Chapter 18 - You Dare Question Me?! You Imprudent Devil Who Does Not Recognise Mount Tai!

"Who is that talking cat and the Grayfia look alike?" Riser said with a frown.

Grayfia and Rias already panicked, afraid Riser might do something to anger the unknown god. Grayfia acted quickly and whispered something to Riser's ears which made his face frown deeper before an understanding smile appeared.

"Ah. Forgive this Riser. I am unaware of your status, your excellency." Riser immediately bowed respectfully, as expected of a proper noble heir well versed in diplomacy.

"It's fine, it's rare to find a fellow connoisseur of the same interest after all. You can say we both share the same interests as a fellow collector." I said, genuinely see and respect Riser as a fellow man of culture. From small to big with a wide variety of taste and do not discriminate. Truly an exemplary connoisseur.

"Ahaha! This Riser is pleased and honoured to hear, thank you for your kind words, your excellency." He said with a bolstered pride and ego.

To that, I simply give him a toast before staying silent as I promised to be merely a spectator.

Grayfia is glad that everything ended well, as for Rias. Her opinion of me dropped but still didn't change that she feared me a lot and didn't dare to show or voice it out.

Then everything played out as the story and Rias rejected the arranged marriage and Grayfia proposed the last method Sirzech prepared as a chance for Rias. But to be honest, she will not win, especially since I took away Asia. However, there is a severe consequence if she loses the battle, getting absolutely trashed is Issei, the cornerstone of the world and the MC gets depressed and doesn't go through with the plan to fight Riser during the marriage ceremony.

What happened after that is Issei later turned mad and turned against the Devil like that one incident in the past where the wielder of Albion went berserk and evaporated a big chunk of the Underworld and died. Issei will slaughter the Phenex first before the rest of the Underworld and stop only because Sirzech is forced to put him down.

Well, that is just a small part of the consequences. Then without Issei to stop Kokabiel the peace between three factions never happened and the Khaos Brigade destroyed the world basically with Rizevim's machination. The timeline is basically on route to being pruned off because it deviated from its supposed track and the cornerstone that keeps the world stable is gone.

Not my problem to be honest. I can simply relocate to another timeline or world. But because I've already stayed long enough in this world to develop a feeling of duty to protect it. So, that's why I'm gonna interfere and stop this timeline from turning into the equivalent of Losbelt from FGO.

"Let's not get hasty shall we? I know that I said I wouldn't interfere. But please hear me out for a moment." I stopped the discussion about the Rating Game dead on its track.

"Riser, if I am not mistaken. The only reason you are even on board with this arranged marriage is due to your sense of duty, right?"

"Indeed, it is the duty of me, the son of Phenex house, to uphold the promises and honor between my house and the Gremory house." Riser answered with a nod to confirm my claim and put a big shock on Rias' face considering she thinks the guy is aiming for her body only.

"Then, if the contract is voided. You wouldn't even pursue this marriage anymore?" I asked and Riser shook his head.

"No. Although it's a shame since Rias Gremory is a rare and hard to find beauty. I do not intend to marry someone that clearly hates me and would make my life harder out of spite. There are plenty of other ladies out there that would happily marry me and love me for who I am." Riser added, which slashed Rias' womanly pride.

"Also, one last question. The reason why your family wanted this marriage is because they wanted to produce a child within their family that would carry the blood of the Bael Clan?"

"Indeed." Riser nods his head in confirmation.

"Well, that makes things easier." I said and hopped off Asia's lap and walked to the table where Riser and Rias were sitting.

"If I offer your Phenex Clan a small fraction of my power to one of your family members of my choosing, which I guarantee is not less inferior than the Power of Destruction. Will your Phenex Clan agree to void this pointless marriage which will resolve all these needless problems?" I sat before Riser Phenex as I made my offer.

The rest of the Devils focused their eyes on me, especially Grayfia for political reasons, as if the Phenex Clan got a power strong enough to upset the delicate balance of the Underworld. It will be a huge problem especially when I claim that the power I am granting to the next generation of Phenex Clan is no less inferior than the Great King, Bael Clan.

"I do not doubt my Lord Father will reject. However, I must ask him first for his decision since he is the patriarch of the Phenex Clan." Riser replied and already ordered his Queen to create the video transmission.

"Please wait for a moment, Young Lord Phenex and Your Excellency. Before making any important decisions, I think we should gather all the necessary sides involved in this decision first." Grayfia bowed and spoke with honorifics which sounded more like a plea than demand which is evident of the panic within her.

"And what are you right, a mere maid of the Gremory house to tell me what to do, Grayfia Lucifuge?" I said with killing intent poured out on her which made her instantly collapse to the floor with cold sweat pouring out profusely. "This is the deal between me and the Pillar Clan of Phenex only. There is no need for you of the Gremory House to interfere in this matter. Unless… you are wary of the Phenex Clan gaining my favor and are trying to buy time for your King, Sirzech Lucifer, to stop the Phenex Clan from obtaining this deal?" I said as my eyes narrowed down at her.

Hearing the accusation, Riser's eyes immediately darted at Grayfia who looked down at the floor guiltily and sweating even harder until she was drenched which basically answered my question.

"I see." Riser stood up before turning back to me. "I, Riser Phenex, thank you, your excellency, for opening my eyes to the shamelessness of the Gremory house. Not only will they not honor their contract, they are also trying to suppress the Phenex Clan. As the heir of the Phenex Clan, I am indebted to your favor." He put his right arm on his chest and bent his back while thanking me.

"Hmn. It's alright. They simply earned my ire. I apologize for my unsightly appearance just now." I shrugged.

This problem all stemmed from the Gremory Clan. They are the one making this contract in the first place in order to get some money from the Phenex Clan which is wealthy. But now time to honor the deal, they have the audacity to breach the contract and make the Phenex Clan take all the losses and shame.

Here I am, graciously and generously trying to resolve the issue without the loss on both sides out of my own pocket. This Grayfia had the audacity to stop me? She is just plainly asking for a beating from me.

After that debacle, Lord Phenex agreed to the deal and the contract was voided. Everything ended well except for the Gremory house and Sirzech Lucifer that not only lost their faces, but also were exposed for their shamelessness and lacking of honor as a Noble Pillar Clan for not willing to honor the deal they initiated and also earning my ire.

Besides that, I was invited to the Phenex Clan to further discuss the deal between us and I became the guest of highest honor of the Phenex Clan.

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