Night had fallen on the Hellbound, the bar where the so-called secret meeting was to take place, and it was full of people—at least in appearance, for they were not humans but Drifters with human forms. All clad in carnival tunics, Wang, Elva, Johnny, and Huan blended into the crowd, wearing the same tunics, for tonight was a national holiday, a day reserved for the Battle of Lemuria, which the Patriarch and the nobles had decided to commemorate in honor of the soldiers who died in combat.
Once night had fully fallen, a dimensional portal opened in the bar's basement—it was the Grand Oculus—and three of these Demon Masters entered. Johnny felt a tingling sensation across his skin and then realized that one of the three Demon Masters was in fact the murderer of his family.
Wang: Johnny, what's wrong?
Johnny: It's him.
Johnny moved to draw his weapon, but Wang interrupted him.
Wang: You'll blow our cover. I know this is what you fight for, but let's see what happens first. We'll act accordingly after.
Johnny made a tremendous effort to restrain himself. The Grand Oculus, wearing a mask that hid his identity, stepped before the crowd.
Grand Oculus: The hour has finally come! The portal between our two worlds is finally open, and we are ready for the ultimate battle. For this, I will need your cooperation. In a few days, the Assembly meeting will take place where various laws will be voted on. Our pawns within the Senate have already confirmed the laws will pass, and our servant living in the imperial palace has informed us that the Patriarch is dead.
The room erupted in joy. But Wang and the others were astonished, as no announcement had been made; even the Alchemist Governor, Lord Smith, hadn't been informed.
Grand Oculus: We will invade this assembly and place our ally at the head of the Confederate States of America to legislate and legalize trade with the Lower Astral. This will be our opportunity to no longer conceal our appearances and to move freely throughout the territory. And finally, at that precise moment, the person placed at the head of the Confederate States of America to replace the Patriarch will designate our master for all.
Suddenly, a white-haired child appeared, wearing a hooded cape, and presented himself to them.
Grand Oculus: I present to you… the Demiurge.
Wang and the others recognized him instantly—he was the Patriarch's grandson.
Elva: So from the beginning, he was always among us.
Wang: I fear so, strongly.
Huan: We must leave and inform the Governor.
Taking advantage of the moment to slip away, Johnny remained, his eyes locked on the Demon Master who had killed his family. A few instants later, that same Demon Master sensed a familiar energy in the room, similar to his own.
Wang: Johnny, let's go!
Johnny: Go on ahead, I'll follow you!
It was at that exact instant that Johnny teleported with the cursed blade and stabbed the Demon Master straight through the heart, creating utter chaos. Wang and the others were forced to join the battle. As the portal closed, the Grand Oculus and the Demiurge escaped. The two other Demon Masters attacked Johnny, who pushed himself to move through space, jumping and making his body vanish within the perimeter, only to reappear in a corner of the room, having left the blade embedded in the Demon Master's chest. He was shocked to see the blade was not consuming him.
Demon Master: Well, well, if it isn't an old friend of mine.
Johnny: Tonight, you die.
The Demon Master pulled the blade from his heart and laughed.
You can't kill something that's already dead.
Wang: There are too many of them; we have to go!
Johnny: No! He's right there!
Huan: Wang is right, they've surely already called for reinforcements.
Elva, with the help of the magic stone given to her by Lord Smith, erected a wall of fire preventing the Drifters from approaching.
Elva: I can't hold this for long!
Wang: Johnny, you will have your revenge, but not tonight!
Johnny took one last look at the Demon Master, then agreed to leave. Outside, he was furious with rage toward Wang, whom he promptly slammed against a wall.
Johnny: I had him! (With hot steam evaporating from his body and his eyes shooting forth flames).
Huan: We know. And we will do everything so you get your vengeance.
Upon returning to their new headquarters, given to them by Lord Smith, they noticed an invasion at the governor's premises—an attack led by mercenaries but directed by Drifters.
"The Governor is dead, the Governor is dead!!!!" several people in the palace cried out.
Wang and his companions were stunned.
Huan: How is that possible??
Elva: We're not safe anywhere now. Wang, what are we going to do?
Wang: First, we get back to our place. From there, we can figure out how to prepare.
The next day, a statement was released stating that the Alchemist Governor, Lord Smith, had anticipated his death and had already designated my cousin, Sir Richard, to replace him. This was rather reassuring news for Wang and his companions. Sir Richard paid Wang a visit.
Richard: I know this news must be painful; no one expected it. We saw his body lying on the floor, surrounded by blood. (This made Johnny smile slightly, his incredible intuition telling him that the Governor had orchestrated his own death.)
Wang: So, what do we do now?
Sir Richard pulled out a letter and handed it to Wang, who read it.
Wang: Wait, what does this mean?
Sir Richard: Your mother was a Middlesbrough and held a seat in the Assembly. So, given the family's disappearance, a person of her blood must occupy your lineage's place. That's you, Wang Lee Fang—or should I say, Lord Wang Lee Fang.
Everyone was shocked by the news.
Elva: You always had a connection to the nobility, and you never told us! And your mother is the daughter of Lord Ulrich Middlesbrough, one of the greatest families in the Americas and founder of the metal enterprises?
Wang: I always thought my mother had returned to claim her place, that she had started a new life, or that a cousin was sitting in the Assembly.
Sir Richard: Your mother isn't dead, and I know where she is.