Eren's hunt, like all hunts in the abyss, started to spiral into a mess. The more threads he picked up the more they began to unravel.
Now the white-haired reaper was dragged by a chain of fate to the very top of the industry.
Battle Idol.
The main headquarters was a sprawling megacomplex that could almost be classed as its own ward by the vast space it held.
Towers that reached high into the sky. All at least 100+ meters tall; perfect blue reflections bounced the sun rays onto each other. Cookie cutter cylindrical or rectangular shapes were most of them.
But the biggest draw; The giant dome that sat in the middle of it all.
The main stage. Its size was truly a marvel; it had to be 150 meters tall, mostly made of the spherical hood. Able to hold up to hundreds of thousands of people. A marvel of human ingenuity and a symbol of the power of the idol industry.
Holographic idols bounced off the reflective dome. Dancing and singing through the glass windows of the fast-approaching maglev.
"Where can we find the 'cherry blossom queen'?" Eren asked looking out the maglev that fast approached this place.
Hana had been forced to accompany Eren as a condition of her release from the reins of idolhood.
Ward 17 held surprising depth to its size. Albeit the ranking industry, the idol industry, a hub various other industries were all linked together. A network of shining stars and their bootlickers.
Surely this ward would bring in hundreds of trillions of Yen annually, and yet the city itself was a dull grey that lacked any soul. The vibrancy and the polychromatic of the dome just an illusion; another city in a world that seemed to drain hope from the land and the people who lived on it.
"See the pink one being shown on the screen. That's her."
Hana pointed to a large pink coloured character card. A lady with black and pink hair, dressed in a beautiful kimono. She was a heroine taken straight from some shoujo anime; a battle idol, in a game of fame, wealth and power. A face of beauty but a soul that has been corrupted by greed and a thirst for power.
"Will theses help?" Eren pulled out two tickets from his jacket pocket. Labelled 'VIP platinum.'
"Wh- How? Those tickets aren't available to the public... Ryu, that bastard gave you those, didn't he?"
She answered her own question with overt derision.
As a former investigator for the regulators Hana was certainly no stranger to the ways of manipulation within this place, and seeing Lucifer or Ryu to her, pull strings with upmost ease.
That man's ability to make anything was needed in this place; but to pull that prize out of thin air? He had to be on top of the food chain.
"Will it help?" Waving the tickets around without care, attracting hungry eyes of other passengers.
"You idiot put those away. People have killed for those tickets. It's a backstage pass, the ability to rub shoulders with the top 10 battle idols, and even get access to all their resources."
"For a woman who hates Idols, you seem to really know a lot about them."
"Yeah, well that bastard Ryu made me research everything I could." A slight blush from a girl who was usually phlegmatic from their brusque conversations thus far.
"Fair enough." Eren noted. As the train began to turn into the station.
'Now approaching Ward 17 - Battle Idol HQ. Please mind the gap as you disembark.'
"Hey... Um. Does Ryu ever call you by another name? Something like... 'My little demon'?"
"No, why?"
Hana looked deep into the reaper's eyes.
"Well, it's our number one song. 'My demon's heart' It's a song he produced as soon as he joined; A song about fighting for love across realms... I just thought... you know the way he looks at you-"
"No..."
'Dammit Lucifer...' Eren cursed inwards.
Always doing something to annoy the reaper. Even when he wasn't present to annoy. A wonder Eren hadn't dropped the blonde reaper to the curb years ago.
***
Lines upon lines.
It was barley noon and the crowds had already gathered. A great mass of fans of all ages, sexes, and nationalities. A worldwide phenomenon that attracted millions each week, a system of wealth and power that saw to the domination of a single ward.
Hana looked on with awe; the dusk rose would only be invited on the odd occasion when they reached high into the charts, and even then, it was just for a song or two. The pre-show before the opening act which was even before the main event.
The one thing is found somewhat enjoyable about working in a role she loathed. Standing on that stage with all those people screaming at you… Unmatched.
Meanwhile Eren, who hated people, the noise, the stench of corrupted essence that hung like perfume in the air.
He felt sick. Not from the effects of the spice, but the idea of being surrounded by the very people who enabled an industry of exploitation and misery. Who would chew you up and spit you out once the shine of your youth faded.
Or at least that's what the pre-Reaper Eren believed. But he is yet to see anything that would dissuade him otherwise.
'How could anyone stand living here?' Eren asked himself, a rhetorical question, the answer was obvious.
People wanted fame and wealth. And to watch someone live a dream they never could achieve. To distract themselves from the drudgery and monotony that was the daily grind.
Eren thought himself different, his own problems and issues. But really, he was just as depressed as the rest of the flock; he just stood away from the crowd, alone.
He really was a grumpy old man in the body of an undying monster.
"Follow me, we can get in through the VIP entrance." Hana whispered, taking Eren's hand, pulling the reaper through the maze of people and up to the guarded door.
"Hold!"
Two robots, not like the rare, previously seen with humanlike qualities. These were machines of war. Blocky in nature; one arm that held a shield, the other was a mounted machine gun. At least a meter wide and two and a half tall.
"Tickets!" A sergeant's command, demanding to see the pair's ticket and identification. No bullshit from these bots.
Hana handed over the passes and her ID.
"Welcome VIPs. Platinum ticket holders. Please enjoy your stay." The commanding orders were dropped for a more customer friendly service. The door slid open.
The pair entered, greeted by a woman in a black suit, short brown hair, dark eyes, and a face that held a kind smile.
"And you must be our VIP platinum guests. Please follow me."
She gestured to a small buggy idling nearby.
Zipping through the halls, passing a multitude of shops that serviced the needs of all guests. A mini societal bubble that encapsulated the world within.
"I am Mayuri. As part of the VIP platinum package, I will be your personal guide to the world of battle idol, if you need anything just ask me and I will deliver."
"Where is the cherry blossom queen?" Eren didn't much care for any of this premium experience stuff, he just wanted to find the link between the sun king and the battle idols.
"Ah, Miss Kaguya. I'm sorry she is currently in makeup and costume for the upcoming show. I can show you to the VIP area where many of our other top 10's often gather before show hours. I'm sure they will be just as welcoming as our beloved cherry blossom queen would be."
Mayuri's smile was almost as robotic as the bots outside, a human all the same but she might as well have had mechanical parts under her skin.
'Some VIP guide you are…'
"That would be fine, thank you." Hana interjected, reading Eren's growing radiating grumpiness.
Thank the gods for that little white buggy; the main corridor with shops lined on both sides stretched far beyond sight.
A marathon to even reach the higher floors. Or a quick 3-minute ride, it was an obvious choice that Eren was glad they took. Even without the crowds of hundreds of thousands of people; the atmosphere of any empty row of shops was stifling. The same as when Eren first returned, what the old ward 4 was before the Silvermane cleaned it.
Finally arriving at the end of the corridor. A large elevator with two more sentries that guarded the door.
"What's with the heavy firepower? Last time I was here, there were just bots that looked like pretty boys." Hana asked Mayuri who was swiping a security card through a scanner.
"Oh well recently, there has been an increase in fan idol incidents, so the higher ups brought extra protection. Safe to say that many fans and idols have found comfort in knowing they are safe here."
Mayuri smiled, holding the door open for the pair.
'Yeah, having two war machines have their big fuck off guns trained on you at all times sounds very comforting...' Eren thought, with a sardonic inflection.
'Welcome to the VIP area.'
The doors opened to a new world. Large and spacious with expansive window panes that opened the room up. A crowd of people held behind a velvet rope. Many with cameras at the ready and a plethora of idol paraphernalia ready to be signed.
Eren and Hana were escorted past these very, very eager fans.
"Hey! Why do they get to go first?" A voice from the crowd called out in anger.
"Yeah, we've been waiting for 2 hours to get in. And that fugly couple get to walk right in."
Every step the crowd became more hostile and desperate to try and get through the door. A push of the velvet rope sent human security and the war bots into action. Even in this tight space security was just as tight.
Achieving the same outcome as well. The angry voices quickly dissipated as hulking metal rolled near that rope.
"Hey mister, drop the old hag and take me with you. And I will let you do whatever you want to a high school girl's body." A girl barely old enough to hold down a part time job called out, trying to tempt Eren away from Hana.
"Excuse me?!" Instead, it pissed him off. No girl that age should be saying such things about her body to anyone.
These idols really brought out the worst in people. Hana grabbed his shoulder to pull him along, lest he do anything to enrage the fans or himself more.
"What's the matter with them?" Eren asked, still shocked by how these 'fans' acted. He was no saint, but these people were downright disgusting.
"It's pretty bad yeah? But that's commonplace, idols can bring out the worst in our fans."
The two walked through a large room; an almost empty room with a gathering of expensive looking furniture in a circle, a buffet, and two bars. TV's that showed highlights from battles past.
Windows that both looked out into the tall ward and into the arena below; it had the feel of an empty airport VIP lounge.
Two girls sat separated as far as possible from each other; one wearing a baggy hoddie and track pants. The other dressed in equally baggy clothes that looked like she had just crawled out of bed.
The friction between these two were stronger than the gravity of a neutron star. It was the most immediate feeling to Eren.
"This is our VIP area. Where Idols come and relax as well as meet fans. To the right is our number 3 Idol 'Mizuki Aso. The dragon princess of the sky dancer's agency.'" Mayuri gestured with an unwavering simile.
"To the left is our number 4 idol 'Risa Himuro, the rose knight of the royal knight's academy agency.'" Mayuri gestured to the other side.
Both idols looked up with a smile. However, as both went to greet the VIP's they locked eyes. A spark of rivalry that ignited into a flame of contempt and anger.
Both seemed to have some bad blood between them, and this was no place for it, so only Mizuki the girl in baggy sleepwear, approached the two.
"Hello, I'm Mizuki Aso, nice to meet you. I'm a big fan of the dusk rose. I think your group has great potential and maybe someday you will fight us at the top of battle idol." She held her hand out; Hana appeared somewhat surprised that an idol of such high rank knew about her former middling group.
'The dragon princess... Emi's favourite. Should I ask for an autograph?'
The worst trait about being a self-loathing loner was the inability to communicate effectively.
Instead of using his manners like a good-mannered human being, he stood there with brows furrowed into a scowl and mouth puffed slightly; like a toddler that wanted ice-cream but didn't know how to ask for it.
Mizuki looked between the two.
A puzzled look, Idols can't have boyfriends. So, who was this white-haired guy?
"Hana... Is he your boyfriend?" Almost a whisper not wanting to throw Hana into any unwanted problems with management.
"What no... It's complicated... We're looking for Miss Kaguya Tsuzuki. Have you seen her?" Hana asked quietly back, not really knowing herself why Eren was so crotchety all of a sudden.
"Oh her... She's in a meeting with her management. She'll be around a bit later." Her voice, if she held an intense rivalry with Risa; it was even more so with Miss Tsuzuki. An anger rather than mutual rivalry.
Before any more questions could be asked the door to the VIP swung open, nearly breaking off the hinges from the impact. All eyes turned to the doors.
A man with long blonde hair, undercut with a darkened shade. A face that could make a supermodel look like some regular old creature. Expensive white fur coat, and designer shoes.
His presence commanded the room. Those clothes demanded he be treated as a leader of the pack, the apex predator.
Eren unfortunately knew of this one through egregious advertising he was a victim too.
This one was number 5, the self-proclaimed king of battle idol. Shin Yota. A rising star that was going to take over the world. A member of the 'Starlight knights'.
An agency of predominately male idols. Some form of badboy, an attitude of a trashcan that made teenage girls swoon. As evident by the two girls hanging from both arms, the same girl that tried to hit on Eren and her fellow high school friend.
"Ehhhh, we've got some platinum's huh? Well, bask in the presence of the greatest."
"Just ignore him. His ego is as inflated as his bank account. He may act all tough but in truth without us and his groupmates. He would be nothing, just some delinquent who thinks he's tough." Mizuki spoke loud so that the man in question could hear her.
"What'sa matter? Ya scared of a real man?" He stepped forward, moving his fur coat to show his muscles hidden beneath, a show of dominance and a statement of his virility.
The worst kind of man; A man who thought with his crotch, an idiot with overwhelming power.
"What are ya looking at boss?" Shin turned and spoke to the white-haired reaper.
Eyes meeting. Eren was really, more annoyed with underage girls who they themselves thought with something other than a brain. However, Shin didn't take kindly to this.
"I got something on my face? What'sa matter man, can't pull the ladies like me? Sorry man ya gotta be quicker to get to heaven to get these angles."
'That doesn't make any sense, how did he even pass school, how did anyone even sign him on?'
The blonde boy sauntered up to the pair, girls still clinging to either side of him. His language skills beyond abhorrent. Even the yakuza may have been offended at his lack of skill.
"Excuse me, Mr. Yota. Your drink." Mayuri approached with a drink, an expensive champagne in flute glasses.
A professional of a guide. Well-practiced to distract Shin from causing any problems.
"About time you-"
*SPLASH*
Before Mayuri had a chance to hand over the drink, she fell face forward. Tray spilling onto the expensive coat of Shin, who looked down at the mess of a woman with nothing but contempt.
"Ya stupid fucking bitch!"
"Hey it was an accident!" Mizuki came to the defence of the poor guide.
"Who asked for yer fucking opinion. You scaley bitch-"
"Why don't you fuck off to that hole you came from you little troll."
Another episode of Battle idol was about to commence right there in the VIP lounge. All because of a little shadowy hand that flicked the ankle of Mayuri as she approached Shin, causing her to trip and spill the expensive alcohol all over the rising idol.
Eren slipped away from the rising tension that he stirred. Not before catching a suspicious glance from Risa.
She swapped between the fight and the skulking white-haired man. Thinking for only a moment, but she didn't seem to care. Returning to her phone without a second thought.
Eren got away. He didn't have time for interpersonal drama; he had a hunt to complete.