"————"
In the fairly spacious hall, Kaiser and Azazel had been staring at each other. Even though neither had used any supernatural power, the surrounding air grew heavy, as if killing intent were spreading.
Kuroka pulled Asia back a few steps, her gaze toward Azazel filled with caution.
The opponent was the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels, a top-ranked Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel. His strength had to be at least on the level of a Maou. Even though she could rival an Ultimate-Class Devil, she wouldn't last a single exchange against him.
If Kaiser weren't standing in front of her, she definitely would've taken Asia, used Senjutsu to hide their presence, cast an illusion with Youjutsu, and then immediately activated spatial transfer to flee as fast as she could.
There was no helping it—the gap was simply too vast.
In the world of Fallen Angels, an Eight-Winged Fallen Angel was already equivalent to an Ultimate-Class Devil.
As a Reincarnated Devil at the Ultimate-Class level, Kuroka was roughly on par with an Eight-Winged Fallen Angel.
Above her were the Ten-Winged Fallen Angels who could serve as executive members of their leadership, followed by the absolute top—Twelve-Winged Fallen Angels.
In other words, if you calculated it properly, she was nearly two whole tiers below Azazel.
It had been said before: with a gap of two tiers in strength, the stronger party could crush the weaker one with a single finger.
So in front of Azazel, even if Kuroka wouldn't be literally crushed with a single finger, she definitely wouldn't last a minute—perhaps not even thirty seconds.
Given that, Kuroka was naturally on high alert.
Only Kaiser bore the full pressure emanating from Azazel.
"Incredible."
Looking at Kaiser, whose expression remained calm, Azazel suddenly let out a sigh of admiration.
"To think the wielder of the strongest Longinus could grow to this level without any of us noticing… It seems we need to strengthen our surveillance of Sacred Gear users."
Hearing that, Kaiser chuckled.
"The Fallen Angels are known for placing the most importance on Sacred Gears and exerting the greatest influence over Sacred Gear users. Isn't that a bit hypocritical coming from you?"
Among the Fallen Angels, there was a well-known central organization called the Sacred Gear Watchers.
Also known as Grigori, the Sacred Gear Watchers were the core institution of the Fallen Angels. They not only conducted research on Sacred Gears but were also responsible for locating valuable ones, recruiting or seizing them from their wielders—or eliminating them altogether.
The "Sacred Children" in the name referred to Sacred Gear users.
Most of the executives in this organization were former Angels who fell after leaking Heaven's precious knowledge to humans. They not only continued researching Sacred Gears but also nurtured promising users, even establishing special schools for children with Sacred Gears.
Thanks to this system, the Fallen Angels possessed the most Sacred Gear users and the rarest Sacred Gears among the various factions.
Among these Sacred Gear users, some even wielded Longinus.
Kaiser vaguely remembered that among the thirteen known Longinus confirmed to exist, one was in the Church, one among the Devils, and a full three resided with the Fallen Angels—making them the faction with the most.
Of course, the Hero Faction also had a fair number of Longinus users. Even excluding Kaiser, they still had two more, nearly catching up to the Fallen Angels.
As for the remaining five Longinus, none had been confirmed to have appeared yet.
Thus, among all factions, the Fallen Angels held the most Sacred Gear users and Longinus wielders.
And yet, the very Governor-General who had orchestrated this state of affairs was now claiming their surveillance had been lacking?
If that's not hypocritical, what is?
"But we didn't find you," Azazel said, staring directly at Kaiser. "Although after you lost control and fled the Church, several among the Sacred Gear Watchers suspected you might be a Longinus wielder, there simply wasn't enough evidence for us to act."
"Myself included, many of the executives felt it was better to observe you a while longer. I'm sure the Church and the Devils felt the same."
"Who would've thought that not only are you a Longinus wielder, you're also a wielder of the Holy Spear, and you reached this level all on your own, without anyone noticing."
"Really, we thought our Longinus users were already exceptional and extraordinary, but now it seems you're no less remarkable."
As he spoke, Azazel stood up.
"When did you join the Khaos Brigade?" Azazel asked. "Was it after you fled the Church? Did they secretly teach you how to use the Holy Spear?"
Great minds think alike—Cao Cao believed Kaiser had support from another faction, which is how he had gained his current strength and intelligence network. Azazel thought the same.
He believed that someone in the Khaos Brigade had secretly taught Kaiser how to use the Holy Spear and handled everything behind the scenes, allowing a Longinus wielder of his caliber to grow undetected by the Sacred Gear Watchers.
In a way, Azazel wasn't wrong.
Thanks to the Khaos Brigade, the Hero Faction's Longinus users were able to grow without being discovered. Otherwise, those like Georg, who held Dimension Lost, and the other top-tier Longinus wielder, certainly would have drawn attention from organizations like the Sacred Gear Watchers.
Unfortunately, Kaiser wasn't one of them.
"Did you come all the way here just to interrogate me, Governor-General?" Kaiser smiled. "I don't recall being obligated to answer your questions."
"How could you not be?" Azazel shrugged. "You destroyed one of our temporary bases and wiped out an organization of Stray Exorcists. Don't you think we deserve an explanation?"
"Even so, I only need to explain why I did that—not how I got this strong or why I joined the Khaos Brigade," Kaiser replied calmly. "Or is it that you already know the reason and are just trying to steer the conversation toward what really interests you?"
Without a doubt, the reason Azazel had found this place was due to Raynare's escape.
That female Fallen Angel had likely reported everything to the higher-ups, drawing Azazel's attention.
She probably revealed that Kaiser was the wielder of the Holy Spear and the strongest Longinus user.
In that case, everything Kaiser had done here, and the fact that he possessed the True Longinus, would already be known to Azazel.
So there was no need to ask.
What Azazel truly cared about were the things Kaiser hadn't revealed yet—information on the Khaos Brigade.
"Then let me tell you one thing."
Blocked by Kaiser's words, Azazel didn't seem discouraged. Instead, he grinned.
"Because of you, the Three Great Factions now all know about the Khaos Brigade—and about Ophis."
"I didn't come alone this time. Representatives from both the Angels and Devils are here."
"Current Maou, Sirzechs Lucifer."
"Current Maou, Serafall Leviathan."
"And two of the Four Great Seraphs from Heaven—the highest-ranking Angels with twelve wings—Michael, the leader, and Gabriel, the strongest female Angel."
Azazel pointed at Kaiser as he spoke.
"All of them are currently gathered here in Kuoh Town."
As those words fell, not only did Kuroka widen her eyes, even Asia covered her mouth in shock.
Two current Maou from the Devils!
Two of the highest-ranking Angels!
And the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels!
The top leaders of all three factions—five of them—had gathered in this small Kuoh Town!
This was...
"You can probably guess why we're all here, can't you?" Azazel smiled confidently. "We've come for the Khaos Brigade, for the Infinite Dragon God, and for you."
"Kaiser, was it?"
"Do you think you can escape alive, surrounded by this level of power?"
The air in the hall was no longer just heavy—it had become suffocating.
Kuroka and Asia trembled internally, as if they were sinking into a swamp, struggling to breathe.
"Trying to scare me?"
Only Kaiser remained utterly calm, not shaken in the slightest.
"If I were really their target, then the Devils would've sent Beelzebub of the Astaroth House, not Lucifer and Leviathan, right?"
"If I were really their target, you wouldn't show up alone. You wouldn't need to drag in the Angels and Devils either—you'd just bring your Fallen Angel executives or Longinus wielders to corner me directly, wouldn't you?"
"Or are you all afraid?"
Kaiser looked at Azazel with a mocking expression.
"The True Longinus may not be especially effective against Fallen Angels, but it's still the absolute spear that can pierce through gods."
"If I can unleash its true power, I imagine you who have betrayed God would still fear what it could do to you, right?"
"You came here alone, didn't you? Just in case, acting as the vanguard to test the waters?"
Kaiser's words wiped the confident grin off Azazel's face.
Azazel looked at Kaiser meaningfully and sighed.
"Michael really dropped the ball. To think someone like you was in the Church, and they still let something happen to you."
Clearly, that was a form of praise.
If nothing had happened to Kaiser and he had remained in the Church, he surely would've become a powerful asset to both the Church and the Angels.
Though that wouldn't benefit the Fallen Angels, at least Kaiser wouldn't have joined the Khaos Brigade and become a terrorist.
"As you said, I came to test the waters—to see what you're capable of."
Azazel grinned wildly, and with a gust, twelve pitch-black wings suddenly spread from his back.
"So, would you be willing to spar with this old man a bit?"
Faced with Azazel's provocation, Kaiser merely responded with a smile.
"Ready whenever you are."