Chapter 91: A Most Peculiar Obsession
The Crystal Spire’s throne room was, for the first time, a place of quiet, organized bureaucracy.
A new day had dawned, and with it came the soul-crushing reality of managing a newly expanded, deeply chaotic empire.
I, Ragnar Vhagar, the Tyrant of Aethelburg and a being of profound, A-Rank power, was holding a corporate-style reorganization meeting.
It was every bit as tedious as it sounded.
"So, to summarize," I said, leaning over the massive, glowing crystal map table, "Yori, you are now my new Head of Defense and Trap Design.
Your primary duty is to turn our more vulnerable sectors into a series of deeply infuriating, hero-mulching deathtraps.
I want pitfalls filled with angry, venomous squirrels. I want hallways that play slightly off-key circus music. Get creative."
Old Man Yori, my newly acquired and surprisingly cunning subordinate, bowed his head.
"It will be an honor, my Lord. I have several schematics for a rotating-blade-and-confetti-cannon combination that I believe you will find both effective and psychologically demoralizing."
"Excellent. Isabelle," I said, turning to my former-hero commander.
She stood with her arms crossed, her new dark sword, Dáinsleif, strapped to her back.
Her presence was a pillar of cold, professional competence. "You and Chloe are now co-commanders of our entire military force.