I'm back! I posted this story thinking it wouldn't be well-received, but the favorites and follows seem to have proven me otherwise. For one, I just wanted to thank those who followed and favored the story, and read it up until that point!

Second, I just wanted to address a few questions some of you may have, and a bit of other…well, less than pleasant bashing I got before. It's not entirely in the reviews section, but I'll address it.

1: I received some bashing for this story for several reasons, and negative reviews usually don't bother me, but here's the thing. Bashing? Flaming? Quite bluntly, just ripping it apart with no constructive criticism? None of that. I won't tolerate bashing or just flaming the story because of petty reasons or unconstructive ramblings. As far as I am concerned, that's where I put my foot down.

2: Yes, Issei is not in this story. Not because I hate his character, but because that's not the story I wanted to tell. I wanted to tell the story of a different protagonist who's inspired by Tekken, and so I decided to do that.

Plus, Issei as a character isn't entirely unlikeable. Just not my cup of tea, I suppose.

3: If people start wondering about why Li managed to knock out Raynare in one hit? Well, it wouldn't be fun if I revealed it all to you here.

Overall, that's enough from me, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the chapter!

Chapter 2: An Offer Refused

Li didn't exactly sleep poorly, but he did wake up much earlier than usual. As he stares up at the ceiling of his apartment, he looks to his right to see the alarm clock. It was still earlier than he needed to be for school. Li hummed in curiosity, although more than that he calmly rose from his bed. As soon as he did, Xiao the canary began singing in her bird's nest, and Liao the parrot began squawking.

"Wakey-Wakey!" Liao squawked in a mimicking, but sociable manner. It wasn't exactly too tone-deaf, but Li did teach him that line in particular. If it had been time to wake up for school, then Liao certainly picked the time to do so. Right as Li woke up too.

"I'm awake." Li spoke calmly, although he took a deep breath to relax and wake his system fully. He stood up from his bed and proceeded to feed his birds like last morning.

The process felt calming and relaxing to him again. Liao, Xiao, and Kevin are all feeding properly, their water tanks are full, and Li himself had a good night's rest.

That doesn't mean he forgot about yesterday, especially not about 'Yuuma'. If that was even her real name, Yuuma looked directly at her intent to kill him beforehand. Li only had a vague idea of why she would want to, but he figured that her intentions were to have been followed. It's not as if he was clueless, but he wondered why she felt the need to target him. He had an idea, but he needed a more plausible reason for that suspicion to be confirmed.

Even so, he didn't let that ruin his morning.

Li simply put on his uniform the same way he did last time, but since the top two buttons popped off, he wore the under-shirt like usual, and the blazer completely open. He felt comfortable with it, but now that things had happened last night, he needed to be on guard just in case anything else happened in the future.

And so, after petting his birds and refilling the tanks with food and water, Li makes his way to school.

The rest of the school day went by as normal, although he had to deal with very different rumors today. Li noticed that while the boys seemed indifferent, jealous, or petty to his presence; the girls felt only slightly more interested, and yet they also seemed to be ogling at him for one reason or another. Usually with fantasies in their head.

If anything, Li kept hearing in between classes as he walked through the halls regarding an incident with the Perverted Duo and what he now realized was the kendo club from before. That was like…two days ago, and everybody already had something to say.

Either he was there at the wrong time, protecting the Kendo club from the perverted Duo, or he happened to beat up the Perverted Duo for bumping into him. Those were superficially hyperbolic, so Li didn't care to hear or even overthink the rumors.

More than that though, on occasion he felt certain eyes on him that were more discerning and…analytical. He didn't pay much attention to it at first, but most of them came from his own classroom, and usually, he was met with a pair of gray eyes from another student with short blonde hair. He seemed to be studying him at times, but his polite smile gave Li no reason to feel threatened.

There wasn't much ill intent, but rather anticipation, and a lingering question in those eyes. Why? Well, Li didn't have a good answer for that yet.

This leads us to the end of the school day and the final bell, where Li had finished his books and simply put them back in his school bag. Currently, he was admittedly calm and undisturbed, until he heard squeals, cheers, and essentially what can be considered the sound of girls being excited.

As he turned his eyes towards the door that led to their classroom, he noticed a group of girls herding around one young man in particular. Li figured they were all the same age, but the young man looked…what was it that they called it here? Prince-like? Li didn't understand, but he could say that this young man with the gray-eyes had the youthful appearance one might expect of a prince. He wore the same uniform as he did, but unlike Li, he completely buttoned it up and seemed much more composed and polite about his stance.

Li briefly made eye contact with the young man, and he decided to approach Li's desk with a small wave of his hand and an award-winning smile. "Hello, Feng-san."

This surprised everybody in the classroom, as usually Kiba had been seen by most of the students to be busy with his club as well as his studies. Needless to say, he is usually admired from afar rather than personally known by a lot of people.

Which is why Li simply blinked, because he didn't really recall or know much about this young man, and he knew his name. Li simply addressed him with a calm expression, despite it looking somewhat intense. "Can I help you?"

"Sorry to interrupt, but I came here at the request of my Club President to come and pick you up." This young prince explained with a simple smile. "I'm Kiba Yuuto, vice-president of the Occult club. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Now that Li had a closer look at the now-named Kiba, he noticed all the details about his character. His smile is polite, and the picture-perfect figure of a gentleman. And for the most part, Li assumed that everybody is happy to believe that Kiba has nothing else going on behind that smile other than a sincere gentleman's etiquette.

However, Li himself noticed that Kiba possibly hid something behind that smile. Not that Li could assume exactly what sort of secrets he hid, if they were even well-kept secrets. After all, Li isn't a mind-reader. However, Li didn't need to wait to sense what Kiba truly was. It took him time since the first time he saw the crimson-haired young woman, but Kiba now had that sensation of…half human, and half sin.

Still, Li remained silent for now and hummed, "I see."

…

An awkward silence followed, with Kiba and Li staring at each other. While the background chatter of the girls had something along the lines of…male-on-male fantasies, Li didn't listen to that drivel, simply staring at Kiba who blinked and chuckled sheepishly.

"What's funny?" Li asked.

"Oh, nothing. I just realized that it was true, you don't speak much." Kiba gave a lighthearted smirk, but rubbed the back of his head.

"I'm waiting for you to lead the way," Li said that as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You know my name, you stated your business. I am complying."

"Oh." Kiba blinked a thin expression of confusion, before chuckling again. It seems that to Kiba, Li is an intriguing personality so far. Straightforward, to the point, and such. He can respect that. "Fair point. Follow me."

Everybody squealed in awe and excitement, while Li just nodded and stood up firmly while following Kiba from behind. As they made their way out to the hallway, a myriad of reactions followed from the boys and girls of Kuoh Academy.

Confusion, awe, some slight jealousy petty anger, and even lustful thoughts. The lustful thoughts are mostly from the girls.

Even so, Li did not speak much along the way, prompting Kiba to lead him with some questions.

"So, Feng-san. How long have you been in Kuoh?" Kiba made some slight conversation, although he also glanced at him with an inquisitive eye.

"A week," Li stated with a deep hum.

"I see." Kiba nods with a smile. "And you seem to have gotten used to Kuoh Academy, as well as Japan as a whole it seems. I figured that we'd have a transfer student, but I honestly thought you were a foreign exchange student the first time I saw you."

"I've been to Japan before, but I understand your confusion," Li stated again but did not follow up with any more conversation. It seemed he was intent on keeping the conversation light, as the sun began to set at the moment, and they slowly approached what was the old schoolhouse building. It seemed much more archaic, but also useful and refurbished at least. The school campus may have been large, but this building seemed to be more out of its way from all the new advancements.

"I'm sure you didn't expect this at first," Kiba explained with a slight chuckle, although he noticed Li's expression of curiosity and stoic demeanor. "President managed to acquire this building once the new main building was built. It seemed a waste to let the building waste away, so I suppose the President figured it would be put to good use. Considering our club, I think it's perfect."

"...I see." Li nods, firmly tilting his head and crossing his arms as he examines the building. In his head, it made sense that Kiba, being what he is, would need prying eyes away from the general public. But Li didn't say this, no. Instead, he stated, "It's old."

"...yes, it is. That's why it's the 'old' main school building." Kiba chuckled sheepishly, shaking his head subtly. He looked amused, but also rather friendly about it. "It's an older building, but it checks out."

Li had to admit, despite Kiba hiding more than he lets on, he's humorous enough.

Kiba knocked on one of the sliding doors of the building, with Li following behind him. Hearing a beckoning voice urge them to come in, Kiba slid the door open. To Li, he was curious about the entire room as a whole due to its composition. It was a cleared-out classroom, with wood-paneled flooring and a chalkboard hanging on the wall behind a desk. One damning detail as to explaining who Kiba was associated with, was the chalk drawing of a large and complicated circle in the center of the room. This looked unfamiliar to Li, but he had heard from his master that Kiba's kind had been prone to using circles for transportation.

"Hm…" Li hummed, taking a look around the vast room.

"Is it to your liking?" Kiba asked with a smirk.

"It's…roomy, I suppose." Li's frank response was followed by a stoic blink. "If not very suspicious."

"Hehe, well, don't worry about it for now, President will explain it in due time."

"You keep saying that, but I have yet to meet her, and you haven't explained why she needs to see me."

"True, but it involves all of us." Kiba nods with a sheepish smile.

While the occult theme of the entire room is obvious and very much present, with the tables with candles, skulls, and the symbols on the chalkboard; there was a curious young girl with white hair sitting on a couch and eating what Li assumed to be Japanese sweets.

For a brief moment, he recognized…a lot, about what she was. With his training and practice, he had been able to pick this up, and his readings were a lot more telling. However, he didn't delve too deep, lest he make it too obvious.

Instead, he took a passing glance at the…young girl. If you could even call her a young high school girl. While she must be at least 15 to be considered a first-year, her petite figure, slim and proper as well as a face that looked younger than 15 made Li almost think otherwise.

Her eyes were a deep hazel, and her hair was a pure white with two long bangs running down past her shoulders and her entire hairstyle was a short bob cut. She wore a pair of black, cat-shaped hair clips on both sides of her hair.

"...Kiba-san." Li referred to him for once, prompting a small tilt of Kiba's head.

"Yes, Feng-san?"

"...who's this?" Li points a finger at Koneko, who interrupts her munching to stare back at Li with an equally stoic, but more cutesy expression. Much like a kuudere.

"Ah, this is Toujou Koneko." Kiba gestured to her but smiled politely. "But we all just call her Koneko-chan here. Koneko, this is Feng Li."

"...hello." Koneko's voice sounded young for her age, but she also had an equally frank and blunt way of saying things. However, Li noticed…a familiarity in her eyes.

Not the kind that indicated they ever met before, but rather the kind that showed this Koneko being familiar with him. Li didn't particularly sense any hostile intent in her much like Yuuma, instead, he felt like she was observing him for a long while.

How much she knew, Li didn't want to assume, but he can make a few predictions.

Li and Koneko simply stared at each other silently, prompting Kiba to look between them. Before Kiba could say anything, Li stated, "Hello."

…cue another awkward silence, to which Li noticed the sound of running water amidst the silence. However, he turned to the other side of the room, a curtain covering the other room…and Li wondered what had to be hidden behind that curtain. He thought it was just a bathroom with a sink, but that didn't make sense to include a curtain unless it was–

Oh. Li blinks, and his stoic demeanor hides a sense of surprise and…weirded-out feelings.

It's a shower, that is next to the main club room. And the curtain hid enough, but Li could see a womanly silhouette through the shower curtain, and the steam that poured through the sides and over the top.

"...Kiba-san."

"...yes, Feng-san?" Kiba asked, again.

"...why is there a shower next to the clubroom?" Li asked with a seemingly confused, albeit curious voice.

"Oh, that? That, partially, was the President's request. She likes to be prepared like that in such a case." Kiba explained naturally as if it were a normal thing by this point.

"...I…see." Li didn't understand why such a thing even needed to exist, or why a shower is like that to begin with, but he seemed to hide that question for himself anyway.

"Oh, I see you've arrived." Her voice sounded mildly amused, but she called out in the shower. "I'll be done in a moment."

"Whenever you're ready, your clothes have been laid out for you, President." A new voice resounded, different from the amusement in the president's voice. However, this one sounded more professional…and yet teasing.

Li took immediate notice of the person coming out of the curtain, a young woman who he could only recall being…well, a surprisingly accurate representation of Japanese beauty. Her long ponytail and raven hair gave that away. Her violet eyes met with his jade-green eyes, and immediately she smiled with a curve that gave Li…even more cause to wonder.

"My, My." Akeno walked towards Li with polite steps, although she also looked rather…ahem, joyful in particular to get to know the young man. "So you are the young man President has taken an interest in. May I say, I can certainly see one reason why."

Li blinked, his stoic expression confused for a brief moment and yet unfazed. "I see. And you are?"

"My apologies, my name is Himejima Akeno. It's truly my pleasure to meet you~" Akeno gave a slight bow, her smile teasing and yet laced with impure thoughts. Although, as she raised her head back up her breasts bounced softly, giving Li the realization that these female uniforms were tight-fitting and yet not built for modesty.

Not so much a problem as it was a confusing piece of knowledge for him.

"I see…" Li didn't linger his eyes on anything else but the shower curtain… his expression was stoic and yet confused.

"Hm? What's the matter?" Akeno followed his gaze and smirked in a teasing manner while covering her mouth with one hand. "Oh, I see. Are you hoping to get a closer look~?"

"No, I'm not," Li stated with certainty and respectful denial, making Akeno only teasingly giggle again.

"Sure you're not." Akeno's giggle gave Li the indication she was a huge tease.

"No, I'm not," Li stated once again, blinking.

"Sure you're not~" Akeno just retorted with once again more teasing.

"...does he know?" Koneko added from her seat.

"I don't think we ever told him…but knowing him he's probably figured it out," Kiba added as well with a minor chuckle.

Aside from all the conversation, the sound of the shower curtain sliding to the side made Li turn to her again. The president finally walked out of the shower curtain, fully clothed for once. However, what struck Li as a realization…was that this woman had the same long, crimson-red locks of hair that reached down to her knees.

The same woman from two days ago, from the window. Li suddenly a lot of things about her, although he waited for her to explain everything.

"Thank you for waiting, Feng Li." The 'President' walked behind the desk and took her seat. Her smile for one was professional, and yet friendly enough to be considered devilish if one looked at it hard enough. "It's finally a pleasure to meet you in person. The new transfer student of Kuoh Academy, if I am correct."

"Yes, that is me." Li stoically remarked, his face neutral and yet firm. He remained silent and attentive, as he took a seat at the couch next to Koneko. However, she stopped nibbling on her snacks and sat up more attentively. "And you are the president of the Occult Research Club."

"Yes, that is me." The President giggled in amusement but gestured to herself. "But you may call me Rias Gremory, for now."

"I'll keep that in mind, Rias-san," Li remarked with a slow nod, although he also noticed Rias's eyes slowly raise a brow. Still, her smirk remained. "You had Kiba pick me up because you wished to speak with me?"

"Straight to the point, I can respect that." Rias nodded with a smirk before her countenance and expression turned sincere. "So that there is no confusion, I know what happened last night…between you and 'Yuuma Amano'."

Li remained firm in expression and neutral in presence, but he stared at her eyes with his own jade eyes. "I see."

Rias noted his attention and continued, "I have one question. How much do you know about the Supernatural?"

"Hmmm?" Li raised a brow, but Rias noted not any confusion or disbelief, but rather a curiosity. "What makes you think I know about the Supernatural?"

"Well, normally I would believe that a normal person wouldn't believe in superstitions like that…except, Koneko here can attest that you know something about the supernatural." Rias gestured to Koneko, who paused but nodded with her kuudere expression.

"...I had my familiar been observing you since two days ago. When you first met Yuuma." Koneko revealed with an honest nod.

"And, what did you observe, Koneko-san?" Li remarked with a firm glance, which only made Koneko stiffen up a bit but also relax after a second.

"...I don't know how, but Shiro saw that you were strong enough to defeat her," Koneko explained. "And…you did not waver when she revealed what she was to you."

This, for one, didn't surprise everybody, but even Kiba and Akeno were now attentive. It almost seemed to Li that they all had been told this information. Of course, to Li he figured that they must have been observing him for a while now.

"...You were too composed for such a reveal." Koneko continued before Rias gave a nod in agreement.

"Not to mention you spared her.." Rias continued. "While that sentiment may have been appreciated, I doubt she'll take it as well as you expected her to."

Li didn't respond to that statement, simply remaining calm.

"So, I ask you again, Feng Li. With what you know now, how much do you know about the Supernatural?" Rias asked, her eyes sharp and her smirk interested.

"..." Li remained silent, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes in thought. With Rias' transparency and willingness to let him know he was being observed by them beforehand, Li felt a sense of trust she was offering him, and he was willing to do the same as well.

Not that he knew their agenda or much of their motives, but Li didn't sense any ill intent from Rias…but simply composure, and yet a sense of slight anticipation.

"...very well, I suppose it doesn't hurt to explain." Li sighs softly, but opens his eyes and explains. "You are right on one hand, I was composed against Yuuma, and I defeated her swiftly. On the other hand, this is the first time I have ever seen a Fallen Angel in my life."

"So you do know what a Fallen Angel is," Rias remarked. "Then I assume that means you know of the Three Factions?"

"I know about them on paper and spoken knowledge…but I have never seen any of them up until yesterday. I have known about the Supernatural since I was 6 years old," Li explains, but he also looks at everybody in the room, including Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno. "But if you asked me whether I met Fallen Angels, Angels, or Devils…I couldn't tell you from personal experience how they are."

Now that reveal of knowledge did surprise Rias for a bit, although she remained composed. Even so, internally she's also very much intrigued and curious.

"You only know of the Three Factions on paper, and yet you easily accept that we exist. Interesting." Rias spoke giving a good look over at Li, and his expression. "But I assume you don't know why the Fallen Angel, 'Yuuma', attacked you last night?"

"I have a few ideas, however, I have a feeling you know the answer. Don't you?" Li's expression turned calm, and yet his jade eyes when staring at Rias made her take a minor pause for breath.

Soon, she smiled and stood up from her seat. "Yes, you would be right. That Fallen Angel, as far as I know, attacked you for fear of a great power you have within you. Something that most beings of the Supernatural would only dream of receiving themselves, and that humans alone can be given from the day they are born. Feng Li, the reason that Fallen Angel attacked you, is because of your Sacred Gear."

"I see." Li blinked, his expression intrigued by Rias' enthusiasm. "That at least confirms it for me."

"Yes, I suppose it does–" Rias nodded for a bit, but soon blinked with a confused expression. "Wait, confirms what?"

"That they were targeting me for my Sacred Gear. That is what you were referring to, yes?" Li crossed his arms, and once again stated honestly.

"...you, you already know about your Sacred Gear?" It's amusing that Rias acted out with a blink, seemingly caught off-guard. The rest of the group also seemed surprised, in varying ways of course.

"Yes." Li nods, although the silence that followed prompted Rias to ask. "For six years."

"I…assume you're going to tell us more about this?"

"Not now, no."

Rias raised a brow, although she asked even more again with insistence. "And why not?"

"I'm not obligated to tell you much about myself, after all, I am not part of your…peerage." Li looked at Koneko, Kiba, and Akeno in succession, to which they all held varying reactions of confusion, intrigue, and amusement. In that order at least.

Rias giggled at that, although she found herself more engaged and intrigued by the young man. Just how much he knew, she wondered. "Pragmatic and secretive. We'll see how long that lasts. For now, you are aware that you will be targeted by Fallen Angels now that they know about you."

"Yes."

And so she continued, "Unfortunately for them, and thankfully for you, they have intruded upon territory that doesn't belong to them, so they are enemies to both you and me. Which gives me incentive to protect you from further attacks, if you wish to receive my protection."

"And why would I need protection?" I asked once again.

"Li. The Fallen Angels, Devils, and Angels all have their grudges and grievances against each other. They also have their agendas when it comes to whatever plans they may have for Sacred Gear users. I wouldn't be surprised that the Fallen Angels would be willing to resort to more underhanded methods to get rid of you." Rias stated firmly and crossed her arms below her chest. "Even though you defeated one Fallen Angel, that doesn't mean you'll be so lucky the next time you fight them. They may have already taken that into account."

"They will, but you shouldn't underestimate me," Li stated firmly, not offended, but rather stating the truth.

"I'm not. I'm simply offering you an alternative in case you ever need one." Rias states with a sweet smile, not devilish in the slightest.

"And what is the alternative in this case?" Li asks.

"...why, that you join my peerage, of course." RIas' smile turned more intrigued, and yet honest and certain. She steps out of her desk and walks to be in front of it. "If you know about my peerage, then I suppose you already know what we all are."

Koneko stood up from her place on the couch, although Kiba, Akeno, and Rias all remained in their spots. However, Li felt a gust of wind and heard the flapping of leather on leather. They revealed their wings, bat-like and wide in wing span. Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, and Rias all stood there with their wings, confirming Li's initial suspicions.

However, Li simply stood up and looked Rias in the eyes. "You're devils."

"Of course. We are Devils, beings of sin." Rias states with a smile, although she slowly extends her arm for a handshake. "Now that you know the truth about us, what do you say? Will you agree to join me?"

Li blinks for a moment before he crosses his arms and closes his eyes in thought. If anything, the offer itself did provide a few benefits. Li could take the offer and become part of her peers. From what he knew, he could gain more power and even some benefits. How he would join the peerage, he didn't know, but all he knew was that Li would also have been given protection and an easy route.

"I see…" However, Li simply takes a deep breath. It was short, but he sighed out in disappointment, his expression a brief frown. "You're that kind of person."

"...?" Rias blinks, raising a brow. "What do you mean by that?"

Of course, this also confuses the rest of the peerage.

"If I told you, you wouldn't learn now would you?" Li firmly states, although he turns away from her and goes to the door. "While your offer is noted, I'm going to have to politely refuse."

"W-What?" Rias blinks, for once her expression baffled and confused, although a tad bit indignant as she frowned and yet looked at him. "For what reason would you refuse? You do understand what this means?"

"I'm not that helpless, Rias. And neither am I so flippant as to reveal the fact that you are all Devil's so willingly." Li states firmly, as he walks to the door, and turns his head to stare at them all with his jade eyes. "While you have no ill intent, I can't take your offer so willingly. However, if you wish to remain acquaintances, I shall keep that in mind."

"S-So, you won't join my peerage, but you wish to remain as…partners?" Rias blinked, but she also seemed confused as to the sudden disagreement.

"Perhaps. But for now, you keep in mind why I refused your offer. Good evening." Li turns back to the door, and he slides it open before exiting the clubroom. By now it was evening, and the sun was about to set.

Feng Li preferred to get back home and take care of his birds. Kevin in particular must be agitated by now.

The clubroom remained silent, and to be fair, only one person here was mildly non-plussed, if not slightly offended.

Kiba Yuuto didn't have much of a negative opinion of Feng Li, but he felt disappointed and yet amused by Li's polite and yet frank refusal of Rias' offer to join the peerage. The same can be said for Akeno, who despite being willing to tease Rias about this later, still found it curious how the young man didn't take her offer immediately. Most boys would be frothing at the mouth to get to join. Koneko, despite her outward stoicism, internally felt as if she had been missing something about his Feng Li. Could he be overestimating himself? If he was, then why did he not feel the need to boast about it? To Koneko, it felt more as if he was confident he didn't need to join the peerage, even if he would have gotten a lot of benefits from it. And yet he refused?

Needless to say, the three half-devils are curious, amused, and overall intrigued if not skeptical about his refusal and his curtness.

But Rias Gremory in particular sat back down in her chair with an exasperated sigh and a petulant, almost spoiled frown. She hated acting like this, but in times of a great opportunity being presented, especially by her, she hated losing a potential servant even more. Especially one that she had been observing, and even was lucky enough to survive an encounter with a Fallen Angel.

"I suppose that could have gone better." Kiba hummed, although he gave a polite sheepish smile to his president. "Feng-san's going to be difficult to convince."

"Tell me about it…" Rias sighs, but she states it firmly as she leans back in her chair. "I didn't expect him to refuse me so willingly, and with no understanding of his situation. Does he want to be targeted by the Fallen Angels?"

"Well, considering his confidence, I doubt we have to worry about him. But to think, that the President let pass a valuable ally." Akeno stated, although with a lilting tone of a tease, hiding her smile. "Who knew about his Sacred Gear no less? My My, this is unfortunate for us."

"I know, Akeno." Rias curtly stated with a hopeless expression, which can be only considered comedic.

"...we could always keep an eye on him," Koneko stated honestly, as she went back to nibbling to her Japanese sweets. "...he doesn't look against working with Devil's."

"That may be so, but then what are we to do if Feng-san walks into a supernatural incident that he's unprepared for?" Kiba hums, cupping his chin with one hand as he expresses concern. "And what if we aren't there in time for when it happens?"

Rias couldn't help but find it concerning, agreeing with Kiba's sentiment. After all, as far as she knows, humans are a fragile race. There may be exorcists and even fallen exorcists but those are no issue compared to a Devil, reincarnated or otherwise. The real issue is what happens if Li ends up getting blind-sided by the Fallen Angels that are targeting him, or what happens if he ends up getting ambushed by a potential Stray Devil?

She didn't underestimate him, not at all, not like he seemed to suggest. But Rias didn't believe he could win when he was at a disadvantage.

And so, she thought, as everybody remained in silence, Even if I can't immediately get him to join me, I can at least strive to make a positive rapport with him…even see if he can get to cooperate with us, as well as protect him without making him a piece. For now, at least.

A smirk played on her lips, her confidence returning as well as a sense of smugness. Something which didn't go unnoticed by Akeno, who simply smiled silently.

Of course, it all seemed so simple. Rias wouldn't want to force someone to be part of her peerage, but this opportunity would be wasted if she didn't at least try to convince him.

Just give it time. There will soon be a chance to convince him otherwise. Rias thought to herself, her smirk widening to an almost self-assured confidence.

Hey, hey, hey! So, I know I didn't reveal everything yet, but I did reveal a little bit of everything right now.

For one, Li knows about the supernatural and knows about his Sacred Gear.

Two, while he did know about the supernatural, he isn't too knowledgeable on what happened with the Three Great Factions, but he is aware of other aspects of the Supernatural, especially one other faction. What that faction is, I will leave to your imagination.

Three, He isn't joining the Rias' Peerage…immediately. While I know that joining her peerage is on one hand a common technique for these kinds of stories, I didn't want to immediately have Li join since he's a bit more…discerning, if not somewhat skeptical. Or picky.

As I said, he didn't join because Rias is 'that kind of person', but I will explain that in future chapters.

And even then, Rias is not someone to give up so easily on a potential servant who can supposedly fight, especially if they know about their sacred gear. Overall, there are still a lot of unknowns in the story, but that's why I am drip-feeding the information essentially.

Either way, enjoy that information drop and be sure to wait for the rest of it. The next chapter is going to have a fight scene, but it will serve a different purpose.

Feel free to leave a favorite, follow, or review! No flaming, or bashing, but if you have any concerns, feel free to leave a critically constructive review.

This is the Maelstrom, and I hope to see you on the horizon!