THE DEMON’S MISSION

After dealing with Melinda it was already evening. A seemingly 20 year old handsome man kneeled in front of a 14 year old boy adorned in clothes reeling with elegance.

Shane leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze meeting Seb's. 

The evening landscape reflected the room as dim sunlight seemed to cast shadows on the walls, and the faint flowery scent lingered in the air. Shane's fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, a cadence mirroring his deliberate thoughts.

"Seb," Shane began, his voice low and commanding, "it's time we deal with the pest."

Seb, standing at attention near the door, tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation. "What are your orders, my lord?"

Shane's lips curled into a faint smirk. "The third prince has overplayed his hand. Sending assassins after me? Involving a spy within my home? He must believe me to be too naive and incompetent to trace it back to him . let's nip the bud before it sprouts"

Seb's grin widened, a trace of malice flickering across his otherwise calm demeanor. 

"Do you wish for him to suffer, my lord? Or should I make it swift?"

Shane rose from his chair, his aura calm yet imposing, as though he were a ruler accustomed to absolute authority. He approached Seb, his hands clasped behind his

back. "don't waste your time on him, there are more important things we have to do other than killing an insect. I just want him gone, Seb. No theatrics, no games, just precision. Kill him and eliminate anyone who stands in your way."

Seb bowed deeply, his grin faintly feral. "As you command, Master. It will be done."

Shane nodded but held up a hand before Seb could leave. "Before you go, there's someone you need to meet. Follow me."

Seb straightened, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. He trailed behind Shane as they left the study, their footsteps echoing faintly in the grand halls of the estate. Occasionally the servants they passed by lowered their heads in submission, but their stolen glances betrayed that and their eyes filled with curiosity and fascination at the new figure behind Shane.

The pair stopped before a set of double doors. Shane pushed them open, revealing a stately office. Behind the desk sat an old but firm, sharp-eyed man seemingly in his sixties with neatly combed white hair and a posture that exuded authority. Despite his age, his broad shoulders and piercing gaze gave him an air of vitality. Jade the Duke's trusted butler and administrator looked up from a stack of documents, his emerald eyes narrowing at the sight of Seb.

"Young master Shane" Jade greeted, his deep voice tinged with suspicion. His gaze fell upon Seb, assessing him from head to toe. "And who is this?"

Shane gestured to Seb. "This is Sebastian, he's my new personal butler. I recently purchased him from the slave market."

Jade's eyes narrowed further. His sharp instincts seemed to tell him that there was more to this Sebastian than Shane let on. "You... bought him? And why would the young master want a slave?."

Shane shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I found his skills intriguing. He's under a slave contract, so he's bound to my commands. Considering how my coming of age ceremony is nearing with just 1.5 years left, I need to train, I thought an extra pair of hands wouldn't hurt."

Seb, understanding the need for discretion, kept his head bowed, playing the role of a submissive servant. Jade studied him for a long moment before sighing and leaning back in his chair. "It's the very first time for the young master to do things his own way. Fine, but I'll be keeping an eye on him closely. Don't expect me to trust him just because he's bound to you."

Shane smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Jade."

Jade returned to his papers, though his eyes lingered on Seb for a moment longer. Shane led Seb out of the room, the tension dissipating once the doors closed behind them.

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AT MIDNIGHT .....

Seb departed the estate under the cover of darkness, his presence cloaked in shadows. His master's order echoed in his mind: "eliminate that fool. No witnesses, no mistakes."

Making his way towards the imperial city of the Konark empire, the empire in which Duke Nolan's fief was a part of. From the capital of Nolan dukedom to the imperial city was a distance of about thirty-five thousand miles, generally it would take 5 days to reach there in a carriage pulled by magical beasts. But for Demon-prince Sebastian black it was about a few leaps.

The capital city bustled with its usual night-time activity merchants closing their stalls, guards patrolling the streets, and the occasional drunken laughter spilling from taverns. Seb moved like a shadow, unseen and unnoticed.

[Status Information]

[Name: Sebastian Black]

[Race: Royal-Demon]

[Age: 1,066]

[Class: Abyssal Soul-Slaver (SSS)]

[Level: 524]

[Talents: Shadow Travel(A)]

[SKILLS:

[1.Class skills: Devil's Deal (S), Chains of Slavery (S), Dream-Haunt (S)]

[2.Racial skills: Demonic Aura (S)]

[3.Extra skills: Shapeshift (A)]

[Physical Attributes: Strength: 7378]

[Agility: 9074]

[Constitution: 8027]]

[Demonic Attributes: Demonic] 

[Mana: 9374]

[Perception: 5689]

[Intelligence: 3900]

[Master- Shane Nolan] [Loyalty: 100/100]

Though he looked like a frail mortal human, his abilities were anything but that. At level 500, he was far stronger than any being in the Konark Empire, where even the Emperor, at level 200, was revered as a godlike figure. Seb's presence in this world was a silent mockery to that reverence one that only Shane truly understood.

Reaching the royal palace posed no challenge. The massive stone walls and heavily guarded gates meant to deter intruders were laughable obstacles. Seb observed the patrols from the shadows, his senses heightened. After incapacitating one of the guards with a precise blow to the neck, he activated his skill: Shapeshift(A).

[Skill: Shapeshift (A)]

[Description: Alter the user's appearance to match that of the target. Limitations: Physical mimicry only.

Duration: Until users' mana runs out .]

Seb's body shimmered faintly as his features morphed into an exact replica of the guard's. Even his uniform adjusted to match perfectly. Now indistinguishable from the other palace guards, Seb strode confidently through the gates, blending seamlessly into the flow of patrols.

"Hey you!! that area is off-limits" just as he was about to enter the core area of the palace a guard noticed him and shouted. "tch!!,should have just sneaked in" Seb thought in his mind as his posture suddenly changed to a degraded one making an uncomfortable expression.

He turned around and noticed only a single guard standing there looking at him with cautiousness

"Ahh!! sorry man I am new here and was in a hurry to take a look, do you know where the toilets are??" Listening to the casual tone of the junior soldier in front of him, the man was about to retort when in a hurried tone Seb spoke "ahh!! I can't take it, I'll pee in my pants and tell me quickly!!!" "the nearest guard post to the right" the guard said with an irritated expression, he had no choice but to let Seb go, seeing his expression as if he was about to burst apart.

Seb getting the opportunity ran to the right his body language to that of a guy about to leak out.

As soon as he noticed the presence of the guard disappearing he effectively merged with the shadows making his way towards the core area.

He could have simply killed the guard and would have walked straight into the palace and nobody would have been able to stop him but in his mind he only knew that he had to follow his master's orders down to each word.

Since Shane had demanded the execution of the prince without any other fuss he would do just that. He had already read the guard's memory on whom he had used shapeshifting skills just after entering the castle.

As the imperial guard had seen the face of the third prince on many occasions whenever he had seen him entering the castle on his horse after hunting, he also felt disgusting memories of the guard revering the third prince but that didn't affect him in any way.

Inside the palace, he followed the subtle traces of wine's fragrance. The grand halls of the palace were lined with intricate tapestries and gilded furniture, but Seb paid them no mind. His focus was singular.

After a bit of searching in every chamber as he mingled among the shadows he passed by the heavily guarded emperor's chambers, and after a thorough search that took about half an hour in the vast palace.

Finally, he reached the prince's chamber.