A Perverted Old Crow

Sitting on a bench in a park in Cardiff I enjoyed the nice breeze as I waited for the time for my meeting to begin.

It's been a week since we stole Jeanne from church, and she and Lancelot joined us.

During that time we've learned several things about the two of them.

For Lancelot we learned that is stronger than the average human. And I don't mean stronger thanks to his exorcist training. I mean the guy is naturally stronger than most humans. He was able to take on Gin in close combat in his werewolf form, which exponentially raises his strength. Not only that but Lancelot is a natural holy sword user. He told us the church tested him and that's how he found out.

Which is amazing. Having a natural holy sword user on the team is a boon.

But what really shocked us all is that Lancelot has enhanced senses, and he can see in the dark without any trouble, just like the rest of us.

When we asked him about this he told us these traits didn't start showing up until he hit puberty after he defected from the church.

So to investigate this we sent a sample of his blood back to Blackspire for analysis, and they informed us that although Lancelot his human he has supernatural ancestry. It's extremely diluted, but it turns out he has the blood of Fae in his veins, which is just enough to give him a few supernatural abilities from enhanced senses to increased vitality and strength.

A fact even Lancelot himself didn't know. But he accepted nonetheless. It's not like he can change it if he wants too.

Moving on, Jeanne may look like her Fate/Stay version, but she has the personality of her DxD version. She really is bubbly and energetic, and she's also started giving us nicknames. She calls Dominique Domi, and she calls me Ku of all things. But I don't mind.

Now as for Jeanne's combat abilities they are in top-notch potential. She not only has the sacred gear Blade Blacksmith, but she also has the flagpole of her ancestor which has become a holy sacred with several special power. Combine that with her exorcist training and she is a force to be reckoned with.

Having the two of them join us is certainly a boon, but even so we need more.

I just don't want to be strong, I want to be powerful. Powerful enough to crush the Khaos Brigade and Rizevim into dust. Not only to protect my people, but also to protect all the other innocent people their existence will destroy.

I also really don't want Trihexia to awaken.

They got so lucky in canon it isn't even funny. But this isn't a novel anymore, this is real life and if that thing appears then me and everyone I care about will die in an instant.

That's why I'm working my ass off to make sure that doesn't come to pass.

And this meeting is part of it.

While training with Lancelot I noticed he is strong, but since he doesn't have a sacred gear for him to draw out his true power he needs a weapon, and only one type of weapon can do that for him.

A holy sword.

Problem is those things aren't just lying around.

I remembered recently that his ancestors sword Arondight was used by the former leader of the Khaos Brigade Sataneal during the Slash/Dog novel series. I have no idea what happened to it, but I know its out of reach.

As for the other holy swords I do know the location of, all of them are in the hands of the church, and the ones that aren't are also in the hands of people of people I would rather not make enemies of. Which only leaves me the option of finding a holy sword not featured in the series and giving it to Lancelot.

But again that's easier said than done.

I asked my contacts in the underworld, and none of them had one single lead on a holy sword. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. And I didn't want to push them. If certain parties found out I was looking for a holy sword it would start trouble which again I don't need at the moment.

So with most of my options either blocked or unusable I decided to give my mother a call and asked for her help. We talk frequently and she knows about my new friends, so when I asked her for help she said it was no problem.

That's why I am in the park today.

I am meeting a contact my mother said has a lead on a holy sword.

I just hope it pans out, otherwise I'll just to wait for the Excalibur Arc from canon to take place and steal one of them to give to Lancelot.

Leaning against the bench I suddenly felt a presence approaching me.

A strong presence. It's one of the strongest I've ever felt. I'd put it on the level or my mother. No, this presence is slightly stronger than her.

I immediately sat up after sensing it and spread out my own senses to identify where it was coming from. Because if this presence is hostile I am screwed.

At the moment my power level is categorized at low-tier ultimate-class devil strength. That's why I'm able to handle small fry with ease. But if I fight someone stronger than them it's a hit or miss if I'll win. However if my opponent is a god, god-like being, or an entity on the high-tier end of ultimate-class power I am screwed. I wouldn't be able to win, but I wouldn't lose either. No, all I would be able to do is run away.

A good example would be if the current me fought against Grafiya Lucifuge. I could only work to escape as I am now.

To truly win against her I would need a personal weapon that could draw out my true power, and my balance break.

I know I keep talking about my balance break, but it's annoying me. No matter what I do it just won't seem to awaken. It's like I'm looking at it sitting on a table, I'm reaching out for it, but no matter what I do I can't grasp it.

It's driving me up the walls.

Anyway, after spreading my senses out I found the location of the presence. Turning to my left I saw a man approaching me.

He is older with dark hair on the back of his head, and yellow hair on the front of it. He is also sporting a goatee.

I would recognize this guy anywhere.

But damn, I didn't think my mother's contact for me would be Azazel himself.

She just keeps throwing curveballs my way.

Azazel walked up to me, his trademark grin on his face. "Yo."

"What's up?" I said.

The two of us then sat on the bench and Azazel placed up a barrier to keep out eavesdroppers.

"So, I gotta say I didn't expect a faction leader like yourself to appear before me today." I said. "The name if Kufa Vampir by the way."

"Azazel." Azazel said. "And yeah, I like doing things like this. In my old age there aren't many things that I find interesting. But when that cute little loli mother of yours called me up and asked me to help her son find a holy sword. Well, let's just say I got intrigued."

I'm not surprised. Out of all the leaders in DxD Azazel has a pretty simply personality when the situation isn't serious. If he get interested in something he goes after it with all he's got. His sacred gear research being a prime example.

I'm like that as well. So it will be easy for me to get along with him. Especially since we are both men of culture after all.

But in the future if he tries to do anything perverted to my women I kill cut his thing off and hand it to him. He needs to learn after all.

Anyway, I simply nodded at Azazel's explanation. "Thanks for this. So, what have you got for me?" I asked him.

"The Grigori intelligence network picked up a rumor of one of the still lost holy swords locations." Azazel began. "Only problem is we can't investigate it."

"Why?" I asked him.

"The sword is rumored to be on Brasil Island." Azazel said.

"Ah." I mused.

I see what the problem is.

Brasil Island. In mythology is is a mythical island that lies west of Ireland. A phantom island that appears once every seven years, but that no one can reach even when they do see it. But in the DxD universe it is a real place.

A place that only the supernatural can reach.

Humans cannot step foot on the island since it is covered by a powerful cloaking spell and barrier. One that needs to recharge once every seven years, which is how the myth of the island came into being.

Brasil Island is actually home to many species of Fae and few other supernatural creatures. It is also firmly in the realm of the Celtic Pantheon, one of the only pantheon still in existence. And although the Celtic pantheon isn't the strongest, they are still a force to be reckoned with.

So if Azazel sends a team to Brasil Island to investigate this holy sword rumor, then the Celts might see it as some sort of hostile action resulting in war.

And since Azazel doesn't want war he's not going to end a team to investigate. Because despite all his perversions and flaws the man greatly cares about his subordinates. That's probably why the fallen were the first of the three biblical faction to pull out of the Great War.

Like I said, Azazel is a guy I can really get along with.

"I understand." I told him.

"So, what will you do kid?" Azazel asked me.

"I'm going to Brasil Island of course." I said.

Azazel gave me a sideways look, but I just put a smirk on my face.

"I understand the situation of that island perfectly. But I really want that sword, and this sounds like a rather interesting mystery if you ask me. So I'm going to go and check it out. Besides, what's life without a little risk?" I said.

"Haha!" Azazel laughed. "You are certainly an interesting one kid. But then again a lot of youngsters in this generation are." He mused.

He is not wrong.

The Longinus users, other sacred gear users, and a host of others in my generation are certainly out of the norm. But that's what makes things so interesting.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I told him. "So, what do I owe you for this information?"

"Some interesting information you posses would be good." Azazel said. "Your mother told me you could figure it out."

'That mother of mine.' I thought. She's really putting me on the spot here. Oh well, nothing I can do about it.

"Some valuable information eh?" I mused. "Well, how about this. I have a sacred gear inside of me, not only that but its a subspecies. And the gear I posses of Forbidden Balor View."

As soon as I said that Azazel got a curious look in his eyes and a big grin on his face. "Now that is interesting. So let me ask you, what are its abilities, and how different is it from a regular Forbidden Balor View?"

"Wow now. I'm not just going to give everything I have away for free. I'm not easy you know." I said. "How about we make a deal?"

"What kind of deal?" Azazel asked me.

"I hear the Grigori specializes in researching sacred gears. I would like that data, and any and all findings you make in the research for the foreseeable future." I said.

"That's a lot to ask kid, what are you going to give me in return?" Azazel asked.

"Not only will I let you study the development of my sacred gear, but I can get you tons of new data. There are quite a few dhampir and turned vampires in my faction with sacred gear, and I'm sure I can convince some of them to help you out with your research. After all, I know you probably don't have much data in regards to that area. Also, I have put together a group, and if you're willing we will go on missions for you. Missions your teams at the Grigori can't handle. But in exchange for that I want access to your information network whenever I want. Finally I'm sure I can convince my mother to give you a bit of data related to our factions first-class vampire weapons. So, what do you say Governor-General do we have a deal?"

"Yeah, you got yourself a deal kid." Azazel said, stroking his goatee.

"Just like that huh?" I questioned.

"Yeah, just like that." Azazel said. "Besides we already have an alliance anyway, this will only deepen it. So I don't see any issues in agreeing to your terms." He explained to me. He then reached into his jacket pocket and tossed me a flash drive. "There's all the current up to data research we have on sacred gears."

"You just carry this around with you huh?" I questioned.

"But of course." Azazel said matter-of-factly. "I never know when situations where I need a bargaining chip might come up."

'This guy sure is a shrewd one.' I thought.

Taking the flash drive I put it in my pocket. "Well then that concludes our business. It was nice chatting with you."

"The same to you kid." Azazel said. "In a few years let's have a drink together and I can tell you about my glory days."

"I look forward to it." I said.

Azazel simply nodded.

He then lowered the barriers and we went our separate ways.

My next destination already set.

Brasil Island, here we come.