Chapter 468 – Jurisdictional Wars
This wasn’t just revenge. Or defense.
This was control.
And the Market had noticed.
He scrolled further down.
[Soulbond Transfer Viability: High]
[Investors seeking Vault Nexus control confirmations]
[Comnts from Upper Hell Tiers: "Vaelthorn may be young, but his grip on contracts is terrifying. He’s Greed. With teeth."]
Teeth, huh?
He glanced down again.
Rava hadn’t moved. Her tentacles pulsed faintly with her breath, still coiled tight around him like he might vanish if she let go.
A warmth spread through his chest again. Not fire. Not lust. Just... anchoring.
He wasn’t just feared anymore. He was trusted. By investors. By factions. By Sira, who fought at his side without hesitation. By Rava, who let him sleep six hours straight without demanding an invoice or asking what she’d get in return.
And maybe...
Maybe by himself.
A soft chi rang through his system.
[Urgent ssage from Malris Korr – Infernal Threat Prevention]
[Attached: Surveillance Clearance, After Action Report, dia Leaks Forecast]
Lux blinked.
"Open it," he muttered.
The file flickered into view. And there it was—Malris’s signature, stamped with crimson ink and a ti-lock seal.
He read it slowly.
"This is to confirm that, per surveillance footage and direct witness report, Lux Vaelthorn and Sira Shadowborn acted within the rights of Ergency Defensive Protocol EDC-77-A. The confrontation was unprovoked. The warlords initiated lethal aggression. Their deaths were justifiable, authorized, and fully sanctioned. All property seizure and market ripple following their termination are considered lawful and binding under Infernal Code 921.4-B."
Malris Korr
Deputy Director
Infernal Threat Prevention & Surveillance (ITPS)
Lux let out a low whistle.
"Well. That’s tidy."
[The Court may squabble, but with Malris signing off, no one dares contest it without dragging ITPS into a jurisdictional war.]
"I love jurisdictional wars. But I’ll take the win."
He closed the report.
Exhaled again.
Then, without moving too much, he murmured, "Rava."
Nothing.
He tapped her arm. Her tentacle only curled tighter, possessive in sleep.
"Still knocked out?" He glanced at the ti. "Huh. Impressive."
[You would also remain unconscious after releasing three suppressed centuries of burnout into one round of emotionally intimate kraken-wrapped intercourse.]
Lux groaned. "Don’t phrase it like that."
[You’re welco, sir.]
He smiled again. Just barely.
Then leaned back into the pillows.
No contracts to renegotiate. No lawsuits to dodge. Not this morning.
Let the Court wait a few hours longer.
He exhaled.
A long, slow, greedy breath.
He stared up at the ceiling, one of Rava’s tentacles still draped across his chest like a silk rope with subtle muscle.
Good.
He earned this.
She earned this.
[System: Pheromone levels remain elevated at 36%. Recomnd hydration and mild stretching before attempting intercourse again, sir.]
Lux rolled his eyes. "Don’t talk like that when she’s sleeping."
[Understood. Would you prefer a lullaby?]
"I will unbind your permissions."
[Respectfully, sir, I am the reason your bedroom doesn’t combust during climax. You’re welco.]
He grunted. That... was unfortunately true.
But that reminded him.
"Status update," he muttered. "I muted your level-up notifications last night. You can speak again."
[Restoring system outputs... one mont.]
There was a hum. Then a crisp, polite notification in his inner vision:
[Level Up Achieved – Current Level: 282]
[Experience gained: Sexual Partner Satisfaction Bonus, Combat XP Retrospective Credit, Market Domination Trigger]
Lux blinked. "Market domination trigger?"
[Yes, sir. The sudden increase in trust from Infernal investors after the warlord executions caused a spontaneous cascade of soulbound pledges. Combined with your intimate interaction last night—]
"Just say sex."
[—intimate interaction, your core resonated and triggered a Lust-Greed synergy multiplier.]
Lux’s brows raised. "Synergy multiplier?"
[Translation: You slept. You sexed. You slayed. You soared.]
"...Stop rhyming."
[No promises.]
"Status panel."
[Confird. Distributing 10 random stat points as per Level-Up... Done.]
A screen shimred into view with a subtle ripple of golden contract ink.
[Na: Lux Vaelthorn]
[Level: 282]
[HP: 1,641,200]
[DP: 643,500]
[Charisma: 999 (MAX)]
[Magic Affinity: 1,129]
[Strength: 877]
[Agility: 1000]
[Stat Point Distribution:
3 Magic Affinity
3 Strength
5 Agility
...Yes, sir, I realize that adds to 11. You’re welco.]
Lux squinted. "You cheated."
[You’re welco.]
He couldn’t help but smile.
Agility finally hit 1,000. That was nice. Most people assud Incubi didn’t need speed. They were wrong. Speed made seduction into art. It wasn’t just about flexibility—it was about knowing how fast to move before soone noticed they wanted it.
Magic affinity had grown too. Likely from the raw mana exposure during combat, but maybe also from Rava’s presence. Her kraken aura was complex—fluid, thick with depth and weight, like ocean-pressure woven into her limbs. Touching her was like tapping into sothing primal. Sothing older than Greed itself.
He glanced at her again.
Her brow twitched slightly. One of her tentacles curled unconsciously around his wrist, as if sensing his thoughts.
[You should hydrate. And perhaps stretch.]
Lux dragged a hand down his face. "I just got out of a deathmatch, filed a lawsuit against corpses, was spooned by a kraken, and broke my sleep record. Can I breathe for one more minute?"
[You’ve never let yourself breathe, sir. I recomnd starting now.]
He huffed. Not quite a laugh. But close.
The Market loved him again. The Court hated him slightly less. Malris backed his kill report, the warlords were posthumously indicted, and his email to the Asset Recovery Division was going to trigger at least six angry response mos and a dozen ergency etings.
And still.
Still...
This mont felt like the most important part of his week.
Wrapped in silence. In skin. In limbs. In soone else’s breath.
A weightless kind of wealth.
He looked at his hand—ink-stained fingers that used to tremble at night from exhaustion. Not trembling now. No potions. No coffee. Just sleep. And sea. And maybe... sothing like peace.
[Shall I prepare a celebratory tea? Perhaps Krakenleaf and Lustroot blend?]
He chuckled.
"No. Just... let her sleep."
[Understood.]
And just like that, Lux closed the screen. Pulled the blanket higher. Tightened his arm around Rava’s waist. Let her tentacle slip back into place.
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