As he made his rounds, something suddenly clicked in his mind.
'Wait a second… where the hell is Gasper!?'
Kazuki had subtly asked around—Rias, Akeno, Yumi, and even Koneko—but the answer was consistent across the board.
The Gremory peerage consisted of only seven members. That eighth member from the original story—the "Bishop," Gasper Vladi—was nowhere to be found.
Now that Kazuki thought about it, the original plotline had hinted early on about the presence of another Bishop, but he had never seen or heard anything about them in this world until now.
That was a slip-up on his part.
The world of High School DxD had already diverged from the original story thanks to Kazuki Fuwa's involvement.
He was a foreign element—an irregularity. If fate ever decided to throw Gasper into his path, so be it… But until then, he couldn't worry about it.
'So that leaves one big question—what happens now?'
If memory served him right, Gasper's Sacred Gear had played a pivotal role in the ambush during this summit… But without Gasper, how would that event play out now?
Kazuki's recollection of the original storyline was getting hazy, and relying on it might be more dangerous than helpful at this point.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
"Alright, let's move."
Rias's voice cut through the air, bringing everyone to their feet.
It was almost 10 PM. The "Three Factions Summit" was about to begin.
Led by Rias, the group exited the clubroom and made their way toward the venue.
The meeting was being held in the faculty conference room of the academy's new building.
The event was considered top-secret even among the factions themselves, so only a select few escorts had been brought along. Even so, the tension among the bodyguards was thick, they glared at each other from across the room, hostility barely restrained.
As they approached the massive, imposing double doors of the conference room, Rias took two deep breaths, centering herself, before knocking firmly.
"Excuse us."
The door opened to reveal a room that had been completely transformed from its original, mundane state. Lavish, glittering furniture surrounded a massive U-shaped table, and seated at each side were two representatives from each of the Three Great Powers.
"Over here, please."
Grayfia, acting as the attendant, gracefully guided them to their assigned seats.
Sona Sitri was already seated. Rias took her spot beside her, Akeno followed suit, and Kazuki and the rest settled into the remaining seats.
Once everyone had taken their place, Sirzechs Lucifer—Rias's older brother stood and began the proceedings with a solemn tone.
"With everyone now present, we shall begin the 'Three Factions Summit.' Let it be noted: all attendees of this meeting are assumed to be aware of the most highly classified truth—'the absence of God'—and the discussions shall proceed with that knowledge as the foundation."
The weight of that declaration settled like a thick fog, and Kazuki felt it—this wasn't just some formal discussion. This was history in the making.
The meeting began with subtle probing, mental chess games played by beings who had lived for centuries.
Some feigned light conversation in an attempt to uncover the current state of the other factions. Others dropped information bit by bit, revealing just enough to seem cooperative without giving anything up. A few smiled charmingly while completely dodging the subject.
This was no playground for amateurs. These were the top players—the absolute peak of their kind—who ruled their realms across eons. Trying to imitate their level of political and social finesse would be laughable for any normal person.
On the Devil's side sat the Maou Sirzechs Lucifer and Maou Serafall Leviathan.
For the Angels, there was Archangel Michael and one of the Four Great Seraphs, Gabriel.
Representing the Fallen Angels stood Azazel, the Governor General of the Grigori—the ones who watched over God's children—and beside him, the White Dragon Emperor, Vali.
Each of them radiated an overwhelming aura and power.
While everyone except for Vali had long since grown familiar with each other's personalities and methods, the underlying tension in the room never disappeared. It was like a deadly reunion, pleasant on the surface, lethal just below.
"Before we move on to the next topic, I'd like to take a moment to reintroduce two individuals. Rias, Sona… please stand."
"Yes, Lord Lucifer," both girls responded in unison, rising from their seats gracefully.
Sirzechs's tone carried a blend of brotherly pride and official decorum.
"This is my little sister, Rias Gremory, and Serafall's younger sister, Sona Sitri. They and their peerages were instrumental in resolving the recent attack. I would like them to explain exactly what happened. Please proceed."
"Yes. I will begin," Sona said, her voice steady.
She began recounting the series of events, starting with the string of murders committed by rogue priests in Kuoh Town and continuing with the arrival of Xenovia and Irina. Once that portion was complete, she gave the floor to Rias.
Rias detailed the full incident involving Kokabiel—the confrontation, the chaos, the intensity of the battle—and how they ultimately came out victorious.
"That concludes our report regarding the incident and our involvement," Rias said, finishing her explanation.
"Good work. You may be seated," Sirzechs nodded.
Both girls looked visibly relieved as they sat down, exhaling deeply. They'd kept their composure the whole time, but Kazuki could tell how tense they had been.
From behind, Kazuki leaned slightly forward and whispered just loud enough for them to hear.
"Nice job, Rias. You too, President."
The girls turned their heads slightly to glance back at him. Their lips curved into small smiles—ones that held exhaustion, pride, and… maybe a little something more.
Despite being heirs to noble houses, Rias and Sona were still only seventeen. Standing before the leaders of Heaven, Hell, and the Fallen, giving a public report on an apocalyptic-scale battle… Kazuki knew how much pressure they had been under.
But they had stood tall, performed flawlessly, and in doing so, they had grown stronger, not just as women, but as true Kings.
Kazuki felt nothing but pride as their mate and servant…
"Now then, Azazel," Sirzechs continued, "After hearing this report, I would like to hear your opinion as the Governor General of the Fallen Angels."
Everyone's eyes turned to Azazel.
The man scratched the back of his head, clearly annoyed to be put on the spot, but he began speaking in his usual lazy tone.
"Well, like I said in the report I sent you guys earlier, this whole mess was started by Kokabiel going rogue. That bastard didn't tell me or any of the other higher-ups—he acted completely on his own."
He paused, then pointed lazily toward Kazuki.
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