Chapter 183 – Change That Line!
Lux read the last line again.
’Before they move, we already know.’
"They literally already attacked last night! Change that line!"
He exhaled through his nose.
Then closed the email—unread flag still blinking red in the corner of his vision.
"Great," he muttered, sipping his coffee. "Even Hell thinks I need a babysitter."
The bitterness of the brew grounded him—charcoal and chicory, aged beans boiled in saltwater and spite.
Lux leaned deeper into the couch cushions, letting his wet shirt cling to him like regret, his eyes flicking over the holographic remnants of the ITPS warning.
"Travel with bodyguards," he echoed flatly, brow twitching. "Yeah. Sure. Let summon a demon detail in the middle of a luxury hotel. That won’t raise any alarms."
He sighed.
Then, reluctantly, he flicked open the reply function.
To: security.alerts @hellsec.ixn
From: lux.vaelthorn @vaultnexus.infernal
Subject: Re: [Unknown Bloodline Trace – Flagged Incident: Mortal Realm]
Priority: Standard
Officer Malris,
Appreciate the warning. I’ve reviewed the flagged incident data.
Yes—two demons already attempted an ambush last night while I was returning to my suite. Unregistered, high-level, likely shadow-cloaked carcass forms. Their corpses were disposed of—cleanly, I might add. No witnesses. Standard burn-and-purge.
I’m aware my bloodline triggers certain attention, and I don’t plan on sticking in one location too long. This hotel is temporary. The next site will be properly warded with reinforced infernal glyphs, reverse-angelic hex shielding, and a customized cloaking tether. You know. The usual high level suite from Hell.
Regarding unknown entities: I don’t intend to engage. But if they draw first blood, I respond in kind. That’s not aggression—it’s standard protocol.
As for bodyguards...
Unnecessary.
If this bounty escalates, I’ll summon my own. You know what I’m capable of calling. But I won’t parade a squad through mortal streets unless you want another human city in flas. We still haven’t fixed what happened in Prague.
What I do need from your side is clarity:
Track whoever is behind this. Shut it down. Or feed nas.
If I have to clean this up personally, the damage will be financially morable.
Lux Vaelthorn
Chief Financial Overlord of Hell
Departnt of Infernal Finance & Interrealm Asset Managent
Vault Nexus Pri, Sector 7 – Lower Infernal District, adjacent to the Lake of Tax Auditors
He read it once.
Twice.
Then snapped his fingers.
[ssage sent.]
"Good," Lux murmured.
Another window opened.
A new email had popped in.
FROM: Celestial.Office @heavenlight.admin
SUBJECT: [Investigation Update]
He arched a brow.
"Well," he muttered, taking another sip, "She is fast."
He opened the email.
Dear Mr. Vaelthorn,
Following our previous correspondence regarding the unregistered bounty circulating within multiple planes—including Celestial Trade Route channels and outer Realm nodes—we regret to inform you that the investigation is still ongoing.
All traces have been skillfully masked. Divine obscuration. Oblique sigil fractals. Ti-warp cloaking. We believe this was orchestrated by entities operating at a power level either equivalent to my own... or higher.
This is, quite frankly, not sothing I can solve with diplomacy.
However, as promised, I’ve attached a few aids to assist with your upcoming movent through Celestial-aligned territories.
Robe of Sanctified Anonymity 1X – this artifact has been tuned to mimic an "innocent mortal soul" signature. It should mask your demonic energy when worn, provided you don’t activate any major infernal skills or incinerate anyone while wearing it.
Celestial Therapy Coupons 2X– valid for one (1) emotional detox session, and one (1) guided aura reconstruction workshop. Please don’t roll your eyes. You’re overdue.
Please proceed with caution. I care about your continued existence, despite your... personality.
Sincerely,
Goddess Celestaria
High Custodian of Progression Paths
Upper Celestial Office
Lux stared at the robe icon hovering in the corner of the ssage.
It shimred gold and white, embossed with those nauseatingly innocent sunbursts and feathers.
"Great," he muttered. "I’m going to look like a choir boy."
[Technically, the robe adjusts based on user projection and alignnt. Your internal corruption rating may override so features.]
"Fantastic," Lux drawled. "So I’ll look like a suspicious choir boy."
He sighed.
Then, just to spite her, he clicked ’download’ anyway.
The coupons blinked into existence beside him. Pastel-colored. Sparkling with glitter-coded pixels. One had a smiling halo with arms. The other featured a dove hugging a pillow.
Corvus, still seated in the corner with a muffin, looked over.
"Wait. Are those... coupons?"
"Yeah. More therapy coupons," Lux grumbled. "From Celestaria."
Corvus leaned back, choked laughing. "She sent you emotional detox coupons?"
Lux scowled, tossed the hologram into the corner with a flick of two fingers. "Apparently I’m overdue."
"You? Emotionally toxic? Who knew?"
"I’m passionately defensive."
"You’re a demonic finance executive with abandonnt issues, death magic, and a preference for black coffee so strong it qualifies as a war cri."
Lux grabbed a throw pillow and chucked it.
Corvus caught it with one hand.
Still grinning.
Lux leaned back again, robe now resting folded across the arm of the couch, the soft glowing threads humming faintly against the leather.
The robe was too quiet. Too good. It slled like soap and sunbeams, and he was pretty sure if he wore it too long, he’d start feeling guilty for things he hadn’t even done. Which, for Lux Vaelthorn, was a very, very long list.
He rolled his eyes, muttered sothing about divine overcompensation, and flicked his fingers.
The robe, the coupons, and even the glittering Celestial inbox—all disappeared into the shimring black hole of his Dinsional Inventory with a quiet shhhfwp.
Corvus, still sprawled across the armchair like a conspiracy theorist who just lost signal, raised a brow.
"You’re not gonna use those bonus therapy coupons now?"
Lux shrugged, grabbing his half-cold coffee. "No. I already used two yesterday."
He sipped. Grimaced. Still bitter. Still perfect.
"I don’t want to use another one unless it’s necessary. I might need it for... I dunno, when the next goddess tries to kill or sothing."
Corvus snorted. "You make it sound like divine assassination attempts are seasonal."
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