Deals With Devils

Tie Ta arrived at the Paimon Mansion and was quickly escorted to a room. He had full faith in his team so he slept soundly for a little over an hour before he rose again. Looking over his body now, he was satisfied with his gains.

There's nothing like a good fight to help temper one's strength, Tie Ta thought as he pushed himself up from the bed.

"My love," Lingyue spoke from her meditation mat.

"Are you angry with me?" Tie Ta asked.

Lingyue sighed. "I'm used to it by now."

"But, I would rather be with everyone else, helping to defend what's ours," she added

"You're right." said Tie Ta, "It is your right."

"Well, I'm here and Lord Paimon has requested an audience."

"Where is he?"

Sometime later, Tie Ta and Lingyue were walking down a grand hall with high arches and tiled floors. every step clicked with an unusually loud echo. Upon the walls were pictures of the fallen Paimon members of wars ended.

When the couple approached an ivory-made double door, Tie Ta knocked once and the doors swung open inwards. Looking at the large room was a magnificently long table with guests seated and waiting.

"Shezmu, Nephthys, Lord Phenex, Lord Paimon, Lord Gremory, Son." Tie Ta spoke as we walked closer to the table.

"You must be Tia," he eyed the Egyptian vampire, " Alethea, darling. Heir Apparent of Paimon. Sirzechs... you are a satan."

Tie Ta stopped moving.

"I'm merely here as a..."

"Oh no, all those privileges were descended when you took the job. There is no, merely, for you anymore. There especially isn't, just a Gremory, anymore." said Tie Ta.

"In truth I was given a pass, seeing as my sister hasn't been born yet." said Sirzechs, "And I couldn't pass on the opportunity of meeting you."

"Hmm, very well," said Tie Ta as he began to walk again.

"Young Heir Apparent of Phenex, sharp boy when I last met him. Perhaps a few riddles after politics?"

"Of course, Lord Tie Ta." Ruval Phenex tried to fight his smile.

Ruval enjoyed Tie Ta's company when he was younger. Tie Ta was the first person he met that didn't project him to be a great warrior like his father. He was a strategist that valued mind over muscle. However, this didn't mean he was weak.

"Top ten, ehh?" Tie Ta asked.

"Yes, Lord." Ruval replied.

"Mmm, don't cut this guy any breaks." Tie Ta gestured to Xiao Heng.

"So, why the gathering?" Tie Ta asked as he took his seat at the far end of the table.

" Can we be informal?" Lord Phenex asked.

"Of course, Rozzamul." Tie Ta replied.

"Then I'll start first." said Rozzamul Phenex, "I am here for one reason. Song of Pheonix. A hymn created by the original Phenex."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I loaned it to Xagad Paimon to wager," said Rozzamul.

"Not cheaply I assume. What was collateral?" Tie Ta asked,

Rozzamul couched. "Collateral was the Crown of Paimon."

"And you agreed?" Zeoticus asked Xagad.

"Yes, I knew Tie Ta would win. " Xagad spoke lightly.

"Well a deals a deal," said Zeoticus.

"Not quite. Rozzamul, I'll give you back the Song of Pheonix, " Said Tie Ta, "However, you owe me one favor."

"Anything," said Rozzamul.

"When it's time, I'll summon you." Tie Ta nodded at Xagad.

Xagad Paimon grunted as he pulled out the Song of phoenix and returned it.

"Well, then, it's my turn. Lord Tie Ta!" said Xagad, "It is my pleasure to present you with earning for a great victory. Think of it as fate."

Xagad came off as a trickster. But Tie Ta knew that he was just a devil that wanted respect but most of all to survive.

"It was fate, that our house united in marriage. And when I wagered everything on you, fate saw me victorious. We all know, that if it wasn't for you, these great lords would not be at my table. In the past, the Duke House of Gremory would bow before my status as King. If it wasn't for the laws of the Pillars, I would have fallen to nothing."

"Xagad..." said Zeoticus.

"Stop! I do not want to hear your lies," said Xagad.

"How about we make it official." said Xagad, " The winnings are yours. All I ask is that Lord Tie Ta takes the King House of Paimon as a vassal."

The room was speechless.

"I am not a devil," said Tie Ta.

"But a contract is a contract. To display my sincerity, I even wagered the Invocation of Paimon. Torn from the pages of the original Ars Goetia. When King Solomon wielded that insufferable ring and commanded the invocation from the ancestors, he gained access to the powerful essence of our clans. The power of the pillars that bind us. With it, you can command absolute servitude of all Paimon and use the powers that even our blood is too weak to access now."

"Father..."

"Be silent," said Tie Ta.

Tie Ta took a deep breath.

"Okay...I am the ruler of Duat now. I'll need people. I know a man like you would a with a contract already written."

A sheet of parchment appeared before Tie Ta. Tie Ta read it slowly, then a second time with his Tear Stigma. Nothing was hidden from him. Xagad Paimon was only an Ultimate Class Devil. The weakest of the lords present at the table.

Tie Ta signed the parchment and the deal was done.

Rozzzamul and Zeoticus leaned back in their seat. They could have never predicted such a turn of events.

"Hahaha Good! Good!" Xagad cried out as he clapped.

A moment later, a blue scaled Dragon, Three-headed Dog, and five well-decorated boxes were brought in.

"Sea Dragon- Rehab, Infernal Cock of Agdistis, Paimon Pillar Invocation, Cerberus, Ichor of the Gods, Blood Baby, and the Essence of Hecate," Xagad announced.

"I will accept these. Paimon, your house will become mine, give the order. You are free to bargain in my territories. Hold them if you wish and only if they are empty of my forces or forces placed by my people."

Lord Phenex and Gremory frowned as Paimon had risen to old glory right before their eyes. The Pirate King, Tyrant thief of thieves had just given Xagad access to the kingdom to use to heart's content.

"On the topic of oaths. Lord, my blade is yours as Set and ruler of Duat." Shezmu finally speaks.

"I know this," said Tie Ta. "Wait until later."

"Zeoticus, are you here just for company?" Tie Ta asked.

Zeoticus is a calm and collected man. An unwavering existence.

"Tie Ta, you will go to war soon. I already received word that Shinigami Company is pulling assets and making arrangements to hold valuable territory."

"So your here because of that. I guess there are no forever enemies." said Tie Ta, " Name a price for Kouh Town."

"First, I want the truth," said Zeoticus.

"Truth of what?" Tie Ta asked.

"You knew of the evil pieces from the beginning right. That's why you targeted Cleria Belial, to force the Bael clan to reveal it."

"Let put you wise." said Tie Ta, "During the height of piracy we encountered a peerage of devils with a woman we know was born human. Yet, she was a devil. It wasn't our scrimmages started that we discovered that it wasn't natural. So we pushed to take territory as your numbers were still dwindling. Taking Kouh Town was just another flex of power. I never expected Lord Belial to use the King Piece and clash with me. Hell, you should probably ask yourself why he was even there."

Sirzechs and Zeoticus shared a look.

" And Cleria Belial?" Sirzechs asked.

"Was already dying when we found her. She had light wounds. That's why you should ask Lord Belial why he was there and yet Cleria still died. Did he get there before or after me? Did he collude with the church to kill a member of his own clan? If so, why?"

"That's enough," said Zeoticus.

"Price?" Tie Ta asked with a smirk. "and let's think archaic."

"Ahh, why can't you be material like everyone else." Zeoticus groaned, "How about you tell me what you want?"

"Mmm, Sirzechs here is half Bael. I assume this Heiress apparent will also be half Bael?" Tie Ta asked.

The two crimson-haired men growled.

"The power of destruction interests me. Allow me to train the girl. Of course, her peerage is hers to choose. I just want to see if I can make her the strongest Bael in existence. Goddess of Extinction." Tie Ta spoke nonchalantly though his excitement was evident.

"All of Kouh Town to become a teacher?" Sirzechs was doubtful.

"Mmm. It should be fun. We higher beings have so much life. Little things like this make it worth living." Tie Ta explained. "I'll even give you time to write a contract of your choosing."

"We'll think on this matter. For now, we must take our leave," said Zeoticus.

"Us as well," Rozzamul spoke as he stood.

'My love, aren't you affairs of changing cannon?' Lingyue asked telepathically.

'That's the plan. After that match with Set, I started thinking. The NPC's aren't the problem. The deity slivers are. How many of them know the plot. Are they here to intervene or heir to collect faith. Team Russia will certainly intervene. So we have to make moves to shake the world up and create something new.' Tie Ta replied.

'This is your counter attack.' thought Lingyue, 'Using this momentum to step into the canon before it starts. The favor with Phenex, teaching Rias, accepting Paimon's fealty. Your stacking the deck.'

'Those moves amongst others. I have no idea what plays Team Russia has made. But as long as I have the greatest impact, none of it matters."

'And what if Team Russia is here just to live a quiet life?'

'Bullshit. This is one of the few worlds with a doorway out through dimensions. Issei, Vali, and a few other important charters have the power to navigate it. They will go after them. We have to beat them to it.'

When Phenex and Gremory were gone, Tie Ta dismissed Paimon to gather his strength and start recruiting potential without worry of resources.

Tie Ta then looked at Shezmu.

"I can feel the bond." he said, "It's part of the reason I blocked your strike and didn't counterattack. You were following orders issued by another Set. All is forgiven.

Tie Ta moves and takes off the amulet of Shezmu empowered every life he had ever taken. Shezmu was shocked by its power. It was without a doubt the strongest Amulet of Shezmu has ever seen.

'It has been christened with the blood of many powerful beings. I need you now to disguise yourself and hide deep. You will go to Kouh Town and find Hyoudou Family. You will train them in secret and they will become the Human faction of Kouh Town. The Amulet is to be passed down to the family head.' Tie Ta gave Shezmu mental instructions.

'As you wish, Lord.' Shezmu was swallowed by magic and vanished.

"Now, you three." Tie Ta pointed at his son and daughter-in-laws. "You will run Paimon Mansion until Xagad has returned. Alethea, you should complete your peerage soon. No doubt, the Gremory Clan will give you one hell of a fight."

"Yes, Father," she replied.

"Xiao Heng, no more outings. You want a harem, there are many beauties in the underworld. Your grounded."

"But..."

"No buts. All of you...Tia stays. you two leave." Tie Ta ordered.

"Lingyue, take the gifts to that place and wait for me in our room." Tie Ta spoke as he discreetly handed her the Saint Artifact.

"Nephthys, why are you here?" Tie Ta asked.

"I've been around. A couple of worlds met a few Set slivers and stopped here when I felt too strong pulls. And then I met my grandfather again. Of course, it was only half of him. But for this world to entice him enough to split himself for the first time, that's special. So I stuck around. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you were the second Set."

"So you don't know what this world is?" Tie Ta asked.

"Pft, many deities don't. It's that Odin, Sun Wukong, Hades, Shiva, and a few others you should worry about. They're like me, all of them are whole. They want something in this world. Everyone else is just her collecting faith to increase their power. Hell, even I became stronger when I arrived and merged with that hallow manifestation of myself in this world. This world is ripe with believers of the old gods."

"Yes, this one of those worlds." said Tie Ta, "Will you stay?"

"I am your wife. You are more Set than any sliver out there now. I am bonded to you." she declared.

"Forgive me if I don't believe. Stick around. Make yourself useful. If anything, I am a new incarnation of Set. We are not married. That's something you will have to earn."

"I helped you harness your power! Don't you remember our love beneath the red sand?" she asked fiercely.

"Vaguely. But I do remember laying in the red sand alone. And now that I see you again, you tell me that you have been shopping round for others. I do not trust you because you are not drawn to me but to the power of Set! Nephthys, you may go but you are not the queen of Duat nor my wife."

The decree echoed throughout Duat and Aaru as Nephthys felt stripped of authority. Even the bond between her and Set had vanished.

"Now you are free. Will you still stay?" Tie Ta asked.

Nephthys smiled. "You are much better than him, I give you that. Not even the Orginal Set had the balls to divorce me even after I left him."

"The fool." said Tie Ta, "I'll see you around...Maybe."

Nephthys giggled as she walked to Tie Ta then bent down to his cheek. "I will be back for you. I am your Queen," she whispered before she departed as a gale of red sand.

All the while, Tia, Xiao Heng's vampire wife sat at the table speechless. A strong force then hit her and her mind was wiped of his and Nephthys encounter.