Chapter 695 – Celestial Diplomatic Forum [Part 3]
Celestaria slid a glowing parchnt across the table. The scroll unfurled itself midair, revealing contract glyphs layered over bounty sigils. The numbers were astronomical. Entire celestial crusade funds could be financed with it.
"We discovered a bounty placed on your existence," she said.
Lux studied it calmly.
"Past tense?" he asked, making sure the bounty was only from Zoltarin.
"Yes," Vizreel answered. "It has been officially terminated."
Lux nodded slowly. "Then the situation should be resolved."
Vizreel’s eyes narrowed.
"Officially," the Archon repeated. "Unofficially, zealots may attempt to claim the reward through unauthorized enforcent."
Another council mber spoke from the far balcony, voice sharp with concern.
"They believe eliminating you could destabilize infernal trade reforms and restore older celestial economic dominance models."
Lux laughed quietly under his breath.
"So it is business, then."
"It is ideology disguised as business," Celestaria corrected.
Lux leaned forward slightly, golden eyes glinting with sothing colder than greed. Sothing older.
"They are attempting to retrieve or dissolve the interrealm contracts," he said softly.
Selena nodded.
"You signed those agreents using core-binding protocol," she said. "Your soul anchors the clauses."
Lux tapped the table once.
"aning to nullify them, they would need to... Kill you," Vizreel finished.
The chamber fell silent again.
Lux leaned back, folding his arms loosely. His expression remained calm. Yeah, he already knew that.
"I suspected that," he admitted.
A council mber studied him carefully. "You do not appear alard."
"I am alard," Lux replied lightly. "I am simply accustod to being hunted."
Selena frowned faintly.
"That should not be normal for you."
"It is efficient," Lux said.
Celestaria watched him with that far-seeing gaze again.
"You are becoming a pivot point in cosmic balance, Lux," she said. "That creates allies. It also creates predators."
Lux allowed a faint smile.
"I am Greed’s heir. Predators are a networking opportunity."
Vizreel actually snorted once before catching himself.
Another council mber spoke, tone sharper.
"Prince Lux, do you intend to escalate retaliation if these factions act again?"
Lux paused. Thought carefully. Lobbyist mode softened into strategist mode.
"I intend to maintain contract integrity," he said.
"That is not an answer," the council mber replied.
"It is the only answer you are authorized to hear," Lux said smoothly.
Celestaria raised a hand gently, silencing the tension.
"Lux," she said quietly. "Are you prepared for the possibility that this conflict may escalate into interrealm incident classification?"
He t her eyes directly.
"Yes."
Selena leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper.
"You are not alone in this matter."
He smiled. Softer this ti. Almost genuine.
"I know."
Solara studied him for a long mont, then leaned back, sunlight calming around her shoulders.
"Then we must reinforce diplomatic shielding around your mortal operations," she said. "If these factions move openly, it could trigger catastrophic treaty fractures."
Vizreel nodded once.
"I will authorize additional surveillance within internal celestial enforcent divisions."
Lux inclined his head respectfully.
"Appreciated."
The veiled council mber spoke again, tone contemplative.
"You realize, Prince Lux, that your continued survival directly sustains multiple interrealm trade and reincarnation reform systems."
Lux smirked faintly.
"No pressure, then."
Selena’s lips twitched despite herself.
Celestaria leaned forward, fingers laced.
"We will continue investigation," she said. "But until then... we advise caution."
Lux stood slowly, posture elegant, composed, perfectly princely.
"Caution is my least favorite financial strategy," he said.
Vizreel watched him carefully. "And yet you survive."
Lux’s grin sharpened just slightly.
"Because I diversify my risks."
The chamber held that line in silence for a mont. It was one of those statents that sounded like humor, but everyone in the room knew it was also a warning, a confession, and a business strategy rolled into one perfectly packaged infernal sentence.
Celestaria’s expression softened first. Just slightly. Enough that Lux caught it. Enough that he knew she understood exactly how dangerous his position had beco.
"Your cooperation today is appreciated, Prince Lux," she said formally, folding her hands together atop the floating crystal table. "Despite the... sensitive nature of the topics discussed."
Solara nodded, sunlight dimming into a warm diplomatic glow around her shoulders. "You have been transparent. That is not sothing our realms take lightly."
Selena leaned forward just a fraction, silver eyes steady. "And you have remained... remarkably composed."
Lux inclined his head politely. "Occupational requirent."
Vizreel stepped forward, armor shifting with the sound of restrained thunder. His wings folded behind him in what Lux had learned ant acknowledgnt, not submission.
"The Council recognizes your continued effort to maintain treaty stability," the Archon said. "This session will be recorded as cooperative progress."
Lux placed one hand over his chest in a refined infernal court gesture. "Then I thank the Council for allowing the opportunity to clarify matters personally."
Celestaria gestured toward the archway behind him where faint celestial script was already forming announcent bulletins.
"There will be a public Celestial Conference later today," she said. "We will formally confirm your status and presence. It should... reduce speculation."
Solara added, "And calm the financial panic your rumored death triggered across three divine trade indexes."
Lux winced slightly. "Yes. I heard about that."
Selena’s lips curved faintly. "Your obituary triggered a forty-seven percent surge in soul commodity speculation."
"That is... unfortunate market enthusiasm," Lux admitted.
Vizreel spoke again, voice steady. "A staff escort will guide you to the conference preparation chamber. The session begins in two hours."
Celestaria nodded. "We will join you shortly before the announcent."
Lux stood smoothly, suit shifting perfectly along his shoulders. "Thank you for the audience. And for the transparency."
Selena gave him a small nod that ant far more than protocol allowed.
"Stay alive, Lux."
He gave her a soft, amused look. "I will attempt to remain fiscally solvent."
Solara rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her mouth.
Vizreel simply gestured toward the exit.
Lux bowed once more, elegant and perfectly asured, then turned and walked toward the doors as they parted silently before him.
The hallway outside felt cooler. Less heavy. Still celestial, still glowing, but without the suffocating weight of cosmic accountability pressing against his head.
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