Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.
Amidst the bustling traffic, a white car moved slowly along the congested streets of Tokyo.
"Oh, so this is Tokyo? Seems much more prosperous than Paris."
The speaker was a girl with dark golden hair styled in twin drill curls, seated in the back. Leaning against the window with one hand propping her cheek, her azure eyes reflected the neon-lit streets outside, though her expression remained unreadable.
Hearing this remark, the short-haired woman named Mammon, sitting in the passenger seat, slightly opened her eyes to glance at the impassive girl:
"President, you don't seem to like the scenery here?"
"It's too glaring."
Ravel Phenex replied indifferently:
"I prefer more natural light over these electrically powered illuminations."
As she spoke, Ravel pressed a button to raise the window gradually.
"Though I wouldn't say I dislike it. Personally, I believe it's better not to develop affection for things destined to be destroyed in the first place."
"That way... one might feel lighter."
Recognising the implied meaning behind her words, Mammon calmly inquired:
"You don't seem fond of Mr Ryan and Mr Seto's invitation this time?"
At this, Ravel cast a sidelong glance at Mammon:
"My feelings towards them can't simply be described as dislike."
"If I had to specify... It's like seeing stray dogs wagging their tails pitifully when hungry, only to bare their teeth at you after being fed. Heh, that sensation can't be captured by mere 'dislike'."
"Of course, my feelings are largely the same towards the other higher-ups in the Phenex Society, too."
As the Phenex Society's leader disparaged her colleagues, Mammon's expression remained unchanged, as if this were perfectly natural.
At that moment, Ravel turned her head to gaze at the nightscape outside the window and said coolly:
"Ultimately, they're just a bunch of lunatics who arbitrarily labelled me as a usurper who stole the phoenix's flesh and blood, then pushed me into this leadership position while treating it all as perfectly reasonable."
"Would you like such madmen? I certainly don't."
Mammon listened quietly to Ravel's complaints without offering any comment.
After five or six seconds, Ravel seemed to have made peace with it herself and murmured:
"Though I must admit, it's thanks to these people's madness that I've found temporary shelter in this strange world and successfully discovered a way home."
At this point, Ravel recalled her experiences over these past two years.
Two years ago, while mountain climbing near the Underworld metropolitan area, she'd accidentally entered a cave that brought her to this world.
Her arrival point happened to be near a Phenex Society ritual site where they were attempting to summon a phoenix through blood sacrifice.
There, Ravel witnessed the cultists' sacrificial ceremony with her own eyes, watching them dismember a juvenile phoenix whose bloodline aura resembled hers.
It was then that Ravel, who had always lived as a pampered young lady in the Underworld, came to understand:
Compared to human malice, demons were child's play.
Humans were insane creatures who would seek even to devour demons to achieve their goals.
In that moment, Ravel knew she must conceal her phoenix identity at all costs - otherwise, she'd be next on the menu.
For a noble demon lady to maintain a disguise among such madmen was naturally difficult.
Fortunately, due to the juvenile phoenix's death throes, everyone present had been tainted with phoenix blood.
This accidental contamination allowed Ravel to convincingly pose as someone who'd perfectly usurped the phoenix's power and eventually be elected their leader.
Thus began Ravel's arduous life.
Having witnessed the cultists' combat prowess and knowing herself to be both outmatched and unskilled in battle, she had no choice but to play along while secretly seeking a way home - maintaining her disguise as leader while learning about this world to protect her secret.
To the lower-ranking believers, she played the role of phoenix reincarnate.
To the higher-ups, she acted as a cold-blooded usurper of phoenix power.
After two years of this, Ravel felt she was developing multiple personalities from all the deception.
Thankfully, through covert efforts, she'd finally found a way home.
Or rather, she'd been found by someone sent from home.
Turning to glance at Mammon beside her - this trusted aide of Satan Ajuka Beelzebub from her homeland - Ravel couldn't help adding:
"Though I dislike those subordinates, I do hope His Majesty Ajuka will spare some of their lives in the end."
Here, Ravel paused before continuing:
"At the very least, I hope His Majesty will pardon the believers at the bottom who haven't consumed phoenix blood."
As for those who had consumed phoenix blood, Ravel knew full well how extreme her family's reaction would be once the truth came to light.
Though not members of their clan, the pureblood Phenex family would never tolerate outsiders coveting their bloodline's power.
Moreover, Ravel was acutely aware of the Phenex Society's high-ranking dealings and their true motives for seeking the phoenix.
Naturally, she wouldn't oppose her family for those people's sake. The only ones she felt slight pity for were the grassroots believers kept in the dark.
"His Majesty has no interest in those common folk."
Mammon gazed calmly ahead at the silent driver, remarking leisurely:
"What truly intrigues His Majesty are the peculiar powers hidden within this world."
"Territorial expansion is the Devil Council's ambition, not Lord Beelzebub's will."
"So please rest assured, Miss Ravel. Once the passage opens, you need only return safely to the Underworld and the Phenex territory."
"Is that so?"
Ravel tilted slightly sideways, continuing to watch the passing scenery:
"Then let's hope this operation proceeds smoothly."
Pausing, she then addressed the quietly driving female chauffeur:
"Linda, has Ryan made contact yet?"
Silence followed. The woman called Linda kept her eyes fixed ahead, driving wordlessly.
Noticing this, Mammon suddenly grew alert and called out:
"Linda?"
As the second query left his lips, a faintly amused male voice interjected:
"Not planning to continue?"
In an instant, thick indigo mist filled the cramped car interior.
The bustling traffic and city nightscape vanished, replaced entirely by the swirling indigo haze.
Within the mist, directly in their line of sight, stood a sharp-featured young man with cropped black hair and dark eyes, observing them with a smile.
Witnessing this, Ravel's pupils contracted violently, her hands trembling slightly against her knees.
The next instant, a brilliant pillar of fire erupted skyward!!