Celia smiled with satisfaction as she looked at the beings before her.
They were succubi and incubi bestowed by her great Master.
“Hmm, Master always bestows perfect gifts.”
Celia’s red eyes sparkled with joy.
Four succubi, three incubi.
Until now, Celia was the only demonic spirit in this dungeon, but now she had kin.
The succubi and incubi offered their respects to Celia.
Even among succubi, Celia was a 6-star combatant, while the others were 3-star.
Feeling this immense gap, the demonic spirits willingly pledged their loyalty to Celia.
“We greet Chief Administrator Celia.”
The succubi bowed gracefully.
Their skin was smooth as pristine jade washed in the cold moonlight, and their eyes were deep and bewitching, like the abyss of night.
An aura emanated from them that made it difficult to look away once you met their gaze.
Next, the incubi placed their hands on their chests and bowed their heads.
Their skin was pale like moonlight, and their eyes twinkled like stars in the night sky.
Their sharp jawlines, deep-set eyes, and bodies with smooth yet firm muscles were themselves deadly temptations.
They were enchanting incarnations where beauty and a dizzying aura coexisted in their very being.
“Truly perfect.”
Celia walked slowly through the dungeon, a satisfied expression on her face.
She needed demonic spirits at this very moment.
“With this, I can execute my perfect plan.”
With the Sail Kingdom transforming into the Sail Empire, the territory of the nation ruled by Irena had changed.
Now was the time to have a broader perspective, not just focus on territorial expansion.
The Orbis Empire, the Kalrn Empire.
Of course, both were potentially threatening nations from a long-term perspective, but that wasn’t important right now.
Celia was focusing on something else.
‘Rebellion.’
The Sail Kingdom became an empire by absorbing the Free City Alliance.
The problem was that they hadn’t assimilated the humans of the Free City Alliance yet.
What did this mean?
The Free City Alliance was a unique nation where citizens directly elected their leaders, unlike a king.
In that sense, there would be many humans who questioned the imperial authority of the current Sail Empire.
Celia feared precisely that point.
Rebels.
When humans face sudden environmental changes, they act in two ways.
They either adapt to the changed world or resist it.
Most humans Celia knew fell into the former category.
No matter how absurd the world felt, most humans tended to conform.
However, some were the problem.
That “some” were the latter, the type to raise their voices and resist in any situation.
Even if they were a minority, if their voices spread far and wide, the situation could become uncontrollably serious.
Celia categorized them as insects.
If you don’t deal with insects found in your home early on, they will hatch eggs and breed.
The insect offspring that hatch from the eggs will grow and lay more eggs.
Eventually, the house will be filled with insects.
But even such insects can be dealt with if discovered and eliminated early.
In other words, the goal was to quell the rebellion before it even began.
Before facing stronger empires, the Sail Empire needed to sort out its internal affairs.
Of course, Empress Irena was doing a good job, but that was from a human perspective.
From Celia’s perspective, it seemed insufficient.
“Well, everyone.”
Celia turned her head and spread her arms wide.
“It’s time to work for Master now!”
Her expression was filled with ecstasy.
***
As Celia expected, resistance seeds were sprouting in the territory of the Sail Empire, or rather, the former Free City Alliance.
In the basement of a worn-out old building, a candle burned faintly in the darkness.
About ten figures sat in a circle, their faces half-hidden by shadows.
“In three days, we will commence our action during the Sail Empire’s guard change.”
Roisel said softly, pointing at the city map spread on the table.
His eyes were bloodshot with fatigue, but a firm will burned within them.
Once a parliamentary aide for the Free City Alliance, he had now established himself as a leader of the rebels.
In response to Roisel’s words, his subordinate officer reported.
“The empire’s guards are most vulnerable at four in the morning. Especially the personnel guarding the Grand Garden are few, and taking advantage of the 15 minutes of loosened security during guard shifts, we can easily recapture the Grand Garden.”
Subordinate Officer Tariya.
She disguised herself as a fruit vendor in the market, gathering information.
Thanks to that, she not only naturally communicated with many people but also became acquainted with the empire’s soldiers.
The rebels led by Roisel aimed to recapture the Grand Garden, the symbol of the Free City Alliance.
By recapturing the Grand Garden, they wanted to prove that the spirit of freedom was not yet dead.
Through that proof, they hoped to ignite the embers of resistance further.
“Berk, are the weapons ready?”
Roisel asked Berk, his chief of staff.
Berk was once the representative of the Free City Alliance’s merchant guild, but he lost everything when the empire was established.
His face was grim, but he hadn’t lost all hope.
That was the hope that through this resistance rebellion, they might return to their normal lives.
“Yes, we hid them all in the abandoned mine last night.”
Berk took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing his report.
“There are hundreds of swords. And we have prepared enough bows and arrows to use without shortage.”
Roisel looked surprised at Berk’s report.
“That’s incredible. How did you get so many weapons?”
The Sail Empire had declared that it would grant freedom to the Free City Alliance, but it was merely lip service.
In reality, the empire was sending soldiers to assimilate the citizens of the Free City Alliance.
Naturally, there was a curfew, and perhaps anticipating resistance, gatherings were also completely banned.
In such circumstances, securing such a large quantity of weapons?
That alone showed Berk’s great skill.
However, Berk responded to Roisel’s question with a bitter smile.
“Actually, I received help.”
“Help? From whom?”
Were there still forces willing to help them start a rebellion?
Roisel was wary.
The resistance rebellion had to be conducted secretly. But receiving help from an unknown entity increased the possibility of disrupting the plan.
If Berk couldn’t answer his question, Roisel was even prepared to abandon this plan cleanly.
“Actually…”
Berk’s mouth slowly opened.
“Have you heard of a powerful figure in the Sail Empire’s underworld?”
“A powerful figure?”
A powerful figure in the underworld.
It was the first time he had heard of it.
Of course, every country had an underworld.
Didn’t the Free City Alliance itself have a black market?
It had disappeared when the Sail Empire took over.
The problem was Berk’s answer.
A powerful figure controlling the Sail Empire’s underworld. Roisel waited for Berk’s next words in silence.
“Yes. The one who controls that underworld wears a mask and does not reveal their identity. So, no one knows about them.”
It was a contradiction.
Controlling the underworld, yet no one knows their identity. Even so, Roisel remained silent and listened this time.
“Fortunately, I was able to contact him. I thought the black market of the Free City Alliance had disappeared, but it turned out that person had taken it over.”
This meant the owner of the Sail Empire’s underworld had also taken over the black market of the Free City Alliance.
And Roisel felt an inexplicable sense of unease at Berk’s words about luckily contacting that person.
“It’s alright. He is the owner of the underworld. In other words, he is rebelling against the Sail Empire. We can consider him someone who faces the same enemy.”
Berk’s words were rational.
Usually, underworld bosses clashed with the country.
No, they were bound to clash.
Naturally, from the country’s perspective, they would want to eliminate the underworld where frequent crimes occurred.
In that sense, Berk’s words were correct.
“What’s more, he cannot speak. He communicates by writing on a notebook, so you don’t have to worry about our plan spreading.”
“So?”
Roisel felt even more unease at Berk’s answer.
He couldn’t speak, yet he controlled the underworld?
Seen from another perspective, it meant that person possessed something immense.
“So, when I told him I needed weapons, he readily gave them to me.”
“Hmm? You didn’t buy the weapons, you were given them?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s all thanks to his help that we could hide them in the abandoned mine.”
This time, Roisel’s expression turned serious.
He thought the owner of the underworld wouldn’t give favors without any reason.
What if, after the Free City Alliance regained its independence, that person demanded full control of the black market?
“…”
However, his worry was not long-lasting.
That worry could be dealt with after the Free City Alliance regained its independence.
Rather, they should feel grateful that there was a force helping them now.
“Right, you must have found out his name, at least?”
Even if he hid his identity, wouldn’t he have at least introduced himself by a pseudonym?
“Yes, his name is Necros.”
“Hmm.”
Necros…
“Tariya.”
Roisel’s gaze turned to his subordinate officer.
“Yes.”
“Investigate Necros thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned.”
“Understood.”
The meeting concluded there.
***
After the meeting ended, Roisel was the only one left in the basement.
He folded the map on the table and burned it, organizing the final detailed plans in his mind.
In the dark basement, a single flickering candle was his only companion.
‘If everything progresses according to the plan…’
He thought he could rebuild the Free City Alliance.
Roisel thought so and tried to get up from his chair.
His body felt heavy. He hadn’t had proper sleep for days.
At that moment, he heard footsteps from the basement entrance.
Roisel immediately assumed a defensive posture. Everyone had left, so who could have returned?
A familiar silhouette appeared from the darkness.
“Tariya?”
It was his subordinate officer. She slowly descended the stairs and walked towards Roisel.
“What is it? Did you forget something?”
Tariya did not reply. She merely smiled.
That smile was somehow strange. It wasn’t the smile of the Tariya he knew.
It was too sweet, too seductive.
“Tariya, why did you come back?”
Roisel asked again. His voice now carried a hint of wariness.
Tariya slowly raised her hand and grasped her collar. With one elegant motion, she shed her top.
“Wh-what are you doing!”
Roisel stepped back in surprise. But his leg caught on the chair, and he fell backward.
Tariya continued to undress.
Slowly, piece by piece.
Every movement was as graceful as a dance.
Roisel tried to get up, but his gaze was fixed on Tariya’s form.
“Tariya, snap out of it! What is this!”
His cry scattered into the air. Tariya was now completely naked.
Her skin gleamed golden under the candlelight.
Her body, tracing perfect curves, was like a work of art.
Roisel swallowed.
His senses were overwhelmed by the enchanting sight of Tariya, whom he had only considered a subordinate officer.
Tariya approached Roisel. Her steps were as smooth as flowing water.
“Lord Roisel…”
Her voice flowed into Roisel’s ears like sweet honey.
“Embrace me.”
Tariya knelt before Roisel. Her hand moved between his legs.
Roisel felt his heart pounding madly.
“I’ve loved you for a long time.”
Tariya climbed on top of Roisel.
“Tonight, even if just for one night… embrace me.”
Roisel’s reason was slowly crumbling.
Tariya slowly moved towards Roisel’s face. Her lips were almost touching his.
At that moment, Tariya’s face began to change.
Her skin sagged and contorted.
Her eyes deepened, and her mouth widened unnaturally.
It had transformed into something that could no longer be called a human face.
“Aaaargh!”
Roisel’s scream erupted. Tariya’s mouth stuck to his face.
Roisel felt a painful sensation.
It was as if his very soul was being sucked out.
All the strength in his body drained away, and his consciousness blurred.
He felt his life force slowly being absorbed by Tariya.
‘This… is a dream… a nightmare…!’
Roisel desperately told himself. But the pain was too real.
His vision began to blur. Darkness began to engulf him.
“Aah!”
Roisel gasped and woke up.
His entire body was drenched in sweat.
“Are you alright?”
At that moment, Berk, who was in front of him, asked with a worried expression.
Roisel quickly looked around.
“Wasn’t the meeting over?”
He was sure he was the only one left after the meeting. No, he was with Tariya, who had taken the form of a monster.
“You must have had a dream, Lord Roisel.”
Then, Tariya’s sweet voice was heard from beside him.
Roisel was surprised when he saw her, but he didn’t show it.
‘…It was a dream.’
What a strange dream.
“Yes, where were we…”
“Ah, yes. The empire’s guards are most vulnerable at four in the morning. Especially the personnel guarding the Grand Garden are few, and taking advantage of the 15 minutes of loosened security during guard shifts-”
At Tariya’s words, Roisel raised his hand.
“Wait, didn’t you already say that?”
“Yes? What do you mean by that…?”
At Tariya’s questioning, Roisel realized something was wrong.
