The Author's POV

*Sigh*

Sighing out loud, I couldn't help but glance at the Matriarch, no, Angelica from the side.

It's been a bit of a rough week for me.

...Under the influence of Monarch's indifference, it seems like I 'enslaved' her and forcefully brought her here.

Fortunately, I wasn't in any danger as any time she would try to attack me all I had to do was channel the mana inside of my body, towards where the demon core I swallowed was located, and she would be subjected to immeasurable pain stopping her from whatever she wanted to do.

Like this, Angelica was pretty much under my control.

...However, even if she was under my control that didn't mean she would do anything I asked of her.

After all, although I could dictate her life and death with a simple thought, that was of no use for me.

How could I use a pawn that refused to move?

Such pawn wasn't something that I needed nor wanted...

There was no point in me keeping her if she refused to listen to my orders...I didn't need such liability to stick with me...especially not when considering how dangerous of a person she was.

"Huuu..."

Leaning back on my chair as I exhaled, I started thinking of a way to fix this problem.

Although I hate to say it...taking her in was in fact the right decision. Considering her strength, she was probably the strongest person among us in the mercenary group...and by quite a large margin at that.

Moreover, she could still grow stronger...especially since I knew of a couple of things that could benefit her growth.

Glancing at the Matriach who was coldly sitting not so far from where I was, massaging my chin, my mind raced.

Since I already swallowed her core she was definitely somewhat under my control...the problem was how do I get her to willingly follow my orders without betraying me?

Although the demons seemed united, in reality, they weren't. If not for the demon king keeping them in check with his overwhelming power, all hell would've broken loose among their ranks...and I could use this fact to my advantage

...the fact that her loyalty towards their own race wasn't very strong.

Thinking thus far, I glanced towards Smallsnake and Leopold who were both looking at me. Thereafter, nodding slightly towards them, I said

"Smallsnake, Leopold, can you guys give us a minute?"

Staring at me for a couple of seconds, Smallsnake's head alternated between me and Angelica a couple of times before he eventually nodded his head.

"Alright..."

Standing up from his seat, and tossing the cigarette in his hand towards the trash can, Leopold lightly waved his hand as he followed Smallsnake out of the room.

"Take your time, boss"

-Clank

Shortly after they left, as the doors to the room closed, silence enveloped the room. Breaking the silence, I looked at the Matriarch and lightly said

"...so, still not speaking"

Crossing my legs, I stared at the Matriarch who was quietly sitting in her chair. Ever since I brought her here she didn't speak a single word. She neither complained nor lashed out.

of telling me that she won't do anything I

Staring at Angelica who was coldly looking back at me, seemingly wanting to devour me

you want your

"..."

Frowning Angelica didn't respond.

would believe anything that came from my mouth. In her head, I was a vile worm that only won due to some

a trap devised to trick her into doing something that she didn't want to do...fool me once shame on you, fool me twice

to hold herself

her unresponsiveness, I once again

rephrase, do you want your core

"..."

Unbothered by this as I lazily leaned on my chair I continued speaking knowing that

of a task for me...it's just that it really

looking at Angelica straight in her eyes, I smiled

to return you the core, what can you offer

at me for a couple of seconds, after

"...what do you want"

couldn't help but lightly chuckle as I

you can speak. Mh, doesn't this situation seem a bit ironic?

off, Angelica's cold voice echoed across

"Get to the point!"

straight. Staring at the Matriarch in the

to what I have to say...I will offer you a deal, and you will

turned serious as I coldly looked at her as

I'm keeping you alive means that I won't kill you in the future...after all, what use does a chess piece that doesn't function have for me? Me offering you a deal is your last chance at keeping your life...if you choose to

I smiled and my usual lazy

serious stuff has been said...tell me. What are

as I

"...Money, Information, Wome-"

my hand forward, I stopped her

said that. I

perked as she

"...what do you want?"

pointed towards

"You"

stood up and glared

"You filthy bastard!"

down, I

my hands up, I lightly laughed after seeing her reaction. If not for the

glaring at

if I die,

shook my head. Thereafter, raising my

"Five"

her brow as she tilted her head to

"Five what?"

of my hand, I looked towards Angelica in the eyes

you to work for me for five

spent a lot of time thinking about how to solve the issue revolving

That's how long I was planning on keeping

she will work for me as

course, that wasn't the true end goal. The hope was that in those five years that

was possible. Moreover, even if in those five years she eventually

taken from her once, getting her old position back was no longer