Within a grand pace, a well-dressed and equally handsome man had just finished his work.
Or rather, he had forcefully ended his work.
"Your Majesty, there is something I—"
"It’s been a while since we st saw you, Your Majesty. Do you think I—"
"Your Majesty, my daughter is beautiful and exceptionally intelligent, surely she would be well-suited for—"
Several nobles, draped in splendid attire, had caught up to the man, eager to present themselves in front of him. However, in the man's eyes, they were nothing more than annoyances ed in tasteless luxury.
Of course, he only thought this in his mind, knowing that at least some faeeded to be given to these people.
"Do any of you have work to do? Don’t behave like that certain something—reckless and shameless, without even an attempt to hide its as."
"Uh!?"
The nobles weren’t fools. Based oiming and the man’s description, they kly who he was referring to—the one who had been stripped of their le and whose whereabouts remained unknown.
It recisely because of this individual that many other nobles, guilty of simir crimes, had been captured one by one.
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. I just remembered something I must attend to. I’ll take my leave."
"How tal, I have business as well."
"Yes, yes, indeed."
The nobles quickly disappeared, leaving the man standing alone in the same spot.
"...Sigh... Though I volunteered for this at first, it really is exhausting. No wonder Father pins all the time. Now he’s even goo see that old man at the academy."
As he walked, the mauro his room.
With practiced ease, he removed his luxurious attire and robes, hanging them on a nearby rack. He then ged into something more casual and grabbed a drink from the magical fridge in the room.
Doot doot doot! Doot doot doot!
Suddenly, a sound came from a magical devi the table.
This was a unication device for long-distance use. To prevent any unwanted messages, the man had set up a block, and only a few select sources could bypass this filter.
"Hello?"
"Good evening, big brother. How’ve you been?"
A lively voice with a mix of ess and charm rang through. Just from the voice, it was clear this was a very eic young woman.
"...Didn’t we talk about manners? You are the emperor’s sister, after all, Lucciliane."
"Hehe."
The voice beloo Lucciliane, a researcher of magical engineering in the Demon King's Castle. Today, she had also helped anize a cert for the Demon King.
As for the man's identity, it was clear from the earlier exge. He was Lucrux, the current Emperor of the tus Empire.
"Is there something you need, calling me now?"
"Well... you know, today is the thirtieth anniversary cert of Zilliane’s debut..."
"Zilliane... Hmm, I know her."
Through her es, Lucrux had e to know Zilliahe current Demon Lord, rgely due to her involvement in a wedding over twenty years ago.
e to think of it, his sister had been in the Demon King's Castle for more thay years now. Back when he was still the student cil president, Lucciliane had always been close to Zilliane, and their bond had only grown stronger.
"Isn’t it time for you to announething?"
"Huh? Announce what?"
"What else? Isn’t it on for idols to annouheir retirement or personal pursuits during a big cert?"
"What... Huh!?"
A sharp scream suddenly echoed from the device.
"No! She and I are not—"
Though Lucciliane tio deny it, her voice gradually faded, and soon it was inaudible. However, no matter how hard Lucciliaried to deny it, Lucrux could tell. He knew his sister far too well to be fooled by her attempt at hiding her feelings.
"...Let’s not digress. Let's get ba topic."
"Wasn’t it you who ged the subject first? Fine, whatever. To be precise, this all started yesterday. A few people came to us, saying they wao form an alliah the Demon Race. But that's not the main point. Among them were some who took a great i in my work! Apart from Zilliane and the experts in magical engineering, this is quite rare! And I even ihem to the cert, and they gave it high praise."
Lucciliane spoke eagerly, like a young girl excitedly sharing something wonderful that had just happeo her.
"...Is that so? That’s truly great."
"Right? Hehe! ...Ah! Time’s up, I o go now. I’ll hang up."
"Uood. Be sure to rest well, and don’t stay up too te researg."
"I know, I know. You’re not my mother. Bye!"
The moment the versation ehe sound from the unication device ceased.
"...An alliance, huh..."
Lucrux reflected on Lucciliane’s words.
He had heard from Duke Salfra, also known as Tiffany, that several people, having taken down something he had personally removed from the nobility, were attempting to form an allianvolving demi-humans, magical beasts, and evehical youkai.
What surprised him was how quickly they had reached the Demon Race, and it seemed like they had already received a promise of support.
"...My sister... You always mao achieve what you want, often without even realizing it."
Lucrux uood that Lucciliane had shared those details with him out of pure excitement, but she had also uionally passed on important intelligence.
Lucciliane, having a positive opinion of those people, would naturally wish for their success, and one way to increase their ces was by seg more assistaly what they were now pursuing.
"Now that I know this, is there any reason to refuse?"
In truth, Lucrux, along with their parents, loved Lucciliane dearly. She was the you member of their family, often ing up with outndish ideas, but always endearing and cute. If this were an alternate world, they’d be what one might call doting siblings.
It recisely why, when Lucciliane expressed i in studying magical engineering and making ons or mechs, they didn’t oppose her. Instead, they evely arranged for an expert in magical engineering—Duke Salfra, also known as Tia—to bee her mentor.
Lucrux sat down in a chair, quickly grabbed paper and a pen, and scribbled a letter. He then pressed the button on the unication device more, but this time, the recipient was not Lucciliane.
"Have someone e to my location and deliver this letter to the founder of the 'Alliance of All Living Things.'"
