Bribing a Demon is not Cheap

"You summoned me?" Lord Mammon said sitting in Will's tent.

'"I never thought I could just say your name, and you'd appear?" Will said in surprise.

Will motioned his fingers and Micheal poured the demon a couple of hot black tea.

"A name is a very powerful thing. Learning someone's true name can give you power over them. This brings me to ask, for your true name. The dark priests have tried to curse you repeatedly but without your name, the curses cannot take effect. Don't worry, I won't share it, but I'm curious to learn the truth," Lord Mammon said sipping the tea.

"Please permit me to deny your request. As you said, names have great power, and I learned long ago, this world only values strength and crushes the weak," Will explained.

"I can make you a sizable offer. I'll pay the exact sum in your private vault that you think no one knows about," said Lord Mammon eyeing Will seriously.

"Again, thank you for your offer. No doubt you are upset your counterfeit plan failed…twice!

But your failed schemes have been highly profitable for me. Thank you," Will said bowing slightly forward from his seat.

"Did you bring me here to gloat?" Lord Mammon said his fiery red eyes gleaming

"Heavens no, I ask you here to bribe you," Will explained.

"Oh, you want to give me money. I do love bribes. What shall you ask of me?" Lord Mammon said rubbing his hands together greedily.

"According to Mother Tiamat, Thanatos is planning to ascend to Terra. I would like you to delay him," Will replied.

"Delay him? Tsk. I fear you ask too much. A god's retribution is too great," Lord Mammon advised.

"No doubt, it shall cost me greatly. Surely, you must know how to shift the blame to others.

Furthermore, a demon as wealthy and charismatic as you must have a vast repertoire of contacts. Surely you know someone who can delay the portal?" Will asked confidently.

"Certainly, I am capable. But gods have access to great divination. Divination can uncover any deceit and knowledge. Neither you nor I can defy the gods!" he explained.

"Yes, that brings me to my second request. I formally ask you to bring me to Thanatos.

Would you not be praised for handing me over to the lord, certainly no one would suspect you of sabotage.

You might even be promoted to a higher peerage, given a medal, money, or granted a wish for the accomplishment," Will requested.

"How much?" Lord Mammon said starting the negotiations.

"How large is my bounty?" Will replied.

"Quite large, nearing 100 drachmas," the demon responded.

"Put the currency in terms I understand," Will asked.

"If an imperial gold or platinum coin now is worth 100 gold. Then a drachma is worth 1,000 platinum coins," he explained.

Will stood in total silence. A single drachma equaled a billion coppers. And his bounty was worth 100 drachmae. That meant his bounty was worth a billion coppers. That was too outrageous.

"How much is Sage Ming's bounty?" Will asked curiously.

"1,000 drachma. The primordial goddess Nyx is anxious to reap his soul," Lord Mammon said.

Just for a second, Will thought about turning his teacher over to the demons.

Coming to his sense, Will said, "As payment, I'll refuse my share of the bounty."

"How creative. Instead of paying me, you'll offer me your share of the bounty. Yes, it is quite substantial and more than you could ever afford to pay me.

Let's sign a soul contract, just in case you decide to default," Lord Mammon said smiling ear to ear like a used car salesman.

"I refuse! However, I shall make a contract stipulating to the fact that I owe you half a billion coppers.

I'll summon you again after we secure the capital. The sooner, we take the old Rhaziesian imperial capital, the sooner you'll claim my bounty," Will advised.

Will and Mammon quickly signed a contract, and the demon departed with a happy smile plastered across his face.

***

Two months later, three years after the fleet of ships set sail, the army reached the last major city on their way to expel the demons.

The Allied Army hiked along a dirt road covered in debris and vegetation.

Allied Infantry Commander von Vogel and Allied Intelligence Commander Hawkeye von Pierce led the army through the woods.

Crown Prince Roland was disguised as an infantry soldier in case of an ambush.

The route snaked from village to village until they were just outside the capital city.

They chose this route to reduce the likelihood of being seen by demon scouts and alert their enemy to the army's location.

Every house and store in the villages was boarded up and empty.

In every village, they found desecrated human bodies. Human carcasses hung from trees or piled upon each other. Each time the dead were missing body parts or mutilated.

The ghost towns felt eerie, full of vengeful spirits. But they made for great camping sites.

Hiding in the woods outside the capital, Allied Intelligence Commander Hawkeye and his scouts watched the demons patrolling city walls.

The first scout asked, "How long have we watched these demons patrol?"

The second scout cleared his throat and said, "A day and a half if…I think."

"I don't care how long you've been watching the capital entrance. Is there any information, I can take to his imperial highness?" Hawkeye asked.

"Commander look," the first scout pointed as a company of injured demons approached the former Rhaziesian Empire capital.

"Why are they injured?" asked the second scout.

"The Demi-humans must be close by. It looks like they damaged that company pretty well," the Allied Intelligence Commander suspected.

They watched as wagons of injured demons kicked up a dust cloud behind columns of injured demons.

"Commander what should we do?" the second scout asked.

"We observe," Hawkeye commanded raising his hand to his lips to silence his two best scouts.

They watched as the capital city's iron doors opened and the injured soldiers were led inside.

Disguised in the trees, they closely motioned the patrol's routine.

During the observation one thing was obvious, a small contingent guarded the capital.

"Commander, a division of soldiers should be guarding a city this size. Did they send most of their soldiers to reinforce their troop?" the second scout asked.

"Have you seen any troops leave?" Hawkeye asked.

"No sir," replied the first scout.

"Then assume there is still a division army inside. They might know we're here and trying to lure us into a trap. Never assume!" Hawkeye reminded her.

It wasn't until dusk, they heard the sounds of horses and the muffled chatter of soldiers. Through the leaves and thistles, they could see a brigade of red demons marching out of the city.

The brigade marched in the same direction, the injured demons came earlier.

"I'm leaving to inform his highness. Stay here," Hawkeye said stealthily walking away.

Back at the Allied Army camp, Hawkeye informed the Crown Prince of what he observed.

"Is it your opinion the capital is defenseless?" Allied Signal Commander Koch asked.

Hawkeye looked Commander Koch in his eyes and replied, "I never assume."

"Then what is your opinion, Hawkeye? Prince Lucas questioned.

"If the enemy knew we were close they never would have left the fort. They don't know we're here. We can launch a surprise attack. That's all I came to report," Allied Intelligence Commander Hawkeye informed them.

"Commanders von Vogel, Weber, and Koch what are your opinions?" Crown Prince Lukas asked.

"Your highness, the Engineering Command has ready finished seven siege ladders and two arrow siege towers," Allied Engineer Commander von Weber saluted.

"Highness, my command is prepared for a surprise attack," Commander von Kock saluted.

"The infantry ready to attack your command," Allied Infantry Command von Vogel saluted.

Prince Lukas thanked his commanders for their readiness. But he hoped for their advice.

"Great Sages what is your advice?" Prince Lukas asked.

"Just attack them already," a frustrated Sage Ming advised.

"We cannot guidance without more knowledge," said Sage Einstein and Abulafia in unison.

"Teacher, Will what is your opinion?" Prince Lukas questioned.

"You have to attack them eventually, why wait? Does it ultimately matter if it's now or later? This is war!

If we attack now, we force the demons to decide whether to reinforce their troops battling our allies or attack our rear," Will advised.

"Allied Commanders, commence the attack!" Prince Lukas ordered.

"Yes, sire!" Commanders von Vogel, Koch, and Weber saluted.

The Allied Army marched out of the woods and began to siege the capital.

The mages began attacking the capital's array. The demons looked surprised to see they were under attack.

Will looked at the spells hitting the array when he noticed a familiar face on the battlements.

He saw a well-dressed Lord Mammon speaking to the captain, and Will couldn't help but laugh.

Will would wager his vault, that Lord Mammon bribed the captain of the guards.

Just before Lord Mammon disappeared, he and Will locked eyes and with a grin phased out of existence.

Nearly an hour later, the capital's massive gates opened to the Allied Commanders' surprise.

"Is it a trap?" Commander von Vogel asked Commander Hawkeye.

"It's fine. I bribed the demons," Will said encouraging the army to follow him inside.

When the Allied Army marched into the capital, the entire city was empty. To the commanders' surprise, there was not a single demon inside.

"I can't believe you bribed the demons. How much did it cost?" Crown Prince Lukas asked in amazement.

"Not much," Will said blasé faire.

Prince Lukas's eyes went wide with fanaticism, "Master is very wise!"

"They made a smart choice. I would have taken the money and ran too. What's the point of waiting around to die?" Elder Thaddeus said unimpressed.

"Demon company approaching. They look injured," said a scout.

"Mages, go kill any demon that comes near," Elder Thaddeus said bored.

Sages Einstein and Abulafia nodded in agreement.

The demon company learned the Allied Army controlled the capital by fireballs. Only one injured demon escaped the magical onslaught.

Eventually, the main demon army learned their last city had fallen to the humans. Now the demon's main army was sandwiched between the demi-humans and humans. The news demoralized the demon army, and they were routed.

A week later, the demi-humans walked into the Rhaziesian capital as the Allied Army cheered their allies' victory and the end of the war.

The humans controlled the southern half of the Rhaziesian Empire, and the demi-humans controlled the northern half. All that was left was to divvy up the conquered land and smoke out the remaining demons.

With only a smattering of demons left on Terra, the Great Eastern Empire offered 100 gold for every demon scalp.

When the public learned about the Allied Army's victory, cities, towns, and villages partied in the streets. The day would be forever marked as a holiday to celebrate the world joining as one to overcome the Third Schism.

Yet, only a few knew the truth. While they had repelled the demons, they had yet to fight the true villain, Thanatos.