Berry's shoulders loosened the moment Lucian stepped into the room. Relief washed over his tense face, and he half-rose from his chair as if to speak.
But Lucian gave him a subtle hand signal—calm, measured, the kind Berry had learned to trust.
'I'll handle this. You can go.'
Berry frowned, unwilling to leave so easily. His lips parted, clearly about to protest, to insist that he had no intention of abandoning Lucian to face this unnerving guest alone.
But before a word could leave him, Belphegor's smooth voice cut through the air.
"Your settlement is thriving. The flow of mana here is… refreshing. Strong. Almost as if it's alive."
The Demon King drawled, his gaze wandering lazily over the walls, as if he could see the very foundation stones beneath them.
His eyes flicked to Berry, and without the slightest hesitation, he gestured with a flick of his fingers.
"You may leave."
