(Bael Clan Estate, Bael Clan Territory, The Underworld, Earth, DxD / Draconic Deus Universe)
Corvinus Bael sat at the Table as he looked over Financial reports. His development of the Territory had been expensive but it served a purpose, as in Cannon Sairaorg's Devil Servants with Human Ancestry or Pure Devil Ancestry were from Houses Considered extinct, but if he took those houses under his banner and Reincarnated other Races such as the Nine-Tailed Foxes, Fallen Angels, or Powerful Magicians and married them to the Devil's in question he would a) Revitalize the 72 Pillars, b) he'd introduce Pure Devils with new traits such as Holy Lightning or a resistance to Holy Energy.
It might fly in the face of the Great King Factions Stance on Purity, but it provided a means to Revitalize their races Families without limiting the options of our own kind more and more.
For Instance it was only a matter of time before everybody was essentially an inbred relative of their own betrothed. By introducing Reincarnated Devils who were once Dragons, Vampires, Fallen Angels, Humans, Magicians, Yokai, or otherwise they'd diversify the Gene Pool as a whole, decrease the odds of extinction or inbreeding, Revitalize potential opportunities for influence and expansion. And the truth was that while the offspring would inherit their non-pure Devil's Powers, a Devil was still a Devil, Reincarnated or otherwise.
This simply meant that in addition to rebuilding their population they were paving the way for Families to inherit new Powers for Military Conflict and it didn't necessarily mean the loss of their Noble Rights and Stock, but could be a way to acquire new or useful Families and traits to improve their own standing.
If Corvinus got the Three Major Families that headed the The Great Duke, Prince, and Marquis Factions on Board he'd be able to Pass it easily, especially if all Four Satan's got on board.
Part of the reason Corvinus wanted a big Harem was so that he'd enjoy himself and his future Descendants would enjoy the fruits of his labors. Admittedly Issei could have proven invaluable in this regard as he though intolerable by Corvinus Standards, was at least enough of a good guy for Corvinus to respect.
But Corvinus was admittedly a Control freak, and Issei was a problem because his growth as a Devil was simply too big of a threat to his plans. It was regrettable that extracting his Sacred Gear killed him, bit it served a purpose that Corvinus hoped would help save lives and improve their position.
Honestly wasn't the only females in the Pillars not to fall for Issei nowhere near as useful to him as those who did? It was a sad truth to Issei fans, but let's be honest it's a hell of a lot easier to explain yourself when your parents walk in if you watch something where the MC less than half as perverted as Issei, like even the Other Perverted Trio members though assholes weren't as bad as Issei, they happily embraced their status as Pervs, but when Issei got all important as a Devil pre-peerage it was embarrassing. Just look at episode 1's Bout with Sairaorg in DxD Hero for the necessary proof.
But digressions aside, Corvinus had to look over the payments to the Bael Family from Lilitifa Vepar's loans for her fashion business. He offered a reduced interest if she made House Vepar a Bael Vassal of the Bishop Variety. She accepted and he began spending more time with her than many might deem appropriate...She was after all a thing of Great Supernatural Beauty.
Perhaps it was this reason that He'd been receiving invitations to privately hosted family dinners.
Either way The Books were clean, and nothing was out of order...
His Financial reports cleared, and an hours free time meant he was given an opportunity to train. He'd focused on basic strength training as a way to gradually ease himself back into his Strict Training Regimens. But this meant his extra-curricular Training with Kuroka had taken a lesser rank in priority.
Corvinus also began to recognize that in addition to his previous actions, in his acquiring the likes of Kuroka, Siegfried, and potentially Leonardo and Georg he'd Inadvertently created additional problems for himself. Siegfried had yet to acquire his Second and Third Demon Swords which were proving difficult to track down. And Kuroka wasn't as strong as she was in Cannon. By Contracting a Pact with Georg and the fact they regularly met up for tea he also put himself on Indra's Radar as if beating Yu-Long on Indra's Mountain hadn't done that enough. Leonardo had proven less adept in the creation of Anti-Monsters than in Cannon which was problematic but not completely unfixable.
Now the only thing that made all of that a less important list of his lists of Problems was the fact that Sun Wukong had begun inviting himself over for a cup of tea and the look in Cao Cao's eyes was unnerving. Yes, Corvinus had given the boy a nudge towards his future goal as the Leader of the Hero Faction but this was something deeper and more profound.
Corvinus also recognized that his Peerage was starting to get a little too overpowered. He needed to turn away from Powerhouses in a certain area to specialists in one or two fields. Kuroka was counted as a Wizard and Technique-Type in Rating Games, while Siegfried was a Technique leaning towards a Power-Type. He needed Peerage Members who could function as a Support-Type as their Primary. Now theoretically Leonardo's Golems could be considered Support but let's be honest There is no Healer in his group, and Kuroka though capable as a Healer was not a Healer Specifically. He lacked a person who heals and a person who traps.
It was irritating to realize this, but was early enough not yet become a serious issue if rectified quickly if not immediately. But of course this had to be something thought out very carefully. It was simply maddening to know that unless he wanted to thoroughly and quite seriously fuck up the Timelines Immediate Future. It was maddening because any fan worth their weight in gold would instinctively turn to Asia, Valerie Tepes, and Ravel Phenex.
Now Corvinus would hardly be surprised if his father -may he freeze his balls off in Cocytus - hard preemptively attempted to betroth him to Ravel Phenex. So he was slightly less concerned about attaining her. Now Asia was a tough decision since Recruiting her would be a future and slow process and after depriving her of Issei's Power he kind of did feel inclined to throwing her a bone even if that deprived him of Asia's invaluable Twilight Healing Skills. Of Course Ravel's brilliant mind and her general versatility in Tactics made her almost as valuable as Asia in terms of support value but much more valuable in overall usage since Asia's Sacred Gear was purely a Healing Type and she was essentially a Damsel in Distress no matter how you sliced it.
Valerie Tepes...hmm, how to put it.
Her Longinus is invaluable especially being as complete as it is, but those ghosts, the general issues of the Four Holy Artifact Sacred Gears that get involved and the fact that because it's The HOLY GRAIL and not A Holy Grail means three things: number 1): The Pawn Value will be quite high. Number 2): Despite being a Dhampir she's not necessarily in a better situation than Asia as she is a former Vampire she has an additional modifier to her Weakness to Holy Light and Swords. Number 3): It also attracts the attention of Euclid Lucifuge, Rizevim Livan Lucifer, and the Other Qlippoth Inner Circle Members earlier than would be wise in the fan opinion of Corvinus.
There was maybe one or two others who might be able to fulfill the role he needs but either one was more than a little problematic until Season 3 had past them by. Ugh, what he'd give for a stiff drink right about now...
Quick A/N:
So from now on gonna try and include dialogue that isn't simply filler or filler-like stuff. Also hope we can put this feud to bed, I'm tired of it, it serves no purpose and it's fucked so I'm asking again if we can put it to bed.
(Zekram Bael's Study)
Opening the door to Lord Zekram's study within the Bael Family Estate Corvinus looked him squarely in the eyes. "Honored Lord Ancestor, we really need to have an important talk." Says Corvinus with determination.
Chapter End
