There's snow everywhere.
They gently fall everywhere, adding to the pile of snow to the ground and resting on top of the dead trees. Beelzebub's flesh covered under cracked metallic plates cannot sense the coldness. Their putrid breath turns transparent from the low temperature. Still, they only focus on piercing their rows of teeth on the dead animal's bloated stomach. They peel off the skin then the sinews and fat next. As their teeth tear a hole on the dead deer, its guts slide down and blood mixes to the snow below, drenching the pure whiteness with filthy red.
"..."
Beelzebub shoves their snout into the gaping stomach and their nose digs through the buffet of glistening and slimy wet organs. They enjoy the blood on their tongue and Joe s single bite of the intestines is both soft and chewy even it's from a carcass.
"You again..." Tirpitz stands in front of them
"Your mind is bleak, Tirpitz. It's calm and gentle - at peace. I hate it"
As much as Beelzebub wants to gorge and feast on their dead prey, they couldn't ignore the "brat" standing before them. Tirpitz remains stoic, but she can barely contain her disgust for the way they throw around flesh like a sloppy child.
"I hate ice and snow because it symbolizes stagnation. The cold renders my appetite numb and keeps lulling me to sleep like I'm a bear during hibernation. It's only good for preserving my food"
Beelzebub pokes their tail at the blanket of snow. The edge of their tail coils around the corpse of a dead child whose stomach has been peeled and hollowed out until the ribs are exposed. The left side of the boy's face have been peeled off, exposing frozen muscles and teeth. The boy's right eye has been popped and left dangling by the optic nerve.
"Big sister Bismarck made a deal. I keep you alive and sane in exchange for tasting her blood once in a while. I want her whole meat, but I'm willing to wait for my food"
Beelzebub carelessly flings their tail and tosses the corpse somewhere far. They grin as they lift themselves from feasting what remains of the deer's stomach.
"..."
Rows of sharp teeth dripping with animal blood and bits of the carcass is stuck in their teeth. They open their mouth and the stench of rotten blood and mucus spreads in front of them, but Tirpitz didn't faze.
"..."
Tirpitz stares right at the thick saliva in their mouth and the rows of sharp teeth that had just feasted. The inside of their mouth isn't a normal part of body but a cave of flesh with the assimilated victims left hollow and mindless.
"You want to eat my sister?" Tirpitz frowns
"Of course! However, she cares too much about you. I don't understand why she's willing to gamble herself for the chance of saving you, but a deal's s deal"
Beelzebub's enormous and stocky figure looms over Tirpitz. Their mouth can easily chomp of her head, but that would break the fact as it will mentally damage Tirpitz.
"I know you saw Lucifer talking to me when they invaded your mind"
"That's Lucifer..."
Tirpitz lowers her gaze for a moment and recalls the two Leviathans arguing within her consciousness. Beelzebub trashed the waters in front of them as they couldn't agree or comply with Lucifer's goals. Tirpitz is helpless in the corner of her mind as the Leviathans' presence nearly crushed her human mind.
"My nature is to devour endlessly, yes. However, my nature cannot be forever if all humans are dead. It's senseless to swallow everyone if I can eat them faster than they can propagate" Beelzebub growls
"What are you trying to say?"
"I won't go after humanity as my desire is to keep a steady food supply. If I blindly followed my nature, then gluttony will lose its purpose"
"It took you a while to realize that overeating will make your food source scarce...then extinct" Tirpitz crosses her arms
"What a surprise. You're actually using your head and not just your stomach"
"I want to feed on humans, but I need to keep eating because it's who and what I am" Beelzebub snarls
"It's your nature but you started to learn and develop your own rationality" Tirpitz lightly tilts her head
The snows cease to fall around them, and the air grows tense between them. Beelzebub grits their teeth as their own ego is in disbelief that they're being lectured by a kansen they only think as food albeit a bland one.
"Your hunger is an unquestioned drive. Gluttony is unchecked and relentless hunger, so you couldn't fathom going against your core nature. No, it's that you couldn't fathom the need of self-control in order to fulfill your desires" Tirpitz sighs
"..."
"When people get hungry, they seem anything edible and tasty. Resources are finite, so humans learned to regulate in order to keep their bellies full and their food source stable. You're a parasite and a cancer, so you will carelessly spread and consume until there's nothing left"
Tirpitz's sharp and stern icy blue eyes stare right back at Beelzebub's six dark red eyes with several irises and pupils on each eye. She doesn't budge or flinch even when their towering figure threatens her with the possibility of mutilating her.
"To think you would prioritize self-preservation because you will lose your only purpose for existing"
"Perhaps. If there's nothing to eat, then I will grow stagnant and cease to function. It's not death, but a fate worse than death. It's worse than when you've become a fleet-in-being"
"So what was that all about with Lucifer? I couldn't remember what you did"
Tirpitz's voice remains impassive to Beelzebub, but she feels anxiety and dread coil around her. Beelzebub has pushed her to back of her mind and she couldn't dare to move to speak as Lucifer pried into her consciousness. It's as if Lucifer is looking down at her even without actually looking.
"Lucifer intervened, but they were impatient. They made a mistake they could have avoided. The Sirens found an opportunity and bargained with me just like Bismarck. On exchange of keeping your hunger at bay, I get to taste her"
"Bismarck..."
"Still, you endured no matter how much your body was mangled. You're quite amusing, brat"
A scheme runs through Beelzebub's mind. They cannot get their food with their fangs and claws bare. Their deep and distorted voice is like a purr. Instead of being adorable, it sends a shiver to Tirpitz's spine.
"You need to let me in because you nearly died in the last fight. I can't patch your body if there's nothing left but a pile of blood"
"Not a chance" Tirpitz immediately refused
"I'm giving you a heads-up since the Sirens and Iron Blood are going to attack Belphegor. They also intend to convince Mammon of an alliance" Beelzebub chuckles
"What are you up to?"
"Humans and their insatiable appetite. Mammon and I are almost the same. Almost"
"How?"
"Mammon only wants to gain everything they can get their hands on even if they have no need for it and don't even consume it. As for me, I crave everything! I wish to taste everything and not leave a crumb behind"
Beelzebub licks their lips and their deep yet soft chuckle. Their six eyes focus on Tirpitz who stares right back at them, remaining unfazed.
"You don't flinch, nor do you waver. You're just like your sister - defiant until the end"
"Do you like if your food fights back or do you think everyone is just going to lie down and let themselves be eaten by you?"
"I love to gorge, feast, chew, bite, slurp, and swallow. I know better than anyone that when eating someone, expect the prey to flee or bite back. However, you are all different. You people defy me even after I have eaten you" Beelzebub snarls closely to her face
"Me? What do you mean by that?"
"Ha...hahahaha. I'll let you guess for the time being"
Darkness fills their surroundings, and the once plain white snow is drenched in red. Rotting arms grabs Tirpitz's legs and the head of the rotting corpses of animals begin to emerge from the snow. Wolves who eyes have been gouged out, teeth exposed after their lips have rotted away, and hollow stomach exposing ribs feasted on by wriggling maggots and flies. The undead beasts all lunge Tirpitz who's forced to ground by the zombified arms. Just as her vision grows red, she catches a glimpse of a wisdom cube wrapped in glinting red strips of flesh - a wisdom cube infested by a parasite.
"...!"
Without warning, Tirpitz is forcibly awakened by the shock that in her mind, her throat had been bitten off and dead animals begin to mutilate her. She touches her throat as soon as she gasps for air and opens her eyes.
"Good morning. It looked like you had a bad dream"
Odin is sitting across the room with her one arm on a cast. The same right arm that Beelzebub has nearly crushed and ripped off during the confrontation with Lucifer.
"Odin?" Tirpitz blinks in confusion
"My head still hurts since I felt like I was drunk the whole time. Bismarck told me how I got possessed, killed you, then you turned into...Beelzebub"
"I...what?!" Tirpitz frowns
"It's hard to believe, but I vaguely remember seeing myself kill you and then you stood back up like a zombie. I thought I was having a nightmare since your throat and abdomen was slashed yet you went to attack me like a wild animal..."
"..."
Tirpitz stares at hands, doing what she can to recall her last memory before waking up in the infirmary again. She remembers being in pain, two monstrosities arguing with each other, and her body being mutilated.
"Blood..." Tirpitz touches her lips
"Hmm?" Odin tilts her head
"I remember tasting blood...and then..."
Tirpitz vaguely recalls the wetness and freshness of liquid tasting like metal spreading around her tongue and sliding down her throat. The mere taste of it sets her heart pounding and her body tingling, signs of exhilaration and intoxication.
"Am I still...me...?" Tirpitz asks herself
"I don't want to sound like a horrible person, but I have to be honest. It seems like Beelzebub is changing your body and I don't want to think you're becoming like them" Odin sighs
"All these questions and I'm still the only one in the dark. I feel like everyone is keeping something from me"
"Knowing Bismarck, I like to believe she's trying to protect you from whatever is happening with you"
"..."
Tirpitz doesn't find comfort in those words. Only doubt and anxiety gnaws at her. To be precise, she feels Beelzebub breathing right at her neck and their low growls ringing in their ears like a predator always ready to strike.
Bismarck's Office...
Bismarck meets with Sovetsky Soyuz regarding another incident with Beelzebub. Sovetsky Soyuz reviews the footage starting with Iron Blood confronting a possessed Odin who summoned Asmodeus.
"I knew it. Lucifer slipped out because they got impatient" Sovetsky Soyuz pauses the video
"You think so?"
"Lucifer is arrogance given flesh. They fear the power dynamics crumbling right before their hand. Control will slip when doubt and opportunity feed the other Leviathans"
"Mammon had always been opportunistic. They are blinded by their need to sate their greed, so Lucifer's failed stance was the perfect opportunity" Bismarck rests her back on her chair
"Honestly, I didn't expect Beelzebub to be so cooperative. It seems they begin to develop rationality when they realize that following Lucifer's plan will only doom their hunger. Humans aren't an infinite food source since Beelzebub consumes us at a rapid rate"
As usual, Sovetsky Soyuz foresees Beelzebub's flaw due to how predictable their hunger is. Sovetsky Soyuz shakes her head and rests her chin on her arm.
"Beelzebub agreed not to harm Tirpitz for the time being since their main goal is to eat me" Bismarck furrows her eyebrows at the mention of the Leviathan
"You're a delicacy to them, so they're not willing to let you get killed by Lucifer. Still, it's a surprise that they compromised"
"A small vial of my blood is enough to rejuvenate them, and they made it clear that they love my taste. Suffice to say, I'm a tasty meal to them that they disobeyed Lucifer just to keep me alive" Bismarck massages her temples
"Beelzebub isn't cunning, but they've shown that their rationality is growing. They're bound to use Tirpitz to their advantage"
"..."
Instead of responding, Bismarck observes Sovetsky Soyuz's expression and movements before her words. It's difficult to distinguish with how Sovetsky Soyuz acts and speaks coldly.
"You're still hiding something from me and it either involves Beelzebub or Tirpitz. Maybe both..." Bismarck narrows her eyes
"Do you want me to be honest with you?" Sovetsky Soyuz lightly tilts her head
"No more omission of truth" Bismarck stands up
"When you two visited the Northern Parliament, Chkalov managed to extensively scan Tirpitz's wisdom cube" Sovetsky Soyuz stands up as well
"What did you find out?"
"Beelzebub is slowly assimilating Tirpitz's wisdom cube. They're at least fifty percent by now and if they go beyond seventy percent, her consciousness will be devoured next. Bismarck, she will become an empty container for Beelzebub to blend among humans"
"...!"
"Removing them from her body has higher changes of killing Tirpitz"
"Are you saying I can't save her now?!" Bismarck clenches her fists
"...That I cannot tell. The only method I have in mind is making Beelzebub leave by themself, but who's to say that they won't kill Tirpitz in the process out of spite" Sovetsky Soyuz sighs
Sovetsky Soyuz's expression and tone remains stoic and calm even when the shock is making Bismarck tightly clench her fists and grit her teeth.
"Belphegor's blood can severely weaken Beelzebub. It might be possible to use it to weaken their connection and influence on Tirpitz like a leeched force to let go of their host" Sovetsky Soyuz exhales
"It will numb Beelzebub enough to remove the parasite safely"
"I have to warn you that we're going to extract Beelzebub's pure essence which might kill Tirpitz"
"What choice do I have? It's either to let that parasite linger any longer and kill Tirpitz or gamble the chance of a cure which might also kill Tirpitz..."
"There's something else in your mind..."
"Lucifer blabbered something about Tirpitz. They said Tirpitz went back to stop Beelzebub from eating me knowing that she won't make it out alive. Tell me, Sovetsky Soyuz, did my sister actually plan to get herself killed?"
"..."
Even if Sovetsky Soyuz briefly averts Bismarck's gaze before looking back at her. Bismarck mildly gasps and smashes her fist on the desk, scattering documents and sending her pen rolling off the desk. The silence alone is enough confirmation even if Sovetsky Soyuz wishes it's still a secret.
"Tirpitz, you fool..."
Bismarck turns away from Sovetsky Soyuz and slams her palms on her desk as she groans at another revelation. Not only that Tirpitz has higher chances of dying than returning to normal, the truth about what led to their current situation is beginning to unravel for Bismarck.
"...Even so, I cannot waver, not when I have a chance to save my sister" Bismarck stares at Sovetsky Soyuz
"Even if the chances are slim?"
"I'll take whatever chance I have than having no chance at all"
Bismarck takes a deep breath and reaffirms her resolve even if her heart and mind is still processing that her own younger sister intended to die even if she promised to live. Sovetsky Soyuz faintly smiles even with her cold and distant exterior as if she's impressed at Bismarck's will to fight.
"..."
The two are unaware that Tirpitz is right outside the door, her hand is a few centimeters close to knocking, when she overhears their conversation. Tirpitz clenches her other hand as her mind is disorganized from overhearing from her sister and Sovetsky Soyuz on how she has higher chances of dying in the end and how it sheds a part of the truth to why she faced Beelzebub before Bismarck can be eaten.
Two hours later...
Tirpitz nervously finds herself in front of Sirens while Bismarck and Friedrich der Grosse are standing nearby. Bismarck nods at her with a stern expression as if to gesture Tirpitz to steel herself and a form of assurance. Even though Bismarck doesn't speak, Tirpitz notices Bismarck being silently anxious because her hand is on her scabbard, ready to draw her sword any time.
"Why am I here again?" Tirpitz calmly asks everyone
"What we need isn't you, but the one inside you"
The Hermit steps forward and brings out a sealed vial with dark red liquid inside. The Arbiter shakes it in front of Tirpitz, but the latter only tilts her head in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Tirpitz frowns
"Beelzebub" Lovers quickly replies
"Beel...zebub...?"
"We need to talk to the big hungry fellow. Normally, we'd have to critically injure you, but Bismarck doesn't allow you to be harmed in any way, so..."
Hermit pops off the lid of the vial and as the cover rolls on the floor, she lets the blood drop three times on the floor.
"...!"
To Tirpitz, the splatter becomes slow and the sound echoes in her perspective. She could hear and precisely see as the small ball of fresh blood dropped on the floor and spread in a small splatter. She feels a churn and a twist in her stomach.
"That...smell..." Tirpitz groans
Tirpitz presses the side of her head, and the feeling quickly shifts to dread when she feels Beelzebub tap her shoulder from behind and their head on the side of Tirpitz's head. In the deep part of her consciousness, Beelzebub exhales a hot steamy breath.
[I'm not going to throw you at the back this time, brat. Listen to everything and know that you should have let me in]
Beelzebub's deep sinister laughs echo as she feels Beelzebub temporarily severing control from her own body but keeps their word that they're not going to suppress her consciousness this time.
"You're really going to resort that to draw me out, Siren. Still, I want the whole meal than a measly slurp" Beelzebub licks the side of their lips as they briefly turn towards Bismarck
"..." Bismarck frowns
Tirpitz's eyes turn bright red and canine teeth are visibly sharper. Beelzebub has assumed control once, unable to resist the scent of their favorite meal.
"Don't make such horrendous faces with the body of my sister, monster" Bismarck tightens the grip on her scabbard
"Despise me as you wish, but I'm keeping her alive. Your sister can survive fatal wounds because of me" Beelzebub scoffs
"Can we rip out this arrogant parasite now?" Friedrich der Grosse gently smiles
"..." Beelzebub rubs their chin
"You're awfully quiet, parasite" Friedrich der Grosse lifts her head
"I have access to my host's memories and in her experiences, she would only stare back at the person and shrug it off"
"..." Bismarck groans under her breath
"Although Tirpitz lacks the ambition and pride you have, she's equally as stubborn and defiant as you. Meals who refuse to go down without a fight happens to be my favorite"
Beelzebub smirks as their gaze is solely focused on Bismarck who's restraining herself due to Beelzebub speaking and moving as if Tirpitz's body is their own. They lick the gloved thumb since their instincts are urging them to bite Bismarck right where she stands.
"Ehem! Rather than admire your favorite meal, there's more important matters at hand" Hermit clears her throat
"I assume you have a plan against, Belphegor?" Beelzebub turns their attention back to the Sirens
"We would need your strength to bypass Mammon first before the kansens can safely enter their range" Lovers sighs
"You want me to go charging an idiot with no guarantee? Are you betting I can adapt faster than Mammon's abilities can shut down my senses? Mammon can strip you of your senses and drain you the closer you get to them. Even if you get close, Mammon has tremendous raw strength despite lacking the agility"
Normally, Beelzebub wouldn't spit out the nature of their kin's abilities, but they have no loyalty to their kind, just to themselves.
"You're cooperative..." Lovers narrow her eyes
"I'm not a fool, Siren. You're planning to use Belphegor's pure essence to keep me dormant. You need all the time you need to find a way to safely strip me from this body" Beelzebub turns their attention to Bismarck again
"You're learning quite fast" Bismarck stares at them
"Of course. Not only I've observed and consumed your kind, but I'm learning from your sister's memories and our little talks. That's why if a wolf such as yourself tries to become the fox..."
Beelzebub lifts their left hand and grips the wrist with their free right hand. With a proud smile, they tighten their grip until Bismarck widens her eyes at the sound of bones cracking and crunching from being slowly crushed.
"What are you-" Bismarck draws her sword and takes a step forward
Rather than stop, Beelzebub twists the wrist and forces the skin, flesh, and broken bones to twist to its limit until the stretchy human skin snaps. Blood splatters on Tirpitz's white uniform when Beelzebub tears the muscle and tendons fiber by fiber like strings being plucked. Beelzebub violently yanks the hands off, spraying blood at both the floor and them.
"You-" Bismarck points her sword at Beelzebub
"Although I promised no harm will come to your sister, I'm reminding you that there will be consequences to your actions"
Beelzebub stares at the torn muscles and tendons loosely hanging while blood continues to spill out of the torn wrist. A small fragment of the bone they crushed and grinded earlier falls off to the ground and into the small pile of blood.
"I'm not the dumb animal you faced before, Bismarck. Baiting me with food alone won't work the same way it did before"
Beelzebub presses the severed left hand they just ripped off back to the wrist. A small amount of smoke rises to the air as Beelzebub pushes the torn skin and plucked muscles and tendons back together.
"..."
Everyone stares as when there's only the sound of sizzling in the area where Beelzebub had ripped off the arm, the muscles and tendons work to slowly reach out to each other and reconnect. The skin regrows and slowly seals off the flesh and prevents more blood from leaking out of the stump.
"Do anything to restrain me and perhaps I'll rip out her heart next time" Beelzebub calmly smiles
"You're not right in the head to do that so casually, but then again you're not even human" Hermit scoffs
"I desire only to eat, and I won't let anything prevent me from accomplishing it"
Beelzebub wipes a bit of dirt from the cape, unfazed at letting Tirpitz's pristine white uniform be ruined by blood being sprayed and splattered from their stunt earlier.
"You keep using my sister as hostage when you're slowly killing her because you're planning to assimilate her" Bismarck returns her sword back to its scabbard
"Ah, so not even Sovetsky Soyuz knows that truth" Beelzebub crosses their arms
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing in particular. You only need to know that you don't know half of the truth"
"Yet you're frustrated as to why Tirpitz chose to let herself be eaten by you" Sovetsky Soyuz steps into the scene
"..."
The mere sight of the Northern Parliament in a pure white winter uniform shifts Beelzebub's mood from amused to completely displeased as they frown.
"The brat's memories ended up being useful. After all my initial goal is still being fulfilled"
"And that is?" Sovetsky Soyuz takes a step forward
"After a while, I realized I've grown tired of bland meals. I wanted to enjoy chewing them as much as I enjoy swallowing them. I needed a human's perspective and sense of taste. The brat fit on my need to find someone who's palate isn't tampered by flavors so I can experience those flavors myself"
Beelzebub slowly licks their left wrist which is completely intact again as if they haven't casually ripped their left hand off like it's nothing.
"I wanted to know more about the meals of humans, so her memories were quite useful. It's the only reason I kept it intact, but some of it was missing. That's the part I didn't expect" Beelzebub scoffs, slightly annoyed
"It's an experimental drug that could induce long-term selective amnesia in a way that the effect is keeping a certain period of time vague" Sovetsky Soyuz calmly confirms
"You knew once I found out about the poison she ingested, I'd adapt to it and devour everyone. It's such an intricate compound that I couldn't ingest it and overcome it"
"Correct. We meant to trap you and exploit any possible weaknesses. Once we discover the Leviathans' nature from you and use it against you, we plan to go after the others. Beelzebub, you're the most difficult to kill due to regenerating even after being blasted"
"You won't find anything useful even if you experiment on me. The nature of my kind isn't as simple as dissecting a rat"
"Hey, we're going off topic here. We need Beelzebub to be part of our assault on Belphegor" Hermit loudly clapped her hands
"Although I don't mind killing Belphegor, why would I go there like an obedient dog?" Beelzebub sighs
"It's because I'm going there as well" Bismarck steps in front of Beelzebub
"Are you out of your mind?" Beelzebub frowns
"If you're not going to eat me, then Belphegor can have a taste of me"
Bismarck draws her sword once more and swiftly shoves her right palm straight to the blade, shocking even Beelzebub who widens their eyes. The tip of the sword goes through Bismarck's hand by a few centimeters and Bismarck pushes her palm further with a mild squelch, painting the silver blade with her own blood.
"..."
The two stare at each other silently as Bismarck further pushes her palm until her name is already halfway through the blade. She doesn't twitch or groan in pain, just a stern and cold stare right at Beelzebub's bright red eyes.
"You made me a donkey helplessly following a carrot on a stick. Hahahaha! You're quite bold to provoke me" Beelzebub bursts out in laughter
"As far as we can see, you don't have a choice but to follow along" Sovetsky Soyuz lightly tilts her head
"Belphegor will surely kill you the second you enter this range, but I can't afford to let that happen. Although, I'm willing to play along now, don't expect the same trick to be effective the second time" Beelzebub raises their hand in compliance
"..." Bismarck slowly pulls away her sword from her hand
"Now then, how do I declare Lucifer that I'm done following their arrogant whims?"
Beelzebub crosses their arms and sighs in defeat since they're not as furious as everyone expects them to be. Although, Beelzebub is a bit annoyed, they find slight amusement of Bismarck's boldness and determination.
[You see, brat. That's how far your sister is going to protect you]
"You ripped off my hand" Tirpitz complains first
[Stop whining. I put it back]
"..."
[As you can see, Bismarck is willing to sacrifice her own safety to protect you, but you're too afraid to take risks to protect her]
"Bismarck stabbing her hand is different than you, who's actually a parasite, latching inside me"
In the mentalscape, Tirpitz stares at Beelzebub right in their several eyes. Their figure is an enormous uneven amalgamation of veiny muscles, fats, and bones barely covered by cracked steel playing. It's as if Beelzebub is hiding the horrible mush of pulsating and wriggling lumps of flesh, but it still tries to break out from the gaps of it metallic shell.
"I hate how you don't crave for power. Everyone craves for something - acknowledgement, legacy, satisfaction, comfort...peace. You only craved to ease your loneliness, so it came on the form of your sister, allies, and your friend"
Beelzebub hunches and leans their snout a few inches close to Tirpitz. In the consciousness forced to live alongside each other in one body, Beelzebub has access to most of Tirpitz's memories and thoughts.
[For example, Roon hungers for blood and prey. Bismarck craves for the strength to protect her people. Sovetsky Soyuz craves for her nation to stand eternal. Even someone like Littorio craves for passion and entertainment. You, you don't hunger for anything]
Beelzebub lightly tilts their head and stretches out the index finger on their left claw and lightly pokes the tip on the side of Tirpitz's neck.
[You don't covet anything because you're satisfied that your wish is granted when others would want more]
"I know what greed is, Beelzebub. It's an addiction that will fester and devour you. That's why I learned to temper my desires and be content with what I have. I don't want to be blind to what I have by seeking more than I can attain...because right before I knew it, it will be all stripped away from me that regret will leave a gap in my heart"
[Bismarck taught you, huh. Older sisters are really role models...,] Beelzebub pulls away their claw
"Beelzebub, I want to protect Bismarck...but I'm not giving myself to you. It's the hunger for power that nearly consumed Bismarck before"
[Then how about make a deal. It's Mammon's specialty, but...]
Beelzebub grins and the lump of glistening flesh with wriggling veins seems to react in excitement.
"Beelzebub, I will let you in...only if the situation is at its worst and Bismarck is certain to die. However, I won't give you the entirety of me"
[You're still hesitating, huh...]
"You won't harm Bismarck if I give you control. That's my only condition"
[Take it or leave it, huh. Alright, brat...you got yourself a deal]
Beelzebub extends their clawed index finger due to the sheer size difference. Tirpitz reluctantly stretches out their hand, but she shakes her head and grabs the tip of Belezebub's claw.
Unknown Location...
The Empress meets with Mammon by herself without bringing a fellow Arbiter with her. As for Mammon, they're carefully stockpiling gold coins. They carefully stack one on top of another with careful precision as if it's an obsession.
"Beelzebub rebelled, didn't they? Lucifer was ticked off, and I wished I was to see if" Mammon grins
"You look awfully happy" Empress scans her surroundings
Not only coins and jewels filled Mammon's lair, but a lot of various things where some of them are useless to Mammon. They simply enjoy collecting for the sake of owning it even if they don't intend to use it.
"Lucifer's plans don't serve my best interest since it involves all of humanity dying. I'm only second to Lucifer when it comes to strength, but Lucifer has an arsenal of abilities" Mammon gently bites a large chunk of ruby
"No wonder you didn't throw them under the bus sooner..."
"You came here to make a deal, didn't you? I will respect a contract if it benefits me" Mammon turns their attention to the Arbiter
"I'm still surprised you turned against Lucifer so quickly"
"Asmodeus is the other one who intends to betray Lucifer. If all humans die, Asmodeus will lose their source of pleasure"
Mammon keeps focusing on their treasures. Right now, they're carefully placing a gem in the empty slot of a ring. The four claws on the empty slot of the ring clamps on the gem and secures it. Mammon proceeds to toss it alongside the chest of countless decorated rings.
"I can't have humans dying left and right now. The modern era is ripe with greed, and I want to drown myself in that toxicity" Mammon licks their lips
"Good grief. You'll do anything to sate your itchy hands and green eyes" Empress shakes their head
"I'm a businessman. I make deals with humans and Sirens alike whenever possible. Though in the end, humans thought they can weasel their way out only for them to..."
Mammon puffs their armored chest decorated by human remains and other things melted and fused to serve as armored plates. They have a knack for being organized so even the human skeletons fused with steel is properly arranged to appear as proper armor, a hint of Mammon's taste for luxury and etiquette.
"Now on to the terms. You want me to go against the Leviathans and help Beelzebub, but what do I get in return? A contract is absolute, so I want to know the fine print before I sign. You break the terms, and I will devour you beyond resurrection" Mammon growls
"And if you break the terms?" Empress raises an eyebrow
"I will be punished, but the method is unknown even to me"
"I see. No wonder you find loopholes instead. You're scared too" Empress smirks
"I believe the term is a pot calling kettle black"
The two opposing sides stare at each other with contempt but not enough to be hostile to each other. The Empress knows that Mammon can be difficult to handle as their allegiance is to their own interest. Once the humans and Sirens will no longer serve their purpose, they will become a threat.
"The first request is to find a way to safely separate Beelzebub from Tirpitz. It's Bismarck's own request"
"Beelzebub? They're physically merged with the battleship, so even if I can extract them, it will be excruciatingly painful, and Tirpitz might not survive it" Mammon rubs their chin
"The second is to find Lucifer's weakness to defeat them. The third is the assurance you will not indirectly or directly harm humanity if there's intent"
The Empress hands over a contract to Mammon who reduces their size to be small enough to hold the paper and read the tiny letters. It's a long one filled with specific conditions, namely on the part where Mammon must not think or act against humans even if the two conditions have been fulfilled.
"What I request is simple. To monopolize and control a territory rich with resources. That way, I can regulate my profits and have your fat pigs depend on me for their wants and needs"
"At least you have your honesty going for it" The Empress smirks
"Ahahahaha! I'm the type of person who stabs you in the front because I have class and manners like a civilized being. Only Lucifer makes someone stab you from behind" Mammon roars in laughter
"The fourth and last is to secure your allegiance to the contract, you will assist in bypassing Belphegor's ability so we can safely extract their essence"
"Done"
Mammon quickly drops their blood from their fingertips, and it spreads all over the letters. Their blood is absorbed in the paper molded from their flesh, tying themselves to the contract with their own ability in their own flesh.
"Huh? That quickly?" Empress blinks in confusion
"Hahaha! I, too, love amusement. Nothing amuses me than outsmarting humans and making them grovel to me for their daily needs. I want to profit for all eternity, so I can't have the world be drained of resources or its inhabitants extinct" Mammon hands the contract back to her
"Hmm, I changed my mind about my view of Beelzebub. It turns out you're a worse parasite"
"Money makes the world go around, my dear Siren. The regulated course of needs and wants is what fuels my toxicity. It's an irresistible drug after all"
"Hmm. At least you're honest about horrible you are"
Mammon shrugs their shoulders and flicks their tail in amusement while the Arbiter rolls the contract which appears to be paper but molded from Mammon's insides, so she groans in disgust.
"Now then, how do you plan on getting to Belphegor. Beelzebub is a key, but..." Mammon trails off
"But what?"
"Well, since I signed the contract, I'm obliged to tell you this..."
The Empress frowns as Mammon hunches their back and their head looms over the way Arbiter. Their sharp eyes are capable of distinguishing the faintest lie, reflecting the Empress' figure like a clear two-way mirror. However, those eyes only see values for their own gains and not a drop of kindness from some humans.