"Stella's maid?" Roy smirked, turning to Stella. "Is she telling the truth?"
Stella didn't answer immediately, glancing back at Jeanne.
Their eyes met, and Jeanne frantically winked, her face pleading for rescue.
Stella paused, then flashed a gleeful smile. "Lying's not nice, Miss Jeanne of the Brigade."
"Stella! You traitor!" Jeanne wailed, eyes wide in disbelief. "I treated you to so much good food, and this is how you repay me?!"
"I'm already generous not suspecting poison in your food. Repay you?" Stella snorted, turning to Roy. "Interested in her?"
Roy nodded. "Cao Cao caused me some trouble before. I promised him a surprise."
Stella considered. "Cao Cao wields the True Longinus, the strongest Sacred Gear. Can you handle it?"
Roy chuckled. "Even if I stand still and let him stab me, he can't kill me."
Stella's expression turned odd.
The True Longinus, imbued with the Biblical God's will, was a devil's bane.
No matter Roy's hidden cards, even if he rivaled the Infinite Dragon God, a direct hit would wound him.
Claiming he'd be fine standing still? Stella couldn't help but think he was bluffing.
"You don't believe me," Roy said, reading her. "How about a bet?"
"What kind?" Stella asked.
"I let Cao Cao hit me with his strongest shot. If I'm fine, you become my peerage member."
"Peerage?" Stella blinked, then shook her head. "Sorry, I can't agree to that."
"Why not?" Roy asked.
Stella placed a hand on her chest, resolute. "I'm Familion's Sword, sworn to protect my nation and people to the end."
Roy thought for a moment. "Joining my peerage doesn't stop you from being Familion's Sword. It might even help."
"Hm? Really?" Stella's eyes flickered with doubt. "That's not what I heard."
"I heard peerage members work missions with their master, serving at their side even in downtime."
"Some do, but mine have it easier," Roy said, pulling out a business card. "I'm Roy, leader of Akatsuki and MAR's president, with countless subordinates."
"As my peerage member, you'd only need to show up for Rating Games. No missions or errands."
"Plus, I can build a long-range teleportation array between the Gremory clan and Kuoh Town for easy travel."
"…Sounds pretty good," Stella said, intrigued.
As Familion's princess, her priority was protecting her nation.
If Roy imposed no restrictions, joining his peerage seemed all upsides.
She'd train under the Red Dragon Emperor, growing stronger.
More importantly, the title of Roy's peerage member would give Familion a deterrence buff.
Anyone targeting Familion would think twice, weighing the risks.
"So, wanna bet?" Roy asked again.
"No need," Stella said, shaking her head. "The True Longinus is too dangerous for devils. No point risking it for a bet."
"As for joining your peerage… can I have time? I can't decide alone. I need to talk to my parents."
Roy considered. "How about I go with you to Familion? I'll negotiate directly."
Stella started. "You want to visit Familion?"
Roy nodded. "Problem?"
"Not exactly, but… it feels weird," Stella said, hesitating.
Joining Roy's peerage meant a lifelong bond.
This felt like meeting a shady guy on a stroll and bringing him home.
She didn't know how her family would react, but she was already embarrassed.
"Relax, I'm not there to fight," Roy said. "A good talk about pros and cons, and they'll agree."
"Alright, I'll notify them," Stella said, pulling out her phone to contact her parents.
La Folia, who'd been leading, slowed to Roy's side, winking. "Mr. Roy, looking for more peerage members?"
"You want in?" Roy asked.
La Folia drew a pistol. "I'm no Crimson Princess, but I'm decent. I won't embarrass you."
Roy's gaze lowered, sensing her Breast Force. "Not bad. Need to check with your family?"
"Nope, I decide for myself," La Folia said, puffing her chest confidently, unfazed by his stare. "Mr. Roy, can I be your Queen?"
"No chance. You don't qualify," Roy said.
"Pity," La Folia said, disappointed.
Hearing Roy recruit peerage members, her first reaction wasn't shock but curiosity.
Peerage required Evil Pieces, exclusive to High-Class Devils.
Her intel never mentioned Roy's promotion to High-Class.
This was a tightly guarded secret.
Realizing this, La Folia saw opportunities to leverage it.
Her conclusion: volunteer as Roy's peerage member.
Aldegia had tracked Roy, the rising star.
She knew his monstrous potential.
Once his High-Class status leaked, followers would flock.
She had to act fast, before competition grew.
Among peerage roles, Queen was ideal.
Sadly, she fell short—in strength and Breast Force—compared to Stella.
Sighing inwardly, La Folia rallied. "Mr. Roy, what role do you have for me?"
"Bishop, Knight, or Pawn. Pick one," Roy said, snapping his fingers to summon a row of Evil Pieces.
La Folia hesitated, then grabbed a Bishop piece.
As Aldegia's princess, her strength was vast spiritual power.
She'd maximize it, boosting her reserves.
"Roy, I've chosen," she said.
"Let's do it," Roy said, activating the Bishop piece, merging it into La Folia.
Moments later, her aura surged, radiating vitality.
"That's it? Simpler than I expected," La Folia said.
"I thought there'd be dazzling lights, golden lotuses, dragons, phoenixes, kirins, moonlit seas, or starry skies," Stella nodded, chiming in.
"You two read too many novels," Roy said, rolling his eyes. "Want effects? Cast your own magic. Make whatever you want."
"I only know elven magic. Can't do those effects," La Folia shrugged.
"I could whip up a fire dragon effect, but it feels embarrassing," Stella mused.
La Folia raised a brow. "You're already assuming you'll join his peerage?"
Stella froze. Why had she assumed that?
Her delayed realization hit, and her expression turned awkward.
La Folia shrugged, muttering about overthinking, then glanced at Jeanne. "Roy, what about her?"
Jeanne, who'd been playing dead, groaned inwardly. I'm trying so hard to stay low. Can't you let me be?
Meeting Roy's gaze, she forced a smile. "Uh… can I surrender?"
"Of course," Roy said, nodding, raising his fist.
Boom!
[Congratulations on defeating Jeanne. Acquired Purple Entry: Holy Sword Creation]
[Holy Sword Creation (Purple): Consume mana to create holy swords of varying attributes.]
A Purple Entry. Decent enough.
Tossing it into storage, Roy lifted Jeanne from the crater she'd made in the ground.
"Red Dragon Emperor! You liar!" Jeanne slurred, dizzy, eyes spinning. "You said you'd accept my surrender!"
"I did. I'm not hitting you now," Roy said.
"This is prisoner abuse!" Jeanne protested.
"No worries. Terrorists have no rights," Roy said, healing her with Senjutsu and dropping her. "Follow me. Try sneaking off, and you're done."
"…Fine, I won't run," Jeanne muttered, trailing behind.
The group entered a large tent, sparsely furnished with temporary setups.
Sitting at a table laden with fruit trays, Stella opened the discussion. "What's Gozo Island's status?"
"Besides us, two other factions are here," La Folia said.
"Two? Besides the Vampire Alliance, who else?" Stella asked.
"Black Death Emperor Faction," La Folia said.
"Black Death… I vaguely recall them. A beastman supremacist terrorist group, right?" Stella said.
La Folia nodded. "They aim to eradicate humans and take over."
"But the gods forbid it, and the Church actively hunts them, so they're struggling."
Stella mused. "They're here for the Primogenitor to fight the Church and gods?"
"Seems so," La Folia said, spreading a map and pointing to the island's southeast. "My scouts spotted them at the edge yesterday. They self-destructed when escape failed."
"We got little intel, so their numbers are unknown."
She pointed northeast. "Here's the Primogenitor's ruins, also the Vampire Alliance's base."
"They're hostile, barring anyone from the ruins, so I set up camp here."
"How many did they bring?" Stella asked.
La Folia produced two photos. "Beyond low-tier vampire grunts, two stand out."
"Ermesilda Karnstein, Karnstein family heiress."
"Dimitrie Vattler, envoy of the Forgotten War King, First Primogenitor."
"Vattler?" Stella recognized the name.
A rising vampire star, he'd devoured two elder vampires, earning the title of closest to a true Primogenitor.
His strength was immense.
But…
"Just that? I could handle them alone without Roy," Stella said.
"Confidence is good, but don't trust my intel blindly," La Folia said, cooling her enthusiasm. "We don't know their hidden cards, just as they don't know Roy's here."
"I know the Camilla vampires visited all three Primogenitors' domains before coming."
"We've only seen the First's envoy. The other two might have sent agents."
La Folia turned to Roy, who'd been silent. "Roy, any plans?"
"Smash through," Roy said.
"Huh?"
"They're just small fry. No need to overthink," Roy said, standing, snapping his fingers to summon a magic array, empty fruit tray in hand. "I'm ready. If you're good, let's move."
…
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