Chapter 507: Taking In A New Disciple
Contrary to the neglected courtyard outside, the interior of the mansion was surprisingly clean and orderly. The contrast was so extreme that Damian noticed it immediately after entering.
There was no dust covering the floors, no abandoned furniture or signs of decay, and every corridor appeared to be maintained with care. Whatever Amon’s organization lacked in outward luxury, it clearly did not lack discipline.
Eventually, Damian and Amon entered a rather simple council chamber and took their seats across from one another. The room was painfully humble compared with the lavish halls Damian was accustomed to in the Violet Palace.
A round wooden table occupied the center, with a jug of wine and several goblets resting upon it. The walls contained little more than a simple clock, a wooden shelf filled with old books and documents, and a fireplace tucked into one corner that provided most of the room’s warmth.
There were no extravagant paintings, golden decorations or expensive ornaments. It felt less like the meeting room of a hidden organization containing seven demigods and more like the private study of a modest noble.
Amon picked up the jug and poured wine into both goblets before carefully placing it back on the table. Damian, meanwhile, reached into his robes and pulled out a cigar pack. He removed a cigar and casually slid the pack back into his sleeve before placing the cigar between his lips.
Almost immediately, the exposed end ignited by itself like a matchstick, the flame disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. Damian leaned backward into the comfortable rocking chair and slowly rocked himself while releasing a light plume of purple smoke from his mouth.
The faintly glowing smoke curled toward the ceiling before disappearing, and for several seconds the only sound in the room was the quiet ticking of the wall clock and the gentle crackling of the fireplace.
"Sire, your escapades in Cinderfall are beginning to make rounds across the capital. I’m afraid by tomorrow every living being in the Underworld will be aware of what you have done." Amon spoke calmly as he gently placed the jug aside before directing his full attention toward Damian.
There was no accusation in his voice, only an assessment of the political consequences.
"That’s good. I need to attract more capable people to my side." Damian answered calmly.
He removed the cigar from his mouth and leaned forward, resting one arm against the table as he studied Amon. The sudden movement made Amon instinctively lean backward slightly, a strange expression appearing on his face as he watched Damian through narrowed eyes.
"Is there a problem sire?" Amon asked, wondering whether Damian had suddenly detected something.
"That child is not yours, is he?" Damian asked calmly.
Amon’s expression immediately became more serious. His eyes narrowed for a moment before he slowly shook his head. There was no attempt to lie, evade the question or construct some elaborate explanation.
"Shin is actually the illegitimate son of Duke Darbin, abandoned and left to die. So I secretly took him away and I have been raising him in secret since then." Amon spoke without hesitation, revealing the secret almost as casually as if they were discussing the weather.
Damian stared at him for several seconds before falling back into his chair and nodding slowly. The revelation was certainly unexpected. Even though Amon and Duke Darbin had been operating on the same side politically, Amon had apparently been hiding something this significant from him all this time.
Damian had long since accepted that the demon world was built upon betrayal, secrets and competing ambitions, but every time another hidden connection surfaced, he found himself reminded of just how deep the deception within the Underworld truly ran.
Amon reached for one of the goblets and gently pushed it across the table toward Damian.
"Sire, I can see you are hurt. I can literally smell your blood from your injuries. The fight with my son must have opened your wounds again." His voice remained calm, but his eyes briefly moved toward Damian’s abdomen.
Even beneath the loose clothing, the smell of blood was unmistakable to a demon with Amon’s senses.
Damian glanced down briefly before looking back at him and nodding without restraint.
"Your son’s sword play is quite interesting even as a lesser demon. Once he gets much stronger, he will be much more dangerous than he already is." There was genuine recognition in Damian’s voice.
Shin had been completely incapable of threatening him because of the enormous difference in their strength, but his swordsmanship itself had been refined enough to catch Damian’s attention. If Shin eventually reached demigodhood, his swordsmanship combined with that strength could turn him into a formidable warrior.
Amon smiled faintly at the compliment. He watched as Damian picked up the goblet and slowly drank from it, allowing the wine to linger briefly on his tongue before swallowing. Amon waited until Damian lowered the cup before making his next statement.
"Then why don’t you take him in as your disciple."
Buzz!
Damian immediately choked on the wine.
He coughed repeatedly, bringing one hand toward his chest and striking it several times as he tried to clear his throat. The calm expression he had maintained throughout the conversation disappeared completely, replaced by genuine disbelief. Amon remained perfectly composed as he reached for a napkin and calmly pushed it across the table toward Damian.
"What?" Damian finally blurted out, staring at him as though he had just suggested something completely absurd.
Amon’s expression did not change. "I know why you are here sire. My soldiers have already picked up suspicious movements amongst the millions of demons that have entered the capital in the past few days, and it’s fairly certain the Order is planning something big during the execution, isn’t that why you decided to take on Cinderfall’s 31st Division?"
Damian’s amusement immediately vanished.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at Amon across the table. Even while under house arrest, this demon had somehow maintained enough influence and information networks to monitor movements throughout the realm.
That was proof of just how deeply connected Amon was.
"So?" Damian’s eyes narrowed further as he took another slow drag from his cigar.
"I know you came here looking for capable generals who will be loyal to you, and I will admit you came to the right place. However, I have a request of my own."Amon continued confidently.
He did not look intimidated by Damian’s scrutiny, although his posture remained respectful. He had clearly anticipated this conversation before Damian ever stepped through the mansion’s doors.
"I will be heading for the Dark World soon. It’s a place I can’t take Shin to, so I’m asking your Majesty to take my son under your care as a disciple and train him in my absence. In exchange I will give you three demigods who can occupy the positions of Grand Marshal, Great General and General of the rest of the twenty legions I will leave garrisoned in the capital for your protection."
Huff!
Damian slowly sucked in a deep breath. He stared at Amon for several seconds before a cold grin slowly spread across his lips. "Bastard... You dare bargain with your Prince?"
Amon immediately bowed respectfully from his seat. "I’m only a father trying to secure the safety of his son in his absence, and where else is safer than the watchful gaze of the Prince of Lust?"
Huff!
Damian leaned backward and exhaled loudly, smoke escaping from between his lips as he rocked gently in his chair. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"You drive a hard bargain."
There was no anger in his voice anymore. If anything, Damian was impressed. Amon had identified his needs, identified his own leverage and presented an exchange that benefited both of them. Twenty legions garrisoned in the capital, commanded by three demigods loyal to Amon, would significantly strengthen Damian’s defenses during the upcoming execution. In return, Damian would take responsibility for Shin and train him while Amon ventured into the Dark World.
It was difficult to find a reason to refuse.
Damian slowly brought the cigar back to his mouth and took another drag, his purple eyes settling on Amon. The corner of his lips remained raised as he finally reached his decision.
"Very well... I accept your request."