A letter arrived at the mansion, embossed with the seals of the Great King houses. It was an invitation to the "Newcomers' Gala," a high-society ball designed to let the heirs of the next generation "mingle" (or, more accurately, size each other up) before the political storm truly hit.
Reinhardt stared at the gold-leaf paper as if it were a poisonous snake. He immediately pulled out a communication crystal and called his uncle, Rhaziel Phenex.
"Uncle, tell me I don't have to go to this thing. It's going to be full of arrogant brats and perfume that smells like a flower shop exploded," Reinhardt groaned.
Rhaziel opened his mouth to answer, but Caelus Phenex suddenly appeared in the crystal's frame, looking regal and unyielding. "You are going, Reinhardt. It is time the world sees the heir of Seraphina."
Reinhardt realized he was losing, so he pulled out his secret weapon. He widened his blue eyes, let his lip tremble just a fraction, and gave them the most devastating "Puppy Eyes" the Underworld had ever seen.
The silence on the other end was absolute. Then, a series of frantic clicks filled the air.
Caelus and Rhaziel weren't arguing; they were taking screenshots. They were capturing every frame of that legendary face.
"You're still going," Caelus said, his hands shaking slightly as he saved the fifth photo to his private archive.
"Boo. You guys are the worst," Reinhardt pouted, ending the call.
Stubborn to the end, he called Zeckram Bael. Surely his tough-as-nails Bael grandfather would understand? He unleashed the Puppy Eyes 2.0.
Zeckram froze. He coughed. He looked away. "Rein... the Bael pride... it demands you attend." Click. Zeckram had just surreptitiously taken a photo of his own.
The Secret Trade
Reinhardt didn't realize it, but he had just started a digital black market.
Caelus Phenex and Zeckram Bael, the two most powerful old men in the Underworld, were currently in a private chat room exchanging their best "Puppy Rein" photos like they were rare trading cards.
"I'll trade you the 'Pouting Rein' for the 'Trembling Lip' version," Zeckram messaged.
"Deal," Caelus replied instantly.
But they weren't the only ones. Reyna cornered her grandfather-in-law, Caelus. "Grandfather... I heard you have some... high-quality images of my Rein?"
Caelus, unable to resist his future granddaughter-in-law, handed over a stack of high-resolution copies. Jessica and Rhaziel quickly snatched a few for themselves.
Not to be left out, Reyna immediately sent the copies over to Venelana and Misla at Reinhardt's mansion. The two women looked at their phones and nearly fainted from the cuteness.
"Save this!" Venelana whispered, her face red. "Make it the lock screen! No, make it a physical poster for my bedroom!"
The Night of the Ball
Reinhardt sat in his room, unaware that his "scary" and "regal" reputation was currently being undermined by a viral photo of him looking like a sad kitten.
"System," he muttered. "Is there an ability that prevents grandfathers from being obsessed with their grandsons?"
[Ding! Negative, Host. The 'Doting Grandpa' trait is an Irresistible Force. However, I can suggest the 'King's Wardrobe' package for 500,000 Devil Coins to ensure you look so good at the ball that even Grayfia Lucifuge won't be able to look away.]
"Fine," Reinhardt sighed, looking at his empty bed. "If I'm going, I'm going as a king."
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Quest Triggered: The Star of the Gala]
Objective: Attend the Newcomers' Ball and establish dominance. Reward: 30,000,000 Devil Coins & 'Legendary Suit' set.
The atmosphere in the Bael-Phenex mansion was electric, but not with the usual tension of war. Instead, it was the sound of a dozen high-speed camera shutters.
Reinhardt stood in the center of the foyer, dressed in a custom-tailored obsidian-black suit with crimson silk accents—the colors of the Bael House. The fit was perfect, accentuating his lean, powerful frame, but the look on his face was anything but regal. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his bottom lip jutting out in a defiant, world-class pout.
"I look like a performing monkey," he grumbled.
"A very, very handsome monkey!" Venelana cooed, her phone clicking away.
Misla was right beside her, zooming in for the perfect shot. Even the legendary summons weren't immune. Artoria was trying to look stoic but had her communication crystal angled perfectly, while Morgan was shamelessly taking a panoramic video. Even Scáthach had a ghost of a smile, her finger tapping her device rhythmically.
Click. Click. Click.
"I'm leaving!" Reinhardt announced, defeated by the sheer overwhelming power of 'thirst' and 'doting' from his household.
As he stormed out the door toward his carriage, Venelana didn't miss a beat. She immediately uploaded the "Grumpy Suit Rein" collection to the private group chat.
The Digital Ripple Effect
In the Bael and Phenex main houses, the notifications chimed simultaneously.
Zeckram Bael looked at the new "Grumpy Suit" photo and felt a surge of pride. "That's my boy. He looks like he's about to conquer the world... or a candy shop." Rhaziel Phenex immediately forwarded the batch to Caelus Phenex, Jessica, and Reyna.
Reyna didn't just save them; she created a dedicated, encrypted folder titled "My Future Husband's Secret Side." She clutched her phone to her chest, her face red. "He looks so adorable when he's annoyed..."
The Arrival: The Newcomers' Gala
While the digital world was buzzing with his "cute" photos, the physical Reinhardt was walking toward the grand ballroom of the capital's neutral territory. He felt thoroughly defeated—not by a sword, but by a camera lens.
As he approached the entrance, his Advanced Conqueror's Haki flickered unconsciously. The guards at the door felt a sudden, crushing weight and bowed lower than they ever had for any other heir.
Reinhardt adjusted his cuffs, his pout finally fading into a cold, sharp expression of a true sovereign. If he had to be here, he was going to make sure no one forgot the name Reinhardt Phenex Bael.
The double doors swung open, and the herald announced in a booming voice:
"Presenting the Heir of the Houses Bael and Phenex, Reinhardt Phenex Bael!"
The music didn't stop, but the conversations did. Every eye in the room—from the arrogant young lords of the Old Satan Faction to the daughters of the pillar houses—turned toward him.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Quest Active: Star of the Gala]
[Passive Activated: Golden Rule (EX) – Your entrance has naturally drawn the 'Luck' of the room toward you.]