Chapter 417: The Threat Of The Grand Chancellor And Minister Of War
Huff...
Damian slowly exhaled before opening his eyes. The six succubus attendants instinctively froze where they stood. None of them dared continue washing him.
The atmosphere surrounding the Prince had changed once again. His calmness frightened them even more.
It felt as though every emotion inside him was being forcibly restrained beneath an impossibly thin surface. Like a volcano moments away from erupting, no one wanted to be responsible for saying the wrong thing.
Damian quietly rubbed his forehead before letting out another exhausted sigh.
"Continue."
William gave a respectful nod.
"For the Marquis houses, only two currently exist beneath Your Majesty’s banner."
He calmly turned another page.
"The Kasok Clan and the Amon Clan."
The moment Damian heard that second name, his brows immediately furrowed and William noticed.
"A clarification is necessary. Amon himself is not a demon."
Damian slowly looked up.
"He is a Fallen Angel."
William spoke as though reciting historical fact.
"One of the original members of Lord Lucifer’s rebellion. He personally commands forty Legions of Hell and possesses strength comparable to the Twenty Four Dukes. He was never elevated to Duke, not because of ability but because he possesses neither demonic nor Asuran blood."
Rin quietly nodded beside the pool.
"You could say many powerful figures deliberately kept him beneath the rank he deserved because they envied him."
William nodded in agreement.
"The title of Marquis was less a reflection of his strength and more a political compromise."
Damian remained silent.
"Amon was the one who crushed Hagrid’s coup. He personally saved Lin Qui. That single battle earned him the office of Minister of War."
Rin explained.
"But don’t mistake him for a solitary warrior. Over the last thousand years, he has personally recruited exceptional individuals from countless realms throughout the Underworld."
William chipped in.
"Every one of them abandoned their former family names and they all bear the surname Amon."
Damian’s eyes slowly widened. So the clan wasn’t built by blood, it had been built through merit. The realization alone made his stomach tighten.
Unlike ordinary noble families that inevitably accumulated useless relatives over generations, every member of the Amon Clan had been personally selected.
That made them terrifying.
His thoughts naturally drifted toward the calm owl headed minister sitting inside the carriage earlier.
What the hell had Lin Qui been thinking?
Why would anyone keep someone that dangerous standing so close to the throne?
William calmly answered the question before Damian even voiced it.
"Amon was Lord Lin Qui’s greatest weapon. His wives’ families controlled much of the Royal Court until his arrival. Amon was the only person capable of opposing them."
William calmly adjusted his spectacles.
"The conflict between both sides has existed for centuries. The difference today is that Amon no longer fights for Lord Lin Qui. He fights for himself."
Damian slowly lowered his face into one palm.
"Just great."
Boom!
Without realizing it, his fist slammed into the surface of the bath.
A massive column of steaming water exploded toward the ceiling before crashing back into the pool.
The startled cries of the attendants immediately echoed throughout the bathhouse as several hurriedly stumbled backward while shielding themselves from the wave.
No one blamed him, not after everything they had heard.
Every clan introduced so far had brought another political disaster. Yet none came close to Amon.
Damian slowly looked back toward William.
"Where are his Legions stationed?"
"The capital, Your Majesty."
William answered immediately.
"The Minister of War’s forces maintain order throughout the capital. Meanwhile the Royal Army consisting primarily of soldiers supplied by your wives’ families remains stationed within the Violet Palace."
Damian slowly blinked.
"So...I’m safe inside the palace provided I remain on good terms with my wives."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and William nodded.
"Correct."
Damian pointed toward the window.
"But outside.. I’m effectively surrounded by Amon’s army."
"Correct."
Damian stared silently into space. Then another realization suddenly struck him and his pupils contracted.
"...Wait. How did Amon find me before my wives?"
He slowly turned toward William and ilence filled the room. Damian felt goosebumps gradually spread across his body.
His breathing slowed.
Does he have informants watching the streets?
The thought alone unsettled him. Earth suddenly seemed infinitely safer than the Underworld.
William quietly closed his book.
"The Royal Court presently consists of two dominant factions. The first .is the alliance between the Grand Chancellor and the Minister of War."
"The second is the alliance between the Ministers of Intelligence, Internal Affairs and Infernal Rites. Your Majesty therefore possesses three possible paths."
He raised another.
"You may support the first faction or You may support the second."
"Or... You may construct a third faction entirely. Then gradually weaken both until neither possesses the strength to oppose the throne."
Damian answered almost immediately.
"My own faction. I refuse to place my safety in someone else’s hands." His tone left no room for debate.
William nodded approvingly.
"A wise decision."
Damian remained thoughtful for several seconds before another question entered his mind.
"...Then where is this Grand Chancellor?"
William’s expression became noticeably more respectful.
"He belongs to the Damika Clan." One of the Twenty Four Ducal Bloodlines of Hell."
Damian frowned.
"The Dami...what?"
"The Damika."
William calmly continued.
"They are distinguished by one unique characteristic. They possess no eyes."
Damian’s curiosity immediately overcame his frustration.
"No eyes?"
William nodded.
"Despite that... They remain among the most feared bloodlines throughout the Underworld. No one truly understands the nature of their gift."
"It is said.... every individual who has personally witnessed the Damika Clan’s true ability has died."
Rin quietly folded his tails beneath him.
"The prevailing belief is that their power attacks the soul directly. Whether that is true... No one can say."
Damian slowly threw both hands into the air.
"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful."
He laughed bitterly for a while then, he looked directly toward William again.
"How many Legions does this Grand Chancellor command?"
"Forty four, Your Majesty."
Damian froze.
"...Forty four?"
"Correct."
"And... Where are they stationed?"
"The capital, Sire."
William answered without changing expression. Damian stared blankly at him for several long seconds then he slowly grabbed both sides of his own neck.
"Just choke me. What the fuck..."
He dramatically tightened his own grip.
"Why is literally everything in this kingdom a complete mess?!"