Reinhardt set off toward his grandfather's estate, but he wasn't going empty-handed. He opened the system interface with a thought.

  "System, purchase Advanced Conqueror's Haki."

  [Transaction Successful. 100,000,000 Devil Coins Deducted.]

  [Current Balance: 375,000,000 Devil Coins]

  As the knowledge and spiritual weight of the skill integrated, Reinhardt's very presence shifted. He wasn't just a powerful Devil anymore; he radiated the aura of a True King. Every step he took felt heavier, and the local wildlife went silent in instinctive submission.

  He strolled through the moonlit woods, humming a light tune, seemingly without a care in the world. Suddenly, he stopped. "You can come out now," he said, his voice smooth and echoing in the quiet night. "No use hiding in the shadows."

  From the branches of a towering tree, Grayfia Lucifuge descended with the grace of a falling snowflake. She landed softly, her silver hair shimmering in the moonlight.

  Reinhardt turned, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "To what do I owe the grace of such a beautiful lady for a chat?"

  Grayfia, usually a pillar of stoic professionalism, momentarily lost her composure. She had come to interrogate a potential threat, but his casual, flirtatious greeting caught her off guard. She opened her mouth to speak, but Reinhardt beat her to it.

  "Are you lost? Looking for directions? Or," he took a step closer, his eyes twinkling, "do you want to have a date with me? I have to say, I prefer long-term relationships, but for you, I could make an exception."

  Grayfia let out a genuine chuckle, a soft blush creeping onto her pale cheeks. "You are certainly... bold."

  "And you look incredibly cute when you laugh," Reinhardt countered. The blush on her face deepened to a brilliant red.

  Before she could regain her footing, Reinhardt moved with blinding speed. He didn't attack; instead, he pinned her against the tree with one hand—a classic "Kabedon." Grayfia's heart began to hammer against her ribs, her breath hitching as he leaned into her personal space.

  "I have to say," Reinhardt whispered, his gaze intense, "your eyes are so beautiful. I feel like I could stare into them all day."

  Grayfia stared back, mesmerized. For the first time in her life, someone wasn't looking at her as a tool of the Lucifuge or a powerful soldier. He was looking at her soul. "Who... who do you think I am?" she managed to ask.

  Reinhardt scanned her outfit with a wink. "Well, you look like a maid to a high house, but I must say, the dress looks damn good on you."

  "Thank you," she whispered, genuinely touched by the simple compliment.

  "So, beautiful lady with the blue eyes," Reinhardt asked, leaning back just an inch, "what can I do for you?"

  Grayfia cleared her throat, trying to remember her mission. "Do you know of Reinhardt Phenex?"

  Reinhardt let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I know him. Handsome, dynamic, a real catch."

  "Where can I find him?"

  Reinhardt pointed a thumb at his own chest. "Right here."

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Grayfia chuckled again, the absurdity of the situation melting her cold exterior. "You're impossible. Don't you want to know my name?"

  Reinhardt turned around, waving a hand over his shoulder as he began to walk away. "Nope."

  "Why?" she called out, confused.

  "If we're lucky, and fate favors us when we meet next time, I'll ask then," he replied, his voice fading into the trees. "Until then, you're just a 'Beautiful Lady' to me. See ya!"

  Grayfia stood against the tree for a long time after he left, laughing softly to herself. For the first time, she had met a man who didn't look at her with hunger or greed, but with genuine appreciation.

  Reinhardt Phenex... she thought, a small, permanent smile gracing her lips. You are definitely not what I expected.

  [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

  [Favourability Gained: Grayfia Lucifuge (Interest)]

  [Quest Update: The Cold Queen is Melting!]

  Back in the forest, Grayfia stood alone in the moonlight, suddenly realizing she had completely forgotten to ask him about the massive heat signature that had destroyed the messengers. She had been so charmed that her entire mission had slipped her mind.

  "Ugh! You... you smooth-talking brat!" she huffed, her face flushing as she panted with frustration. She pouted, stomping her foot into the dirt like a flustered teenager before turning on her heel. "Fine! Enjoy your mystery for now, Reinhardt. I'll get my answers during our 'next greeting'!"

  The Bael Stronghold

  Reinhardt arrived at the massive, gothic gates of the Bael Mansion. The guards and the head butler, who had watched Reinhardt grow up and frequently played with him as a child, stood straight and offered a deep, respectful bow.

  "Welcome home, Young Master Reinhardt," they greeted in unison.

  "Hey, Uncle Butler," Reinhardt replied with a casual wave. "Tell me, where's the old geezer hiding today?"

  The butler smiled thinly and gestured toward the grand study. As Reinhardt approached the heavy oak doors, he heard the sharp, arrogant voices of elders scolding his grandfather. His eyes went cold. He didn't knock; he slammed the door open with such force that it bounced off the stone walls.

  The room went silent. A group of Bael branch elders stood there, stunned by the intrusion.

  "Hello there. Reinhardt Phenex Bael at your service," he said, his voice dripping with mock politeness. He looked the elders up and down with pure disdain. "Now, why don't you lot pick your asses up and get lost? Will ya?"

  "You... you insolent whelp!" one elder roared, stepping forward. "Who do you think you—"

  He didn't finish. Reinhardt unleashed a concentrated burst of Advanced Conqueror's Haki. The air became thick as lead, and the floorboards groaned under the invisible weight. The elders began to shake, sweat pouring down their faces as they looked into Reinhardt's eyes—eyes that held the authority of a king.

  "Am I clear?" Reinhardt asked, his voice a low, cold vibration.

  The elders nodded frantically, their pride vanished, and they scrambled out of the room like a spree of frightened rats.

  Reinhardt's aura vanished as quickly as it appeared. He sauntered over to the desk and plopped down into the chair opposite his grandfather. He reached into a crystal jar, popped a chocolate into his mouth, and chewed lazily.

  "Old man, don't thank me," he mumbled through the candy.

  Zeckram Bael let out a hearty chuckle, the tension leaving his shoulders. "I wasn't planning on thanking you, you brat."

  "I must say, old man, this candy is quite good. Where'd you buy it?" Reinhardt asked. Zeckram gave him the name of a high-end confectionary in the capital, and Reinhardt nodded in approval.

  "So," Reinhardt's tone shifted, becoming sharper. "Who were those geezers? Let me guess: Bael branch family members coming to offer 'support'?"

  "They were," Zeckram sighed.

  "Support for the Old Satan Faction in the upcoming war, right?"

  The silence that followed was deafening. Zeckram and the butler both froze, their eyes wide with shock.

  "How... how did you know about that, Rein?" Zeckram asked, his voice hushed.

  Reinhardt leaned back, looking at the ceiling. "There's no need to think too hard about it. After the original Satans died off, you made your own faction to stay neutral. But the new generation of the Old Satan descendants? They're weak, and they know it. They're craving power and want to remove any rivals from the other factions. Soon, an Anti-Maou faction will rise to fight them. And you? You're just sitting here, trying to find a way to let both sides bleed out without getting your own hands dirty. Am I right?"

  Zeckram and the butler stared at the fifteen-year-old boy as if he were a ghost. He hadn't just predicted the Civil War—he had perfectly mapped out the political landscape of the entire Underworld.

  [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

  [Grandfather's Respect: Level Max]

  [Zeckram now views you as his political successor, not just a grandson.]