After leaving Griselda, Rhode teleported directly back to Kuoh Town. As for the mission to investigate the Holy Swords—since he knew the plot, he wasn't going to waste time starting from scratch. He didn't even need to guess; Xenovia and the others would inevitably start from where the swords were stolen and follow the "breadcrumbs" left by the thieves, eventually finding their way to Kuoh Town in Japan.
Kokabiel wanted to restart the war. Since the leaders of the three factions weren't keen on fighting, he had come up with a plan using his rear end instead of his brain. First, he'd have stray exorcists steal the swords, then he'd head to Kuoh Town to kill Rias Gremory, the younger sister of Maou Lucifer.
In his mind, these two acts would surely enrage Heaven and the Underworld. Since the culprit was a Fallen Angel cadre who had survived the Great War, the opponents sent to arrest him would surely be the strongest of both factions. A Seraph from Heaven, a Maou from the Underworld, and Kokabiel himself. The intensity of a three-way clash would be enough to wipe several cities off the map. Once the fighting started, the war wouldn't be something that could be stopped by personal will.
Of course, the ideal was grand, but reality was harsh. Rhode knew that both Heaven and the Underworld saw right through Kokabiel's plan. Thus, the Church sent two Holy Sword wielders, while the Underworld left the resistance to Rias and Sona Sitri. Finally, the White Dragon Emperor would provide the finishing touch. Therefore, even if Rhode didn't participate at all, the situation wouldn't spiral out of control.
Of course, there would be no mission rewards then.
"It seems no matter what I do, Kokabiel will eventually show up. To be safe, it's best to develop the Balance Breaker as soon as possible."
While thinking, Rhode entered the house from the backyard. The teleportation anchor for Kuoh Town had been set there; otherwise, he wouldn't have bought this property. Since it was late at night, the women were already asleep. Rhode didn't wake Asia, intending to give her the letter the next morning.
He returned to his room without making a sound. By the faint glow of the nightlight, he saw a familiar figure curled up under his thin quilt. Lavinia was lying on her side on his bed, her silk spaghetti-strap nightgown tracing her curvaceous figure. The white fabric shimmered with a delicate luster, complementing her pale skin. One strap had slipped slightly, revealing an elegant collarbone and a generous portion of her "Twin Peaks." The hem of the gown was just long enough to cover her upper thighs, her straight legs crossed, which, together with her waist, created a captivating curve.
Even in her ungraceful sleep, she possessed an undeniable charm. Rhode felt his "steely will" awakening. He didn't gentlemanly exit the room to let Lavinia have it; instead, he changed his clothes and lay down. Unfortunately, since he wasn't sure of Lavinia's attitude, he couldn't be too indulgent. He could only "rub against the gate without entering." For now, he would have to let his "little brother" endure it for a while.
The next morning, the sun rose as usual. He and Lavinia were in their usual positions. As soon as she woke up, Rhode got dressed and left the room. Not long after he left, Lavinia opened her sleepy eyes. Sensing a slight abnormality in her body, a blush crept onto her delicate face, though it quickly vanished.
"Am I... a frivolous woman?"
"I wonder if Rhode likes me like this. After all, if I keep sleepwalking, it must be quite a bother... Rhode is a healthy young man, after all."
Lavinia was a bit troubled. Her habit of being dazed in her sleep was hard to correct. Moreover, the place she sleepwalked to was somewhere her subconscious deemed close. It had happened several times in the past. However, the only male involved was Rhode. Whenever she thought of Rhode's secretive actions on her body, she felt troubled. She wondered if staying like this would eventually "break" Rhode's self-control. But she had also heard that such matters were a lifelong commitment for a woman, so she had to consider it carefully for a while.
When Lavinia arrived in the living room, she saw Asia just finishing her prayers. The scent of food drifted from the kitchen. The Fallen Angel trio, who had woken up earlier than them, were preparing a delicious breakfast. Smelling the appetizing aroma, Lavinia's chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down.
Rhode handed the letter to Asia.
"Huh? Is this for me?" The young nun was very surprised. At first, she thought Rhode had made a mistake, but when she saw "To: Asia Argento" on the envelope, her mind went blank. Asia tried hard to recall her past but couldn't guess who would send her a letter. After all, from the moment she was excommunicated, her former friendships and ties had been severed.
"Open it and see. Maybe it's a surprise."
Rhode was a curious person, but he hadn't peeked at the contents. Since Griselda had made such a big deal of it, it probably wasn't anything bad.
"Okay." Asia nodded and followed Rhode's suggestion. Beside the letter, there were several photographs in the envelope. Asia began to read. Within ten seconds, her eyes turned red, and tears quickly welled up. The tears fell like broken pearls, and she began to sob.
"What happened, meow?! Who bullied Asia, meow?! This cat will scratch them to death, meow!"
Hearing the crying, Kuroka dashed out of the kitchen, her eyes immediately locking onto Rhode. Clearly, in her mind, Rhode was the prime suspect. If Rhode knew what she was thinking, he wouldn't mind being a "cat person" again.
"No... it's not that." Asia wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve. Her voice was shaky, but a happy smile was on her face. "It's... the people I used to know. They wrote to me. They're thanking me in the letter... it's wonderful. They didn't forget me. There's a group photo here too... I... I'm so happy. Mr. Rhode, thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it this far... to see this letter!"
Asia's eyes were red, but they were full of tenderness and longing. At the same time, there was the relief of a knot in her heart finally being untied. Rhode took a quick glance at the letter Asia held out. The contents were indeed words of gratitude, and the photos were of Asia's former colleagues and the people who had been helped by her Sacred Gear. There were group shots and individual photos, with words of encouragement written on the back.
"Doing this much means they aren't completely heartless," Rhode chuckled.
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High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (144 Chapters – Ongoing)
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