AN: To anyone who hasn't noticed last chapter's edits, the bare minimum payment per Stray's now 6k dollars, and the payment from killing both strays last chapter was 15k dollars. It was raised due to the previous number being a product of my poor understanding of international economics. My bad, but what can you do. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

I awoke inside a dark void, where blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda.

Rubbing my eyes in annoyance, I went right up to the computer set and glared at the screen, mad that this fucking XP count had to take place inside my dreams. Waking up inside this void felt like getting splashed by a bucket of water while you're napping.

Especially when you practically pulled an all-nighter and it interrupted your ONE chance to doze off.

"Fucking YHWH and his fucking level-ups."

I was feeling a bit cranky, but that was natural. I had just spent the past day bored out of my goddamn mind inside the Strays' house, only to find myself unable to go back to sleep due to having to prepare for the next mission's trip.

Still, the reminder that I had an absolutely ridiculous shit-load of money served to appease my crankiness… that, and the new toy Yasaka gave me before I got on the bus.

…In bliss, I shuddered as I remembered the new weapon. If the M1911 already had me creaming my pants in pleasure, the fucking monster that was now inside my backpack would make me paint the whole world white.

No. Stop it. Concentrate. No more allegories for cum, just level-up and get back to sleep.

I agreed, but only because if I went to sleep, I could then awake and gaze at my darling new friend a bit longer.

GREETINGS INCURSOR.
TODAY'S INCURSION HAS ENDED.
INCURSION SUMMARY:

MONEY = $58 USD → $15,041 USD
BULLETS = 25x 0.45 Bullets + 40x Light Bullets → 125x 0.45 Bullets + 36x Light Bullets + 100x .460 S&W Magnum Bullets

EXP COUNT:

10000 [XP] required for LVL.5

Ricochet Shots! [4 Times Hit]: 400xp
GLORIOUS Hustle! [10k+ USD]: 2000xp [XP CAP HIT!]
Killed Stray Devil [Sander]: 1500xp
Killed Stray Devil [Liara]: 2000xp [XP CAP HIT!]
Large Target Obliterated! [Liara]: 500xp

7900 [XP] ⇒ 14300 [XP]

You've hit an XP CAP, limiting the XP you should've gained to your current level's XP CAP (2000xp). You shall be granted a number of Y$W$ as compensation.

GLORIOUS Hustle! [10k+ USD]: 1,000,000 XP → 100 Y$W$ (Y$W$ CAP HIT!)

Killed Stray Devil [Liara]: 2100xp → 100 Y$W$

You've hit the unremovable Y$W$ CAP, limiting the Y$W$ you can gain at a time. There is no compensation for this.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 5!

+1 SKILL POINT.

Since you've reached LEVEL 5, you can now choose to switch to a different main skill tree. There are two modes of switching: Full Regret or Expansion

You can switch your main skill tree every 5 levels afterwards.

[Full Regret] Switch: Completely scrap your main skill tree progress, including your starting skills, and receive a refund for all your upgrades in it. You will receive the starting skills from the newly chosen main skill tree, but will lose out on (1) skill points (This number will increase depending on your level).

[Expansion] Switch: Halt your progress in your main skill tree without refunding and switch the progression to a new one. You will not receive the tree's starting skills for free.

WILL YOU SWITCH SKILL TREES?

[YES]

[NO]

"...What do you mean there's a fucking cap."

I read the summary again. Then again.

"Fucking-"

Firmly, I smacked the computer screen, as if the contents of the summary would change at the first sign of physical violence. Seeing how it didn't work, I smacked again. Then again.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

"I HAD A MILLION XP YOU FUCKING-!"

Again, I hit it. Then I kicked the PC tower. Once, twice, thrice, I kicked it again until I left a visible dent and my (dream) foot began hurting.

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THU-

"FUCK YOU! WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE AN XP CAP! THAT'S BULLSHIT! YOU COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME MORE THAN 100 YAHWEH BUCKS YOU FUCKING-!"

Angered, I clenched my fist and reared it back… and then stopped. I was just about to smash the computer screen to smithereens, barely stopping myself from probably giving my fist a good coating of sharp glass.

"..."

If I went and smashed the fucking thing like it deserved, then knowing how cheaply made this fucking Incursor System crap worked, I'd probably still be expected to select my level-up shit without a screen. I'd have to fumble around with the mouse until I eventually clicked something random.

"...Fuck's sake."

Glaring something fierce at the inanimate object, I lowered my fist, still clenched tightly. Slowly, I tried to rationalize the new information that, of course, I learned after the fact and not before. I could do nothing but assume this choice was made out of sheer pettiness.

So, there was an XP cap, and if you met that cap, you got compensated with Y$W$... which also had a cap of just 100.

The fact almost made me kick the PC tower again.

So far I had gotten not even a single hint of when these Y$W$ would show up again or when I could use them, but at least now I knew of a "reliable" way to get them. Just XP cap some bullshit and then get those as compensation.

…It was a very slow way, though, with that stupid 100 Y$W$ cap.

Feeling myself about to get irrationally angry at inanimate objects again, I decided to promptly move onto the next part of my level-up: the skill tree switching.

To me, it didn't feel worth it.

Sure, I could get some skills from the other skill trees that looked cool (main example being 'the Precise' skill tree) but so far focusing in on my coins had given me a very huge leap in terms of DMG, making me able to obliterate Stray Devils in a single second.

No, maybe I'd switch at level 10 once the opportunity came by again, but for now it was all coins for me baby, especially now that I had an incomprehensible amount of moolah to play with.

I moved my mouse to click on the [NO] option.

Skill Tree Switching refused.

You may switch your main skill tree again at LVL. 10.

CHOOSE A NEW SKILL!

On the last level-up, [Coin Stacker] was chosen.

[The Perfectionist]:

TIER 3 SKILLS [Coin Stacker]:

[Perfect Coinage]: Hitting a [Ricochet Coin] within a very specific timing with a projectile makes it so, aside from enabling ricochet for the projectile, a [Coin Bullet] is generated and is redirected towards the nearest threat. The DMG of the [Coin Bullet] depends on the DMG of the original projectile and the value of the [Ricochet Coin] multiplied by 4.

[Going All In]: When creating Ricochet Coins with [Coin Maker], you can choose to say [BET] out loud to create a [Betting Chip]. Betting chips have no value but count as Ricochet Coins. At the moment of saying [BET], you choose a specific high-risk maneuver to perform with a projectile ricocheted from / or using the [Betting Chip]. The maneuver can range from killing something, destroying something, incurring specific reactions, etc. As long as the [BET] is high-risk, it can be called to create [Betting Chips].
Winning the [BET] will grant 777 [Perfect Stacks] and the [Gambler's High] state for sixty seconds, which prevents the user from losing [Perfect Stacks] and boosts their physical stats significantly.
Losing the [BET] will remove all [Perfect Stacks] and grant the [Gambler's Shame] state, which will prevent the user from gaining any [Perfect Stacks] for sixty seconds and lowers their physical stats significantly.

[Weaponized Stock Shares]: When creating Ricochet Coins with [Coin Maker], you can choose to create an [Ultra-Coin]. These coins have a $1000 minimum cost and have a number of differences from normal Ricochet Coins. They have all the benefits of Ricochet Coins and can, at total will of the user, remain in the air for a set period of time, move within the air in a certain radius, HOLD a projectile instead of ricocheting it and shoot it and lastly, generate [Coin Bullets] to shoot them.
Every one of these special [Ultra-Coin] actions cost $100, which is deducted from the initial [Ultra-Coin]'s value. If the [Ultra-Coin]'s value falls below $100, it loses its [Ultra-Coin] status and turns into a normal Ricochet Coin instead. If an enemy or neutral party touches or moves the [Ultra-Coin] it instantly disappears.

[Pyromancer]:

[Basic Pyrokinesis]: Grants the ability [Pyrokinesis], making you able to generate a flame in your hand that can be expanded and controlled. It is limited to your hand and upon throwing the flame or dropping it, it will die.

{Gunman / Pyromancer} skill available for unlocking!

[Actual Finger Gun]: Grants you the ability [Finger Gun], letting you use your hand to shoot fire bullets. The strength of the bullets will depend on the progress of the [Pyromancer] skill tree.

[?]:

By reaching LVL.5, you can feel the presence of a secret skill tree within you… Meeting the following requirements will unlock this new skill tree plus grant you a free skill point to be used exclusively within this skill tree.

Die horribly! - [2 / 6]
or…
Have 25 [Humanity] within you, while being un-hollowed - [1 / 25].

Note: there may (or may not be) other secret skill trees within you. The requirements of secret skill trees (if they exist) are revealed every 5 levels.

…And there ended the page.

I processed all the information I just got vomited with a concerned face. For something as quaint sounding as 'Level 5', the skills were starting to get frankly absurd. Sure, [Perfect Coinage] didn't sound too wild, in fact it was the safest and honestly the one I should be picking due to how it simply raised my DMG and didn't put my safety in danger. There was literally no downside to choosing [Perfect Coinage].

…On the other hand.

I suddenly slapped myself, harshly, strongly and with full-force, knocking my head sideways.

"No, no, I am not gambling," I spat out, some actual disgust seeping into my tone. "I am NOT a gambler. This is an afterlife. We do not gamble like that. Not anymore. No. Nope. NO."

[Going All In] sounded really, really, really-

"I am SANE, I've got a JOB now and I'm not IRRATIONAL and am NOT led around by my dick with STUPID GAMBLI-!"

REALLY FUCKING FUN.

"I haven't changed in the slightest!" I screamed to the void at the realization, falling to my knees and holding my head in genuine dismay. "FUCK!"

I JUST HAVE TO GO, SAY [BET], DO THE THING AND I GET 777 FUCKING STACKS! THAT'S STUPID! THAT'S SO FUCKING COOL!

"Not even a job will get these stupid ideas out of my head! WHY DO I FIND THIS COOL!?"

777 STACKS! 777 STACKS! EVERYTHING FUCKING DIES AT 777 STACKS! AND I GET FUCKING [Gambler's High] ON TOP, TOO! CONSEQUENCE FREE SHOOTING! FUUUUUUUUUUCK!

As the feeling of excitement from my most caveman part of my brain continued to roar uncontrolled, my most rational side tried to keep shit together and actually break down the skill's pros and cons.

Cons: This was only useful when making [BET]s, which by definition only worked by doing something high-risk, which probably meant feats of accuracy (like shooting a very small target) won't count since, to me, those weren't high-risk. This meant that I'd ACTUALLY have to risk my ass if I wanted the bonus, and the penalty for losing made it so anything supernatural that didn't have a Light weakness would become unkillable thanks to that fucking [Gambler's Shame] state. If I lost a [BET] I'd probably die very quickly.

Pros: 777 STACKS, BABY! BIG MONEY! I POINT THE GUN AND EVERYTHING IN THAT DIRECTION DIES FOR ONE MINUTE! WHO CARES IF I DIE AND LOSE!? I'M IMMORTAL, SUGAR! WOOOOOOOOOO!

"...There is a strong case to be had with those pros."

Even with my rational side screaming at me to be careful, it wasn't like taking this skill would be absolute garbage. I was immortal, which meant that I could afford taking these big risks for the sake of winning. To pretend I didn't have one of the most gigantic advantages ever conceived would be the height of stupidity. In the same way, blindly rejecting [Going All In] out of my previous life's experiences would also be completely idiotic.

…

"I'll consider it," I ended up stating, as if I wasn't screaming into the air like a maniac seconds ago.

Lastly, there was [Weaponized Stock Shares], which ALSO sounded fucking ridiculous. I could just throw an [Ultra-Coin] and, if the description was to be trusted, make it shoot shit for me while in the air. I could throw more coins into the mix to enable [Perfect Stacks] and increase their DMG exponentially, not to mention the fact they moved. The [Ultra-Coins] sounded really, really, really good.

One problem: The cost.

Sure, at the rate things were going I'd end up being able to afford a trillion [Ultra-Coins] without issue, but that was in the FUTURE, and I was currently living in the NOW. And in the NOW, paying $1000 for one [Ultra-Coin] that could, at the most minimum price-point, only shoot ten times was just not worth it. That also didn't mention that others could mess with the coin and make the investment worthless, which wasn't something I could afford right now.

That left the Pyromancer skills, which I again ignored entirely. There was that supposed 'secret skill tree', but I needed to complete one of the two requirements before it unlocked. I'd probably do the Humanity one, especially since I was about to acquire a high-number of those in the mission I'm currently going to anyway.

Judging by the requirements for the skill tree, it'd probably be something related to my Undeath. How neat, how nifty, I sure wanted to develop the thing that's going to eat my mind alive.

So, it was a choice between [Perfect Coinage], the perfect boost to my DMG that I could really use right now, or the risky and perhaps stupid skill that I may never get to take advantage of: [Going All In], that was tied entirely to the hands of fucking fate and-

[Going All In]

CONFIRM?

[CONFIRM][CANCEL]

I quickly pressed CONFIRM like a kid excited to open his new toy, and soon enough I could feel it within me. The power… THE POWER…

OF BET.

Off-handedly, I looked at my right hand, and thought of something I could bet on that would require using that nifty [Betting Chip]. I bet that I can break this place's floor?

…No, nothing happened. That wasn't a high risk bet.

I bet that I can destroy that computer's screen. I bet that I can swallow the [Betting Chip]. I bet that I can KILL FUCKING YHWH.

…That one neither. Well, it wasn't like I ran any risks, since it was an impossible feat with no repercussions in the first place since I couldn't even start it. Hm, running risks…

I bet that I can destroy my own eyeball with the chip.

As I thought of that horrid sentence, both of my hands became faintly surrounded by a red glow, a misty trail of energy drifting off of them.

Oh, so that was a high-risk thing, since I was risking my eyeball… but I could regenerate it at a bonfire, right? So it shouldn't be risky. But what would happen if I destroyed it right here, right now? Would it remain broken in the waking world? Would I feel the pain? Oh, I really felt the pain when kicking that PC tower, so probably yes. Oh fuck, it would hurt like a fucking bitch, wouldn't it?

As the train of thought went on, I realized that yes, this did count as a high risk bet, because I was risking a lot of immense pain and uncertainty in regards to how things would proceed after I did such an excruciating thing. This meant that high risks could be a lot more vague than just doing something of a high difficulty. Maybe it relied on my own perception?

…Welp, regardless of the facts, there was one thing to do now.

Following my newfound instincts, I tightly clenched my right fist and held it up in front of me, raising it as if issuing a challenge to someone.

"Bet."

In an instant, I felt the red misty energy from my hands coalesce into a red poker chip within my right fist. It had a light, yet very luxurious feel, and it emitted a faint yet powerful red glow that promised untold power. I knew in that instant that fucking up a shot with this chip would make me regret a shit-ton of life decisions, as if I what I was holding in my hands was dynamite.

I looked at the chip, then thought of the sickly bet I just made.

…

"Yeah, I'm not doing that shit."

I felt super cool summoning the chip, but I wasn't about to bust my own eyeball just to test crap. Frankly, I had enough of harming myself for the sake of testing my abilities with my little suicide from my second day. I'd leave experiencing [Gambler's High] and the 777 [Perfect Stacks] for when I actually achieved them, sad as it was to put it off. I just didn't have it in me to destroy my own eyeball.

…Hey, it did end up being high-risk, eh?

Seeing as the chip still didn't disappear after I gave up on destroying my eye, I figured it'd disappear after I used it. So, I flipped the chip like I would a coin. It did a very pretty arc in the air until it landed on the voidy-ground thing.

The second it landed and it didn't achieve its purpose, the chip burst back into red mist and shot itself right at me, actually pushing me back slightly and surrounding me completely in its red misty energy. And I FELT it.

[Gambler's Shame].

"Oh godda- FUCK!"

I felt weak. So debilitatingly weak. My knees hurt from holding my paltry body weight up, and my arms hurt from existing. Wincing, I forced myself to take a single step, and I managed, but not after a lot of pain and also slowly.

Oh, this fucking sucked.

This was horrible. I didn't want to even experience the full sixty seconds of physical weakness, I just wanted to get out of the void back into sleepy-land. I quickly went over to my character-sheet to do the final check-up so I could get the fuck out of here.

Since you've reached Level 5, you have been designated a new title, in accordance with your build path and XP gaining methods.

You are now [the Cash Hobo]: Lives for the Money yet Lives on the Streets.

Your Main Skill Tree has been renamed to [Cash Perfectionist].

Name: Daniel García, [the Cash Hobo.]
Level : Level 5 [Cash Perfectionist] Undead Gunman.
XP: 14300
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Skill List:

[Perfect Shots]
[Perfect Stacks]
[Stylish Twirl]
[Coin Flipper]
 [Coin Stacker]
 [Going All In] (NEW!)

Perk List:

Eyes Everywhere
Sharpest Shooter

Trait List:

Darksign

Conditions:

Undead (Darksign)

…Why were things in my vicinity so insistent on giving me nicknames? What was so wrong with good old Daniel García that they felt the need of stapling additional shit besides it? Why was THIS nickname absolutely insulting, too? Is it a CRIME to not want to pay $200 for a fucking room!?

Still feeling terribly weak and in pain, I quickly pressed [CONFIRM] so I could get back to snoozing.

DAY-END SUMMARY DREAM CLOSING…

…

…

…

DREAM CLOSED.

SWEET DREAMS, INCURSOR!

And the lights went off.

Unlike all the days I had spent here in the accursed lands of DxD (of which my current theory was that it had something to do with guns) I didn't get woken up by loud cars, or loud alarms, or unpleasant smells.

Instead, I got woken up by a gentle, mindful shake of my shoulder.

"We're about to arrive, Husk," said a demure, pretty voice to my right.

Of course, thanks to E.E, I already knew who was beside me even with my eyes closed, so I didn't get surprised. Instead, I just blearily opened my eyes, rubbed them sleepily, and only to fulfill basic human etiquette, I looked right to address my companion for this mission.

A very pretty, white-haired young woman wearing the same issue of suit as mine, matching me tit-for-tat in every piece of clothing was sitting down primly. The only thing that would clue you in that she wasn't a normal woman would be the obviously striking short white hair and the fox features hidden within her body, which included a white pair of ears and a white fluffy tail, all curled up and hidden somehow within her lean figure.

Since the white hair was normal in this world and her foxy features were hidden, she just looked like a very well-dressed gal.

"Thanks," I mumbled in lieu of a response, still sleepy as I cranked my neck and sat more upright on the bus seat, bringing myself back to the land of the living.

"Do you need any reminders for this mission?"

"I don't think so?" I told her, sounding rather unhelpful. She probably thought the same as her professional mask faltered with a slight frown. Not wanting to disappoint the pretty woman (she was really pretty) I corrected myself.

"We just go to Rias' HQ, we more or less tell them they can go fuck themselves and that they need to let us operate as we wish, then we go and kill every Fallen and Stray Exorcist hiding here. Afterwards we take a cool pic and send it to both heiresses to rub salt in the wound."

I failed in not disappointing her, her frown still remaining probably thanks to my language, but she nodded in the end. "Indeed, although I'll remind you that you are the one tasked with the main brunt of the kill-work."

"Right," I muttered. I looked out the window, seeing the familiar landscapes of Kuoh Town. "You're just here to do perimeters, yeah?"

"Perimeters and talking. You're to remain mostly silent throughout this entire process."

It was now my turn to frown. "I'm not that bad at talking," I mumbled, the words not sounding right the second they came out of my mouth.

My companion quieted down, as if choosing her words carefully.

"I'll be completely honest with you, Husk," she began, slowly. "Lady Yasaka, when briefing me, expressively told me to let you speak as little as possible, especially to the heiresses. She told me, and I quote, 'don't let the gaijin vomit toilet humor at them'."

I stopped looking out the window and turned to her.

"Really?"

My question seemed to carry a bit of a pitiful tilt to it, considering the pity I got from her eyes in turn.

"Really."

I hummed, then turned back to facing the window.

"Well, she probably thinks that the kick in the nads that is me showing up just days after rejecting her desperate offer, fully clad in Yokai paraphernalia is enough. I don't know why she's so focused on antagonizing these high schoolers, though."

"Me neither," she agreed, surprisingly. I turned to her with a raised eyebrow, not expecting her to actually find fault in something Yasaka did, since I was expecting another total bootlicker.

"Not enthused with your Lady Yasaka's method?"

For the first time since I met her (i.e. a few hours ago) she showed me an expression of reluctance with a complicated frown on her pretty face.

"I'm just not that happy that I'm being made to fully antagonize the Gremory and Sitri heiresses while having zero backup aside from a human with a gun that just yesterday had his first mission."

I shrugged, her concerns mostly reasonable.

"An immortal human with a gun," I corrected, helpfully.

She glared at me, not amused with my comment.

"I'm not immortal, if you hadn't noticed."

"Then I guess that's why you're just doing perimeters, Kaede."

It seemed like I again stepped on some hidden boundary, as she looked mildly flustered at my comment. Then corrected me, a bit pressed.

"Fujiwara," she stressed. "You can just call me Fujiwara."

With the most long-suffering sigh that I could muster for the sake of theatrics, I gave her a look, as if she was saying something stupid.

"So damn formal," I began. "I'd call someone by their surname if I'm scolding them or I'm like, their superior. But you're an agent, just like me. So calling you just Kaede's fine, the same way you can just call me Daniel instead of Husk, like a normal person. Using a codename while on the bus makes us look like we're secret agents or something."

"We are secret agents."

I waved a dismissive hand.

"Who cares. If you want, I can call you Fujiwara when we're having the talk with Rias and her group of high-schoolers to keep up appearances."

"You… are not supposed to talk much there, Husk."

I let out a small 'Oh', feigning surprise.

"Then I guess I'll just have to call you Kaede, like a normal person. Hi, good morning Kaede, I am Daniel, your coworker."

Kaede gave me an unbelieving stare, probably because she wasn't used to getting arguments in regards to whatever the Japanese naming etiquette was, but finally she sighed in resignation.

"Fine. You're only getting a pass because you're a gaijin, otherwise I'd insist on the surname. I don't want misunderstandings."

"Misunderstand what? I swear, you Japanese have some odd boundaries on stuff. Very uptight with the formalities, very loose with the feti-"

"Husk."

"Alright, alright," I relented, still having made my point, our conversation soon falling into dead silence, both of us looking at nowhere as time passed.

As the silence began getting too long between us, I noticed Kaede leaning back on her seat, letting out a soft sigh while closing her eyes, and as soon as she did, I promptly decided that I wanted to know this co-worker a bit better, the action looking too cute to ignore.

SUE ME, it was the first pretty girl I met in this fucking DxD hellhole who wasn't either focused on trying to kill me, trying to enslave me, a highschooler or my boss. She was, for all intents and purposes, an equal under Yasaka's rule. If nothing else, I at least wanted someone I could have a friendly-enough relationship with, since all my other co-workers hated my guts.

So, for the first time since I died back in my original world, I tried to get a talk going. I tilted my head towards her.

"Are we going to talk about the stupid mask?"

At the mention of the mask, her pretty face twisted into something akin to displeasure.

"What is there to say about the mask?"

"...That it's stupid, for one? I'm sure you're thrilled to have to walk around town while having a masked maniac as a partner."

The image made her frown.

"It's tacky," she helpfully added.

"Very. At least they could've given me a blank mask or something. You know, I'd still look like a creep, but at least I could go a little under the radar."

The complaints seemed to work, since she took a glance at the backpack I had between my feet with the same frown.

"Or at least something that didn't scream 'Yakuza-wannabe'. This is absolutely distasteful."

I grinned, glad that she was going along with the sacred ritual of 'complaining about your boss'.

"You think Yasaka thought I'd look cool while wearing it? Gonna scare the devils to death?"

"I've been told that Yasaka just likes embarrassing her agents, I'm afraid we're just the latest victims of hers with the wardrobe choice."

I leaned forward in my seat, shoulders on my knees.

"Wanna burn the mask after we're done with this mission?"

"Gladly," was her instant reply.

For the first time in my stay here, I had managed to empathize with someone in an equal position to mine. I almost felt a little proud.

As we neared the bus station, I rolled my shoulders a bit, trying to stretch my sore limbs.

"So, want to grab breakfast before we go to Rias' place?" I offered, tone casual.

Kaede looked at me with some apprehension before answering. "We really should just get our preliminary tasks over first."

"Kaede, we got some crappy cookies as 'breakfast' from the bus staff and I'm sure you barely managed to eat a snack before getting sent off to this surprise mission. Are you going to talk to these demon heiresses with your stomach empty? Are those the working conditions 'Lady Yasaka' would like for her trusted agents? Also, I'll remind you the preliminary tasks are going to take hours."

At her still apprehensive frown, I just sighed and patted her shoulder.

"The bus station has a food court, Kaede. If it makes you feel more comfortable, I can sit in a corner and look at the wall while we eat."

That image seemed amusing enough to her, the side of her lips tilting very so slightly upwards, almost despite herself.

"I- Alright, fine. Let's just make it quick, there is a lot to be done."

"Aye aye."

As the bus's clock read 7:49 AM, it pulled into the bus station, parking itself in one of the gates. As soon as the vehicle stopped, everyone else in the other seats began to get up and gather their belongings. I looked at Kaede, a bit pleading.

"Can I at least put the mask on after breakfast?"

She thought for a second, considering that she also didn't like the mask at all, then finally said.

"At least put it on when we're getting off the bus, the Gremory and Sitri probably have some surveillance as to who exits and enters Kuoh. Once inside you can take it off."

Pouting, I still acquiesced to the compromise and headed to my backpack. Inside, beside my new shiny toy and my other guns and weapons was the dreaded mask.

A black oni mask (if Kaede's explanation was to be trusted) grinned mockingly at my hesitant gaze, sharp fangs coming out its mouth and a couple of horns protruding from the forehead, the fangs and horns colored bone-white. Yasaka was oddly adamant on refusing to show my face before we met face-to-face with the heiresses. She said it was an important part of the statement she wanted to deliver, but to me it just seemed like she was playing dress-up with her minions.

Sighing, I took out the mask, glared at its eyes a bit more, then put it on my lap. Taking out a hair tie that I had in my pocket, I gathered up my hair and proceeded to messily tie it up in a short tail. It seemed to be a bit too messy, since Kaede frowned at my attempt.

"You- That's too messy," she said promptly.

"It's part of the image, yeah? I'm a cool hobo killer who can barely manage to dress-up properly. I'm the avatar of violence."

She didn't seem convinced, but she wasn't bothered enough about this part of the job to tie my hair for me, so she shook her head and stood up from her seat.

"Let's just go eat something. Those cookies were sub-par, at best."

"M-hm"

Taking out her own bags from the luggage space, she moved to the bus doors', me following after her with my backpack slung over my shoulder, putting on the dreaded mask of stupidity.

At Kuoh, two sharply dressed Youkai agents hopped off the bus. One with short white hair and a killer black suit, her shirt and jacket buttoned properly, with her black tie on display, all hugging her lean figure. The one who followed, although wearing the same clothes, had his jacket proudly open, his shirt half-tucked in with the top buttons undone, the tie loosened up, and most noticeably, he had a grinning black horned mask for a face.

After the dramatic entrance into Kuoh Town the two secret agents, sharply dressed to kill, went to McDonald's.

One of them ate a McTeriyaki and, after much convincing and deterring from picking a salad, the other picked a Big Mac.

"P- President! I'm done! I completed my hour-long run!"

As Hyodou Issei stumbled into the ORC's clubroom panting and sweating a river, he was greeted with the usual members of the club in the early morning. Normally, he'd be having classes at this hour, but ever since he got turned into a devil by the President, he was given a special 'sick leave' at morning, and while normally Issei would love missing classes and having time to laze around, these days he had begun gaining a sense of… nostalgia for morning class.

It had just been two days of missed classes since he got turned into a devil last Sunday, but the fact he already developed nostalgia for simpler times after just two days spoke to how severe his training was.

A similar 'sick leave' was granted to every member of the ORC, with Yuuto Kiba, Toujou Koneko, Himejima Akeno-senpai and the President standing around the ORC, but compared to the day before where all of them were in similar states of tiredness and disarray as himself, now they were all looking… pensive?

The President, sitting behind her desk (it looked very shiny and new, Issei noted) raised her gaze at him, looking almost surprised.

"Oh, right. Good job, Issei-kun."

The praise wasn't the same as the days before, where it would sound like a drill-instructor giving him a firm smack in his shoulder. Now it was more like she even forgot he was running around, which didn't really help him much.

Even Issei could tell something was going on, everyone in the room except himself wearing concerned expressions.

"Uh, did something happen, President?"

The President sighed at his question, a sight he found unusual. So far she had made quite the effort (and succeeding) of making him see her as the stern teacher that would make him achieve his dream of getting a harem by becoming disgustingly powerful. The show of… humanity (?) made quite the contrast with what he had learned thus far.

"It's nothing, Issei-kun. We're just going to have some very last-minute… guests."

The word was spat out with a bit of anger. Another emotion the President hadn't shown him yet.

(he had wondered for a second or two if she really had emotions or just pretended to have them.)

At the unclear explanation, Issei turned to Akeno-senpai, who noticed his confused look and smiled, as if a child just asked his mom a question.

"Apparently, there was an incident in Kyoto and the cause of that incident, if the very elusive reports we've barely managed to get are accurate, came here from Kuoh, and now they're pinning responsibility on the President and Sona-san."

At the mention of the student council president, Issei tilted his head like a curious dog.

"Huh? What's she got to do with this?"

"Right, Sona's real name is Sona Sitri, she's the heiress of the Sitri clan."

"...Huh."

Issei was surprised by this information, but after the very intense workout (and his sweaty back and armpits) he didn't have it in himself to scream in shock or give any more of a reaction.

Workouts were tiring.

"Anyway," continued the President. "Kyoto's leader suddenly announced to us this very morning that a couple of their people would come and… set things clear."

Again, anger in her tone. If Issei hadn't been turned into a Devil then he doubted he'd ever get to see such a side from the always out-of-reach Rias Gremory.

"What's so bad about that, though?" He still asked, because so far that sounded quite reasonable.

"It's the implications, Issei-kun," answered Rias. "They're sending people from another city that has nothing to do with Kuoh to clean up our mess and they're also forcing them to inform us of what we supposedly did wrong without having any other sources. I- It's not even implicit, actually. Just explicitly disrespectful, those fucking-"

Issei, with his new-found devil senses, could perfectly hear the muttered curses being spat out by the usually always-composed beauty of the school.

"They also were very poignant in that letter that there wasn't a choice for us in whether this meeting would be conducted or not," added Akeno-senpai, still keeping her perfect smile and pretending she couldn't hear the President's cursing. "Which is why we're waiting here."

"Right," mumbled Issei, looking at Kiba's and Koneko's faces. Now that he was looking more closely at their expressions, it wasn't one of seriousness, it was one of… boredom?

"Wait," he started asking, some kind of realization striking him. "When exactly is this meeting happening?"

The question made the President, who had just finished her string of curses, begin a completely new one. Akeno's perfect smile faltered slightly.

"They didn't tell us. We're just waiting here until they… they deign themselves to show up."

Oh. So that's why the President was so mad. They had probably been waiting for hours already. He had half-a-mind to ask why exactly he was still made to workout unlike the rest, but he didn't want to accidentally set the President off in another train of insults.

A few more seconds of cursing, and the President was staring at him with her usual gaze, pretending he hadn't just heard her insult every last relative of Kyoto's leader.

"Issei-kun," she began, using the same gentle tone of voice everyone knew her by. "Please change and return to this room. I don't think Kyoto's top-agents would like to see you in your sweaty t-shirt."

He looked down at himself and his sweaty shirt. There were visible sweat spots on his armpit, back, neck, everywhere. Rias noticed and stared at him, pensive.

"...Or maybe you could keep it on… yes, that would be quite an insult to them, right? Maybe I could-"

Issei decided to just go change, lest the President suddenly decided to start properly using him as a Pawn in petty political discussions.

"You know," I began, as we walked out of the bus station, bellies filled with the horrid deliciousness of Mickey D's. "I think it's cute how mindful Yasaka is when picking out ridiculous costumes for me. It's kind of like a 'fuck you but have a nice day', you get me?"

"Husk-"

"Daniel."

She looked around frantically, checking to see if there was anybody who caught my correction before glaring at me.

"Daniel," she started again, not happy with my obvious disregard for codenames. "I would really prefer it if you didn't badmouth our boss so freely in public when we're supposed to be representing her."

"Bad mouthing?" I said, almost offended. "I'm praising her! Only Yasaka would be as mindful as to leave a small little hole in my mask to put a cigarette through it!"

"You look stupid," she said, now more open to calling me names after breakfast.

"I look cool," I retorted, which was half-true. I had Eyes Everywhere and I could see a very sharply dressed gentleman with a black grinning mask walking while the mask was smoking. The mask was still stupid, but with a cigarette on, if that wasn't cool then nothing was.

Kaede sighed, but didn't bother berating me further, almost like she found the argument mildly pleasant. It seemed like the Big Mac I almost forced down her throat managed to mellow her out a bit, since she didn't look mad or frustrated.

"Just tell me where you found that Stray Exorcist so we can get this formality out of the way," she said instead.

"How long are we supposed to time-waste?" I asked, side-stepping the question.

She reached for the inside pocket of her jacket, muttering 'you can't call it time-waste in public' before she took out a small notepad. Opening it, she flipped to a particular page, filled completely with carefully written notes in what seemed to be very proper handwriting.

"...About three to four hours," she informed me, less than enthused. "Lady Yasaka said it was important to make the Devils wait that much time before we showed up."

"She really has some gripes with the Devils, huh?"

"To our detriment, yes. Now tell me where the Exorcist was so we can-"

!

"Hey, funny thing," I began, interrupting her rudely. "Keep walking and all but there's a bird watching us."

"Oh."

We kept walking at the same pace, acting like nothing was wrong, ignoring the big bird perched on a lamppost watching us intently. As soon as we began getting far from the bird, it flew to another lamppost, the one in front of us, to keep watching.

They weren't even trying to hide it.

"Do I shoot that shit down?"

She looked tempted, but shook her head.

"It might be seen as a sign of outward aggression, which might be used as an excuse to kick us out."

"So that bird just sent to shit our little strategy discussion."

She thinned her lips. "That it did."

We kept walking in silence, the stupid fat bird following us closely.

"I'd ask you for your notes to go unnoticed, but I can't read Japanese."

"I know, I was told as much by Lady Yasaka."

"Hmm."

More silence. The third-wheeling bird had made any kind of discussion or banter instantly impossible, right when she was getting more comfortable. The temptation of taking out my new shiny friend was strong, but I knew that what Kaede told me was true and that shooting it would just bring more problems.

Eventually, as we walked, we suddenly found ourselves without any passersby or cars going around, having entered a very quiet area of town. Still, the bird looked down on us, unrelenting in its pursuit of cock-blocking me.

…Even despite Kaede's warning, that bird just looked so damn stupid.

"I'm shooting this thing," I stated.

"Dani- Husk," she hastily corrected herself, now that she was under watch. "You're not shooting that bird."

"I am."

"We're going to be-"

"Kaede, we came here to antagonize these assholes. What's more antagonizing than shooting their pet bird?"

She opened her mouth to retort, but didn't say anything. She frowned, deep in thought.

A few seconds later, she just hummed. "It would be very antagonizing. It's probably a familiar, too, so it won't die with a gunshot, just disappear."

I smirked under the mask, pleased with her answer. "So, you're saying that we can shoot the damn thing."

She didn't confirm anything, instead looking directly at the bird in the eyes. As much as she pretended to remain neutral on it, I could see with E.E that her eyes had a very murderous glint towards the feathered creature.

"...Are you sure you can make the shot?"

"Oh, I'm more than sure," I emphasized. "I could do it with my eyes closed."

She turned to me, unbelieving. "You couldn't."

"I can. Wanna bet?"

She thought for a second, thinning her lips as she considered the offer.

"...Sure. You miss and I get you to call me by my surname like you properly should."

Kaede said this with a hint of humor, so it wasn't like she was completely repulsed by my complete dismissal of proper naming customs.

I frowned, an action that again was concealed by the mask. To express my discontent, I dramatically crossed my arms.

"Well, that's a boring request. If I hit the bird without looking I get you to smoke with me."

"I don't smoke," she said, unamused.

"If I hit the bird you will."

Narrowing her eyes, she stared at the eyes of my mask, before sighing, the sigh a bit more free than one of frustration.

"How am I supposed to know you're doing this without looking with that mask on?"

"Cover my eyes yourself."

"You…"

Kaede had a protest ready at her throat, but she took one more look at the stupid fat bird, glared at it, then finally put one of her hands in front of my masks' eyes, covering my vision.

"Just do it."

Putting my right hand inside my jacket's pocket, I quickly took out my Colt M1911 and perfectly tilted the gun with Sharpest Shooter and Eyes Everywhere, shooting the bird before it had a single moment to escape.

BANG!

Just like the first night when I shot that dumb-looking bat, the bird didn't explode in blood and instead just disappeared into thin-air. Kaede looked at the disappearing fat bird with surprised eyes.

"You really hit it."

I smirked in victory (which was meaningless since I had the stupid mask on) and patted her on the shoulder.

"So, Kaede, have you ever smoked before?"

At the reminder of her end of the bet, she just sighed (she really liked sighing) and extended her hand to me.

"No. Just give me the cigarette so I can get this over with."

Feeling triumphant, I took out two cigarettes and gave one to her.

"Think you're gonna cough like a kid at your first huff?"

The implication she'd fumble smoking like a child made her frown as she took the cancer stick and perched it gingerly between her lips.

"I'm not going to cough," she stated, oddly challenging. Snapping her fingers, the end of her cigarette lit up in what was an impressive use of magic.

"Oh, you're really gonna cough," I kept teasing. "Gonna choke on that smoke like a toddler."

The comment made her even more affronted, her frown deepening.

"I'm not going to," she reiterated, still frowning at my goading. Trying to prove me wrong, she took her first drag from a cigarette.

Kaede coughed.

We still didn't directly go to Kuoh Academy for the meeting, even three hours after we arrived. Firstly because we needed to establish that we felt zero respect for their time, and second, we needed to do some investigative work. There were a good number of preliminary tasks but these were the main ones.

1.- Check to see if there had been any Stray-related disappearances. If there were Strays, eliminate them later.

2.- Check for any signs of Strays Exorcists. If any were found, neutralize and interrogate them for info.

3.- Try to check if there's crime in the city by ourselves. Stop any crimes we saw and get photographic evidence of our heroic deeds.

Those were meant to diminish the Devils image further if we actually went and did their job of controlling the city for them. Unfortunately, we found nothing, but it wasn't anything to cry over. This was just meant as a way to deepen the wound we'd inflict, not much more.

While doing that, and by pure chance that we were exploring this part of the town, I separated myself from my partner momentarily ("I really gotta piss, Kaede. Yes, inside this alleyway.") and went towards the Bonfire I created a few days back. The dank alleyway was just as dirty as when I left it, and just like the trash, the Bonfire was still bright and unchanging, the flames softly engulfing the metal rod that was stuck there.

I extended my hand towards it and felt my physical exhaustion completely wash away, now standing as if I just had a full night's sleep. While I was there, I quickly dumped all the Souls I had with me. 532 left over from before yesterday, 2200 from the girl Stray, 2000 from the male Stray, which meant that I had 4732 Souls to spend. Like all the other times, not wanting to think about statistics, I dumped it all on Strength.

Level: 7
Souls: 4732

Strength: 15 ⇒ 20
Cost: 4055

Level: 12
Souls: 677

As soon as I spent the Souls, I felt my arms, my whole body get stronger, and unlike the last times I was leveling myself up, this time I was actually starting to feel it. I was getting strong. I looked at my right arm for a bit, and although I could see it changed with E.E, I went to touch it, feeling it up.

And I felt muscle.

...To say my grin was maniacal would be an understatement. If Kaede had chanced upon me right at that moment my chances would've instantly plummeted to zero.

After leveling myself up, I quickly returned to Kaede's side, a big stupid grin on my face that I could tell creeped her out a bit. The reason I came looking for my Bonfire in the first place was that, upon death, I'd revive near the latest Bonfire I had visited, and it'd be a huge pain in the ass if somewhere along the way I kicked the bucket and reappeared in Kyoto. That'd be a quick way of losing a whole lotta trust with Yasaka and Kaede.

Once all of our preliminary work done, we finally went up to the den of the beast: Kuoh Academy.

We were both standing by the closed gates, idly watching the students walking around, chatting and laughing without a care in the world. The girls still were wearing that god-forsaken uniform designed by a pedophile.

"Have I told you how much I despise this fucking place?"

"...Yes, Husk," she replied, back to using my codename now that we were in front of their headquarters. "This is the seventh time, I believe?"

"Those fucking rich assho-"

"We're right outside their base, Husk. I'd appreciate it if you shut your mouth for now."

At my stare (again, covered by the black oni mask), she just mock-coughed into her fist. "To keep yourself in character, of course. You're meant to be silent and stoic at first, remember?"

The words were accompanied by a very slight tilt of her lips.

It was cute that she was getting bold enough to tease me back, but she had a point. I needed to keep myself silent for now, Yasaka's orders.

Instead of talking, I just stared back at the students. Some of them were starting to notice us standing creepily outside.

"Think they are putting off looking for us out of revenge for our own time-wasting?" I whispered to her.

"They're definitely doing that out of revenge," she answered back.

"If they want to be petty, I can do petty," I kept whispering. "I'm climbing this fucking gate."

"I know I let you shoot that bird earlier but this is too much. You'll be making the Yokai look unprofessional."

She sounded serious.

"Alright then, no climbing. I'll just be a bother for the students."

Kaede stopped gazing at the students and gave me a warning look. "Husk…"

"It'll reflect badly on them. Just let me work my magic."

Thus, I went closer to the gates with Kaede giving me a curious look, but not stopping me since she was sick of waiting, too. I grabbed the beams of steel and took out a box of cigarettes; some 'Pall Mall' instead of the usual 'Marlboro'. I opened the box and tapped it on the bottom so some cigarettes were poking out.

Since I was so close to the gate, eventually some students took notice of me, a weird man wearing a creepy black mask leaning against the gate with an open pack of cigarettes. Whenever I got noticed, I made sure to meet their gaze (the best I could with the mask on the way) and jiggled the cigarette pack as enticingly as I could, as if saying 'take one'. No one took me up on the offer, of course, but soon, a pack of eight students came out of the building, with one of them leading the pack. The leader had short hair and was wearing glasses, and I instantly could tell she was the kind of girl to remind someone that there was homework.

In a very orderly fashion, the group of students came to the gate to face me. In an instant, I knew they were all devils, E.E quickly spotting the bat wings. The lead girl gave me a death glare.

"Would you be so kind as to not lean against the gate?"

Since I was in-character, I just tilted my head, enticingly shaking the cigarette pack again. This aggravated her further.

"And stop offering minors cigarettes. If this is the best the Yokai can offer then I am sorely disappointed in the standards you uphold."

At her scathing words (at least, what she thought were scathing words, that was pretty weak) Kaede stepped up beside me, her demeanor completely professional.

"We're sorry, Ms. Sitri, but after the delay in entering the Academy, we thought we needed to call attention some way or another. As you can see, it worked perfectly."

The comment made Sitri's glare deepen, but since this was their fault for not coming sooner, she refused from commenting further and instead took out a pair of keys to open the gate. As she did, I glanced at Kaede. Noticing my stare, she very subtly nodded in approval while keeping her gaze on Sitri.

Once the gate opened, Sitri gave the two of us another look before turning around. "Follow me, we'll take you somewhere we can discuss."

As she led us, the group of students she had with her (who I was now noticing was 99% female, with only one dude among them) surrounded us in a circle, a few of them walking alongside the Sitri girl. As planned, a few of the normal students gave the Sitri chick confused glances, seeing how she just let inside the school the strange masked man who was giving out cigarettes. E.E took notice that the Sitri girl knew that, and there was a very big frown in response.

We entered the den of the FUCKING BOURGEOIS and just like the outside, the interior looked incredibly clean, proper, and expensive, the main hall expansive and tall. Out of sheer pettiness, I began checking the normal student's wallets with E.E and yes, they had quite a lot of cash inside them, the fucking assholes. My theory that this was a school for the ones with spoons up their assholes was becoming truer and truer.

Kaede probably realized that I was reaching those same conclusions after having to hear me rant about this school for the fucking bourgeois, since she gave me a warning look. How cute, I thought.

A few turns here and there, climbing up some stairs, and we finally stopped in front of a big double door. Sitri opened it and inside was a big round table, where five people were already sitting, waiting for us. One of those people was my previous standard for beauty in this world: Rias, which had now been trumped by Yasaka. It helped that Yasaka wasn't a highschooler.

Compared to last time I saw her, she looked a whole lot more… angrier? She was definitely glaring at me and Kaede, at least.

Rias spoke first, her tone also much different than when we spoke. "Finally, I thought you two wouldn't ever show up. Too busy snooping around the city?"

As she spoke, the Devils who were leading us began taking their seats, eventually leaving us two standing with two free seats on one side, distinctly separated from the rest of the seats. Kaede smoothly went to take a seat, taking out her notepad and leaving it on the table, crossing her hands and resting them over it. She also let her fox-ears poke out of her head alongside her tail, establishing that she truly was on supernatural business now.

Me, instead of sitting down instantly, went for my mask and, just like Yasaka asked (which at this point I was suspecting it was done out of sheer malice) I took it off.

As I revealed my face to everyone present, Rias stared at me with widened eyes, the other members of her peerage staring at me with similar levels of surprise (aside from the brown-haired boy, who just looked confused at my weird dramatic mask-off).

Shrugging at them, I went to take my seat beside Kaede, leaning back on the backrest and putting an arm over the chair. Smoothly, and confident with our current status that I wouldn't be kicked out, I took out a cigarette from my pack. I looked to my right.

"Kaede?"

She sighed in exasperation, probably because I still called her by her first name in front of everyone, but snapped her fingers anyway, my cigarette quickly getting lit. Rias watched the proceedings with an intense gaze, which was the moment I decided to answer her question, taking a drag from the dreaded tobacco stick and exhaling the smoke in closed doors.

"Yup. We were just snooping around."

Boy, were politics fun.

AN: Experimenting with shorter chapters. I realize that having an almost 10k word chapter isn't exactly short, either, but it was just at this point in particular I felt comfortable stopping, lest the entire chapter was Daniel talking to an OC. Speaking of which.

I hope the OC wasn't too distracting. It felt wrong to send Daniel alone to such a mission considering he was very recently hired, so the addition of a more experienced agent was necessary. If you're wondering: I'm not planning on having Daniel enter a relationship with her, either. If the writing ends up taking me there, then sure, but for now I'm aiming for friendship rather than anything too romantical, Daniel's intentions notwithstanding.

There is more after this written, so this really was posted to test the waters, because to wait until I have all I wanted for this whole 'chapter' written would make it so there is a longer gap of inactivity.

I thank everyone who bothers reviewing the story and giving me their thoughts. I am quite literally writing this story only for your amusement, so if you got amused by my story, let me know. Please.

Also, if you want to throw insults directly at my face and have me answer, you may do so in the Spacebattles thread that is titled exactly the same as this story. Updates get uploaded slightly faster there, since I have to do little to no editing on the formatting.

That's all I got. Thanks for reading.