Two days later.
The northern border of the Polant Empire, Berkingham County, Chequers Manor.
This estate stood far from the bustling noise of the capital. The overcast, rainy weather had finally broken recently, and the venue had now become the exclusive diplomatic meeting ground between the Polant Empire and the Demon Realm.
As night fell, a blanket of stars speckled the ink-black sky. By eight in the evening, Berkingham County gradually revealed its unique charm.
Chequers Manor and the dreamlike woodland lakes nearby blended seamlessly into the surrounding nightscape. The contours of the architecture, the layout of the settlement, and even the dinners served within the estate all moved in harmony with the rhythm of nature.
Suddenly, a faint tremor broke the tranquil skies over the manor, followed closely by a low hum that steadily magnified. Several massive wyverns from the Demon Realm descended gradually through the air, their flapping wings stirring up leaves and earth from the ground.
At last, the demon dragons came to a steady halt a short distance from the residence, and several figures leapt down from their backs.
Leading them was a demon with dark brown hair and eyes burning like fire. Tall in stature, he carried himself with the upright decorum of a knight.
"My good friend, who knew this was what you actually looked like?"
The moment Thunder Lord Gareth saw Lanqi waiting for him, he stepped forward to shake hands.
"I saw the dashing display you put on while delivering the Progenitor bomb. You've worked hard—splendidly done."
Lanqi cradled the cat in one arm as he offered his compliments to the Thunder Lord.
The opening of trade routes with the orc city-states in the Land of Evernight and the commercial treaty with the Demon Realm would transform this area into the Polant Empire's most vital military and commercial stronghold for the foreseeable future. Maintaining friendly ties between the Polant Empire and the demon race was of paramount importance.
Boss Cat shivered.
It could hardly fathom how Lanqi could cheerily shout "Magnificent!" upon learning that an entire province had been blown to smithereens.
Thank goodness there was no war in the mortal realm; otherwise, a person like Lanqi would surely be hauled before a military tribunal.
Wait.
The one who might end up before a military tribunal was probably Loren.
Boss Cat instantly tucked its head in, curling itself into a loaf of pure black, sugar-free whole-wheat bread.
"By the way, what's going on with Orion and Esmod?"
Lanqi asked Thunder Lord Gareth beside him as they walked toward the residence.
Today marked his, Hyperion's, and Boss Cat's final day in the Shadow World.
Caliera's scheduled departure back to the Demon Realm was set for today as well.
Thus, Lanqi had arrived early at Berkingham County on the empire's northern frontier to see off his demon friends.
Once Tier 9 great demon Caliera departed, True Night Lord Esmod, in her role as the Demon Realm's Foreign Minister, would soon arrive, accompanied by General Orion of the Seventh Army Group, the Mist Lord.
The delegation they led was nominally composed of demon envoys and technical advisors for the "Salem Plan," but in truth, they were great demons coming to assist Lanqi within the Polant Empire and help him purge the parliament.
Thunder Lord Gareth let out a thoroughly helpless sigh.
He still remembered how back in the Demon King's Castle, Naicalis, the True Night Lord had finally plucked up the courage to remove her cloak before setting out, and the way the Mist Lord's brain had completely tied itself in knots upon seeing her.
"Did you know? When the Mist Lord saw the True Night Lord dressed like a woman, he blurted out on the spot, 'Brother, why do you look like a girl today?' That made the True Night Lord so angry she didn't speak to him for a full ten minutes."
The Thunder Lord spread his hands.
"And what happened next?"
"After that, both of them started stammering and hesitating, hardly knowing how to be around each other anymore."
"Ah, well, I hope they get here soon. It's high time I treated my good friend Orion to some Polant delicacies. I suspect only the dinner table can set them at ease," Lanqi remarked with feeling.
"Meow, meow, meow! Why are you always so delighted watching the Mist Lord eat? You make him feel terribly awkward, to the point he's constantly suspicious that you harbor strange designs on him," Boss Cat looked up from Lanqi's arms and questioned.
"Do I?" Lanqi asked with an innocent, bewildered look, patting his own cheek.
"I really can't say, meow..."
Boss Cat only felt thankful that Lanqi wasn't a girl.
Back in the Demon King's Castle, Naicalis, it had actually kept an eye on Orion and Esmod, dutifully noting everything down in its little booklet.
The Mist Lord possessed the caliber to become a king, yet was extraordinarily lazy by nature, stagnating ever since becoming a Three-Seal Great Demon.
If not for his distinguished family background, status, and the public impression of him as a proud noble gentleman, he might have just given up completely.
In contrast, the True Night Lord came from ordinary lineage yet was exceedingly diligent, ceaselessly striving to better herself.
By playing matchmaker for them, Lanqi had actually done something decent for once.
Perhaps having Hyperion at his side this time had somewhat improved his condition.
Just thinking about the disaster Lanqi had brewed back in the mortal realm—where Dean Loren was still slated for a date with Knight Commander Juliana of the Aloran Kingdom—gave Hyperion a splitting headache.
Once Lanqi returned to the mortal realm and Loren was freed from all that pressure, that long-awaited date would probably take place as planned.
"Say, if the Mist Lord and True Night Lord had twins, and one inherited all their virtues while the other got all their flaws, wouldn't that be hilarious?" Lanqi asked.
"They're nowhere near that stage!" The Thunder Lord was taken aback.
"As long as the True Night Lord takes the first step, everything after will move quickly. There's no reason the Mist Lord wouldn't fall for her."
Chatting and laughing, Lanqi led the Thunder Lord through the manor's main entrance and into the official residence.
The antique furnishings in the grand hall retained the exact look from decades ago when the estate was first constructed, and warm lighting chased away the nighttime chill that clung to the gardens.
Following the corridor into a spacious reception room, they found Fall Lord Caliera, Hyperion, and Xigelei waiting inside.
The gentle melody of stringed instruments and their soft voices drifted through the room. Beneath the night sky, warm light flickered within the parlor, reflecting the shimmering stars along the horizon.
Caliera and Hyperion sat on the sofa chatting leisurely, waiting for the forces of the Demon Realm's Sixth Army Group to assemble for the journey back.
"Lady Caliera, the return unit is already standing by," the Thunder Lord reported simply with a bow to the Fall Lord, before quietly stepping back to wait outside the residence.
"Go ahead and keep talking."
"You, hold on."
Seeing that the Fall Lord and Hyperion didn't seem finished with their conversation, Lanqi turned to leave as well, only to be called back by Caliera.
"Did you need something from me, Miss Caliera?" Lanqi sat down beside Hyperion and looked over at the Fall Lord on the adjacent sofa.
"When do the two of you plan to hold your wedding?" Caliera inquired with utter seriousness, looking at Lanqi and Hyperion.
"Could you... give us a little more time?" Hyperion mumbled.
Had Caliera not brought it up, she would have nearly forgotten about the engagement.
She could not help feeling fortunate that time in the Shadow World was too tight to permit her and Lanqi a grand, formal sham wedding, yet deep down, a tiny trace of disappointment lingered.
At least she had gotten to experience a brief taste of it in that dream...
Chapter 602