"By the Gods, I'm really glad I didn't antagonize Zion that day," Prince Xylen said, his face as pale as a white candle.
His subordinates had watched Prince Zorren's tragic fate as well, so they all nodded in agreement.
"Your Highness, are we still going to continue our collaboration with… with that human?" the snake man, Rezzkarin, asked. "He's very dangerous. What if he's just making you dance on the palm of his hands? There's no guarantee he won't do what we saw him do to Prince Zorren to you."
"T-That," Prince Xylen stuttered.
He was now having second thoughts as to whether he should continue his collaboration with Zion, especially after seeing how merciless he was to his enemies.
"We should continue to collaborate with him," stated the Demihuman Bee, Izzakar. "At least until the reinforcements from the Azrakith Court arrive. If he can easily capture Princess Aracelle and Prince Zorren, then he can do the same to Prince Xylen.
"The last thing we want to happen is for their current relationship to break apart due to this incident. The prince's safety is our top priority. Do not forget that, Rezzkarin."
"I spoke out of place," Rezzkarin also understood that the strategist of the Azrakith Court was right. "Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Prince Xylen sighed before gesturing for both of his advisers to take a step back and no longer continue on the topic.
"Our collaboration with Zion will continue," Prince Xylen declared. "Although I haven't known him for a long time, I can tell he is someone who treasures his friends and those close to him.
"And for some reason, my instincts are telling me that he won't hurt me as long as I don't do anything to betray him."
"Are you sure that's the only reason, Your Highness?" Izzakar inquired. "If I don't know any better, I'd think you're just starting to like your identity as Masked Beetle Rider. Is that really not why you still want to continue our collaboration with Zion?"
Prince Xylen averted his gaze because the strategist was right.
The thrill of being able to do what he wanted without revealing his identity felt so liberating that he was starting to truly enjoy it.
Also, every time he watched his scenes on television, he couldn't help but feel proud because he was being watched by countless people in Pangea.
Thirteen even showed him a forum where he was being talked about by people who were trying to guess his real identity.
He even created an account on that platform and joined the discussion, secretly tooting his own horn in the process.
"Do you think he will really spare Prince Zorren?" Prince Xylen asked.
Prince Zorren wasn't really his friend, more like an acquaintance.
This was also why he had warned Zion about the Prince who was lusting over Erica, one of his future wives.
Although he felt a little guilty about what happened to the Prince, ultimately, it was the Skavari Prince who decided to take the risk of kidnapping Erica and Shana. The backfire had been well-deserved.
On that matter, Prince Xylen had a clear conscience because he had not taken any part in it.
While Prince Xylen was thinking of reaching out to Zion for his next appearance after a few days, a certain Succubus Princess was pacing back and forth in her room, feeling anxious about the threat hanging over her head.
"Did you have some sort of wishful thinking—that I'll let you off easily? Wash your neck, little girl. Because you're next."
Those words kept on repeating inside her head over and over again, giving her mental anguish.
If this had happened a week ago, she would have just brushed it off and thought the human was merely bluffing.
However, after seeing their carefully crafted plan fail, the confidence that Princess Laventia had crumbled.
She had been very happy when Princess Aracelle had been captured by Zion. With the other party gone, she no longer had any rival.
Even now, she had no idea whether the Princess of House Pavareth was still alive or not.
However, one thing was clear.
Zion Leventis had said it, and she had a feeling that he truly meant what he had said.
Even with her subordinates protecting her city, she felt very helpless and unsure of her future.
Princess Aracelle was also in her home turf when Zion captured her, so it was perfectly fine for her to feel worried because the devilish teenager was out for vengeance.
"Damn you, Zorren!" Princess Laventia cursed angrily. "If you want to kill yourself, you shouldn't have dragged me into this mess! What was I thinking back then? Why was I so stupid as to agree to accompany him on that mission!?"
"Where should I go?!"
Princess Laventia shouted her questions, as if hoping they would be answered.
After a few minutes of pondering, she remembered that Zion had asked the Skavari to prepare a ransom for the return of their prince.
An idea popped up inside her head, which she immediately put into action.
"Anyone, come!" Princess Laventia ordered.
A moment later, a handmaiden knocked on the door of her room and asked for permission to come in.
When the Princess gave her permission, the handmaiden entered and was given an order by the Princess, which made the latter frown.
"Are you sure about this, Your Highness?" the Handmaiden asked. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"I don't need you to think!" Princess Laventia shouted. "I want you to obey my orders! Now go, and do what I told you to do!"
The handmaiden bowed respectfully and left the room as if her clothes were on fire.
Princess Laventia bit the nail on her thumb in worry because what she wanted to do really sounded like a terrible idea.
However, this was the only method she could think of in her panicked state. It felt like she simply had no better way to escape the teenage boy's wrath.
Because of this, she didn't notice the head of a black snake that was observing her from the corner of the room.
The black snake then pulled back, merging with the wall, and disappeared from sight.
Tiona's clone had followed the princess all the way to her headquarters when the latter was fleeing from their failed attempt to kidnap Erica and Shana.
Since this news was important, the clone immediately sent the message to Thirteen, allowing him to know what the Succubus Princess had planned to do in order to appease his anger.