Chapter [148]

Riser and Sona, along with their Peerages, arrived at Riser's mansion in the underworld after the intense meeting of young devils at the Palace of Concord. The grandeur of the mansion starkly contrasted with the tension that had filled the palace earlier. As they entered the sumptuous hall, the weight of recent events seemed to dissipate a bit, replaced by the familiar environment of their home.

Ravel, who had been anxiously awaiting their return, approached her brother with a tablet in hand. "Onii-sama, you won't believe what's been happening on DevilNet since we left," she said, her eyes shining with curiosity and excitement.

Riser raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's the latest gossip, Ravel?"

As they walked through the hall towards the living room, Ravel quickly navigated through the latest posts and handed the tablet to Riser. "Diodora and Issei got into a heated argument right after you left. The situation escalated to the point where Sirzechs offered a duel between them in three days."

Riser's eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and irony as he read the details. A slow, sardonic smile spread across his face. "Well, isn't that interesting?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "All because of that ridiculous marriage contract between Diodora and Issei. This reminds me of the chaos when I was engaged to Rias."

As they passed through corridors adorned with luxurious tapestries and ancient paintings, Sona walked beside him with a neutral expression, but a slight tension in her posture indicated her discomfort. She did not appreciate Riser's habit of mocking Rias, but she understood the complicated history they shared.

Riser continued, oblivious to Sona's discomfort. "Issei must be furious. This duel is going to be a spectacle. I almost pity the fool," he laughed, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama. "It's like history is repeating itself, but this time, I'm just a spectator."

Reaching the living room, a spacious area with comfortable sofas and a majestic fireplace, Mirko commented, "Seems like it only got interesting after we left," with a satisfied smile.

"It was already interesting before, when Riser-sama was announced as a Supreme Class Devil," retorted Yubelluna, her eyes shining with pride.

Before the discussion could escalate, Nana intervened with an authoritative tone. "Stop arguing, you two. There's no need to fight about this now."

Riser found his Peerage's interaction amusing, especially the exchange between Mirko and Yubelluna. With an entertained smile, he watched as Nana stepped in to maintain the peace.

"Onii-sama, you should see what they're saying about you too," Ravel added, pointing to the tablet. "There are lots of speculations about how you're going to handle this new position."

"Other people's opinions? I couldn't care less," he said, evident disdain in his voice. "Those gossips have no idea what it takes to be at the top. They just amuse themselves with their fantasies and theories. I do what it takes to maintain power and order in my family and our world. If they can't understand that, so be it."

He swiped through the tablet, not even bothering to read the comments and posts. For Riser, others' opinions were irrelevant. He was focused on his own goals and strategies, unaffected by the speculations and judgments of the curious.

Sona looked at Riser with a serious but understanding expression. "You're right, Riser. Other people's opinions don't matter. What matters is what we do and how we handle situations."

Riser smiled, satisfied with his wife's support. "I'm glad you see things my way, Sona. Now, let's go up to our room. We need a moment just for us."

Sona nodded, feeling a slight tension dissipate. "Yes, I think we need that." In her thoughts, she was already planning to take a relaxing bath before doing anything with Riser.

As Riser began to climb the stairs with determined steps, Ravel bid them goodnight with a mischievous smile. "Goodnight, Onii-sama, Sona-nee." She turned to Asia, who was closely following her. "Let's go to my room, Asia."

Asia smiled timidly. "Sure, Ravel-sama."

Arriving in her room, Ravel lay on the bed, picked up her phone, and started fiddling with it, exploring social media and discussion forums on DevilNet. Her nimble fingers quickly navigated through posts and comments.

Asia, curious, approached and sat at the edge of the bed. "What are you doing, Ravel-sama?"

Ravel gave a mischievous smile. "I'm thinking of making some negative comments about Issei and Diodora. They really deserve it after all the trouble they've caused."

Asia frowned, worried. "But, Ravel-sama, isn't that wrong? Making negative comments?"

Ravel shrugged, unconcerned. "Wrong or not, it's fun. And that's what matters, Asia. Sometimes we just need to have a little fun, even if it's at the expense of others."

Asia thought deeply but did not respond. She didn't entirely agree but also didn't want to contradict Ravel. Meanwhile, Ravel continued typing, her eyes shining with the excitement of provoking and getting involved in the drama unfolding on her phone screen.

"Let's see," murmured Ravel, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. She logged into an unknown account she had created especially for these moments. She found a particularly fervent post about the upcoming duel and began typing.

"Issei Hyoudou should never have gotten involved in this. He's just a pawn, trying to play king. This duel will only show how weak he really is."

Ravel pressed "Send" and quickly moved on to the next post.

"Diodora Astaroth is a joke of a fiancé. How does he expect to face someone with Issei's strength when he can barely maintain his own dignity?"

She chuckled softly, savoring the reaction these comments would likely cause. Asia looked at her with concern but remained silent.

"What was Sirzechs-sama thinking by allowing this duel? It seems more like a desperate attempt at entertainment than solving a serious problem. Ridiculous."

Ravel was clearly enjoying herself, her words as sharp as blades. She typed the last comment with an expression of pure satisfaction.

"This whole drama just shows how dysfunctional the devils' hierarchy is. When a duel between a pervert and a fanatic becomes the main event, you know something is very wrong."

She sent the comment and threw the phone on the bed, satisfied with herself. "There, that should heat things up a bit more."

While Ravel finished typing her provocative comments, Asia remained worried but also fascinated by Ravel's confidence. She knew Ravel's attitude was a mix of strategy and fun, but still, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the situation.

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