Chapter 47: Peace Conference Part 1

"Do I really have to wear this… I mean, I am going to wear my armor anyway which covers up the suit." Ray tried to talk his way out of this under the expectant gaze of Raynare, Mittelt, Kalawarna and Azazel.

"Come on Ray, don't tell me you're going to wear a lousy T-Shirt and pants to an official event like the Peace Conference which will be written into history books?" Azazel asked with a disappointed look.

"Besides, I already prepared a matching suit for both of us." Azazel then creates a magic circle to summon a mannequin dressed in the said suit.

The suit is pure black from top to bottom with a light gray shirt under it and a maroon coloured tie. While on the mannequin arm is a black glove. When he looks at the suit, he can find a resemblance of it to a certain protagonist of a game that Azazel played. The game also existed in his world before he died and remember playing as an assassin for a mysterious organisation.

Ray looks at Azazel with a deadpan face since he already knows what Azazel is doing.

"What next, you gonna shave my head and put a barcode on it?"

"Come on, just this once. The girls also agreed, right?" Azazel quickly went to gain support from the trio when realising he couldn't convince Ray alone. The girls of course agreed since Ray very rarely wears smart clothes with his clothes consisting of T-Shirt or normal shirts only.

"Fine…" Ray surrendered in the end and accepted to wear the suit.

"You have to remember that you are representing the Grigori, your image is as important as your power." Azazel said seriously. "Though the Agent 87 cosplay suits your ability too." He playfully added the latter one while mimicking the gesture of Ray pulling out his firearms.

"Mittelt agree too! Ray can pull out a gun just like the Agent 87 from the game. He can fit even a few big guns under his suit like magic even though he is supposed to be a magicless human." Mittelt, who played the game before, excitedly described the protagonist's similarity with Ray.

Azazel nodded with a smile of approval that Mittelt also played the same game as him and was able to point it out.

The trio normally will be respectful and slightly afraid of Azazel as he is the leader of the Fallen Angels. They didn't because they already familiarise with how he treated them casually like how he did to Ray. They still will show respect to Azazel in public settings but in private, they follow Ray and treat Azazel no different than how a colleague would treat each other.

"Um, how about you girls?" Ray asked about their outfit they will wear for tonight. Azazel excuses himself because he already achieved what he came for and still has other stuff to oversee.

"Ah, the rest of us discussed with Azazel prior and he allowed us to wear anything we liked since creating a uniform is a hassle he said. We will follow the colour theme of black." Raynare explained.

"Yeah, I will probably wear my usual one since I am already used to them." Mittelt said.

"Me too." Kalawarna followed.

The two of them refer to their usual outfit they wear when in combat. For Mittelt, there aren't really many changes from her original Gothic Lolita style dress other than a darker tone that replaced the white part of her attire. For Kalawarna however, there are changes due to her new fighting style that revolves around the Dragon's Soul glaive. Her trenchcoat like top remains but the miniskirt is replaced with form fitting leather leggings that have better movement range than the miniskirt provide.

"Anyway, let's prepare ourselves and remain on standby."

The trio nodded in agreement since the sun is going to set in three more hours and the conference will start at 7pm.

…

"Buchou, do we have to attend the conference too?" Issei asked since everyone was assembled in the ORC, half an hour before it started.

Rias, who is savoring the cup of tea Akeno made to calm her nerves, put down the cup and looked at Issei.

"Yes, Sirzech niisama did specifically ask you to attend the meeting and along with my peerage too but I will leave Koneko to accompany Gasper who couldn't attend."

Koneko, who heard her name being mentioned, stopped munching on her snacks and looked at Rias before nodding. She was already informed way earlier that she will accompany Gasper in the clubroom.

"How about Sona senpai and her peerage?" Issei asked again.

"Ah, Sona was supposed to be incharge of overseeing the barrier made to keep normal humans away from the city for the duration of the conference. However her older sister, Satan Leviathan, sent a more capable devil to take over her job." Rias answered.

"Well, the conference has been a very big political event since the end of the Great War. The Satans put great emphasis on safety as the venue host for the Peace Conference." Akeno said.

After that, they kill some time by doing idle chattering and enjoying snacks and tea made by Akeno. Asia being the timid person she is, feels very overwhelmed to attend such an important conference. Issei and Xenovia noticed her nervousness and tried to talk with her to distract her thoughts.

"Speaking of which, how is Ray doing?" Rias asked. She is curious why Ray could be contacted exactly two week before, the day after the celebration in Gremory territory.

"Oh, he said he was busy with his job assigned by Azazel. Grigori is the main supporter and Azazel is the one who proposed the Peace Conference in the first place." Issei answered Rias's question.

He must be swept up by the preparation for the conference since Grigori is rather small in number compared to other factions. Rias thought and none will ever expect that Ray already becomed a Cadre and part of an experimental unit created by Azazel to fight against the threat that caused the three factions to unite.

Suddenly, a magic circle appeared in the clubroom but none alerted because the one appeared is none other than Rias's sister-in-law, Grayfia.

"Lady Rias, it's time for the conference to start and Lord Lucifer assigned me to accompany you and your peerage." Grayfia announced professionally, as expected from a maid serving the Gremory clan that held the rank duke among the nobility of the Underworld.

"Let's go then." Rias said before everyone except Koneko and Gasper that they will stay behind.

Grayfia then nodded when everyone gathered and created another magic circle to teleport everyone away.

…

In the conference room, a large round table with the leaders of each faction sitting around it. The participants for Heaven faction are Michael who are accompanied by Gabriel and Irina.

For the New Devil faction are Serafall Leviathan, Sirzech Lucifer, his wife and Queen, Grayfia, Rias Gremory and her peerage, Sona Sitri and her Peerage.

For Grigori are Azazel, Valina Lucifer the White Dragon Empress and Ray whose arrival is purposely delayed by Azazel.

With the exception of Grigori, the other two factions brought a small group of their elite soldiers as their escort.

"Good that everyone arrived." Serafall said she is the venue host for the Peace Conference as the Satan in charge of foreign diplomacy and thus have good connection with each faction present.

Azazel is secretly eyeing Valina but she looks very calm and shows no sign of hostility or any attempt to sabotage the conference at all.

"Well, as the one who forwarded the proposal for the alliance, allow me to present information to everyone before we discuss the details for the alliance." Azazel said before he summoned a few stacks of documents which he distributed to everyone.

Michael, Gabriel, Serafall and Sirzech get their own stack of documents before reading them. Their expression progressively become darker because the document is a detailed report and analysis of the terrorist group, Khaos Brigade.

"Is this true Azazel?" Michael spoked first and looked like he aged a few decades after reading the documents.

"It is, you know me, Michael. I never joked about important matters like this that can spell disaster for not just us but other mythologies too."

The young devils that heard Azazel couldn't help but frown. A matter very catastrophic that can affect not just the biblical factions but also other mythologies. This is way more severe than the Great War waged between the biblical factions.

"Are you telling us that the leader of this terrorist group is none other than the Infinite Dragon God Ophis?!" Serafall exclaimed.

From there the atmosphere in the room become heavy as fighting a Dragon God is nothing more than suicide with extra step. Their existence is the highest in the supernatural world's food chain. Their might is enough to make even the strongest feel despair and run away in fear.

"Please finish reading first. You will understand after that." Azazel told them.

The leaders continue to read and a frown soon appears on each of their faces. The Infinite Dragon God, Ophis is exploited by the Khaos Brigade top members? The Infinite Dragon, Ophis have the mentality of a child?

They thought Azazel was joking with them but he isn't the kind of person to joke about a serious matter like this.

"Where did you obtain this information?" Sirzech asked as he found it hard to believe.

"Kokabiel" Azazel replied instantly.

"You all remember Ray, the guy who defeated Kokabiel right?" The leaders nodded in unison. "Well, he possesses a peculiar ability that can make Kokabiel cooperate with my interrogation and helped me assemble the detailed report of the Khaos Brigade."

"Ah, the man that exchanged Excalibur fragments for Arondight." Michael recalled.

Few people looked at Michael when he said Ray possessed a holy sword. Among them is Sirzech and Irina, both are alarmed for different reasons.

"So, this information is very precise, however even Kokabiel failed to climb to higher rank within Khaos Brigade and the information is very basic. But I can confirm that Khaos Brigade does have a lot of their spies and sleeper agents within each of our factions." Azazel then lifted his head and looked at Michael. "Including the Heavens faction and by extension, the Church."

"That's-"

"Impossible?" Azazel finished before Michael could.

"Nothing is impossible, Michael. Not after Father's death. I understand how hard it is to manage Heaven's system. Loophole is inevitable because you are not Father and you couldn't manage the system as well as him." Azazel reminded Michael who couldn't deny his words.

"Asia!" Suddenly Issei shouted when Asia suddenly fell because her legs became weak. Xenovia managed to catch her before she fell to the floor. Xenovia looked at Asia with pity because she was just like her when she and Irina heard it from Kokabiel. At least Irina fares better than her.

She wanted to tell Asia for quite a while but she couldn't do it. She can't bear the guilt of crushing her faith even when both of them became devils.

The conference continued as they voted if all three factions agreed to form the alliance. They all agreed and started to discuss the finer details of the alliance and mainly the cooperation they will form.

Since the Peace Conference was a success with the alliance formed, Azazel summoned another stack of documents but it was noticeably thinner with fewer pages and distributed them.

"An alliance will only last if our alliance mutually benefits from it, right?" Azazel asked like he is promoting his product in an infomercial. Almost every attendees nodded and agreed to Azazel that an alliance will only last when there is benefit.

The real benefit of this alliance is support from each faction to join forces and fight against the Khaos Brigade.

The reaction from each leader varied but all of them shared one, which is disbelief. They couldn't believe what was stated in the documents.

Low Class to Mid and even High Class in two weeks? What kind of drugs that Azazel fed his people to grow this strong in a short period of time. It was like planting a seed and came back two weeks later to a 10 meters tall tree with fruits hanging on its branches.

"This is a joke right, Azazel?" Sirzech asked but to his dismay, Azazel looked as serious as before and didn't have his playful personality that he has when he is joking.

"No." Azazel denied. "As written in the paper, I selected a hundred random people that have no hope of becoming stronger and turned them into powerful combatants in just two weeks."

Anyone with half a working brain can tell how valuable this method is. Turning a weak Low Class into a Mid Class in just two weeks. If Azazel wanted, he could build a large army and become the strongest faction with sheer quantity and quality.

The three factions that went through the Great War had lost the majority of its military forces. The devil especially since they had another civil war just after the Great War. Their current military might is nothing more than a fraction of the numbers from before the Great War, excluding their top powerhouse like the Super Devil and the Seraphs.

The offer Azazel provided is like water to a dehydrated man in the middle of a desert.

Something that they needed the most to bolster their dwindled army especially with the looming threat of Khaos Brigade.

"Serafall, please allow the group to teleport through the barrier."

Serafall looked at Sirzech which met with a nod of approval. She then contacts her subordinates to allow the teleportation to pass through.

At the same time, Valina also activated a device of unknown purpose. Her act didn't go unnoticed by Azazel who was eyeing her movement secretly since the start.

"I might add a little flair for the closing of the Peace Conference by showcasing their combat capability for our uninvited guests." Azazel said when a magic circle appeared behind him that brought Ray and his group while a few large magic circles above the Kuoh Academy.

Valina, who understood she had been caught, immediately jumped away from her previous spot and then equipped her Scaled Mail before escaping to the sky.

"Tch, I didn't think you could find out my betrayal, old man." Valina grumbled under her armor. "I wonder how you discover by betrayal when that fool, Kokabiel, didn't even know about my involvement with Khaos Brigade…"

"I have my ways, Valina. However, how do you plan to explain your betrayal? It's not too late for me to forgive you now, you know." Azazel said with a saddened face, that obviously is fake but he thinks his adoptive daughter is in her rebellious phase.

"Do I still need to explain it?" Valina said but her expression is well hidden under the layer of armor. "I like battle to become stronger and your dream for peace means I cannot achieve my goal. That's why I choose to be part of Khaos Brigade."

Azazel sighed since he already knew Valina is a battle maniac but for her to join a terrorist group because of it… there is no more doubt Valina is in her rebellious phase. Though he is proud of her that she has a great goal to achieve even if their path conflicted with each other.

After waiting for a while, the awaited signal for attack didn't arrive yet. She looked straight at ORC direction and cursed before she cursed out.

"Tch, those incompetent magicians messeing up the most crucial part of the operation."

Rias noticed Valina's gaze and immediately gasped. "The ORC, Gasper and Koneko!" She quickly activated her peerage teleportation magic and returned to her clubroom. The usage within the barrier isn't restricted and she teleported away with Akeno.

Meanwhile in the clubroom…

"Go Koneko chan! The last one! Uoooh, the suplex then backbreaker finisher moves. Amazing!" Gasper cheered while munching snacks under her paper bag mask as she watched Koneko brutally takedown the magicians that looked down at her.

Due to the Rias peerage having constant weekly training sessions, each of their individual strengths isn't something to look down on when her opponent isn't even a proper Mid Class magician that rely on group and consumable magic tools to overwhelm Koneko.

Then a crimson magic circle appeared and brought Rias and Akeno to the clubroom or more appropriately called as ruin of the clubroom.

"Gasper! Koneko?...."

Rias takes a few minutes to register what happened after seeing the whole clubroom smashed with unconscious female magicians all over the place. One of them unfortunately smashed into the display rack filled with her antique wares that she treasured very much.

"Ara, look like Koneko-chan and Gasper-kun didn't need our help at all." Akeno smiled with a hand touching her cheek.

Rias is conflicted if she should congratulate Koneko for defeating the invader or scold her for wrecking her irreplaceable antique since repairing them will return it to pristine condition but lose its historical value as antique wares.

"I will dock your snacks until you fix this mess." Rias said and Koneko fell to her knees like her whole world crashed on her.

"Not my snacks…" These were her last words before she fell into momentary despair. Meanwhile Akeno was blushing while wishing it was done to her instead.

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