Baron Zathrek stood at the main gate of Grimveil City.

The massive black doors behind him were fully open.

Rows of demons lined both sides of the road, standing stiff and silent.

Even the usual street noise was gone.

Zathrek kept his back straight, his hands folded calmly in front of him.

Ash drifted faintly from his body, but his breathing was steady.

"…Everything must be perfect," he muttered under his breath.

Velkyr stood a step behind him, eyes lowered. His blurred form was unusually still.

The air suddenly grew heavy.

Several elite demons near the gate stiffened.

One of them nearly collapsed to a knee before catching himself.

Zathrek felt it immediately.

"…He's here," he said quietly.

From the road beyond the gate, a small procession approached.

At the front were several demon slaves, their heads lowered, backs bent under pressure that did not come from weight alone.

Between them floated a black metal box, carried by chains of glowing runes.

The slaves trembled as they moved. Sweat ran down their faces. Every step looked painful.

Zathrek's eyes locked onto the box.

The box stopped several meters in front of the gate.

The runes pulsed once.

Then the lid slid open with a sharp metallic sound.

The pressure increased instantly.

Several demons along the road dropped to one knee without realizing it.

A tall figure stepped out calmly.

Count Morveth Sealgrave.

His posture was rigid and upright.

Glowing runes carved into his body pulsed slowly, spreading suppression in all directions.

His eyes swept across the gate, the walls, and the demons and finally settled on Zathrek.

Zathrek immediately lowered his head and dropped to one knee.

"Welcome to Grimveil City," he said. "Count Morveth."

Velkyr and the other demons followed instantly, kneeling without hesitation.

Morveth looked at them in silence.

His gaze lingered on Zathrek for a moment longer than necessary.

"Hm," Morveth said. "You prepared the city properly."

Zathrek did not lift his head. "We would not dare to be careless in your presence."

Morveth stepped forward. The stone beneath his feet faintly cracked with each step.

"Good," he said. "Carelessness breeds instability."

He stopped directly in front of Zathrek.

"Where is my residence?"

Zathrek lifted his head slightly, careful not to meet Morveth's eyes.

"It has already been prepared," he replied. "The highest district. All others have been cleared."

Morveth nodded once.

"As expected," he said. "I will not tolerate interference."

Zathrek answered immediately. "Of course."

Morveth glanced briefly at the kneeling demons along the road.

His eyes were empty, unreadable.

"Too many," he said flatly.

Zathrek's chest tightened. "If you wish, we can reduce..."

"No need," Morveth interrupted. "I will not be here long."

That single sentence sent a chill through the gathered demons.

Morveth turned slightly, already losing interest.

"Lead the way," he said. "After that, you will report everything."

He paused, then added without looking back,

"Do not omit details."

Zathrek bowed deeply.

"Understood."

As Morveth began walking into the city, the pressure slowly shifted with him, like a moving weight.

Zathrek rose to his feet only after Morveth had passed.

Ash clung to his shoulders more heavily now.

Velkyr leaned in slightly. "City Lord…"

Zathrek raised one hand.

"Quiet," he said softly. "From this moment on, we do not make mistakes."

He turned and followed after the Demon Count.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…

Garion stood on the roof of a tall, empty building near the outer district.

His arms were crossed as he looked toward the main gate.

From here, he could clearly see the formation, the kneeling demons, and the heavy pressure rolling through the streets.

"…So that's him," Garion said quietly.

His eyes followed the tall figure moving through the gate.

"Count Morveth," he muttered. "So that's what a Demon Count looks like."

He shifted his weight slightly and tilted his head.

"By the way," he asked, "what was Kravos' rank again?"

Atlas answered right away.

[Kravos was a Demon Baron.]

[One rank below a Demon Count.]

Garion nodded slowly.

"So only one level difference," he said. "That doesn't sound like much."

Atlas replied immediately.

[Please don't misunderstand that, Host.]

Garion glanced down slightly. "Hmm?"

[Even though it's only one rank difference, the gap in strength is massive.]

[A Demon Count can easily kill ten Demon Barons.]

Garion's brows lifted just a little.

"…I see," he said. "So at least ten times stronger."

He watched Morveth continue walking, demons bowing out of his way without being ordered to.

"That makes things more interesting."

Atlas was silent for a moment.

Then...

[Forget about recruiting for now.]

[If possible, kill that Count.]

Garion turned his head sharply.

"…What?"

He uncrossed his arms and looked forward again, frowning.

"Why forget about it?" he asked. "Isn't my goal to build the God Gym in the demon world?"

He clenched his fist slightly.

"If I'm here, I should at least find one demon who can become a proper member."

He shook his head once.

"So why are you telling me to forget it?"

Atlas answered calmly.

[Because Count Morveth is a Seal Demon.]

Garion paused.

"…A Seal Demon?"

[Yes.]

[All slaves under his jurisdiction are sealed by his power.]

[Their bodies, growth, and potential are locked.]

Garion's expression darkened.

"So even if I take that slave away," he said slowly, "they won't be able to train properly."

[Correct.]

Garion clicked his tongue.

"God damn it."

He stared down at the city streets, watching the slaves move stiffly as they followed the Count.

"So if I want that slave," he said, "I need to deal with the one who sealed them."

Atlas did not hesitate.

[That's right.]

Garion let out a slow breath.

"…So I need to kill a Demon Count."

[Yes.]

Garion was quiet for a moment.

The weight of the situation settled in, not as fear, but as calculation.

"…Damn," he muttered. "This is going to be troublesome."

He straightened, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"But if I don't deal with him," Garion continued, "nothing here will ever move forward."

His eyes hardened.

"So be it."

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