Targets

As soon as we sat down in the living room, I offered Rias some tea. Although I used to prefer coffee due to the long nights without sleep, I used to have back in my original world, my new body was always energetic, whether or not I slept. I now had a schedule that gave me plenty of time to rest to recuperate correctly from the work out I did.

As I laid the cup of tea down in front of her, she thanked me and immediately started to blow on the hot beverage. I smirked a bit when I noticed her nervousness, though I didn't know if her current distress was because of what I was about to reveal or due to whatever objective she tried to reach by dressing like this. Now that I took her jacket off, I could see her elegant and tight low-cut shirt. She wore a pair of jeans that seemed strained under her curves. It was simple, but then again she probably was used to wearing extravagant dresses considering her previous position, though I did not doubt that these clothes were equally expensive.

" Rias, " she perked up a bit when I called her name. " I believe it's time for me to reveal a bit about what I am since from now on, I plan to enter the stage. "

Rias looked eager at resolving the mystery behind me, though she would be disappointed since I didn't plan on revealing a lot right now, it would be enough to explain some of the things she asked herself. I showed my two devil wings to her, using the skill Devil Apparition for the first time.

Compared to regular devil wings, I realized that they were wider and much bigger overall than the ones shown in the novel, they were also not completely black, they were tinged multiple colours -namely gold, red and purple. The black instead came from my sacred gear, which I named Aeos after seeing the two skills in my status, that extended from my body onto my wings. The swirls of the marks of Aeos contrasted with the colours of my wings, making a sort of kaleidoscopic result that looked great.

Rias' eyes widened at the sight while her expression was marred with shock. Expect Riser, she had never seen devil wings that were different from the norm. It didn't take long for her to narrow her eyes at the realization, and she felt a bit of fear at what she thought was the motive behind revealing my wings. I chuckled and decided to stop her train of thoughts here before she misunderstands.

" I am not part of any devil noble family Rias, don't worry. I don't know why my wings are this way. " I said. My words brought her out of her thoughts, and she sighed in relief, though the implication of the fact that I was a devil was not lost on her.

" So... a devil, huh? Well, I didn't expect that, that's for sure. Although I would like to know how you managed to hide your race just in front of me for months, especially from Koneko, I feel like you have something more to explain... " she said, narrowing her eyes at me and looking a bit angry. She stood up and came up to me, looking straight into my eyes while she stuck her body close to me.

I was a bit confused by what she asked me since that was all I ever wanted to expose, and answer a few of her questions. She seemed to have expectations for something that I was not aware of. Maybe she discovered something about me that I wasn't able to hide?

" What are you talking about? "

Rias raised her eyebrows, her expression indicating that she thought I was faking ignorance. She sighed when she saw that I still looked confused, then picked something from her pocket. It was a picture of Kamiko and me, taken this afternoon. She smirked a bit as she looked into my eyes.

" Now tell me, you seem to have taken great interest in this women Deo..." she asked, a mischievous expression on her face, though I could feel a little bit of jealousy and insecurity behind her voice.

I sighed. Of course, she would follow me like this, I forgot who she was for a moment.

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The streets of Araxia were busy, as always. Nighttime for devils were the hours when they were the most active and at their strongest. The artificial red sun that was shining bright in the sky was an indication that devils lived like vampires, though they needed a lesser amount of sleep compared to humans.

Araxia was one of the major city in the devil society, not in terms of population, but the number of businesses' headquarters being located here. Being a central hub for big companies, Araxia was one of the wealthiest city in the Underworld, a real example of extreme capitalism. More and more enormous towers were built each day-or each night. Meanwhile, millions of small businesses were crushed under the weight of prominent corporations, each fighting the others for the slightest benefit, but that didn't deter millions of small businesses from taking their chances each day, dreaming of making it big in the Underworld.

In the highest floor of one of the tallest tower standing proudly in the middle of Araxia, one man was sitting on his desk, with a large board in front of him. He was wearing a high-end suit, symbolizing his wealth, while having combed his bright blond hair. His blue eyes fixed on the board in front of him, a lascivious expression permeating his face. As his eyes fell onto one of the pictures on the blackboard, his lips curled as he licked his lips.

On his desk was a popular article, the latest edition of the Devil Mail. The official stamp of the director of the Devil Mail was also on this desk. At the same time, the Fire Amulet, the most well-known symbol of the Phenex family, a crystalline jewel in the form of a phoenix that contained an intense flame inside of it that would only be lit when wore by a member of the Phenex family, could be seen around his neck.

This man was Rusix Phenex, owner of the most significant media outlet in the Underworld, the Devil Mail and second-born son of the Phenex family.

He froze for a second before he sighed, seemingly a bit frustrated. At the same time, a curvaceous woman with long wavy purple hair appeared from under his desk. She licked her lips. Meanwhile, Rusix frowned a bit and scowled.

" Yubelluna, your oral skills need some brushing up, I leave you for a few months, and this is what I get as a welcome back present." said Rusix, while Yubelluna looked genuinely sorry, she bowed to Rusix.

" Do I need to pleasure you again, Master? " she asked, her voice tinged with lust.

" No need. " he answered dismissively.

She immediately bowed again and stood behind him, like a servant while he seemed to be pensive for a few seconds. Yubelluna looked at the blackboard and smirked. More than 50 pictures of daughters, wives and concubines of various Nobles were stuck to the board. Yubelluna was also on the board, although her image was crossed in red, showing that whatever Rusix needed from her was already acquired. More than half the pictures were crossed in red, including Rusix's mother, Lady Phenex. Just under the various crossed pictures, were pictures of them indulging in intercourse with Rusix, that was used for blackmailing them.

This was the culmination of Rusix' existence.

Neither his mother nor his little brother's queen was spared, and obviously, neither his father nor Riser knew about it. At the very top of the blackboard, stood the picture of Grayfia Lucifuge, the highest target. And just under her were Lady Gremory and Rias Gremory. The three of them were not crossed in red, and Rusix never thought he would get the occasion to lay his hand on them, as they were too well-protected. Still, the recent developments may very well change that, starting with the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess, now nicknamed the Ruined Princess, courtesy of his media company.

Making these various ladies cheat on their husbands or their daughter lose their purity had multiple uses. Beyond Rusix's satisfaction at cuckolding the nobles of his era, the daughters were unmarriable after this and would either lose their life or their family when their future husbands would realize this. With honeyed words, he was able to get the assets of multiple minor noble families once he took the daughters for the first time, as they could be heiresses. Blackmailing the wives of noble families made him able to tap into the resources of these clans easily.

Rusix was far from being a fool, and he wouldn't have done all of this just for an ego boost and the satisfaction of sticking it to the Patriarchs of multiple noble families. He had protection and resources thanks to his actions. Plus the fact that very few were aware of his methods of gaining support made him a powerhouse in the political landscape. He did not care about his family, as shown by the fact that he didn't hesitate to go after his mother to get what he wants.

Ironically, Lady Phenex was one of his most natural target since she had been cheating on her husband for centuries with other men. Once Rusix managed to get this information, he could do anything with her. Her fate, if such a piece of information was made public, was terrifying, to say the least, as devils did not take adultery very well.

Rusix even wondered if the children of the Phenex family were born legitimately, as the depth of Lady Phenex's doings behind her husband was quite vile.

Yubelluna interrupted Rusix thoughts once she remembered that she had something to inform him.

" Master, Riser made contact with Rias Gremory once he was made aware of the recent developments, but when he came back, he was visibly angry and even let out his anger on a couple of members of his peerage, but he was not willing to tell us what made him so upset, but he said that he plans to consult you for advice. " Rusix's eyebrows rose at Yubelluna's words before he started to chuckle evilly.

" I will meet him then, after all, I will be able to pin the blame for Rias' virginity being lost on her time within the human world so that I can go all out on her and Riser will accept her nonetheless," he added before standing up from his chair. " I wonder what he would say if he learned the fact that I took the virginity of his fiancee before he did though. " he added as he walked towards the blackboard and picked up Rias' picture.

He continued with an evil smirk on his face, " Though... considering her figure I will make her my sow even if she's married to Riser. His face, when I'll announce that his children are not his, will be magnificent. "