MR. SALVADOR'S POV
"Sir, five warships have landed in the port, each carrying thousands of soldiers from neighboring countries," Ethan reported, standing stiffly before me.
"What’s their purpose?" I asked, surprised. I didn’t recall sending any message, nor arranging any meeting.
"According to their commander, Mr. Basil, they’re here to assist in capturing Demon—at the Elders’ request," Ethan continued, finally sitting down. "Basically, we have the Elders to thank for their arrival."
"Five giant battleships for just one person?" Vladimir commented, his tone tinged with awe. Perhaps he was stunned by how far Demon's influence had reached—so far, in fact, that entire countries feared her rise to power.
"I can’t blame them," Saphora chimed in. "They’ve seen what Demon can do. They’re afraid she might set her sights on their own lands next."
Their observations were nothing more than noise, adding to my ever-growing headache.
"What should we do with them?" Kurt cut in. "We can’t exactly refuse their offer, but using them as bait to capture Demon could come at a cost—their lives are far from guaranteed."
I remained silent, and all eyes shifted toward me, awaiting my decision.
"I suppose I should welcome them," I muttered, though the weight of the words hung heavy on me. It was the practical move, but it felt like just another burden I had to carry. They all nodded in unison, urging me on.
As president, I have to handle this—whether I like it or not. The truth is, I wouldn’t be in this position if not for Demon's orders. She paved the way for my victory, orchestrated everything to secure my role, and now commands me to confront her, to play this twisted game of cat and mouse.
I’ve always been her obedient dog, yet even now, I don’t know the full scope of her plans. Demon has always been secretive, burying her intentions deep inside, where no one could ever reach them. She’ll likely die without revealing them.
I’ve watched her grow—from a brat who did nothing but complain, to the girl obsessed with Viper, and now to the figure everyone fears. Her rise to power stems from her relentless confidence, a force that seems unshakable.
Reflecting on the past, I realize how close things came to spiraling out of control. If I had supported Sophie and Luci’s plan to groom Hyra into becoming the next Luci, the situation would have been far worse. No one would have dared to address the country’s decay, and everyone—myself included—would have continued turning a blind eye to the corruption, as we always had. When Luci died, I felt a strange sense of relief. But when Sophie revealed that they had plotted to mold Hyra into another Luci, I almost considered going along with it—not because I wanted to rebuild Luci’s legacy, but to save Hyra.
But I was too late. Sophie died, and Hyra vanished—until she returned, alongside the Underground’s blacksmith. I hid my joy when she reappeared, knowing she’d play a role in what was to come.
Demon claims her vision for this country is to reshape it into a place where Viper can live freely, a place ruled by strength, free from the weak. I find it hard to believe that such a vision can ever come to fruition, but after following her for so long, I’ve learned that nothing is impossible when she’s involved.
She orchestrated everything. The masks, the power, who holds it—every step was meticulously planned. She manipulated the system to ensure her chosen ones would rule, even if it meant destroying the lives of those who stood in her way. She did whatever was necessary to shape them into something useful.
