27 Preparation

As they arrived in the infirmary, all eyes were on them. The women in Diodora's peerage regained a bit of the light in their eyes when they put their eyes on the two Seraphs. One of the nurses told them what happened, and that Ezekiel put some of the Devils down a peg. All of them were crying and getting to their knees. Especially Diodora's former queen, she took the brunt of their former master's bad habits to shield the other ones. It was as if the weight of the world was lifted of her shoulders, as tears streamed incessantly.

"Please get onto your beds and take a rest. I don't need you bowing before me." Ezekiel said with a sigh. Gabriel meanwhile rushed toward the girls and hugged the hell out of them.

"We can't pay back your benevolence in our lifetime, but-" The former queen started, but was interrupted by Ezekiel.

"I only did what I thought was right. I don't need you to pay me back. You already went through enough and deserve a happy life. While I don't have a solution of changing you back into a human or even an angel yet, I promise you will be able to live in the Vatican without being discriminated against, if you were to desire and chose to do so." He offered. It was well within his abilities to influence the people living inside the Vatican and their views. As an open mindset for change was exactly what he wanted his people to develop, this was a perfect place to start.

They were shocked by his words but still fell silent as they thought about them.

"No need to decide immediately. For now, just join us and we can think of what to do afterwards. Gabriel please stay with them for now, I will meet up with the others again, there is still something left to do."

"Of course, Ezekiel. I won't leave them alone for even one second!" Gabriel replied motivated. She always hated how she wasn't able to do anything to help people like them. Now with Ezekiel becoming more proactive, she knew many things would change.

-o-

Ezekiel arrived in a small conference room with the Satans, Michael, Azazel and Odin after checking up on his angels. Vasco brought something interesting to light that would be of further use. He already had his suspicions, but now they were proven.

As they planned to speak about the specifics of their alliance with the Norse Pantheon and their next course of action it was as good as any time to shed some light on some matters.

"Sorry for the wait." Ezekiel said after entering.

"Don't worry about it, you didn't take long." Azazel waved him off, with the rest nodding along.

"Then for starters, content of the bet was that I would be able to decide his punishment, but we should hold off on that until I presented you some more information." He declared as he put a hand in his robes and pulled out two glass vials with each containing a black snake that reeked of power.

Azazel was surprised. He knew that Ezekiel had one of these, but not that he had two already. Where did he-? Could it be?

"Where did you get these, boy?!" Odin exclaimed in rare seriousness. Rossweisse was taken aback, that her lazy and perverted superior could make such an expression.

"First off, these are made from Ophis' power." Ezekiel explained, as everyone who didn't know widened their eyes.

"As for your question, I took one of them from Katerea Leviathan when she attacked us last time. As for the second one, I guess you can connect the dots?" Ezekiel dropped the bomb. How could this be? People from their own faction supported a terrorist organization directly under their noses.

"As I thought." Ajuka stated: "It is time for a thorough clean-up. Thank you for presenting evidence to us Ezekiel." Ajuka was a smart man, he knew of the importance of drowning the small opposition that was on the rise again. He didn't want a repeat of that senseless civil war.

"Don't mind it. I want them gone as much as you do. But from latest information the terrorist organization spans nearly every other faction. Thus, I propose we put our resources into gathering intelligence. Who is involved, where are their bases of operation and which goals they seek to accomplish? I don't like getting attacked and would rather bring the fight towards their doorstep." He said while eyeing Azazel.

All of them silently agreed with him and Sirzechs spoke up: "You are right, I suggest a united front for combating them then. Every faction can only send out a few strong people without neglecting their defences. That way we have a strong enough force without risking any weak points."

"Grigori will send Baraquiel together with a few youngsters." Azazel stated.

"What about that young dragon boy?" Odin questioned half in humour, causing Azazel to make an unpleasant face.

"I will participate myself and take maybe one for two promising young people with me. I already have someone in mind." Ajuka simply said. While it was surprising, it was a welcome surprise. They didn't know of the exact strength of their enemies and another powerhouse like Ezekiel was a welcome addition.

"Then Rossweisse here will participate from our side. She will lead a squad of Valkyries." Odin added causing Rossweisse to scrunch her face. She was acting as his bodyguard, was he trying to get rid of her?

"What is with that look Rossweisse, you won't ever find a boyfriend if you only follow a married man around. Be sure to follow Ezekiel's and Ajuka's orders and do your best." He harshly joked, her face morphing into a sad one with tears threatening to fall.

"Let's go on. We should start meeting other pantheons as fast as possible as well." Michael suggested.

"Good idea, I will head to Kyoto and try to meet with Yasaka and the Shinto Gods!" Serafall replied.

Nobody rejected her plans. Gaining the support of them, was practically getting two more factions on board.

"I will meet up with the Greek Gods then before visiting my father. I already planned to take a trip to Mount Olympus either way." Ezekiel presented his plans.

"The why don't you all take one of the Valkyries with you? That would show them our willingness to work together while bettering our own relations with each other." Odin proposed.

"That is a wonderful idea." Michael agreed easily. He was worried how to rope in other Gods, but the backing from the Norse solved that issue mostly. The Christian faction constantly waged war and was responsible for most problems in the last few centuries after all.

-o-

"They apprehended Diodora." A young devil reported to his two superiors, before dismissing himself.

"That just shows that he wasn't worth investing." One of them answered.

"Still, this is one pawn less Shalba. You said he would be able to hurt the relations between the devils and angels." The second one answered.

"Don't give me that Creuserey. I didn't hear you complain even once. We better plan our next course of action." Shalba retorted with a stoic expression.

"Why don't we reach out to the others of the organization. We can make use of them to fell the current leaders." Creuserey suggested. Their organization was built on the displeasure and wicked objectives of all kind of people after all. If they managed to rope in a few strong or influential individuals, their goals would no longer be a pipe dream. He and his companion long despised how things currently went. They were deprived from what was rightfully theirs and it was long time to take it back.

"I will contact them then. Maybe one of the Lucifers finally comes to his senses now after Katereas defeat." Shalba accepted as they parted ways.

-o-

A young-looking girl with long black hair and an expressionless face stood high in the air, staring down.

"Maybe he can help me. But Vali said I should not ask him." She muttered, unclear about her next course of action. Before long she was called and vanished from her spot, leaving none the wiser.