According to Mitalda, within the next two hours, the Westirifer envoy had already prepared to return to Westirifer. On the other side, the bet between Aria and Harry had been nullified, and Duchess Aria Holygrill had prepared to depart for Westirifer along with her daughter Delya and her son-in-law Paul Librator.
In the ducal court of Holycross Dutchy, the matter of the merger with Westirifer had been handled calmly. Nad, displaying his wisdom, had not allowed even the slightest commotion. Moreover, he had clearly stated that this merger decision was made by the Oracle Master himself. Because of this, no one had dared to show any opposition.
Before long, morning had turned into noon.
Mitalda estimated that it had taken them approximately 4 days and 14 hours to travel from Westirifer's capital, Serendity, to Holycross Dutchy's capital, Lumera. Therefore, the return journey from Lumera to Serendity would likely take roughly the same amount of time, perhaps with slight variations.
Furthermore, to demonstrate their seriousness, Holycross Dutchy was accompanying its delegation with two platoons each of Paladins and Valkyre Knights. Each platoon in Holycross Dutchy consisted of 2000 soldiers. In other words, the delegation was being escorted by 4000 Paladins, all of whom held S+ rank, and 4000 Valkyre Knights—a fully female squad whose ranks ranged from S- to SS-. And that was not all. Along with them, a contingent of 100 Holy Mothers, each at SS+ rank, was also joining the journey.
In a sense, a small battalion of 8100 personnel was traveling alongside Holycross Dutchy's delegation.
As soon as Mitalda, the Holycross Dutchy delegation, and the Holycross Dutchy battalion departed from Lumera's ducal palace in the direction of Westirifer, a large crowd of onlookers gathered. It had been a very long time since such a massive force had set out anywhere. Yet the people were also astonished to see that at the front of the battalion were two or three chariots, the foremost two of which bore the sigil of Westirifer.
The chariots were a luxurious violet in color. The first chariot was being driven by two Viper Guards and pulled by four stallions. Inside it sat Mitalda, M, N, and two Viper Guards.
The second Westirifer chariot was also driven by two Viper Guards, with four guards seated inside it.
Behind both chariots was the ducal chariot of Holycross Dutchy, pulled by four horses, followed by the heavy cavalry of 8100 soldiers.
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**Present Day Scenario**
Elder Guntor had surrendered before Lucifer and agreed to merge with Westirifer. After the agreement between both parties, Elder Guntor had also informed Lucifer about his dwindling bloodline problem. In response, Lucifer had said that Elder Guntor should send Countess Talmora and her daughters—including Rkliona, Fobila, and Fifi—to Westirifer. Lucifer explained that there were many members in his Velmora family who could impregnate Talmora, Fobila, and Rkliona. And if none of them succeeded, he still had his batch of Yorkshire Devils. These were members of the spy units, but their fertility rate was 33% stronger than that of normal humans. Meaning, when they had sex with a woman, the probability of her getting pregnant was 33% higher than with a normal man, due to their significantly superior virility and fertility.
Furthermore, if even they failed to impregnate any of the three, the final option was Lucifer himself. He would only need one day to impregnate all three.
The second reason for summoning the entire Keilname family to Westirifer was that the Keilname family shared borders with Hecktor Dutchy, Weilhiem Dutchy, and Morgen Dutchy. Hecktor and Morgen Dutchy had already shown that they opposed Westirifer, while Weilhiem Dutchy's stance remained unclear—they were still maintaining neutrality.
If it became known that the Keilname County had surrendered to Westirifer, there was no guarantee that the three Dutchies would not use it as a pretext to attack Westirifer and target the Keilname family members in the process.
Agreeing to Lucifer's words, Elder Guntor also gave his consent that Talmora, Fobila, Rkliona, and Fifi should come to Westirifer's capital, Serendity. After that, they would speak with Jeffrey as well.
Elder Guntor had not given Jeffrey many details. He had only said that they had agreed to merge with Westirifer and instructed that when Talmora, Fobila, Rkliona, and Fifi arrived, they should not reveal that the ones currently with them in Keilname County were not the real Jeffrey or Elder Guntor, but spies from Westirifer.
Upon hearing Elder Guntor's words, Jeffrey was shocked, but what could he do? After all, Elder Guntor was his guardian, and his authority was above that of the Duke.
Here in Westirifer, Lucifer had successfully made Elder Guntor and Count Jeffrey surrender. On the other side, in the county, A and C had impersonated Elder Guntor and the Duke and spread the news throughout Keilname County that the county had surrendered to Westirifer. From today onward, Keilname County was no longer part of the kingdom but had become part of Westirifer Dutchy and was now under Westirifer's rule. Talmora herself had helped in spreading this information.
After all this, the Keilname County—which had now become Keilname State—had deployed its army along its borders. 300,000 soldiers now surrounded the Keilname State from three fronts on behalf of Westirifer, while the task of maintaining stability within the state had been given to the 50,000 Walencia Guards.
All members of the Keilname family had been sent toward Westirifer's capital, Serendity.
On the other side, while sitting in his penthouse room, Lucifer had activated his skill [SandBox]. As a result, Keilname County had truly been added to Westirifer's boundaries. At this moment, there was no suspicious activity in the surroundings, and Lucifer's [Monarch] skill had not detected any sign of breaching yet.
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On the same day that Keilname State was added to Westirifer's boundaries and confirmed through Lucifer's SandBox, that very night Allen entered Lucifer's room and said, "Young Master… A message has arrived from Mitalda. She will reach Serendity tomorrow morning. Along with her, the delegation from Holycross Dutchy is also coming, led by Duchess Aria Holygrill herself. Under her leadership, 4000 Paladins, 4000 Valkyre Knights, and 100 Holy Mothers are arriving as cavalry.
According to Mitalda, Holycross Dutchy is not hostile, and their Duchess wishes to speak with you."
After Allen spoke, Lucifer said, "8100 cavalry just to talk… Very good."
"Allen… Go to Vance and tell him to personally handle the guests arriving tomorrow morning. Also, make the presence of all returned spy unit members mandatory. And tell Veconica to handle any diplomatic situation herself."
"Oh, and Allen… Select 2000 personnel from the Viper Guards and the army within the next hour. Tell them to meet me in Tenserveria Town after two hours. Only those who can reach in time should come. The time limit is only two hours. Also, Allen, I will be away from the Dutchy for one day. That means I am leaving all responsibility of the Dutchy to you.
If any military situation arises, seek help from Vance. From now until the morning after tomorrow, you hold absolute authority in this Dutchy. Both the Duchess and the Grand-Dutchess are below you in authority. And yes, get my Cleaver cleaned and bring it to me within one hour… Never mind, just give my Cleaver to whichever Viper Guard member you select. Understood? Any questions?"
Upon hearing Lucifer's words, Allen's entire body broke into a cold sweat.
Lucifer had spoken all of this so casually, as if he were going for a picnic tonight. Yet a dark, blackish bloodlust was radiating from everything he said—so intense that Allen did not even have the courage to raise his eyes slightly.
Moreover, the fact that Lucifer had asked him to clean his Cleaver was no ordinary matter. It was not ordinary at all.
The last time Lucifer had picked up his Cleaver, the land ruled by the Asher family had been completely destroyed. Not a single drop of their blood remained. Lucifer had slaughtered over 50,000 soldiers and knights of Asher Dutchy on this very land like dogs, dyeing the earth red with blood. And today, his bloodlust was crossing all limits.
Still, Allen gathered all his courage and asked in a voice so low it seemed like mere lip-syncing, "Young Master… where are you going?"
Lucifer, with his heightened senses, heard Allen's words and replied, "My dear Allen… I have decided why should I wait for the next 18-19 days when I can do the same thing right at this moment… I hope you understand what I mean. Allen… Ah, one last thing. Tell Rowena and Maxwell, who are currently in Keilname, to increase security there. And Artemis will have full command over Keilname State's army. If anything suspicious appears… take immediate action."
After saying this, Lucifer looked at Allen again, then glanced into his shadow and said, "All of you… My dear shadow-wives and shadow-daughters… Come out."
As soon as Lucifer spoke, all the Shadowborns emerged together. Looking at them, Lucifer said, "Velerica, Nocturna, Almyth, and Zyrene… You four go to Keilname State. And you, Zyrene, will take Artemis's position and guard Keilname State. The rest—Velerica, Nocturna, Almyth, and Artemis—you all will go to Hecktor Dutchy stealthily and wreak havoc there. Meaning, you will wipe out the Hecktor family of Hecktor Dutchy. There is no need to kill those who surrender, but there is also no need to spare those who do not. And yes, you have permission to use full power. Understood?"
Upon hearing Lucifer's order, Velerica, Zyrene, Almyth, and Nocturna said together, "Yes, husband."
Hearing their voices, Lucifer said, "Now… Go."
As soon as the order was given, the four disappeared.
After that, Lucifer turned to the remaining Shadowborns and said, "Kaelith, Bellatrixa, Severina, and Aurethia… You four will go to Morgen Dutchy and subdue the ducal family and their allies there. As far as I can see, there is no one above SS+ rank there. Meaning, I expect they will be easy targets for all of you. And for those in Morgen Dutchy who do not cooperate… you four have free rein to show them a hell they could never even imagine. Understood?"
Upon hearing Lucifer's words, Bellatrixa and the other three Shadowborns said together, "Yes, husband."
After receiving their confirmation, Lucifer said, "Very good… I grant you all permission to use full force. And if any of you get into trouble, you have permission to use 20% of my power through the soul link. Now go."
After this order from Lucifer, these four also vanished.
Then Lucifer looked at all his shadow-daughters and said, "Lovertia… You will stay here with all your sisters and daughters. Keep an eye on the people from Holycross Dutchy arriving tomorrow, and at the same time, watch over Westirifer's borders as well. Do you understand what this means? It means that Keilname State has now also become part of Westirifer's area. So, together with your mother Zyrene, you all will keep watch over the entire Westirifer. Until I return tomorrow, you all have complete freedom to flex your aura as much as possible. And yes, if Allen needs any help here, assist him as well. Understood?"
Upon hearing Lucifer's orders for them, Lovertia along with Severucia, Noctalia—in other words, all nine of Lucifer's shadow-daughters—replied together, "Yes, father."
Hearing this, Lucifer said, "There is no need to return to the Shadow World. Start working right now. When I return the day after tomorrow, I will bring some gifts for all of you. Understood? Now go."
As soon as this final order was given, all of Lucifer's shadow-daughters disappeared as well. But the one who had witnessed this entire scene—Allen—his mind had short-circuited. Allen had seen Lucifer's shadow-wives and shadow-daughters many times and had even spoken with them, but today their aura was on an entirely different level. Allen was looking at Lucifer as if he were not Lucifer, but a devil from the 18th hell.
Lucifer looked at Allen one last time and said, "Allen… I am leaving. Take care of everyone in the Dutchy."
After saying this, Lucifer opened his space inventory, took out a sacrificial robe, and put it on. Its color was the purest obsidian black, with red patterns embroidered along its borders. When Allen saw this robe, he immediately understood that today was definitely someone's last day. Because this was the same sacrificial robe Lucifer had worn the first time when he had annihilated the Asher Dutchy convoy that had come to Evorywood. He had mutilated them, butchered them, and slaughtered them.
Lucifer put on the robe, looked at Allen one final time, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, "I'm going…"
As soon as Lucifer said this… he too vanished.