"Go and prepare some apple tea for us, and bring out a selection of snacks," Zekram ordered the maid as soon as Finn greeted him. The Great King knew the young Devil had a deep appreciation for good food.
"Oh, and please bring a sharp knife and a serving plate as well. I acquired a very rare fruit that I'd like to share," Finn added before the maid could step away.
"Oh?" Zekram raised a brow, pleasantly surprised. "Did you bring souvenirs from the human world?"
"I brought back several unique antique grimoires and scrolls from China," Finn replied smoothly. He knew perfectly well that after stepping back from the blood-soaked front lines of Devil politics, Zekram had become an avid bibliophile and antiquarian. "And... I also acquired a Peach of Immortality. I thought we could enjoy it together."
"A Peach of Immortality? The genuine article from the Journey to the West mythos?" Zekram's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"Yes." Finn casually pulled the legendary, glowing fruit from his dimensional pocket, setting it on the table. "It wasn't exactly cheap, but I secured it specifically for you, Grandfather."
"...."
Zekram was millennia older than Finn, but even he had to admit this was his absolute first time seeing an authentic Peach of Immortality with his own eyes. The intoxicatingly sweet aroma and the sheer, overwhelming density of pure vitality radiating from the skin proved without a doubt that Finn wasn't lying.
"...Didn't this cost you a massive fortune?"
"It did," Finn admitted. "But if it wasn't for the absolute political backing you provided me, I might have actually died in Hong Kong."
Zekram's expression instantly darkened, his peaceful violet eyes narrowing to sharp slits. "Was it the True Longinus?"
"Yes."
Finn knew exactly why Zekram had summoned him to the library today. Throughout history, Longinus wielders had constantly caused catastrophic, world-altering trouble. Was it fate? Was it a divine plot? It didn't matter. Zekram was deeply concerned that the wielder of the ultimate God-killing spear was officially pointing his weapon at Devilkind.
As the maid returned and poured the apple tea, Finn recounted the brutal battle in the alleyway, sparing no detail while they enjoyed the profoundly delicious, life-extending peach.
"So, this 'Hero Faction' isn't explicitly aimed at us?" Zekram asked, taking a delicate bite of the fruit.
"No," Finn shook his head. "They only targeted me to cash in the massive bounty placed by the Himejima Clan. Rather than declaring war on Devils specifically, I suspect Cao Cao wants to challenge the entire supernatural world just to prove humanity's supremacy."
"What a childish dream," Zekram scoffed mildly, setting his silver fork down. No matter how strong a human became, they would wither and die in a few short decades. He rarely paid mortal ambitions any serious mind.
"Is there something else bothering you?" Zekram noticed Finn's lingering silence.
"Hmm..." Finn tapped his finger against his porcelain teacup. "I might be overthinking this, but I feel like their organization is far more complicated than a simple group of human supremacists. The Hero Faction feels like just one militant branch of a much larger terrorist syndicate. Hopefully, I'm just being paranoid."
"Well, there is no need to be hasty. We Devils live for an eternity. We can afford to wait and see," Zekram replied calmly.
"That's true."
They both nodded. They were playing the grand, long-term game.
However, shifting to a matter he cared about far more, Zekram looked at his protégé. Finn was more reliable and ruthless than any other young Devil in the Underworld, which was exactly why Zekram had entrusted him with the forbidden King Piece.
"By the way... you finally used it, didn't you?"
"I did," Finn nodded heavily. "I would have died if I hadn't."
"Was the spear's power truly that overwhelming?"
"It was." Finn grimaced, recalling the agonizing sensation. "The Holy Light of the Biblical God burned me down to the absolute bone. Worse, it possessed a terrifying cognitive effect—a brainwashing ability."
"Brainwashing?" Zekram frowned deeply.
"It wasn't an active command to obey the wielder," Finn clarified. "It forcefully pacified the mind. It makes the target feel like giving up isn't a sin, but a peaceful release. It magically coerces you into accepting your own execution."
"...How on earth did you survive that?" Zekram couldn't suppress a cold sweat. Hearing the true capabilities of the True Longinus firsthand was chilling.
"Well, because I am an anomaly, much like Sirzechs-sama and Ajuka-sama."
"Oh?" Zekram blinked.
"I possess the ability to adapt," Finn stated calmly. "As long as an attack doesn't kill me instantly, my body analyzes the energy, evolves, and renders me permanently immune to that specific power."
"...."
Zekram stared at him in utter, stunned silence. "...Are you saying you are now completely immune to the Holy Light of the Biblical God?"
"I should be," Finn nodded confidently. Unless Cao Cao somehow altered the fundamental wavelength of the True Longinus, the spear was essentially just a glowing stick against him now.
Still, Finn was currently contemplating how to push his limits even further. His base power had expanded, but he was hitting a plateau. He knew exactly how Issei Hyoudou broke his limits in the canon timeline—through the sheer, absurd power of demonic lust and breasts. Energy was the key, but tapping into 'perverted energy' to fuel combat efficiency felt absolutely ridiculous to Finn's corporate mindset.
"Are you still a virgin?"
"...."
Finn froze. He stared blankly at Zekram, completely caught off guard by the sudden, deeply personal question. He blinked a few times before answering honestly. "...No. I lost it shortly after I returned from the battle."
"Excellent," Zekram nodded, looking immensely satisfied. "Now, your next objective is to rest, socialize, and find a proper lady to marry."
"Excuse me?"
"If my schedule is correct, the heiress of the Gremory Clan and the third son of the Phenex Clan are holding their formal engagement party soon. You will attend," Zekram ordered smoothly. "Many eligible young ladies from high-ranking Pillar families will be there. Your parents have already agreed with me. It is time you found a proper wife to secure your lineage."
"...."
Finn opened and closed his mouth, entirely speechless. He had survived assassins, fallen angels, and Gods, only to be ambushed by an arranged marriage plot!
"Do not refuse me. Go and be a man!" Zekram commanded with a hearty laugh.
Hearing about Finn's absurd, world-breaking adaptation ability, Zekram was absolutely convinced that the future supremacy of the Devil race rested entirely in Finn's lower half!
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the political marriage trap her master had just been thrown into, Akeno was currently undergoing intense magical training with her father, Baraqiel.
This was the specific request she had demanded from Azazel during the negotiation: the right to train under the Vice Governor of Grigori to rapidly increase her combat power. She refused to ever be a burden to Finn again.
Yet, even if Akeno knew Finn was being forced to attend an elite engagement party filled with beautiful, high-class Devil heiresses, she likely wouldn't have minded. In fact, due to her deeply warped, sadistic, and voyeuristic tendencies, the thought of watching the man she loved ruthlessly dominate another high-class woman actually sent a thrilling, electric shiver directly to her core. Yes, she was a massive degenerate who was secretly into NTR dynamics as long as Finn was the one conquering.
"...What exactly is wrong with your face?" Baraqiel asked, pausing his holy lightning spell to look at his daughter with deep concern and mild horror. She was making an incredibly lewd, heavily flushed expression.
"Oh? Nothing at all, Father," Akeno smiled sweetly, dabbing a bit of drool from her lip.
Yup, it was absolutely nothing. Right now, she just needed to focus on getting stronger!