Did Asmodeus need to consider his ties of affection with the various hell lords?
Pah!
Any devil who believed that nonsense could never become a lord of hell.
No—even surviving in Barto Hell as a devil would be a struggle!
If there truly were any affection between the lords of hell, would they have raised their banners in rebellion over a mere fuse like Zariel?
Would Prince Levistus have been frozen atop Stygia's frozen sea for countless tens of thousands of years?
Would Baalzebul, with his extreme pride born of Mount Celestia, have been permanently fixed in that hideous slug-like form?
Would Mephistopheles, fearing retaliation from the Lord of the Nine Hells, have spent so many years using the Baron Molikroth persona to perform a double act?
Would he have let Bael, that two-faced traitor, go unchecked after betraying and imprisoning Zariel for so many years?
And how else could one explain the former lords of the other layers—some dead, some fled?
Everyone knew this Silver Dragon Grand Duke was talking nonsense with his eyes wide open. Could Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells and Barto's wisest, most cunning devil, possibly not know it?
Yet just as the devil guards in the distance thought this Silver Dragon Grand Duke, who had caused such enormous turmoil all the way here, was about to face severe punishment, their "Majesty" instead seemed to genuinely believe him and burst into delighted laughter.
He gave this Grand Duke of Avernus, whom he had personally elevated, a deep look, then sighed in heartfelt gratification and praised him:
"Yes. All these years, it is still you, Tibilus, who understand what I think, what I weigh, what I fear, and what I care about.
"Only you, Tibilus, can soothe the troubles in my heart.
"Since you came in