The estate was quiet in the early morning, but the silence carried tension. Selene knelt before Lucius, chains rattling lightly as she presented the captured enemies. Her heart raced, the memory of her betrayal still raw.
Lucius's crimson eyes bore into her. "You have done well," he said, his voice low, sharp, and commanding. "And yet, you doubt yourself."
Selene swallowed hard. "I… I was a fool, master. I thought I could resist, that I could find freedom from your shadow." Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned with clarity. "I see now that I was wrong."
Lucius's smile stretched thin and cruel. "Good. Loyalty must be absolute. Doubt is poison. You have learned what it means to serve, and that lesson will keep you alive."
Darius Veylan stood nearby, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He had trained Enzo through fire and blood, watching the boy evolve into a weapon. "Enzo, your precision today has improved. Remember, hesitation is death. We serve the Devil by becoming death itself."
Enzo's eyes were steady, hands still tingling from the recent strikes. "I understand. I will not falter again."
Silvio Marcellus, the Fox, leaned over the captured enemies' files. His calculating mind already traced the ripple effect of their plans. "The government connections are deeper than expected. If left unchecked, they could have destabilized everything."
Ravenna Veyra circled the prisoners like a predator, her obsession with Lucius reflected in every deliberate motion. "I will see them broken," she whispered, "every one who dared to look at him and dream of defiance."
Cain Mortalis's axe gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the windows. He had not spoken, as always, letting his weapon speak for him. One swing of that axe would ensure obedience without question.
Adrian Crowe reviewed court records and government filings. "The Devil's enemies have no ground to stand on. Every law, every contract, every connection has been bent to his will. They thought they could hide behind titles. I have shown them that all titles mean nothing before him."
Victor Draemont tapped his fingers on the table, his calm demeanor concealing the storm of influence he wielded. "The nation's wealth flows through our hands. Their funds, their power, their ability to resist—they are now ours to control."
Selene's head dropped slightly, shame mixed with newfound purpose. "I see now… I was weak. I underestimated him. I will never betray him again, even if the road is fire and thorns."
Lucius studied her, expression unreadable, then nodded. "Good. Strength comes from understanding your place in the world. Pain is a teacher. Obedience is survival. You have learned."
Darius clapped his hands together, signaling Enzo. "Your next mission begins at dusk. We move quickly and strike where the enemy least expects."
Silvio adjusted maps, plotting multiple outcomes. "They have networks across the city, some in positions of power. A direct assault alone will not suffice. Strategy must lead the strike."
Ravenna hummed, sharpening her blades. "Fear is as important as death. Let them know that betrayal is a choice that ends in torment."
Cain Mortalis silently inspected his axe, ensuring its edge would deliver justice without error. His presence alone was a warning to any who dared defy the Devil.
Adrian Crowe polished his glasses, a glint of twisted devotion in his eyes. "Every court, every law, every politician has been reminded that Lucius's reach is infinite. Those who plot against him do so at their own peril."
Victor Draemont reviewed bank ledgers and assets, confirming that all enemy finances had been neutralized. "No escape, no safe harbor," he muttered. "They are trapped in the empire's grasp."
Lucius stood, crimson eyes scanning the council. "We are united. Strength, strategy, and devotion. Betrayal will be punished, loyalty will be rewarded. This is the balance that keeps the Devil alive."
Outside the walls of the estate, shadows shifted. The city seemed still, but distant footsteps whispered of another plan forming, a deeper threat rising from the cracks of government and society alike. Lucius's smile deepened.