Ch 126 – The 12 Dukes of the Demonic Kingdom

'Ugh.'

That was Aldrich Stolas' thought upon finding himself standing in front of a large wooden door. He could already hear the rowdy bunch conversing inside the room behind the door.

He is currently wearing a dark blue suit, and dark blue pants, with golden accents and other luxury items to accompany it. He was in his true form, which was pretty much his child form. He wondered to himself if attaining immortality was a good idea.

'Sigh, I knew I should have changed my base form. But that would take a lot of my brain to accomplish, and Lute is not willing to help me with him constantly going out these past few days. Oh well, we devils do have long lifespans, but to remain a child my whole life is a bit scarring.'

Aldrich lightly laughed, lessening his worries, and finally pushed open the large wooden door in front of him. Instantly, he heard the rowdy bunch inside the room halt and was greeted by 11 other Archdevils like him.

Sathanas: Wrath

Lucifer: Pride

Beelzebub: Envy

Abadon: Sloth

Mammon: Greed

Belphegor: Gluttony

Asmodeus: Lust

Leviathan: Water

Samael: Fire

Azazel: Wind

Belial: Earth

Those were the name of the 11 other Archdevil Households in the Demon Lord's kingdom. Each household has its own respective attribute that they were the best in. For example, the Leviathan Family has the strongest navy in the kingdom due to their attunement with the Water Element, allowing them to use the Order Magic of the water element to be far easier compared to any other devils.

"Stolas!"

They all greeted him, and he lightly smiled. He walked forwards, and sat on the only vacant seat left, which was unfortunately beside Duke Asmodeus.

"Fufufu, you haven't changed a single bit since we last met, Stolas-san."

His voice was sultry, and his appearance was sultrier. Aldrich could already feel his lustful gaze pointing at his child-like body, 'That fucking shotacon.'

"You too, Asmodeus-san. You still retain your devilish charms all these years," Stolas smiled, before being greeted by the 10 other Dukes and Duchess of the Kingdom. Though most go by the Duke Title instead of Duchess even if they were female as it's easier that way.

"Stolas! My friend! You truly are back after being gone for so long!"

There he was, a body of raging muscles, skin darker than the color of blood, eyes piercingly black, the head of the Sathanas Family, greeted him. His pair of horns pierced towards the sky, while his tail swished around, with its end similar to a spike ball. As of now, his face was all smiles and peace, yet when he turns angry and serious, it'll show the fearsomeness of the Sathanas Family.

"Indeed, Sathanas. My business as the Sage of humanity has been a large success. I've managed to provide much-needed information to our kingdom, allowing us to continuously attain success all this while."

"Hahaha! You truly are wise, Stolas! Now that the greatest strategist of the Demon Lord's kingdom is back, any wars we'll have with the humans will be ours!"

They all laughed, for Sathanas wasn't wrong. Aldrich Stolas, he can truly be said one of the most important members of the Demon Lord's Kingdom. He was the Sun Tzu or the Zhuge Liang of the kingdom.

"With you here, our losses would surely drop down to the ground! Many of our men will live while the humans would die into pools of blood with your cunning plans!"

"Not only that, you should be promoted to the level of an Adviser to the Demon Lord! You've run your own kingdom already for decades, so if you were to help govern the entire kingdom, it would surely prosper!"

"Mmm, many cities are already facing many issues due to the constant wars and invasions we have to deal with the other races of this world. But with the governing of her highness, princess Sophia Ordo, our current situation is slowly improving with her genius new technologies and ideas!"

"Indeed! If she were to study under Stolas, she'll become a truly great Queen!"

Many praised him and the current princess of the kingdom, which caught Stolas' attention.

'The princess, Sophia Ordo. I haven't met her yet, but if they were to praise her of such degree, then she must truly be quite special.' Aldrich thought.

With his interest now caught, he opened his mouth and asked, "Excuse me, but I'm currently ignorant of the current achievements her highness has been able to achieve. Could you perhaps enlighten me?"

"Oh, yes, yes. You've been gone for so long, and your only source of information should be your daughter, right? Well, her highness truly is a genius."

Listening to their words of praise and the achievements she was able to achieve, Aldrich was indeed surprised. New laws were implemented, new technology she herself suggested, and a long list of surprising feats was given to him.

'If all of that were true, which is highly likely as they wouldn't lie to me about things like this, then Sophia Ordo truly is a befitting ruler of the kingdom.' Aldrich smiled, satisfied with the qualifications of the current princess of the kingdom.

And so, the 12 Dukes of the Demon Lord's Kingdom talked with each other about topics regarding the kingdom.

"There's something interesting I've just recently learned from the spies I sent in the Central Continent," Duke Asmodeus said, catching all of their attention.

"Something interesting, even for you? Then it truly must be important information." A Duke commented.

"Indeed, it truly is important information," Duke Asmodeus smiled, before tossing a disc to the center of the table.

With a flash of white light, a screen formed in front of them all and they looked at it with interest.

"The United Kingdoms, has anybody of you heard of it?" Duke Asmodeus asked, only to get silence in response.

"As expected," Duke Asmodeus sighed, their eyes filled with amazement.

"The United Kingdoms, you can say it's a Shadow Organization and is currently stronger than the Pendragon and the Holy Kingdom," Duke Asmodeus announced, shocking the other Dukes in the room.

"Stronger than both the Pendragon Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom?! Are you joking with us? Or are you saying the truth?" Duke Azazel asked.

"Why would I lie about a thing this important? That's why I was surprised too when finding out about this Shadow Organization that remained under my radar for so long," Duke Asmodeus responded. Nodding his head, Duke Azazel sat down on their seat once more.

"Continuing with my report. Now, some of you may be wondering how it gained its strength. To be stronger than two kingdoms who near the level of a human empire? Well, the name itself indicates how," Duke Asmodeus said, and the screen flashed to show a list of names.

"Tyburg Kingdom, Winston Kingdom, Arkel Kingdom, Piluk Kingdom, Numel Kingdom, Weyvil Kingdom…" Duke Asmodeus listed out the series of kingdoms shown on the screen in front of them.

"Don't tell me…" Duke Beelzebub asked, it was as if he knew what those names meant.

"Yes, all those kingdoms on screen are all part of the Shadow Organization, United Kingdom. A series of kingdoms united under one banner, kingdoms all throughout the Central Continent are part of it, and more are joining each month," Duke Asmodeus reported.

"But why? Why would so many kingdoms join a Shadow Organization such as this?" Duke Sathanas asked. The atmosphere in the room has turned tense from the revelations Duke Asmodeus revealed.

"Well, that's the thing I was going to say next," Duke Asmodeus said, and the screen moved to the next slide once more.

"It's simply due to its benefits. A guaranteed 5-fold increase in annual profit, an alliance with hundreds of other kingdoms, a better kingdom…" Duke Asmodeus read out the benefits listed on screen one by one. Each one made the United Kingdom all the more terrifying.

"They have money, power, influence, an organization which can very much defeat the two strongest kingdoms in the Central Continent, and we are only able to learn of it now?!"

"Right! How was it able to stay hidden for so long!"

"Well, that's the reason why I revealed it today. It was because I was hoping if Stolas-san can help us crack this secret down," Duke Asmodeus said.

"… Unfortunately, I too, have never heard of this Shadow Organization," Aldrich responded.

"Terrifying, this Shadow Organization is terrifying. Tell us, what has it been doing this entire time?" Duke Lucifer asked.

"That also remains an unknown to me. Due to its massive scale, keeping track of what each kingdom is doing is close to impossible. Not only that, they were able to transfer orders to one another through a secret way I don't know about. Each action they do is chaotic and hidden under mysteries I can't solve," Duke Asmodeus said, before showing the other Dukes what he was talking about.

"Indeed, if it were like this, then finding out their goals and true actions is next to impossible."

"Sigh, it seems like we have another one added to our plate."

As the whole room stayed silent for a long while to contemplate the new info they learned, Duke Beelzebub suddenly raised his head and glanced at Aldrich Stolas.

"There is something I'm curious about," Duke Beelzebub said.

"What is your question, Beelzebub-san? I'll happily answer any question as long as it is within my capabilities," Aldrich responded calmly.

"How come you are here? We all know you are needed to take care of your own kingdom, yet who else is going to take care of it?"

"Indeed. I too have been quite confused with that."

"Me too."

Hearing their questions, Aldrich only chuckled lightly before answering, "Well, one of my students there has officially taken the mantle of the owner of the Magic Kingdom."

"Oh, your adopted human son, Lute Stolas," Duke Beelzebub said, before squinting his eyes.

"Hmm, there is also another thing I'm curious about."

"Go on."

"How do you have the Akashic System in your own city?" Duke Beelzebub asked.

"Indeed, I almost forgot about that due to the United Kingdoms."

"Didn't the reports say that the creator of Akasha and the Akashic System Lute Stolas, your son? Did you just give fake news to throw everyone off, or is he actually the creator?"

"Not only that, why did you adopt a human in the first place?"

Taking a deep breath, Aldrich decided to respond to the last question, "I've adopted him simply due to his capabilities and talent in magic."

"Oh? You're praising him for his talent? The Z-Rank Mage and creator of two new branches of magic derived from our Order Magic is saying somebody else is talented in magic?"

"Indeed, and to reveal the truth, his talent is far above mine," Aldrich added, shocking the other dukes.

"Talent higher than yours? You must be joking, right?"

"I'm not joking. If I were to compare it in numerical terms, then let's say I'm a 10, while he is at 100."

His praise shocked the others out of their wits. To think his own estimation made Aldrich put himself so low compared to his son.

"If he were to grow… Then he would be a threat to us! Stolas, are you insane?! To let a human with such talent grow under your guidance? If he truly did create the Akasha and Akashic System, then that human will perhaps be our downfall!" Duke Sathanas shouted, his eyes squinted in suspicion as he slammed his fist to the table.

"Oi, oi, oi! Did I hear someone cursing my name so soon?" a voice suddenly said out of nowhere, it was neither masculine nor feminine, and it was serene and soothing like a calm river flowing in a creek.

As purple light burst behind Aldrich Stolas, they widened their eyes to see a young boy appear beside him. He had dark horns and a long tail, eyes colored a dark purple nearing black, a smug smile that held boundless confidence, and a pair of dark purple wings made out of owl-like feathers.

"Who are you?" Duke Sathanas asked.

"Well, I'm simply the human turned Archdevil, Lute Stolas, at your service!" Lute lightly grinned, and the entire room turned silent.

AN: This chapter has 2061 words.

Damn, United Kingdom of the Central Continent, the Nameless Elf in the Western Continent, the Fox Demihuman of the Eastern Continent, the Magic Kingdom in the Northern Continent, and now the Demonic Kingdom of the Southern Continent. Braun literally has fucking thousands of pawns at his beck and call right now! Imagine all the scheming he has done behind the scenes!

He literally has his slithering tentacles everywhere. And it's all culminating within the darkness, its existence remaining hidden until he wishes to reveal it himself.

Writing hard, power stones good, gib power stones to me.

(August 17, 2022 – 266th day of writing)