"Y-Y-Young Master!"

It was the only thing the demon could say.

Fiona gave Shin a confused look.

"I am not your young master anymore," Shin said coldly. "But what are you doing here, Valcoris?"

"The new cult leader... he asked me to take care of Wenton and bring the rest of the kids to the Morville branch," the demon stammered, shivering with each word.

"Morville branch? I see, so the cult is expanding under the new leader."

"The... the leader is much stronger than the previous one," Valcoris added, still trembling.

"Fiona, you should seal it now. We can question it further later," Shin said, stepping away from the possessed James.

Fiona understood; asking more questions now would just make the demon explode. It was common for demons to place spells on their subordinates to keep them from revealing information. After sealing them, however, they were no longer under the control of their masters but instead they had to obey those who had sealed them.

Raising her hand, Fiona summoned a holy book that glowed with a golden light. She began to recite:

"Power to purge the darkness,

O mighty lord, heed my call.

Evil summoned in this realm

Shall be vanquished, never to return again.

I banish you from the land of the living, Valcoris."

Dark smoke poured from James's body and was sucked into the book. When the ritual finished, the book closed itself and vanished with a golden glow.

Exhausted, Fiona approached Shin, a flurry of questions forming in her mind.

"Tell me, Shin, is it really true? Your father... he was the leader of the Devil's Eyes?" Fiona's voice held a glint of sadness.

"Fiona, we should—" Shin tried to divert the conversation, but Fiona grabbed his collar.

"Don't dodge it. Tell me! Who are you, Shin?" Her eyes filled with tears.

Shin's face softened with sadness. "I was the youngest son of that demon... and also one of his victims."

Fiona released her grip, her gaze distant.

"The shooting I told you about... I didn’t know it at first, but after investigating, I found it was the Devil's Eyes cult that orchestrated the attack," she murmured, staring into the dark sky.

"But why? From what I know, he preferred to stay under the radar. What would he gain from doing that?" Shin asked, puzzled.

"We’re still figuring it out. But that day, he made his worst enemies," Fiona replied bitterly.

Shin sighed. "Let’s move the officer's body for now." He lifted James. "I’ll teleport him to a safe place. Can you cast a memory-erasing spell on the kids?"

Fiona nodded, and Shin teleported to Wenton’s house, quietly placing James’s body near the front door. Meanwhile, Fiona went to the church, casting a spell to make the children forget everything that happened that night.

After their tasks were complete, Shin and Fiona regrouped at Shin's house.

"You’re sure the spell worked?" Shin asked.

"Don’t worry; they won’t remember a thing. They’ll be safe in the church. By morning, someone will report them, and they’ll be able to return to their parents," Fiona said with a sigh of relief.

"Good. Now, let’s focus on interrogating the demon you captured."

Fiona opened the book where Valcoris was sealed, turning the pages until she found the right one. She pricked her thumb, letting a drop of blood fall onto the page.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Answer my questions, Valcoris, demon sealed within this book."

A small amount of smoke emerged, and the page turned black, rippling with red light. From it appeared a small demonic figure with little horns, a red body, bound in golden chains.

Valcoris’s angry expression turned to terror as he looked at Shin.

"W-What do you want to ask?" Valcoris stammered.

Fiona shot a surprised look at Shin, then back at the demon. "They aren’t usually so cooperative at first."

She glanced at Shin, who, even without sight, seemed to be giving the little demon a death stare.

"What did he do to make you hate him so much?" Fiona asked Shin.

"I told him never to return to Earth," Shin replied coldly.

"Just that?" Fiona asked, surprised.

"I despise everything associated with him. Even his subordinates."

Fiona, who despised the cult for her own reasons, wondered what horrors Shin’s father must have inflicted on his son to make him feel this way.

"It’s best if you handle the interrogation," Fiona suggested.

Shin stepped closer to the book. "First, tell me where your main branch is located."

"I-I don’t know," Valcoris replied, his voice tense.

Shin focused his aura, attempting to intimidate him, but the book’s enchantments blocked it.

"I’ll handle this," Fiona said, raising her hand. She tightened her fist, and the golden chains binding Valcoris glowed, squeezing him tightly. He grimaced in pain.

"S-Stop! I’m telling the truth! Only the branch leader knows where the main branch is," Valcoris gasped.

"Where is your branch leader?" Shin demanded.

"Jinnestein Forest."

Shin’s expression hardened. "What happened to the children of divine heritage your cult took?"

"The leader... he himself was involved in that mission. As soon as it was completed, he took both of them with him," Valcoris replied, trembling.

"He kidnapped them?" Shin pressed.

"No. The branch leader and some members carried out the kidnapping. Afterward, the cult leader took the children and the vehicle. We quickly hid five other children in a warehouse Wenton suggested, to avoid being caught."

Fiona took out a piece of paper bearing a sigil. "Do you recognize this sigil?" she asked.

Valcoris paled. "H-How did you get that?"

"You know who it belongs to?" Shin questioned.

"No... No, all traces were supposed to be erased! How did you find it?" Valcoris cried, terrified.

"I found it in Malcovich Hills. From what I could deduce, this sigil is your leader's, isn’t it?" Fiona replied calmly.

"No! The leader wouldn’t leave traces like that... he’s not careless!" the demon muttered, unable to deny the mark was familiar.

"Even I doubted it at first, but this confirms it," Fiona said.

"It doesn’t matter," Valcoris sneered. "Even if you have his sigil, you’ll never defeat him. He’s far stronger than the last leader; you won’t even get past the branch leader."

"Are you trying to act tough?" Shin’s cold voice sent a chill through Valcoris. "I will find your branch leader, and then I’ll find your cult leader. Answer what I ask; don’t speak unless spoken to."

Terrified, the demon fell silent.

"Now, tell me—who is your branch leader?"

"I... I can’t tell his name," Valcoris replied, quivering.

"I already know that. Just answer my questions as perfectly as you can don't even think about scheming something," Shin ordered, his tone filled with restrained anger.

"He... he’s also a high-grade demon," Valcoris replied, shivering.

Shin and Fiona were both shocked.

"What did you say?" Shin’s voice was incredulous. "A high-grade demon wouldn’t work with anyone unless... Is your branch leader a Count?"

"Yes, but they’re not allies. The branch leader is a subordinate," Valcoris interrupted.

Shin clenched his fist. "What’s the cult leader's rank?"

"You know."

"A Duke," Shin muttered, his fist slamming onto the table. "Fiona, close the book."

In a state of shock, Fiona closed the book, which disappeared in a golden glow.

"A high-grade demon... and a Duke at that," Fiona whispered in disbelief.

"Yes, it was always a possibility. But why did he take over the cult? High-grade demons usually form organizations with their own kind. Why join another demon’s organization?"

"It might be possible the current and previous leaders were connected," Fiona suggested.

"Maybe," Shin agreed. Then he sighed.

Fiona was hesitant but she wanted to know it. "Shin, can you tell me what was the previous leader's rank."

Shin was silent for a second but he let out a sigh and replied."He was a Marquis."

"A level below the current leader, what do you think?" Fiona looked at Shin.

After a pause, Shin continued, "He was a powerful foe, but it's not impossible, but If we’re going to attack the cult, we’ll need more help. For now, I’ll focus on removing my inner seals and recovering my strength. You should contact your organization; maybe they can send backup."

"I’ve already reached out to them," Fiona said. "But an urgent matter has come up."

"Is something wrong with your group?" Shin asked.

"Yes. Our president... the day of the accident, he left a note saying he was going on an important mission and hasn’t returned."

"Could it be related to the attack?" Shin wondered.

"I’m not sure, but it must be serious for him to go alone."

"Then, we have preparations to make anyway. I’ll focus on regaining my strength, and we’ll take on the Morville branch when ready."

"Alright." Fiona bid him goodbye and left.

Unbeknownst to them, a strange creature—a small eyeball with tiny wings—had been watching from outside Shin’s window. As their conversation ended, it flew away to its master.

Far away, an old man with storm-grey eyes and greyish-white hair waited, dressed in a jade-black suit. As the creature neared, he raised his hand, and it landed in his palm and disappeared with a faint golden glow.

"I see," the man murmured before vanishing into nothingness, leaving only the green fields stretching across the landscape, their grasses swaying in gentle waves beneath the breeze.