Luceris leaned back on his throne, one long leg draped lazily over the armrest, twirling a rectangular slab of glowing Flame Stone between his fingers. It wasn't exactly working yet, but in his head it was already a masterpiece—the first DemonPhone prototype. He tossed it up, caught it, and sighed dramatically.
"Now then," he muttered. "A phone without people to sell it is just a very expensive skipping stone. I need someone who can market this. Someone who can sell ice to a glacier."
On either side of him, his aides stood like mismatched bookends: Caelum, all stoic muscle and patience worn thin, and Sylas, all silver-haired sarcasm and narrowed eyes.
Luceris clapped his hands once. "Tell me, my loyal Dukelings—who sells things best in this miserable realm?"
Caelum frowned in thought. "Merfolk are known for their trading instincts. They control pearl, coral, and kelp markets. They barter with coastal clans. They are… shrewd."
Sylas nodded reluctantly. "If demons have a concept of business, it's thanks to merfolk. They are not easily fooled."
Luceris's grin spread. "Perfect. I like them already. Call me a mermaid."
Sylas arched a brow. "Your Majesty, you say that like you're ordering from a menu."
"I am ordering from a menu. The menu of life. Go fetch me one—Sly, cunning, preferably dramatic."
Half an hour later, the throne room doors swung open with a splash of authority. A figure glided in, tall and commanding, the lower half of her body still shimmering with faint scales despite the toga draped elegantly around her. Her golden eyes gleamed like coins, and her long blond hair shimmered like sunlight on water.
She bowed, just enough to be polite, not nearly enough to be submissive. "Your Majesty. I am Enia of the Western Shoals. You summoned me?"
Luceris sat up straighter, pleased. "Yes, indeed. I require a merchant. Someone brilliant. Someone dangerous. Someone who could sell rotten fish as a delicacy and still leave the buyer thanking them. Are you that mermaid?"
Enia's lips curled into a sharp smile. "Rotten fish? Too easy. I once sold seawater to a ship captain… and then resold it to him again two hours later when he spilled it."
Luceris's golden eyes sparkled. "I like her."
Sylas muttered, "Humans...are going to be bankrupt."
Luceris leaned forward on his throne, eyes narrowed with faux seriousness. "Alright, Enia. Let's test you. Imagine you're selling… this!" He tossed her the glowing rectangular stone.
Enia caught it smoothly, turned it over in her hands, and raised a brow. "A rock."
Luceris gasped, clutching his chest as if stabbed. "A revolution, not a rock!"
"Mm," Enia hummed, examining the engravings. "Does it do anything?"
Luceris paused. "…Not yet."
Sylas coughed politely. "It explodes. Frequently."
Enia smirked. "So, an unstable rock that doesn't work but might blow my hand off. Excellent. I can sell this."
Luceris blinked. "…You can?"
"Oh, certainly," she said with a casual flick of her hair. "Scarcity drives demand. Unpredictability creates allure. I'll market it as a 'Mystery Box from the King Himself.' People will buy three just to see if one explodes on their neighbor."
Luceris burst out laughing. "You are evil. I approve."
Caelum muttered under his breath, "This kingdom is doomed."
Caelum was already thinking of resigning as his colleagues were getting more and more dangerous. And his boss was not sane.
Luceris rested his chin on his hand, studying her. "Alright, Enia. What do you want in exchange for being my… Chief Merchant? Riches? Pearls? Power?"
Enia's golden eyes gleamed. "A monopoly. If I am to sell your… DemonPhones, then I control all trade channels. No other mermaid, no other clan. Just me."
Sylas raised a brow. "How shameless."
Enia smirked at him. "It's called efficiency."
Luceris clapped his hands, delighted. "Spoken like a true merchant! Done."
Caelum stiffened. "Majesty, perhaps we should consider—"
"Nope," Luceris interrupted, pointing dramatically at Enia. "You're hired. Congratulations, Enia of the Western Shoals, you are now my Minister of Commerce, Queen of Coins, Duchess of Distribution, and Supreme Salesfish."
Enia tilted her head. "Supreme Salesfish?"
"It's an honorific," Luceris said seriously. "Wear it with pride."
Luceris decided to hide the fact that he loved nicknames, so a salesfish would be easier to remember than Minister of Commerce.
Enia slid the stone back across the floor toward him. "So. Supreme Salesfish reporting. What is this thing supposed to do once you finish… not blowing it up?"
Luceris snatched it up like a protective parent. "It will be a communication device. People will speak into it, and another person far away will hear them. Instant connection! No waiting on letters or dying from carriage accidents!"
Enia blinked. "That sounds… useful." Then she narrowed her eyes. "And profitable."
Luceris pointed at her like a proud teacher. "Yes! Finally, someone gets it!"
Sylas muttered, "She gets the money part, Majesty. Not your genius."
"Money is genius," Enia corrected smoothly. "In fact, I could sell this idea to humans for triple the price. Especially nobles. They adore anything that lets them gossip faster."
Luceris leaned back, cackling. "You're terrifying. I love it. This is the beginning of the Demon Empire's capitalist golden age."
Sylas rubbed his temples again. "Gods help us all."
Caelum glanced at Sylas and wondered when the Demons forsaken by Gods decided to rebelieve in Gods...isn't that total chaos?
Enia crossed her arms. "But let's be clear, Demon King. Business isn't just about products. It's about image. Trust. Desire. You may be strong, but demons fear you. They don't trust you yet."
Luceris raised a brow. "Trust? Please. I unified this realm in five hours. What more do they need?"
Enia smirked. "Loyalty can't be beaten into people. It must be bought. Or seduced. Or both."
Luceris's grin widened dangerously. "Bought loyalty, eh? Interesting. You think you can teach me about ruling?"
"Yes," Enia said bluntly. "You're brilliant, but you're reckless. Genius burns out fast unless someone handles the boring parts. That's where I come in."
Luceris stared at her for a long moment—then burst into laughter. "Finally! Someone not afraid to sass me to my face. Sylas, Caelum, take notes. This is how you properly insult your king while still getting promoted."
Sylas sighed. "I'll pass."
Caelum grunted. "Noted."
Enia glanced at the two Aides, heh, Now their Mermaid clan will rise.
Luceris finally leaned back, resting one ankle over his knee, golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Enia, you are dangerously clever, shamelessly greedy, and far too pretty to be trustworthy."
Enia smirked. "Thank you, Majesty. I pride myself on being all three."
"Perfect," Luceris declared. "You're hired for life. Or until you betray me, in which case I will personally drown you."
Enia tilted her head innocently. "Fair terms. I accept."
As Enia swept out of the hall, already muttering about "distribution chains" and "branding," Luceris leaned back against his throne and sighed contentedly.
"Ah," he murmured. "Finally, someone in this realm with a proper head for business. The DemonPhone will conquer the world, and Enia will make sure everyone pays through the nose for it."
Sylas muttered, "Or we will all drown in scams."
Caelum's voice was flat. "She is more dangerous than any warlord you've ever fought."
Luceris grinned, golden eyes gleaming. "Good. Dangerous people are my favorite employees."