Aengus and Bella settled the thousands of demons temporarily in the Fortress City's military barracks. They had come a long way, leaving their family behind for now, with the hope of building a new foundation here—if they could make enough contributions to the city.
The atmosphere at the barracks was tense, a strange air of unspoken rivalry lingering. The joined soldiers kept their behavior in check after a stern reminder from both Bella and Aengus, but there was an undeniable sense of competition. They engaged in small talk, mostly to gauge each other's strength.
Bella's side boasted nearly a dozen elder demons and around ten thousand lesser and greater-ranked demons, twice the number Aengus had brought with him. Together, they formed a formidable force, one that could significantly bolster the Marquisate's strength.
Now, inside the grand residence of the Marquis—a large mansion guarded by demon sentinels—the ruler of this powerful Marquisate was currently being decided.
