The Debriefing

After the raid on the fallen angel research facility, James had his peerage split into three groups. First, Dante, Lady, and Ayame searched the facility and found evidence of the fallen angel's crimes. On top of that, they found evidence that their inhumane research and the destruction of the yuki-onna village were not sanctioned by the Grigori. In fact, they were working with another group. One that was unhappy with the current state of the realms.

Second, Lancer, Moka, and Shion were tasked with rounding up all the unconscious fallen angels. After that, they were teleported to the Underworld to be questioned once the first group completed their search of the facility. Then, with the gathered evidence and the prisoners, the first and second groups teleported it all to Satan Territory. Then, they headed to the Devil Council's meeting hall.

Third, Mizore, Flora, and Shuna checked on the health of all the yuki-onna. Although most of them seemed fine, they had many unhealed internal injuries from experiments and abuse from the crueler fallen angels. Luckily, they found no evidence of sexual abuse. Which is surprising, considering most fallen angels seem to have fallen due to lust. Either way, Mizore and Shuna's group was the one who spent the most time in the facility after the battle ended.

Lastly, James spent time contacting those who needed to be aware of their findings. Before they even set off, James had received permission from Sirzechs and Serafall. Not that the Council were made aware of that. So, naturally, the first people James contacted were the Satans with whom he was best acquainted. After that, he instructed the first two groups to take the prisoners and evidence/information to the Satan Territory. Then, James contacted Yasaka and let her know that they were able to find twelve yuki-onna alive and that they would need a place to stay. Responding positively, Yasaka was happy to drop everything to welcome home some of her people who had been missing for eight years.

After all the medical checks were complete, James, Mizore, Flora, and Shuna gathered the surviving yuki-onna and teleported to Kyoto.

Human World, Japan, Kyoto.

Outside the torii gate that acted as the gate into the Youkai Sub-dimension, Yasaka, Sesshoumaru, and the Youkai Council of elders were awaiting James' arrival.

We've been searching for leads to the Yuki-Onna Village's destruction for almost ten years." One of the Youkai elders said wistfully. "This boy must be quite impressive if he was able to do, with only his peerage, what we as a faction were unable to do."

Hearing that, the professional smile Yasaka had been wearing in front of the council members turned into a genuine one.

"If we had put all our effort into finding them, we could have done it, too." Another elder, less tolerant of other species, spoke in opposition to the first.

Once again, Yasaka's expression changed after hearing the words of an elder. This time, however, it was for the worse.

"I would suggest you think more before you speak." Yasaka said with a reprimanding tone. "Are you suggesting that we did not do all that we could in our investigation of the destroyed village and the missing yuki-onna?"

"No, that's not what I..." the second elder said, backpedaling quickly.

"And if you were to say something that stupid in front of the returning yuki-onna..." Yasaka said while scowling at the offending elder. "We may lose the loyalty of the species. It's bad enough that most yuki-onna villages are in Nurarihyon's territory."

"My apologies, Yasaka-Hime." the elder replied while bowing his head politely.

Before things could escalate any further, the conversation ended abruptly when a teleportation magic circle appeared in front of the torii gate. Seeing the sixteen figures who appeared on the magic circle, Yasaka wished to run forward and throw herself into the arms of the man who led the group of women. However, as this was an official meeting, she had to keep her urges and desires in check.

"Alaverus-San, allow us to welcome you back to Kyoto." Yasaka said elegantly as she looked into James' eyes. "Also, we would like to extend our gratitude for the rescue of our citizens. If you wouldn't mind, we' like to invite all those present to join us at a banquet to celebrate the return of the surviving yuki-onna."

"Allow me to thank you for your intentions." James said while bowing politely. "Unfortunately, I must excuse myself. The members of my peerage and I are expected to debrief in the Underworld, shortly."

"Indeed, that news is quite unfortunate." Yasaka said, genuinely sad that James and his peerage were unable to stay. "Then, please, when you have a free moment, come celebrate this joyous event with us."

"We would be honored to accept your invitation, Lady Yasaka." James said, bowing politely once again. "Then, if you would excuse us. After a short farewell, between Mizore and her clan, we'll be on our way."

And just as James said, after a few words and a round of hugs, James, Mizore, Flora, and Shuna teleported to the Capital City, Lilith, of the Satan Territory in the Underworld.

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

When James, Mizore, Flora, and Shuna arrived in Lilith, they quickly made their way to the Devil Council's meeting hall. After arriving, they found the rest of the peerage seated in the waiting room.

"Yo, how did your tasks go?" James asked as he approached the rest of his peerage.

"Everything has been fine, so far." Moka said as the representative of the group. "I doubt things will be so simple in the meeting room, though."

"Don't worry about it." James said while waving dismissively. "I'll handle it. Besides, all the heat will be pointed at me anyway."

"Yeah, but..." Moka said with worry in her tone.

"Moka, you have to trust me." James said while taking Moka's hands in his own. While looking into her eyes, he continued. "I'll handle this. Okay? OH, and Shion, you're forbidden from speaking once we enter the meeting hall. If you do speak, you'll have to cook your own meals for a week."

"Fine." Moka said while averting her gaze with a bit of terror in her eyes.

The rest of the group paled when they heard the penalty James threatened Shion with. Shion has been forbidden from cooking ever since the first time she tried after coming to the Alaverus mansion. Luckily, James was the only one who tasted the food. Unluckily, James lost consciousness for over twelve hours after eating the first bite. Since then, most punishments have been replaced with eating Shion's cooking. It has been a remarkably effective deterrent. Even Dante's amount of collateral damage has reduced during his missions.

"Why does it sound like eating my food is a punishment?" Shion asked curiously while tilting her head cutely.

Smiling in response, James began to pat Moka's head. Then, he also took a seat. After approximately an hour, James and his peerage were summoned into the meeting hall. Upon entering the room, what the group saw was a large two-level room. On the lower level, there was a large open area with a large balcony hanging over the ground floor where the members of the Devil Council were already seated.

'They removed all the seats on the lower floor, huh?' James thought to himself as he looked around the hall. 'They're really throwing their weight around, aren't they? Making a bunch of high-rank and higher beings stand just to stroke their over inflated egos.'

Not showing any of his thoughts on his face, however, James led his peerage to the center of the hall and stopped. Then, he announced himself.

"James Alaverus reporting." James said loudly and clearly. "I and my peerage have answered to the Council's summons."

After James' announcement of his presence and reason for being there, there was a moment of silence, before a member of the Council spoke.

"Such a respectful entrance." the Council member said condescendingly. "So where was your respect when you took it upon yourself to attack those fallen angels?"

"I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure what it is that you're unhappy with." James said while tilting his head, seemingly in confusion.

*Bang!*

In response to James' reply, another member of the council stood from his seat and slammed his hand on the desk in front of him.

"We never gave permission for you to pursue those fallen angels!" the second councilor shouted angrily. "Your reckless actions could have led to an all-out war between the devils and the fallen angels."

James, once again, tilted his head while responding to the councilor's words.

"Once again, I'm not sure what it is you're referring to." James said in reply. "Since the Grigori said those fallen angels were acting without orders and could be treated as strays, how could my actions have led to an all-out war?"

Immediately, the Devil Council members froze. They did all they could to keep that information secret. They could only wonder how the half-breed in front of them could know about it.

"Even if that's true, you did not receive permission to pursue those fallen angels, Young Man." A third Councilor stated.

Yet again, James tilted his head in confusion.

"That's correct." James said with a nod.

"Then that means you admit to..." that same councilor tried to continue reprimanding James. However, he was interrupted.

"I never received permission to pursue the fallen angels, but I did receive orders to rescue the kidnapped yuki-onna." James said while tilting his head to the opposite side.

Eventually, one of the other council members lost his patience.

"You dare to mock the Devil Council, Half-Breed." The Councilor exploded. With heavy breaths and bloodshot eyes, he stared at James, waiting for him to speak another word of mockery. At least what he perceived as mockery.

"Sir, I apologize." James said while shifting his attention to the angry councilor.

Hearing the apology, that councilor perceived it as fear for the members of the council. However, before he could bask in his feeling of superiority for too long, James continued.

"I have yet to speak any mockery, I've merely answered the questions that have been asked."

With that, that councilor lost control of himself to his anger. Immediately after James finished speaking, the aura of an intermediate-level, ultimate-rank being swept over the room. However, other than causing Lady, Flora, and Shuna to flinch momentarily, nothing happened. Seeing this, the rest of the council seriously inspected the power of the young adults standing in the middle of the hall. Then, they realize that James was stronger than, if not the majority, many of the members of the Council. Before any of the councilors could embarrass themselves any further, the leader of the Council as well as the Great King Faction, Zekram Bael, asked the most important question.

"So, who was it that gave you the order to rescue the kidnapped yuki-onna, James Alaverus." Zekram said while showing no emotion.

"Serafall Leviathan of the Four Great Satans." James replied respectfully.

'Damn it.' Zekram thought to himself. 'She's actually the only one with the authority to supersede us on matters like these. How could we have allowed such an uncontrollable little girl to become the Satan in charge of foreign affairs.'

Not allowing any of his thoughts to show in his expression, Zekram spoke once again.

"Very well, it seems our first questions were misplaced. If you would not mind, please give your report on the raid of the fallen angel research facility." Zekram said without allowing his emotions to show in the slightest.

"Yes, sir." James replied respectfully.

While James explained everything that happened after Dante brought back the news of the fallen angel facility, until the last member of his peerage arrived in the waiting room, the members of the council felt as if they saw James sneering at them. However, whenever they took a second look and focused on him, all they saw was a serious young man reporting about his mission.

After several hours reporting and answering questions, James and his peerage were allowed to leave the meeting hall. Wasting no time, James teleported everyone back to the Alaverus Mansion in Kuoh.

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

Seated in the Alaverus Mansion's living room, Leona, Cassiel, Venelana, Zeoticus, Rhea, Dante, Sirzechs, Grayfia, Serafall, Rias, Sona, and the peerages of both Rias and Sona were present. As they chatted while waiting for James and his peerage to return, they came to a stop when a teleportation magic circle appeared int a corner of the room. Once it vanished, James and his peerage were revealed. After a few moments of silence and exchanging glances, James and his peerage laughed uproariously at the constipated looks on the faces of the council when they mentioned that Serafall gave them the order to attack the fallen angel facility.

"Judging by the expressions on your faces, I would have to guess everything went well." Sirzechs asked with a smile.

"Oh, if only you could have seen their faces when I told them Sera-Tan gave me the order to rescue the kidnapped yuki-onna. There would be no reason to ask that question." James said happily. Then, he repeated everything that happened in the meeting hall with the Devil Council.