Chapter 734 – Minor Losses
Varakan barked a laugh.
Lucaris’s lips twitched despite himself.
Asmo smiled faintly.
Kaelmor’s grin sharpened. "You admit consolidation."
"I don’t. I admit optimization."
The spear pulsed brighter.
Lucaris stepped forward slightly. "Destroying Greed destabilizes currency flow."
Varakan snorted. "Destroying him destabilizes half our war funding."
Asmo added smoothly, "And I would be personally annoyed."
Kaelmor’s gaze moved between them.
So.
That was the real tric.
Not whether Lux survived.
But whether the sin lords valued him enough to intervene.
The phantom claw finally loosened.
Just slightly.
Kaelmor sighed theatrically. "You are all very protective."
Lucaris crossed his arms. "We are protective of structure."
Varakan added, "And profit."
Asmo smiled. "Simply... Bussiness."
Kaelmor studied Lux once more. "Fine."
The spear dissolved into smoke.
The phantom claw vanished.
Lux slid down from the wall and landed on his feet. His chest burned. His breathing was controlled but heavier than he liked.
Zavros moved to his side imdiately.
"You good," Zavros murmured low.
"Minor losses," Lux replied softly.
Kaelmor returned to his throne. "Very well." He leaned back, amused again. "You passed."
Lux did not smile. He bowed slightly instead. "Thank you."
Kaelmor’s eyes glead. "Yes." He glanced at the other lords. "And you all passed too."
Lucaris rolled his eyes.
Varakan grunted.
Asmo gave a lazy salute.
Kaelmor’s smile did not fade. "But rember." His aura pulsed once more. Not lethal. Just a reminder. "I am the one who decides."
Lux straightened.
Of course.
Always.
But the ssage was clear.
Kaelmor had asured them.
asured loyalty.
asured who would stand if he tried to collapse a throne.
Lux inhaled slowly.
Political audit complete.
And sohow.
He was still standing.
Lux adjusted his jacket slowly, wings folding back into a more controlled posture. The burn across his chest still pulsed faintly beneath his shirt, but he ignored it. Pain was data. Data was leverage.
Kaelmor leaned back into his throne like none of this had just happened.
"Oh, anyway," the King said casually, twirling a loose strand of sovereign fla between his fingers. "It was the ancient Abyss Lord who used the infernal teleportation."
Lux’s eyes did not flicker.
"You don’t need to investigate anymore, Lux."
Yeah.
There it is.
Clean narrative insertion.
Dead opponent conveniently responsible.
Case closed.
Lux already knew.
Kaelmor killed him.
Or authorized it.
Or allowed it.
But now the dead would carry the cri.
Elegant.
Efficient.
Very king-like.
Lux inclined his head slightly. "So... the killer?"
Kaelmor smiled lazily. "I don’t know."
’Of course you don’t.’
"Still under my investigation," Kaelmor continued lightly. "Don’t worry about this. I will get this soon."
Translation: "I will pick the next scapegoat soon."
The air in the hall felt lighter now, but the aftertaste of sovereign threat still lingered like ozone and burned contracts.
Lux didn’t challenge it.
Didn’t poke the narrative.
He bowed his head slightly.
"Understood."
Kaelmor watched him for half a second longer than necessary.
Then he waved a hand dismissively.
"Now, now. You guys could go."
The aura pressure fully receded.
The pillars dimd back to ambient glow.
Zavros exhaled through his nose, tension finally bleeding out of his wings.
Kaelmor leaned forward slightly.
"Unless," he added with a wicked grin, "one of you can give a good idea to play around."
The hall went quiet.
Asmo groaned imdiately.
"Ugh. Really? No. I have succubi waiting to f*ck. My schedule is tight and I refuse to spend it entertaining you."
Kaelmor cackled.
"You’re so predictable."
Asmo smirked. "I’m efficient."
Zavros cleared his throat. "I have a eting."
Kaelmor raised a brow. "At this hour?"
"Yes. With spreadsheets."
Kaelmor blinked once. "...You are deeply tragic, Zavry."
Zavros did not disagree.
Lux stepped forward slightly. "I need to et my mother."
Kaelmor tilted his head.
"Oh?"
"To show I’m fine."
That earned a flicker of amusent from the King.
"How wholeso."
Lux smiled faintly.
Varakan rolled his shoulders lazily. "I could duel you," he rumbled at Kaelmor, flas flickering along his arms. "But if I did, you would say I’m trying to steal your throne."
Kaelmor laughed.
Lucaris stepped forward, looking mildly offended at being awake.
"Nah. Pass. I need more sleep."
He adjusted his cloak with deliberate elegance.
"I woke up early because I thought sothing important happened. And then you gave this ’test.’"
He shot Kaelmor a flat look.
"Nope. I require my devilishly handso sleep back. This face needs maintenance."
Varakan scoffed. "You think that face is natural."
Lucaris lifted his chin. "It’s curated."
Asmo chuckled.
Kaelmor clapped his hands once slowly.
"Oh, you are all so dramatic."
He leaned back fully into the throne again, one leg crossing over the other.
"Very well. Disperse."
His gaze slid back to Lux briefly.
"Luxy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Don’t overthink it."
Lux almost smiled.
"Overthinking is my core competency."
Kaelmor’s grin widened.
"I know."
Zavros placed a hand lightly on Lux’s shoulder.
"Co."
The tension in the hall had shifted from lethal to theatrical, but the subtext remained heavy.
Test passed.
But not forgotten.
Lux glanced once more at the throne.
Kaelmor looked amused.
Too amused.
Like a man who just rearranged pieces and enjoyed watching them react.
As they turned to leave, Varakan muttered under his breath.
"Next ti he throws a spear, I’m charging admission."
Lucaris sighed. "At least make it aesthetic."
Asmo walked beside Lux, low enough that only he could hear.
"You let the lightning hit you."
"Yes."
"Smart."
Lux didn’t respond.
Asmo’s voice softened slightly.
"You look like you need real sleep."
Lux exhaled slowly.
"I will."
Asmo smirked. "And not the kind with succubi."
Lux allowed a faint grin.
"Not today."
They exited the King’s Hall together.
Heat fading behind them.
The infernal corridors stretched ahead, lit by molten veins and echoing faintly with distant demonic comrce.
Zavros finally spoke once they were beyond sovereign hearing range.
"You’re not going to stop investigating."
"No," Lux replied.
"You know he threw that bla to the dead."
"Yes."
Zavros glanced at him sideways. "And you’re fine with it?"
"For now."
Zavros exhaled. "You scare sotis."
Lux’s tail flicked lazily. "That’s healthy."
The political board had shifted.
The scapegoat was declared.
But Lux knew one thing clearly.
Kaelmor wasn’t just testing loyalty.
He was testing succession tension.
And today.
Greed survived.
But the ga?
The ga had just beco more interesting.
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