Late at night, the moon hung high in the night sky.
Following the coordinates given in the invitation, Lynn arrived in front of a rather dilapidated abandoned building.
Pushing the door into the first-floor lobby, a female devil soon came forward to greet him, a respectful expression on her face.
"Are you Mr. Lynn?"
"Yeah, where is Beelzebub?"
"Please come this way. His Majesty Ajuka is on the roof."
The female devil led Lynn into a nearby elevator.
Under her guidance, Lynn reached the top floor of the building, where a lush green courtyard met his eyes.
The garden was not only planted with flowers and plants of various colors but also with trees emitting magical auras. There was even a small pool in the center, making the place look very warm and natural.
However, as it was currently late at night, bursts of cold wind blew past Lynn's face, adding a touch of chill to this warmth.
The female devil bid Lynn farewell and left. At the same time, a new voice rang out within the courtyard.
"Welcome, Red Dragon Emperor."
Lynn looked toward the direction of the voice.
In the center of the courtyard, a man exuding a demonic aura was sitting on a chair.
"Good evening, Satan Beelzebub."
Lynn walked over and sat on another chair. "Rias said you wanted to meet me. Is there something you need?"
"Well, you can understand it as a recruitment attempt."
Seeing Lynn get straight to the point, Ajuka didn't waste time either, pushing a certificate and a badge placed on the table forward.
"I want to invite you to join the Devil faction."
"Upper-Class Devil?"
Lynn glanced at the contents of the certificate. "Sorry, I don't have any plans to work for anyone for the time being."
"Rest assured, it's just a title in name only."
Ajuka replied, "I've discussed it with the other three Satans. You won't have to accept any actual duties."
"Of course, if you want power and status, I can also provide you with a territory, help you build connections, and have you ascend to the throne of a Satan within thirty years."
"Letting a human become a Satan?"
"The matter of bloodline isn't an issue for you."
Ajuka snapped his fingers, and a wooden box without a lid appeared on the table, with fifteen chess pieces neatly arranged.
"According to Sirzechs's sister, you only need to devour Evil Pieces to increase the purity of your Devil Bloodline."
"If necessary, I can even provide you with some devil corpses and fabricate an identity for you."
"By the way, this box of Evil Pieces is just for you to increase your bloodline purity. If you accept the invitation to become an Upper-Class Devil, you will receive an additional set of Evil Pieces."
"That set of Evil Pieces is yours to do with as you please, whether you eat them yourself or use them to recruit retainers. I won't interfere."
"That sounds quite sincere."
Lynn looked at the wooden box thoughtfully.
As a Satan, the sincerity Ajuka showed could be said to be very high. Anyone else might have actually agreed.
However...
"These things aren't enough."
Lynn shook his head. "High-quality Sacred Gears and other items with transcendent power. If you can provide these to me long-term, I can help you."
"Long-term provision is basically impossible; such things aren't so common that they can be found everywhere," Ajuka replied.
Perhaps having already anticipated failure, his expression didn't change much. After a moment's thought, he continued.
"Three Sacred Gears with different effects and ten drops of Phenex Tears—that's the highest price I can offer."
"Furthermore, as long as you don't go on a killing spree, I can send people to help you gather information on Sacred Gear Users. How many Sacred Gears you ultimately obtain will depend on your own methods."
"Information on Sacred Gear Users? That works."
This time, Lynn did not refuse again.
Although he had the Lin family's help behind him, the Lin family was only an Ancient Martial Arts Family and couldn't compare to the devils.
The devils' territories were spread all over the world, and they accepted various commissions for work, making them very well-informed.
With any luck, he would soon collect enough Sacred Gears to help Ddraig unseal his final power.
On the other side, seeing Lynn accept his conditions, a smile appeared on Ajuka's face.
"Welcome to the Underworld, Lynn."
"It's just in name only. I'm not interested in becoming a Satan or anything, and there's no need to give me a fief."
"That is enough."
Ajuka was very optimistic about Lynn's future.
As long as the other party didn't betray them, even if it was just in name, it would still be more beneficial than harmful for the devils; they wouldn't lose out.
Taking out another new set of Evil Pieces and a row of reagent bottles, Ajuka pushed them in front of Lynn.
"This is the set of Evil Pieces that belongs to you, as well as the ten bottles of Phenex Tears we just discussed."
"As for the Sacred Gears, I need a little time to prepare. Tomorrow, you can go to Sirzechs's sister to pick them up."
"Fine."
One day's time was naturally nothing for Lynn to be anxious about.
Looking at the Phenex Tears on the table, Lynn summoned the Mist with a thought and first consumed one of the bottles.
Phenex Tears are magical items made by the Phenex Clan through a special ritual, possessing extremely powerful recovery effects that can instantly heal most injuries.
Such a powerful magical item was naturally within the Mist's diet and was devoured in an instant.
Under the Mist's decomposition, the Phenex Tears turned into a green light cluster, which was fed back into Lynn's body through the Boosted Gear, merging with his physical form.
Sensing carefully, Lynn felt that his physical vitality had been improved.
"The corresponding regeneration ability?"
A look of contemplation flashed in Lynn's eyes.
With his physical vitality improved, his self-healing ability would also be enhanced.
However, he already possessed the extremely strong self-healing ability of Hyper Regeneration, so this small boost wasn't very significant.
Of course, having it was better than not having it.
Summoning the Mist again, Lynn swallowed the remaining nine bottles of Phenex Tears and the two sets of Evil Pieces all at once.
Perhaps because he had consumed so many things in one go, the aura on his body fluctuated slightly.
Sitting opposite him, Ajuka immediately noticed this change, and a glint flashed in his eyes.
The devil aura had become denser, physical fitness had improved, and there were other changes as well.
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would really be hard to believe that such an ability exists in this world."
Ajuka said with some emotion, "If this ability of yours has no upper limit, in ten years, you might even reach the level of the Infinite Dragon God and the Great Red."
"Ten years? It won't take that long."
Lynn withdrew the aura from his body's surface and replied with a firm tone, "In one year, I will surpass them."
"There's no need to be in such a hurry."
Seeing Lynn's pursuit of power, Ajuka gave a friendly reminder: "Having acquired the Devil Bloodline, your lifespan will be unimaginably long. If you finish everything you want to do while you're young, the future will be very boring. Some devils have fallen into slumber because of that."
"We'll talk about that in a year."
Lynn's expression didn't change in the slightest.
One year from now would be the time when the Evil Gods of the EXE World would lead their army to descend upon this world.
If he couldn't gain power surpassing the Infinite Dragon God before then, there would be no future to speak of.
"Interested in making another deal?"
Thinking of the EXE World, Lynn's gaze turned toward Ajuka once more: "I'd like to ask for your help in researching... a power from Another World."
"Power from Another World?" Ajuka's attention was instantly diverted.
Winning over Lynn was a mission, but conducting scientific research was his life.
Although he didn't know why the other party was so eager to pursue power, it didn't matter.
As the Director of the Technology Development Bureau and the creator of the Evil Pieces, what Ajuka loved most was researching the unknown.
"Tell me, what do you mean by 'power from Another World'?"
"A language called Divine Script, and a Falna system created with the blood of gods from Another World and that Divine Script. See for yourself."
Lynn used the Sage Arts he had recently learned to extract his memories, conjuring a ball of light and tossing it over.
Not long ago, after leaving Mist Plaza, DanMachi Lynn had asked Hestia about the Divine Script and the Falna system.
The former wasn't particularly difficult; there were people in the Education District of the DanMachi World who taught Divine Script.
With a goddess like Hestia personally teaching him, DanMachi Lynn's learning progress was quite smooth.
But the Falna system was different.
According to Hestia, a Falna is a power system created by the gods suitable for humans.
While it appeared to be composed of Divine Script on the surface, the most important part was actually the blood of a god.
The gods of the DanMachi World were high-level lifeforms born with immense power. Even if they sealed themselves, their blood still contained powerful energy and possessed miraculous effects.
Only by using the blood of a god as a medium could the gods grant a Falna and excavate the potential within a person's body.
This was a necessary condition.
In a state where divine power could not be used, even the gods themselves could not skip this step.
Conversely, even if DanMachi Lynn learned the Falna ritual, he wouldn't be able to replicate it without god's blood.
Of course, there were solutions.
For instance, like Lynn was doing now, handing this knowledge over to Ajuka and letting him help.
Compared to a half-baked amateur who put all his points into combat power, Ajuka had a much better chance with this sort of thing.
On the other side, after receiving the information within the light ball, Ajuka's interest was visibly piqued.
"An unknown language and a Falna system... it certainly looks like something from Another World. Can you provide a detailed introduction to that world?"
"No."
"Alright, then what is your request?"
"Help me bypass the restriction of god's blood. As payment, you may use this knowledge freely."
"Very well, I accept this deal."
Ajuka took a phone from his pocket: "This is a communication device. If you have anything else you want researched, contact me anytime."
As the saying goes, one can see the whole leopard through a single spot.
Despite only a cursory glance, Ajuka could see that the Another World Lynn spoke of was not weak.
That script which carried power, if applied correctly, could even further enhance the Evil Pieces.
With a language of this level, it was impossible for the Falna to be the only power system.
In order to obtain more knowledge from Lynn, Ajuka took the initiative for once.
To this, Lynn didn't stand on ceremony either.
Being able to create something like the Evil Pieces, Ajuka's scientific talent was beyond question.
Taking the phone given by the other party, Lynn also asked Ajuka for some information on high-level Sage Arts.
Although he wasn't particularly skilled in Sage Arts, as a Satan, Ajuka still had some collections.
After receiving various types of Sage Arts and methods for creating new ones, Lynn finally bid Ajuka farewell.
"Truly an unexpected surprise."
After watching Lynn leave, Ajuka raised his hand and pressed a button on the side of the table, and a screen appeared in mid-air.
"Sirzechs, do me a favor."
...
On the other side.
After parting ways with Ajuka, Lynn returned home with the Sage Art materials and began researching them with Kuroka.
As a master of Sage Arts, Kuroka learned this kind of knowledge very quickly and soon grasped the general idea.
After successfully getting started, Kuroka began teaching Lynn the tricks of the trade and dragged him along to explore the origins of life.
When Lynn opened his eyes again, it was already the afternoon of the following day.
He picked up his clothes from the floor, got dressed, and went to the Occult Research Club as usual.
"Ara ara, if it isn't our Underworld's newly promoted Upper-Class Devil, Lord Lynn."
Akeno was currently pouring tea for Rias.
Seeing Lynn walk in, a smile appeared on her face, and she poured a cup for him as well.
"You're quite well-informed." Lynn glanced at Rias: "You told her, didn't you?"
"Of course." Rias nodded.
As the primary person in charge of the devils' contact with Lynn, Ajuka would naturally tell Rias about the details of the deal.
Although the part about the Another World was omitted, Rias still knew about the matter of the Upper-Class Devil.
To be honest, her feelings were quite complicated.
According to the strength hierarchy, devils were divided into five levels: Low-Class Devil, Middle-Class Devil, High-Class Devil, Upper-Class Devil, and Satan.
An Upper-Class Devil was a rank second only to a Satan, and could even be seen as a Satan to a certain extent, enjoying extremely high privileges in the Underworld.
Despite having obtained a Devil Bloodline through special means, he was able to become an Upper-Class Devil in one step.
This kind of situation was extremely rare even in the long history of devils, having only occurred a few times.
However, considering Lynn's terrifying strength and his ability to grow infinitely, this result was actually normal.
On the other side, Lynn, unaware of what Rias was thinking, sat down on the sofa and took a sip of tea.
"Akeno, it seems your skills have improved again."
"Thank you for the compliment."
A smile appeared on Akeno's face.
"Speaking of which, His Majesty Ajuka sent someone with some things this morning. Lynn, wait here for a moment."
Akeno walked toward a room not far away.
A few seconds later, she returned with three light spheres sealed by Magic Arrays and a blood-colored orb, lining them up on the table in front of Lynn.
"Hmm? What is this?"
Lynn looked at the blood-colored orb with confusion.
He could tell that those three light spheres were sealed Sacred Gears.
But this blood-colored orb, while clearly not a Sacred Gear, emitted an even richer fragrance.
Among the many items Lynn had devoured with the Mist, only the Absorption Line could compare to it.
But the Absorption Line contained a soul fragment of the Evil Dragon King Vritra; so what about this blood-colored orb?
...