Chapter 16: Meeting the Myths (1).

Once my short speech was over the guests went back to chattering among themselves, with a few starting to approach my way.

The first to approach me was Michael one of the four great Seraphs of Heaven and two angles of the level of Ultimate level.

"Hello, Nephalem. It's good to see you again. Congratulation, on reaching your 10th. I wish you everlasting happiness for your future." Uncle Michael spoke to me as soon as he was in front of me.

"It's nice to see you too, Uncle Michael. Thank you for your blessing, and please don't stand on ceremony with me, we are basically family, and I think it's rude to be so formal with a family member." I replied to Uncle Michael.

"…*giggle*… It warms my heart to see that you haven't changed even after so many years. I am pretty certain that the other will also be very happy to meet you later." Uncle Michael spoke with a joyful smile, conveying his sincerity.

"I am also looking forward to meeting others, Uncle. Actually, I was just thinking about visiting you all, as I want to meet with everyone and I also have a wonderful idea that I would like to discuss with you all." I gave my answer to Uncle Michael, while also hinting about possible cooperation between Angels and Shadow Clan.

"Oh…then I will be looking forward to your visit. I will leave you to enjoy the party, but I hope we can chat and reminisce about the past later." Uncle Michael said and gave a positive response to my hints, I will talk about my idea with him at the end of the party.

"All right, I will chat with you later, Uncle. I also hope you enjoy this celebration and have a good time." I gave my goodbyes to Uncle and he left with a happy smile.

Once Uncle Michael had left, Malacoda brought me chilled orange juice, to help my throat as I would be speaking a lot during this celebration. I slowly sipped the drink as I sorted through the faces I saw during my little provocation, with each second, I changed and renewed my plans for the evening. I was deep in my thoughts until I was interrupted by a relaxed voice.

"Hey, kiddo. How you doin'?"

I focused on the place from where the voice came only to see, I saw a shabbily dressed man walking toward me with bourbon on the rocks in his left hand and waving his right hand towards me lazily.

"I am doing well, Uncle Azazel. And from your attitude, I think you are also doing quite fine." I replied to the man known as the Strongest Fallen, Founder, and Governor of Grigori, Azazel.

"Boy, you have your mother's tongue, always ready to quip back. Congratulations, on your birthday, it's nice to see you walking and talking again after so long." Uncle Azazel said to me in a sarcastic tone but then shifted to the loving tone of a caring uncle.

"Thank you, uncle. I hope the party is to your liking." I spoke.

"It is… quite relaxing." Uncle Azazel said with a small break in his words, which led me to start my deductions for his break and wording.

"It seems you have been quite stressed due to Grigori, Uncle." After eliminating various possibilities that would make Uncle stressed, I came to the only logical answer.

"You still are as monstrous observer as before." Uncle Azazel said with a little shock.

"It seems I am correct. Now the only reason there could be problems in the current Grigori would be the pride of the fallen. It seems that the fallen want to start another Great War since they have realized that they have the largest force of all the Three-faction. The fallen who want to fight can't be the majority otherwise you wouldn't be stressed like this so the only explanation can be that the pro-war faction is a minority but they are being led by someone with radical thinking and great pride. The person should also be high enough up the ladder, preventing you from taking any action against him, lest you cause chaos in Grigori. The only person checking out all the above boxes is the one and only Kokabiel one of the Cadre of Grigori." I told the story considering all the facts that I know; some are basics known by mostly everyone and some information has been gathered by the Shadow Clan.

Uncle Azazel looked at me like I am some sort of all-knowing god, which honestly with my powers and potential I am not far off from becoming.

"So, Uncle, considering your expression and silence, it seems I am correct in my deductions. This brings me to my idea. Would you like to hear it out?" I asked Uncle Azazel, with a small smile on my face.

"Hmm…oh yeah yeah…*cough* monster *cough*…I want to hear your idea." Uncle Azazel said awkwardly and nodded to hear my idea.

"As I have come of age, it's time for me to go out in the world and explore it and gain experience, so what better way to gain experience than to take out some radical fallen threatening the peace my family died for? What do you think, you will be able to curb the chaos in Grigori, without implicating yourself in the mess? While I will get the much-needed experience to become the next leader of the Shadow Clan." I put out my deal, like a true De Vil, working for the benefit and profit.

"Don't play with me boy, I may not look like it but I am still, Azazel, The Strongest Fallen, and Leader of Grigori. What is the price?" Uncle Azazel said with the most serious attitude I have ever seen on his face, currently gone was the laid-back, lazy uncle who talked about relaxing and researching, currently in front of me was the Most Sinister Fallen Angel, and he was asking the price of the help of Aatrox Nephalem De Vil.

"The price will vary with each target and it shall be paid in artifacts; however, one thing shall remain constant the help of the genius behind Grigori Sacred Gear research with a few of my research ideas." I laid out my price, I didn't have to confirm with Gramps and Gran, because this was a responsibility I needed to handle when I became the Leader of Shadow Clan.

"All right, I accept." Uncle Azazel nodded and brought out his hand for a shake of confidence, which I returned binding me to my contract.

Like that, I gained my first contract of death, Killing the Crows, who believed they could fly.