Chapter 58: Revolution Era - The Rift
Abyss Corporation.
Pandemonium, a city located beneath a sky so shrouded in dense, murky fog
that not a single ray of sunlight can penetrate.
Centuries ago, it bore the name of a realm ruled by a Demon King, but now,
it’s known merely as the capital of Abyss Corporation, the only remnant of
its former glory.
Beneath the abyssal dark sky, buildings packed tightly together shine not
with sunlight but with the glow of magical engineering lights, casting
shadows over the streets where ‘drones’, looking like desiccated humans,
scurry about diligently.
As the city’s central clock tower begins to chime, Paimon, the CEO of Sloth,
sits at the conference table, yawning languidly.
“It’s time. Let us commence the regular meeting of the Abyss Corporation. I
invite the CEOs of each company to present their reports.”
Adorned with the split halves of a Demon King’s crown on his shoulders and
twin swords on his back, an imposing figure.
No sooner had Bael, the CEO of Pride, declared the meeting open than a
dashing demon, spinning a pistol in his hand and wearing a stylish admiral’s
hat, spoke up.
“Lust reports no special issues! Ah, but tensions with the elves of the
Eastern Empire in the southern part of the continent are escalating! We
request permission for war!”
“Denied, Barbatos. We concluded in the last meeting that the costs currently
outweigh the expected profits. And Wrath is absent again.”
“Boo- boo- The employees of Lust crave war!”
Barbatos’s protest, despite his admiral’s hat, was completely ignored by
Bael.
Then, Saleos, a demon blowing into a wine bottle at the meeting, chimed in.
“Keke, seems making money is more urgent than attending here. That’s the
kind of company it is. Gluttony has no issues either. While the elves of the
Eastern Empire put on airs, humans have become hopelessly addicted to
opium.”
“Envy has a peculiar issue~ The demand for humans from Sloth keeps
increasing, but the supply of humans isn’t keeping up~ We need to take
action!”
At Envy CEO Gremory’s statement, Bael slightly furrowed his brows.
“Let’s consider a solution.”
At that moment, Paimon, who had been half-slumped over the table, stood up.
Crossing her elegantly dressed legs and adjusting the white garment draped
over her, Paimon smiled enchantingly.
“Oh, Gremory of Envy is lodging a complaint against Sloth's Paimon~ Such
behavior is the trademark of Envy~”
“Oh dear, I trust the esteemed CEO of Envy will understand, since it wasn’t
used commercially. That aside. As the CEO of Sloth, I’d like to lodge a
complaint against Pride Inc.”
“A complaint?”
Bael raised his eyebrows slightly, but Paimon, running her fingers through
her blood-red hair, maintained a leisurely demeanor.
She opened her mouth with a still-smiling face, producing a beautiful tone.
“As one of the seven companies and effectively the head of Abyss
Corporation, Pride has been overseeing internal affairs and handling
external strategies. However, it’s a bit regrettable to say, but the recent
performance of Pride has been... somewhat below expectations.”
“The Francia matter involved many unforeseen variables that were not
accounted for by our company. The results were satisfactory given the
circumstances.”
Bael retorted with a stiff face, but Paimon continued in her relaxed manner.
“The project aimed at dealing with the Duke of Lafayette failed, leading to
an early revolution than anticipated, and ultimately, the loss of Abyss
Corporation’s assets in Francia. Sloth's opposition to that project is well
known, needless to say.”
Bael remained silent.
“Harphas, who was supposed to infiltrate the County of Aquitaine’s estate,
has gone missing only to become part of the Pope’s collection. The attempt
to incite internal discord within Francia and assassinate the Countess of
Aquitaine also failed, thereby strengthening the positions of both Duke
Lafayette and the Countess.”
Having finished, Paimon leisurely took her time before speaking again with a
slight smile.
“When considering the total failure that has led to a shortage in human
resources, causing both Sloth and Envy to suffer losses, one cannot help but
question whether Pride is indeed the most effective in managing the external
strategies of Abyss Corporation-”
Bael’s hand reached for the sword on his back, and upon noticing this,
Paimon stopped speaking, leading to a moment of silence.
“Are we heading for a fight? I’d like to be included if that’s the case!”
Barbatos, the CEO of Lust, cheerfully laughed as he skillfully caught his
spinning pistol, prompting Bael to slowly remove his hand from the sword.
After a brief silence, Bael spoke.
“Abyss Corporation’s first principle, article 3, prohibits all forms of
disputes among its members... except in cases that pose a direct or indirect
threat to the corporation. Therefore, Barbatos, fighting is not permitted.”
“Boo- boo-”
Ignoring Barbatos, Bael glared at Paimon, who responded with a polite smile.
“As the CEO of Pride, I understand the losses that Sloth and Envy are
enduring. I will devise a solution promptly. That is all. Let us adjourn the
meeting.”
With that, Bael stood up and the meeting concluded.
Leaving the meeting room and returning to her own room through a spatial
transport device, Paimon flopped down into her chair and wrapped her arms
around herself.
“Ah, this chilling sensation.”
The moment Bael grasped his sword, a shiver ran down her spine.
The fear and tension she felt for the first time in centuries were
indistinguishable from ecstasy.
Indeed, the one who had personally slain the Demon King and effectively
taken control of Abyss Corporation.
Even after centuries, it was evident that not an ounce of fat clung to
either his body or soul.
While basking in a moment of ecstasy, Paimon turned her gaze to a newspaper
from Francia lying on her desk.
The newspaper featured a portrait of Duke Lafayette.
Seeing this brought a smile to Paimon’s lips.
The very man who refused her invitation and thwarted all of Abyss
Corporation’s schemes in Francia.
Paimon lifted the newspaper with both hands and pressed her lips to the
portrait of that irresistibly charming man.
Irresistibly charming, indeed. How thrilling would it be to have the chance
to do this in person?
In the land of the former Demon King, Pandemonium, now the seat of the Abyss
Corporation, all disputes among the seven companies are fundamentally
forbidden.
Interfering with or competing in the domains of other companies was
forbidden. As a result, Paimon, the CEO of Sloth, has spent centuries unable
to venture beyond the realm of ‘Sloth.’
While the attitudes of the other CEOs were unclear, Paimon was deeply
dissatisfied with this situation.
She yearned to stir up anger and incite wars, to indulge in the desperation
of those consumed by lust, to encourage the misdeeds of those ensnared by
jealousy, and to not conceal the desires for gluttony and greed.
Above all, she desired to relish in the pleasure of looking down upon and
dominating others from the pinnacle of Abyss Corporation, in sheer
arrogance.
The irony of demons, inherently agents of chaos, forming an organization so
closely resembling an orderly corporation was not lost on her.
Demons, by their nature, should pursue chaos.
That’s why Paimon was enamored with Duke Lafayette, that irregularity.
He who was shaking the very foundations of Abyss Corporation, which, for
centuries under the division of its seven enterprises, had everything
proceeding smoothly and according to plan.
Starting as a disgrace among nobility in a crumbling old order, he seized
Christine Aquitaine, dove into the republic, and now, emerging prominently
even with a saint, was ruining Abyss Corporation’s schemes.
How much more could he achieve, and how long could he withstand?
“I’ll be rooting for you, so do your best, Duke Lafayette.”
With a deep laugh, Paimon whispered words that Pierre would never hear.
“Create more, more, more rifts in this tiresome order.”
***
A few days after Christine returned to Lumière after a brief yet warm time
together.
I remained in Reims, leading the wounded soldiers and the remaining
personnel including Eris, Gaston, and Damien, heading towards Bahua.
“General Lafayette!”
“Greetings to you, Duke Lafayette!”
As the soldiers in the town saw me, they saluted with bright faces, and as I
returned their salutes, an unfamiliar feeling washed over me.
When I first committed to the republic, I never imagined I’d attain such a
status so quickly.
This feels good.
“Oh, the saintess is here too!”
“Where, where?”
“Saintess! Thanks to you, we survived!”
Eris’ popularity surpasses even mine.
Though she wraps herself up tightly under the sunlight, her mystical
appearance and benevolent deeds while healing soldiers in the barracks have
already made her famous.
“Ah, I just can’t get used to this.”
Eris whispered to me, leaning in slightly, and I responded with a chuckle.
“A beautiful saintess who protects the army with her divine power on the
battlefield and tirelessly cares for the wounded after combat. Wouldn’t it
be stranger if the men on the front lines weren’t fond of you?”
“Ah, ah! Hearing it from the Duke himself makes it even more cringe-worthy!”
Eris shuddered, recoiling at my words.
I glanced away, catching sight of Gaston silently following me and Damien,
who seemed to be sending envious glances our way.
Gaston must have played a significant role in battle, but it seems the ones
who stand out to the public are always the higher-ups.
Someday, I hope to reward Gaston with something befitting his loyalty.
...As for Damien, well, it doesn’t matter.
As we were welcomed by the soldiers and entered the city, we were greeted by
the welcoming party.
“Welcome, Duke Lafayette! Thanks to your swift decision-making, we were able
to enter Bahua without shedding blood!”
Raphael Ballian’s face was beaming, perhaps because he had reclaimed the
city he once occupied.
Meanwhile, I noticed that they had started addressing me as ‘Duke’ instead
of ‘General’...
What could this mean?
I masked my thoughts and responded with a smile.
“It was thanks to General Ballian’s quick maneuvers. Well done. Ah, and you
too, Dezy.”
“Haha, thank you. It’s a relief to see you in good health again.”
Louis Dezy responded with a warm smile.
Honestly, I was uneasy entrusting anything to Damien alone, but having Dezy
there was a blessing.
I plan to ensure both Gaston and Dezy rise in ranks, if no one else.
“Now that the armies of the Germanian Empire and the Northern Union Kingdom
have withdrawn, only the showdown with King Louis remains.”
The moment to put an end to this corrupt and decaying kingdom has finally
arrived.
How much blood has been spilled because of that incompetent king?
“Ah, about that...”
Ballian shrugged and then leaned in to whisper.
“A secret envoy has arrived.”
“An envoy?”
“Yes. He claims to be Count Pelford.”
If it’s Count Pelford we’re talking about, he’s practically the right hand
of Duke Lorraine, a notable vassal.
“Oh, what did he say?”
Ballian chuckled lightly, his eyes twinkling with an unnerving ease as he
made a chilling suggestion. “He insisted on speaking with you, Duke. We have
him well accommodated for now, but should we dispose of him?”
Honestly, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to just get rid of him...
“Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’ll meet with him.”
Who knows? Given the significant setback they’ve experienced and the corner
they’re backed into, they might have come to their senses and brought forth
a reasonable proposal.
***
However, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh when I saw Count Pelford at
the prepared accommodations, dressed as if he were a nobly invited guest,
offering me tea prepared by a servant.
“It’s been a while, Duke Lafayette. It feels like only yesterday we fought
under the same banner. Your remarkable feats of valor have even left Duke
Lorraine in awe.”
“...I didn’t see you, but we must have been fighting as enemies on the same
battlefield, so it probably hasn’t been that long.”
Count Pelford’s eyebrows twitched.
These fools still haven’t come to their senses...
I quickly abandoned any hope for this secret meeting and began contemplating
how to deal with the man before me.
“Duke Lafayette. His Grace, Duke Lorraine, holds in high esteem the
character and faith of your lordship, having once fought alongside you, and
wishes to make a decisive move for the salvation of our country.”
Yet, Count Pelford’s next words far exceeded my expectations.
“A decisive move for the salvation of our country?”
“Indeed. Hasn’t too much blood been spilled already? Though our paths have
diverged, His Grace firmly believes that you, Duke Lafayette, remain a
patriot of Francia-”
“Get to the point, Count Pelford.”
After much delay, Count Pelford finally spoke.
“His Grace, Duke Lorraine, proposes to hand over his lands and allegiance to
King Louis, provided that his nobles and their families are guaranteed safe
passage and the ability to take their fortunes into exile.”
...Typical.
Truly fitting for the offspring of a corrupt and decadent kingdom.
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