232 The Award Ceremony

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

After disembarking from the interdimensional train, James and the others were greeted by two familiar faces for most, Cassiel and Grayfia.

"It's been a while, Kiddo." Cassiel said as he approached the group with Grayfia. "You've grown quite a bit stronger since the last time I saw you."

"Hey Pop!" James said excitedly after his father spoke. "Sirzechs must have really been putting you through the ringer, I haven't seen you since my [Rating Game] against that one guy who got disqualified or whatever."

"It was Diadora Astaroth." Mizore said while rolling her eyes. "He was branded as a traitor, not just disqualified."

"Eh." James grunted while shrugging his shoulders. "He was a small fry either way. Anyway, what kind of mission have you been on, Pop?"

"I'd love to tell you about it." Cassiel said as he made his way towards Leona. Then, when he wrapped his arms around her, he continued. "Unfortunately, that's classified."

'Am I watching the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya?' James thought to himself while rolling his eyes.

"Fine, whatever." James said. Then, with a cheeky smile, he continued speaking. "But it looks like you finally ranked up, huh? It only took you... What? 520 years longer than I did to reach the minor god-rank."

"It was only 518 years more." Cassiel said in mock anger. "Don't make me older than I am."

Then, after staring at each other for a short while, both James and Cassiel laughed loudly. While continuing to laugh, they approached each other and exchanged a warm hug.

"Either way, I'm glad you're here today, Pop." James said with a smile. "How long are you going to stick around?"

"Should be a while before I have my next mission." Cassiel said, also with a smile. "So, I'll be coming to the Human World to stay with you and your mother for a while in the meantime."

"Really?" Leona asked in an excited tone.

"Yeah, I think I've earned quite a bit of family time." Cassiel replied with a nod. "I'll be able to see you and James every day, for a while, like when James was a kid."

As the family of three continued to chat, Moka spoke to her sisters in a volume that her father would be sure to hear.

"Uncle Cass is such a good father." Moka said. "He would never pretend to sacrifice his child, like some fathers would."

In response, Akua, Kahlua, and Kokoa laughed softly as they watched Issa's expression change.

"Are you ever going to let me live that down, Moka?" Issa asked in a demoralized tone.

"Nope." Moka replied, clearly not amused.

"*Sigh* I guess I deserve this, but still..." Issa muttered.

After letting the Alaverus family chat for a minute more, Grayfia finally stepped forward to interrupt.

"I hate to interrupt your reunion." Grayfia said in her usual tone. "But we don't have much time until the ceremony begins."

"Right." James said. "Let's go then."

With that, Grayfia approached the group even closer. Then, she created a teleportation circle that covered the entire group. A moment later, they all vanished. When they reappeared, they were standing in front of the staff entrance to the [Rating Game] Stadium.

"Wow. What is this place?" Kahlua asked, looking at the large construct in wonder.

"This is the Stadium where the most high-profile [Rating Games] are held.' Sona replied as she led her peerage and parents toward the newly arrived group.

"Yeah, we've all had [Games] here several times." Rias added while approaching from the opposite direction.

After exchanging a few words, the group had to split up, as Grayfia led James to his waiting room, while Cassiel led the rest of the group toward their seats.

After arriving in the waiting room with Grayfia, James was told to take a seat in front of a dressing table. Doing as he was told, he watched Grayfia rummage through a few drawers and cabinets.

"What are you looking for, Grayfia?" James asked curiously.

"I'm getting the tools, to do your make up, ready." Grayfia replied nonchalantly.

"Why would I need make up for an award ceremony?" James asked.

"Because this will be broadcast to the entire Underworld." Grayfia replied.

"Wait! Why didn't I know about that!?" James exclaimed.

"My apologies." Grayfia said, clearly having no intention of apologizing sincerely. "It would seem that I forgot to mention it when I came to give you the message."

'Damn it.' James thought to himself. 'Is this how she intends to get me back for that little prank? I don't have a speech prepared for a broadcast that will reach the whole Underworld.'

When Grayfia turned around, James could see a smirk quickly disappearing from Grayfia's expression through her reflexion in the mirror as she made her way over to do his make-up. However, instead of arguing, not that it would do him any good, James began to frantically construct a speech in his head.

About ten minutes later, Grayfia checked her handy work. After nodding in satisfaction, she asked James to follow her. Then, she led James to the northern entrance of the stadium, where they waited for James to be introduced. While they waited, James could see a large stage in the center of the stadium grounds. On top of it was a rather familiar looking stone.

"Is that the [King Stone]?" James asked in curiosity. "Can that thing even be moved."

"Actually, it can." Grayfia replied. "It was not in the plaza from the beginning, after all."

"I guess that makes sense." James said as he listened to the ongoing speech by Zekram Bael.

To James surprise, Zekram's speech was much more riveting than he expected. Although it was a lot of propaganda about how the devils are the strongest, which James knew to be false, at least at the present. His speech was motivational at the very least. Then, after about twelve minutes, which also surprised James, Zekram ended his speech, handing the stage over to Sirzechs and Ajuka, who would be handing over James' rewards.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, two of the Four Great Satans, Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub." Zekram said, before leaving the stage.

As Zekram left the stage, the crowd cheered for their beloved Satans. As they did, Sirzechs and Ajuka walked onto the stage with calm and measured steps. While Ajuka maintained a neutral expression, Sirzechs smiled brightly at the crowd while waving his hands widely. Then, after reaching the center of the stage, Ajuka stood to the side while Sirzechs addressed the crowd and all the viewers around the Underworld.

"First of all, allow me, on behalf of Ajuka and the other Satans, to thank you for such a warm welcome." Sirzechs said with a smile. "Now, I'm sure you are all aware that we have gathered to reward the rising star of the younger generation, James Alaverus, for the merits he has rendered for the Underworld and devil society as a whole."

Once again, the crowd burst into loud, deafening cheers. Although they had not been informed of Euclid's capture, they did know that James had repelled an attack from three Evil Dragons, single-handedly, while killing one in the process.

"But I doubt there are many among you who are aware of all that James has done in a short time." Sirzechs continued after the crowd began to quiet down. "Not only did he repel an Evil Dragon attack, but he also captured a fugitive who was long thought dead. This fugitive was also a member of the terrorist organization, Khaos Brigade. And his name is Euclid Lucifuge."

After hearing that name, a lot of the older devils who were not involved in the political scene were surprised to hear that a devil who had not been heard from since the Civil War was still a live. Like Sirzechs said, Euclid had been declared dead centuries ago.

"Because of these great feats, we were torn on how we should reward James." Sirzechs said in a tone of mock anxiety. "However, thanks to the great scientific minds of our devil society headed by Ajuka, here, we came up with something fitting for the achievements of one of our society's up and coming superstars."

Although Sirzechs spoke fluently with a smile on his face, Ajuka, who was standing right next to him, could see the minute twitches in Sirzechs' eyebrows every time he said something that praised James in front of the public.

'*Sigh* This is really eating him alive inside.' Ajuka said to himself while shaking his head mentally. 'I can only hope that he doesn't do anything stupid after letting his pride get the better of him.'

"Now, before we mention the rewards, please join me in welcoming James Alaverus onto the stage." Sirzechs said as he spread his arms and looked toward the entrance where James and Grayfia were waiting.

Louder and with more fervor than the last time, the crowd exploded in to cheers, with Leona's voice somehow audible over everyone else in the venue.

'I can't feel any demonic power leaking from her.' James thought as he walked toward the stage with a smile on his face. 'How in the fuck is she so damn loud?'

A few moments later, James made his way onto the stage. Then, once he reached the center, he shook hands with both Sirzechs and Ajuka, maintaining his smile the whole time.

"Now that the man of the hour has arrived, I'll leave the presentation and explanation of the rewards to Ajuka." Sirzechs said before taking a step back.

"Thank you." Ajuka said in a calm tone. "Before presenting the reward, I'd like to say that this is a breakthrough in technology that we of the R&D department made not too long ago. And due to your outstanding achievements, we felt that allowing you to be the first to receive it was only fitting."

Hearing what Ajuka had to say, not only James, but everyone who was unaware of the reward that James would be receiving was intrigued as they leaned a little closer to the stage or their televisions. A moment later, James' eyes opened wide. Then, he glanced at the [King Stone] before returning his gaze to Ajuka.

"So, you've noticed." Ajuka said with a slight smile on his face. "That's right, the [King Stone] is an integral part of your reward."

As Ajuka finished, He reached his right hand forward. An instant later, a small case appeared in his hand. Then, he opened the case. When he did a set of fifteen [Evil Pieces] could be seen.

"Why would they present him a set of [Evil Pieces]?" A man in the crowd asked in confusion. "He's already got the strongest peerage in the younger generation, right?"

"I don't know, but I don't think Lord Beelzebub would do something like this without a reason." The woman beside him said. "So, just shut up and watch."

"Or maybe the Satans are trying to humiliate him." A man seated behind the first two said with a devious smile on his face. "Maybe they're afraid of the young man's potential and want to bring him down a peg."

Conversations like this could be heard all over the stadium, in homes, and in bars all over the Underworld. Even so, no one was able to turn away before they saw what would happen next.

"James Alaverus, with the recent breakthrough of the R&D department and your own outstanding achievements..." Ajuka said as the [Kankara Formula] activated on his hand. "... we, the Four Great Satans, and the Devil Council would like to present you with the reward of a second peerage."

Though James had his suspicions, he could not help but widen his eyes after having those suspicions confirmed. The crowd, on the other hand, fell silent for a short while, before breaking into a cacophony of excited and surprised cheering. Meanwhile, while the crowd was going wild, Ajuka was making the final adjustments to the [Evil Pieces] in his hand, so that they would be compatible with James' first set of [Evil Pieces].

"Now, James Alaverus, I present to you your second, soon to be, peerage." Ajuka said once the adjustments were complete. "With this new source of strength, we hope that you will continue to help in bettering the Underworld and its people."

Still in shock at today's developments, James mechanically reached out with both hands to accept the small case that Ajuka handed to him. Then, he once again shook hands with the two Satans, the excited cheering of the crowd acting as the perfect BGM.

"Though you are truly deserving of this reward..." Sirzechs said quietly while shaking James' hand, whether it was intentional or not that his words were spoken into an activated microphone, however, would remain a mystery. "... I feel it would have been more appropriate to have the strongest devil receive a second peerage before any other."

With that statement, the stadium fell silent and the tension in the air thickened instantly.