Omniscient POV
Lord Phenex didn't waste any time and arrived at the Sabnock territory the very next day.
Though he noticed the many improvements in what was once a barren land, he wasn't all that surprised—he had already been briefed on these developments.
Right now, there were far more pressing matters occupying his mind than marveling at Kouske's insight and management skills at such a young age.
As soon as he arrived, he was led into a grand meeting room where pleasantries were quickly served, though he showed little interest in them. He wasn't in the mood for idle chatter or tea.
It wasn't long before Kouske appeared, walking in with his usual calm demeanor.
"Greetings, Lord Phenex," Kouske said as he approached, extending a hand.
Lord Phenex stood, shook his hand firmly, and sat back down, his expression stern but composed.
After a brief moment of silence, Kouske spoke again, cutting to the heart of the matter.
"Normally, I would enjoy taking the time to discuss many things at our leisure, but this doesn't seem to be the right occasion for that."
He paused, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. "So, let's skip ahead to the main topic. You're here for Riser, aren't you?"
Lord Phenex nodded at that. Then he asked Kouske, "Lady Emberfaust. She is a guest staying in your mansion, correct?"
Lord Phenex had already looked into her before coming here. It seemed she had been seen around Kouske's territory for several years now, and all the citizens knew her as a guest of the Sabnock clan.
Even though Kouske periodically purged spies from his territory, he couldn't simply kill every single person entering his land.
Merchants from the Phenex territory often visited, engaging in various business dealings, and merchants always sought to gather information about their surroundings to maximize their profits.
So, while spies rarely succeeded in obtaining internal information, gathering general knowledge about the territory and its people wasn't that difficult.
If Kouske truly wanted to stop even that, his only option would be to completely seal off the territory—something he would never want to do.
So, Kouske nodded at Lord Phenex's question.
"Then are you also aware... of her race?" Lord Phenex asked after looking at Kouske oddly for a few moments.
"Hmm… Her being a Phoenix, right? I know," Kouske replied briefly, leaning slightly back into the sofa, urging Lord Phenex to continue.
"Then you must be aware of what happened yesterday between the two in your territory?" Lord Phenex asked, staring sternly at Kouske, barely containing his emotions. He truly wanted to burst out screaming at that moment.
In his heart, he knew Riser was at fault, but wasn't it too much to strip him of his own powers? Wasn't that the same as a death sentence for a noble devil?
Just thinking about Sairaorg's treatment until recently made Lord Phenex understand the grim reality awaiting Riser if this problem couldn't be resolved.
Riser would face even harsher scorn and become a laughingstock, having lost his powers rather than being born without them, as in Sairaorg's case.
Add to that the disgrace he had faced from the Gremory heiress a few years ago, and the situation grew even worse. It would tarnish the image of the esteemed Phenex clan forever.
However, Lord Phenex, as experienced as he was, refrained from doing something as childish as lashing out at the boy before him. Still, his words carried an underlying sense of his anger.
"Oh, you mean Riser wanting to forcefully enslave Elle... I mean, Miss Krystelle, inside my own territory? Then yeah, I did hear about it," Kouske replied, unhidden disdain flickering in his eyes at the topic. He kept his gaze sternly fixed on Lord Phenex.
Lord Phenex took a deep breath before saying, "Look, I know Riser was being immature and at fault for picking a fight. But don't you think what happened to him is too much? He's already learned his lesson. I would like to apologize to Lady Emberfaust on his behalf so that this misunderstanding can be resolved. How about it?"
Kouske scoffed at the incident being dismissed as Riser merely being 'immature'. Riser was far too old to act like that. And it had only been a day since the incident—Kouske highly doubted Riser had learned any lesson in such a short time.
Perhaps a few hundred years might knock some sense into him. However, that would only worsen the relationship between the two clans, and Kouske didn't want to escalate the matter further.
Seeing that Lord Phenex was willing to apologize was a surprise to him. Riser had already gotten what he deserved, and if Lord Phenex was prepared to make amends, Kouske considered accepting it—but not without gaining something in return.
"First of all, Miss Krystelle isn't here right now, and she won't be back for a long time. She had an unpleasant experience and is currently busy dealing with personal matters," Kouske said, noticing Lord Phenex's impatience at the news.
It was clear he wanted to resolve this issue as quickly and quietly as possible. Learning that Elle was unavailable put him further on edge.
"But you don't have to worry. I can deliver the Phoenix Spark to you myself," Kouske said, pausing with a light smile playing at the corner of his lips.
Lord Phenex was visibly surprised at that revelation but quickly grew displeased upon noticing Kouske's smile. It was clear to him that Kouske wanted something in return—a fact easily understood by someone of Lord Phenex's experience.
Then again, he had never expected to receive it for free. As long as the cost wasn't too great, he was prepared to pay. After all, the prestige of the Phenex clan far outweighed any minor loss.
"What do you want in exchange?" Lord Phenex asked, not wasting any time.
Kouske's smile widened ever so slightly. Dealing with people who understood the situation without needless pretense was always a pleasure.
"First of all, I want Riser to personally apologize to Miss Krystelle," Kouske said, his sharp gaze fixed on Lord Phenex as he awaited a response.
"Sure," Lord Phenex replied instantly, without hesitation. Even if Kouske hadn't brought it up, he had already resolved to drag that troublesome son of his out of his room and make him apologize.
"Secondly, I want you to remove all the taxes placed on my businesses in your territory for the next 1000 years," Kouske said, watching Lord Phenex's face twist with irritation.
Kouske knew perfectly well that no one in their right mind would agree to such a demand—especially not for a ridiculous span of 1000 years. But that was exactly his intention; this request would naturally lead to another negotiation.
sigh
Lord Phenex sighed deeply, recognizing Kouske's ploy all too well.
"Young Lord Sabnock, you should know I cannot agree to such a thing."
"Oh? Is that how little Riser means to you?" Kouske asked with mock disbelief, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
After that, what followed was a back-and-forth negotiation between the two to finalize the deal.
They eventually agreed on Lord Phenex lowering the tax by 50% for the next 100 years. While that was still quite a significant concession, it was a relatively small price considering what they were gaining in return.
Some other clans might even sell all their assets for a chance to obtain more power. After all, it wasn't every day that one could negotiate an exchange involving bloodline abilities.
Because of this, Kouske also managed to secure another deal to purchase some lands in the Phenex territory—both in the Underworld and the Human world—at a 40% discount.
Once the specifics were discussed and finalized, they put the agreement into a written contract.
To Lord Phenex's surprise, Kouske immediately handed over the Phoenix Spark. He had expected Kouske to delay the handover until at least part of the agreement had been fulfilled.
But this move was a show of sincerity on Kouske's part, as both of them understood that if things went wrong, Elle could simply take it back as easily as before.
In the end, they exchanged some pleasantries without much resentment. Though Lord Phenex was initially dissatisfied, both of them appeared pleased for now.
Lord Phenex also secured a promise from Kouske to arrange a meeting with Akatsuki in the future.
So, each had walked away with what they wanted, despite Lord Phenex having to take a minor loss.
Before leaving, Lord Phenex handed Kouske an invitation to Ravel's upcoming birthday celebration. Kouske gladly accepted, and it was decided that Riser would offer his apology to Elle at the event.
As Kouske and Lord Phenex left the meeting room, Kouske's vision was suddenly obstructed by two giant sacks of balloons. He was enveloped in something he could only describe as divine.
"Kou-chan! Onee-chan ga kita!"
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In a quiet, run-down church far from the bustling capital of Argentina, the tale of a saintess named Asia Argento began to spread.
Her innocence and pure smile, paired with her natural shyness, captivated everyone who encountered her.
To the townspeople, she seemed like an angel—radiating a holy aura, disguised as a humble nun.
People traveled from distant places, eager to witness her grace. It was said that just a touch from her could heal even the most severe wounds, both physical and emotional.
Her presence became a source of comfort and hope, and soon, she was known far and wide as the miracle-working saintess of the church.
Soon, the news reached the ears of the main church in the Vatican, prompting them to dispatch exorcists to make contact with what they assumed to be a Sacred Gear wielder 'belonging' to the church.
Surely, someone following the Lord's teachings would 'happily join' their ranks, right? Only a heretic would ever refuse...