Meeting Riser Phoenix! And it didn't go well!

Issei walked with the rest of the Peerage to the club room many hours later, his heart hammering. Rias had sent for them, though also mentioned to not involve Raynare, given the obviously sensitive topics soon to be discussed. Issei had sent her off to the evasion training grounds, asking her to hide all the heavy objects she could. Though obviously not telling the rest of the Peerage, only assuring them that she would be preoccupied for awhile. They entered the room, and Rias was standing next to another woman wearing an outfit reminiscent of a maid outfit... And she was glaring daggers at Issei. Rias had a grim expression herself. That couldn't be a good sign...

"Lady Grayfia," Akeno bowed, followed by the rest of the Peerage, Issei and Asia awkwardly following suit, Asia less so.

"Master... As I'm sure you've guessed, the conversation with my brother... Didn't go as I had hoped... Though it went how I expected," Rias replied, giving the woman, clearly Grayfia, a dirty look.

"What happened?" Issei asked.

"Sirzechs-sama has accepted that Lady Rias is a genie now," Grayfia stated coldly. "What he has not accepted, and rightly so, is who her Master is."

Issei's mind ran through the implications, before his mind clicked on a conclusion. "...so, you are about to demand I hand over the Lamp?" Issei questioned, his expression guarded.

"Unfortunately, not. For reasons I cannot fathom, Sirzechs-sama has decided to allow a sporting ch-" Grayfia started to say, before a spell circle lit up nearby.

"...that's... the crest of the Phoenix family!" Kiba realized, already on guard. The circle flashed, and a man stepped out, his expression cold.

"Riser," Rias said flatly.

"Rias," Riser replied, before turning his gaze to Issei, pure disdain in his expression. "So, this commoner trash is the one who possesses the artifact of power in question?"

Issei bristled at that. Who did this bastard think he was!?