Monarch of Gluttony: System of Sin

"You can hear me?" Instead of stepping back, Raphael stepped forward. He needed to be sure about this first. He needed to know just what this man was capable of.

"Why won't I be able to hear you, Raphael?" The man asked again.

The man slowly opened his dark yet alluring eyes, looking in the exact direction where Raphael was standing.

"Anyway, I don't think you should stay standing. Take a seat."

"So you can also see me?" Raphael asked. "In that case, you must have known that I was following you?"

"Of course, I knew." The man smirked in return. "I also knew where you and your little group were hiding. Is it that surprising?"

"If you knew, why didn't you attack us?" Raphael asked.

"If you want answers, I would really advise that you sit down first. We have all the time in the world to talk."

The winged man made himself more comfortable as he simply lied on the sofa like it was his bed, resting one foot over the other.

Raphael didn't know what the man was planning, but he wasn't going to do as the man asked. "I'm fine the way I am."

"Answer me. Who are you? Why do you know my name? And why didn't you attack us if you already knew where we were? Why did you send your entire army on a false chase?"

"Why do I feel like the answers to all those questions are the same?" The man stated, seemingly amused. "Anyway, I'm afraid I can't answer that question yet."

"As for why I didn't attack you, that I can answer. As much as you might not want to believe me, but the truth is that I don't really want you all dead," The man confessed. "If I wanted you to be killed I would've done so the moment you first started fighting in my city. Not as if I didn't know about it?"

"I do truly hate you all though. It's because of you all that my plan was spoiled. It's all because of you that I lost the stone of time that should've belonged to me! You idiots just had to interfere at the wrong time. You have no idea how angry I was when you all used that stone and made it useless over such a nonsensical thing as a quest."

"You have no idea what kind of paradox you've created, idiots," The man further stated. "When you did it, I was so enraged; you're lucky you weren't before me at the moment. I would've twisted all your necks myself."

"Fortunately for you, I've had some time to calm down. I still feel angry, but not as angry as wanting to kill you right this moment."

"Who really are you?" That was the biggest question that was in Raphael's head, and he had no answer to it. The man wasn't answering the most important question.

"I told you I can't answer you regarding that, but I can tell you something that might change your life. You must leave Azekiel... I can help you regain your real body. Just leave Azekiel when you have the opportunity. Not only will you get your body back, but also everything else that you lost."

"If you side with me, together we can change the entire universe. Together, we can make a difference. So it's for you to decide. Do you want to be a slave to Azekiel all your life, or you want to get back the authority and the dignity that used to belong to you?"

"Join me, and see how the doors of destiny open up for you. Also, if you're worried if it's even possible since you're a familiar of Azekiel, then trust me, it is possible for you to be free. You can be free of his control, and I can help you achieve that."

"Why do you want to help me?" Raphael frowned.

"Of course, nothing in this world comes for free. Even my help won't come free. Since you'll be on my side, we'll be working together. I'll be helping you, and you'll be helping me. And together, we can have our revenge!"

"So, do you want to be free or not? I won't force you. It's not as if I can force you, either. I know how strong your mental defense will be. You won't be like Lenora. That's why I'm extending a helping hand toward you."

"So what do you say? You join me, and I help you be free and get back your body? Or you refuse me and become my enemy? In the latter case, I would be really disappointed to lose you. But at the same time, I'll also have to destroy you."

Not only did the man extend an olive branch, but he also issued a threat simultaneously in case the lure wasn't enough of a motivation.

"What would I have to do if I joined you?" Raphael asked. "And how exactly will you help me?"

"You won't have to do many things. Only basic things like fighting with me against our enemies. But before that, you will have to tell me just why Azekiel actually came here. What's his real motive in coming here?"

"You don't know about that?" The corners of Raphael's lips crept up. "Funny. Even someone like you who seems to know things that he shouldn't have no idea why Azekiel came here."

"You can enjoy it, but that doesn't change anything. Raphael, you all might think that Azekiel is a naive person who needs your help, but you have no idea about the real him. You don't know a single thing. You think you know him? You don't. You still have the chance to get out of his control before it's too late."

"So don't make me get serious! Tell me, what brought that bastard here?!" The man asked again. Finally, he seemed to be getting somewhat agitated.

"I don't know him. And you do?" Raphael rolled his eyes.

"Of course I do! I know that bastard better than anyone else in the world! You might think that I'm the bad guy in this situation, but I'm not. I'm the good guy who is trying to save you! You just can't see it yet!"