Chapter 5

"That's the same orders the three lords sent were given, myself included…what about it?"

"It was also relayed that all the senior, and junior members as well as the captain, and any powerful foe will be unavailable in the sector security for months..."

"They will be reassign to the soul sector as reinforcement for the current operation on going in the dark sector… get Alice at all cost and do not lose the item she has with her… " the remnant demons relayed reciting the orders given, while trying to point out to lord Oka that the mission was an overkill for three lords.

But now, they knew it was due to the powers they witness, and the girl was just a bait for them to decrease the numbers of the hunters here. But he was inpatient, because he knew they were just throwing pieces of the puzzle, hoping for him to piece it up together, but he doesn't want to jump to conclusions.

"Get to the point or you all, might lose your tongues over this word play"

"At first we thought assigning three lords, and its party members was an overkill, due to that lord Omiha chose to delay crossing over till three months ago, but upon seeing how the info about the soul sector scheme was not reliable..."

"It's obvious now, that this might have been a setup to decrease the numbers of potential hunters in the region which might actually be the real mission… we were practically test subjects" they said explaining to lord Oka how they were wiped out, with little effort and their high respond time. How powerful the opponent they fought were, their numbers, stating it to be 3 hunters, and pressing on to explain that their strength was not that of an ordinary member.

They kept emphasizing on the power of one of the hunters, which was standing-out above the rest, stating he was overpowering, even for their lord, which should be impossible, they pointed out. The other demons who heard the explanation were starting to feel the news was ludicrous, how could an ordinary member even stand against a lord, it was an uttered nonsense.

"Stop... Do you know what you're implying?"

"Yes, Lord Oka… Although it sounds ridiculous, and may seem like a speculation since we don't have any actual proof other than what we witness, but all we've said is the truth..."

"The ordinary members here are stronger than the ones in the soul sector, and the mission is probably a setup to test their actual strength, while getting rid of the lords in the process…"

"I mean, you did suspect something like this, right, lord Oka? That is why you didn't make any move, even now, right my lord?" they answered expressing their grief. Knowing how ridiculous their words sounds, but it was the horrific truth behind their circumstance, while stating their suspicion, as they add a bit of exaggeration to buy the lord's favor. Hoping that would be enough for them to retain their lives.

Lord Oka didn't respond to their words, since he knew there was a possibility of them lying through their teeth, or were exaggerating things, in order to buy his favor; their lives depends on his satisfaction after all. But the point they raised, and the death of their lord was not something he could just ignore.

"He wasn't weak, nor was his party members... ordinary members shouldn't be able to take them on, but yet they said 3 ordinary members wiped them all out… it's unheard of"

"But still, they are the only witness, and that's a fact; that's the only truth I can clinch on behind their story, but accepting the fact that, we were tricked to a suicide mission of gauging some hunters' level by the general is ludicrous… Especially, when the conflict in the royal chain-line has barely been settled… For him to even think of such, will be nothing short of madness…" lord Oka thought puzzled by the news.

"Besides, if he wanted to gauge their levels, using his pets would have been more than efficient, than using us… He knows the death of a lord will not be overlooked... it will only inspire further rebellious acts towards the demon king, putting his life on the line, as that of the seat of his beloved king, since he is the one in charge..."

"With that said, I doubt he'll do anything that reckless... Not without permission at least, but since the only witnesses are low-level demons, I can't do much of anything with them... since their words worth practically nothing to the nobles, and council men... They'll probably get killed for deserting their lord instead... I guess, all I can do now, is confirm their claims, in order to comprehend the threat level of the foe we might have to face" he pondered concluding his thought.

While their lord was occupied with his thoughts. His party members was starting to get agitated, but in a way felt glad, and lucky to have their lord, because if what they said has any ounce of truth in it. They knew, they could have easily been in the same shoes, though they doubt they would had been wiped out, since their lord was smart and powerful, but they were sure they might had lost a few members.

In line with that, they started thinking the suspicion of the remnant demons, about their lord anticipating something of such were true, since all they've done after crossing to the city was keeping a low profile, while gathering rogues to join their ranks. They were amused by the thought of their lord foresight of things, as their face was covered with smirk.

"I'll admit that I did suspect something was odd about the mission, we were assigned, but I chose to do nothing, as regards to the mission, because your lord and lord Yu took control of it… Kicking me to the side, so, to answer your question, no… I didn't suspect anything of such…" lord Oka said bluntly, clearing the air of his foresight, in order to avoid misconception.

"However your claims of the general supposed plan is unlikely... But could be possible… However since you have no actual proof to your claim, other than your existence, you and I know, it's as you said it to be... A speculation…"

"Is your words against his… Besides there is still the possibility that you're lying, trying to trick me to aid you all, which is only natural, after all surviving is all that matters to a low level demon…"

"But the issue of the hunters, and the falsification of information is a whole different ball game, especially when it took the life of a lord, and most of his party members, your existence should be proof enough…"

"So, tell me, which clan markings did they had on their clothing?" he continued with a straight face and cold voice, while asking of the hunter's clan, to better ascertain the threat. Knowing the markings indicate the hunters ranks and clan they belong too, that way he'll know the threat level of the foe they were about to face.

The remnant demons were relieved by what they heard. Believing they still had a chance to retain their lives, since they knew the speculation of the generals plotting against the lords was something they all suspected and were paranoid about, due to the hostility between the nobles and the demon king.

Speculation of such, always assures the undivided attention of all lords, so long as it was believable, which in this case was the obvious thing to use, in order to secure their survival, and help justify the absurdity of their circumstance.

Telling the truth, even with their wounds would only seem like an exaggeration, but directing the cause of the event to one they could believe, could do such, regardless of how slim the chances are. Would make most consider the lies, as an exaggeration and the truth to be a possibility, as the absurdity of the truth would become of interest.

Since that was the only thing they could act on, especially when there was a chance, their lives could be on the line. So the remnant demons thought, and base on lord Oka's response, their assumption was correct.

However, before they could answer lord Oka's question a dark smoke, thick in nature was emanating from the ground, at the center of the living room. All the demons with lord Oka kneeled before it, once they spotted the smoke, being familiar with the energy the dark smoke had. They knew what it meant.

The remnant demons were surprise as to why the others were kneeling, when they felt a horrifying sensation soon after they saw the smoke conforming, it was as if it was sucking the surrounding air. They had no clue of what was happening, since they've never witness such.

Not sure of what to think, they thought maybe it was an attack. Maybe lord Oka was displeased with their hesitation and wanted to punish them, after all, he did seem impatient, and the dark smoke was suffocating them, but upon seeing lord Oka's party members' response to the emanation of the smoke, as it conform, they were not sure of what to think, but they thought it wise to do the same.

All demon's present was kneeling before the dark smoke except lord Oka, who was still in his sitting position with a displeasing look, believing his chances of getting more information regarding the hunters has been, probably cut off. He knew what the present of the emanating smoke meant, his thought of the situation was getting unsettling, and his facial expression was supporting it, out of reflex, as he sat awaiting it to take form.

Soon after the dark smoke took form, taking the shape of a dark sphere, which has the size of a 3 feet mirror. The demons in the room except lord Oka, were still kneeling, with a foot, and their head bent, with no desire to look upon what the smoke has conformed too. In a brief moment, a voice thick and somewhat intimidating was heard.

"What's with the face, Oka…? If you keep that up you just might end up losing that pretty face of yours " the person in the sphere shaped mirror said, after seeing lord Oka expression, which he found to be disrespectful, without knowing the expression on his face was not intentional, but just bad timing.

The demons sensed no humor in the words uttered, lord Oka's party members didn't dare raise their heads, since they knew who it was, and doing so would be disrespectful, while the remnant were still clueless to the identity of the person, but suspected it was probably a high ranking official from the dark sector, since everyone present was paying their respect.

Upon what they heard, all the demons in lord Oka's party thought the general was just abusing his authority, to intimidate their lord. Unaware of the unappealing look their lord used in greeting the general, due to their kneeling position.

While the remnant demons felt a cold chill down their spine, recognizing the voice to be one that belongs to the person who they were reporting to had conspired, and set in motion a plan to wipe the lords sent on the mission. At that moment they realized that they might had just escaped from the hunting dogs, and wolf only to land in the den of a starving lion.

Recognizing the voice belongs to the 13th general, they were horrified. Thinking if by chance he overheard them, they were dead for sure. It won't matter if it was true or even if they had proof of it, since ranking was all that matters, and demons has been killed for less on several occasions; disobedience and dissing their superior.

They knew their lives being on the line now had a new horrific definition, which made them question if coming was worth the risk, as they were sweating and quaked in fright.

"That would be a cruel fate for little whole me… Don't you think, general Deathomen? After all, we are somewhat familiar with one another, right sire?"

"The shoe is familiar with the ground, but yet it's nothing but a layer to step on… Don't flatter yourself… Know your place, Oka"

"You utter the utmost heartwarming words general… However, dare I ask to what honor do I owe your grand audience, I mean it's not yet time for my report, and I presume handing out complements is not why you seek me out, general Deathomen, or is it?" lord Oka asked with a rather cheerful face, as he was trying to buy the favor of the general with his words. Trying to skip the threat exchange, in order for him to state his business, while understanding that the last response of the general was implying that he should know his place, if not he'll be disposed of.