"President Edward, always happy to see you."
"I wish I felt the same, President Oswald," President Edward replied, shaking Oswald's hand.
"What a great honor for your country that Mer was chosen as the dwelling place of the Great Ones. I must say, I am truly envious of you."
"Envious, my foot. Say that when you have a loose cannon pain in the ass destroying your nation."
"Come on, Edward, that's not a big deal, is it? I'm pretty sure you can handle such an issue."
"Indeed, it's not you who has to try and suppress the truth about the presence of the Great Ones or be under fire by the masses over it. The headquarters of the police department was brought down! Brought down! I can't even look at others anymore, knowing the shame and disgrace of the recent battles—scuffles with that damn child of the Administrators," Edward complained brutally.
Both presidents walked side by side. One might think they were together for some diplomatic reason—two presidents in one place—but that wasn't the case. They were gathered under the summons of the demon leader. And they weren't the only high-profile individuals present.
Daniel, President of Helix.
Julius, King of Jade.
The leaders of the five power nations.
Heads of reclusive but powerful families.
Successful businessmen, judges, generals, and more.
So many influential figures gathered in one place under the call of a single being.
The mere fact that such prominent individuals were aligned with demons showed how nearly impossible it was for the demons to lose. They had enough people in power to suppress information, conduct secret operations, and keep the masses in the dark—just like now. Their presence here, something that should have been known to the public, remained a well-kept secret.
Lilith and Kyle walked in, demon guards and knights trailing behind them.
"You are all here," Kyle spoke, walking confidently and sitting on the makeshift throne that Baron Arjit always used, Lilith settling on the armrest.
"Now, shall we begin? First, Edward—what's your lead on Nemesis?" Kyle asked.
Edward felt annoyed. The brat of Albert speaking to him so rudely infuriated him greatly, so he chose to remain silent.
"I would advise you to respond unless you want to be punished," Kyle said, still nonchalant.
Edward shifted his gaze between Kyle and Lilith and noticed something—the dynamic between them. Lilith was allowing Kyle to preside over the meeting as if he were the head. His instincts, sharp as ever, warned him not to take Kyle's words lightly.
"We have no lead yet. His traces are extremely well hidden. It's as if he was born to be an assassin," Edward finally replied, swallowing his pride.
"Hmm. You're really sloppy at your job—unable to track one man despite having an entire nation at your beck and call. How difficult can it be?" Kyle asked.
"Well, he has the backing of Will George, the once richest man. His influence and connections are powerful. Despite losing all his wealth, I'm afraid he still has the means to evade our investigation and search."
"Well then, it's time to be more active and deliberate in finding him. Everyone present here is to join forces. Invest all possible resources to ensure Nemesis is found."
"And why should we do that?"
George, a billionaire businessman, interrupted Kyle, tired of listening to him command them like he was their leader.
The temperature in the room dropped to a chilling degree. Tension rose.
"What exactly did you say?" Kyle asked, still nonchalant.
"I'm saying—what gives you the right to control us? Where even is Lord Baron? I thought we were summoned by him, not by you or this lady sitting beside you," George snapped.
"Hmm. I love your boldness," Kyle mused.
Edward, on the other hand, felt obliged to comply. Deep down, something told him he shouldn't end up on Kyle's bad side.
George, however, stared at Edward with disappointment and mockery.
"And I thought you were a proud leader. Never knew you were a coward," George sneered.
"Try if you can, but I will never lose my wealth."
"You seem to be misunderstanding something," Kyle said, a smirk playing on his lips. "I do not wish to take your wealth from you. No, on the contrary—I wish to take you from your wealth."
George was stunned.
"What are you talkin—"
Before he could finish his sentence, his body turned to dust.
"Finally, some peace and quiet," Kyle muttered, sending chills through everyone present. Even Lilith was surprised by his actions.
Everyone else stood frozen, barely breathing as the gravity of the situation sank in. No one dared to move, let alone challenge Kyle further. Edward clenched his fists but kept his head lowered, knowing there was nothing he could do.
"Second task," Kyle continued, as if nothing had happened. "I want you all to think of a way to speed up the opening of the Rift. The faster, the better."
There was silence at first, but then whispers broke out among the remaining figures. They began discussing problems, potential solutions, and estimated timelines for the Rift's full opening. Some suggested increasing sacrifices, others talked about rituals, while a few argued that brute force could work.
Kyle listened, his expression unreadable.
After several minutes of deliberation, the meeting came to an end. One by one, the attendees left—returning to their homes or hidden locations, departing for their respective nations in secrecy. The world would remain none the wiser.
Kyle stood from the throne, preparing to leave as well. As he walked toward the exit, his wings erupted from his back.
Then—
With a swift turn, he blocked Lilith's claws with his hardened hand.
"What's the meaning of this, Lilith?" Kyle asked coldly.
"Enough games, Kyle."
Lilith's usual smile was gone. Only a cold expression remained.
"That power of yours—mind telling me how you actually got it? If you say you don't know, or claim it's from the demon pills, then you might have to die here and now."