In the quiet of the study, the air remained heavy with the lingering pressure of Reinhardt's presence. Zeckram stared at the door his grandson had just exited, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the desk.
"Master, are you still thinking about the Young Master's plan to start his own clan?" Luthor asked softly.
"Yes," Zeckram replied, his eyes narrowing. "The Civil War is inevitable. Whether the original Maou families win or lose, whoever makes the greatest contribution will rise to take their place. The Underworld will be split into three: the New Faction, the Old Faction, and my own. My role has always been to protect the Devil race, but the Old Faction cares only for supremacy. They will experiment on other races, buy loyalty, or plant spies everywhere."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping an octave. "Rein was right. The Bael branch members who came here today—the ones supporting the Old Satans—will see him as a threat. A boy with both the Power of Destruction and the Phenex Flame is a target they'll want to remove or control. But if he creates his own independent clan, it changes the game. They won't think of killing him; they'll be too busy trying to ally with him or stay neutral out of fear. My grandson is building a front, but I can sense he's writing a much darker story in the shadows."
Luthor bowed his head. "The Young Master has always been unique."
"Unique?" Zeckram chuckled, though it sounded like a growl. "You saw him. He pressured those elders with nothing but his sheer will. A lion was born from another lion, but this cub is just waiting for the right moment to show his fangs. I am looking forward to seeing the faces of those Old Faction bastards who killed my son Astarion when they realize what they've unleashed."
The Purge of the Greedy
While Zeckram and Luthor plotted, a storm was brewing across the other noble houses. Luthor sent an urgent message to Rhaziel Phenex, who was so enraged by the news of his nephew being robbed that he nearly leveled his own office. He immediately launched an internal audit to find the idiot who thought they could steal from a Phenex-Bael heir.
Meanwhile, Luthor's investigation on the Bael side bore fruit quickly. The culprit wasn't some minor servant; it was the current Lord of Bael, the father of Evelyn (the woman Zeoticus Gremory had cheated with). He had been skimming Reinhardt's funds to fuel his own political ambitions within the Old Satan Faction.
When the report reached Zeckram, the "Great King" didn't hesitate.
"He thinks he can use my grandson's inheritance to fund the people who killed my son?" Zeckram's voice was like thunder.
With a single decree, Zeckram stripped Evelyn's father of his title and rank, effectively ending his political life. In his place, Zeckram appointed his own second son, Darius Bael, as the new acting head.
Darius, who had been close to Astarion and held a deep affection for his nephew Reinhardt, didn't wait for a formal transition. The moment he learned how his own brother-in-law had stolen Reinhardt's pocket money, he cornered the former Lord in the Bael courtyard. Darius didn't use magic; he used his fists, beating the man senseless until he was dragged away to the dungeons.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Event: The Family Purge]
Result: Your corrupt relatives have been ousted. New Contact:Darius Bael (Uncle) is now a loyal supporter. Wealth Recovered: The missing funds plus "Interest" have been deposited. New Balance: 450,000,000 Devil Coins.
In the Phenex Clan, the air was thick with a different kind of fire—the fire of pure, righteous fury. Rhaziel Phenex stood before his father, the retired Lord Caelus Phenex, and delivered the news.
"Father, Rein hasn't received a single coin of his allowance for months," Rhaziel growled, his eyes glowing with an intense bird-like light.
Caelus, who usually sat in calm meditation, went rigid. His grandson, the son of his beloved Seraphina, had been neglected. "Find them," Caelus commanded, his voice like cracking embers. "Now."
It didn't take long. The investigation revealed an elder who had been siphoning the funds, arrogant enough to think the "orphan" wouldn't notice. The punishment was swift and poetic. Rhaziel stripped the man of his rank and family name, sentencing him to the Phenex Extraction Factories for the rest of his life. He would spend every waking moment producing tears for the clan until his eyes literally ran dry.
Rhaziel then called a clan-wide meeting. "My sister, Seraphina, was one of the greatest Lords this house ever saw," he roared at the trembling council. "And you let an insect steal from her son? If I see a single mistake like this again, the punishment won't be the factories—it will be death."
The younger members of the clan, who still idolized the memory of Seraphina, didn't even wait for the meeting to end. They dragged the disgraced elder into the courtyard and beat him within an inch of his life before he was hauled off to the factories.
The Lucifuge Sanctuary
Meanwhile, in the cold elegance of the Lucifuge Mansion, the legendary "Silver-Haired Queen" was currently engaged in a very un-queen-like activity. Grayfia was face-down on her bed, punching her pillow with a frustrated pout.
"Ugh! That... that silver-tongued brat!" she muffled into the fabric.
A soft chuckle came from the doorway. Her father, Lord Valerius Lucifuge, leaned against the frame, watching his daughter with amusement. "What has happened to my little ice queen? Who has managed to make you this angry, baby?"
Grayfia sat up, her hair a mess and her face bright red. She blurted out everything—how she met Reinhardt, the way he flirted so effortlessly, how he pinned her to a tree, and how his compliments about her eyes made her completely forget why she was even there.
Valerius laughed heartily, a rare sound in the Lucifuge household. "Beautiful eyes, eh? It seems he saw the woman behind the soldier."
His face then softened into a more serious expression. "Grayfia, listen to me. This war is coming, and I don't want you to participate. I want you to live a good life."
"But Father," Grayfia protested, "we are the right hand of Lucifer. It is our duty."
Valerius shook his head sadly. "I know. But your brother... Euclid... is a lost cause. His brain is devoted entirely to Rizevim Livan Lucifer. Rizevim is a madman, and I won't have you used by him or anyone else. I want you to find a home where you can live in peace."
He walked over and patted her head. "And maybe, just maybe, I should meet this Reinhardt. Any man who can make my daughter act like a normal woman instead of a cold statue is someone I need to see for myself."
Grayfia turned an even deeper shade of red, burying her face in her hands. "Father, please!"
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Reputation Update: Lucifuge Clan]
Valerius Lucifuge (Grayfia's Father) is now curious about you. Grayfia is officially "Thinking of You" (Affection: Rising).