Aldric hesitated, then decided honesty was the better choice. "There are rumors of demon involvement, sir. Specifically, Demon Lord Loki. My source suggested he may be providing assistance to the settlement."
"A demon lord," Ashford repeated flatly. "Supporting a goblin settlement. That's, concerning."
"That's potentially catastrophic," Lysander corrected. "If a demon lord has taken interest in Satou, it elevates this from a regional threat to a continental one. Demon lords don't involve themselves in minor matters."
"Which is why I didn't mention it in the full council," Aldric said. "I have no hard evidence, just rumors and speculation. I didn't want to create panic based on unconfirmed intelligence."
"Wise," Ashford agreed. "But it's something we need to investigate immediately. If demon lords are playing games in our territory, we need to know why and what they're planning."
