Chapter 113: Lucifer
Beside me, Val pulled a small, silver radio device from her inner pocket. She tapped in a secure frequency code, speaking into the receiver in a low, authoritative voice.
"Team Four, proceed to cavern sector sub-seven. Secure five hostile human remains and isolate the area. Run a full spiritual trace on their mana pathways before disposal."
A crisp, professional voice responded instantly through her earpiece. "Understood, Captain. Perimeter team is moving in now."
She tucked the device away, turning to me. "Even dead bodies can yield critical intelligence. My analysts will extract their soul signatures and cross-reference them with the global database. We will know who funded this attack within twenty-four hours."
"Good work, Val," I said with a nod, shifting the heavy blue mana core to my left arm while carrying the sensory-jamming spear in my right.
We made our way back through the natural limestone tunnels, stepping through the melted breach and back into the concrete maintenance corridors of the stadium. The distant thumping of the concert had completely died down, replaced by the quiet hum of the stadium’s ventilation systems. The main performance was officially over, and the crowd was likely clearing out through the main gates.
There would be many other things for them to do too, but certainly not in the stadium itself.
We took a private service elevator up to the mid-tier commercial concourse, a broad, marble-floored hallway lined with VIP cafés and private lounges.
Just as we rounded the corner near a high-end dining alcove, I froze mid-step.
Sitting alone at a polished wooden booth in the middle of an empty VIP restaurant was a familiar figure with long, flowing silver hair.
It was Devil Queen Lucifer.
The terrifying ruler of the Underworld was sitting comfortably in a leather booth, completely unbothered by her surroundings. Spread out across her table were three massive, double-patty bacon cheeseburgers, a mountain of golden French fries, and a massive two-liter bottle of dark cola.
She was eating with pure, unadulterated contentment, taking a massive bite out of a burger before washing it down with a long, satisfying chug directly from the soda bottle.
Before I could process the absurd sight, Lucifer’s bright golden eyes snapped toward us.
She spotted me carrying a bandaged spear and a blue block, with Val standing right behind my shoulder. Instead of raising her guard or acting like a mysterious dark deity, Lucifer grinned brightly, holding up a half-eaten burger in one hand while vigorously waving her other hand to call us over.
"Hey! Kid! Over here!" Her smooth, melodic voice echoed across the empty restaurant.
I paused, staring at her in mild disbelief. ’Why is she calling us over?’
Beside me, Val’s entire body went on high alert. Her hand dropped straight to the hilt of her combat dagger, her violet eyes narrowing into sharp slits as she stepped slightly in front of me. "Young Master... that entity possesses an immense, dangerous aura. Do not approach her."
"Relax, Val," I murmured, keeping my posture calm. "She’s an ancient power. Rejecting her invitation out in the open would probably cause more trouble than simply sitting down to hear what she wants."
I walked over to the booth, with Val trailing half a step behind me, her violet eyes locked onto the silver-haired woman like a tiger ready to pounce.
The moment I reached the table, Lucifer casually kicked out the chair across from her and gestured toward it with her soda bottle. "Sit down, sit down! You look like you just came back from digging up dirt."
I slid into the booth seat, setting the inert mana bomb and the bandaged spear onto the floor beside my legs. Val remained standing directly behind my right shoulder, her posture rigid, her hand never leaving the hilt of her dagger.
Before I could even speak, Lucifer grabbed a large ceramic plate from the side of the table and shoved it straight toward me. Sitting on the plate were four fresh, hot cheeseburgers, dripping with melted cheese and crisp bacon.
"Eat up!" Lucifer said cheerfully, wiping her mouth with a paper napkin. "Human fast food is easily the single best thing your realm has ever created. You mortals might be frail, but your culinary choices are legendary."
Val leaned down slightly, whispering close to my ear. "Seth... do not consume food offered by a high-tier Devil. It could be laced with demonic soul-charms or binding curses."
I tilted my head mentally. ’Hey, Paige... is this burger safe?’
[PFT!] Paige scoffed loudly inside my mind. [Please! Lucifer would never use cheap tricks like poison or food curses! She’s far too proud for that low-tier garbage. The burger is completely clean, Host!]
Satisfied with Paige’s scan, I reached out, picked up one of the cheeseburgers, and took a solid, hungry bite.
The crispy bacon, melted cheese, and seasoned beef exploded with flavor across my tongue. I swallowed it down, letting out an appreciative hum. "Honestly? That’s actually really good."
Lucifer’s golden eyes instantly lit up with pure, childlike delight. She slammed her hand down on the wooden table, making the soda bottle rattle.
"SEE?!" Lucifer laughed triumphantly, pointing a finger at me. "Finally! A human with actual, refined taste! Every single time I visit Earth, those stuffy High Council diplomats try to serve me tiny portions of raw grass and three-hundred-year-old bitter wine! They don’t know real joy!"
She picked up her two-liter soda bottle, tilted her head back, and chugged another massive gulp with zero regard for manners.
Setting the bottle down with a loud THUMP, Lucifer wiped her lips with her sleeve. Her sharp golden eyes locked onto mine, a playful yet dangerously perceptive glint dancing in her gaze.
"So..." Lucifer purred smoothly, leaning her chin against her hand. "...I take it from your calm reaction that you already know who I am, kid?"
I leaned back against the leather booth, taking another calm bite of my burger. "It’s pretty hard not to recognize the Devil Queen."
Lucifer stared at me for a second before throwing her head back and letting out a loud, booming fit of genuine laughter that echoed through the empty restaurant.
"AHAHAHAHA!" Lucifer cackled, her silver hair swaying around her shoulders. "Oh, that is rich! That is absolutely fantastic!"