My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 619: Chapter 620: Expensive Entrance

”With my participation settled, I need to be updated on the impact of my actions on the world at large.”

Damon’s voice carried a reserved tone, his dark eyes shifting toward Matia, who stood silently in the corner, her expression unreadable.

Renata adjusted the papers in her hand, her brows furrowed with focus.

”The Ravenscroft family are still mourning the loss of Godric Ravenscroft... however, they have not let that stop them from going about their activities.”

She flipped briskly through the documents, selecting a stack and placing them before Damon. He picked them up with a casual glance while she continued her explanation.

”Godric Ravenscroft was buried a day after the incident—or rather, his heart was buried. All investigations have led to a dead end regarding the faceless entity... however, they’ve surmised he is a demon.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed as he skimmed the autopsy report. Jagged gashes across Godric’s heart, inflicted by the tail of a lesser demon, painted a clear picture. Every detail aligned with the act being carried out by something inhuman.

”I imagine they’ve taken up hostilities against the demons...” Damon muttered.

Lilith, who had been leaning against the wall, shook her head and cast him a sidelong glance.

”Not quite. The demon continent has denied any involvement, and surprisingly, the empire and temple are... quiet. For now, they’re calling the faceless entity an unknown element.”

Damon flipped to another page, a thin smile curving his lips.

”They can’t confirm if it was or wasn’t a demon... however, a demon would have the most motivation to do so. And the presence of that lesser demon seals it all.”

Lilith exhaled a long breath, relief softening her features.

”At least no one connected it to you, which is good for us...” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, steadying herself before continuing.

”The Ravenscroft family are in the capital—it seems they’ll be receiving guests here.”

Renata closed her folder with suspicion flickering in her eyes.

”I don’t imagine that’s the only reason... this particular war game is different from the previous ones. Too many big shots are coming in person.”

Damon pressed his fingers against his temple, feigning deep thought though his head throbbed with an ache.

”They probably want to discuss something behind closed doors. This war game just gave them the perfect excuse...”

”The temple, the empire, the elves, beast kin... too many people are attending. Including the headmasters of various academies,” Lilith listed, her tone grim.

Damon’s gaze slid down the page until it halted on a name. His lips curled.

”Hmmm... Seras Blade is coming too.”

Renata’s eyes narrowed. The name struck her unease. Seras Blade, a prodigy whose rank towered above Damon’s, belonged among dignitaries. Yet hearing it aloud stirred a knot in her chest.

”Well, no matter,” Damon dismissed with a soft wave of his hand, his tone light as though he cared little for the woman’s presence.

”What about Xander... how’s he holding up?” he asked suddenly.

Lilith closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose as if fighting off a headache.

”You, of all people, shouldn’t be asking that—after killing his brother.”

Damon chuckled under his breath.

”It’s basic human decency to ask about the deceased.”

He pushed himself up, ignoring the lingering ache in his head.

”Be that as it may... we have far more important matters to discuss.” His gaze swept across the three women before him.

”How can I make the most over-the-top, grandiose entrance possible?”

Lilith groaned audibly, rubbing her temple. Of course—that was Damon. He could ignore every enemy and every consequence, yet obsess over how to make a dramatic appearance.

Renata, however, didn’t hesitate. She whipped out a pen, her hand moving in quick, calculated strokes across the paper. After barely a minute, she tore the sheet free and presented it to Damon with a bright, expectant smile.

”It’s short notice, so I made a rough outline for your entrance on the tournament stage. We need something that matches your majesty.”

Damon scanned the paper, a grin spreading across his face.

”Yes, yes... this will do.”

Renata straightened, satisfied by his approval. Lilith stepped forward, snatched the paper, and skimmed it. Her eyes twitched almost immediately.

”You... you... the budget for your entrance alone is seven million zeni...” Her glare swept over them both like a storm.

”We don’t have that kind of money to splurge!”

Renata scoffed, tilting her chin upward with disdain.

”Please. Don’t look down on me. I’ll cover the budget. My lord, leave it to me.”

Damon nodded approvingly, secretly pleased he wouldn’t spend a dime.

”No, you’re not,” Lilith snapped, crossing her arms. ”At least tone down the expenses.”

Frustrated but unwilling to back down, she grabbed the paper and quickly began scribbling her own adjustments. After a few moments, she thrust it back toward Damon.

”How about this?”

Damon glanced at the revision, nodding slowly, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.

”Hmmm... I like it. I’ll piss off a lot of people without even saying a word.”

Lilith sighed with relief. She had expected to argue with him endlessly to avoid something utterly extravagant.

”Alright then... get some rest.”

Damon sank onto the bed, stretching out as though every ounce of rest was precious.

”Right, I totally forgot... can any of you open a sealed spatial ring with your conceptual attributes?”

Lilith exchanged a glance with Renata. The latter smirked triumphantly.

”Of course, my lord. There’s nothing I won’t do for you.”

Lilith sighed again, her gaze lingering on Renata.

”You change so fast... I had no idea you had such a fawning side. Always thought you were just a little slutty.”

Renata’s hand trembled, her eyes twitching with barely contained fury, but she forced herself to remain composed in Damon’s presence. To her, Damon was Ashcroft reborn, and she would not tarnish her devotion.

”I will do anything for my lord.”

Damon, blissfully unaware of the tension crackling between the two women, chose not to pry.

”Can you raise a barrier?” he asked Lilith instead.

She flicked her wrist, and a faint shimmer of magic sealed the room off in an instant.

From his shadow storage, Damon retrieved a small golden ring etched with faint runes and a familiar crest. The instant their eyes fell upon it, both Renata and Lilith stiffened.

”Where did you get a ring from the imperial family?” Renata asked before she could stop herself.

Damon waved his hand dismissively.

”Oh, this old thing? It’s nothing. I got it from a random woman I met in the woods.”

He left out one crucial detail—that the woman had been the princess of Valtheron. And they stood in the very capital of Valtheron.

At that same moment, not far from them, deep within the Valtheron Imperial Palace, Abellona felt the magic of her ring stir.