Chapter 260

[Confidentiality precautions have to be taken after this. Betrayal is an inevitability.]

It was clear some of the heads from smaller clans faked their displeased attitudes. This was already a sign of shifted loyalties. It would not surprising if in future, these clan heads would offer confidential information to the Satans in exchange for protection.

[I must prevent that.]

Zelefam's thoughts shifted from the policy. Right now, what was important was erasing any evidence of their involvement with the Nekomata Massacre.

Rather than fruitlessly trying to advance, it was better to fortify their current position. From here onwards, it was official. The Peerage Overhaul Policy would be passed into law, and nothing could stop it.

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|DxD|

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The streets of the Underworld were packed to the brim with cheering devils. News of the Overhaul Policy being passed into law made all avenues of media. Reincarnated Devils were the ones who cheered the most.

"It's here! It really happened! IT REALLY HAPPENED!"

"Three-hundred years. I…I never thought I'd see this. Is this…is this really…true?"

"Haha! I can finally ditch that scumbag master of mine!"

"Honey! Did you hear what Lady Leviathan said? Did you hear?!"

Tears of relief, cries of joy, and yells of jubilance could be heard for dozens of kilometres. From the most prestigious of cities to the humblest of villages, everyone heard the news and celebrated.

Old reincarnated devils who'd long since given up on experiencing true freedom shed tears as they watched the news from the devices of their children and descendants. September 5th, 1999 would be a day to remember---for it represented a new period in the history of devilkind.

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|DxD|

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Igor and Atid were watching the wave of cheering devils from one of the taller buildings in the city of Lilith. They sat on the edge of the roof and watched with neutral gazes as countless devils celebrated with exuberance.

For the Devils, this was a day that would start new beginnings. For these two, it was just another Sunday.

"The Satans sure have a lot of work cut out for them."

The streets were completely clogged and magic fireworks peppered the skies. With people cheering so much, expectations were sure to be high.

"They do, brother. And your sister too. She'll be busy modifying each devil's Evil Piece after this."

"Mm. She'll be busy alright."

Igor agreed with Atid's statement. They heard Serafall's and Ajuka's speeches when they described the rollout plan.

"I hope she won't overwork herself. Lia can become too absorbed in her projects sometimes. But enough about her."

Igor turned to face Atid.

"What are you doing here? Seriously, brother. You can't tell me Uncle Indra let you skip training for Yasaka."

"Hahaha"

Atid chuckled at Igor's light jab.

"It's not like that, brother. Father wants me to experience more of the world. It was by coincidence when Uncle Sun was asked by Lady Yasaka to accompany her as a delegate to the Underworld. Since I'm also his disciple, there was no problem with me accompanying them."

"..."

Igor scrutinised Atid carefully because…he didn't believe him. Rather, he didn't believe in Indra. He knew the god far too well.

"Bullshit. Tell me the honest truth."

"Pfft…pwahahaha!"

Atid broke out in a chuckle. Igor's disbelieving expression caught him offguard.

"Hahaha. Of course you'd figure it out."

He wiped a single tear from his eye.

"Haaaaa, Brother. What I said before is partially true. But what father wants for me to do is to also earn a reputation like yours. As it stands, your name is being spread across the supernatural world. Father wants mine to spread as well."

"..."

*Clenches Fists!*

"No wonder you stole my kill!"

His nostrils flared up in rage. Lord Berith was his target yet Atid had the guts to stop him?

"Bloody hell! Shit! I'll beat you up here!"

He decisively formed a ki blast in his hand.

"Wait, Igor! Let me explain!"

Atid knew his temperamental friend very well. Igor really would dare to fight him in a period of celebration. On another day, he'd be very willing. But not today because that would reflect poorly on Yasaka!

"Listen, brother! That guy was already marked by Lady Yasaka before the meeting ever began. If you killed him right then, then her plan would've been ruined. That's why I stopped you."

Steadily, Atid told Igor of the plan. When Yasaka arrived and entered the hall, she heard Lord Berith make a lewd yet racist comment about her. Instead of being angry, she saw an opportunity. The older clan heads were more reserved and shrewd, but this young buck would be easy to influence.

So she subtly influenced him with senjutsu and bolstered his bravery. This type of unrestrained person would serve as her leverage in interfering in Devil Politics. She just didn't expect him to say such demeaning words, but his purpose was served so he was killed.

"..."

In face of such ridiculous manipulation, Igor could only lower his hand with a frown.

"Politicians. They will take a thousand-kilometre detour just to reach a destination one kilometre from them. Why do you people always go for hard solutions? Are you that afraid of stepping on some toes?"

He understood, but he also couldn't accept it. Unlike Igor, Atid just shrugged.

"It is what it is, Brother. We can't have disputes coming up in the future. If suspicion is thrown that the current Satans are nothing more than puppets, then destabilization would occur."

Igor waved him off.

"Yeah, yeah. I understand that part. I just don't like it so don't expect me to follow it."

"Hehe. Perhaps only you can speak like that, brother."

"It comes with training my guts out. I'm not tap-dancing around weaklings."

Atid smiled wryly. Igor truly had the most interesting perspective.

"That's just how the supernatural world works, brother."

"Not unless we use our fists. Because let me tell you, Atid. If we wanted to, we could kill the Four Satans and rule the Devils."

"..."

Atid fell silent. Igor's words were…true? They were surprisingly true now that Atid gave it some thought. But those words weren't something that should be said out loud.

"Have some tact, Igor."

"What? Am I wrong?"

The blonde shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not saying I'll do it. I'm saying the possibility is there. Just like how Lord Shiva can decide one day to up and kill me. Maybe the chance is zero-point-something percent, but it's not truly zer- wait. What were we talking about again?"

"..."

*Mouth Twitch*

This idiot. Sometimes he would gain those few moments of wisdom before he reverted back to factory settings.

"Hahahahahahaha! Truly an interesting perspective, brat. Truly!"

The old sage appeared between the boys and sat on the edge of the tower. The smile on his face was bright and he couldn't help but pat Igor on the shoulder a few times.

"I never expected you could think like that, brat."

"It's not like I'm wrong. If I wanted, I could dominate the Underworld and rule with an iron fist. I just can't be bothered. That's probably why Lucy even agreed to the alliance in the first place."

"Lucy? Who's Lucy?"

It was Atid who asked. He didn't recall of anyone called Lucy.

"He means Lucifer, brat. That's his nickname."

"Pff- what?"

Atid's worldview was shattered. He did not expect the Crimson Satan, Leader of the Devils, an entity present on the list of Top 10 strongest beings, would effectively be demoted to 'Lucy'.

"..."

Atid found it a bit hard to accept. The name 'Lucifer', an honoured name for the devils was degraded by his idiot of a brother. But it also made him realise how strong him and Igor were. If it were someone else, they'd be killed on the spot.

*Cough* *Cough*

He cleared his throat before leaning in to whisper.

"Brother. Don't let the devils hear what you said otherwise…Sirzechs wouldn't know where to bury himself."

Igor pushed away this idiot who was dangerously close to his face.

"I know, I know. I only call him Lucy when he's with his friends. By the way. What are you doing here, monkey sage? Shouldn't you be doing political stuff?"

Sun Wukong's expression turned ugly.

"Brat. Believe me when I say I will whack you across this city. You know how I don't like these meetings. That lass Yasaka can handle it herself."

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|DxD|

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Yasaka was in Sirzechs's office sitting across from the owner in question. The two enjoyed a cup of tea in amiable silence with dozens of thousands of cheers serving as the background noise. It was the sound of success.

Unlike earlier in the morning, Sirzechs was in a much better mood. The policy successfully passed into law. His friends were handling the after-effects and implementation after his speech. Since he handled the load this whole time, it was time they did their share and let him rest.

The critical stage had passed. No matter what methods the Old Satan Faction had, they could no longer influence the policy. Now, all Sirzechs had to do was deal with the mess the Naberius left him.

He put his cup down and propped his elbows on the table.

"Lady Yasaka. I am fully aware the lives of the Nekomata cannot be relegated to a mere transaction. As such, I am willing to listen to whatever demands you may have."

He was ready for Yasaka to make him bleed. The Nekomata were already somewhat rare and their population was concentrated in the Underworld. If push comes to shove, he'd 'reallocate' funds from some clans like the Naberius.

"Your willingness is appreciated, Lucifer-sama."

Yasaka put down her cup of tea.

"As for reparations, would it be too much for you if you rebuild the Nekomata Village?"

"..."

The gears slowly churned in Sirzechs's head. The condition Yasaka proposed confused him greatly, until…realisation.

"?!"

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AN

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I'm curious as to what will happen to Shirone and Kuroka.