Grayfia smiled again, pleased that he understood.
"I'm surprised it took you so long to figure it out, Naruto-sama. After your display with Riser-sama, I expected you to be more...politically savvy." the maid spoke with a slightly curious tone.
The blond scratched his head in slight embarrassment. "Well...the Riser thing was because I looked at it like a fight, where I have to beat the other guy using feints instead of a full-frontal assault. So when I hardwired my brain like that...I managed to make that plan. Stuff like this just flies over my head if I don't take some time to think about it."
She nodded, that was understandable.
The shinobi turned to Mio, a questioning expression on his face.
"So...what do you want to do, Mio? Want come with me? It's up to you." Naruto asked quietly, wishing for her to make her own choice on the matter.
Mio bit her lips, unsure of what to do in this situation.
On one hand, she thought that heading to the Underworld at all was a terrible idea. Especially to a place with powerful devil nobles.
But the thought of getting rid of the target on her back was very...attractive.
Also...the current Lucifer wanted to speak to her, but she definitely wanted to speak to him.
This might be one of the few chances she got to talk to the Maou, and if she neglected to go, then she might insult him. Causing him to view her in a negative light.
She really didn't need that.
Her eyes hardened as she made her decision.
"I want to come too."
That was all Grayfia needed to hear.
"Very well, I will inform Rias-sama about your decision and then inform Sirzechs-sama about your acceptance." the maid began, while moving to open the door and leave the room.
But a hand stopped her.
She turned to see an extremely nervous Naruse Mio, eyes begging her to stop.
"Wa-Wait. Please. I know this might not make much sense but...can you not tell Rias-sempai about the fact that I'm the daughter of the Original Lucifer?" Mio begged quietly, face scrunched up in nervous tension.
Grayfia's eyes seemed to have soften slightly at the girl's admittance.
"...Very well, I will skip that piece of information. That being said, you cannot hide your heritage from her forever, Mio-sama." the silver-haired woman stated without much emotion.
She herself could sympathize with not allowing family connections and heritage to disrupt your relationships. She was a part of the Lucifuge family, a family aligned with the Original Maous.
The girl must be genuine to have such blatant fears about her heritage getting out.
She should know, she had seen that look of nervousness in her own eyes once.
With that, she left room in order to speak to Rias-sama again.
No doubt that her husband had already sent the invitations out.
"...Hmph. So Sirzechs has decided to create a celebratory party to prevent some ruffled feathers huh...? Not a bad plan. But I wonder what his true goal is..."
"...Lucifer-sama, should I attend the gathering? I've received an invitation to appear but..."
"No. You are still useful to me, Diodora. The moment that you enter that gathering, you would be found out and exposed for your actions. But more importantly...this is a perfect opportunity to utilize. Inform Riser that if he wants to avenge his loss against Uzumaki Naruto...that now is the time."
Diodora looked up from his kneeling position to look at his master in surprise. "In such a public function...?"
Blue eyes peered at the kneeling Astaroth heir in annoyance. "It is precisely because this is a public function, that this is a perfect opportunity. Put the entire Underworld on notice that there is a new power at play here...the heirs of the true Maou."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed at Diodora, eyes demanding for his prize.
"Do you have them? Diodora?"
The Astaroth immediately produced a small tray of bottles to his master, wishing to appease him.
The entire tray began to float away from Astaroth's hands and moved carefully into Lucifer's hands, where it was carefully handled with care due to it's contents.
"...Phoenix tears. An excellent acquisition for helping a measly bug." the devil of royal blood said quietly.
"Yes! Of course it was due to your brilliance that we have achieved such an item! What could the true devils have done without your leadership?" Diodora praised wildly.
Diodora's master remained silent for a moment, inspecting the liquids of the many bottles.
Then...
"...Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"...Eh?"
Before Diodora could say another word, a gauntlet-covered hand grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up from the ground.
The young man began to choke under the pressure.
"...Did you think that I wouldn't check the contents of the bottles? Notice that one of the bottles had less than the others? That you tried to use one of them? Don't take me for such a fool." Lucifer stated casually, as his hand steadily applied more force to his grip.
It was obvious that he tried to use it for his injuries.
It obviously failed.
"Wa-Wait! Lucifer-samaaaaaa...! It was...just...a drop! I...I'm sorry...!" Diodora choked out, as he flailed to get out of the stranglehold that his master had him in.
The devil leader said nothing for a moment, just watching as the young Astaroth's struggling lessened over time.
Curious.
"Very well." Lucifer finally spoke, as he let go of his grip on the young devil's neck.
The man let loose a gasp and then gulped in a large amount of air for his lungs.
Before Diodora even noticed him move, Lucifer was already back to his throne. Peering down at him.
"...Make a mistake like that again...and I'm sure I don't need to tell you what will happen, do I?"
"O-Of course! This will never happen again! I promise!" Diodora pitifully begged.
"Good. Now inform Riser of his opportunity...you are useful to me, but not essential. Don't make that mistake a second time."
With that, the Astaroth heir scurried away, terrified and wishing to stay away from his master for a while.
That was fine to Lucifer...he was paying attention to more important matters.
It was time to see what Uzumaki Naruto could really do.
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