The sound of the door swinging shut was loud enough to call attention of the guest even without the question of the half-ghost. The Headmaster turned around whilst leaning on his umbrella, with the same grin plastered on his face. It was funny how Danny and him were similar whenever they did not interact with each other. Phantom obviously was becoming sour whenever he was near the Demon King. Danny, who had picked another shirt before going upstairs, glared at the demon, crossing his hands.

"You were watching, weren't you?"

"What else might a respected gentleman do up here?" Mephisto asked the teen. "It is quite interesting what you did down there."

"You expect an explanation? It is my power, you saw it when I tried to blast you. Now I just mentally drew a line that precisely cut him in the weak spot. Those rot types are pathetic."

"Not that, boyo. Nobody saw you use that, did they? Just how much can you throw some sand in their eyes?"

"It is a minor thing, and I am unable to do anything better. If I shot the blast you saw before, it would have been impossible to surround by that metaphorical veil. Now to another thing. You said that no stronger demon can get inside!"

"Are you calling that thing a 'stronger' demon?" Mephisto deadpanned, "That's the point, kiddo, strong demons may not enter, weaker ones can." He explained in a condescending tone. "Before you say that 'it's an odd way for the barrier to work', that's how it works. Deal with it. But I haven't actually come to observe your achievements. We need to learn who sent this thing here! Nobody trespasses on my school!"

"Precisely," Danny narrowed his eyes, "Nobody does. Which makes me wonder if you are the guy to send this thing. Or simply let someone else summon that sack of vomit."

"Huh?! How could you even assume such preposterous thing?"

Mephisto's tone clearly said that he was anything but hurt. Then he narrowed his eyes, "I take these matters seriously, for this trespassing is an insult to my prestige, both as a Headmaster and a Demon King. Hence we are to solve this little mystery before long."

"And I am involved in this just how?"

"That thing is still alive, and can, just barely, but talk. We wouldn't want anyone knowing what you are now, would we?" The demon grinned mischievously, whilst Phantom gave him a bashful look.

"I am in this situation because of your meddling, you dapper clown! Your promise of privacy was the only thing that made me stay. And with this only boon of this place gone, I am very tempted to leave. The first week has not even ended yet and already my carefully planned intimacy has been sabotaged. What next, Pheles? Satan shows up on my doorstep asking for sugar? I am tempted to believe in any sort of situation now. I just want to be alone, what's so damn hard about it?"

"You are naive if you think that you will be able to stay under the radar for so long. It may have worked for me, but I am a smart one, and I used to live in Gehenna half of the time. So unless you hide there, you are eventually going to be found out. And thus you are left with few things to do. You either help the Order like I do, or become so frightening that nobody dares to touch you. Need I mention how unlikely the second option is? You would have to be scarier than Satan himself."

"I know how to unleash the entire Gehenna here," Phantom shrugged, "You just have to open a stable door. Does this make a fine bargain?"

"Now that is interesting. Just how are you going to do this, kiddo?"

"You will be surprised how close technologies can come to this."

"This does sound like a viable threat. But where is the guarantee that you won't be killed before you go through with this, hm? Besides, we both know you are not going to do this, half-human that you are."

"For exorcists we are self-serving beasts. Do you really think they will look past their prejudices and understand my bluff?"

"They are smarter than you think, my dear surrogate brother."

"Please don't say stuff like this again," Danny winced in disgust, "Let's just go back to square one. Where do we find the owner of this cheap Frankenstein? It was returned to Gehenna by a ripped seal. I can't track it to its master."

"Oh, well, I will leave you to solve this your way while I use mine. Oh, and Daniel, dear, don't forget about the exams coming soon."

"I will be absent tomorrow."

"Seeking the assailant? Be my guest," the demon shrugged, "I haven't got an attendance list for you."

"No. As agreed, I have my own things to do. The attacker can wait. They won't say anything, because the revelation will immediately tell everyone who sent the demon."

"So that rant before..."

"I just looked for some misplaced aggression. And I do make a point, Pheles. You know what I want, and if you cannot fulfil it, then I am out of this," Danny turned around and entered the building, leaving a smiling demon behind.

"Oh, little king. You have much to learn. The conscious playthings are so much better."

"So this is the new king of ghosts? Doesn't look like much."

Mephisto turned around and saw the newcomer. The guy looked like a teenage boy with green hair, smaller than Danny, but in no way younger. He had a spike of hair which was lightly colored compared to the rest of his dark green hair and had long claw-like black fingernails. He wore a jacket that had some kind of cross bones as buttons. He also wore black and pink short sleeved shirt under his jacket, with rips at the ends. With a bored expression he was sitting on an antenna.

"Don't underestimate him, Amaimon. So far we know relatively little."

"Is he going to be a bother to our plans?"

"I believe in his honest apathy. Daniel should not be a problem to us, even if he refuses to do anything. But try to avoid him, still. He does strike me as a person who will kill another king without a second thought."

"Father won't like this upstart."

"Tell me something I don't know. But I keep the things under control, we learn about him without antagonising. If it stays this way, he may even help us out in some aspects."

"And how so, big brother?"

Mephisto let out a toothy grin.

Next morning, just as planned, Danny was about to skip the school. As expected, Yukio did not take this lightly during the breakfast. But there was nothing the young teacher could do to force the half-ghost to apply himself. And honestly, he cared little. That Demon King was not going to be an exorcist anyway. Or would he? At this thought the younger Okumura's stomach twisted. He had checked the results the other night, and the newbie scored ninety three without even sweating. It shouldn't be surprising, demons tended to know more than humans. Maybe the teen was overestimating Phantom's masterful scheming, but go tell him that. Yukio despised the newcomer more and more, it seemed. There was something personal in it, not only connected to Rin. This enormous potential that allowed to be the most aggravating student around was what pulled the strings of Yukio's soul. He himself had to drive himself like a plough to make everything like it was now, with him being in the current position.

Nonetheless, Phantom left the school grounds and went down the road. Opening his phone, he looked at the map, wondering where he would have to set out for the first meeting of the day. The picture looked like a diagnosis of someone ill with measles from all the waypoints he had put on it the day before, making it a difficulty to navigate. Finding what he was looking for, the teen began his slow pace to his destination that was in the other end of the city. He was not in any hurry, despite the distance. The walk was merely for appearance sake, in case something or someone was keeping an eye on him while near the academy. His assumptions were not without their ground. Even now he could see tiny demons bouncing around right outside, waiting for their pray.

Danny merely smirked and breathed out a bit. If he had tried to get rid of all of those he would have gone mad long ago. Thus it was better to just leave them alone, unless he needed to punch something. They deserved it, honestly, bothering his eyes as if something was wrong with them, with all those dark spots that never seemed to get away wherever one was to look. Phantom tossed one of the demons a little, it rolled around like a ball letting out strange gurgling noises. In the end the teen stepped on the bugger, sending it on the way to Gehenna. It was no different than squashing a fly in all honesty. The intelligence was comparable at least.

After a minute or so of consideration Danny decided to let the taxi take him to the place. He would rather fly, but this was an uncharted territory and, as it goes, in murky waters devil lurks. Better not tempt the fate. The drive was peaceful, if not irksome. The keen sense of smell betrayed the teen once more, letting in more fumes of cheapest cologne and sweat. The open window was the saving grace this time. Phantom just hoped that all will be worth it in the end. Because if Phantom was going to suffer just to be turned down, he would once again  be reassured about the consistent relationship between him and Lady Fate. An abusive one from the seems. Finally the trip was over, and the teen paid accordingly, before opening the door.

"A word of advice. Do something about this stench of yours," he said after exiting and peeking inside the car through the open door.

As the car with a disgruntled driver departed, Phantom looked around. He had a clue as to why the meeting was in a park of all places. Yet on those fertile grounds Danny didn't know where to go exactly. His senses were not getting any presence of the sought caliber. So he decided to not show up, Phantom thought, flipping open the phone. No, there were a couple of minutes to spare before the clock struck eleven. And it wasn't like he was going to just leave without waiting extra. Putting the phone back into the pocket of his leather jacket, Danny sat on a bench close enough to the exit, under a huge tree and began to wait. Before long, he was called by a voice.

"Excuse me."

The voice was a female and young one. Phantom curiously tilted his head backwards over the bench, seeing a teen girl, and she was obviously a ghost, and an unusual one at that. His senses immediately recognised the nature, despite more human-like appearance. The forest-green eyes that lacked pupils were a dead giveaway, pun intended and largely encouraged. She was shorter than him, probably just tall enough to reach his chin. While wearing a green dress, she also wore no shoes. Phantom raised a curious eyebrow.

"Can I help you?" He asked slowly.

"You are the King, aren't you?" Inquired the ghost politely.

Danny kept eyeing her in wonder, still seeing the world upside down. "Now who was the guy to tell you this?"

"My father couldn't make it. It was hard to find a proper body, and he is too noticeable otherwise."

"Wait, your..."

Phantom burst laughing so hard that other visitors of the park looked at him warily. To them he was not only talking with thin air, but was also laughing for no reason. The girl tilted her head, before glaring at him upon realising the insulting nature of his laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Girl, has he taught you on how kids are made? Does he even have any sort of pistil?" Asked Danny before bursting into laughter again.

This fit was interrupted by a slap in the face. Phantom winced at the burning sensation, rubbing his cheek. He still chuckled.

"You know it's true," the teen retorted to that, "Don't be so surprised that people are asking you this."

"I knew that, you are simply being a jerk about it, 'Your Majesty'," she all but sneered at him, "You don't look like much."

"You will be surprised how grounded we all look when we are calm. One of us wears a paper bag over his head, one is a flamboyant conman. So..."

"Samantha."

"Okay, Sammy, let us begin our lovely conversation," Phantom jumped from the bench and gestured for her to follow. They needed somewhere more private. The ghost followed him, softly rustling on the dry grass, opting for it instead of a stone path. It's like there was a wall that didn't let her step on it, and this Danny decided to address.

"I don't like stone. It is cold and lifeless," came an absentminded response. She was too busy eyeing everything around, especially humans.

"Bold of a ghost to say so," Phantom noted, not hiding his amusement. It was extremely rare for a ghost to conceive a child, really, it would take away what little ounce of life was left, but the girl's father could theoretically finagle his way around, Phantom thought now when he took this seriously.

"What has your daddy told you 'bout me? Just out of curiosity."

"That you are a childish, self-centred usurper to whom I should never trust."

"Surprisingly accurate," Danny flashed a brief smile, "But you shouldn't fully trust any demons around, so the advice is pretty solid, not going to lie. Still, our talk has not started well, now, has it? You are really lucky I am so laid-back, hasn't he told you that?"

"He has. Your face would have been saved otherwise."

Danny stared at the huge lake nearby, "Now that's interesting. So me being lenient makes you so brave? Anyways, let's be brief. You are Undergrowth's errand girl, so make sure that he knows everything," Phantom ignored her bashful look, "What I need from him is to accept that there is a new man in charge, that's all. I'm not even bothering him in any way."

"Father serves only Satan. And through the last king he served our true overlord. You are not even related to Satan."

"Technicalities," Danny sighed dramatically, putting a hand over his temple, "Whether Undergrowth likes this or not, things change. If Satan needs him, believe me, the contact will be there. And if Satan needs me, I am not going to go up and turn him down with a pompous speech. I see few reasons for your father to dislike me apart from me having broken the seemingly endless tradition. Which is, you have to admit, not a lot. How old are you?" He suddenly asked.

"I'm fifteen. Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. I also figured that you don't understand this either. Or do you?"

Sam stared at him thoughtfully, but said nothing. Phantom rolled his eyes.

"Go on, I swear that you will leave unscathed for whatever you say as long as those are not just plain insults."

"No, I don't, but my father does. And I must adhere to this because that's what he wants me to do right now. I speak on his behalf, after all."

"Such formality. Ease up, girl, I told you I am not going to blast you or something. You already slapped me," Danny rubbed the back of his neck, "Look. If Undergrowth hates me so much he would not have sent you. What does HE need?"

"Despite your spats, he is willing to accept the fact at least for a while... our land is being pillaged by other kinds of demons. And the two of us is not enough to protect everything at once."

"So he is asking me for protection?" Phantom asked incredulously.

"Our garden is more precious to him than his pride. But don't you dare to humiliate him for that."

"Just who do you take me for?" The king lifted her chin and looked into her eyes as his gained a green tint, "I will laugh as much as I want. He insulted me, he laughed into my face and wanted to kill me. So if there is anyone who has the right to mock, it is me. And yet I am not the person to let anyone else share my laugh. So you can be chill about this. He is pathetic only in my eyes."

The girl pushed his hand away, hitting it slightly. She grew to despise the man even more, despite his reassurance.

"So do you agree to help us or not?" She snapped.

"That depends on what exactly he wants. I am not Mister Wolf," he noticed her confused look, "Have you watched Pulp...of course you haven't. I am not the problem solver, girl."

"You have an army."

"Well, yes. A horde of lower demons. Even for being a cannon fodder they are weak," Danny sighed, "I guess I can call in a couple of favours. With how loyal Pandora is... I think she will spare me a couple of her beasts. You will get along just fine with the pets."

"If... you really think that's enough..." Sam straightened up, regaining her confidence, "We will see. If it doesn't work out, you still have to think up something better."

"I missed the point where it becomes my problem. I gave you the solution that has to work. As long as you feed them, I guess. That's the best I can spare for starters. I have other problems."

"Rumours say you are living near the exorcists," Sam jabbed him.

How did...

"Ember, you bitch," Danny muttered upon realising everything, "It is greatly exaggerated. I am not helping them in any way."

"You'd better. Not many would take kindly to that."

"Who are you to question me like this?" Phantom raised an eyebrow, "I do what I want and whenever I feel like it. That's what Demon Kings do. Don't give a shit. I am at least doing something, and I will get tired of this soon, I suspect."

"So we now should feel like we owe you something for that?"

"Show at least an ounce of common sense and do exactly that. For far too long I and my help have been ignored. Are we done here, Samantha? Or your pretty face is going to follow me a little longer?"

"Don't you call me that. I hate my full name," Sam crossed her slim hands.

"Yet you introduced yourself as such," Danny smirked and chuckled, "Guess we do have something in common. So?"

"I believe we are done here. Although, I don't have the means to contact if we need to meet again. Father asked specifically for that."

"Our first meeting and we are exchanging numbers. Lucky day," Phantom joked dryly, knowing full well that she didn't have a phone.

And it's not like a normal one could make a call through the dimensions. He had previously contacted Undergrowth through a very contrived network of acquaintances. He needed a plan.

"I'll meet you here this midnight. By then I will have a tool for this, deal?"

"And stay more in this world? Fine," the demon grumbled, "You better not forget about it."

"I never forget my dates, dear," Phantom laughed, clearly mocking the entire situation.

That was before he was shoved forward and into the water. A loud splash followed, the waves jumped away from the landing spot in all directions. Not a second too soon Phantom emerged from the water, his eyes glowing in anger. That brat had crossed the line. But as the soaking wet teen looked around, he saw nobody. She had left. Grumbling under his nose Danny got to the shore, and then all the water that used to be on him dropped on the ground with another splash, leaving him completely dry. The trick was to let it go through his intangible body. Phantom looked around, wondering how far the girl could have gone to. His senses told him that she was already near the park gate judging from the distance. Odd for her to leave this place, the one so close to nature.

Shrugging to himself, Danny opened his phone only to find it dead from being wet. Phantom sighed tiredly. At this point he just didn't care.