DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 48: Gathering Evidence

in case you wanted to see Apex Manor, here: https://youtu.be/3bNgyOSNH_U. I highly recommend you check it out, it's truly a beautiful home. dream house material. otherwise, this chapter marks the beginning of the probably very short Volume X: Insidiae Bael. enjoy <3

New York City (BGM: Destiny: The Taken King - Remembrance)

Zach stood at the top of the Empire State Building, looking over the city he once called home.
"Hey, Michael. Maddie," he said to nobody. "Remember that night we flew up here after hours?" he asked. His grip on his bouquet of multicolored flowers loosened. "It was summer. Just the three of us, eating pizza by candlelight. We called it a fancy dinner." Zach smiled wistfully. "I remember relighting the candle every ten seconds because the wind kept blowing it out. Second best view in the city," Zach sighed. "Gonna miss you, Maddie. Lucas. Mom and Dad. Everyone. But..." Zach took a green flower and stuck his hand through the railing. He dropped the flower, letting the wind carry it away. "But it's time to move on." He kept dropping flowers of various colors. "Wonder if you guys had a memorial for me. Probably accepted reality a long time ago, huh?" He tossed a white flower over the edge. "I'll keep looking for a way home when I can. But for now, and maybe forever... goodbye." He gently let the last flower fall into the open air. He watched it dance in the wind, slowly heading toward the ground. "Now back to work. As always." Zach used a tiny but powerful energy bolt to carve a message into the stone part of the railing: Z.P., 2002-2019.

That afternoon, ORC Clubroom (End BGM)

Rias entered the clubroom with Issei to find Zach sitting in her chair again. She sighed. "Are you back to your old antics now?"
"You bet I am." Zach stood and let Rias have her seat. "I won't be attending the meeting today, though. Just here to say hi."
Issei frowned. "What? Why?"
Zach ignored Issei. "Rias, can I borrow you for a second? I need to talk to you about something. In private. Without the resident dragon himbo."
Issei cocked his head. "Dragon what now?"
"Sure." Rias led Zach into a private room. "Is everything alright?"
"No." Zach crossed his arms. "I think the Alliance has been betrayed."
Rias's eyes widened. "What? By who?"
"I can't tell you, not until I know who we can trust." Zach glanced at the door. "Just keep this between us for now. I'm going to head down to the Underworld and do some digging."
"If you're investigating a traitor, you might want to talk to Sona," Rias advised. "I'm technically not supposed to know this, but Tsubaki told me she's suspicious of one or possibly more as well."
Zach nodded. "I will. Thanks. And remember: between us. That means no Issei, no Akeno, no Sirzechs. Nobody."
"I know what 'between us' means, Zach." Rias opened the door a crack. "Good luck with your investigation."
"See you when I get back." Zach teleported away.

Student Council Office

Sona looked up from the email she was responding to as she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she called back.
Zach entered the room, closing the door behind himself. "Hey."
Sona was surprised to see her visitor, and even more surprised to see that he wasn't sulking anymore. She could see him once again brimming with confidence in every step, though she could feel that something was a little different. This new power has changed him, she guessed. But not in a bad way. Aloud, she said, "Zach. It's been a little while. What can I do for you?"
"There's something I need to talk to you about. Is this room secure?" he asked.
Sona frowned. "In what way?"
"I mean, can we speak freely here? Without any chance of someone listening in?"
Sona paused for a moment. "Come with me." She took his hand and teleported them into her private sauna. "Now we're safe."
"This is where you come to keep things secret?" Zach looked around, immediately noticing that Sona hadn't let go of his hand yet. "A sauna?"
"It's completely safe from anyone's prying eyes. Or ears, for that matter." Sona crossed her arms. "Is everything alright? What did we need to discuss in private?"
"You've been investigating a traitor, right? Or maybe multiple?"
Sona's eyes widened. "How'd you know?"
"Don't ask how. I think I know who one of them is."
"Who?"
"Sairaorg's father."
"What?"
"Are you going to ask when, where, why, and how next?" Zach guessed sarcastically.
Sona rolled her eyes. "I will ask a couple of those, actually. Why would Lord Bael betray us? And how did you come to this conclusion?"
"I have an eyewitness: Raynare." Zach fidgeted with his ring. "She and I had a talk after she was arrested. She told me about the torture that the Khaos Brigade put her through. And she told me the one in charge was none other than Lord Bael, though he still answers to Rizevim, who was... well, let's say he was upset with Bael for doing what he was doing. As for the why, I'm still not totally sure. That's why I'm headed down to the Underworld as soon as we're done talking."
"And you trust Raynare?"
"The way I see it, she has no reason to lie. She wants revenge, right? We're her best shot at getting it. But being a criminal, the Alliance won't listen to her word alone."
"How do you know the entire story wasn't fabricated?"
Zach hesitated before continuing, "At the Black Temple, during the party after the tournament, she showed up and danced with me. I didn't get a great look, but I could see some of her injuries. They were real, and they were bad. I think they even branded her. But according to her story, Rizevim showed up and healed her and the other captives. He disapproves of Bael's... conduct, but doesn't check in often enough to really stop him."
Sona put a hand on her chin. "It does add up... but I can't help but be suspicious of the source."
"Which is why I'm going to look into Bael personally. If I find proof that he's working for the Brigade, we'll know Raynare was telling the truth and I can get permission to take him down. If not, she'll rot in prison forever."
"I see. Alright. I'll come with you," Sona decided. "The two of us together will be able to find more than just you alone."
"You sure you want to get tied up in this? If I turn out to be wrong, it'll be a stain on both our records," Zach warned. "You don't just accuse the head of the Bael family of treason, be wrong, and get away with it. Hell, even if we do find enough proof, we'll need to present our case carefully to make sure it's actually believed."
"I'm sure. I may not trust Raynare, but I do trust you. So I'm ready to leave when you are."
"...Alright, if you say so." Zach teleported them to Bael Castle. "Are we going to tell Sairaorg about this, or...?"
"Don't think we have a choice," Sona figured. "It's his father, after all. And if we have him with us, we can probably get access to places and documents we otherwise wouldn't. Unless you feel like sneaking around the second most heavily guarded building in the Underworld."
"I'd rather not make enemies if we don't have to," Zach decided. "Let's chat with Sairaorg." He took out his phone and gave Sairaorg a call. "Hey, dude. Sona and I are at your house for some work stuff. Can we talk real quick, or are you busy? ...Cool. See you in a sec." Zach hung up. "He's on the way."
After around a minute, Sairaorg came out to greet them with a smile. "Zach, Sona, so good to see you two. What brings you here? Based on what you said on the phone, it's not a leisure visit."
"You're right about that. It's something important," Sona said. "Can we talk somewhere away from prying ears?"
Sairaorg's smile faded. "Of course. Follow me." He led them into his home.