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"Well I know why you're here and while I will abide by not becoming part of this deal, perhaps you would let me sit in to make sure things don't get out of hand." Zeoticus mentioned as he waved his hand to the door where the topic of discussion waited.
"That's no problem for me. Rias Gremory, do you oppose it?" Ruval questioned the young heiress.
"Not at all." Rias answered simply as she opened the door.
Ritsuka had been left alone to his own devices. After taking a small lap around the room he quietly sat down on the fancier side of the table. He hoped that it was the right side to sit at.
While he knew he was getting far more involved than he should, he was really given no choice in the matter. Without guidance or communication from Chaldea, he was effectively blind. His sensing range for magic was next to useless in this hell, he guessed, since the air was so heavily saturated with magic. He even switched to Circe very quickly hoping she would have better range and precision. It didn't help one bit.
So he sat down and contemplated his life choices in this world. They weren't exactly the greatest. For some reason, several ladies had made him the object of their affection. He was used to it in Chaldea, but that was Chaldea.
As far as he knew the servants summoned to Chaldea had very dim views of modern humanity. The fact that he was so beloved was a complete fluke. Goredolf had sat him down once to explain how masters and servants were supposed to act.
He didn't understand a word of it. He had been so used to treating everyone he summoned as family and friends. Mash was extremely closer than that but that didn't need much repetition. That confused Goredolf though since he was a mage taught by mages through and through.
The very incompatibility of their viewpoints actually convinced Goredolf that he was a great master… if only a mediocre mage. The influx of servants also made him change his mind since most of them actually were willing to get along with him even through his stubborn bullheadedness when they first started working together.
As Ritsuka kept reminiscing, the door swung open and five people entered. Well, five devils but that was nothing more than semantic bullshit. Ritsuka kept a professional look on his face since he was before important people… probably. He didn't actually know who anyone was in the context of this world. He knew Rias was important in some way. He knew Grayfia was the strongest Queen… but he didn't know if that was figurative like Akeno… or literal like the queens he knew. It was a tense standoff as Riser met his gaze once more.
This time he was smart and didn't attack. The group sauntered in as Zeoticus and Rias took seats next to Ritsuka while the Phenex siblings sat on the other side of the table Ruval specifically sat across from Ritsuka. The moment they locked eyesight with one another the entire atmosphere went cold. The tension kept going until the two finally stopped staring each other down.
"Let's get down to business then." Ruval spoke clapping his hands if to dissipate the mood that had settled amongst the group moments before.
"I disintegrated the offer. I will not sell my allies like that." Rias stated, conviction dripping from her lips.
"Understandable… but how about trading him. He is a member of your Peerage even if he doesn't have a piece within him. With that we'll agree to what I wrote down in my offer without any more words on the matter." Ruval offered clearly keeping the terms vague. Rias guessed that they never told Zeoticus what the terms were.
Riser grit his teeth in sheer anger. He clearly was coerced into something like this and the daggers he glared at Ritsuka, so long as their eyes didn't meet, matched the ferocity of his sneer. Rias thought more about it but she knew it was all for show. She wouldn't agree to anything… but Ritsuka had told her that he liked to gamble. The gears were turning. Ritsuka didn't say anything though he did seem a bit uncomfortable at this point whenever she glanced towards him. The Phenex girl was staring at him and it made her uncomfortable...
"I'm not convinced into doing that since we've already got a Ratings Game in play. I don't want a handout." Rias firmly stated clearly trying to slide the deal off the table.
The silence returned as Ruval seemed to examine Rias with more scrutiny. Riser leaned back clearly still pissed yet Ritsuka noticed how relieved he looked. Ravel pouted with her shifting glances between Rias and Ritsuka.
Zeoticus knew when negotiations were failing. This was a plane already crashed nose first into the ground. Even so, he didn't say a word. This was Rias deal and he was already told to stay out of it. Ravel and Riser seemed to only be here to officiate from his viewpoint meaning that this wasn't either of their ideas.
"Can you give us a few minutes? I think we need some time to figure out how to come to an agreement." Zeoticus finally stated which stopped the tension from rising any further.
With surprising speed he lifted Rias and Ritsuka up from the table and ushered them out into the hall. As the host of this agreement he decided to give the guests the ability to remain at the table.
"We'll be right back." Zeoticus offered a smile though even all the charisma in the world couldn't hide the exasperation evident in his tone.
"Riser…" Ruval started.
"Don't Riser me. I don't want to do that. I already talked to everyone beforehand and I sure as hell don't want to do that." Riser growled clearly pissed at the prospective deal that was trying to be brokered.
"We have to do something here. You know what's at stake. It's not like you can lose." Ruval offered but even he didn't sound so sure now.
"Maybe this isn't as good an idea as I thought." Ravel sighed. "I don't want to be the cause of this if that's where it's going."
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Dear readers if you want to read ahead from here you can join me on patreon I'd:- khushi_fanfic
Now I'm uploaded 40+ advance chapters on patreon come on patreon and enjoy the thrilling story
For support do subscribe me and sent gifts 🎁
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