The Future

"Lady Misha, I—I was just drinking away my sorrows in the tavern..." In the presence of this "big shot" he had only ever seen in the Kingdom Daily, Raj was initially nervous, stammering as he began to speak. However, thinking of the bright future awaiting him, Raj's words flowed more and more smoothly, until his tone was ringing with righteous indignation. "...That damned demon actually tried to seduce me into betraying His Majesty! Even if it cost me my life, I could never do something so wicked! "I realized what was happening right away, so risking my neck, I made a swift and decisive choice to report him to the watch without hesitation. "Lady Misha, that's roughly how it happened." Raj stood awkwardly before Misha, clutching the hem of his clothes with both hands and offering an obsequious smile. Misha nodded slightly, showing an appreciative smile in affirmation. "Very good. The Empire will not forget your loyalty, nor will it mistreat any subject who risks their life to contribute. The demon you exposed was of no low rank. It is enough to earn you a bounty of over two hundred gold dinars, along with the status of a first-class citizen. Go collect your reward at the Imperial Bounty Office; you have earned it." "Yes, Lady Misha!" Raj instinctively straightened his back. His face radiated excitement and sheer ecstasy, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably. Though he had nearly lost his life, his gamble had paid off! Two hundred gold dinars! Before Supervisor Jelsen fired him, his wage had been one gold dinar a month, and he had frequently had his pay docked for violating regulations. Putting it into perspective, two hundred gold dinars would have taken nearly twenty years of slaving day and night in the factory! To him, it was an astronomical fortune. This money was enough to pay off all his debts. Not only that, but he could also buy a shop near Emperor Square and live a life of leisure. And the status of a first-class citizen went without saying. Beyond entitling him to various subsidies, it granted him higher social standing, giving him an edge over others in every walk of life. Baron George, the celebrated embodiment of the "Imperial Dream," had enlisted in the army through his status as a first-class citizen. The days of destitution, grief, and despair were about to leave him behind. Now, what lay before Raj was elevated status, ample wealth, and a bright future... One could say his destiny had been utterly transformed! Tears of joy welled in Raj's eyes and rolled down his rough cheeks. In his mind, he could already picture his former coworkers respectfully addressing him as "Lord Raj," and Supervisor Jelsen bowing and scraping with a fawning grin. If Misha had not been present, he would have dropped to his knees and kowtowed to the dead Asher. How could that have been an Abyssal demon? That was clearly a benefactor who had delivered him a glorious future! And then there was His Majesty Cassius—to establish such a flawless system as bounties, he truly was a great ruler! How could he have been so foolish before to harbor grievances toward His Majesty! Humans had always been creatures driven by pragmatism. As a beneficiary, if His Majesty could grant him an opulent life, what reason did he have not to hold faith in him? The slight dissatisfaction bred from life's setbacks vanished in an instant. Now, only one concept occupied Raj's heart—loyalty. After stammering countless expressions of gratitude, Raj took his leave. Then, unable to wait a second longer, he practically scrambled and tumbled as he rushed toward the Imperial Bounty Office. A brand-new life and a bright future were beckoning to him! Turning her gaze away from the informant, Misha's expression grew solemn once more. Although she could tell Raj had embellished his tale to cast himself in a favorable light, that was only human nature. The general sequence of events was likely accurate. One thing was certain: this demon had infiltrated Isdalia and inflicted casualties upon imperial citizens. "Cough, cough!" "By Cassius, that... that demon was utterly terrifying! Even bullets couldn't kill it!" "It hurts so much! My leg is pinned under the timber!" "Someone help me!" "Anna! Anna's dead! The demon killed her! Gods, I saw her cut in two with my own eyes!" From the ruins of the tavern came the chaotic clamor of the people swept up in the disaster—coughs choked with smoke and dust, groans from the wounded, and wails of those who had lost loved ones. To Raj, this might have been a heaven-sent opportunity that transformed his fate, a blessing from His Majesty Cassius. But to the common folk caught in the crossfire, it was pure, unadulterated catastrophe. Emergency rescue teams clad in white robes hurried over, retrieving corpses and casting restorative spells to treat those injured in the clash. "Bystanders, clear the area immediately!" "Do not crowd around!" "Imperial Guard on duty! Disperse at once!" The Imperial Guard drove back the onlookers, cordoned off the scene, inspected the traces left by the demon, and gathered the remaining debris. The tieflings and ogres who had just been brawling shook hands and made peace. Calling out their respective unit designations, they cleared the battlefield together, reflecting on what had just transpired. The tiefling captain of the watch approached Misha, his tone heavy. "Forgive us, Lady Misha. It was our failure to handle the matter that allowed the demon to rampage, forcing you to step in personally." "You did your best." Looking at the tavern reduced to rubble and ruin, Misha frowned and murmured under her breath, "These demons are growing bolder by the day... "It seems I must report this to the Prime Minister." At the thought, Misha's golden pupils flickered slightly, and flames wound around her tall figure like wisps of silk. Accompanied by the crackle of burning air, the sorcerer vanished from the spot, leaving only stray sparks drifting in the wind. *** The Imperial Administration Building, Battalia Hall. This was the office of the Empire's Prime Minister, sumptuously decorated with dragon carvings across the ceiling. The ogre Trump stood by the window, gazing out through the stained-glass floor-to-ceiling panes at the dense buildings and bustling crowds in the streets below. He spoke suddenly, "Come in, Misha. I know you're already here." Misha carefully pushed open the door and stepped inside, speaking politely. "Good day, Prime Minister. You remain as perceptive as ever." Though she had grown somewhat haughty nowadays, Misha still held exceptional respect for the guide who had originally brought her to Emperor Cassius's attention—not to mention that he was the Empire's Prime Minister. "I came to report..." Trump said, "I already know about it. A glabrezu infiltrated Isdalia and openly murdered imperial subjects in Emperor Square." Misha nodded, her expression grave. "These demons are becoming increasingly rampant. This time, one dared to infiltrate Isdalia itself, and on such a sacred occasion as Coronation Day. "This is an outright provocation—a provocation against the Empire, and even more so against His Majesty Cassius!" By the end, a trace of fury had crept into Misha's voice, and fierce flames flickered in her golden pupils. Trump said in a deep voice, "Misha, a spellcaster must maintain their reason. Never let anger blind your eyes." Only then did Misha realize her lapse in composure. She lowered her head and said with a touch of remorse, "Forgive me, I lost my temper. "I will heed your instruction, Prime Minister." Trump gave a slight nod. Pacing across the hall, he looked out the window once more, watching the bustling imperial populace while a steam locomotive roared past billowing steam and sounding a shrill whistle. He murmured to himself: "Abyssal demons... are indeed troublesome foes. They pose no small threat to the Empire." Over the past year, more than a dozen such demonic attacks had occurred across the Empire, but this was the first in Isdalia. Most demonic attacks had been swiftly suppressed by local forces, but in several incidents, the demons had inflicted considerable casualties, and some unfortunate informants had been killed on the spot. These attacks had wrought an extremely pernicious effect on the Empire. In the long run, they would inevitably erode the populace's trust in the Empire and taint its social morale. For a confident, martial empire, it had always been the Cinder Empire's prerogative to plunder and strike at other nations. The citizens of the Cinder Empire were subjects of the great red dragon, warriors beneath his vast wings. They ought to fight to the death for the Grand Design—they should never become victims. "Do not worry, Misha." The corners of Trump's mouth curled slightly, a grin spreading across his grotesque visage as ruthlessness and boundless confidence glinted in his small, muddy yellow eyes. "The Empire's military is flourishing, the Starfallen are due to return soon, and more importantly..." The ogre looked toward the north, gazing at the oil painting hanging on the wall depicting the origins of the Cinder Nest. Studying the dragon and the ogre within the canvas, fanaticism and devotion surfaced in his eyes once more, as though he could see that towering figure before him. "The great Emperor Cassius is about to awaken! I can feel that Master has grown even more powerful." Misha's eyes shone with immense surprise and joy. "His Majesty Cassius is about to awaken?" "Yes. The Empire will completely exterminate those demons like pestering flies and achieve total victory. I swear—I will make them regret ever crossing the Cinder Empire!" A sinister grin spread across the ogre's face. He tightened his grip on the ornate scepter in his hand, producing a faint creak, entirely disregarding his own words from moments ago about how "a spellcaster must maintain their reason."