NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37: Extremely uneven deal.
Azazel nodded before a teleportation magic circle appeared sending them in front of Leviathan. Serafall was sitting in a gorgeous room, elegantly sipping tea. Grayfia was also beside her. All around them members of the 72 Pillars with solemn faces, having the same interrogation in their heart about the summoning. Grayfia was obviously getting prepared to take on the Position of Maou the moment their death will be announced to Underworld. Even thought grief was in her heart, even thought her child now is fatherless, she was still a devil and she needed to stand up for the Underworld.
The both were waiting their tension at the pinnacle. Finally, a magical circle appeared and Five people emerged from it.
Two cocky saiyans, The Governor of the Fallen Angels. And Two beautiful looking siblings. They exuded noblesse, not the Imperial one that the emperor had but the devil's kind of one, graceful, mannered and deep-rooted. The Second Vizir gracefully bowed:
"Leviathan-sama, Lucifurge-sama, I am Euphemia Li Britnaina the Second Vizir of the Empire."
They both nodded back in a reluctant manner. Lelouch sighed:
'Their message is clear, huh. We are not here to make friends with you…Well, in this case~'
The handsome young man advanced completely ignoring the decision makers, with fusion of panache and charisma that made him Zero! His eyes on each one of the 72 Pillars Heads. He faced the Agares head and bowed gracefully, theatrically:
"Lord Agares, I present myself. I am the First Vizir of the Empire, Lelouch Vi Britania. I am here to discuss the plan for the Constructions that are about to unfold."
Azazel who ignored this person as a background character the whole time felt his ears buzzing. Serafall, and Grayfia also looked intently at Charismatic Man.
Everyone knew what First Vizir means!
Only Below the Emperor! Above everyone else!
And this man just ignored everyone to talk to the Agares Lord!!
What does that mean?! Easy! Everyone could make sense of it!
'You don't put us in your eyes, we will not even give you a glance!!
You Satans are not even worthy of talking to my First Vizir! Continue your discussion a level below!'
Euphie sighed deeply, understanding her brother's intention and gathering all the attention she announced:
"I came here to resolve the incident and the grudges between the two parties."
The two women in front of her had fiery gaze, as if offended even by the idea that the death of their Satans could be resolved. Serafall responded:
"In this case, why didn't HIS GREAT majesty come here, by himself?"
Euphemia:
"Because he was fiercely opposed to this new deal."
All the People here looked at Euphemia with prying eyes:
"But I still convinced him, risking my position in the process"
Lelouch nodded internally:
'Great! Euphemia! You became more and more crafty with time. Telling only the truth they want to hear. Risking your position? Yeah, right…Fiercely opposed? He can't wait for this 'new deal' to go through! Especially the second part I am in charge off!'
Serafall and Grayfia immediately had less strict eyes. Euphemia continued:
"We are a warring Empire indeed, but I would prefer to at least be in peace with our potential allies and to avoid unnecessary deaths in every faction. I believe this duty of all rulers"
Azazel nodded:
'So there is this kind of people in this Empire as well…'
Lelouch monitoring the situation was elated:
'Yes, Euphemia. keep contradicting the Emperor. Let them think that we are divided! Let them think they could support one side against the other! With the Black Knight, being underestimated was my bread and butter!'
Serafall and Grayfia softened as they could feel the sincerity in each of her words. They felt like they could finally find someone that speak their language in this Empire:
-So, what is this 'new deal' you speak off…
Euphemia took a deep breath:
-The number of cities to be commissioned would spike up to 100 Cites, with all the last magical technologies of the Underworld. The designs would be inspired from each one of the 72 Pillars territories.
Everyone tensed up.
'The demands seem to have skyrocketed! What those this woman is thinking?'
"In exchange of that, his Majesty would bring back to life Lucifer and Beelzebub."
ABSOLUTE SILENCE….
'This power…Is there anything he can't do?'
The 72 Pillars where lifeless on the spot. Euphemia sighed deeply as she looked at the emotional faces of Grayfia and Serafall:
"Losing loved ones is hard. I tried my best to come up with this deal. So please hear me out."
They still controlled themselves as they made sign for her to continue:
"Lucifer and Beelzebub would have to repent and demand pardon for their offense to his Majesty. In addition, the Underworld would have to build an academy to teach Magic and Demonic Energy in the Empire."
Everyone nodded at those condition, imagining how much hardships this girl went through for her to obtain these conditions from that Crazy Bastard:
"From our side, we will aid the Alliance in its fight against the Khaos Brigade. With the aid of these children, Matsuda and Motohama, I hope you will eventually obtain victory."
'She could obtain another condition from him!! And those two are at least Maou Class!!'
Azazel who saw how strong they got, understood how substantial their help actually will be.
And yet, somehow he felt more and more uncomfortable as the conversation kept advancing.
He had a hunch.
A Hunch there was a catch!!
His gaze traversed all the room. From the relieved expressions of the devils, the bitterness of the Great King Faction. Serafall and Grayfia who were in the verge of tears. The Second Vizir…
Yes, the second Vizir!!!
'She has attained her goals, Why is she making a sorry face like that?'
Suddenly, he slowly turned his gaze to the one person whose presence here is completely unjustifiable.
Then he saw it….
An ominous smile. Like he was the evil incarnated.
Lelouch stared at Azazel and moved his lips without a sound:
'Checkmate.'
Suddenly he stood up.
He advanced. With each step memories from the Supreme Council kept resurging in his mind as he cursed:
'Tch! I can't believe that Schneizel thought of that before me! What a devil, indeed! '
One day earlier, Supreme Council. The Emperor inaugurated the reunion:
"First of all, I will divulge my plan concerning the Underworld."
The three siblings heard the plan of the emperor. Lelouch was the first to react:
"Brillant! Eating them up from the inside! I like that."
Schneizel nodded a meaningful smile on his face:
"Using Alliances to conquer, it's to my taste."
Euphemia sighed deeply:
"This way we get to end this without casualties."
"To this goal, I decided to settle with the devils. I offered three ships to The Second Vizir. The First is to bring back their Maou. The Second is for Matsuda and Motohama to fight for the Alliance against the Khaos Brigade. The Third and most important is for me to give Each Maous a chance to resurrect one person they would lose in the future."
Euphemia then continued:
"In Counterpart, the Number of cities to build will grow up to 100, Lucifer and Beelzebub need to write a formal demand of pardon to the Emperor and the Underworld would have to build an academy to teach Magic and Demonic Energy in the Empire."
Lelouch sighed:
"It's still vastly uneven. Just what we need."
It was then, that Schneizel had an epiphany!
He had a vicious smile:
"What if we make this deal even more uneven. Uneven to the Point it vastly advantages the Devils, to the Point that the Fallen Angels or Angel would wish they had attacked your majesty first…
Present day.
Lelouch arrived in front of the Satans as he addressed Euphemia:
"Euphie. I will take it from here."
She lightly nodded.
All the devils present had the same thought:
'He finally made his move!'
Lelouch snickered and acted as the great world magician he was:
"Actually, his Majesty's grace grows even beyond that. We all wish for our relation with the Underworld to become more solid. So I added another clause to the deal.
We wish to create an ambassadory city in the Belphegor Territory that would belong to the Empire and to the Underworld. A place where our people will be allowed to know each other on a deeper level."
All the attention was peaked again, as Azazel felt cold in his back. Serafall still had an apprehensive look.
Everyone was waiting for the Hammer to Drop!
And boy, oh boy he was going to drop it!
Lelouch smiled evilly as he said:
"In exchange, our Majesty will resurrect a Third of the Devils who died in the Anciant War!"
ABSOLUTE SILENCE.
Azazel had his eyes blank, as he barely maintained his posture. Serafall had difficulty processing information. But she understood one thing:
'This was in no way a reward! This was akin to giving them a time bomb!'
Lelouch then looked at the 72 Pillars. All of them has exited eyes!! The Great King Faction seemed elated!
'As expected, Pathetic Fools.'
One day Earlier, Supreme Council.
Marek had an interrogating gaze on Schneizel:
"What if your Majesty brings back, let's say… A third of the Devils who died in the Ancient War?"
Hearing that Lelouch evilly smiled. As Shehrazad, C.C and Euphemia had interrogation all over their face.
Marek as if the light of Wisdom hit him started Crazily laughing:
"Good! Great work ! Schneizel !"
The three looked at the Emperor:
"Bringing this much new devils is equivalent to doubling the devils population. It would immediately create tension in the Alliance.
After all, the reason of the end of the first war was that all the factions were facing extinction!
Imagine bringing back hatred-fueled, war-driven, devil supremacist in a world where The three Alliances made peace!
In an Underworld governed by People who killed the Old Satans they died fighting for!
And on the other side our Empire would be forever the benefactor of the Underworld!
The Death of the Maous is still covered up by the Higher Ups!
In the heart all the devils I will always be the Mighty being who brought back to life their loved ones!
The path for our Super Devils will be even easier, and the Old Super Devils will find the very reason of their enthronement in Jeopaerdy!
After all the rebellion against the Original Maous was only because of the damage of the war! But would the resurrected devils understand that ?!!
And the Biggest Joke of all we will be only strengthening ourselves!
We will eventually take over the Underworld anyway!! A much more strengthened Underworld! Fucking Brillant!!"
Hearing the Emperor explanation, the three women looked at Schneizel like he was a freak.
'What a monstruous plan!'
Azazel had a blanc face as he got the answer of every question he had:
'Why did the First Vizir never intervene?
He was here for this last deal. And this deal alone!
Why did Emperor gave Euphemia such advantageous terms?
'Why summon the 72 Pillars?
So they can be witnesses! Witnesses to this deal! Making it an unrebukable one! What kind of Maou would refuse to double his population?!
Why would he suddenly want to build an Ambassador City?
Peace and Coexistence?! My Ass! It's a Headquarter! A Headquarter for this new faction of the Underworld!
Serafall and Grayfia knew that they were pushed into a corner wanting to rip this man apart. Lelouch slowly spoke, his face getting closer and closer to Serafall's:
"So what do you say? You won't refuse his majesty's 'peace offer' will you? Leviathan-sama~"
Seing the expectant gazes of her followers, she immediately understood…
'This deal was done, the moment it could be made. And if we don't accept the deal. they might still do it, but we would be without Sirzechs and Ajuka. That will be the most horrible situation. Sirzechs and Ajuka factions and strength could still keep the Underworld united. They are Super devils after all.'
She sighed deeply, a fake smile on her lips:
"We accept."
All the 72 Pillars applauded with joy in their heart looking at Lelouch like he was their savior!
Lelouch smiled benevolently, great actor he was, raising a cup of wine in hand:
"Members of Noble Houses of the Underworld! Let's celebrate this great day! A day a deep friendship between our factions is born! I, Lelouch Vi Britnania, garentee that our Emperor will revive every extinct house of the 72 Pillars!! To our friendship"
The Majority of the Old devils started applauding:
"To our friendship!""
Serafall had a difficult face. Lelouch overlooked everything with a cold gaze:
'That Schneizel used the same stratagem against me and the Black Knights. Isolating again a ruler's will from its people's. It's sure feels better watching it unfold from this side'