With the council working at full speed, the whole underworld began to boil as Roxanne's ascension was spread over like wildfire in every territory. This sudden announcement made the pure-blooded devils confused, angry, and even perplexed.
It's not like no one wanted to ascend the throne, but with the four Great Satans and the devil council, there was no one who had the guts and ability to take that throne.
But now, some unknown woman named Roxanne had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and just taken it. Naturally, many of the hot-headed young nobles and stubborn old lords felt their blood boil with anger. They thought this was a complete insult to their pride.
But it didn't take long for the whole situation to turn into a complete joke. The younger generation of nobles was left completely dumbfounded as they watched their own grandfathers and ancestors flip their attitudes faster than turning a page in a book.
Just a few minutes ago, these old lords were smashing tables and cursing Roxanne's name, swearing to defend their family's pride to the death. But the moment they felt the true power of that bloodline art, all that pride was thrown right into the trash can.
"Grandfather, didn't you just say we should gather our army and—"
Smack!
Before the young noble could even finish his sentence, a heavy cane would fly across his face, knocking him straight to the floor.
"Shut your useless mouth! When did I ever say such blasphemous things?!" the old ancestor would roar, his eyes wide and bloodshot with absolute excitement. "Queen Roxanne is the greatest savior our family has ever seen! Anyone who dares to disrespect Her Majesty is no longer a member of this house!"
Similar scenes were happening in almost every single noble mansion across the Underworld. The old, stubborn lords completely locked themselves in their secret rooms, acting like crazy cultists as they poured all their focus into studying the divine art Roxanne had given them.
Every now and then, they would pop their heads out just to check if any of their unfilial descendants were saying stupid things, ready to beat them half to death if they dared to breathe a word against Roxanne.
With the old heads of the families leading the charge, the younger nobles had no choice but to shut up and join in. After all, they could also feel their weak bloodlines rapidly purifying. Why would they fight a tyrant who was busy making them stronger?
Virtually overnight, the entire high society of the Underworld became Roxanne's most loyal dogs, completely brainwashed by a single reward.
Of course, not all nobles were happy with Roxanne's accession.
....
In a large mansion that was the epitome of luxury, a group of devils dressed in aristocratic attire sat by the fire, their faces twisted into somber expressions.
These guys were the nobles who were able to fill their pockets due to the old system, and most of them were relatives of the four Satans and distant cousins of some councilors. Because of their connections, these guys were the only ones who managed to get the best benefits with the current system without doing much work.
But with Roxanne's move, these guys were the first to be threatened.
"This is completely unacceptable," one of the nobles hissed, gripping his glass so hard his knuckles turned white. "We spent centuries securing our positions, and now some random woman just walks in and flips the whole table? What are Sirzechs and the others doing?!"
"They can't do anything," a fat noble sighed, his voice shaking with pure anxiety. "My cousin on the council told me she didn't even blink before threatening to wipe out entire clans. She doesn't play by the rules at all. And the worst part is that everyone didn't even riot because of this."
The real reason these guys were sweating bullets was simple. Under Sirzechs' soft-hearted rule, they could use their royal bloodlines and political connections to bribe people, monopolize resources, and live like kings. But Roxanne didn't care about their connections or who their cousins were. She was a brutal tyrant who only valued absolute strength and total obedience.
Worse, by giving that bloodline art to everyone, she had completely ruined their monopoly on power. Now, even a common beggar in the slums could potentially become stronger than them if they worked hard enough.
And what's more terrifying is that those relatives of theirs who were usually so arrogant and more self-centered than they were actually bowed their heads to this unknown girl. This terrified these people, as they even suspected their relatives of being subjected to mind control.
Another noble wiped the sweat from his forehead with a silk handkerchief. "What should we do? If our cousins on the council and our relatives in the Maou factions won't back us up, we are completely naked out here. Sirzechs won't protect our monopolies anymore because he doesn't even have the power to protect his own seat!"
" Maybe we could seek refuge with Lord Bael. I'm sure Lord Bael would definitely not let go of his privileges for that girl, " one of the smarter nobles spoke, getting a few nods from a few more nobles.
" But would Lord Bael really be able to handle that woman? Don't forget that the four Satans are also subjugated by that woman. "Another cautious noble warned, seeing that others were getting too ahead of themselves.
"You don't understand," the smart noble hissed, leaning forward. "We don't need him to defeat her in a direct fight. We just need him to lead a political faction against her! If the Great King House of Bael stands up and says 'no,' many other high nobles who are currently hiding in fear will definitely join his side. That woman might be strong, but can she really kill every single high noble in the Underworld? Who would rule the territories then?"
Hearing this, a few more nobles in the room started to nod their heads, their pale faces finally regaining some color. To them, the Bael clan was like the ultimate shield. As long as that giant family stood at the front, they could hide safely behind it and protect their dirty money and monopolies.
But the fat noble only let out a bitter, miserable laugh as he stuffed his sweaty handkerchief back into his pocket.
"You guys are still dreaming," the fat noble muttered, staring into the dying fire. "You keep forgetting about that bloodline art. Do you really think the Bael clan can resist that kind of temptation? The only reason they haven't knelt yet is probably because Lord Bael hasn't tried the art himself. The moment he realizes that technique can make his Power of Destruction even stronger... he will become Roxanne's most loyal dog, just like our ancestors did."
Hearing this, silence once again descended. Those who knew the inside story of the Bael clan had a grim expression. They knew that the strongest person apart from Lord Bael was Sairaorg Bael, the heir who was personally chosen by Lord Bael himself. But they also knew that Lord Bael had a very deep regret about Sairaorg not being able to awaken his bloodline. If the bloodline-enhancing art is not a joke, then this art would naturally help Sairaorg to awaken his bloodline, making him the perfect Bael heir.
If this were thrown as a bargaining chip, it would be uncertain what kind of choice Lord Bael would make. Would he accept the chip and bow his head, or would he ignore it entirely to defy her rule?
****
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