"What's going on? I heard Astaroth Estate was under attacked and everyone became cold corpses there?"
Serafall asked the moment she stepped into the meeting room, then finding her seat and sat gracefully with an unusual seriousness radiated from her. It was the first time something this big happened in the Underworld, aside from the old Great War. In just one night, an entire clan was wiped from the face of earth.
But strangely, whoever the attacker was, they didn't do the same to the branches family who are quite clearly connected, yet treated as if they're not related to the Astaroth. It was clear the perpetrator didn't harbor ill intent towards devils as a whole, but instead they specifically targeted the current Head and his entire family. However, the fact that they are able to do something that outrageous so meticulously left the three Satans dumbfounded, excluding Sirzechs.
"Hey Falbi, do you know anything about this?" Serafall turned to the most laziest Satan, the latter greeted her question with his usual yawning.
"Don't ask me such difficult questions Serafall, you know damn well I leave everything to my subordinates. I merely took this seat because no one else stepped forward."
Falbium Asmodeus answered half-heartedly. He usually skipped this meeting with countless excuses that made zero senses, but for the first time, something urgent brought even someone like him to the round table.
"As far as I know, they were acting a bit suspicious behind the scene but nothing that would resulted something this... uh, explosive."
"Really? What were they doing?" Serafall asked out of curiosity. She wasn't upset at the death of Astaroth entire family, at most she'll do something about it if they have been wronged. What makes her curious about this case is the boldness of the perpetrator. There hadn't been anyone like that, not since the terror of Solomon, which happened long ago.
"They were looking for something, I don't know exactly what, but they aren't holding any resources at all," Falbium answered with a shrug. Of course these sort of information had been gathered by his meticulous subordinates. Even if he didn't want to hear any of it, his subordinates would insisted saying it was part of his position and status as Satan to care.
"Your subordinates are quite the hardworking bunch, at least their information is correct," Sirzechs said with a nod. He then turned to look at his friend Ajuka who appears to be absentminded, as if his focus is elsewhere. He had been like this ever since he told the latter about Kousuke's magical capsule.
"I thought Ajuka would be more upset at this, but he...seems unaffected, or rather strangely out of it," Serafall muttered as Falbium nodded in agreement. Ajuka was the former Heir of Astaroth, though he comes from a branch family, yet even this tragic event couldn't pulls him away from his dream.
"Don't mind him, he's usually like this whenever there's something interested him, you know how amazing that capsule is," Sirzechs said with a wry smile. Hearing the object of his interests being mentioned, spark returns to Ajuka's eyes as he swiftly turned his head toward the Crimson Satan.
"Right... That whatever simulation capsule, you said it was made by that human who was your guest at the time, right? Igarashi Kousuke was it? How did he even came up with it? I tried to make something like that, but even the versatile demonic magic couldn't breakthrough. I even applied to be one of those beta tester beforehand, yet! I wasn't lucky enough! It was within my reach, yet this unreasonable development keeps pulling me away from it! You're close with him right? Could you get in touch with him? Or if that's not possible, would you mind setting up a meeting between us? If he ask for compensation, just tell him how many Evil Pieces he want, I can give it to him. Even that forbidden piece—"
"Calm down Ajuka!" Sirzechs interjected. He didn't expect his nerdy friend to be this obsessed to that paradox machine. It looks like a machine and powered with electricity, yet there was a black box within it that is made of the amalgamation of unknown runes. It's a known fact in the supernatural world that runes and magic won't work well with technology. They couldn't explain exactly why, even the intellectual Ajuka was stumped.
"... I'm sorry, I got ahead of myself. Cough, as I was saying, could you set a meeting between us? I need to get my hands on it somehow, or I won't be able to continue living on like this!" Ajuka muttered, there was a hint of desperation in his voice. As if that wasn't enough, his bloodshot eyes staring intently at him caused Sirzechs to raise a white flag.
"Alright, I'll try to do something about it. But don't get your hopes up, I'm not sure he will even agree to it." The Crimson Satan said with a sigh. Maybe it was a mistake in calling Ajuka to the meeting. Sirzechs wonder what his friend would think if he were to learn the one who destroyed the Astaroth Clan, was the same person who created that miracle machine?
"What were you talking about? Am I the only one left in the dark here?" Falbium asked. He couldn't understand why Ajuka seems interested in a human, and what capsule? For a huge nerd like Ajuka to be so obsessed with it, it had to be something amazing. Serafall seems to know about it as well, it must have happened in one of those meetings where he skipped.
As if it was natural, the topic moved on towards the capsule while the rest forgets they were talking about Astaroth's destruction. Serafall helps fill in for Falbium as Sirzechs let out a sigh, he didn't expect for Kousuke to be so vicious to his enemies. He had heard from Grayfia that the Heir had somehow left before the attack, yet Diodora hadn't returned. Maybe he was already caught and killed before he could even ask questions, but not even Satans would know the truth of the matter.
Kousuke might have stopped any future trouble from the Astaroth, but this wouldn't be easily ignored by the Old Satan Faction. They will send people, seek the truth, and when they found out he was the cause, then a much bigger problem will land on his head. By then, Sirzechs wonder what kind of surprise he will show him again? If Crimson Satan had to choose between siding with the Old Satan Faction, or Kousuke, the answer was obvious. The stronger side.