What Sirzechs wanted was actually very simple—just intelligence on the Khaos Brigade.
The organization's layout, detailed information on its members, its fundamental goals, strength, methods, trump cards… and so on. All of it was in high demand.
Even Azazel desperately needed this information.
Although he had noticed the existence of the Khaos Brigade early on and had even discovered that Ophis was its leader, he still didn't know the organization's true strength or what its actual purpose was.
In fact, the Fallen Angels had only recently learned the name and background of the Khaos Brigade. If it weren't for the Grigori keeping a close eye on Sacred Gear users and uncovering this suspicious group—one that had gathered dangerous individuals from the three major factions and various Sacred Gear wielders—they might have remained completely unaware, just like the Angels and Devils.
Therefore, Azazel only knew the identities of some of the Khaos Brigade's members—or rather, he had made educated guesses about who they might be. As for the rest, he was completely in the dark.
As for the Khaos Brigade's founding purpose, Azazel had always believed it to be chaos and destruction.
Terrorists, dangerous individuals from all factions—undoubtedly people dissatisfied with the current world who wanted to use their own strength to make a change.
Some had joined the Khaos Brigade simply because they couldn't stand the current peace and wanted to restart the war.
There were even such people among the Fallen Angels—some of them high-ranking officials. So Azazel had always known that certain Fallen Angels disliked him, and had long been dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. They had accumulated too much resentment and were itching to take action.
Such individuals were all potential recruits for the Khaos Brigade. Azazel had been keeping a close eye on them precisely so he could control them when necessary and neutralize any threats they posed.
Compared to Azazel, Sirzechs and Michael were undoubtedly far behind. If Kaiser hadn't revealed it to Rias, they might not have even learned the name "Khaos Brigade" yet.
This alone showed that Kaiser's previous praise of Azazel wasn't without reason.
This Governor of the Fallen Angels was indeed very capable. No wonder he was the one who managed to develop Artificial Sacred Gears.
After all, Sacred Gears were creations that only God had successfully produced. While the Artificial Sacred Gears developed by Azazel were still far inferior to true Sacred Gears, the fact that he had managed to create them at all was already a tremendous achievement.
In the future, Artificial Sacred Gears would be put to great use, becoming widespread and providing substantial support to Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels alike.
Naturally, knowing all this, Kaiser would never underestimate Azazel.
To be honest, Kaiser was not without interest in Artificial Sacred Gears himself.
For someone with Ultimate Authority over armaments, any weapon, armor, or even tool could become a part of him—growing and becoming stronger alongside him. If he could craft Sacred Gears himself, it would undoubtedly be an enormous advantage.
So when Sirzechs suggested having a talk, Kaiser, while calming the fighting spirit within him, took a moment to think carefully and then proposed a condition.
"If you want detailed intelligence on the Khaos Brigade, I can give it to you," Kaiser said flatly. "But you'll have to trade me the research data on Artificial Sacred Gears."
With just one sentence, both Sirzechs and Michael turned to look at Azazel.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—don't you think that's a bit much?" Azazel said with a bitter expression. "That's the result of years of hard work, the crystallization of the Grigori's efforts, and now you want to take it with just a few words?"
"Besides, aren't there traitors from the Fallen Angels in the Khaos Brigade too?"
"Didn't they bring over some information on Artificial Sacred Gears?"
This was also a kind of test.
After all, Azazel had just begun to suspect that someone in the Grigori had defected to the Khaos Brigade.
Kaiser didn't hide anything in response.
"Indeed, someone from the Grigori did bring over some information on Artificial Sacred Gears," Kaiser said, looking at Azazel with a meaningful gaze. "But that was just the surface, wasn't it?"
"Don't think I don't know. Even within the Grigori, the core and truth behind Artificial Sacred Gears has only ever been known to you and Shemhazai."
"That's what I want—not the superficial scraps you deliberately leaked."
Azazel's mouth twitched slightly.
This guy… he even knows that?
Did this really come from the Khaos Brigade's intelligence network?
Azazel found it hard to believe that the Khaos Brigade's information network was so powerful it could uncover even such deeply hidden secrets.
If that were true, then wouldn't the three major factions be completely transparent before the Khaos Brigade?
That would be… troublesome…
"What do you two think? Should we give it to him?"
Azazel shifted the focus by turning to look at Sirzechs and Michael.
Sirzechs and Michael exchanged glances and both fell silent.
They had only just learned of the existence of Artificial Sacred Gears.
They knew the Grigori placed great importance on Sacred Gears and had been researching them and gathering Sacred Gear wielders, but even they hadn't imagined that the research had come this far—that the Fallen Angels could even create Artificial Sacred Gears.
Although there were still many flaws and shortcomings compared to genuine Sacred Gears, if things continued like this and the Fallen Angels persisted in their research, wouldn't they eventually succeed in creating real Sacred Gears?
That would be bad news for both the Devils and the Angels.
However…
"I think it'd be best to propose a different condition," Sirzechs was the first to speak up.
"Oh?" Azazel raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised and curious. "Why?"
"Because it's too dangerous," Michael continued where Sirzechs left off, speaking with a serious expression. "If the Khaos Brigade obtains the true core and principles behind Artificial Sacred Gears and starts mass-producing them for their members, it would be devastating for us."
"The Khaos Brigade would grow stronger and stronger, and the pressure on us would only increase."
"So, we can't agree to that condition."
"Exactly." Sirzechs nodded. "Even if the Artificial Sacred Gears they create don't reach the level of the one you just used, it's still a massive threat to us."
Once the Fallen Angels had Artificial Sacred Gears, it would indeed be bad news for both Devils and Angels.
But right now, their common enemy was the Khaos Brigade.
If they let the Fallen Angels hand over the method of producing Artificial Sacred Gears just to weaken them for their own benefit, that would be a foolish act of aiding the enemy.
Some selfish individuals might do that, but neither Sirzechs nor Michael were that kind of person.
Rather, they were both somewhat selfless, even idealistic.
They were the type who genuinely cared for the world, for its people, and truly longed for peace from the bottom of their hearts.
It was precisely because of this that, despite the centuries of hatred accumulated between Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels, these leaders of the major factions were still willing to meet in secret and work together to confront the Khaos Brigade.
If it had been anyone else, given the thousands of years of warfare and bloodshed between the three factions, they might have rather died alone in battle than join forces with their former enemies.
"No wonder it's you two."
Azazel clearly felt this and the usual playful smile vanished from his face, replaced by a rare moment of sincerity.
"It's only because the Devils and Angels are currently led by people like you that I'm willing to be here."
If it were the God and the original Four Great Satans of the past, there's no way they could have coexisted peacefully like this, jointly worrying about the world.
God viewed the Devils as evil incarnate, unable to tolerate even a grain of sin.
The original Satans were obsessed with ruling the world and overthrowing the divine.
Even the Fallen Angels were born out of all sorts of personal desires—naturally, most of them weren't exactly saints.
The thousands of years of war had come from all of this.
Fortunately, the current Satans were decent, and Michael had already replaced God as the leader of Heaven.
After all, God was already…
At this thought, Azazel smiled again.
"I know what to do now." Azazel turned to Kaiser with a smile. "You want the method for creating Artificial Sacred Gears, right?"
"I can give it to you."
Hearing this, Sirzechs and Michael were both visibly shocked.
They seemed ready to speak, but Azazel stopped them.
"I can tell you haven't fallen in with those twisted individuals in the Khaos Brigade," Azazel said leisurely to Kaiser. "I won't bother with cliché lines about turning back; you don't seem like someone who'd do that anyway."
"So, I have only one condition."
"You alone can read the data on the Artificial Sacred Gears. You cannot hand it over to the Khaos Brigade."
"If you can agree to this, then I'll accept the trade."
Without hesitation, Kaiser nodded.
"No problem."
He hadn't intended to give the method for creating Artificial Sacred Gears to the Khaos Brigade in the first place.
In fact, trading the Khaos Brigade's intelligence for something else was already an act of betrayal in itself.
If this deal were to be exposed, he might even face retribution from the Khaos Brigade.
Thus, both emotionally and rationally, he had no reason to inform the Khaos Brigade of this transaction.
Azazel clearly understood this as well, which was why he agreed so readily.
"Give me some time to prepare," Azazel said to Kaiser.
"Come to Kuoh Academy in two days. We'll trade in person."