Rias's crimson eyes scanned the report Koneko had just delivered.
Her brow was furrowed in suspicion, a feeling that had only intensified since she'd learned of Issei's survival.
She sat in her usual armchair within the Occult Research Club, surrounded by her peerage.
The room was tense, the atmosphere thick with unanswered questions.
"So, he knew who you were and called you 'Neko-chan'?"
Rias asked.
"And he told you to tell me he was a 'harmless dragon'?"
Koneko nodded, her expression as stoic as ever, but Rias could sense the subtle shift in the young Rook's demeanor.
Her aura was no longer agitated; it was a quiet, contemplative hum.
That in itself was unusual.
Koneko wasn't easily calmed, especially not by a stranger with an unknown power.
"He also said he wasn't our enemy and that he was here to help,"
Koneko added, her gaze steady.
"And that his power... it was immense. Like a dragon that was vast and silent endless void. It was so strong, it was terrifying."
Akeno Himejima, the Queen of Rias's peerage, leaned forward, her usual playful smile replaced by a look of intense interest.
"A dragon, you say? And he was able to calm Koneko-chan? My, my, this new student is quite fascinating."
Her gaze drifted to the window, a thoughtful look on her face.
"I wonder what he's like up close. He sounds so gentle, yet so powerful. It's a very enticing combination."
Kiba remained silent, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
He was an observer, a listener. His analytical mind was working overtime, trying to piece together the puzzle of this new third-year student.
He'd felt a whisper of Arthur's power too—a presence that felt ancient and profound, like a calm lake hiding an unfathomably deep current.
He trusted Koneko's instincts, and if she said this person was a potential ally, he would take her word for it.
Rias, however, was less trusting.
The unknown was a threat, and a threat to her peerage was a threat to her.
The fact that he had saved Issei before she could and had so easily read her Rook was a concern.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she had been outmaneuvered.
"We can't trust him just yet,"
Rias declared, her voice firm.
"His intentions are unknown, and his power is a complete mystery. We must be cautious. Akeno, I want you to keep an eye on him. Try to get a sense of his true intentions. Kiba, stay with Issei. We need to make sure he's safe and that this new student doesn't have some ulterior motive for helping him."
Akeno smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Don't worry, President. I'll be very… thorough in my investigation."
It had been days…
Arthur sat alone in the school library, a textbook open in front of him, but his mind was far away.
He knew they were watching him.
He could feel the subtle probes of Rias and her peerage, a familiar energy reaching out, trying to understand him.
He simply let them.
He had nothing to hide, and he was confident that his presence alone would eventually prove his good intentions.
He also knew the time was short.
The engagement party with Riser Phenex was approaching.
It was the event that would set the wheels of destiny in motion, the catalyst for so many of the challenges Issei would face.
Rias would soon be faced with a choice: marry a man she despised or fight an unfair battle against him for her freedom.
Arthur knew she would choose to fight, but he also knew she would lose without help.
And that was where he came in. He had to make himself an asset, a powerful ally she couldn't afford to ignore.
He closed his textbook, his mind made up.
He had to be proactive.
Waiting for Rias to come to him was a mistake.
She was too proud, too stubborn.
He would have to go to her, but he needed a reason, a logical pretext that wouldn't make her feel cornered.
And he knew exactly what that reason would be.
Later that afternoon, after classes were over, Arthur made his way to the Occult Research Club.
The building stood alone, a testament to its inhabitants' desire for privacy.
He felt the concentration of demonic power as he approached, a clear signal that the Gremory peerage was inside.
He knocked on the door, a series of light, polite taps.
The door opened, and Kiba stood there, his face unreadable. He had been expecting a confrontation, but not a direct approach.
"May I help you?"
Kiba asked, his voice polite but wary.
"I'd like to speak with President Rias Gremory,"
Arthur said, his tone calm and respectful.
"I believe we have a mutual friend we should discuss."
Kiba's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
He stepped aside, gesturing for Arthur to enter.
Arthur walked into the club room, his gaze sweeping over the scene. Rias sat behind her desk, a serious expression on her face.
Akeno was next to her, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Koneko was seated on a couch, her gaze fixed on him.
Arthur's presence filled the room, not with an imposing force, but with a quiet, undeniable weight.
He didn't move to take a seat, instead standing in the center of the room, his hands clasped loosely behind his back.
The silence stretched, thick with unspoken tension, until Rias finally spoke.
"You're the new student,"
She said, her voice a cool, controlled melody.
"And you have something to say about Issei?"
"I do, President Gremory,"
Arthur replied, his voice calm and even.
"I'm sure you've all noticed that Issei's power is unique. The power of the Red Dragon Emperor is a force that is as magnificent as it is dangerous."
Rias's eyes narrowed.
"You know about the Red Dragon Emperor?"
She asked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"How?"
Arthur met her gaze without flinching.
"As you have heard from Neko-chan. I'm a dragon."
Everyone didn't believe him at all.
"And that aside, more importantly, I've felt the power in him. It's a power that has great potential, but it is also a ticking time bomb. It needs a proper outlet, or it will consume him. And that is why I am here. I am an expert in the use of that very power. I believe I can help him master his abilities."
"Master his abilities?"
Akeno's voice was soft, laced with a hint of skepticism.
"What makes you think you're qualified to do that? And why would you?"
Arthur finally moved, his eyes sweeping across the room and settling on the three of them.
"Quality? Are you really asking me that?"
Arthur released a portion of his power.
Akeno felt weight on her body. It was very heavy.
"And don't speak like he is already in your master's hand. Your master is not even capable enough to get to him in time. If not for me he would already be dead."
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