Alef knelt toward Via and declared his loyalty.
He had made his choice.
Via nodded in satisfaction.
She was very pleased.
Alef was still a smart person after all.
Communicating with smart people really saved a lot of trouble.
“So, Alef, from now on you will join the Royal Court and become my subordinate. For my future actions in the Saint Luo Empire, I will need your cooperation.”
“Understood, Demon King.” Alef replied politely.
“I want to take a look at your armed forces.”
“No problem, Demon King,” Alef stood up. “Please come with me.”
Via followed Alef to the training ground in the manor.
Many strong and fierce soldiers had already been gathered by Alef.
They held weapons and stood in neat formation.
There were already over a thousand people here.
She could tell that these people were basically all demonkin.
They had only used some special methods to disguise themselves as humans.
Although they couldn’t exert one hundred percent of their strength while disguised, they were still much stronger than ordinary human soldiers.
“Everyone pay attention. Before you is the new Demon King of the demonkin from the Desolate Fallen Continent — Lady Via!” Alef announced to all the demonkin in a powerful and resonant voice. “I have joined the Royal Court established by the Demon King. From now on, I will fully support the Demon King’s actions in the human world.”
“This is actually the Demon King?” The demonkin present were all surprised.
“Yes. I am the new Demon King. According to demonkin tradition, if any of you have doubts, you may boldly step forward and challenge me.”
Via didn’t need too many explanations.
She simply stepped forward and released some of her aura.
She immediately intimidated all the demonkin present.
Not only that, Albion stood beside Via.
The shadow behind her was stretched very long and extremely exaggerated, forming the shadow of a giant dragon on the ground.
The other demonkin were greatly shocked upon seeing this scene.
All voices of doubt disappeared.
After all, they were following Alef to make a living in the human world.
Even Alef had pledged allegiance, so they would naturally follow as well.
However…
Although they had dispelled their doubts about Via, they were still worried about one thing.
“Everyone, I know what you’re worried about. I came to the human world not to settle accounts for your previous actions.” Via explained to the demonkin. “I am preparing to implement a bold plan in the human world — overthrow the existing rulers of the human world and support a new successor to ascend. This is to change the situation of the demonkin in this world. In order for the plan to proceed smoothly, I need to use the power you have already taken root in the human world. Therefore, as long as you are willing to support me, I can promise in my capacity as Demon King that your past deeds will not be pursued at all. And once the goal is achieved, you will be rewarded as important contributors.”
“The magnanimous Demon King will not force you. If you are unwilling to contribute to the Demon King’s cause, you may choose to leave. If you are willing to fight for it, you may stay and follow the Demon King.” Alef reminded them.
This…?
The demonkin present began to think.
Most of the demonkin had followed Alef to the human world simply to make a living.
The food here was much better than in the Desolate Fallen Continent.
Now the new Demon King promised not to hold them accountable for betraying the Desolate Fallen Continent and even offered them a chance to eat meat?
This was basically giving their underground private army a chance to go legitimate.
There was no reason not to follow the Demon King and do great things.
They couldn’t possibly give up this opportunity and slink back to the Desolate Fallen Continent in disgrace.
One demonkin, while the others were still thinking, raised his hand first and shouted loudly.
“I will serve the Demon King!!”
This voice was like startling birds hidden in the forest.
The others quickly followed the rhythm and shouted toward Via together.
“I will serve the Demon King! I will serve the Demon King!”
The demonkin’s voices were very excited.
It was as if the one standing here was not only the Demon King, but also a sun slowly rising from the Desolate Fallen Continent.
“Haha, Demon King, please don’t mind. It’s just that everyone wants to make progress too much,” Alef laughed. “These aren’t all of them. There are still quite a few stationed at my other territories who couldn’t return in time.”
“Mm, it’s fine.”
Via secretly observed Alef.
She discovered that when his private armed forces swore loyalty to her, Alef’s face actually showed no dissatisfaction at all.
He’s someone worth using.
“Alef, I need to integrate all the private armed forces under your command. From now on, they will be reorganized into the Royal Court’s Advance Special Forces stationed in the Saint Luo Empire. You, as the commander of the Advance Special Forces, will report directly to me and convey my commands and combat orders to every soldier.”
“Yes, Demon King!”
Alef first intended to salute Via, but then he realized his identity had changed.
So he tactfully changed to a military posture.
“Loyalty!”
Albion was grabbing the chair and chewing on it.
“That can’t be eaten.” Via looked at Albion chewing on the chair and sighed.
“Ngh…?” Albion blinked.
“You can’t. Bear with it. Dinner time is coming soon. Alef will prepare meat for you so you can eat your fill.”
“Angh…”
Albion somewhat reluctantly put down the half-eaten chair.
Via was truly somewhat helpless.
Albion really needed constant watching, otherwise she would grab things to eat at random.
“Desolate Fire, come out!”
“What is it, Demon King?” Desolate Fire was summoned by Via.
“Watch over Albion. Don’t let her eat things everywhere.”
“What? You want me to watch this stupid dragon?” Desolate Fire pointed at Albion. “I don’t want to be a babysitter! Demon King, I am a legendary weapon. Promise me you’ll only call me out when there’s fighting, okay? I have some things to do.”
“Even if you have things to do, you can’t— Aaaah!!”
Desolate Fire let out a scream.
Her hand had been bitten by Albion again.
“Desolate Fire, you stupid dragon, let go!”
Via felt relieved.
Let Desolate Fire and Albion mess around for a while.
She placed her gaze on the documents in front of her.
She had asked Alef to collect some recent intelligence from the Saint Luo Empire.
After she left the human world and went to the Desolate Fallen Continent before returning, quite a long time had passed.
She needed to quickly understand the current situation in order to formulate targeted policies.
“So Sophie officially became the Saintess not long after I left.”
Via suddenly felt a bit melancholic.
I wonder… how she is doing now.