"S," Jack interrupted Oscar's internal commentary, focusing on the contract demon. "Did you get any of the documents back yet?"

S's expression shifted to something that might have been satisfaction.

He reached into his jacket and withdrew two pieces of parchment, both identical to the ones Jack had obtained earlier.

"Only two so far," S replied. "The generals move quickly when they need to, but bureaucracy has its own pace even in demon fortresses."

{DOCUMENTS?!} Oscar's mental voice exploded. {WHAT DOCUMENTS?! WHEN DID WE GET DOCUMENTS?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!}

Jack took the parchment from S, examining them briefly before giving them back. A smile crossed his face, it was small, but genuine.

"Alright," Jack said, his voice carrying certainty. "Prepare the rest. It's time for Phase Two to begin."

{PHASE TWO?!} Oscar practically screamed in his mind. {THERE'S A PHASE TWO?! WHAT WAS PHASE ONE?! WHY AM I ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW ANYTHING?!}

"This one does not understand what Master means," Kyren said, tilting his head. "This one thinks Master has plan. Good plan? This one hopes good plan."

S's smile widened, showing teeth. "Phase Two. How delightfully ominous. I assume this involves the blood contracts you had me prepare?"

{BLOOD CONTRACTS?!} Oscar's voice went up another octave. {THE PARCHMENT WAS BLOOD CONTRACTS?! YOU SLIPPED BLOOD CONTRACTS INTO OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS?!}

'Yes.'

{THAT'S…} Oscar paused. {Actually that's brilliant. Evil, but brilliant. When did you plan this?!}

'Before I even entered the fortress.'

{You've been planning to subvert Pho's entire command structure since BEFORE the infiltration started?!}

'Obviously.'

{I HATE that you don't tell me these things! I'm your WEAPON! We're supposed to be PARTNERS!}

'You are my weapon. That doesn't mean you need to know every detail of every plan.'

{This isn't a DETAIL! This is a MAJOR STRATEGIC OPERATION!}

"This one thinks weapon is upset," Kyren observed. "This one can tell. Master holds weapon different when weapon is upset. Weapon does not like Master's plans?"

"Weapon will adapt," Jack replied simply.

{I'm RIGHT HERE! I can HEAR you talking about me like I'm not here!}

------

The throne room felt colder than usual as Loryn approached the elevated platform where Pho sat.

The Deathfrost Demon's blank white eyes tracked the skeletal general's movement with a particular intensity.

"Master Pho," Loryn said. "I have news about the experiment."

Pho leaned forward slightly, frost spreading across his throne's armrests. "The control mechanisms are complete?"

"Yes. The binding runes are stable, the containment field is holding, and the subject integration process has been perfected." Loryn's bone-thin fingers gestured as he spoke, his enthusiasm bleeding through despite his attempt at professionalism.

"I just need to find the right demon to complete the final phase. Once the yellow eyed demon shows himself. It will all be over."

"Good." Pho's expression showed satisfaction.

Loryn paused, his stitched-together face showing something close to hesitation. "But there's something else. Something more… concerning."

The temperature in the throne room dropped further.

Ice crystals began forming in the air around Pho, small at first but growing larger as his attention focused completely on Loryn.

"Go on."

Loryn's eyes fixed on Pho with unusual intensity. "I believe someone has infiltrated your fortress. Someone dangerous."

"Explain."

"I witnessed something yesterday when I was running some errands," Loryn said carefully. "A demon signed a document, and it burned away immediately. Leaving no residue, ash or trace of ever existing."

Pho's blank white eyes narrowed slightly. "Administrative magic can cause documents to transfer…."

"No." Loryn's voices merged into absolute certainty. "This was different. I've seen administrative transfers. I've seen magical filing systems. I've seen every type of document magic used in fortress operations. This was none of those."

The frost around Pho intensified, spreading across the floor.

"Only one type of magic burns documents completely without leaving evidence." Loryn continued. "Soul magic. Specifically, the kind used in binding contracts. Blood contracts that seal with the signer's essence and leave no physical evidence."

Pho stood slowly, his three-meter frame towering even at a distance.

The temperature plummeted, frost spreading across every surface of the throne room. Ice spikes erupted from the floor randomly.

"You're suggesting," Pho said, his voice carrying the sound of cracking ice, "that the Soul Warden is in my fortress."

"I'm not suggesting. I'm telling you." Loryn didn't step back despite the visible aura of power now radiating from Pho.

"Someone with soul magic infiltrated your operation, disguised themselves as one of your demons, and is currently subverting your command structure from within."

The aura around Pho exploded outward.

Power flooded the throne room in a wave of freezing energy that would have killed most demons instantly.

Ice spikes erupted from every surface, creating a forest of frozen blades.

The air itself crystallized, each breath becoming visible as demons throughout the fortress felt the sudden temperature drop.

But Pho wasn't angry.

He was excited.

"The Soul Warden," Pho said, and something that might have been joy colored his voice. "The one who killed my brother."

An ice spike erupted directly beside Loryn's face, so close that its edge caught his stitched cheek and opened a clean cut from temple to jaw.

Dark blue blood seeped from the wound, but Loryn didn't flinch. He didn't even try to move.

He simply stood there, waiting for Pho to finish processing the information.

"He's here," Pho continued, his blank white eyes seeming to glow with anticipation. "In my fortress…."

The ice spikes stopped forming. The temperature remained frigid, but the wild fluctuations ceased as Pho brought his power under control. He looked at Loryn, at the cut on his face, at the blood dripping onto the frozen floor.

"You didn't even flinch," Pho observed.

"You weren't trying to kill me," Loryn replied simply. "You were excited. Your power reflects your emotions. I've served under you long enough to understand the difference between excitement and killing intent."

Pho smiled, genuine and cold. "Do you know who it is? Which demon is actually the Soul Warden in disguise?"

"No. But I have suspicions." Loryn suggested.

"Someone new. Someone strong enough to survive, but skilled enough to hide their true nature. Someone who's been positioning themselves strategically since arriving."

"Jakar."

It wasn't a question.

Pho said the name with certainty, his blank white eyes boring into Loryn as if daring him to contradict.

Loryn said nothing, which was answer enough.

"The demon who wields Oscar without dying. The demon I just made overseer of the slave pits."

He laughed, the sound like ice cracking on a frozen lake.

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect." Pho descended the steps from his throne, his movements fluid despite his massive frame. "I was wondering when the tower would send someone interesting. The human thinks he can infiltrate my fortress and walk away alive."

"What are your orders?" Loryn asked, his wound still bleeding but apparently forgotten.

"Nothing." Pho's smile widened. "Do nothing. Say nothing. Let him continue whatever plan he's executing. Let him think he's being clever, that his infiltration is successful, that he's turning my fortress against me."

Loryn's multiple eyes widened slightly. "You want him to succeed?"

"I want him to commit fully," Pho corrected. "If we move now, he'll abort his plan and flee. But if we let him continue, if we give him enough rope to hang himself, he'll reveal everything he's capable of. All his tricks. All his bound souls. All his Soul Warden abilities."

The Deathfrost Demon's aura pulsed once, a visible wave of power that made the air itself shimmer with cold.

"And when he's completely committed and decides to make his move against me..." Pho's blank white eyes carried absolute certainty. "I'll freeze him solid and add his soul to my collection. A Soul Warden bound to serve me. Now that would be interesting."

Loryn nodded slowly, understanding the strategy. "What about the generals? If he's used blood contracts, some of them might already be bound."

"It won't matter."

"Understood." Loryn turned to leave, blood still dripping from his cut face.

"And Loryn?" Pho called after him.

The skeletal general paused.

"Thank you. For bringing this to my attention. For understanding that some battles are worth savoring rather than ending quickly." Pho's smile returned. "The Soul Warden thinks he's hunting me. He has no idea he's the prey."

Loryn bowed once, then left the throne room.

The only sound in the throne room that could be heard was laughter.

It sounded like someone who had just lost their mind.

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