Chapter 157

Chapter 157
## Chapter 157: What Happened?

“I have no information regarding that matter.”

Berge had already suspected that the moment news leaked about his missing Tower, the remaining Demon Kings would demand an audience.

Because of this, Berge had been deep in thought. What kind of reply could he give?

He needed a justification that sounded plausible enough to satisfy them while keeping his own secrets completely guarded. Gordon, Kaede, Elena, and even the likes of Ravina and Vivian had brainstormed together, yet a flawless excuse remained elusive.

The vanishing of a Tower was an event of massive proportions.

It was a shock to the human world, but for the Demon Kings, it was even more world-shaking.

And Berge had no desire to let his peers in on the truth.

‘Most especially Jason.’

In the early days, his rapport with Jason hadn’t been terrible. They had cooperated on certain fronts, and Jason had even provided him with financial backing.

Even after Jason discovered Berge’s hand in the demise of Drakson and sent a subtle threat, Berge had managed to distract him with the lure of the Alliance-Imperial conflict.

During those dealings, Berge had realized something vital. Jason was orchestrating a massive, long-term scheme, and he possessed an intense drive to see it through to completion.

Furthermore, through his connection with Vivian, Berge had uncovered more pieces of the puzzle.

‘He had the power to either save Vivian or let her perish.’

This implied that Jason held significant leverage over the Hero Guild or perhaps a dominant political force on the continent.

‘The Hero Guild, the Empire, or maybe Akan.’

It was almost certainly one of those three. Currently, only two nations possessed that kind of international weight.

‘It is even possible he plays a role in the elimination of other Demon Kings.’

Publicly, Jason advocated for the preservation of the Towers and the necessity of unity among their kind. However, this suggested he was more than willing to execute any Demon King who disrupted his carefully crafted vision.

Naturally, such ruthless behavior was par for the course for a demon. Yet, the perspective changes drastically when you are the intended target of that ruthlessness.

It made Berge question why the seats of the Demon Kings had remained so stable over the last century, only changing hands in a controlled manner.

Perhaps Jason had been systematically pruning those who refused to follow his lead before they could jeopardize his plans.

Consequently, Berge settled on a single defiant stance.

“My Tower remains exactly where it has always been. If your scouts failed to locate it, it simply means they are incompetent or looking in the wrong territory.”

“Do you honestly expect us to swallow that garbage?”

The towering Titan let out a furious roar.

“I am the one confused by this interrogation. What are you implying? Are you suggesting I somehow made it vanish?”

“We know for a fact that Hillun Kagil saved the princess of the Hilderan Kingdom. You want me to believe the Empire’s elite Hero Party couldn’t find what those others did, despite having the exact same intelligence?!”

“You are speaking nonsense. Why should I be held accountable for the failures of those human idiots?”

“…We are demanding to know what happened to the Tower! Did Hillun Kagil wipe it out?!”

“Isn’t that the outcome you desire? If that’s your theory, then I suppose I’ve been fulfilling your fantasies quite well.”

Ugar fell silent, his jaw tight. If a Tower were to be destroyed while its Demon King was still alive, the resulting spiritual backlash would be enough to mangle one’s physical and ethereal form. Without a steady flow of demonic essence, death was the only certainty.

“So, Lord Berge, you are claiming total ignorance as to the cause?”

Jason, who had been sitting calmly at the head of the table observing the chaos, finally intervened.

“Precisely. I fail to see why I am being treated like a suspect in the first place.”

“My apologies. I can see why you would feel that way. Lord Ugar is simply a bit rattled by these unprecedented events.”

“And you aren’t?”

“I have always placed my confidence in you, Lord Berge. If you give your word, I shall accept it.”

“And how many times have we actually met for you to have such faith?”

“Actually, there is another topic I wish to broach.”

“…?”

“A few months back, the royal daughter and the master smiths of the Berft Kingdom were abducted. Are you familiar with the incident?”

“The whole world knows of it.”

“The Berft Kingdom attributed the crime to a Demon King, specifically naming Lady Vivian as the culprit.”

Berge gave a curt nod. Jason pressed on.

“Shortly thereafter, her Tower was lost, and we are forced to assume Lady Vivian has perished.”

“A pity. But failing once, experiencing defeat, and then repeating the error is simply a testament to Vivian’s own shortcomings.”

“Indeed. Provided that Lady Vivian was truly the one responsible for the kidnappings.”

Jason adjusted the glass over his eye. Reina, who had been a silent observer until now, knit her brows in suspicion.

“Jason Cokemun. What are you hinting at?”

“Prior to her disappearance, Lady Vivian reached out to me. She gave her solemn word that she was not responsible—that she was being framed.”

“Talk is cheap. Anyone can claim innocence.”

“Even if they swear upon the Great Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King?”

“… .”

Reina was struck dumb, unable to find a rebuttal to such a heavy claim.

“Where is this going?”

“The fact that the Dwarf Kingdom sensed demonic energy was not a fabrication.”

“So you’re saying the culprit is one of us, but since it wasn’t Vivian, one person in this room is a liar?”

‘You’re pointing the finger at me.’

“Is my logic flawed?”

“No. I am simply pointing out that it is highly improbable for Lady Vivian to commit perjury under the name of the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard. If she truly was innocent, isn’t her fate a massive injustice? We owe it to her memory to clear her name.”

‘How very convenient for him.’

Berge let out a dry laugh.

“Since when did you become Vivian’s champion?”

“I hold the well-being of all our kind in my heart.”

“Vivian reached out to me as well. She offered her loyalty in exchange for my protection. She mentioned she went to you first, but you turned her away.”

“I had my reasons at the time. It is a personal regret that I did not step in. Had I foreseen her demise, I would have moved heaven and earth to assist her.”

“She contacted me too. I thought she was raving and ignored her. Don’t go blaming Jason for that.”

“Ugar Belbek, I don’t recall asking for your input.”

“Whether you asked or not, I’ll say what I please.”

Ugar let out a low growl.

“You’ve certainly become a devoted pet.”

“What did you just say?”

“This is truly lamentable. I don’t understand why we are bickering like this. My only goal is to rectify the slander against Lady Vivian.”

Jason stepped in to de-escalate the tension.

“Lord Berge, while our history may not be deep, I believed we had cultivated a respectful partnership up to this point.”

“If you say so.”

At least on the surface level.

“And yet, there is a sudden coldness between us. I believed I had always been transparent with my goals.”

“I feel the same. I thought we were on good terms, yet here you are, casting doubt on my integrity.”

“I am not doubting you, Lord Berge. As I mentioned, this is about resolving the injustice against Lady Vivian.”

“And your point is?”

“Shouldn’t we answer a vow made upon the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard with one of our own?”

A small, cynical smirk touched Berge’s lips. Jason’s own smile widened.

“You are demanding an oath from us right now?”

Reina’s expression turned frigid. Swearing upon the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard was a matter of personal conviction—it was something that could never be coerced.

That was a fundamental belief held by all of demonkind.

“It is a mere proposal, Lady Reina, not a mandate. And I shall lead by example.”

Jason set his tea, flavored with milk, back on the table.

“I, Jason Cokemun, do hereby swear upon the Great Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King that I had no part in the abduction of the Dwarf princess or her artisans.”

He turned his gaze slowly toward the other Demon Kings.

“It’s a simple matter. I’ll go next. I, Ugar Belbek, swear upon the Great Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard that I did not kidnap the Dwarf princess or the artisans.”

“…This is irritating.”

Reina voiced her disdain, yet she didn’t break the momentum. At the very least, it maintained a facade of dignity.

“I, Reina Sordain, swear upon the Great Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King that I did not kidnap the Dwarf princess or the artisans.”

“… .”

Now, only Berge was left. Jason had stated he wouldn’t force anyone.

However, his eyes, along with those of the other two, were locked onto Berge. The pressure in the room was palpable.

Instead of fighting it, Berge chose to give a slight, respectful nod.

“I, Berge Dayas, swear upon the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard of the Demon King that I did not kidnap the Dwarf princess or the artisans.”

“Excellent.”

Jason clapped his hands, instantly brightening the atmosphere.

“I thank you all, distinguished Lords and Lady, for humoring my request.”

He offered a shallow bow.

“So, it is settled. None of us interfered with the Dwarf Kingdom, yet they acted on a misunderstanding. They pulled Lady Vivian into their messy theater.”

And in that theater, Vivian lost her life.

“We have been manipulated by their petty schemes.”

“Insolent wretches. Treating a Demon King like a pawn on a board.”

“Their ego is truly boundless.”

Reina allowed her quiet anger to simmer. Ugar was visibly fuming.

Regardless of the hierarchy of power among Demon Kings, they were still sovereign entities of immense strength.

None of them would take kindly to being toyed with by those they considered lesser races.

“This is precisely why I believe this forum is vital. Just as the humans consolidate their power, we must combine our efforts. This Tower Harmony, thanks to you, Lord Berge, provides the ideal platform.”

“That is—”

“Unity might feel contrary to our nature as Demon Kings. But being manipulated by humans and suffering such disrespect without striking back—that is what is truly beneath our station, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I’m in.”

Ugar was the first to agree. Berge gave a nod of assent, and Reina followed suit, albeit with some hesitation.

Thus, the Tower Harmony evolved into a council focused on forging a stronger, more cooperative alliance.

—

The meeting of the Tower Harmony reached its conclusion.

As the other Demon Kings departed for their respective lands, Jason poured himself a glass of expensive wine, discarding his cold tea.

“I offer my congratulations on reaching your objective.”

Aina, his trusted aide, stepped forward to refill Jason’s glass with a deep crimson vintage.

“I appreciate it.”

“It was nothing.”

Creating a direct line of cooperation between the Demon Kings had been his long-term ambition. It was the key to a more efficient conquest of the world known as Aren.

Because of their innate pride and isolationism, it had always seemed like an impossible dream—but now, he had achieved real progress.

Vivian’s death had served as the ultimate tool for this shift.

Using the mystery of Berge’s missing Tower as the catalyst was a stroke of genius.

However.

“I don’t feel quite as satisfied as I anticipated.”

“Is something troubling you, my lord?”

“Troubling? Perhaps.”

The wine was a complex mix of tartness and sweetness, sliding down with a velvety texture. Its potent bouquet filled his senses.

“There is one issue. It appears I may never truly be able to call Lord Berge an ally.”

He had secured a political victory.

But for Jason, the win wasn’t just about the cooperation of the Demon Kings.

The real breakthrough was Berge’s reaction—specifically, his oath.

He still didn’t understand how Berge had concealed the Tower or why the Heroes were blind to it, but he felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the man known as Berge Dayas.

Jason looked out the window toward the lake.

“It’s fascinating. Truly remarkable.”

“What is, sir?”

“Berge Dayas took an oath on the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard. He swore he was innocent.”

And yet.

“I was absolutely certain.”

He was convinced Berge Dayas was the culprit.

“That means… .”

“It implies one of two things.”

Either his own intuition was completely wrong, or Berge had committed the ultimate sacrilege by lying.

Jason was leaning heavily toward the latter.

The thought sent a shiver down his spine, a mix of dread and exhilaration.

“Lord Berge, what has happened to you?”

What could have caused such a change?

“Back during our time at the Demon King Academy, you were the most devout follower of the Standard.”

He remembered a man who spoke with reverence of the Founding Demon Emperor’s legacy.

“To now treat the Founding Demon Emperor and the Standard as if they were garbage.”

His skin crawled with goosebumps. Caught in a wave of intense emotion, he began to laugh out loud.

“…My lord?”

“It seems.”

The laughter stopped abruptly.

“I have been far too lax.”

He had viewed Berge as different from the others and had watched him with a degree of favoritism and patience—but Berge was far more different than he had imagined.

In his master’s cold, blank expression, Aina could see only one thing: pure fury.

“If my grand design is ever toppled, the one responsible will be none other than Berge Dayas.”

“I understand.”

“Demolish the Golden Moon Merchant Guild. Break them, scatter their assets, and take everything they own.”

“It shall be done.”

“And one more thing.”

Jason slammed his glass onto the floor, watching it shatter into fragments.

Aina immediately poured him a fresh drink in a new glass.

“Locate Lord Berge’s Tower.”

No matter what it takes.

“Ensure that the next Hero strike does not end in failure.”

“As you command.”