Ch-21: Arrival of The Devil King
On the streets of Rome, a limousine was moving slowly. On the back seat of the car a middle-aged man and a young, beautiful girl were sitting.
The middle-aged man was nearly forty years old. He has an upright appearance and a figure resembling that of the Statue of David, exuding a intellectual and refined temperament.
He was leaning on the car seat, and his calm eyes stared at scenery passing by the car's window, thinking about something.
He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian mage association— Copper Black Cross, Paolo Blandelli.
He rushed from the headquarters in Milan because of the call of the 'king', but Paolo Blandelli is not going to the Holy See to meet the 'king' now.
He is going to the Headquarters of the Female Wolf, the mage association in Rome to take part in a important meeting on the 'king'.
Beside Paolo Brandelli was sitting a glamorous blonde girl.
She seems to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, but her body is more 'well-developed' for a girl of her age, her gorgeous golden-blonde hair was scattered on her shoulders.
Wearing a red long dress, with slender waist yet very voluptuous build with large breasts. She had a heroic demeanour which attracts people's attention regardless of age
The young girl was sitting next to Paolo Brandelli, her face graceful and awe-inspiring, like a sharp sword out of its sheath, but her whole body exuded the elegance and extravagance demeanour of a noble lady.
"Uncle, aren't you going to meet the new 'king'? This doesn't seems to be the way to Vatican but, rather to Female Wolf's headquarters. But, why are you taking me with you?"
The girl looked at the scenery outside the car window, her beautiful brows wrinkled slightly, and she asked in puzzlement.
"Erica, before going to meet the 'King', we 'Seven Sisters' of Italy, first need to hold a meeting to discuss about an important matter."
"Although you met the Heads of the other six mage associations before, you haven't participated in a formal 'alliance meeting' like this. This time is an opportunity for you to get some experience."
Paolo Brandelli said gently, although his words were simple, they revealed a lot of meaning to Erica.
Erica Brandelli's frowning brows smoothed, and a faintly excited smile appeared on her face.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the 'Copper Black Cross', her uncle was taking her in an important mage alliance meeting between the Commander in Chiefs of different mage association, which was a hint in and itself.
The title, 'Diavolo Rosso', or the 'Crimson Devil' is bagged by the strongest knight in the younger generation of the Copper Black Cross in a competition.
Though not always, being the 'Crimson Devil' means being the in-line successor of the Commander in Chief of the Copper Black Cross.
Moreover, she is the 'Crimson Devil' of this generation! She is literally the next head of the Copper Black Cross!
But soon, Erica suppressed the restlessness in her heart. Compared with the honor she got over in the competition, the profound meaning of this meeting made her care more.
"Uncle, is it because of the new 'King' and the 'King of Swords', Salvatore Doni?"
Erica asked, implicitly worried.
Paolo didn't say a word, he just nodded slightly to indicate that Erica had guessed right, the atmosphere in the car gradually solidified.
The two did not speak again until the car drove into the gate of the Female Wolf's headquarters.
Under the red dress, a beautiful foot wearing white fleece stockings stepped on the ground with the bright red high heels.
Erica ignored the other young mages and knights in the Female Wolf headquarters looking at her in either reverence, or awe, or admiration, or worship, or fear.
She elegantly followed in the footsteps of her uncle and walked into the main conference hall of the Female Wolf Headquarters.
The Female Wolf's headquarter's conference was filled with the best knights and mages in all of Italy.
In the center of the hall was a round table surrounded by seven seats, which is the sitting position of the Heads of the Seven Sisters.
Five people were already seated, leaving two seats empty of those seven chairs. Paolo walked over and filled one of those empty seats.
The seventh magic association is now in a turbulent period and has not yet elected its new Head so it was excluded from this meeting.
Erica just roughly scanned the conference hall, and then she saw an acquaintance.
The knight had fairy-like appearance with long silver hair and blue eyes. She stood solemnly behind a pretty young woman who was dressed up in a grand mage robes.
Although the young girl was of Erica's age in appearance, she lacked the delicate charm of a young girl because of her 'knight-like' temperament. She looked like most serious person in the room.
Liliana Kranjcar, the eldest daughter of the famous Kranjcar family in the magic world, belongs to the magic organization, Bronze Black Cross.
Although Copper Black Cross and Bronze Black Cross are the members of the alliance of 'Seven Sisters', the two mage associations based in Milan have been hostile with each other for hundreds of years.
However, the two are not exactly enemies at the same time, they are more like frenemies. So, Erica and Liliana have a good relationship in private but competitors on surface.
After seeing her acquaintance, Erica's face showed a playful smile and then she mischievously blinked at Liliana.
Liliana just glared back at Erica, and then she continued to look straight and ignored Erica's provocation.
Erica did not continue to tease Liliana, soon her face became as serious as Liliana then she walked and stood behind her uncle.
Everyone present in this conference hall are a big name in Italian magic world. A junior like her is not qualified to be too casual here.
This her wrong behavior will cause the 'Copper Bronze Cross' to lose it's face in front of the whole Italian magic world.
"Since, Paolo Brandelli has arrived. Let's start the meeting quickly, we can't let the new 'king' wait for us for a long time."
The Commander in Chief of the mage association 'Capital of Lilies' spoke first. He was a young man in his twenties.
His real name has been abandoned long ago. Instead, he has inherited the name or title each generation head of the 'Capital of Lilies' takes— The Purple Knight
Old Dame, the Commander in Chief of the 'Olden Dame' added: "...The purpose of this meeting, I think everyone should be clear about it. Let's not our waste time and directly talk about the main point..."
"I want to ask about the new 'King', who of you has detailed information? This is related to our 'Seven Sisters' Mage Alliance. I hope you don't conceal anything."
The Commander in Chief of Bronze Black Cross was the baby-faced young woman dressed in the grand mage robe, sitting in front of Liliana, whose name is Diana Milito.
As soon as Old Dame's voice fell, she chuckled: "...Old Lady, even you will come out of your headquarter instead of still hiding inside. It seems that the new king has put you under a lot of pressure... "
"According to the information we have obtained from the Holy See, it is said that the new king is a 16 years old boy, only two years older than my disciple, Liliana."
"...Regarding the Authority possessed by the new king, we can only guess that it has something to do with Archangel Michael."
"Even the 'idlers' in Witenagemot of Greenwich haven't investigated more detailed information. This 'king' doesn't have any records. The process of killing the Heretic God is unknown."
"However, since the Holy See has identified him as a Campione, we must deal with the 'king' with the attitude we face a Campione with. The credibility of the Holy See can still be trusted upon."
"The person who kills the gods is never a powerful mage..."
Paolo Brandelli continued elegantly: "...I had many contacts with the Black Prince, the Campione of British Empire, and I have personally witnessed the terrible power a Campione holds..."
"Even with the strength I currently possess, I will be easily crushed by their overwhelming power."
"When facing a Heretic God, we are as weak as a child, no, even more weaker than a child. However, Campione can slay those gods."
"A Campione is such an 'unreasonable' existence, a being that us knights and mages cannot even touch."
There was silence in the meeting room, everyone's breathing seemed a little heavy. Paolo Brandelli is undoubtedly a figure standing at the apex in the magic world.
It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the strongest knight of Italy, but even he cannot harm a single hair of a Campione or a Heretic God.
This also makes people feel desperate and sorrowful in front of the power possessed by Campiones and Heretic Gods.
Not everyone has seen a Heretic God. Although the Heretic God is a natural disaster, maybe even a single Heretic God will not manifest in a few years or even for decades.
Even if a Heretic God manifests, it will not be long before a 'king' will make a move to usurp the Heretic God's Authority.
Even the Head of 'Capital of Lilies', the chief of the mage association known for their information capability has never seen a Heretic God in his whole life, let alone other mages and knights.
"Stop talking about your great achievements, Paolo Brandelli. This is not a venue for you to tell us about your glorious past!"
As a hostile mage association, Dianna Milito interrupted Paul's words with a rather aggressive tone.
"...We know too little information about the new king, but only from this small amount of information, it can be judged that the new king's personality is quite similar to a teenager."
"The new king has the willfulness of young people nowadays. Therefore, we are here to make a vote. Either we choose to continue to support the 'King of Swords' Salvatore Doni."
"Or choose to betray and commit ourselves to the new king. However, supporting the new king is not...."
"Sorry for interrupting you, Chief Milito, but please listen to me. Liliana and I have had contact with Salvatore Doni."
"His character is not suitable for allegiance, especially if the character of the new king is too arrogant, we may be retaliated against if we disobey his orders!"
"Especially since Salvatore is just our nominal leader, we 'Seven Sisters' are not his real subordinates. This is not a betrayal. So I suggest..."
Faced with the gaze of many big players in the Italian magic world, Erica was not afraid to speak out her own thoughts.
Her self-confident attitude made the old mages and knights present nodded secretly in approval, secretly envying the excellent juniors possessed by Copper Black Cross.
But Erica's words were not finished yet, she was interrupted by the Commander of the Capital of Lilies:
"....Erica Brandelli, please pay attention to the occasion, although you are the 'Diavolo Rosso' of Copper Black Cross, but you don't have the right to speak here..."
'The Purple Knight' tone was very dissatisfied.
Erica's face flushed, all her words were held back. She endured for a while, and finally sighed and bowed and said:
"...It was me who made a mistake, I hope you chiefs pardon my actions."
Paolo Brandelli just wanted to comfort his niece, when the door of the conference room suddenly opened.
Everyone frowned, there should be no more people here, which person is so rude to dare to break in such an important conference meeting.
Countless people turned their gazes to the gate, there stood a young boy in red cardinal robes with his right hand in his pocket, looking at them with interest.
"All the Chiefs are gathered here, together, it really saves me the time to find you one by one. I am very happy for your kindness, but..."
"It's just that I asked you to meet me immediately, but why do I see you all here holding some kind of a meeting?"
When the voice fell, the expressions of all the mages and knights who where angry at the intrusion changed.