Chapter 24: Chapter24: Zekrom Neal’s gambit
The Beal estate was ancient, steeped in the kind of history and power that could make even seasoned devils tread carefully. Its halls were silent, save for the faint crackle of fire in the massive hearth of the grand study. Seated in a high-backed chair of blackened oak, Zekrom Beal, the patriarch of the Beal Clan, swirled a glass of dark crimson wine, his thoughts heavy.
He wasn't a man prone to unnecessary worry, but the name Raizer Phoenix had been popping up far too often for his liking. Reports of the boy's meteoric rise were enough to make any cautious devil pause, and Zekrom was nothing if not cautious.
"Too fast, too strong," Zekrom murmured, his piercing silver eyes scanning the neatly arranged reports on the table before him. "This child is upsetting the balance."
The Threat of the Rising Phoenix
Zekrom was no stranger to the ebb and flow of power among the devil houses. For centuries, the Beal Clan had carefully maintained its position, neither too ambitious nor too complacent. It was this balance that had kept them influential in the council, and Zekrom intended to keep it that way.
But then came Raizer Phoenix.
The boy wasn't just powerful; he was building something entirely new. The Shadowed Cliffs had transformed from an unremarkable territory into a bustling stronghold of trade, alliances, and military might. His peerage was another matter entirely—a collection of legends that even the oldest devil houses would envy.
"Whitebeard, Garp, Roger…" Zekrom's voice trailed off as he read through the names. "Satan-class warriors, every one of them. And the boy isn't even twenty yet."
It was the rapidity of Raizer's rise that concerned Zekrom most. Power was dangerous enough, but power that outpaced tradition and control? That was a wildfire.
"He's young," Zekrom muttered, taking a sip of his wine. "Ambitious. Dangerous. But not invulnerable."
A Plan to Control Power
Zekrom wasn't the type to confront power directly. Wars were costly, unpredictable, and often left scars that lasted for generations. No, his strength lay in subtlety, in weaving plans so carefully that his opponents didn't realize they were trapped until it was too late.
The solution, Zekrom realized, was marriage.
It was the perfect tool. By binding Raizer to the Beal and Gremory families, Zekrom could ensure that the boy's strength would serve their interests, not his own.
And the key to this plan was Rias Gremory.
Zekrom allowed himself a small smile. "My great-great-granddaughter. A fitting match for someone like him."
Rias was young, beautiful, and undeniably powerful. More importantly, she was the younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the Four Great Satans. Sirzechs adored Rias, doting on her like a precious jewel, and his approval would all but guarantee the success of Zekrom's plan.
"If the Devil Council approves the marriage," Zekrom mused, "Raizer will have no choice but to accept. Even he wouldn't dare defy the council."
Convincing the Council
Zekrom leaned back in his chair, formulating his approach. The Devil Council was a collection of shrewd minds, each with their own agendas. Convincing them wouldn't be easy, but Zekrom had spent centuries mastering the art of persuasion.
His argument was simple yet compelling: Raizer Phoenix was a rising star, but stars could burn too brightly. A marriage to Rias Gremory would temper his ambitions, align his power with the interests of the council, and ensure stability in the underworld.
"It's not about control," Zekrom rehearsed aloud, his tone measured. "It's about harmony. About preserving the balance."
He smiled to himself. The council would see the logic in his proposal. How could they not?
A Conversation with Rias
Before presenting his plan to the council, Zekrom knew he had to secure Rias's agreement. As strong-willed as she was, Rias respected her family, and Zekrom was confident he could frame the proposal in a way that appealed to her sense of duty.
"Great-great-grandfather," Rias greeted him warmly when she arrived at his estate, her crimson hair catching the light as she entered his study. "You wanted to speak with me?"
Zekrom gestured to the seat across from him. "Rias, my dear, thank you for coming. Sit. There's something important we need to discuss."
Rias raised an eyebrow but complied, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "This sounds serious."
"It is," Zekrom said, his tone somber. "It concerns your future—and the future of our family."
Rias tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Go on."
Zekrom leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Raizer Phoenix. You've heard of him, I'm sure."
"Of course," Rias replied. "He's all anyone talks about these days. What about him?"
Zekrom chose his words carefully. "He's building something remarkable, but his strength is… unprecedented. For someone so young, his influence is growing at an alarming rate. The council is watching him closely."
"And you think he's dangerous?" Rias asked, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly.
"Not dangerous," Zekrom corrected. "But… unpredictable. That's why I believe an alliance is necessary—through marriage."
Rias blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Marriage? You're serious?"
"Completely," Zekrom said. "Raizer is ambitious, yes, but he's also intelligent and capable. Together, the two of you could achieve greatness—not just for yourselves but for the entire underworld."
Rias frowned, clearly skeptical. "And what if I don't want to be part of someone else's political strategy?"
Zekrom's expression softened. "This isn't about strategy, Rias. It's about ensuring stability and protecting the balance of power. Raizer's rise is inevitable, but with you by his side, you can shape that rise into something beneficial for all of us."
Rias sat back, her mind clearly racing. Finally, she sighed. "I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask," Zekrom said with a smile.
Presenting the Plan
With Rias's tentative agreement secured, Zekrom moved quickly to present his proposal to the Devil Council. The meeting took place in a grand chamber, where the council members sat in a semicircle, their expressions varying from curious to skeptical.
Zekrom stood at the center, his presence commanding but not overbearing.
"Esteemed members of the council," he began, his voice steady. "I come before you not with a demand, but with a solution."
He outlined his argument with precision, emphasizing the potential benefits of the marriage and the stability it would bring to the underworld.
"Raizer Phoenix is an exceptional young devil," Zekrom said. "But his strength, unchecked, could upset the balance. A marriage to Rias Gremory would bind him to the council's interests and ensure that his power is used responsibly."
The council deliberated for hours, their voices filling the chamber with heated debate. But by the end of the session, Zekrom had what he wanted: unanimous approval.
Reflection and Anticipation
Back at his estate, Zekrom sat alone in his study, savoring a rare moment of satisfaction. The pieces were falling into place. With the council's backing, the marriage proposal was as good as done.
"Raizer Phoenix," Zekrom murmured, staring into his glass of wine. "You've built an empire of strength, but strength alone is never enough. Soon, you'll learn the value of alliances—and the price of defiance."
Yet, despite his confidence, a faint sense of unease lingered in the back of Zekrom's mind. Raizer was no ordinary devil, and his peerage was a force unlike anything the underworld had ever seen.
"If he accepts," Zekrom thought, "then all is well. But if he resists… no, he wouldn't dare."
Still, the thought of the rising phoenix going against the council's will was enough to send a chill through even Zekrom's calculated mind.
"Let's hope the boy understands what's best for him," Zekrom said quietly. "For his sake—and ours."
And as the night deepened, Zekrom's silver eyes glinted with the cold, calculated confidence of a man who had spent centuries bending the world to his will.
This chapter dives into Zekrom Beal's perspective, highlighting his calculated plans to bind Raizer through marriage to Rias Gremory while emphasizing the political intricacies and personal motivations behind his actions. Let me know if there's anything you'd like adjusted or expanded!
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