The aftermath of the battle between Azrael and Crowley continued to reverberate throughout the Empire like ripples from a stone cast into still waters. For Azrael, one of the primary participants, the subsequent events remained connected to him, though it was clear that public attention had shifted decisively toward the Mizuno family's disgrace. He had beco almost peripheral to the scandal that now consud political circles.
Not that Azrael minded this developnt in the slightest. He was perfectly content to retreat from the spotlight and allow others to deal with the consequences.
His peaceful ditation was interrupted by the familiar presence of a Shadowkhan materializing beside him, the spectral warrior respectfully holding his mobile device with military precision.
[Fredrika: Azrael, are you free today? If you are available, please visit .]
Azrael's eyes opened as he read the ssage, and he couldn't suppress a slight frown. Seeing Fredrika's na on his phone always filled him with a subtle sense of unease, though he couldn't quite articulate why her communications made him feel so cold.
After a mont's consideration, he typed back a brief response.
[Azrael: I'll be there shortly.]
anwhile, at the Velvet Springhouse, Fredrika's stunning features couldn't entirely mask the exhaustion weighing heavily upon her shoulders. The events of the past few days had caught her completely off guard, forcing her to navigate political currents she'd never anticipated.
President Jin's orders had been crystal clear: elevate Azrael's authority to the absolute highest level within the organization. This ant that despite his Silver-level status as a Lore Cardian, he now ranked second only to Jin himself within the Crimson Oath Society's hierarchy.
The implications were staggering, and Fredrika was still processing what this promotion ant for the organization's future.
Not long after sending her ssage, shadows began spreading across her office floor like spilled ink. A familiar figure erged from the darkness with practiced ease, his presence commanding imdiate attention.
"What did you want to discuss?" Azrael asked without preamble, already swiping through his phone to respond to the flood of congratulatory ssages that had been pouring in since his victory.
The battle's impact had been far-reaching indeed. Even forr classmates from Silverbrook High School had sent him ssages, their words carrying mixtures of amazent and barely concealed envy.
"Sir, this ti I need to discuss sothing of paramount importance," Fredrika's lodious voice carried across the office, though her tone suggested serious business rather than casual conversation.
Azrael's fingers paused over his phone screen as he looked up at Fredrika, noting how carefully she'd dressed for this eting. Suspicion colored his expression as he studied her calculated appearance. "If you have sothing to say, just say it directly. This ga of yours is getting tireso."
Fredrika's carefully posed figure froze for a mont before she adopted an expression of wounded innocence that would have fooled most observers. "Sir, do you truly hate so much?" she asked, her voice trembling with manufactured emotion.
Azrael couldn't decipher what this woman was attempting to accomplish with her theatrical performance. "Enough," he said curtly, gesturing for his Shadowkhan to prepare for departure.
Panic flashed across Fredrika's features as she realized he was genuinely preparing to leave. "No, wait! I'll explain everything imdiately!"
"The President has elevated your authority to the maximum level possible."
Azrael stopped in his tracks, genuine surprise registering on his features. "What exactly does that an?"
Seeing that she'd successfully captured his attention, Fredrika couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, though her hand unconsciously moved to her chest in a nervous gesture. "You should have encountered Master mphis, or perhaps other high-ranking mbers of our organization?"
"Master mphis."
Azrael repeated the na silently, imdiately recalling the suited man who had essentially forced him into joining the Crimson Oath Society through a combination of threats and incentives. The individual who had identified himself as mphis during their first encounter.
If anyone within the Crimson Oath Society could be described as "Master mphis," it could only be that particular operative.
After a mont's contemplation, Azrael responded carefully. "I've t him. What's the significance?"
Before Fredrika could elaborate, understanding dawned in Azrael's mind like lightning illuminating a dark landscape. "Are you telling I've achieved equivalent rank to him?"
Seeing that Azrael had grasped the implications, Fredrika's smile transford into sothing resembling a loyal dog eager for approval. "Precisely, you are now Master Azrael within our organizational structure."
A cascade of question marks seed to materialize above Azrael's head as confusion overwheld his thoughts.
What the hell just happened here? he wondered with growing bewildernt. I was originally planning to extract so modest benefits from this arrangent. How did I suddenly beco a high-ranking mber of the Crimson Oath Society?
The situation felt surreal beyond comprehension. After all, the Crimson Oath Society wasn't so random criminal organization operating in the shadows. From any objective governntal perspective, they represented the primary internal threat to imperial stability.
However, Azrael possessed enough self-control to conceal his emotional turmoil behind a mask of casual indifference. "Is that all? I thought you were going to discuss sothing more significant."
Observing that Azrael seed unaware of the practical implications of his new authority, Fredrika felt compelled to elaborate. "Sir, due to the President's contractual magic, you can now sense the existence of binding contracts affecting other individuals."
"Additionally, you possess command authority over any mber whose rank falls below your own."
This revelation sparked genuine curiosity in Azrael's expression. "Including you?"
Fredrika's response ca with visible reluctance. "Yes... including ."
"Then bark like a dog for ."
"Woof!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Fredrika barked obediently before imdiately covering her mouth with both hands, her face flushing crimson with embarrassnt and shock.
Azrael stared at the scene with amazent. He genuinely hadn't expected such a crude test to actually work. The power of Jin's contractual magic was apparently far more comprehensive than he'd realized.
Of course, Azrael understood that such authority couldn't be unlimited in scope. If he issued an order for Crimson Oath Society mbers to commit suicide, Jin would probably appear at his doorstep within minutes to have a very unpleasant conversation.
Still, having acquired such influence without any real effort on his part, Azrael felt comfortable accepting these benefits with a clear conscience.
Fredrika's blush deepened as she attempted to move past the previous embarrassing episode. "Master, I asked you to co here to inform you that your undercover mission remains active, so your true identity within our organization will not be revealed for the ti being."
Azrael nodded slightly to indicate his understanding. While he acknowledged that Jin's contractual magic was indeed formidable, he remained uncertain whether exotic cards might exist that could bypass such restrictions to uncover his real identity.
Therefore, maintaining secrecy regarding his elevated status seed like elentary operational security.
"Is there anything else?" Azrael asked, noting that Fredrika appeared to have additional matters to discuss.
Fredrika hurriedly retrieved an envelope from her desk drawer. "Master, this contains a stipend provided by the President in recognition of your new position."
Azrael felt initial surprise followed by pleasant satisfaction. He hadn't expected additional material benefits to accompany his promotion.
Opening the envelope, he discovered three familiar-looking materials nestled inside.
Silver-level [Demon Hunter] (Purple), Silver-level [Resurrection Blood] (Gold), Silver-level [Power Demon] (Gold).
Shaking the envelope thoughtfully, Azrael fixed Fredrika with a pointed look. "Why do these materials seem identical to ones I've received before?"
An awkward smile crossed Fredrika's features. "The organization's resource base isn't particularly extensive, Master. Please accept our limitations."
Azrael shook his head with wry amusent. While he'd understood that the Crimson Oath Society couldn't match the wealth of the Cardian Master Association or the Imperial Court, he hadn't expected his "promotion bonus" to be a carbon copy of previous rewards.
However, since his ntal energy hadn't expanded sufficiently to accommodate another card recently, he could potentially use these materials to upgrade Shinobu's capabilities. The cards he'd been using during Crimson Oath Society missions were becoming increasingly inadequate for his advancing power level.
If the organization assigned him to more demanding operations in the future, his current arsenal would prove insufficient for the challenges ahead.
Originally, he'd planned to create an equipnt card for Artoria, since she essentially beca useless after firing her devastating light cannon attack. But with free materials now available, such projects could be postponed.
Handing the envelope to his Shadowkhan attendant, Azrael addressed Fredrika with finality. "I'll be leaving now. Contact if anything important develops."
Fredrika, who typically projected an aura of untouchable seduction in front of outsiders, lowered her proud head in respectful submission. "Master, please take care."
Azrael waved dismissively and departed her office under the protection of his spectral escort.
As soon as Azrael left, Fredrika collapsed into her executive chair with visible relief, her heart still racing from the encounter. Due to the hierarchical authority structure, she would have been powerless to resist anything Azrael might have chosen to do to her during their eting.
Fortunately, this Sixth Master didn't seem inclined toward such inappropriate behavior.
Azrael remained unaware of Fredrika's internal anxieties, though if he had known, he would have found her concerns rather contradictory. There seed to be a disconnect between her provocative presentation and her genuine thoughts about potential consequences.
Even if he had been aware of such concerns, Azrael possessed no interest in exploring them further. After all, he wasn't so predatory individual seeking to exploit power imbalances for personal gratification.
The tragic narrative of a gambling father, sick mother, younger brother in school, and a woman broken by circumstances, he'd heard variations of that story far too many tis to find it compelling or arousing. Real human suffering held no appeal for him whatsoever.
As his Shadowkhan carried him through the realm of shadows back toward his residence, Azrael reflected on the unexpected turn his relationship with the Crimson Oath Society had taken. What had begun as a reluctant association born of necessity had sohow transford into a position of genuine authority within their hierarchy.
The irony wasn't lost on him that he'd essentially beco a leader among the very forces working to undermine the empire he was supposedly loyal to through his connection to Master Lucian and the Cardian Master Association.
Politics in this world are more complex than I initially realized, he mused as familiar surroundings materialized around him. But as long as I can continue advancing my own power and protecting those I care about, these temporary contradictions are manageable.
The materials in his possession offered new possibilities for strengthening his capabilities, and his elevated position within the Crimson Oath Society would provide access to resources and information that could prove invaluable in the challenges ahead.
For now, he would continue playing all sides while pursuing his ultimate goal: becoming powerful enough that such political maneuvering would beco irrelevant to his security and freedom.
After all, when one possessed sufficient personal strength, the sches of organizations and governnts beca rely entertaining background noise rather than existential threats.
The ga was becoming more interesting by the day, and Azrael intended to erge victorious regardless of which faction ultimately claid dominance over the empire's future.
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