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.

was her way of telling me that

Staring at

want

"..."

Frowning Angelica didn't respond.

my mouth. In her head, I was

every word that I spoke was merely 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 shame on

from her seat, Angelica tried her best to hold herself back from lunging

her unresponsiveness, I once

rephrase, do you want your

"..."

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

of a task for me...it's just that it really wouldn't be profitable

Angelica straight in her eyes, I smiled and

were to return you the core,

at me for a couple of seconds,

"...what do you want"

speak, I couldn't help

speak. Mh, doesn't this situation seem a bit ironic? I remember you calling me

cold voice

"Get to the point!"

at the Matriarch in the eyes I

say...I will offer you a deal, and

demenour turned serious as I coldly looked at her as a white

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 refuse,

of seconds, after a while, I smiled and my usual lazy and cheerful demenour came back. Clapping

has been said...tell me. What are you willing to offer me in exchange for

as soon as I finished speaking, Angelica

"...Money, Information, Wome-"

my hand forward, I stopped her

was lying when I said that. I already know what

looking at me, Angelica's ears perked as she leaned

"...what do you want?"

pointed

"You"

wide, Angelica stood

"You filthy bastard!"

down, I was just joking,

laughed after seeing her reaction. If not for the fact that a white hue was revolving

at me, Angelica

that, even if I

my brow, I shook my head. Thereafter, raising my left hand, I opened my

"Five"

down, Angelica raised her brow as she tilted her head to the

"Five what?"

palm of my hand, I looked towards Angelica

want you to

lot of time thinking about how to solve the issue

long I was planning

will work for me as a member of the

The hope was that in those five years that she stayed with us she would become loyal

I showed her enough benefits, I was sure that such task was possible. Moreover, even if in those five years she eventually left,

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