Cooled Passions Chapter 64: A Gathering of Vultures

Chapter 64: A Gathering of Vultures

A hush descended upon the lobby, catching the attention of Maria Naruse, reporter extraordinaire. She looked up from her notes, having just finished interviewing the current rank one Rating Game player, Diehauser Belial, who had one the championship again this year. It could be the beginning of quite the streak of dominance, the young devil becoming a seemingly unbeatable obstacle for the rest of the field.

Her eyes sped across the room, looking for the source of the disturbance. It didn’t take her long to zero in on the culprit, the striking white-haired figure of Damocles Sagan walking purposefully through the floor of the lobby, his steps shadowed by the small form of his adopted sister. Maria’s instincts screamed at her, just knowing for a fact that this was a juicy scoop on a silver platter.

His relationship with the Rating Games Association was an odd one. As a noble Lord with a set of evil pieces, he was automatically signed up to participate in the Circuit, a state of affairs which he had yet to even comment on. In fact, he had not even visited the organization, whose lobby he was currently crossing, even once. The most that the Sagan had been involved so far was Tiamat acting as a referee in the circuit, but even that appeared to be more something she decided than the Sagan Lord.

Of course, offers for games as well as the usual scheduled matches of the circuit were fielded to the Sagan Lord, who had yet to publicly or privately respond or attend to any of them. This led to him automatically forfeiting all the games that he had been slated to perform in the Circuit, meaning that on paper he was ranked dead last in the Rating Games Rankings.

Of course, after he had absolutely demolished heir Astaroth’s peerage, no one believed that ranking to be accurate in the slightest, which led to rampant speculation as to why the Sagan Lord even bothered to remain in the Circuit at all. There was a fee that was incurred, after all, that the Association had assured inquiring reporters the Sagan had paid. So what was his aim with the whole charade?

Surreptitiously, she manoeuvred herself across the edges of the room, attempting to be close enough to pick up what the Sagan Lord had to say to the teller who was staring at him in apprehension. Such actions proved unnecessary for the reporter, it turned out, as the Sagan spoke loud enough for the entire lobby to hear.

“Greetings. Is Augustus in? I would like a private room with him.” The words were unhurried, but clearly spoken, wishing for all present to know exactly what was being said.

Maria’s breath caught, this was big! Augustus was the Games Broker, the one that set up custom matches between Devils outside of the Rating Game circuit. Was the Sagan going to set up a custom match? Would the illusive Sagan Peerage’s first match inside the arena be done under a custom rule set?

So juicy!

The clerk stammered out a response, “Y-yes… Lord Sagan! Please wait in room 03, h-he will be there shortly!”

“My thanks.” With a nod, the Lord whirled on his heel and moved towards the Private Rooms, knowing exactly where they were despite this being his first visit.

“Ah! My Lord! Lord Sagan!” The clerk called after him, causing him to turn back towards her and raise an eyebrow, “There is a match scheduled for you today, your opponent is getting ready… That is, I thought I should tell you that it’s… it’s starting in an hour?”

The clerk's voice got quieter and less sure as she went on, seeing the absolutely unimpressed look she was receiving from the powerful and reclusive lord. As her last words escaped, sounding more like a nervous question than a statement, an awkward, heavy silence draped itself over the lobby. It appeared everyone was holding their breath, watching for the Sagan’s response. The betting section of the lobby in particular was watching with rapt interest, sensing an absolute fortune to be made if he actually participated in the scheduled match.

“Noted.” Was all the Sagan responded with, after making the clerk squirm for an uncomfortable amount of time.

With that, he resumed his movement towards the private rooms, unconcerned with the scene he had just caused. Well, Lord Sagan certainly knew how to be frustratingly vague, Maria thought to herself. ‘Noted?’ What the hell was she supposed to do with that?! Still, this was an opportunity she couldn’t let get away from her.

This could be related to the biggest recent story that the GNN had been able to break, the confrontation with Lord Sagan and Lord Paimon having been a smash hit of a story amongst the influential members of Devil society. The Network had milked it for all it was worth, having brought on experts, commentators and other Lords to weigh in on what the altercation meant for Devil Politics. Of course, with Paimon only releasing a very short statement that didn’t really say anything and the Sagan not replying to a single request for comment, no definitive conclusion was reached.

Still, Maria was one of the few reporters that Lord Sagan had ever spoken to, so she had a shot here to get more from him. Or so she felt. She lost nothing by trying, right?

Watching as the Sagan Lord moved for the Rooms, she decided to wait. Sure, he might teleport back directly from the room, despite how frowned upon that was, but getting in his way when he had business to attend to would be a sure way to piss him off before the interview could even start. So, she would take the risk, waiting near the door that lord Sagan had disappeared into.

Whatever the meeting was, it seemed like it took some time to finish, as several other reporters showed up in the meantime. She gave each one the stink eye for attempting to muscle in on her scoop, but they shrugged it off effortlessly, just like she would have done in the reverse situation. Resigned, she watched as more and more showed up, her interview seeming to turn more and more into a press conference with every arrival.

Thankfully, before the numbers could get truly ridiculous, the door to the private room swung open and Lord Sagan stepped out from the meeting space. All the gathered press perked up, rushing forward in a clamouring wave, but Maria’s instincts told her to hang back and wait. Trusting the impulse, she did just that and was therefore thankfully merely an observer when a wave of malice washed over the throng.

His blue eyes shining with disdain, Lord Sagan swept his gaze over the gathered crowd, his mere aura enough to still them, “What is this circus?”

“Apologies, my Lord.” Augustus spoke, following the Sagan from the room, “This happens occasionally. The Arena Lobby is open to all, so sometimes enterprising journalists take advantage to ambush those who are spotted entering the premises.”

Lord Sagan’s eyes narrowed, “I see. I will have no part of this farce.”

Shiro Sagan, who had stepped behind her adopted brother at the approach the crowd, stepped out from behind him and walked alongside him as we moved through the crowd. An almost visible cloak of annoyance draped itself over them, allowing them to part the sea With nothing but their own forward motion.

It might seem odd that none were brave enough to attempt to speak to them or stop them, but Maria remembered the look Lord Sagan had pinned her with at the end of their last interview. Despite it occurring months ago, she could remember the moment with perfect clarity. The ire of a Prince was not something that was easily borne when it was focused on you exclusively.

Still, the fact that he was able to control such a large number with seemingly no effort… He had grown stronger. Much stronger. That was not a surprise, considering that he had almost casually crushed Lord Paimon, but the rate of growth was something that the Underworld was noticing with extreme interest.

As Lord Sagan was about to exit the press, one of the reporters managed to break out of his hold, shouting out from the crowd, “Lord Sagan! Lord Sagan! Julian Altemonde, Devil’s Latest! Are you here to participate in-!”

His action galvanised the crowd, who started to move again, pressing in on the two Sagan and sparking off a din of questions shouted over each other.

“Lord Sagan! Your interaction with Lord Paimon-!”

“Lady Shiro, would you say a few words-!”

“The Great King Faction has been said to-!”

Said din stilled as suddenly as it started, a bone deep chill affecting all present.

The Sagan Lord had exited the crowd and turned back to face them, a look in his eyes that brought not just the reporters, but the entire room to a standstill. It was a cold look, a dispassionate look. It was a gaze that told all present that he would visit terrible punishment upon them if they tested him.

The lowest ranked on the Rating Game circuit, but Maria took note of how other fighters in the room reacted, gaze snapping to the young Devil and staying there, bodies positioned in readiness. She wasn’t a fighter, but her breath still caught in her thought, not needing their honed reactions to know that the Sagan Lord was dangerous.

“You.” The Sagan pointed out a single reporter from the throng, his voice chilled, commanding, “You and you. Step forward.”

The danger that had descended upon them kept the rest compliant as the pointed out reporters were pushed forward. Usually, there would be a clamour at some being given preferential treatment, but something about his demeanour said that this was anything but the start of an exclusive.

“What are the publications you work for?” He asked the first reporter, Who looked at him with equal parts fear and hope.

“Yelana Hu-”

Her answer was cut off brutally, “Did I ask for your name? The name of your publication, now.”

She swallowed thickly, “Lilith Weekly.”

“You.” The Sagan looked to the next in line, the chill intensifying.

“Justice in Fashion.”

The last only needed a single look to blurt out, “Rising Stars.”

Lord Sagan nodded, committing the names to memory, “I do wonder, is there something in the water supply of the Devil society that produces such fine examples of buffoonery? Have you all forgotten any sense of decorum in the past few centuries? Is there nothing left?”

“I don’t understand, My-” The reporter from Rising Stars began.

“Be.” A visible ripple passed through the space around the Sagan, his rage manifesting viscerally as he revealed the full might of his Demonic Power, The reporter’s breaths misting in the sub zero temperature that now surrounded the Lone Prince, “Silent.”

His voice carried easily, despite how lowly, deliberately he was speaking, “You want answers? You are willing to throw away any sense of dignity, of your pride, to the ground in search of your next soundbite? The next juicy line for your latest smear piece that the Lords who own you ordered you to write? You wish this desperately enough to impede the business of a Lord, to even attempt to accost his sister while doing so?”

Maria jolted, having been so absorbed in memorising the scene to write up later that she didn’t even realise what the three in front of him were signalled out for. They were the three that had shouted questions at Shiro, she belatedly remembered.

“Fine. Very well. I know how vicious you are when denied. So I will sate your curiosity just this once.” The journalists breathing sped up, as their misty exhales showed, several leaning forward as he continued, “The Sagan do not care. These petty games you all play, these mock fights that should be a proving ground to sharpen our young and are instead turned into a crass form of entertainment and betting? The political games in the senate, where who are voting with matters more than what you are voting on?”

“These Factions you are obsessed with?” Here his voice turned derisive, disgust seeping, oozing from each syllable, “Weakness governed by consent. Relics holding on to past, imagined glories. Pests that scurry around, knowing that the only reason they are not exterminated is misguided mercy. I have something to say to all of you: Leave me out of it. Our race is dying. The very things that make us who we are, they are slipping through our fingers, year by year. You wish to squabble over who rules over the tomb? Be welcome to it.”

He turned, stalking out of the building, leaving stunned faces in his wake. As he passed her, Maria was surprised as he pointed at her without breaking stride.

“You, with me.”

---XXX---

“Thank you, Nii-san.” Shiro whispered, her small hand slipping into my own, giving it a squeeze.

I sighed, releasing my pent up aggression. I could have handled the press, the ambush surprising but not unbearable, but then they had attempted to crowd Shiro away from me and force her to answer questions. It was only thanks to some quick barriers I threw up that they were unable to do so, luckily for them. Otherwise I would have left behind a much messier situation.

Still, I remember the names. Lilith Weekly. Justice in Fashion. Rising Stars.

They will cease to exist before tomorrow.

“Uhm…” A hesitant voice spoke from behind me, the reporter who had been calmly sitting to the side during the whole debacle, “You wished to speak to me, my Lord?”

“Maria, correct?” I ignored the way Shiro’s grip tightened impressively at the other woman’s name, the small digits showcasing surprising strength, “From GNN?”

“You remember me, my Lord?” She beamed, “I am flattered.”

“Don’t be. I have a good memory and a jealous fiance.” I replied, causing her to blink in surprise as I moved on, “I need something to be announced and was going to release a statement, but I saw you sitting about from that gaggle of idiots and decided to get it over with.”

“Oh.” She recovered remarkably quickly, getting out a pad and paper and preparing to write out my statement, flipping over a page to do so, “I would be glad to take a statement, my Lord!”

I idly noticed that my previous speech was written in full on the page she flipped over, before giving my statement, “I was at the Rating Game Arena to set up a show match, between my peerage and any other who wished to rise to the challenge. There will only be three challengers accepted, but I wanted to make the rules clear before any applied.”

“I am sure that many will jump at the chance to test themselves against you, my Lord.” Maria beamed, “I will write down the rules.”

“Thank you.” I decided to offer at least some courtesy, this whole excursion being taxing, “The rules are as follows; The Sagan Peerage participating will be the King and a single Bishop. Only full sixteen piece Peerages are able to apply as challengers. The Sagan Peerage will be eliminated should either the King or the Bishop be eliminated. All usage of items that are allowed in normal Rating Games rules are allowed. The Challenger peerage is eliminated when either their King is retired or the entire peerage is eliminated. Each challenger will be able to watch the previous challenger’s matches, the order to be determined by ballot. The Sagan King will not be able to act offensively for the first fifteen minutes of each match.”

Maria nodded, jotting down each point as she did, before pausing at the last one. She turned her wide gaze up towards me, questioning. I merely nodded and continued.

“The prize pool will be posted in the official announcement from the Rating Games Association, but each accepted challenger will be given a hefty signing bonus.”

Maria quickly jotted down the last rule and the added information, before her questioning eyes returned to me. Gleaning some sort of inference from my face, she decided to not inquire any further, much to my relief. Navigating around the reasoning for each rule would have been very tedious.

“I will publish the statement, Lord Sagan. Thank you for trusting me with this.” She bowed as I nodded to her, before rising and looking slightly bashful, “I apologise for asking this of you when you clearly wish to return home, my Lord, but may ask you a few short questions?”

I sighed. To be fair, she was doing me a favour, despite how amazing this scoop was for her network. She was also polite, not crowding me with the other reporters, which is what drew my eye to her in the lobby anyway. It would be useful to have at least a genial relationship with one member of the press, my analytical mind reminded me. At least she was more tolerable than what I have seen from her colleagues.

“Very well, three questions.” I allowed, wishing to return to the Manor as soon as possible, having plans for the night that had been agreed on in advance.

“Thank you my Lord!” A bright smile split her face, before a thoughtful look briefly settled as she picked her questions, “You have been seen on several dates with members of your Peerage, as well as a rather well known outing with the Goddess Ranni. Would you like to clarify the status of those involved?”

The grip on my hand increased even tighter, “Ranni is my betrothed. The Peerage is... varied and complicated, but I have a close relationship with them, with Ranni’s blessing.”

“You are a lucky man if I may say so, Lord Sagan. Best of wishes with your betrothal.” She responded.

“Thank you.” I responded neutrally.

“There was recently a disturbance in an area of the Wilderness near the Sagan Manor, where a God’s divinity was felt emanating from, apparently in conflict with a source of Demonic Power. No observers were able to arrive in time to see the cause, do you know anything about the source?”

“A God was present and there was a battle. I am afraid that anything else might infringe upon national security, So I have no further comment.” I raised an eyebrow at that, idly wondering what rumours were flying around in relation to that.

“Thank you my Lord, I’m sure that will be quite enough to stir a discussion.” She didn’t press, moving on to her final question, “Many have criticised you for forfeiting all your Rating Games. In fact, just today there was supposed to be a game between you and the Heir of the Agares clan. Would you like to clarify why you maintain your membership to the Circuit despite having no desire to actually participate?”

“Usage of the Arena is restricted to members of the Circuit.” I responded, “Meaning that should I ever wish to make a… demonstration, with no permanent consequences, The Circuit is a great place to do so.”

“But don’t you care about the prestige that the Circuit brings? Your refusal to participate has led some to specu- Oh, my apologies my Lord, that was a fourth question!” She blushed and covered her mouth with her hand still holding the pen.

“I shall give it to you, as an extra.” I replied, “I do not need to have my ego stroked. As I said back there with your colleagues, I would be most content to be merely left alone to attend to my own business as I see fit.”

Maria nodded, jotting down my answer, “Thank you for the interview, my Lord. Have an excellent night!”

Her giddiness shone through, but I ignored it as the familiar feeling of teleportation deposited me in my home, allowing me to relax my shoulders somewhat.

“Nii-san.” Shiro spoke, stepping in front of me and reaching up to grip my face.

I laughed, “Don’t worry Shiro, I am not falling for the reporter. You are much prettier than her.”

She blushed and looked away, dropping her hands from my face before I caught them with my own, “Speaking of pretty, there is something you’ve been doing about your looks that we need to speak about.”

Her eyes widened, before she schooled her expression into the picture of innocence, “I don’t know what you are talking about, Nii-san.”

“I think you do.” I hummed, Kneeling down and scooping her up, hands under her shoulders, “You aren’t getting away from this.”

She pouted, “Fine.”