Rise of the curtain

When Riser came to Tannin's territory, he directly stopped the research of the Dragon Apple and forbade access to the Dragon Apple for the dragon due to suspicion held by Tannin and the dragons. 

It was said that the devils were working tirelessly, forced to work without being paid in this territory, and there was also a rumor that the dragon planned to take over the Underworld. 

There were many horrible rumors that circulated, so to clear up those doubts, Riser decided to take over everything and monitor everything, which might endanger the safety of the Underworld. 

Naturally, Riser didn't hide anything, telling his works to the media, and showed how diligent he was in his work. 

With him becoming the observer of Tannin's territory, everyone felt relief, especially those commoners who knew nothing, thinking that they were saved due to Riser, yet many also felt nervous, especially those upper echelons, as they knew his move had angered the dragons.

However, no one said anything, as it was a conflict between Riser and Tannin. 

Nevertheless, they had to say Riser was quite vicious, as they knew he tried to make Tannin move on him. 

As long as Tannin dared to move, there was no doubt that he would be pictured as a criminal, and Riser would have a reason to slay Tannin. 

Yet, could Tannin be able to hold his temper and be patient, especially when Riser forbade access to the Dragon Apple and stopped all the research for the cultivation of this fruit?

Frankly, at this moment, everyone was excited, waiting for what Tannin was planning to do.

If Tannin and Riser were really having a fight at this moment, all of them would watch it with relish as they knew something interesting would happen. 

The devil had a long age after all, and many of them spent their time in the bore as they lacked a novelty. Due to their long age, they had done many things, so everything they saw was boring for them. However, the conflict between Riser and Tannin made them excited. 

Frankly, it was hard to imagine how Riser was going to lose, especially when he had defeated Tannin, and everyone still remembered his visage on the day of his promotion. 

However, when a dragon was desperate, it would do anything. 

Nevertheless, no one planned to join, and they were staring into the distance as an audience, watching the new drama in the theatre that was about to start. 

Still, their opinion had nothing to do with Riser. 

Frankly, after he made his house in the area where there were most devils in the area, naturally, due to this, many wanted to talk with him. However, as he had inserted his rats into the people beforehand, all the public opinion was on him, and they all supported him to sanction Tannin, who had done a bad thing to all of them. 

Yet, was that the truth?

To be honest, Riser didn't care about all of those things. Even if they were oppressed by Tannin, he would just ignore it as if they were a mere stranger to him. He knew that he was being cold, but life in the supernatural world was like this. If they were weak, they could only rely on the strong, even if the price was just horrible. 

There was no fairness; everything was solved with power. 

Wasn't that also the reason why the dragon had always been seen as the pinnacle of power?

However, Riser had to say that this conflict was meaningless. If Tannin didn't provoke him and just lay low without being involved in his trouble with Sirzech, would he do something so troublesome as this and even join the Great King Faction?

Probably not. 

Riser felt that he might as well spend his time in his villa with his harem. 

Still, as he decided to stay on Tannin's territory and became the monitor of this territory, was he interested in Tannin's territory? No. 

Riser didn't have much of an interest in this territory. Instead, his territory was in a different place as he chose a snowy land as his territory. It might be strange, as tropical territory should be more comfortable, but he knew the people on the tropical territory were lazy as they could get many things easily, and even if he could get the territory in that area, the trouble from governing was probably so troublesome. 

However, the cold climate was different. 

They were working hard, and because of that, their physical strength was stronger than the majority. 

What was the name again... Bergmann's rule?

That should be the name. 

Still, the cold climate was nothing due to his fire manipulation, and his peerage members should be the same. 

Moreover, the people in the snowy area were living in dire, so when he brought them prosperity, they would be glad toward him, making him truly the Lord on the territory. 

Yet, he had to say everyone's expression when he said he wanted to have a snowy land as his territory was amazing. 

However, he could go to his territory later as his territory wouldn't go anywhere. He could even go to his territory a year later, but he had set up many projects for his territory, such as factories for several businesses owned by him and Phenex House, and also tourism. 

Still, while everything was good, Riser wondered what Tannin was planning to do. 

[Use your Peto Peto no Mi's power, control Tannin and dragons to destroy the city and massacre many devils before defeating them, killing them, and becoming a hero.]

"....." Riser. 

Riser was unable to say a single word and felt a little cold when he read the advice given by the system.

Usually, all the advice given by the system was abominable, but it was still within his limit as everything had always related to his actions toward his women, but this time, it was different as it told him an outrageous plan. 

Frankly, it wasn't that he hadn't thought of such an idea, but he felt that it was too evil. 

When he thought about it, he hadn't killed anyone, whether it was his enemies or innocent people. 

However, if he really did what the system told him that meant, he would kill those innocent people in this territory. With the power of "Peto Peto no Mi," it was possible to control Tannin and the other dragons to cause mass destruction in the Underworld, but then again, killing his enemies aside, was his first kill would be the innocent people who knew nothing and just got involved due of his evil plan?

Could he do such a thing?

Frankly, even though he planned to do an evil thing and became a villain, he didn't do much of an evil thing except fight his enemies and trample their dignity. Moreover, he didn't kill them. Instead, he made them his followers. It was also the reason why they could trust him, and no one gave a dramatic answer, such as a suicide attack, exchanging their lives for his life, so pretty much his life was peaceful. 

As he had an afternoon coffee in his yard, he observed the distant scenery. 

The dust swept upward from the barren land due to the wind, which could be seen from his position. 

Except for the Dragon Apple, the special fruit that was eaten for the special species of dragons to stay alive, there was nothing here as it was located at the edge. If there was something that was noteworthy about this territory, it was the fact that it was located next to Gremory territory. 

It was also due to the fact that the majority could agree to give territory to Tannin, as in the worst case, Sirzech could do something about Tannin. 

Yet, naturally, while there were some who agreed, there were also many who rejected it since the existence of a dragon was like a double-sided sword. 

While Tannin and the others could strengthen the overall ability of the devils, in the end, they were dragons. They were beings who just moved based on his whims and feelings without much thought, as they had the power to back up their selfishness. In this case, they betrayed the devils; what should they do?

It was also the reason why everyone positively agreed to let him become the monitor of Tannin's territory, and while they didn't say it directly, they wished for him to kill Tannin. 

After all, instead of a dragon and a reincarnated devil, they trusted Riser more, as pure blood from the Phenex House. His pedigree was the one that gave everyone unconditional trust. 

Yet, there was one big problem. 

"Onii-sama—"

Ravel suddenly interrupted his thought when she suddenly came, but her words were cut by a certain figure who came without permission into his yard.

"Are you Riser Phenex? Sorry for coming so suddenly without any prior notice. My name is Mephisto Pheles. Nice to meet you." 

A middle-aged man with gelled hair, which is a mixture of red and blue, and heterochromia eyes with his left eye blue and the right eye red appeared before him. 

Mephisto Pheles, Tannin's Master, came directly to visit him.