You looked at the captured demon writhing on the ground in front of the house and shook your head slightly.
"Not here. Too public."
With a single snap of your fingers, you, Lukas, Miya, and Liora (along with the bound demon) instantly teleported to a private, invisible sky palace high above the Azure Kingdom capital. The luxurious floating structure materialized around you — vast, opulent halls with starlit ceilings, soundproof walls, and complete isolation from the world below.
The demon was slammed down in the center of a grand chamber, still wrapped in Lukas's unbreakable shadow chains. It whimpered pathetically, eyes wide with terror as it realized it was now completely cut off from any help.
Lukas stepped forward, shadows writhing eagerly around him.
"I'll handle the interrogation, big brother."
He raised his hand. Dark necromantic energy flowed from his palm into the demon's body. The creature convulsed as Lukas forcibly pulled the information directly from its mind and soul.
The demon screamed and began spilling everything in a broken, terrified voice:
"The Goddess… she made a deal with the Demon Lord! She promised him a large territory in the mortal realm if he destroyed Eldenwood and killed Grim and his 'family'… She wanted revenge because you refused to kneel… She blocked all information so you wouldn't know until it was too late… The General Valthor led the attack… Most of the villagers were slaughtered on her orders… She said this was only the beginning…"
Lukas's expression grew colder with every word. Miya's tail lashed angrily, her hand tightening on Starfang. Liora watched with quiet horror but stayed close to Lukas.
Before the interrogation could continue further, a sudden commotion occurred outside the sky palace's invisible barrier.
A lone adventurer who had been flying on a magical mount (passing high above the capital) happened to catch a glimpse of the demon through a momentary flicker in the palace's concealment. His eyes widened in pure panic.
"A DEMON!!! There's a demon up here!!!"
He turned his mount and flew downward as fast as possible, screaming at the top of his lungs.
The word spread like wildfire across the capital within minutes:
"There's a demon in the sky above the city!"
"Someone saw a bound demon near the palace district!"
"Is the Demon Lord attacking already?!"
Panic began to ripple through the streets below. Guards started mobilizing. Citizens looked upward in fear.
Back in the sky palace, Lukas still had the demon firmly under control, but the sudden exposure had created new chaos in the capital.
Miya frowned. "My lord… that passerby saw the demon. The whole city is starting to panic."
Lukas kept his grip on the demon, waiting for your command.