He's playing the long game!

He Was Playing a Much Bigger Game! The next morning.

After freshening up, Leon bid farewell to Jeffrey Priest and the children at the temple, then set off back to Demon Lord Academy, finally arriving at the school gates just before lunchtime.

Unlike usual.

Today, the castle-like gates were packed with elegantly decorated dragon carriages. Even the lowliest of them was pulled by a Gold-rank wyvern.

After the graduation ceremony, third- and fourth-year students had no more classes. They did not need to prepare for final or graduation exams either, and their once-busy campus lives suddenly became leisurely.

The young masters and ladies who had come here for the prestige were not about to remain in their dormitories. Before setting out into the world, they had to return to their family estates and enjoy one last summer vacation.

As for those whose family connections were not strong enough and who were unfortunately assigned to the front lines, they had basically reported to the Department of War yesterday.

Their service time began the moment they reported in. The earlier they started, the sooner they could pull strings to get transferred to the rear. If they were lucky, they might not have to go to the battlefield at all.

Relying on their masters' authority, the five- or six-meter-long wyverns sprawled on the ground and looked down on everything around them, as though they were true dragons.

Among those beasts pulling carriages, Leon even caught sight of several Hell Pegasus, so rare he had only seen them in textbooks! Even in hell, these things counted as "strategic resources."

Anyone who could use Hell Pegasus to pull a carriage had to be at least an Earl, right?

Leon politely expressed a bit of envy, but to his surprise, a familiar face poked out from one of the carriages.

Beneath that pink bob, a pair of heart-shaped pupils gazed at him with a half-smile.

Mia?! Remembering the unpleasant incident at the graduation ceremony, Leon quickly looked away. Yet he had not expected her to jump down from the carriage and head straight for him.

"Senior Leon, long time no see."

"Cut it out. We're in the same class."

"Huh? But Ige calls you that. Can't I?" Mia looked at him shyly, though the restless flicker in her eyes was undoubtedly fake.

Just as expected.

Seeing that Leon remained unmoved, Mia immediately revealed her demonic nature. Her previously bashful gaze gradually narrowed into something sinister.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're obviously a human, yet you dared to brazenly question this young lady's faith. I never noticed before, but you've got some nerve."

That was true.

As a protected species, humans had no standing to say such things to a High-level Demon.

Still, for her to only realize it today—her reaction time was certainly long enough.

When Leon said nothing, she circled to his side and dangerously leaned closer, her nose nearly reaching him as though she were inspecting prey.

"Hey, I'm asking you. Where did you go last night?"

He really did not want to provoke this troublesome girl.

Leon sighed and said seriously, "Respected High-level Demon Miss Mia, may I ask what this has to do with you?"

"Nothing much. This young lady was simply disappointed to come up empty-handed. I thought you'd tucked your tail between your legs and run away. Hehehe."

Mia smirked maliciously, but Leon frowned.

"You went into my room?"

"How could I? This young lady is a law-abiding good demon. No matter what, I wouldn't do something illegal—" Mia chuckled, but halfway through her sentence, she suddenly noticed Leon's expression and narrowed her eyes slightly. "What? Is there something shameful in your room?"

Just as Leon was about to brush her off, a soft cough came from nearby and rescued him.

"Miss, it is time for us to depart."

A middle-aged man walked over to them and bowed slightly as he spoke in a humble yet unquestionable tone.

The man wore an obviously expensive formal suit. He was presumably a servant or a steward of some sort.

However, Leon could tell that this man was no ordinary demon. His strength was at least Gold-rank! He might even be Platinum-rank, or perhaps Diamond-rank...

Mia seemed quite wary of him. Even though he had interrupted her mid-conversation, she merely gave an unhappy snort, tossed out a "Just you wait," and returned to the carriage.

The middle-aged man who looked like a steward bowed, then followed behind his young lady. Yet his gaze casually swept over Leon.

Leon did not know if it was an illusion.

But from that seemingly casual glance, he sensed a faint trace of wariness.

Um...

Wariness?

Must have been an illusion.

The West Tower cafeteria was as packed as ever today.

The exchange students from the Goblin Tribe Kingdom still buried themselves in their meals, eating with gusto as though they were competing with the Ogre Tribe Chieftain's son.

The wing-fluttering Little Devils ignored the Centaur Chef's furious scolding, carrying their trays as they darted wildly through the air like bombers.

Thinking that this life would soon come to an end, Leon unexpectedly felt a little reluctant to let it go.

He forked a piece of perfectly seared and perfectly cut Charcoal Grilled Minotaur Ribeye into his mouth. After wiping his mouth, Leon stood and returned his tray to the food cart pushed by the goblin worker.

Just as he was about to leave, a rude roar came from the entrance to the dining hall.

"Who's Leon? Is Leon here?"

Standing at the entrance was the Boar-man Dorm Manager. Behind him seemed to be a Little Devil... though not the kind flying around the dining hall, but one dressed in formal attire.

Leon immediately raised a hand.

"I'm Leon. What can I do for you—"

"Your appointment letter's here! I knew if you weren't in the dorm, you'd be here!" Striding up to him, the Boar-man Dorm Manager snorted before introducing the figure beside him. "This is Mr. Grien, an important person from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Demon Lord Management Division!"

"I wouldn't dare call myself important. I am merely a servant helping the Demon God shoulder the burdens of official affairs," Grien said with a polite smile, then extended his right hand toward Leon. "You're Leon, correct? Come to think of it, I'm your senior."

"Greetings, Senior!" Leon gave him a salute.

Building connections was never that easy, but there was no harm in being a little sweet-tongued.

Noticing the commotion at the dining hall entrance, quite a few students eating nearby cast curious looks their way.

They had all heard bits and pieces of the news. Supposedly, a third-year student had volunteered to become a Demon Lord and had even secured the headmaster's recommendation. The moment he became a Demon Lord, he had been assigned to take over a troublesome Flame Crystal.

Everyone was waiting to see this arrogant fellow make a fool of himself.

Rumor had it that someone had even opened a betting pool in private, wagering on how many days he would survive in office.

Almost no one thought highly of this young Demon Lord.

Even among the cabinet members who had ultimately approved it, many regarded it only as yet another failed attempt by the Conservative Forces.

That was what Grien thought as well.

Still, though he did not think much of Leon, he was interested in this junior personally recommended by Headmaster Aiven.

Thus, as the deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Demon Lord Management Division, he had volunteered to deliver this appointment letter himself. Normally, such trivial errands would have been left to the department's gofers.

To be honest.

At first sight of Leon, he had been very disappointed, and no matter how many more times he looked, that feeling remained unchanged.

No matter how he looked at him, this fellow was just an ordinary necromancer... and only at Bronze rank, at that.

Or could it be...

Was there something else going on? Keeping his disappointment off his face, Grien wore a proper smile and spoke in a cheerful voice.

"Junior, you're truly young and promising. When I first graduated, I spent years muddling along as a clerk in the Resource Management Section of the Production Division, Logistics Department. As for Demon Lords, they were figures that poor students like us could only look up to. We wouldn't even dare dream of becoming one."

Seven parts of those words were pleasantries, two parts flattery, and the remaining part a probe.

Leon could naturally hear it, but he had no interest in exposing it. He merely smiled modestly.

"You flatter me, Senior. I am a man of limited talent and shallow learning; being entrusted with such an important duty is truly a stroke of luck. Thanks to the kindness of my elders, I will work hard not to disappoint you all."

Grien gave Leon two more surprised looks.

A stroke of luck, huh.

He had thought this fellow would call it bad luck.

It seemed this poor junior had no idea what things were like over there—

No.

Even if this fellow knew nothing, Headmaster Aiven, whose students were everywhere, could not possibly be equally ignorant, could he?

His gaze, three parts pity, gained another part suspicion. Grien suddenly realized that he could not see through this junior before him at all.

Should he make an investment?

Or should he wait and see...

Unable to make up his mind, Grien decided to observe for the time being. In any case, they would have plenty of dealings in the future.

"Haha, no need to be so stiff... Say, this place is still as lively as ever. It really brings back memories."

Watching the meal trays and Little Devil juniors whiz through the air overhead, Grien calmly stepped aside to avoid one screaming figure that came barreling toward him. His smile unchanged, he continued speaking to Leon.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's speak somewhere else."

"Alright."

Leon had finished eating anyway, so he followed his demon senior to the lounge below the dining hall and found a quiet corner to sit down.

Senior Grien softly chanted an incantation and drew a line through the air with his index finger. A letter bearing a red official seal emerged from a rift and dropped onto the table.

As expected, this was his appointment letter.

Leon reached out and took it. As his finger brushed the fierce-looking Demon God emblem, he could faintly feel the residual warmth on the sealing wax.

The appointment letter had probably been sent over the moment it was finished.

"Let's get down to business," Grien said, turning serious as he watched Leon open the envelope. "Your appointment letter has been delivered. Since the core of the Demon Lord Territory at your destination has been destroyed, the Teleportation Array deployed in the labyrinth could go out at any time. The Ministry of Internal Affairs hopes you can set out as soon as possible, before the Teleportation Array disappears completely."

"Understood." Leon nodded, then asked, "What about my troops? Will we rendezvous over there, or depart together—"

"Unfortunately, there's no such thing."

Grien shook his head.

Watching his senior's actions, Leon froze on the spot.

"There isn't..."

"This is precisely the key point I was about to explain. In fact... because Mr. Reggie Dragon messed things up, we have already lost that Demon Lord Territory deep within the human faction's rear," Grien said, looking at Leon gravely. "If we suddenly deployed a force there now, what do you think would happen?"

Naturally, they would deploy a force there.

However, Leon could tell that wasn't what he meant. After pondering for a long while, he said, "You mean... the Ryan Kingdom would send forces of equivalent strength?"

"Precisely."

Grien nodded approvingly and continued.

"The Teleportation Array's deployment capacity has limits, after all—especially now that we have lost the Demon Lord Territory over there. No matter how many troops we prepare on this side, as long as the other side adds one more straw beyond our limit, they will have an overwhelming advantage over our reinforcements."

That was indeed true.

This wasn't a Paradox game, where they could engage in Tactical Base Trading or sneak across the sea in bathtubs.

Leon nodded in understanding, only to see Grien abruptly change the subject.

"So, we came up with a bold strategy. Since sending more people over would only be sending them to their deaths, then—"

"Then you might as well just send me alone, right?!" Leon's eyes widened.

"Ahem, that is certainly not what we mean... It's simply that we need to be more careful about the timing of sending reinforcements."

Seeing his junior on the verge of coughing up blood, Grien's gaze shifted evasively. He seemed rather embarrassed as well, and unconsciously sped up his speech.

"Furthermore, aside from strategic considerations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has also raised the opinion that perhaps we should simply abandon that enclave. In fact, if the cabinet had not intervened, we would already have planned to give it up. We only decided to give it another try out of consideration for a certain important person... You know as well that Demon Lord Territory Cores are precious strategic resources. Using them to consolidate territory near the front lines is far more valuable than wasting them on an enclave."

That was indeed the truth.

Most of Hell's Demon Lord Territories were distributed along the very front line of the war between Hell's faction and the surface factions. Only those places could steadily produce the resources Hell needed and transport them back underground...

Watching Leon sit in silence with his fingers interlaced, Grien continued.

"In short, that is the general situation. It will be difficult for us to provide you with effective support in the early stages... But don't lose heart. Although Duke Dragon has messed up many things, his subordinates should still be nearby. You can try to win them over. At the very least, they can help draw some fire for you."

"Also, considering your special circumstances, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not assign you any specific duties. You have a great deal of autonomy in making decisions, and unlike other Demon Lords, you will not need to regularly harass our enemies. All you need to do is focus on developing your territory and accumulating strength..."

That was the same thing Headmaster Aiven had said.

If he did not have to regularly go out causing trouble or pay tribute in Faith Crystals, then being a Demon Lord should be relatively easy.

Probably.

Thinking that whether he stuck his head out or pulled it back, the blade would fall either way, Leon decided it would be better to take the initiative.

"When does the organization... need me to leave?"

Grien's reaction once again caught Leon by surprise.

Rather than giving him a specific date, he rolled up his sleeve and glanced at his watch.

"The Teleportation Array should already be ready. The dragon carriage sent to pick you up is at the academy gate. I'll be waiting for you there shortly..."

"In any case, the sooner, the better."

"For both you and us."

The main tower of Demon Lord Academy was, as always, surrounded by bats today.

Just as Leon was still staring blankly, the old lich standing by the Headmaster's Office window narrowed his eyes and gazed smugly through the frost-covered glass at the western tower.

As though he were looking at a little sapling he had planted and raised with his own hands.

Vice-Headmaster Dorin Weber stood behind him, a faint trace of worry written across her ageless, frost-like face.

Thanks to that.

It was as cold here as if the air conditioning were on.

"I do not think this is a good thing, Mr. Aiven Kruger... No matter how one looks at it, your trial is far too burdensome for a student who is only Bronze-level."

She had only recently heard about Leon.

Although she was pleased that Demon Lord Academy had finally produced a true Demon Lord, that child was merely a Bronze-level necromancer.

He was far too weak.

He was not even as intimidating as her familiar.

Hearing the Vice-Headmaster's concerns, Headmaster Aiven merely smiled faintly, wearing the expression of an old schemer as he said, "Do you truly think he only possesses Bronze-level strength?"

"Is there... any doubt about that?" Dorin stared at the old lich in astonishment, unable to help wondering whether he had developed senile dementia.

Methods of concealing one's strength did exist, but it was rather difficult to hide it from the eyes of a Demigod-level lich.

And besides...

What would be the point of doing that?

This was a school, not a filthy political arena.

"The question isn't his strength itself, but his ambition. I find it hard to believe that someone aspiring to become a Demon Lord is truly nothing more than a Bronze-level necromancer. I'd rather believe that he's hiding secrets we don't yet understand."

At this point, Aiven paused before continuing slowly.

"Actually... I noticed that young man a long time ago. You know, I'm well acquainted with quite a few people in the cabinet, especially Caesar Colin... I taught him."

As everyone knew, Demon Lord Academy was a place where High-level Demons came to polish their credentials, producing every kind of rare genius Hell lacked... except Demon Lords.

"Caesar Colin? The Minister of Military Affairs?" Doreen looked at him with displeasure. "What does that guy have to do with this?"

Aiven shrugged.

"Don't you think... they look alike? I noticed it on his very first day at the academy. Other than their eyes, they look like they were cast from the same mold."

"Huh?"

Doreen was stunned, her eyes widening as though she had just heard something unbelievable.

"You're saying... that child is Caesar's illegitimate son?!"

"Stop—I never said that!"

Aiven hurriedly cut off her wild speculation and continued in a rush, "I meant Caesar's son! Roxsey Colin! Have you forgotten? That student from the Class of 00!"

Doreen's gaze turned blank for a moment.

Class of 00? Which 00?

The year 800, 900, or 1000...

She had been a professor here for over three hundred years and vice headmaster for decades. She had seen off far too many graduates; there was no way she could remember every student.

Around here, there was only one guy idle enough to remember such things.

Aiven sighed and continued.

"All right, let's leave this topic here... I really shouldn't pry into a student's private affairs. It's just that Caesar happens to be both my student and an old friend of many years, so I couldn't help paying a little attention. And it turns out the whole thing really is this melodramatic."

"Melodramatic." Doreen stared at him fixedly, as though looking at a troublesome old man who was asking for trouble.

Knowing what she was thinking, Aiven shamelessly continued anyway.

"Yes, melodramatic... In a few years, the Colin Family will appoint a new Patriarch. At that time, Caesar will go to the Colin Family's council of elders, and then his son Roxsey will take over as Patriarch. Correspondingly, the new heir must be selected at the family council."

"What does that have to do with us—"

"I can sense that child's ambition! He longs for his father's recognition, and that's why he applied to Demon Lord Academy! Because only we can help him achieve his dream!"

For some reason, the old lich suddenly became excited, a boiling green flame burning within his pupils.

"He understands! Only by becoming powerful enough and influential enough can he gain the Colin Family's recognition and reclaim the Vampiric First Embrace that was rightfully his... Otherwise, at best, he'll remain a Bronze-level human for the rest of his life!"

Isn't that just your own imagination?

Doreen stared blankly at Headmaster Aiven.

She did not understand why this old thing was so obsessed with such matters—or perhaps once someone became undead, going mad was only a matter of time.

"He's just a child... Aren't you overthinking this?"

"A child? Heh! You'd better not treat him like one. I've never seen a human child who could refuse a Succubus! His father couldn't do it, nor could his father's father—cough, I don't know anything."

Feeling that he had let something slip, Headmaster Aiven hurriedly coughed and stopped gossiping about other people's private affairs.

Peering into and influencing other people's lives was one of the few pleasures that could ease the loneliness of his long unlife.

If, under his influence, a chess piece with limitless potential gained an unprecedented opportunity, he would be so delighted that he would grin from ear to ear for an entire year!

Still, voyeurism was hardly something honorable.

In any case, Leon was the chess piece he thought most highly of at present.

Never before had he been so impatient to see the climax and ending of the story sooner.

"It's normal that you don't believe me, but I can feel it—he's planning something big! He'll surpass everyone's expectations!"

Doreen looked worriedly at the muttering headmaster.

"Even if that's true, is it really all right for us to interfere in the Colin Family's internal affairs? That's the Colin Family..."

One of the six great families that ruled Hell, frequent guests in the Demon God's cabinet...

Compared to such a colossal entity, Demon Lord Academy did not even count as a force. It was merely a place for teaching and educating people.

"Interfere in the Colin Family's affairs?" Aiven laughed and shook his head. "Do you think a lich who has lived for over a thousand years would still be interested in such things? Don't worry, I'm not doing anything presumptuous. I'm merely fulfilling the responsibility of an elder."

The aged lich's smile faded, and his calm expression returned.

"I'm lending him a hand simply because he is my student."

Doreen: "..."

If they had not talked for so long, she might have actually believed him. -(My stockpile got drained dry by the event, so I can only take up the post tomorrow. T.T)