The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 308: A Kick In The...

Chapter 308: A Kick In The...

"Bollocks. That’s what I have to say about that story," Chancellor Lumin put down her third cup of coffee and stared across the space between them.

It was the morning after the assassination attempt. She was sitting at her desk and Kir was standing across from her, having not been invited to sit in one of the comfortable leather chairs.

"You really expect the Watch to believe that you, a fully vested archmage with enough power to level this city a baker’s dozen times over, would let yourself get kicked in the balls before being escaped? I know Inspector Tomcot hates your guts but even she won’t be laughing hard enough to believe that nonsense."

"That was my story. I could make up a more complex scenario if you want, but then we’d have the Inspector prowling around the Academy for months instead of weeks. Remember what happened last time?"

"Last time Ghostheart backhanded her across the Courthouse square. I won’t repeat myself on how personally she takes anything even remotely connected to that demon. This stunt could compromise your identity and our association, to say nothing of our mutual friends. If she finds out and manages to get the word out."

The unspoken line between them was, ’Especially to Heaven’s agents.’

"If it does, I’ll just say I align with the Ghostlights and resign. The last time I checked, it wasn’t a crime in Norneau to associate with abolitionists."

"And when has Heaven, much less nations, cared about the laws of city-states like mine? For someone who just witnessed an assassination, you’re awfully cavalier about the fact you might get assassinated yourself," Lumin put down her cup and Terry, her shoebill-like birdkin butler, took it and refilled it.

"You’re more worried about if such a fight would damage the city."

"Wouldn’t you be if you were having coffee with an unchained dragon?"

"That would require me to actually have some coffee. You’re welcome, by the way."

Lumin snorted at the reminder that Kir had been the one to reveal the charms of coffee beans - formerly known as ’pig beans’ or ’hog beans’ - to the world. It was now one of Norneau’s staples, with dozens of buildings growing it in dedicated greenhouses.

"Just promise me you’ll cover everyone’s asses in addition to your own, Professor Nasumi."

"Haven’t I always?"

"Don’t make me bring up the airship incident."

Kir opened his mouth to protest but then stopped himself. "Alright, point taken. But the Minister was fine in the end-"

There was a knock at the door.

Kir hurriedly checked his glamour in a small mirror Lumin kept on her bookshelf before freezing in place. After Terry worked his way around to open it, and the last three people Kir wanted to see walked in.

One was Inspector Michelle Tomcot, her usual scowling face and vengeful eyes passing over Kir like he was a roach to her. Her black hair had a few ashy grey strands to it, despite her relatively young age, and her smouldering scowl matched perfectly with her temper and abilities as a fire maven. Kir was rather surprised to discover how effectively she’d failed upward into her latest position as Chief Inspector for the Watch.

One was Lapins van Montmorency, her arm in a sling and heavy bandages holding it in place. The wound may have been fully healed, but her shoulder had taken some damage.

And the last was a figure Kir had made every attempt to avoid over the last year and a half since Heaven established an official embassy with Norneau.

Jeviel Fidelos was a tall angel of graceful countenance, and he made no attempt to stow his auburn wings as he entered Lumin’s office. His hair was of a similar color, with wings of white framing his temples down his sideburns, and it was clear from the way he took the center after entering that he was the one responsible for the other two being here.

Behind him, Kir barely spotted Mercy before the maid shut the door behind the three, assuming a position across from Terry. The two loyal servants stared at each other without blinking.

"Emissary, to what do I owe the surprise?" Lumin asked, standing and offering her hand to be shaken.

The angel did not oblige, instead folding his hands in front of him with a confident smile. "I understand there was an assassination attempt on Princess Lapins last night... and that the assassin got away."

Kir cleared his throat. He’d stepped aside to allow the three their entry, but would not turn his back on the angel. "The fault is mine. I did not expect them to have tricks up their sleeve."

Michelle snorted and cracked a small smile. As an Inspector she would have had access to the full report Kir made last night.

"Ah yes, the beastkin of the hour. Tell me, why did you not pursue the assassin?"

"Have you ever been kicked in the nuts by someone with no reason to hold back?" Kir asked.

Again, Michelle snorted her amusement.

"No, but I imagine a smart beastkin like yourself would prioritize the safety of the city over getting your robes a little dirty."

"Or maybe the assassin had friends in the sewers," Kir countered, ad-libbing his response. "Are you suggesting that Norneau could afford to lose one of its most prolific inventors over an incident that ultimately resulted in nothing?"

"If the ceremony last night was any indication, yes," the Emissary’s smile widened. It had the same easy quality Kir had seen in Rainier’s smile but a condescension that told Kir he was barely worth the angel’s time. "As I understand it, your protege is far more capable than you when it comes to magical scripting."

"That is rather the point of having a protege, no? The world would be in quite a pickle if old masters never got replaced. But let’s cut the bullshit, are you trying to have me fired over this or not?" Kir’s anger had been stoked, and he put his hands behind his back, adopting his own confident smile.

"That would be the Princess’ prerogative, not mine. I am here to discuss Norneau’s future with Chancellor Lumin, as well as to inform her that I will be poaching Captain Tomcot for the foreseeable future."

He turned to Lumin, and Kir relaxed just a bit, grateful his glamour seemed to have kept him safely unidentified. Of course, he was shielded just in case...

"Chancellor, it is Heaven’s opinion that the activities of abolition groups such as these Ghostlights represent an increasing threat to the stability of the continent. The institutions they are fighting are necessary for maintaining the ability of nations to stay fed and productive during these trying climes, and while I have already had similar discussions with the Mayor’s office and the judiciary, I know the weight you carry with the city government, merchants, and mages. That is why I am here instead of summoning you to my office as protocol would deem appropriate."

"I’ll take your words under advisement," Lumin said. "But is that the only reason you’re here?"

"As I said, I am poaching Captain Tomcot. The Inspector will be part of a Heavenly task force responsible for hunting Ghostlights and whoever else is following the example of a demon in biting the hands that feed them. She has a set of willing volunteers and I would like to borrow Professor Nasumi-"

"I refuse," Kir said flatly, receiving a glare from Lumin.

"I think what the Professor means is that he is indispensable as an advisor to Norneau’s industry and as a teacher here at the Academy. It is largely thanks to his efforts that Norneau has not had to rely on slave labor at all in the wake of Ghostheart’s... escapades."

The mention of Ghostheart’s name drove Michelle up the wall. "Why don’t you just admit you’re sheltering the demon? There’s no way he could show up in three different countries across three weeks without teleportation or the glideways!"

Lumin stood. She loomed across her desk. "Emissary, your new agent seems to be leveling some very serious accusations on her first day as your employee. An agent who, I would remind you, has failed to capture that demon multiple times. I will not hand over the one who helped mitigate the damages. Not when the semester is about to start."

Jeviel’s smile remained unchanged. "Chancellor, I did not come here to watch mortals bicker when you two would benefit far more from cooperation. In the year I have known Inspector Tomcot, she has proven a loyal and pious officer of your city..." He briefly glanced at Kir. "And respectful of authority.

He cleared his throat. "Since Professor Nasumi is unwilling, I won’t press the issue of recruitment... but would you be willing to have him serve in an advisory role on some of the technology he, his protege, and his colleagues have introduced? I think there is room for... innovative approaches in detecting and apprehending all sorts of disruptors to the worldly order."

"I don’t-" Kir was about to speak for himself when Lumin interrupted.

"What would that entail?"

"A monthly luncheon. Here, of course. I wish to sample the legendary cafeteria your Academy supposedly has."

Lumin’s eyes were calculating. "I see no reason why Professor Nasumi couldn’t occasionally entertain your questions."

"Excellent. I will have a schedule sent to you. It will also give me a chance to check in with the proctors Heaven has decided to add to your school."

"Proctors? Now wait one godsdamned minute-"

"I have waited, Chancellor, for over a year to see if you would show loyalty to Heaven and its will. Especially when we funded the restoration of the city, enabling the towering heights you now aspire to with industry." He placed the tips of his fingers together in front of himself. "Just because you trace your lineage to us-"

The realization that Lumin’s heritage was angelic hit Kir like a meteor. It now made sense why she was able to flaunt so many political norms compared to her counterparts... and they’d worked together for three years without Lumin ever revealing herself...

"-does not make you our equal." His smile slipped into a stern, patronizing face. "So consider this your final warning, scion of Memoria."