After thoroughly "disciplining" Yae Miko, Raiden Ei felt much better. Only then did she head off to discuss Feixiao with Phantylia.
She arrived at the top floor without obstruction and found Phantylia sitting on the throne, staring blankly into space out of boredom.
"Hey. Wake up."
Ei waved a hand in front of her face, and Phantylia finally snapped out of it.
"You're back. What did you gain?"
"Hmph." Ei snorted unhappily. "I could've captured three Heroes. Unfortunately…"
She then told the entire story about Feixiao without leaving anything out.
"I see…" Phantylia said calmly. "It's fine. I have a backup plan."
She had already anticipated Feixiao's betrayal.
After all, she could control Feixiao. Whenever she wished, she could summon her back instantly.
Even though the Demon King couldn't leave the castle, she still had ways to stir things up.
"What are you planning?"
"I'll summon her back, control her, and send her to hunt down Klee and Yanqing."
Creating internal conflict was one of Phantylia's favorite tactics.
Didn't Feixiao like helping the Heroes?
Then she'd make Feixiao personally eliminate them.
"No," Ei said, shaking her head. "Wouldn't eliminating Heroes weaken you? Don't they strengthen your power?"
"Paimon has already been eliminated. Rappa has been captured by you," Phantylia replied confidently. "If Yanqing and Klee are eliminated as well, even if the remaining Heroes gather together, they shouldn't be my match."
She was extremely confident in her strength.
After all, Ei was only level 80 and could already wreak havoc across the map.
Phantylia herself was level 100.
How could she possibly lose?
"That won't do."
At that moment, Silver Wolf walked in.
"Bring Feixiao back under control, but leave Yanqing and Klee to me."
As a veteran gamer, Silver Wolf had played countless games like this.
The villain constantly lets the protagonist escape—
And in the end gets defeated.
She had seen that scenario too many times.
So her strategy was simple: play it safe.
Anyone who could become a threat had to be eliminated immediately.
"I agree."
Ei raised her hand as well.
She had never won before, so she was even more cautious than Silver Wolf.
Anyone standing in the way of her reward had to be eliminated completely.
"…Alright."
Seeing the determination on their faces, Phantylia reluctantly nodded.
Even though she was technically their leader, all plans were decided collectively.
This was still a game.
If she annoyed them and they stopped cooperating, she might get picked off one by one.
She stood up and walked into another room.
As Ei and Silver Wolf said, she needed to bring Feixiao back first.
She couldn't allow Feixiao to continue helping the other players.
Phantylia stretched out her hand and began chanting a complex spell.
The room filled with brilliant light.
Moments later, Feixiao appeared.
"…Sigh."
She had expected this outcome.
Feixiao sighed, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes.
"Go ahead."
Looks like she would truly be controlled this time.
"General Feixiao… how about we make a deal?" Phantylia said.
"…What kind of deal?"
Feixiao opened her eyes in surprise.
Phantylia wasn't controlling her?
She wanted to negotiate instead?
Now that was interesting.
"Just pretend that you're under my control," Phantylia said. "Stay in the castle from now on. You're not allowed to leave."
"…So you're saying you won't actually control me?"
"Just assume the spell has already been cast."
Feixiao was genuinely surprised.
She had thought Phantylia would control her without hesitation.
But instead she had chosen this approach.
"Of course," Phantylia added, "if someone attacks the Demon King's castle, you still have to help defend it. After all, you're supposed to be under my control."
"That works for me."
Feixiao nodded.
What choice did she have?
Refusing would only force Phantylia to cast the spell for real.
At least this way, things stayed flexible.
She could tell that Phantylia didn't want to completely ruin their relationship.
Back in the past, Phantylia would have absolutely controlled her without hesitation.
She might even have forced Feixiao to hunt down the players personally—just to satisfy her twisted aesthetic of destruction.
But things were different now.
"Can I ask why?" Feixiao said.
"…I just wanted someone to talk to."
Feixiao: "..."
So the reason you didn't control me… is because you wanted company?
For a brief moment, Feixiao almost wished Phantylia had just controlled her instead.
What exactly were they supposed to talk about?
"Let's go back outside," Phantylia said.
They returned to the main hall.
Ei and Silver Wolf had already left to continue their missions.
Phantylia didn't bother returning to the throne.
Instead, she sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Seriously. A Demon King's castle without a single chair except the throne."
"So cheap."
Feixiao agreed and sat down across from her.
"You're right."
The two stared at each other.
Neither knew what to say.
An awkward silence filled the hall.
Finally, Feixiao broke it.
"Tell me about the Lord Ravagers. Who are they? What are their weaknesses?"
Phantylia rolled her eyes.
"You're trying to get me killed."
"This is just a game. Who would know?"
"…Aha."
That reminder was enough.
If Phantylia leaked secrets about the Destruction faction and the Aeon of Elation found it amusing, Aha might casually inform Nanook.
At that point, Phantylia would die without even leaving ashes.
"So you're a Lord Ravager of Destruction… and you're afraid of Destruction?" Feixiao asked.
Phantylia's expression stiffened.
Yes, she feared Destruction.
Yet ironically, someone who feared Destruction had become one of its greatest agents.
"Lord Nanook isn't like your Xianzhou's Aeon of the Hunt," Phantylia said quietly. "It's only natural that I fear him."
"Then why not leave?" Feixiao pressed.
If she could pull a Lord Ravager away from the Destruction faction, that would be a huge victory for the Xianzhou.
Phantylia laughed bitterly.
"He's an Aeon. How do you leave something like that?"
"Go to Valerius."
Those four words made Phantylia freeze.
She thought about it for a long time before slowly turning toward Feixiao.
"You mean… stay by Lord Valerius's side?"
"What else?"
"…But my identity… Lord Valerius probably wouldn't like someone like me."
"Whether he likes it or not, you won't know unless you try."
"If Valerius protects you, would you still be afraid of Nanook?"
Phantylia fell silent.
After a long moment, she raised her head.
"Yes."
"As long as Lord Valerius is there… I wouldn't have to fear anyone."
For the first time, a new idea began to form in her mind.
She didn't know what Valerius thought of her.
But what if?
She didn't need Valerius to treat her like Bronya.
Even being allowed to stay by his side like Jingliu would be enough.
"That's the spirit."
Feixiao smiled faintly.
You like causing internal conflicts?
Let me show you how it's done.
If Phantylia left the Destruction faction, the Xianzhou would have one fewer powerful enemy in the future.
That would be a massive win.
The two women—each convinced she had just gained the upper hand—looked at each other and smiled.
Everything was understood without words.
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