his mom drop him so hard that his brain was too damaged to regenerate properly? Oh well, if it makes Ravel feel better, then that would make Issei happy, wherever he may be." Penemue politefully replies, "yes, Riser sama, that is good. You did a good job. You can sit back down now and I will order you a hot chocolate, alright?" Riser smiles back at Penemue like a simp.
"Wow, Riser can tell that this hot fallen wants Riser badly. Hmm, maybe if Riser plays it cool, Riser will get more than just hot chocolate…" Penemue smiles warmly while thinking to herself. "What a good and simple boy. Oh, I should get him that hot cocoa, maybe a bib too? I should probably talk slower for the poor child too. Oh, what a brave little soul!" Meanwhile Azazel and Vali are perplexed at the situation, however the two of them were thinking the same thing. "Does she think that Riser is developmentally challenged?"
Scene (Yasaka Castle)
Issei is looking at Ophis with a bit of paranoia plastered to his face. Ophis smiles victoriously. "Worry not, Red Dragon Emperor, for I can protect you." Yasaka interrupts while pulling Issei closer to her. "Not needed, thank you very much!" Ophis tilts her head. "Fox, compared to my power, you are but a child. I may not look it, also, I am not boasting, however, in my true form, you and your entire faction wouldn't have the slightest hope in even wounding me, let alone defeating me. D'Draig knows of what I say to be true. It would be inadvisable to test my strength." Yasaka is about to flare her power once again, however Issei pushes the woman behind him as he extends both of his hands out, protecting the fox queen. Ophis's eyes widened at this gesture. That in itself made Issei flinch.