Atmosphere

Vivian watched Luna, her tiny hands waving as her newly opened eyes sparkled, and a sudden wave of uncertainty washed over her.

After all, this was her first time as a mother, and she felt a bit at a loss for what to do.

After a moment’s hesitation, she gently lifted Luna into her arms.

“Alright, little troublemaker, don’t squirm.”

Vivian’s voice softened instinctively, carrying a tender smile she hadn’t even noticed herself.

Feeling Luna’s movements in her arms, Vivian wiggled a finger in front of her daughter’s face, playfully teasing her.

As a newborn, Luna was endlessly curious about everything.

The moving finger instantly became the focus of her attention.

Her pure lavender eyes followed it like a magnet, her small head turning slightly, her little mouth opening and closing unconsciously, letting out short “ahh, ahh…” sounds, as if she found this swaying “toy”

endlessly fascinating.

But Vivian stopped there—she genuinely didn’t know what to do next.

This revealed a problem: while Vivian understood the theory, she had no real experience raising a child.

As a transmigrator and Demon Lord, with her knowledge and demonic physique, she could command armies, devise complex reforms, and unleash earth-shattering magic.

But faced with a newborn needing devoted care and interaction, her experience was practically zero, and her entire repertoire of “play” was limited to this.

‘…Should I consider hiring a nanny?’

Vivian mused.

Fortunately, a baby’s energy was limited.

After curiously “observing” the world for a while, Luna’s eyelids began to droop in her mother’s warm, secure embrace, and she soon fell back asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling gently.

Vivian carefully placed her daughter back in the cozy cradle, tucking her in, then turned to dive back into work.

****

An hour later, a short list and several reports were placed before Vivian.

The individuals listed held low-ranking positions—mostly minor supervisors or warehouse guards responsible for resource management.

The reports, compiled by Lucia and Aria, detailed their findings.

“This is all the information we could gather.”

Aria spoke respectfully.

The reports clearly outlined the investigation’s results: a certain supervisor favored acquaintances during task evaluations, granting higher points; a warehouse guard “misplaced” a few tools, hoarding

them; a transport team deputy exaggerated losses by ten percent, smuggling the excess grain home; and some civilians, taking advantage of their roles, pocketed leftover scraps or small amounts of food,

mostly to improve their families’ lives.

“The offenses aren’t severe—just things like biased evaluations, arranging easier tasks, or skimming a bit of grain from reported losses.”

“Most were just trying to make life better for their families.”

“We looked into these matters beforehand and suspended their duties, Lord Demon Lord. Their crimes aren’t too serious…”

Aria spoke softly, testing Vivian’s stance.

“Indeed, they don’t warrant death.”

Vivian skimmed the list and offenses compiled by Aria and Lucia, nodding.

“It’s just exploiting loopholes, showing favoritism in work assignments, or skimming a bit from losses. Most didn’t even have malicious intent.”

She looked up at Aria.

“Suspending their duties was appropriate.”

“Then, Lord Demon Lord, how should we handle them?”

“Demote those who need demoting, whip those deserving of lashes, and send those who must be punished to the mines.”

“As for the civilians who took scraps, let them off this time, but if they offend again, they’ll face lashes.”

Vivian spoke calmly.

“While enforcing my newly announced decrees, publicly punish them. Let everyone see the consequences of breaking the territory’s laws.”

“I won’t appear in public—handle this, Aria.”

“And from now on, no matter what’s taken or its value, treat it as theft of public property. Five public lashes, no exceptions.”

“Yes.”

Aria accepted the order and left, leaving only Lucia before Vivian.

Lucia glanced curiously at the peacefully sleeping Luna, then at the densely written plans on Vivian’s desk.

“What is it?”

Vivian looked up at the Frost Banshee.

“Well… Lord Demon Lord, your thinking is truly beyond our grasp.”

Lucia let out a soft, melodic hum, touching her chin with keen interest.

“In the past few months, I must say, the reconstruction of Evernight Territory has exceeded my expectations.”

“Evernight City, once a ruin, is now taking shape.”

“New residential areas are springing up like mushrooms after rain—simple, but with the framework of a city emerging.”

“Fields and mines are resuming production admirably.”

“Your initial reforms were remarkably effective. The reconstruction of Evernight City is progressing faster than I anticipated.”

“Get to the point. Spare me the empty flattery.”

Annoyed by Lucia’s tendency for flowery speech, Vivian shot her a look, interrupting her grandiose prelude with clear impatience.

“Fine. My point is… Lord Demon Lord, are you really going to punish these minor ‘thieves’ so harshly?”

Lucia tilted her head, her face full of curiosity.

“It’s common knowledge that people use their minor positions for small gains—favoring friends in evaluations, assigning easier tasks, or skimming a bit from losses to improve meals.”

“This happens everywhere, in every era. It’s an unspoken, even tacitly accepted, perk of minor power, isn’t it?”

“As long as it doesn’t affect overall efficiency or the bigger picture, it’s usually overlooked. No one really pursues it.”

“You yourself said, ‘When the water is too clear, there are no fish.’ Yet now you’re making a big show, using heavy punishments like lashes and mining exile. Isn’t that… excessive?”

“…Just because it’s always been done, does that make it right?”

Vivian sighed, meeting Lucia’s gaze.

“The Evernight Territory was razed to the ground. Everything is being rebuilt from scratch.”

“Since the old rules and order are gone, why let those rotten, sludge-like ‘customs’ taint the foundation of our new beginning?”

“Today, you skim a little using your position, and it’s shrugged off.”

“Tomorrow, someone else follows your lead, and it’s excused.”

“The day after, I do the same, and it becomes normal.”

“Bit by bit, drop by drop, these ‘reasonable’ losses from warehouses and collective resources add up to a staggering sum.”

“Where do these resources, meant for building walls, forging weapons, feeding soldiers, and constructing homes, end up?”

“They don’t vanish—they flow from public assets serving the territory into the private pockets of individuals and their families!”

“Over time, we lose not just numbers, but reconstruction speed, warriors’ loyalty, and the territory’s future potential.”

“The damage is incalculable. The lost resources are countless.”

“But the deadliest issue is the culture—the hearts of the people!”

Vivian locked eyes with Lucia, her words deliberate and sharp.

“When soldiers stop fighting for their homeland, when managers stop planning for the territory’s prosperity, when their minds are consumed with exploiting their sliver of power for personal or small-group

gain… once this culture takes hold, it spreads like a plague.”

“It erodes the collective’s will to fight and the efficiency of our management system.”

“Its destructive force surpasses the mightiest enemy on the battlefield.”

“It’s a poison that dismantles our foundation from within, a threat more dangerous than any external foe!”

“This culture must not take root!”

Vivian’s response was cold and resolute.

“Other matters can be negotiated, but this is non-negotiable.”

“Under my rule, such behavior must be uprooted at its sprout, crushed completely, with no room for compromise!”

“Of course, I’m not naive enough to think a single decree can eradicate it entirely.”

“It still requires a system to support and sustain these efforts.”

“That’s why I said—the issues of rewards and corruption are two sides of the same coin.”