That night, the Demon Lord Fortress and its surroundings were on full alert. Patrolling demons had doubled. High-tier demons darted across the sky everywhere.

Wanted posters for several Dragon Clan members had been issued. Inside the fortress, in a side hall of Lady Aria’s castle, injured men were healing. The leader seated at their head wore a grim expression.

Outside, a demon landed on the balcony. He folded his monstrous wings and addressed the men. “The area’s completely locked down. Even I can’t protect you now.”

The speaker was Eris. Upon learning the Dragon Clan had come to negotiate for the Young Dragon Princess’s release, he’d rushed back to the Demon Lord Fortress via teleportation arrays.

These injured men were the very Dragon Clan members who’d just attacked the manor.

The leader turned to a purple-haired girl in the corner. She was polishing a Staff taller than herself. “Avi,” he said, “don’t you have anything to add?”

Avi flicked her long braid. Her tone was flat. “At least two Legendaries were at the manor. I couldn’t win. If I’d joined the fight, none of us would’ve made it back.”

A flicker of cold fury crossed the leader’s eyes. He forced a warm smile at Eris. “Eris, you know the negotiations were never going to work. Lady Aria won’t release her. We only tried a rescue.”

“A rescue?” Eris sneered, his gaze equally icy. “I don’t care about your goals. I need an explanation for tonight’s mess.”

“Explanation?” The leader’s face darkened. “Don’t give me that ‘stirring the snake’ nonsense. We moved in the fortress only with your silent approval. Now that it’s failed, you want to wash your hands? Do you think that’s possible?”

Eris didn’t waste words. He waved a hand. Jet-black feathers shot from his arm. The healing Dragon Clan men were decapitated instantly. Only Avi and the leader—both Legendaries—remained.

“I risked Lady Aria’s wrath helping you. This is my explanation to her. If you can’t accept it, our cooperation ends here.”

The leader clenched his fist, then slowly uncurled it. “Fine. What’s next?”

Eris turned. Crimson moonlight bathed his profile. He raised one finger, eyes glacial. “The manor has magic arrays. Germok’s there too. Ordinary high-tier magic won’t work. Only one option remains.”

“Impossible.” Avi kept polishing her Staff. She knew what Eris meant.

The leader nodded. “Neither I nor Avi can cast Overlord Magic.”

“With preparation and help, it’s feasible.” Eris smiled. “There aren’t just two Legendaries here. There are three. I have one demand: Rogue must die.”

...

The plot against Rogue was already unfolding. His focus, however, stayed on Lilitha. He pulled up a chair, observing the Pendant while watching the Young Dragon Princess’s reaction through the door.

After the Pendant was taken, Lilitha no longer huddled in her corner. She pounded the sealed door relentlessly. Tears had flowed nonstop since Rogue left.

Her hands bled from the pounding. Exhausted, she collapsed before the door. Her sobs softened to whimpers. She lowered her limp arms. Silver-red blood dripped from her fingertips.

Crying was useless. Fighting back was useless. She was too weak. This frail body could do nothing.

Rogue, the architect of this scene, watched coldly.

For now, he only needed to ensure Lilitha wouldn’t do anything rash. Tomorrow morning, he’d bring the Pendant back inside, slowly becoming her new hope.

Once Lilitha cried herself unconscious on the other side of the door, Rogue stood. He summoned his Staff. A simple elven spell wove vines into a makeshift hut.

No.1 brought over Rogue’s belongings from the manor entrance. Several injured demons followed. After Rogue healed them, they marveled at his restoration magic.

Minor wounds vanished instantly. Severed limbs regrew under his spells. Reforging flesh demanded profound life magic mastery.

A human wielding high-tier elven magic—even demons who disliked humans bowed to Rogue with deep respect.

Later, Rogue examined Lilitha’s Pendant again. It bore the Silver Dragon King’s protection. Any magic he used on it would trigger backlash and pressure.

It flickered faintly every two hours—nothing like its initial glow.

Rogue slept only three hours. He ate breakfast prepared by Puppet No.2, then took bread for Lilitha.

Inside the storeroom, Lilitha had woken. She’d crawled back to her corner. Her eyes fixed on the door. Arms wrapped around her knees, she sat motionless, lifeless.

Even her blinking was rare, like a puppet.

The expected reaction.

Rogue took a deep breath. He smoothed his expression into calm neutrality and pushed the door open.

Light flooded in. Lilitha’s eyes instinctively showed a hint of longing. Her body leaned forward slightly. Rogue exhaled in relief.

Good. Not completely unresponsive.

He carried in a bucket and food, repeating his daily routine. At the end, he held up the Pendant.

He dangled it before Lilitha’s eyes. Her dull crimson pupils sparked to life. She lunged to grab it—but Rogue easily dodged.

He pointed to the bucket. Then the food. Finally, the Pendant.

Whether Lilitha understood or not, Rogue conveyed his meaning. He hung the Pendant on the wall.

Shifting her dependence from the Pendant to himself wouldn’t happen overnight. After a night’s thought, he still hadn’t discarded it.

The Pendant was still a necessary tool.

Lilitha couldn’t grasp Rogue’s gestures now. Even if she did, her focus wasn’t on him. She struggled during bathing and feeding as usual. Rogue didn’t mind. Change took time.

After tending to her hand wounds, Rogue tossed the Pendant to Lilitha like alms. He’d timed it precisely—the Pendant wouldn’t glow with the Silver Dragon King’s power for at least half an hour.

Clearly, Lilitha’s expression softened the moment her fingers touched it. Peace settled over her face.