ZEUS'S POV

"Can we go underground and warm up a bit? It's boring. I can't take it anymore!" Her voice echoed from her room on the second floor down to the lower levels.

"Ah, is this the last page of the book I'm reading? Noooo, I can't live without this!" Demon's screams filled the morning air, disturbing Lux and the others.

"Why the heck is she screaming so early?" Lux asked, clearly annoyed.

"Leave her alone, maybe she's on the last page of that smut book Zeus gave her," Venom remarked.

"I didn't give it to her. She took it from Ripple's room when Ripple wasn't there," I clarified.

"I see, so that's why something's missing from my collection," Ripple muttered before grabbing her food and retreating to her room swiftly. She rarely spent more than thirty minutes outside.

"People here are perverts. We shouldn't linger," Summer remarked, covering herself instinctively.

"Why don't we stay? We're freer to-" Lux started.

"Who said I would allow you to stay?" Demon's voice cut through the air, her intimidating aura palpable. If I didn't know her, my entire body might have gone limp.

"Demon!" Lux and Summer knelt down simultaneously, but Viper remained unperturbed, calmly mixing his tea.

"They talk smack about Demon, but they still respect her a lot," Venom noted.

"What the fuck are you two doing here?" Demon confronted Lux and Summer. "I paid a lot of money for you to stay in the fifth basement. Why are you here?"

Did she forget that her actions had destroyed the entire prison, including the fifth basement?

"Hey! You said you were bored. Why not pay a visit to the White Queen?" Viper interjected casually, not bothering to look up.

Was he insane? It wasn't a good idea for Demon to visit the White Queen's place.

"Why would I do that?" Demon's eyes narrowed.

"You don't seem to know what your boyfriend has done," Viper continued, a hint of irritation when he mentioned the word 'boyfriend.' "But then again, you're too busy flirting with him. Anyway, I'll let you know that he and the entire underground have declared war against us."

"What? Why so sudden?" I wondered aloud.

"Is that so? Isn't that good? That's what we're aiming for," Demon replied casually, seemingly unfazed by Viper's revelation.

We all listened silently to their conversation, a rare moment of calm discussion between them.

"Think twice. We're talking about your boyfriend and his friends here," Viper pressed.

"Could you stop saying 'boyfriend'? It gives me chills," Demon retorted, her irritation showing despite her calm demeanor. "Let's do what needs to be done. Isn't that why we're here?"

"I'm fine with that, but if we retreat-" Viper began

"What the fuck, Viper? Do you want to die? Do what needs to be done and stop this bullshit," Demon interrupted sharply.

"Why so grumpy? I just want to make sure. We're talking about war here. The entire underground is against us, and maybe more. Perhaps all of humanity," Viper explained calmly.

"If all of humanity is against us, then let's kill them," Demon said matter-of-factly.

"Are they just joking?" Summer whispered nervously.

"Joking isn't in their vocabulary," Venom replied solemnly, accustomed to their ways.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

We turned to Viper, who was clapping enthusiastically.

"That was the right decision, Demon. Now, let's talk about the potential consequences," Viper said, his excitement evident. "To protect our goal, there will be sorrow and fallout in the White Monarchy, but if we follow the plan, we will succeed."

He paused, studying Demon's face intently. "We're about to destroy them. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"If you ask me that again, I'll blow up the entire underground," Demon threatened, her voice sharp despite her calm expression.

"Heh... Very well. As the King of the White Monarchy, I will support your war and your quest for the Thirteen Masks," Viper declared, unable to contain his grin.

"As for those who have joined the war, I'm sorry that no one took our side," I interjected, handing Demon and Viper a piece of paper listing the clans and groups involved.

"Wow, this is more than I expected. Do they think this is a school project performance? Joining like this?" Demon muttered as she scanned the paper. "They will all die," she concluded bluntly.

"Don't apologize. We don't need anyone to win. They don't know what we're capable of yet," Viper added quietly.

"These two... They don't care about numbers because they're confident they'll win," Venom remarked to himself.

"Viper, please assign someone to accompany them to the new villa owned by the White Monarchy and provide for all their needs," I was quick to follow Viper's order, dispatching five underlings to serve Summer and Lux.

Once they had left and the surroundings were quiet again, Viper poured tea into his glass and Hyra's.

*KRIIIIIIIINGGGGGGGG!*

An unexpected call came from the underground.

I handed the call to Viper, who answered it promptly.

"What's the issue?" Viper inquired.

"My Lord, this is Lieutenant Dan. I want to inform you that the enemy unit is mobilizing and has occupied our first unit," the voice on the other end reported.

"So it begins. Should I come there?" Viper asked calmly.

"There's no need, my Lord. I'm just reporting the situation; it doesn't mean we're losing," Lieutenant Dan reassured.

"Don't push too hard. The war is just beginning," Viper concluded before ending the call.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

"What the fuck? I didn't expect Master to declare war against the White Monarchy," Krystal exclaimed, squeezing the can in her hand before tossing it into the trash.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Cassy asked curiously.

"Haven't you heard the rumors about the White Monarchy? They show no mercy, especially Demon," Airam remarked, busy with her hair.

"If she's that dangerous, why didn't Master seek help from the four rulers of the underground?" Umber inquired, genuinely curious.

"They'd only complicate things, especially the Nameless King and the White Queen," Megumi chimed in, waking up from her nap to join the conversation.

"You talk like you know them well," Claire observed, eyeing Megumi skeptically, who responded with an annoying smile.

"They're too famous for me not to know about them. They're not like others who struggle to make a mark in the underground," Megumi explained, her smile widening to irk Claire.

"Hey, girls!" Jarvis entered the room with other masks. "The vibe here is off. Did you try to kill each other? Haha!"

"Read the room, idiot. This isn't the time for jokes," Dos muttered, brushing past Jarvis, who seemed unfazed by the cold reception.

"Yes, my love. I'll read the room," Jarvis joked, earning a derisive "Tsk" from Dos.

---

"The White Monarchy only consists of five members: Demon, Viper, Venom, Zeus, and Ripple. But they command hundreds of underlings," Carl explained to the elite class, excluding Chris who had distanced himself from them.

"We shouldn't underestimate them, especially Demon. She's single-handedly massacred hundreds," Brizon added grimly.

"And didn't Viper take down the Alliance Mafia by himself?" Dos chimed in, reinforcing Brizon's point.

"But weren't those people they killed the same ones we're supposed to punish? We were just a step behind the White Monarchy in delivering justice," Sky argued, igniting Cyrus's anger.

"What the fuck, Sky? Yes, we're here to punish them, but we won't resort to murder like the White Monarchy," Cyrus retorted, his frustration evident.

Sky shrugged nonchalantly. "They did the right thing. Those criminals won't commit any more crimes."

"You!" Cyrus moved aggressively toward Sky, but Jared quickly stepped in to intervene. "Get out of my way if you don't want to get hurt."

"Stop it, bastard. I'm just stopping myself from hitting you," Jared whispered firmly.

"The White Monarchy is our enemy here. Why are you fighting among yourselves?" Ice interjected, frowning as he looked around the room. "If you're scared of what the White Monarchy can do, I'm not forcing you to join the war. It's people like them that mess up the world."

The atmosphere grew serious as everyone focused on Ice. "We must defeat the White Monarchy because the future of the world depends on it."

"Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders is tough. I hope you don't buckle," Mr. Fonacier's voice suddenly cut through the tension as he entered the room.

Everyone froze, realizing they had forgotten about the upcoming test that determined their status as elite students. This exam was crucial; normal students could ascend to the elite class, while current elites could fall back.

"I won't be your instructor today. Return to your classes," Mr. Fonacier instructed calmly.

"Where are you going, Mr. Fonacier?" Brizon asked, curious about his sudden departure.

"I have something important to attend to," Mr. Fonacier replied cryptically, his gaze lingering meaningfully on Sky, who noticed but chose to ignore it. He had a nagging feeling that it had something to do with what he'd witnessed the day before-Mr. Fonacier and Hyra together on the rooftop.

---

"Are you sure you're coming?" Venom asked, loading a bullet into his gun. They were preparing to join the ongoing war.

"I'm bored to death here. I might as well come with you," Demon replied nonchalantly, pulling her hood up and checking herself in the mirror. "Besides, it's been too long since I've seen a sea of blood."

"If you come, you can't go overboard. Just observe," Viper cautioned, adjusting his mask.

"That's lame," Demon retorted.

"Then don't come. Only me, Venom, and Zeus will g-"

"Stop!" Demon cut Viper off, covering his mouth with her hand. "Alright, alright, I'll behave."

Zeus drove them to the underground area where the battle raged on.

---

"I didn't expect it to be this intense. It's worse than I imagined," Venom commented, shock evident in his voice as he watched the battle unfold.

They stood atop a cliff, overlooking the fierce combat below. It was a clash between the underlings of the White Monarchy and various mafia organizations vying for control of Demon's territory.

"Demon's territory is at the heart of the underground, surrounded by the domains of the four rulers. It's larger than theirs, so many want to claim it, using Ice's declaration of war as a pretext to attack," Viper explained, his gaze scanning the chaotic battlefield.

"Are you sure, Viper? Shouldn't we send backup to the first unit?" Venom asked worriedly, noting the many wounded and unconscious underlings among their ranks.

"If Lieutenant Dan said they don't need it, then we trust his judgment. They didn't become underlings of the White Monarchy for nothing," Viper replied casually, yawning before turning to Demon, who wore a sinister smile.

"Do you see them?" Viper asked, gesturing towards the opponents below. "Those are the people who want you dead. Are you excited now that you see them?"

"It's making my blood boil," Demon's eyes began to glow with a murderous gleam. "Zeus, Venom, fetch me their blood."

With swift nods, Zeus and Venom darted off to fulfill Demon's chilling request.

Atop the cliff, Viper and Demon watched the battle unfold with eerie anticipation, their expressions a stark contrast to the violence below.

---

"Wow, my body just obeyed her automatically," Venom rolled his eyes. He hadn't planned on getting dirty, but with just one command from Demon, his body seemed to have a life of its own, plunging him into the midst of battle.

"What's this? Why is Venom here?" The enemy's eyes widened in surprise, and they began to scatter at the sight of him. None of them had expected a member of the White Monarchy to appear on the first day of war.

"Why the heck are you running from me?" Venom raised his fist, delivering a powerful blow that sent an underling flying four meters away. "Damn it, don't run! I'll get tired chasing after you!" Venom yelled in frustration.

"15 minutes," Demon's voice cut through the chaos.

"Isn't that too short?" Viper questioned.

"They want this battle over in 15 minutes, or I might get bored," Demon replied casually.

"You're hilarious," Viper chuckled, struggling to contain his laughter. "Hey, you two, you've got 15 minutes to wrap this up."

"What? They're too impatient," Zeus growled.

One of the enemy underlings attempted to attack Zeus from behind, but with a blink, Zeus vanished from sight. Panic spread across the underling's face as he looked around frantically.

"Looking for me?" a teasing voice whispered from behind the underling.

"How did you get there without me seeing?" the underling stammered in shock.

Zeus frowned. "Isn't it obvious?" He drew his kunai. "Because I'm stronger than all of you."

In a blur of motion, Zeus dispatched the underling swiftly.

*Swish.*

The enemy's head rolled to Zeus's feet.

"How dare you question how I did that? You insult me," Zeus growled, stomping on the head before kicking it away. He glanced at his watch, clicking his tongue at the ten-minute mark. Brushing his hair back, he grinned. "After this, I'm going to soak in warm water." With that, he resumed his attack.

---

"Run! Run for your lives!" Venom's voice boomed across the battlefield.

Fear filled the eyes of the enemies surrounding him. He was on a rampage, cutting down anyone who dared to cross his path.

"Run! Don't let him near you!" The enemies scattered in terror.

"Am I that scary?" Venom wondered aloud, glancing back at where Demon and Viper stood. He shook his head. "Guess I picked that up from them."

Venom closed his eyes briefly, and the enemies took advantage, launching a coordinated attack on him.

Venom grinned, grabbing two enemies by their heads and slamming them together with brutal force.

Their skulls cracked open, brains spilling out onto the ground.

"What the hell, that wasn't even that strong," Venom muttered.

"Five minutes left," Viper reminded them.

Venom glanced over at Zeus, impressed to see his ally was almost finished. Turning his attention back to his surroundings, he frowned. He had more enemies to deal with compared to Zeus.

He scratched his head in annoyance. "Time to get serious."

Snatching up the enemies' swords, Venom twirled them expertly and charged into battle. He ran and slashed tirelessly, his blades dancing through the air.

"Time's up!" Viper's voice rang out.

Venom and Zeus halted simultaneously, surveying the aftermath. Both twitched their lips in grim satisfaction at the sight of lifeless bodies strewn across the battlefield.

"Hang their heads on the borders where the enemy can see. Today's battle is over," Viper instructed.

"But don't get too sad. We've still got three more years of this," Demon added cheerfully, clearly enjoying the ongoing conflict. She had anticipated this war would last for three years.

"All this blood is starting to irritate me," Venom hissed.

He and Zeus collapsed from exhaustion, their bodies soaked in blood yet devoid of any wounds.

"My lord, you didn't have to go that far, but thank you. You made everything much easier," Lieutenant Dan said respectfully, bowing before Viper.

"Don't mention it. We're only here because of Demon's orders," Viper replied casually.

"Then we should express our gratitude-" Lieutenant Dan began, only to be cut off by Demon's voice.

"Lieutenant Dan, quit acting like you're in a historical drama. Zeus is enough for me," Demon remarked dryly. She disliked when Lieutenant Dan was overly formal.

"Anyway, today's battle was a success, but we don't know when they'll strike again. Tighten up security in the surrounding areas," Viper ordered.

"That will be done," Lieutenant Dan nodded, acknowledging Demon's command with respect.

---

"What the hell is this? The four members of the White Monarchy showed up on the first day of war and defeated hundreds of underlings?" Ice's hand trembled as he listened to the news delivered by a subordinate. He wasn't scared; he was furious.

"Only Zeus and Venom fought while Demon and Viper watched," the subordinate added, further infuriating Ice.

"They fight dirty," Joshua spat angrily.

"No, they did what was necessary. After all, we're at war," Ice replied, reigning in his anger. Losing his temper now could lead to rash decisions.

"What's your plan? Only half of the first unit survived, and the second unit is scared stiff after what happened," Nathan observed, scanning the horizon.

"I won't use Vixen's underlings. We're not the only ones who hate Demon," Ice stated firmly.

"So, you're saying you'll use someone else's underlings who also have a score to settle with Demon?"

"What's wrong with that? We can't fight this alone when there are others who share our grievances," Ice muttered, closing his eyes in contemplation.

ZEKE'S POV

Master doesn't usually think like this; he's just exhausted from all the bullshit. He and Hyra don't hang out often anymore because of Claire. What if I bring Hyra to Master? Will it restore his vitality? I remember him saying that every time he saw Hyra, he felt lighter, as if he could shed his burdens.

He has a corny side.

"What are you thinking?" Airam appeared behind me, startling me.

"I'm just thinking about how to get Claire away from Master," I replied.

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Isn't opposing the White Monarchy enough for you?" Krystal joined in, with Megumi by her side. "Her family has made significant contributions to this war," Krystal added, casting a disdainful glance at me. What the fuck!

"Krystal's right. Unlike Hyra, we can't just cast aside Claire," Lorraine interjected. "She's powerful, whereas Hyra... we're the only ones who know of her existence."

THIRD PERSON'S POV

*BZZZZZT* *BZZZZZT*

Everyone turned to the buzzing TV screen.

"Looks like someone's trying to breach our system," Stanley stood up to fix it, but then the lights went out, leaving only the computer screen glowing dimly. "What the heck? Did he do this?" Stanley cursed under his breath.

The computer screen flickered, finally resolving into a blurry image after five minutes.

"Hi!" Viper's smirking face appeared, seated in a chair, half-naked, with only his eyes covered.

"I had a tough time hacking into your system. Well done, Stanley. You've been trained well," Viper's voice was disguised to hide his identity as Conan Takashi. "How's your day, Thirteen Masks? Are you all present today?"

"Fuck you, Viper, and fuck Demon too!" Ice couldn't contain himself.

"Did someone mention my name?" From the darkness emerged Demon's figure, similarly partially clad. She took a seat across from Viper, her demon tattoo visible on her back to the watching masks.

"Did they just finish...?" Jarvis's eyes widened, trailing off.

"Shit!" Sky cursed under his breath, though no one could hear him.

"Who's the man with H-Demon?" Jared whispered to himself.

"Did you enjoy my gift?" Viper covered Demon's back. "I put my heart into it."

"What gift is he talking about?" Ice turned to the other masks, who shrugged in confusion.

"King, the Elder didn't inform you, but a truck arrived named after the White Monarchy," an underling spoke up.

"What's inside the truck?"

"Heads of the underlings who died in the war."

Shock and silence gripped everyone.

"You coward!" Ice's voice shook with anger, veins standing out on his forehead.

"Coward?" Viper chuckled. "That's rich coming from you. You call me a coward for fighting face-to-face? Where were you when I was beheading your underlings?"

"SHUT UP!" Ice erupted. "I will kill you. You and Demon will pay for what you've done. I swear it!" Ice's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Viper, on the other hand, grinned and leaned closer to the computer screen.

"Kill me? How will you do that when you're so weak? Stop daydreaming. Give me a real fight, not just empty threats."

"Why the fuck are you doing this? What's your goal? What are you hoping to achieve?" Ice's legs trembled; Nathan steadied him from behind to prevent him from falling.

"My goal? I want to create the ideal world that I envision!"

"What? You're killing people in the name of your ideal world?"

"From what I see, your physical strength isn't the only thing weak about you; your mind is weak too. You're an idiot."

"No, Viper, you're the idiot here. Do you think you can change the world according to your ideal? You're not God; you're just-"

"I'm not God, but I am a member of the White Monarchy, and nothing is impossible for us," Viper rested Demon's head on his shoulder, aware she was listening. He grinned back at the screen. "Tell me, District Leader, why do you hold such a grudge against Demon?"

Everyone signaled Ice not to answer, but he ignored them.

"I hate her. I want her to die a painful death. She killed my mother, Sophie. Because of her, my sister grew up without a mother. Every day, my father was in agony, and because of her, I became a mask. I took on a duty too heavy to bear, all for revenge. I didn't want this life. I didn't want to fight in this war. I didn't want to see more people die. All I wanted was a peaceful life. But as long as Demon lives, I'll never have that."

Silence hung heavy as Ice's words settled in. No one expected him to reveal so much.

"There's a woman who means everything to me. I'm willing to give up my dream of peace for her. And to do that, I have to kill Demon."

"You'd do all that for her?" Viper asked in amazement. "What if the woman you love and the woman you hate are-"

*TOOOOOOOT*

"Connection lost," Carl reported.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. But mentioning Hyra was a mistake. What if they target your weakness?" Nathan's tone was icy as he left the room. He acted indifferent to Hyra, but his concern for her ran deep, enough to drive him mad if anything happened to her.

"AAHHHHHHH! Get out, all of you!" Ice's anger erupted. His emotions were a tangled mess, and he didn't know how to untangle them.

But what surprised him most was why he had answered Viper's questions in the first place.

---

"Did you do that on purpose?" Demon squeezed Viper's neck playfully.

"Pffft, why? Are you hurt? Want me to back out of the fight?" Viper brushed off Demon's hand, which was playfully gripping his neck. "Now that you know the truth-that Ice is the son of the woman who helped you-I'm giving you a chance to decide how we proceed."

He walked to the door and opened it. Zeus bowed respectfully as he entered.

"Escort her out," Viper commanded.

Zeus bowed again, approaching Demon. He helped her fix her attire before escorting her out of the room.

---

"I heard what happened. Why did you do that?" A man in his forties questioned Viper.

"I wanted her to make a decision sooner. Delaying it would only lead to more casualties."

"But you could lose her," the man noted, observing Viper's flinch before shaking his head. "You know my girl; she doesn't back down easily."

"I know."

"But if she doesn't choose you, I'll find a way to make her."

"Why? You don't have to. Whether she chooses me or not, I'll stand by her as an ally and accomplice," Viper replied, shaking his head.

"Is that enough?"

"Yes. As long as I can be by her side."

"I didn't think you had a sentimental side. I thought you were just cool."

"Please, don't tell her," Viper smiled sheepishly.

The man rose, poured some wine, and handed it to Viper.

"Let's toast to our first victory against the Vixen."

---

"You know about it too?" Zeus paused in brushing Demon's hair to answer her question.

"We found out recently. Viper didn't intend to keep it from you-"

"That bastard. He just wanted to see my reaction!"

"Do you think that's all he wanted?"

"I know him. He did it for me. He was worried I'd get hurt in the end. Who does he think I am? Ugh!"

"You really understand him."

"Of course. I created him based on my ideals."

"Your ideals are terrifying." Zeus sighed, continuing to comb Demon's hair. "So what are your plans regarding Shawn?"

"Shawn? If he's Sophie's son, I can't touch him, as I promised Sophie when she was alive," Demon mused. "Hmm... What should I do?"

"Like Viper said, we could stop-"

"I want to sleep. Turn off the light when you leave," Demon climbed into bed, motioning for Zeus to depart. Once she was sure he was gone, she sat up and turned the light back on. "How did I make such a mistake? I'm supposed to be flawless, but why didn't I check on Maniego?" She covered her mouth in frustration. "If Maniego is Sophie's son, how can I kill him when I promised his mother I'd stay away from her son? Ugh, this is more frustrating than a math problem!"

She lay down again, then sat back up, repeating this several times until someone opened the door.

"Zeus, I said I was going to-"

"Should I leave?" Conan interrupted.

"No! Come in."

Conan stepped inside and buried his face in Hyra's stomach.

"Are you drunk?"

"A little. Your old man got me drinking."

"That old drunkard," Hyra teased, cupping both of Conan's cheeks and bringing his face close to hers. "Do you want coffee or soup?"

"Comfort."

Hyra's face lit up, a silly smile spread across her lips.

"Do you feel guilty for what you did earlier, coming to me now and asking for comfort?" Hyra teased.

"I shouldn't have done that. I... I just felt jealous," Conan admitted.

Hyra gasped dramatically. She knew that when Conan was drunk, his words were often unfiltered truths.

"Why are you jealous?" Hyra asked, trying to stifle her laughter.

"I'm worried you might choose him over me," Conan confessed sheepishly.

Hyra burst out laughing uncontrollably. "Hahaha! What a silly reason!"

"We've been through so much together. We rebuilt the underground, became allies, and partners in crime. But what if you fall for..." Conan trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

Hyra silenced him with a kiss.

"Do you know how expensive divorce is? I won't waste my money," she joked.

Conan grinned at Hyra's words, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Now, before I forget, let's comfort each other until morning," Conan whispered.

Hyra opened her arms, lying back on the bed with Conan atop her.

"Where should we start?" Conan asked playfully.

"Same as always. Start from the bottom and work your way up," Hyra replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Conan nodded, beginning to kiss and caress Hyra gently. She sighed contentedly, running her fingers through his hair. Their kisses deepened, filled with longing and tenderness.

"Hey, want to give some attention to this lonely girl?" Hyra teased, guiding Conan's hand to her chest.

Blushing furiously, Conan nodded eagerly. "It would be my pleasure."

They spent the night together, finding solace and comfort in each other's embrace, their love deepening with each touch and whispered promise.

ICE'S POV

I still can't figure out why I answered all of Viper's questions earlier. It's like I wanted someone to hear what I said.

Now that I think about it, a shiver runs down my spine. That was cheesy. Good thing Hyra wasn't there to hear it.

*Knock! Knock!*

I checked the clock. It was past 3:00 AM. Who would knock at this hour?

I got up and opened the door.

"Hi!"

"Claire? What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised.

"I gathered some information about the White Monarchy. It might help," she said.

"You didn't have to do that."

"But I wanted to."

She's stubborn.

"Alright, tell me the information you gathered." I sat down next to her and looked at the papers she brought.

"I learned that aside from Demon and Viper, the others in the White Monarchy are called executors. They follow Demon's orders at any cost."

"Executors?"

"Yeah, they do most of the work."

"How can they operate with so few members?"

"Few members? They have thousands," Claire said confidently. I already knew this, but I let her continue. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and she wasn't annoying me at the moment. "But do you know what's surprising? She's only 16 years old like us."

I looked at her, intrigued. Where did she get this information?

"You didn't know? She was 8 years old when she ruled the underground, using someone to pretend to be her. She was surrounded by powerful people, so she was able to do that."

"Where did you get this information?" I asked curiously. I vaguely remembered stories about a girl always carried on Demon's back. Could that girl really be Demon?

"My dad witnessed everything," Claire answered.

"What is Demon's deep reason? Why does she want to get the masks?"

"Isn't it obvious? To lead the country, of course. If she could control a person at 8 years old, imagine what she can do now." This information was giving me a headache. "Are you okay? You look pale."

How the hell did they do it?

"The people behind Demon and those helping her, I'm sure they're not normal either."

"Thanks for the info, Claire. Now go to sleep." I ruffled her hair gently, but she ran out of my room screaming.

Women are weird.

---

Conan Takashi (Viper)

Hyra Demonise Fukushima (Demon)

Cristopher Salvador (Venom)

Zeus

Ripple