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The connection process was similar to making a network video call on a cell phone today. Although Hanakain Reiji didn't know if the Underworld had things like signal base stations equivalent to the Human World, he didn't care about the underlying principle of the magical video call. As long as it connected, that was enough.
Soon, after a few seconds, the "Connecting" text on the large magical screen switched to "Connection Successful," and the image of the person on the other end appeared. Although it was a magical construct, the clarity was absolutely comparable to cutting-edge human technology.
The image clearly showed a young, frivolous, blonde man sitting on a sofa. Judging by the background, he appeared to be inside a luxurious mansion, his legs crossed, gently swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. Although he was blonde, unlike Asia's light, pure, and sacred gold, the young man on the screen had a redder, more fiery gold hair color, especially the small tuft of hair in the center of his forehead that lifted upward. Paired with the exposed, muscular chest intentionally revealed by the open collar of his shirt, it was hard not to think of descriptions like "a cocky little rooster."
"Ah, connected, connected! Long time no see, Rias." The blonde man raised his wine glass, a sinister, charming smile curling his lips.
"...You don't need to address me with such familiarity." Rias's beautiful face involuntarily showed a hint of disgust upon seeing the man's flippant appearance, especially considering he had once been her fiancé. Her tone was cold and harsh. "Riser Phoenix."
Rias rarely used a person's full name when addressing them, usually opting for either the surname or the given name. Calling him by his full name like this clearly indicated her desire to distance herself from him.
Riser on the opposite side of the screen seemed to realize this, but he didn't get angry. He merely shrugged nonchalantly. "Yare, yare~ How cold you are. After all, we were engaged. There's no need to make such a fuss right when we meet, is there? Well, before we continue, I must thank Lord Lucifer for creating this opportunity for mediation."
Saying this, he stood up in the frame, bowed across the screen toward Sirzechs sitting on the side sofa, and only sat down again after receiving the latter's nod of acknowledgment.
"Alright, let's get down to business. Let's talk about our engagement, Rias."
"Good. I was just about to say the same thing." The red-haired girl straightened her posture, leaned slightly toward Hanakain Reiji beside her, and stated plainly. "Riser Phoenix, our engagement was, at the end of the day, just an agreement between our fathers. But even my father had no right to decide my life. However, likewise, we Gremory are not unreasonable. I, Rias Gremory, as the successor head, can guarantee to offer the Phoenix family certain compensation within a reasonable scope."
Rias's words were weighty and firm. She made it clear that her refusal of the engagement had a logical and just cause, yet she also refrained from overly justifying her breach of the contract by explicitly stating she would offer compensation. Such negotiating skills were entirely worthy of the Gremory family's successor head. Even Sirzechs, who was listening silently on the side, couldn't help but smile with relief at his sister's performance.
However—
"...Heh heh, compensation?" As if he had heard the most ridiculous joke, Riser's shoulders trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Rias, it seems you still don't quite understand the Gremory family's current situation. This matter is not something you can refuse just by throwing a little girl's tantrum. Don't you understand that yet?"
"But it doesn't matter. Since that's the case, I'll state my price." After a brief pause, the young blonde man's gaze shifted from Rias to Hanakain Reiji, who was sitting right in the middle of the sofa. A cruel, savage smile crossed his lips. "Rias, I want you to kill that stinky brat you found in the Human World right in front of me, and then immediately return to the Underworld to marry me. If you do that, I'll pretend none of this ever happened. How about it? Quite a generous demand, isn't it?"
"Riser Phoenix! You better not push your luck!" All composure was shattered in that instant. Rias slammed her hand on the armrest and angrily shouted at the screen, true scarlet Destruction Power leaking from her body due to the intense emotional fluctuation, causing her red hair to flutter wildly behind her.
But the next second, a hand from beside her rested on her shoulder. The familiar, gentle, and powerful touch instantly dissolved all the girl's anxiety, anger, and restlessness.
Hanakain Reiji patted her shoulder and gently pressed Rias back down onto the sofa. He then stood up and walked forward, unhurriedly approaching the large screen and speaking in a calm, slightly condescending tone.
"The reason negotiation is negotiation is to achieve a result that is acceptable to both parties. But quite clearly, with your current attitude, we have nothing to talk about. But that's okay—"
"Rias will try to reason with you. I won't."
"Since there's nothing left to say, let's fight!"
The brief three sentences instantly pushed the already precarious negotiation atmosphere past its breaking point. Even Sirzechs, who hadn't spoken a word the entire time, raised an eyebrow, showing a slight look of surprise.
What kind of negotiation genius is this?
Riser, too, dropped the sinister smile that had been plastered on his face, his expression gradually darkening. "Do you know what you are saying, hu—"
"Scram." Hanakain Reiji didn't even bother to let him finish. The short, forceful word immediately caused several tiny blood vessels to burst in the blonde man's eyes on the other side of the screen.
However, he quickly regained control of his emotions, forcibly suppressing his rage. "Good. Very good. If that's what you want... then let's begin the war, Rias Gremory! Bring all your Peerage. We'll settle this in a Rating Game!"
Bleep.
With his final sentence, the magical screen quickly faded to black amidst a ripple of image distortion.
Hmm? Did he just leave upon being told to scram? Out of curiosity, Hanakain Reiji turned to look at Sirzechs on the side sofa.
"It seems the other party cut the call." Sirzechs rose from the sofa and approached the screen. "Well, although the process and the final outcome were a little unexpected, the goal of this negotiation was achieved, in a sense. And since you've agreed to a Rating Game, where do you plan to set the battlefield?"
Although he posed the question to everyone, his gaze remained fixed on the young man beside him.
"Let's go to the Underworld. To the Phoenix family's territory." Hanakain Reiji's answer was concise. "I prefer spawn camping. It's more convenient that way."
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