Loki's smile widened, warmer and more genuine this time.
"Oh, I like you. You're clever," he said, setting down his teacup and leaning back casually. "Alright, here's the catch. If you accept the alliance and eventually claim the seventh seat or lower, I'll want your support in the Demon Lord Council. There are… reforms I've been meaning to implement. Changes to the way we operate. Most of the other demon lords are stuck in their old ways, but with a fresh perspective, yours, I might finally push through plans I've been plotting for decades."
"What kind of changes?" Satou asked.
"The kind that upset the status quo," Loki said simply. "The kind that make the strong uncomfortable because they threaten traditional power structures. I won't lie to you—aligning with me will make you enemies among both demons and humans. But it will also make you powerful allies and give you resources to protect what you're building."
