"Sirzechs Lucifer-sama."
Finn executed a smooth, measured bow. Despite the inevitable friction that would eventually spark between their opposing factions, Finn had absolutely no intention of baring his fangs just yet. A true predator always remained perfectly calm until its prey was completely trapped.
Up close, the absolute apex of Devilkind possessed a breathtaking, almost sinful grace. With his flowing crimson hair and flawless features, Sirzechs radiated an androgynous, magnetic beauty. It was the kind of ethereal charm that occasionally made Finn wonder if the persistent, hushed rumors regarding the Crimson Satan and the eternally bachelor Ajuka Beelzebub held any dark, unspoken truths.
"Please, there's no need to be so formal with me, Finn," Sirzechs smiled softly, observing the young Balam heir for the first time. "We've heard so much about one another, yet this is our first face-to-face meeting, isn't it?"
"It is. I apologize for the delay," Finn replied, his voice a low, smooth baritone. "I have been deeply occupied with the duties Zekram-sama entrusted to me, but I have long desired to meet you."
"No apologies necessary. I am genuinely thrilled to finally meet a young man with such overwhelming potential," Sirzechs replied warmly.
While his smile remained gentle, Sirzechs was actively probing the atmosphere. Standing this close, the Crimson Satan could physically feel the heavy, suffocating density of the Demonic Power coiled tightly beneath Finn's tailored suit. It wasn't just raw energy; it was thick, primal, and dangerous.
Ultimate-Class... Sirzechs noted internally, a shiver of realization coursing through him.
How many Devils in the entire Underworld could boast that level of terrifying, raw power at his age? Knowing that a prodigy of this magnitude was firmly entrenched in the conservative Great King Faction brought a sharp pang of regret to Sirzechs. He wondered if there was any possible way to seduce the boy over to his side.
"I'm honored you think so highly of me," Finn replied, his golden eyes unreadable. "And judging by your reputation, you are every bit as magnificent as the legends say."
"....."
The surrounding nobles exchanged quiet, heated glances.
Given Finn's massive, heavily muscled physique and brutal combat reputation, many had assumed he was a simple, battle-crazed beast like Sairaorg. But his social navigation was flawless. The words flowed from his lips like velvet—perfectly polite, entirely devoid of genuine emotion, yet crafted to make the listener feel deeply, intimately desired.
To the naive, it was incredibly charming. To the cunning, older politicians, Finn's performance proved he was a dangerously sly, insatiable fox.
He hasn't been corrupted by Zekram's archaic arrogance, Sirzech thought, feeling a wave of relief, without even realizing that Finn just talked for politeness.
As for the recent bloodbath Finn had orchestrated in Japan? Sirzechs had officially decided to ignore it. The Himejima Clan had blatantly provoked a Pillar heir. If the Shinto factions were arrogant enough to attack Finn, they might eventually target Rias. Therefore, Sirzechs fully endorsed Finn's ruthless retaliation. The human world meant nothing when it came to protecting his own blood.
Speaking of Rias... Sirzechs looked at Finn, recalling the highly specific 'fertility stone' Finn had just gifted Riser to feed the Phenex heir's darkest, most perverted desires. While Sirzechs knew Finn had likely given the gift merely to play the political game, it directly conflicted with Rias's desperate wishes. As an older brother, Sirzechs knew exactly what he was about to do tonight to save her, regardless of how catastrophic the fallout would be.
But before he ruined the party, he needed intelligence.
"By the way, Finn," Sirzechs' tone shifted, becoming more intimate and serious. "When you have a moment, I would very much like to hear the full details of your... encounter in Hong Kong."
"While I would be more than happy to indulge you later, Sirzechs-sama, tonight is a night of passion and celebration," Finn deflected smoothly, gesturing toward the grand hall. "It is a highly important evening for Riser and your beautiful little sister. Let's cast aside the dark threats of the world for now and simply drink to the two lovers who are about to become one."
"...."
Sirzechs blinked, momentarily stunned by the irony. He knew perfectly well that Rias and Riser were absolutely not going to become one tonight.
However, before Sirzechs could formulate a delicate response, Lord Phenex—the patriarch of the Phenex Pillar—suddenly swooped in, laughing boisterously.
"Hahaha! The boy is absolutely right, Sirzechs! Tonight is a celebration of union and desire!" Lord Phenex clapped Finn on his broad shoulder with a massive, welcoming grin. "Ravel, my sweet! Come here and keep our esteemed guest company!"
"Ah... yes, Father," a quiet, highly refined voice answered.
Ravel Phenex stepped out from behind her father and older brother. She was startled by the sudden command, but as she looked up at Finn, she couldn't suppress a sudden, heavy flutter in her chest.
The physical contrast between them was staggering. Compared to her petite, delicate frame, Finn was an absolute giant. He radiated raw, aggressive masculinity. Ravel was wearing a lavish, tightly corseted dress that pushed up the breathtakingly lush, heavy curves of her developing chest. As Finn's dark eyes briefly dragged over her deep cleavage, a sudden, hot shiver traveled straight down her spine. Her cheeks flushed a pretty, inviting pink.
"Do you mind if my daughter keeps you company, Finn?" Lord Phenex asked, his eyes gleaming with blatant matchmaking greed. "I must attend to the other Lord Pillars, and Riser needs to mingle. He is the star of the evening, after all!"
"Not at all. I would be delighted," Finn replied smoothly. As he spoke, he briefly appraised Ravel. Despite her petite stature, she carried herself with surprising maturity. Her blonde hair was styled in elaborate twin-drill tails, giving her the distinct aesthetic of an arrogant 'villainess' from the manga he used to read.
"Excellent! Now, Sirzechs, Lord Gremory, Sairaorg! Come with me, let's leave the young ones to their fun!" Lord Phenex aggressively corralled the other men, forcefully pushing them away and leaving Finn and Ravel entirely alone in the center of the hall.
"...." Sirzechs, Lord Gremory, Riser, and Sairaorg were completely speechless.
Dad... you sly bastard, Riser ground his teeth. He knew exactly what his father was doing. Pushing his innocent little sister toward the most dangerous, terrifyingly dominant young Devil in the Underworld just to secure an unbreakable bloodline alliance.
Meanwhile, Lord Gremory and Sirzechs exchanged panicked glances. They knew the political disaster that was about to unfold tonight. If Finn and Ravel somehow hit it off right before Sirzechs publicly humiliated the Phenex family to save Rias... the fallout would be catastrophic.
Only Sairaorg—who felt deeply betrayed that Finn was actively ditching their 'bro time' to socialize with a woman—glared daggers at Finn's back as he was dragged away.
Left alone, Finn and Ravel stood in a thick, highly charged silence, appraising one another. Ravel bit her glossy lower lip, completely captivated by the sheer breadth of his shoulders and the intoxicating scent of his cologne mixed with raw Demonic Power.
Grumble!
Suddenly, Finn's stomach let out a highly audible, quiet, cute rumble.
"..." Finn and Ravel stared at each other.
"Um..." Finn rubbed the back of his neck, his perfect, predatory mask cracking for the first time all night. "Ravel. May I call you Ravel?"
"Ah... yes, of course," Ravel replied. She desperately wanted to laugh, but her aristocratic training forced her to maintain her composure. She covered her mouth with a delicate fan, her eyes dancing with warm amusement. "But, um..."
"Please, just call me Finn," he sighed, offering a boyish, vulnerable smile that made Ravel's heart skip a beat.
"Very well, Finn-sama," Ravel smiled back. It wasn't the haughty, arrogant smirk she usually reserved for low-class servants; it was a genuinely sweet, highly intrigued smile that softened her sharp, villainess-like features into something incredibly alluring.
"If you don't mind, could you please lead me to the food?" Finn asked, his voice dropping into a husky register. "I've been dealing with tedious old men all day, and my appetites have been completely neglected."
"I would be delighted. We have prepared an exquisite selection..."
As Ravel led him toward the catering tables, they fell into an incredibly easy, comforting rhythm. Ravel was deeply fascinated by him. Unlike her older brothers—who spent their free time chasing cheap thrills with the maids—Finn was a man of ambition and conquest. They didn't talk about sterile politics; they talked about his dominion over the human world, the thrill of the hunt, and the intoxicating rush of absolute control.
However, before they could indulge in the appetizers—
"Excuse me. Are you Finn Balam?"
A sharp, authoritative voice cut through their intimate conversation like a whip. Ravel frowned, deeply annoyed by the sudden interruption just as things were getting incredibly heated.
Finn turned around and found himself staring at a slender young woman with a sharp bob of black hair and highly severe, rectangular glasses. She radiated the exact aura of a strict, uncompromising disciplinarian. Her formal dress was buttoned up tight, hiding her figure, yet that very repression created a specific aesthetic that Finn knew perfectly catered to men who begged to be tormented by a cruel mistress.
Naturally, Finn wasn't a masochist. He was the one who did the tormenting. But given her presence here, her high-class status was undeniable.
"I am. And you are?" Finn asked, his eyes slowly raking over her strict attire, visibly unimpressed.
"My name is Sona Sitri. I am the heiress of the Sitri Clan," she stated firmly, pushing the bridge of her glasses up her nose with a sharp glint of light. "I have been waiting for an opportunity to speak with you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Sitri-san," Finn purred, his golden eyes locking onto hers with a dark, suffocating intensity. "How can I serve you?"
"You can start," Sona said, her voice dropping to a freezing, highly critical tone, "by explaining why you are acting like an absolute, reckless idiot in the human world."
"....."
The surrounding nobles, who had been eavesdropping, collectively gasped in sheer horror. She had just blatantly insulted a monster.