The Broken Halo

Simon had expected the Second Claw to refuse most of his questions.

Their agreement made him useful. It did not make him trusted, and usefulness alone would never loosen every secret guarding an operation that had taken years to prepare.

Still, it was a shame.

He had gained nothing new about the Chrysalis, the identities and exact duties of the Seven Nails, the Eastern Hand, the Sleeping Commander, or the Old Banner. Even his suspicion that Damar might be the Old Banner remained unanswered.

’As expected, she only revealed what I could eventually learn elsewhere or what no longer endangered the operation by itself.’

The information about the White Crown and the Seven Seats was valuable though.

Simon now understood that the White Crown was a temporary royal authority rather than one fixed demon. He also knew that Crownless Dawn required the Crown and all Seven Seats to die within the same period, not merely because they were powerful, but because their simultaneous deaths would break the eastern region’s command structure.

That confirmation was worth something.

Simon looked at the Second Claw.

”Then those names can remain beyond my reach for now.”

The Second Claw’s golden eyes narrowed slightly at the final two words, but Simon did not explain them.

He glanced between both demonesses.

”Since the Eastern Hand, Sleeping Commander, and Old Banner are apparently too distant for me to touch, surely your names are not.”

The Voice’s expression immediately became annoyed.

”You have already seen our faces. Do not become greedy.”

”Knowing a face without a name is inconvenient.”

”You have called me the Voice without difficulty until now.”

Simon nodded.

”And I have called her the Second Claw. Neither sounds particularly intimate.”

The Voice stared at him coldly.

”Why would either of us want any sort of intimacy with you?”

The Second Claw’s lips curved into a playful smile.

”Don’t mind her. I already told you that she likes you.”

”Master...”

The warning in the Voice’s tone carried a trace of embarrassment.

The Second Claw ignored it and leaned toward Simon.

”She becomes emotional whenever you speak. That is rare. You should feel honoured.”

”I do not like him,” the Voice said, her voice becoming unexpectedly shrill. ”You are embarrassing me and making me lose face in front of this insufferable bastard.”

Simon watched her with faint amusement.

The Second Claw placed one hand against her cheek as though considering a serious problem.

”Perhaps there is a simpler solution. If the two of you have a child together, I might consider you part of the family. Then you could learn everything about Crownless Dawn.”

The Voice froze.

Her amber eyes widened, her lips parted, and for several heartbeats, she appeared to forget how to breathe.

Simon was also genuinely taken aback.

His gaze moved from the Voice’s horns to her bronze-red beautiful face, then travelled down the dark-red attendant dress before returning to the Second Claw.

A soft and somewhat uncomfortable chuckle escaped him.

”I am not ready to have a child.”

The Voice looked as though she had just escaped one disaster. However, Simon’s next words made her freeze like she had thrown into the deepest parts of a frozen sea.

”But if both of you decide to warm my bed, I would not mind in the slightest.”

Silence swallowed the chamber.

The Second Claw’s half-lidded golden eyes opened a little wider. For once, no playful reply came immediately. She stared at Simon as if his shamelessness had briefly exceeded even what she could process.

The Voice’s face became completely blank.

Deep inside Simon’s Infernal Heart, Lilith spoke.

[Your greed truly knows no boundary. Power, knowledge, secrets, women... one is never enough for you.]

Simon kept his expression calm.

[I am ambitious. There is a difference.]

[You have never even bedded one woman, yet you want your first time to involve two.]

A trace of amusement entered Simon’s thoughts.

[I am not certain the Voice could satisfy me by herself. She is only a Supreme Greater Demon.]

With their disguises gone and after observing their energy throughout the meeting, Simon had already identified the Voice’s Supreme Forged Heart. The Second Claw concealed herself better, but the depth beneath her restraint placed her at the Half-Step Demon Lord level.

[The Second Claw should have a better chance. And both should definitely satisfy me.]

Lilith released a disgusted scoff.

[Your greed is definitely diseased.]

Her voice withdrew.

At almost the same instant, danger exploded beside Simon.

His pupils widened.

And before he knew it, he instinctively moved his head and upper body sharply to the right.

A hand coated in sharp crimson lightning passed across his neck.

Crackle!

Bang!

The tips of the Voice’s fingers missed his throat, but the lightning extending from them opened a shallow cut beneath his jaw. A thin line of blood ran down his neck.

Simon pushed from the chair and slid several metres across the dark-red floor.

The Voice stood where he had been sitting.

Crimson lightning crawled from her fingers to her wrist, making the air around her hand hiss and crackle. Her amber eyes were frigid, and the killing intent filling the chamber was no longer subtle.

”I could have overlooked your blatant disrespect if it had only been directed at me,” she said, and every word was cold and precise. ”But you crossed a line when you asked my master to warm your bed.”

The Second Claw covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

”You definitely angered her.”

The Voice disappeared.

Simon felt the floor behind him vibrate and twisted aside before a lightning-covered palm struck the space his spine had occupied.

BANG!

Crimson sparks scattered across the privacy formations.

Simon used the wind to carry himself toward the empty training half of the chamber.

”Shouldn’t you stop her?” he said, looking at the Second Claw. ”Starting a real fight here would be unwise. We also have an agreement.”

The Second Claw remained seated.

Her smile was light, but it no longer reached her golden eyes.

”This is a private combat chamber. Fighting is one of the few things it was designed for.”

Simon narrowed his eyes.

”You have been arrogant from the moment we met,” she continued. ”You claim you can help Crownless Dawn, stand outside our authority, and negotiate with us as an equal.”

A faint pressure escaped her body, causing the chairs and table to groan and creak.

”Before I bring you an oath artifact, I should know whether your confidence has substance.”

She looked toward the Voice.

”Show him, Sava.”

Simon’s eyes flickered.

’So her name is Sava.’

The Second Claw’s golden gaze returned to Simon.

”Show us how you accomplished everything you claim to have accomplished.”

Her smile became slightly colder.

”And prove that you possess the strength to stand on equal footing with us... Outsider.”