Siegfried used his title, "Despicable Treacherous Retainer," and his glib tongue to work on Dantalion. “I had no other choice but to do what I did to survive. So, if my lord would be so gracious to forgive me...” Siegfried asked for forgiveness while putting on the most pitiful face he could make. Dantalion fell hook, line, and sinker for Siegfried’s perfect acting. The reason the Demon Lord of Deception had fallen so easily for Siegfried’s lies wasn't only because of the Despicable Treacherous Retainer title. [Backstabbing is I, and I am backstabbing! Nobody knows if I’m backstabbing you or actually stabbing your back! Deception is as natural as breathing for me, and I can fool my enemies without even intending to!] [Effects: +500% Chance of unknowingly deceiving someone else and profiting from it, +500% Chance of completely fooling an NPC. (The chance is higher the lower the NPC’s intellect), +100% Backstab Damage, +100% Back Headshot Damage] [Note: You could obtain the title "Legendary Swindler" if you use this title frequently!] Siegfried had reached a level where he would end up backstabbing someone regardless of his willingness to do so. On top of that, the titles he held exponentially increased his chances of successfully fooling NPCs with his lies. In fact, most NPCs would believe him if he told them that he could turn water into wine. But what if Siegfried intentionally lied to an NPC's face using both Despicable Treacherous Retainer and I Am Backstabbing? Even the Demon Lord of Deception would end up falling for his lies. And what if he took it up a notch and mixed flattery into his lies while giving the other party a reason to believe him? ‘I think it’s worth a shot,’ Siegfried decided to come up with something on the spot. “I... need my lord’s help.” “As I have said earlier, I truly did not mean to be a nuisance to my lord. I just happened to be there whenever my lord’s grand plan was in action, and I merely did what I had to do to survive.” “Back then, I was running around here and there trying to get in the good graces of the Marchioni Empire’s emperor. But that is no longer the case! I am now a demon, a race far superior to humans. Not only that, I was lucky enough to ascend as a demon lord.” “What are you trying to say?” “My point is, why should I be concerned about the Human Realm when I am now a proud demon. Am I right, my lord?” “Y-Yes, that’s right.” Dantalion couldn’t help but agree with Siegfried. It was all because he found it difficult to believe that Siegfried would still care about the Human Realm when he was now a demon lord. “But even though I luckily became the demon lord... I do have one small problem. That is why I have come seeking your wisdom, Lord Dantalion.” “What’s this problem of yours?” “That is...” Siegfried hesitated for a second. Then, he shuddered in anger and said, “Metatron is trying to get rid of me.” “Does he perhaps think that you will take the Seventh Domain from him and is now trying to get rid of you first before you grow stronger?” Dantalion asked, sounding sure of his deduction. “I think that is what he is thinking.” “Well, there can’t be two demon lords in one domain.” “They say demons can easily change their mind on a whim... Even though I helped him so much...” “Tsk, tsk...” Dantalion clicked his tongue and said, “You were played by that fool.” “You should’ve known this was coming. How can you trust someone so blindly? Are you some sort of charity or something?” “So, are you on your last leg now?” “Yes, Lord Dantalion...” “Ah, you’re really in a pinch, aren’t you?” “That is why I would like to request a bit of my lord’s time. Please, I beg you! I am well aware that bygones cannot be bygones, but I implore my lord to forgive me!” Right after saying that, Siegfried hurriedly unequipped all of his items and stripped down to his underwear before prostrating at Dantalion’s feet, groveling for forgiveness. “H-Hey! What are you doing?!” Dantalion shrieked in horror. Then, he hurriedly pulled Siegfried back to his feet and said, “You’re a demon lord too! Get up!” “I will only get up once my lord forgives me!” “A-Alright! Hurry up and get up.” “Let’s go talk somewhere else. Come with me.” “A-As my lord commands.” With that, Siegfried followed Dantalion to another place to continue their conversation. “So, what you’re trying to say is that you want to hit Metatron before he hits you?” Dantalion asked. “Yes, Lord Dantalion,” Siegfried replied with a nod. “But you don’t have an army?” “Y-Yes, I do not... Metatron was born and raised in the Seventh Domain. Not only that, he is the former demon lord’s son, so all of the demons and elders support him.” “And you’re just some lucky human that became a demon lord by chance?” “This looks really bad for you. It’s only a matter of time before they eliminate you. If I were Metatron, I wouldn’t give you even a day just because I’d be wary you would start building your own forces.” “You’re really in trouble.” “L-Lord Dantalion! What should I do now?!” Siegfried cried out while forcing a few drops of tears out. ‘Tsk, tsk... How foolish can humans be? Do you really think I’ll forgive you? No, I will thoroughly use you until you no longer serve any purpose. Hohoho!’ Dantalion planned to use Siegfried to seize control of the Seventh Domain. “Do you want to survive?” he asked. “Yes, I want to live, Lord Dantalion! I do not wish to die! I suffered so much just to get where I am, so how can I die ?!” “I guess you’re right. I mean, you barely became a superior creature, yet you’re now on the verge of being hunted down by the ones you used to call your allies.” “Is there... a way I can survive?” “Hmm... Let me think...” “I beg you, Lord Dantlaion! Please, help me!” “Do you think you can win against Metatron?” Dantalion asked. “Yes, I can!” Siegfried replied. “Are you prepared to fight him?” “He will come after me first if I don’t go after him.” “I see... So you’re prepared to go that far...” “Yes, I am, Lord Dantalion!” “Then it should be easy.” “If you open the gates of the City of Vengeance, then I will lead my army and invade the Seventh Domain.” “But I have a condition.” “What is it, Lord Dantalion?” “You will cede a portion of the Seventh Domain to me once everything is over.” “Why? You don’t want to? Then are you just going to die?” “N-No! I will do it! And... I will offer the Proatine Kingdom as a forward base should my lord decide to invade the humans once again.” “That sounds splendid!” Dantalion was delighted at the proposal, as he had been searching high and low for a suitable forward base for his invasion of the humans. “I believe we can have a win-win relationship, so I will help you stay alive, Siegfried van Proa,” Dantalion said, extending his hand out. “T-Thank you, my lord!” Siegfried exclaimed, shaking Dantalion’s hand and bowing. Thus, Dantalion decided to get rid of both Siegfried and Metatron to seize control of the entire seventh domain. ‘Hoho! I will thoroughly use you until there’s nothing else valuable left in you!’ Both Siegfried and Dantalion shook hands while hiding their true intentions deep inside. On that same evening... Updates are released by NoveI~Fire.net “Welcome back, Your Majesty,” Metatron greeted. “Hey, you. Come here for a second,” Siegfried called him. Metatron followed Siegfried to somewhere private. “Did something bad happen, sire?” “You see...” Siegfried proceeded to explain his discussion with Dantalion. “What?! A-Are you serious?!” Metatron gasped in shock at what he heard. “Yup. Dantalion’s bringing his army over here tomorrow,” Siegfried said nonchalantly. “And I will open the gates for them...” “We will set up a trap and wait for them. Once they’re inside deep enough, we will surround and annihilate them.” “That sounds like an excellent plan. We can completely crush the Fifth Domain’s army with that,” Metatron said with a grin. “Yup, yup. Oh, by the way, I’m calling dibs on the Fifth Domain, okay?” “The Fifth Domain will be ownerless once Dantalion is gone, right?” “Ah! Yes, Your Majesty should definitely rule over the Fifth Domain. After that, the Seventh Domain and Fifth Domain will enter into a blood alliance.” “Your Majesty is truly amazing.” “To think that Your Majesty is planning to turn the Demon Realm into the Proatine Kingdom’s colony...” “C-Colony...?” Siegfried muttered, tilting his head in confusion. “Your Majesty is the King of the Proatine Kingdom, so the Fifth Domain will naturally become the kingdom’s colony, no?” “I-Is that how it works?” “Your Majesty is truly, truly amazing. This is something unprecedented in the history of the world.” Metatron was right. Demons once invaded the Human Realm and turned human kingdoms into their colony, but the other way around was unprecedented. Had any human nation ever colonized the Demon Realm? Without a doubt, even the great Marchioni Empire couldn't have dreamed of doing such a thing. However, the Proatine Kingdom had already achieved the impossible by colonizing the Seventh Domain. It was all because Metatron was Siegfried’s slave, and by extension, the Seventh Domain was now a part of the Proatine Kingdom. “Anyway, let’s do our best.” “Yes, sire,” Metatron replied with a bow, still paying proper respects to Siegfried. His loyalty toward Siegfried remained the same even after becoming a demon lord. On that same evening... While Siegfried and Metatro were busy making preparations to welcome Dantalion... Somebody knocked on Michael’s door just as he was about to sleep. ‘Hm? Is it Siegfried?’ Michael opened the door without much thought. However, his visitor in the dead of the night was not Siegfried. Michael was shocked to see his guest. Surprisingly, the current Demon King, Baal, came to visit the former Chief Archangel, Michael. “Long time no see,” Baal said, as if he was greeting an old friend. “It has... been a while,” Michael replied, flustered by the sudden visit from the Demon King. “I believe it has been a year, no? The last time we met was during the summit a thousand years ago,” Baal said while rubbing his chin. “Yes, that is correct. That was the last time we met,” Michael replied with a nod. “May I come in?” Baal asked. “I don’t see why not,” Michael replied before opening the door for him. Truth be told, he had no way of stopping the Demon King even if he wanted to, as he was no match against Baal in his current state. Not to mention, this was the Demon Realm. “I extend my sincerest condolences to your plight. I never imagined that you would fall from being the Chief Archangel,” Baal offered words of comfort as soon as he sat down. “I, too, did not expect it...” “Ah, it doesn’t mean I’m looking down on you or anything. It’s just that you have been the Chief Archangel since the beginning of time. Even though the Demon King changed almost six times, you remained the Chief Archangel. For that, I truly respect you.” “Thank you for your kind words, but why have you come to visit me? I don’t think I’m worthy of meeting the Demon King anymore,” Michael asked, baffled by the sudden visit. “I’m not here to discuss business. This is a personal visit, so just relax.” “I’m just here to chat with you, the archangel who once ruled the Celestial Realm.” “By chat, you mean...?” “Just this and that, you know? And also...” Baal paused for a moment. Then, he continued, “I want to know more about him.” “Who are you talking about?” Michael raised a brow and asked. Baal’s eyes gleamed as he replied, “Siegfried van Proa.”