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"Azazel, your timing is perfect. There are actually a few things I wanted to discuss with you. Do you have some time?"
Anos said with a smile.
Of course, while smiling, he casually shook out his hand and loosened his body a little.
"Can I say I do not have time?"
Azazel smiled helplessly.
Just from Anos's behavior, he could tell he probably did not have the right to refuse.
This person felt extremely troublesome.
He gave Azazel a faint sense of seeing that person from the past.
Even though Anos had defeated Vali as the Red Dragon Emperor, he had shown no intention of killing him. Instead, he had guided him toward the direction he should work toward if he wanted to grow stronger.
He likely knew that someone like Vali did not pose any real harm to the world.
As for a war maniac like Kokabiel, Anos had chosen to eliminate him directly. It was a little extreme, and it did not match Azazel's own approach, but he had to admit it was the correct choice.
Any normal Satan-class expert, or even a Heavenly Dragon-class expert from another faction who desired peace, would have crushed someone like that at first sight.
"Relax, Azazel. The topic we are going to discuss today is something you will absolutely be interested in. And the world will absolutely change because of today's discussion."
Anos said with a smile.
"Oh? Then I really do need to hear it. After all, I do not want the world to change for no reason."
Azazel spoke in a joking tone, but his expression had become extremely serious.
"Do not worry. I will not disappoint you."
Anos narrowed his eyes.
In his eyes, Azazel could be considered important, but also not especially important. His main role was to make up the numbers.
However, with Azazel's current personality and way of handling things, achieving that purpose should not be too difficult.
...
"You... what did you say? What exactly do you mean by that?"
Just as Anos expected, after hearing his words, Azazel revealed such an expression.
He had no choice but to show that kind of reaction, because both Anos himself and the things Anos said had delivered a powerful shock to his understanding.
"So, Azazel, what do you plan to do?"
Anos asked with a smile.
"I do not think there is any need to ask such an obvious question."
Azazel shook his head.
If one were a normal person, there was probably no need to hesitate at all.
Of course, after living for so long, he understood one truth.
Not all living beings were normal.
...
After ending his conversation with Azazel, Anos once again returned to his ordinary school life.
After all, he still had some time during the day. His greatest improvement probably came from using up all the judgment attempts of Absolute Dichotomy in one go before they refreshed.
As for the rest of the time, there was no need to spend every moment studying and researching.
"Anos? My brother seems to have something he wants to discuss with you."
A communication came from Rias.
"Oh? What is it?"
Anos smiled.
He felt he already knew what it was.
After all, he had detained someone from that side for quite a while. If there were still no reaction, they would be far too incompetent.
"It seems Michael from Heaven has something to discuss with you, so he asked my brother to pass the message along."
Rias frowned as she spoke.
After all, she was a devil, and the three-faction peace treaty had not yet been signed. Ordinary devils would naturally feel resistance upon hearing the name of an angel.
Of course, her main concern was still Anos's safety.
When her brother discussed things with Anos, they were all on the same side, so the conversation could be more casual.
But Michael was different.
Although her brother said he was a good person, Rias knew that Anos had yet to let the two holy sword wielders return to Heaven. Michael definitely had not come with simple intentions.
However, this was truly Rias's misunderstanding.
At least on a fundamental level, Anos was more compatible with the angel side.
And if Anos used a subtle enough method, perhaps the angel faction would directly become people on his side.
"All right. I understand."
Anos smiled.
Finally.
He had come to him.
"The meeting place should be Akeno's shrine. Anos... are you going?"
"If you do not want to go, I can ask my brother to..."
"Of course I am going."
Anos raised his hand.
He knew Rias was worried about him, but in truth, there was no need.
Because he had been waiting for Michael to come to him all along.
Now that Michael had finally come, how could Anos not have a proper talk with him?
...
In front of Akeno Himejima's shrine.
"Come to think of it, Anos has never visited my home before."
Akeno smiled as she opened the shrine gates for Anos.
"True, I have not. But I can tell you take good care of it. Everything around here is very clean."
Anos looked around.
He had to admit, Akeno had cleaned the place very well. The surrounding trees were the type that easily shed leaves, yet there was not a single fallen leaf on the ground.
"Thank you for the praise, President. Receiving your praise is truly my honor."
Akeno covered her mouth and laughed.
"Well then, this is the place, President. Lord Michael should descend shortly."
Akeno said while pouring tea for Anos.
"Mm. I understand."
Anos took a sip of the tea Akeno brewed.
Although it could not compare to divine wine and similar drinks, he had to admit it was indeed excellent tea.
"As expected, Akeno is very talented in this area."
Anos gave his evaluation.
Perhaps it was because he had never specifically researched the recipe for something like divine tea.
In any case, he genuinely felt it was quite good.
"To receive the president's approval really is my greatest honor."
Akeno said with a smile.
She had always watched Anos with an extremely gossip-loving attitude. Whether it was Vice President Sona's attitude or Rias's attitude, she found all of it very interesting.
Recently, however, she had discovered something that seemed even more interesting.
Rias seemed to share some unspeakable secret with Anos.
This was not baseless suspicion. It was something she had observed from Rias's words and actions over a long period of time.
After the incident where Anos struck directly at House Phenex, she had already seen that Rias had truly fallen for him.
That was quite normal. What woman would not like an outstanding man who stood up for her like that?
Even Akeno herself had been a little moved, so Rias being moved was only natural.
However, according to her judgment, even after adding the reason Rias had fallen for him, Rias was still a little too close to Anos.
Her possessiveness was also a little too heavy.
The sensitive Akeno had already smelled something suspicious. She felt that today was the perfect chance to probe a little.
"Akeno, will you attend the three-faction meeting in a few days?"
But to Akeno's surprise, Anos spoke first.
"Mm. I should attend as Rias's Queen. What is wrong, Anos?"
Akeno had not expected Anos to be the one to open the topic, and for the first topic to be so serious.
It seemed it would take some skill to steer the conversation toward what she wanted to know.
However...
What Anos said next instantly made her lose all interest in digging into Rias's gossip.
"Akeno, Azazel's side will likely bring guards."
Anos quietly reminded Akeno of this matter.
Just mentioning this much should be enough for Akeno to understand.
Why is Anos telling me this?
That was Akeno's first thought.
Azazel, as the Governor-General of the fallen angels, would bring someone as a guard.
Among those candidates, the one connected to her was...
Akeno's eyes suddenly contracted.
She could only think of one person.
The fallen angel, Baraqiel.
Her father.
"It seems you have remembered who it is."
Anos took a sip of tea.
Baraqiel would come. That was something he had judged while checking who would attend on that day.
"Yes... so that is why you asked me that question, Anos?"
Akeno's expression darkened slightly.
It was not because of Anos.
It was simply because thinking of Baraqiel, and what had happened with him, made her expression turn unpleasant.
"Yes. So, Akeno, will you face him?"
Anos smiled helplessly.
In truth, Akeno herself should also know who had truly been at fault back then.
Although Baraqiel had indeed made mistakes, the main responsibility certainly did not lie with him.
Blaming him was likely a form of self-protection from Akeno's childhood.
After growing up, Akeno also understood how powerless the situation had been at the time.
But she could not admit it so simply.
She could not let go so easily.
"Anos, do you know about my past?"
Faced with Anos's question, Akeno did not answer. Instead, she asked a question of her own.
She had never told Anos about what happened when she was young.
Yet Anos clearly knew.
Which meant...
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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