[New Familia member added: Rias Gremory (Hero Rank), 30,000 points acquired...]
[New Familia member added: Sona Sitri (Hero Rank), 30,000 points acquired...]
As four notifications flashed through his mind, Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at the four girls still clutching their heads in discomfort and remarked with a rather peculiar tone:
"They actually signed the contract... which means they subconsciously accepted it, right?"
"Is this what they call tsundere?"
The mischief-maker Serafall placed her hands on her hips and chuckled:
"In male circles, isn't there a saying that when girls say no, they actually mean yes?"
"Well, this situation is pretty much the same."
Hearing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but look at Rias, who was gritting her teeth while holding her head, then at Akeno Himejima, who was frowning, and finally at Koneko Toujou, who was lying on Akeno's lap. He turned back to Serafall and said:
"But if they agree in their hearts, you could just have them sign the contract scroll directly. Serafall, why did you have to freeze them in place for no reason?"
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Serafall planted her hands on her hips with righteous indignation:
"If you don't bully cute girls, what's the point of them being pretty?"
"Besides, Luo Shu, don't you think teasing little sisters is super fun?"
Luo Shu: "..."
Luo Shu was speechless.
So you're just doing this because you find bullying them amusing?
"Sorry, I don't find that fun. Probably because I don't have a sister."
Luo Shu forcibly ended the topic, worried that continuing would make him side with Sona and criticise Serafall's sisterly behaviour.
Utaha Kasumigaoka, who had witnessed everything, lacked Luo Shu's reservations. She was currently looking at Sona Sitri with pity and muttered:
"I feel like this child would have a lot in common with Yukinoshita."
Both were sisters, and Serafall's behaviour was practically identical to Haruno Yukinoshita's.
Were little sisters bought in bulk or something?
"So that's how it is..."
Thanks to the common knowledge instilled by the Divine Pantheon, Rias gradually came to understand everything.
The revived gods forming new pantheons, the Class system leading to the Divine Throne, and the bizarre passage called the Abyss spanning multiple worlds...
After comprehending it all, Rias finally grasped Sirzechs' hidden purpose behind this meeting.
A power that allows demons to grow stronger through Class advancements without relying on innate talent...
'Is this why Lady Serafall joined the Hidden Management Department?'
Just as Rias was recovering, Akeno Himejima also pieced everything together.
Upon realising the key points, Akeno couldn't help but joke:
"My, my, it seems I've stumbled upon quite the windfall~"
A complete growth system coveted even by the Four Great Satans - ascending from Common to Demigod, then Angel, ultimately reaching the Divine Throne...
Normally, such power would only circulate among true demon nobility, yet now she'd been granted the opportunity to obtain a Class.
Despite being just a bodyguard, she'd received the same benefits as her mistress, Rias.
In a way, Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou were the biggest winners of this meeting.
Noticing their reactions, Serafall tilted her head slightly and looked at Sona:
"Rias and little Akeno have recovered... so Sona should be about ready too?"
"I heard everything you said earlier, sister!!"
Having regained her composure, Sona massaged her temples as she sat back up on the sofa, then glared at the smirking Serafall standing beside her.
Her cheek twitched as she said with a strained smile:
"So I was born just for you to bully, is that it?"
"Did I ever say that?"
Serafall played dumb unabashedly, making Luo Shu's eye twitch as he watched from his seat.
This shameless act is truly unmatched!
But since their objective was achieved, Luo Shu couldn't let Serafall continue her antics any longer.
Just as Serafall and Sona were about to argue again, Luo Shu lightly tapped the glass table before him with his index finger as a reminder:
"Alright, since we're all colleagues in the same Familia now, I assume you're aware of some functions within the Divine Pantheon."
"If there are any disputes, settle them in the combat zone of the Dream Simulation Chamber."
Pausing here, Luo Shu turned to Sona and said:
"The Dream Simulation Chamber can simulate Familia members for combat. If you need to vent, you can use that function."
The implication was clear: he was suggesting that Sona create a weaker version of Serafall to beat up and relieve her frustrations.
Though not entirely approving of such self-deceptive behaviour, considering the 'persecution' Sona had endured over the years, Luo Shu strongly suspected she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"There's actually such a function?!"
Hearing she could create a replica of her sister, Sona's eyes immediately lit up. But soon, she found Luo Shu's words somewhat peculiar.
What did he mean by venting on her sister?
Did Luo Shu see her as some kind of child on the brink of madness?
Actually, her sister was only occasionally this unreasonable...
Though Sona wanted to explain this to Luo Shu, he had already turned his attention to Rias. Seeing this, Sona suppressed her urge to speak.
"Do you have the alliance document with you?"
"Y-yes, here."
Rias hurriedly produced a black scroll, somewhat flustered as she handed it to Luo Shu.
Observing this, Luo Shu glanced at Rias, whose attitude had suddenly softened, didn't bother reading the already familiar treaty contents, and simply smiled before saying:
"Then let's begin signing the pact!"
Under Rias's nervous gaze, Luo Shu and she each pressed their seals onto the alliance scroll.
...
Underworld.
Within a secret temple controlled by the Demon Council.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer, clad in black robes with dishevelled silver hair and a goatee, stepped into the temple with a smile and looked up at the black-haired girl with waist-length hair and vacant eyes standing at the centre:
"I bring good news for you."
Rizevim curled his lips into a grin as he announced:
"Using the power you bestowed as a medium, the dimensional teleportation technique to another world has succeeded!"
"Perhaps soon, we'll be able to meet powerful beings from another world!"
"Powerful beings? That strange world I cannot enter has powerful beings, too?"
Hearing this, the black-haired girl at the temple's centre lifted her head and gazed at Rizevim with empty eyes:
"Lilin, what I need are powerful beings who can help me counter Great Red and reclaim silence! Not weaklings at your level."
Upon hearing this, Rizevim's smile grew even more maniacal as he sneered:
"Now now, don't say that, Ophis!! Powerful beings aren't like weeds that you can find everywhere."
"Rather than searching for strong warriors, I'd suggest you cultivate them yourself."
"So?" Ophis regarded Rizevim impassively. "Does that world contain opportunities for you to grow stronger?"
"Of course!" Rizevim answered without hesitation. "Even if it doesn't, an entirely new world is itself the greatest opportunity."
"After all, invading weaker worlds to obtain resources for growth is a demon's speciality!"
Hearing this, Ophis replied indifferently:
"Then proceed as you wish."
Upon hearing her words, a playful smile crossed the speaker's face as he bowed to Ophis and said:
"As you command~"