Cooperation

In the Tepes Castle, a figure is seen pacing back and forth while furiously biting his nails.

"Damn it! Valerie is gone… what should I do now?" Marius at this time has no choice left.

It's been a week since the attack happened and in the past few days, they focused on searching for his sister.

Their search yielded nothing.

He clearly remembers what his father's words were but Valerie is gone along with the Holy Grail.

In the past few days, their situation has also been known in the outside world which makes the situation worse.

He swears that it's the first time he saw that look in his father's eyes. He was like a mad beast and all of that malice was directed at him.

He had no choice left, he couldn't get Valerie back and he knows that all of his father's anger will be poured at him.

"The wise choice was to leave the castle but where would I go?" He contemplated.

It's true that he doesn't want to leave his lavish lifestyle here but his life is more important.

He's sure that his father won't spare him.

"... Should I contact them?" Marius gulped.

A few months ago, he came in contact with a certain Devil.

His connections told him that they possess some technology that can be helpful in modifying biological creatures, but strangely, they haven't cooperated with anyone and only kept it for themselves.

Maruis can't contact other researchers from different factions and it's the best few people know of the Sephiroth Graal.

He contacted them in hopes of furthering his research about removing vampire weakness but all he got was a cold answer of refusal.

At first he wanted to get angry, to think someone could talk to him so arrogantly but when he saw the piercing red eyes, he swallowed it.

As someone who lives in the Tepes Castle where all kinds of barbarities exist for years, he has keen intuition on what to avoid.

That devil is one of them.

Despite the refusal, he still insisted and tried to persuade them only to be met with the same answer.

Having no choice, he revealed the existence of the Sephiroth Graal in his hands, he removed some information but it was enough to gather their attention.

After that, they said that he will contact them if he makes further progress in his research and also show them the proof that the Holy Grail exists aside from pictures and videos.

Now that his bargaining chip is gone, would they still accept him? He still has the data of the research not just about vampires, but werewolves as well, a biological weapon they are trying to perfect.

Would it be enough?

"Not that I have any choice." Marius gritted his teeth and contacted them through a device.

A few moments before a holographic figure appeared.

"E-Euclid.." He gulped.

"Marius, it's been a long time since our last talk. I assume that you have made progress now?" The Devil named Euclid asked.

Despite having his body shown in the hologram, most of his body is shrouded in darkness, leaving his shiny silver and red eyes visible.

Even then, Marius couldn't help but shake, his intuition is telling him that this devil is bad news, but he has no choice. Either this or get impaled by his father.

"Y-Yes, we have made progress but there's bad news." It's now or never.

Euclid narrowed his eyes, "Speak."

Marius gritted his teeth before saying, "The Holy Grail was taken, my sister has been kidnapped."

…

Silence.

The eerie silence didn't reduce the nervousness of the vampire, on the contrary, it only intensified.

"... Is this kind of joke Marius?" The silver haired devil asked with a cold voice.

Despite Marius' fear, he still replied, "No! She was kidnapped! And not just by anyone but the user of the Ultimate Longinus!" He decided to spit the truth.

Euclid's eyes flickered in surprise. The user of the Strongest Longinus has kidnapped the user of Sephiroth Graal?

Now that's interesting, aside from the irony that they are both Holy Relics, it's also interesting how someone manages to locate the whereabouts of the Holy Chalice.

Even he didn't know until this vampire told him and he doubts that others know it as well.

Unless this vampire couldn't keep his mouth shut and decided to spread the news that the Holy Grail is in their hands.

Foolish, but he doubts it. Not because of Marius' intelligence but because of his father, King Tepes.

Still, how he lost it is none of his business, it only means that they failed and he has to say the unfortunate news to his master.

"Since it's gone, then there's no point in us communicating." Euclid didn't see the benefit of talking to this vampire, their only usefulness which is the Holy Chalice is now gone.

"W-Wait Euclid! I can still help with your projects! I still have the remaining data relating to the Holy Grail!" Seeing that the silver haired devil was about to end the communication, Marius said hurriedly.

He can't miss this chance.

Euclid stares at him for a moment before letting a dark chuckle, "I see, you're being kicked by your father it seems."

It wasn't really that hard to guess, a valuable artifact has been lost in your hand? He would have the same decision as the King Tepes.

Or even execute him immediately.

Marius nodded with gritted teeth. It was humiliating for him! He swears that if he gets his hand to that man named Longinus

He will..! He will—!

"Hmph, you better have that data. I'll send someone to pick you up."

Without letting the vampire reply, Euclid closed the communication.

Marius stared at the device for a moment before yelling,

"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"

—

After closing the communication, Euclid Lucifuge hurriedly walked through the halls to inform his master.

Few months ago, the vampire, Marius Tepes contacted them for a cooperation, he found it foolish of course but his interest was piqued when the Holy Grail of the Last Supper was mentioned.

A Longinus is something that you don't see often after all.

The vampire gave him some information about their project which is to remove their weakness, something that he also found interesting.

A devil and a vampire have both weakness for Light and Holy elements, it is beneficial for the both of them.

What surprised him however is how the Sephiroth Graal is capable of achieving it.

While the vampire was clearly hiding it, he informed him of their findings related to the Longinus and said that it can remove their weakness.

While not on the level of the Governor-General Azazel, Euclid has his own knowledge about Sacred Gears and was sure that Sephiroth Graal doesn't have any records of removing weaknesses.

Is it some sort of trickery to make them cooperate? He highly doubts it. That Vampire wouldn't be foolish enough to speak some false information unless it's actually true.

Could it be a Balance Break?

He didn't know, but the news is enough to consider cooperation.

Until this happens.

Standing in front of a large door, Euclid knocked a few times before opening it.

The room itself wasn't extravagant, it has few decorations with only a large sofa and TV in the room, it seems that the one using it wasn't fond of too much stuff loitering around.

Euclid wasn't here to describe that however. Instead, he was looking at the figure sitting around in a crouching position while reading a book, before bending a knee.

"My liege."

"Euclid~ You're back! Did you know that bees can enlarge your dick if you got stung by them? Bidleid must be packin~ Uhyahyahyahyah~!"

Euclid merely smiled.

This is Rizevim Livan Lucifer, the son of the Son of the Morning Star, Lucifer and the Mother of All Devils, Lilith.

The first Super Devil in the world and the owner of the one and only, Sacred Gear Canceller.

And also the only one who embodied what a devil should be, evil and malicious.

"My liege, I have news about the Sephiroth Graal."

Rizevim stopped laughing but still had a grin,

Euclid stood up and cleared his throat before proceeding to tell him about the kidnapping of the possessor of the Holy Chalice and how the user of True Longinus is the culprit.

The Super Devil quietly listened as his fingernail tapped the table before cackling.

"What a bunch of dumbasses!" His laughter resounded in the room.

Euclid laughed along with his master.

The scene of laughing together may have brought some positive feelings for others but to those who know the terror of the man known as Rizevim, it was only something that can be described as menacing.