The atmosphere was extremely tense.
The leader of the eastern family stood before Via, his entire body stiff with nervousness.
Via sat on the sofa with a faint smile, asking a question she already knew the answer to.
A young female aide stood beside her.
The Abyssal Demoness wearing a pointed magic hat stood next to her.
Besides these two, there was also a mysterious figure clad in a black robe, along with the Abyss Dragon prostrating on the ground.
Albion lazily let out a yawn.
This single action made the members of the eastern family even more nervous.
Although it was their first time seeing an Abyss Dragon, the oppressive aura radiating from such a terrifying monster was no joke.
“Demon King, riding that dragon…?”
The leader of the eastern family hesitated, his words trailing off.
Not long ago, he had received news from the Demon King’s castle that the Demon King would personally visit the eastern region.
He had imagined many possibilities, but he never expected the Demon King to arrive riding a dragon.
“Impressive. So this is how it is in demon history. I was overthinking things.”
“Albion ate its fill and got sleepy. It wants to nap for a while. It’s no big deal. This is actually the first time.”
Via replied casually.
The leader of the eastern family forced a smile. “We have prepared the proposal right here. Please take a look.”
Via lowered her head and glanced at the proposal on the table.
“Open it for me.”
The leader of the eastern family looked toward the aide Melu, waiting for the green-haired girl to open it and show it to the Demon King.
However, after a full minute passed, Melu showed no intention of moving.
He found it strange. Why was this aide completely motionless?
“I said, open it.”
Via repeated herself.
The leader of the eastern family had already been waiting to see the aide get scolded by the Demon King.
Yet Melu glared at the eastern family leader and snapped, “The Demon King told you to open it. Are you deaf?”
“Huh?”
The eastern family leader thought he had misheard.
“I’m not asking you to polish my shoes. Opening it and handing the proposal to me—is it really that difficult?”
Via crossed her legs.
“Or do you want to polish my shoes instead?”
“Demon King, you…!”
Not letting a subordinate handle it and forcing him to do it himself? The leader of the eastern family felt a wave of humiliation wash over him.
His own subordinates were all watching!
His hands trembled with anger, but he suppressed the urge to curse, opened the document, and presented it before Via.
Via made no move to take it. “I’m too lazy to read it. You read it to me.”
“What? Demon King, aren’t you going too far?!”
“Going too far?” Via sneered. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t know what’s good for you. I personally came to the eastern region, willing to accept your surrender. Yet you set up an ambush nearby. What exactly are you trying to do?”
The leader’s face turned deathly pale.
“Pretending to surrender while actually plotting to ambush and kill me, is that it? Then guess why I still came?”
Via appeared completely disdainful.
“This…”
The leader’s eyes flickered.
“It’s because I don’t take your petty tricks seriously at all. I wouldn’t mind resorting to force today and slaughtering all you traitors.”
Via raised her hand, preparing to snap her fingers and wake Albion so she could treat the family members to a dragon breath package.
The leader’s eyes widened. Currently, he only had two choices.
Call out the ambush and fight to the death. The opponent had only four people plus a dragon, with no other troops arriving. There might be a chance of winning.
But a suffocating feeling and boundless fear flooded his heart. With a thud, he instinctively knelt on the ground.
He glanced at Via’s eyes and, for some reason, felt a wave of…
The other option was to give up resistance.
This was not an opponent he could contend with.
“I’m sorry, Demon King. I was wrong… This lowly one was foolish.”
“I still prefer your previous arrogant attitude. You should have told your subordinates that you would fight to the last moment, right? I didn’t bring any army here. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity won’t come again.”
Via looked down at the eastern family leader kneeling and trembling on the ground.
“Otherwise, I’ll give you some opportunity. I’ll let the others watch the battle and guarantee that I’ll only act personally. You can call out all your ambush forces.”
“No, Demon King. Please accept my surrender.”
The eastern family leader spoke humbly.
“Very good.”
With these two words from Via, the eastern family leader’s prestige was completely swept away.
From this point on, there would be no great family or clan in the Desolate Fallen Continent that dared to defy the Demon King.
“How boring. Watching this kind of weakling’s clumsy performance.”
Sashaya said with boredom as she chatted with her own people after the meeting with the eastern family had concluded.
“The higher one’s position, the more one fears losing it. Naturally, they fear death.”
Via replied.
During their idle conversation.
“Via, are you afraid of death too?”
Sashaya asked with a smile.
“It’s impossible to say that one has no fear of death at all.”
Via paused for a moment.
“However, if I really feared death that much, I should have died on the road long ago.”
“Mm, that’s true.”
Sashaya actually acknowledged this point. Via was no coward. If she weren’t so willing to take risks, she wouldn’t have stayed in the royal court.
“Is this really okay?”
Via walked up to the mysterious black-robed figure and removed the hood.
Below was a face identical to her own.
“Lady Sashaya is truly amazing. This is actually a real doll?!”
Melu exclaimed in amazement.
“Yes, it’s a specially made doll of mine. This doll has been learning from Via for a period of time. It should have mastered the basic action patterns and can perform a rough imitation. There shouldn’t be any problems.”
Sashaya was very satisfied with her creation. She nodded at the doll imitating Via.
The doll began to move, sitting down on the sofa and revealing an arrogant, unruly expression.
“Above heaven and earth, I alone am supreme.”
“Wow, it really does! I… I don’t usually act that exaggerated when I’m performing, right?”
Via felt a bit embarrassed.
“You do, Demon King. You really do!”
Melu quickly expressed her agreement.
Via pinched the bridge of her nose, wanting to explain something, but it always felt very pale and powerless.
“With this doll around, the Demon King can safely go to the Saint Luo Empire!”
Melu said.
“The doll’s learning is almost complete. Plus, the situation in the Desolate Fallen Continent has basically stabilized. Having the doll put on a show shouldn’t be a problem.”
Sashaya looked at Via.
“Next, just proceed according to your plan.”
“Mm.”
Via nodded.
“It’s time to set off and return to the Saint Luo Empire.”
Time the meet your wife Stella, Via.