The Assassination Plan

So that’s how it is.

Lucia nodded,

sighing involuntarily.

Though she’d heard rumors of major movements lately,

she hadn’t expected even the Evernight Territory

would be unable to avoid mobilization.

No choice—

the upcoming operation concerned the safety

of all frontline Demon Lords’ domains.

Vivian shook her head.

“I don’t particularly want to join this operation either,

but the target’s too special.

Its potential threat could overturn the entire frontline structure—

even shake the Demon Clan’s foundations.

Against such an enemy, every Demon Lord’s power is crucial.

One more force means one more chance of success;

one less, and it could all collapse.”

“With Evernight Territory in its current state,

we can’t spare any other forces.

If I, as Demon Lord, contribute nothing,

it would be unjustifiable to the others—

and Evernight would be completely isolated.

So, I must go.”

With that, Vivian paused briefly.

“By the way,

aren’t you curious what exactly this is about

to mobilize so many forces?”

“…The way you put it kills any interest I had in knowing.

Something that moves several Demon Lords is no small matter—

better I know less.”

Lucia swallowed,

her expression subtle.

In short, this is critical—

guard the home with Aria and the others.

Wait for my return.

If Evernight City falls…

She deliberately drew out the words,

flashing a “kindly” smile.

“You know the consequences.”

Lucia shivered immediately,

straightening up with a grave expression

of “swearing to live or die with Evernight City.”

“Your subordinate understands!

I will spare no effort and not fail Lord Demon Lord’s trust!”

Lucia’s gaze drifted involuntarily

to Aria in the distance and the two children beside her.

A few traces of “cursed with eight lifetimes of bad luck

to have such a worrisome boss who vanishes at the drop of a hat”

helplessness and complaint.

But honestly, this Lucia is capable, responsible—

loves to grumble, but reliable in crunch time…

Vivian glanced at the diligent Frost Banshee,

nodding inwardly with that thought.

Entrusting Evernight City to her and Aria

at least let her feel a bit at ease.

Everything seemed to proceed orderly.

Vivian awaited Moggs’s final orders

while greedily savoring time with her daughter.

But what must come, eventually did.

Several days later, in a silent midnight—

inside Evernight City’s demon network control tower,

the magical pedestal maintaining the territory’s communications

suddenly emitted a faint but persistent hum.

Its intricate demon runes lit up with dim glows in sequence.

Sensing the mana fluctuation, Vivian woke instantly,

rising alone and hurrying to the tower.

“All of you, out.”

“Yes.”

The baffled on-duty staff,

still clueless about the situation,

were ordered out by Vivian before they could react.

In an instant, the entire control tower held only Vivian.

“Whew—”

Taking a deep breath,

she placed her hand on the pedestal,

her consciousness sinking into the demon network

with her mana once more.

Soon, an information packet—

formed of highly encrypted mana streams,

extremely complex and detailed—

flooded into her mind.

From [Decaying Demon Lord] Moggs.

The plan had begun.

As she “read” Moggs’s plan,

the deeper she delved, the tighter her brows knit.

Moggs’s plan was grand and ruthless,

divided into overt and covert lines—

two fronts, executed in parts.

One part—the overt line and frontal assault:

a thunderous feint.

Led by [Winter Demon Lord] Catherine

and [Heart of Lava] Grem—

two powerful Demon Lords excelling in direct assaults—

commanding two armies.

They would assemble elite legions from their domains,

combined with support forces from other Demon Lords

and part of the Decaying Territory’s troops,

forming a massive, awe-inspiring Demon Clan army.

Under Decaying Demon Lord Moggs’s command,

it would strike straight at human border strongholds—

[Wall of Eternal Ice] and [Anvil Fortress]—

for the feint.

Moggs would focus the main assault on [Anvil Fortress]

to draw human and Rhine Holy Church attention.

These two fortress cities held key geographic positions—

vital barriers against Demon Clan invasion,

heavily garrisoned.

Rumor had it [Anvil Fortress] housed a Rhine Holy Church temple.

Targeting them would instantly seize

the full attention of the human kingdom

and Rhine Holy Church leadership.

[Winter Demon Lord] Catherine and [Heart of Lava] Grem’s task

was not necessarily to capture the fortresses,

but to create the illusion of an impending massive Demon Clan campaign.

The assault must be fierce and sustained,

forcing humans to commit all strategic reserves—

even possible hidden holy art forces—

as much as possible to Anvil Fortress.

Meanwhile, the [Wall of Eternal Ice] direction

would build bilateral pressure,

forming a potential pincer,

compelling human attention.

This was the plan’s true core.

Coordinated personally by [Decaying Demon Lord] Moggs,

with [Shadow Demon Lord] Wilvester handling path planning

and infiltration security.

[Eternal Night Demon Lord] Vivian,

along with another Demon Lord skilled in agility and assassination—

[Vault Demon Lord] Molly—

would form an ultra-elite Demon Lord assassination squad.

Their task: exploit the massive chaos and attention vacuum

from the frontal battlefield,

using Wilvester’s special paths connected to the shadow plane

for maximum speed and secrecy,

to infiltrate deep into human territory.

Target: the Son of God Charles’s possible location—

a key Rhine Holy Church sanctuary in the rear, [Court of Radiance].

One goal only: find Charles,

spare no cost,

destroy him utterly before he summons more “Angels”

or reacts otherwise!

Annihilate even his soul fragments,

eliminating any chance of reuse!

This truly honored the Son of God Charles—

three Demon Lords distracting human attention on the front,

the remaining three uniting for assassination.

In nearly a century, no one had warranted

so many Demon Lords mobilizing.

Even surrounding Lucia involved only four veteran Demon Lords.

Now, the power of fully six Demon Lords

would deliver the Demon Clan’s heartfelt “greeting”

to this Son of God Charles.

The plan was meticulous, bold—

but extremely dangerous.

The infiltrating three-Demon-Lord squad

must cross heavy human defenses,

penetrate the strictly guarded Holy Church core.

They might face not just Charles himself,

but the Rhine Holy Church’s hidden guardians.

If exposed, they would fall into a hopeless siege.