Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"Did you not notice something else, Layla?"

Eliza reclined in her chair, gracefully tucking her lush green hair behind her ear. A mirthless smile played across her lips as she continued.

"It seems he took the Seven-headed serpent statue after raiding my Purgatory. Now, I understand why the statue wanted to place all the Sin Series Marks on him," Eliza remarked, gazing at the second offering in the Tools of Liberation section of Menaka's Market.

"That thief," Layla cursed under her breath. "If he wants to capitalize on our possessions, we should demand a fixed amount of Menaka's Runes per user from him," she suggested, eyeing the buyout price of 500 Menaka's Runes for the Bite.

The Bite's ability to cancel Faustian Contracts alone justified its price. It was almost foolproof for all users unless they had completed their True Demonic Transformation. Moreover, the Bite could bestow users with deviated forms of Sin Series Marks. At 500 Menaka's Runes, the price was more than reasonable.

'This subpanel he has secured for himself. It will soon turn into a cash cow trade for him.'

Layla was confident that many individuals seeking to undo their Faustian Contracts would opt for Eren's solution rather than terminating them manually. Eren's approach resembled a risk-free, non-intrusive organ-removal operation with minimal errors and attractive benefits.

Layla's eyes were on the potential wealth that could flow Eren's way as he increased his followers across Labh Salem. However, Eliza's words snapped her back to reality.

"We lost that statue fair and square when Eren defeated me in Anfang, Layla dear," Eliza shook her head, sighing. "I understand its significance to House Samael, but even if we wanted to, we wouldn't have used that statue to amass wealth. We have to accept that he is special. Besides, I have my pride to consider. Losers can't demand spoils of war from victors once the battle's outcome is clear."

"Master Eliza," another figure entered Eliza's view, seeking her attention. It was none other than Leela, Layla's sister, and a homunculus, riding on a broomstick. Interestingly, it was the same broomstick Layla had used in Anfang – Hexen Bee.

Curious, Eliza inquired, "What is it, Leela dear?" as she observed her subordinate approaching with a sense of urgency.

"Kaiser Sylberos has come to propose marriage once again," Leela reported, jumping off her broomstick and landing in front of Eliza, her voice tinged with worry.

"He spoke with Kaiser Jerome Samael, who mentioned that you're engaged in your Tantra practice. Like what we had discussed when we expected that he'd arrive here.

Unlike before, Sylberos has decided to stay in Dragon Palace. He wants to wait patiently for the conclusion of your practice," Leela conveyed the message from Sylberos.

"He just won't take no for an answer, will he?" Eliza's expression reflected her frustration. "It seems that a brute bastard can't grasp the concept of consent. He just can't take hints."

Eliza had garnered attention and benefits after showcasing her talents in Labh Salem, earning a prominent spot in the Shaynak 100 list. However, with recognition came unwanted attention. She had become a sought-after figure for entities as strong as or stronger than her.

Sylberos was among those who sought a romantic relationship with her. Eliza, being Eliza, had decided to manipulate the people around her in order to progress further. She used his influence to strengthen House Samael's position in Labh Salem and fend off other potential suitors.

What made things worse for Eliza was the fact that every once in a while she would let Lady Zee's soul take over the body they both shared. That was the agreement she had with Lady Zee, after all.

Lady Zee had flirted a bit with Sylberos when she had the vessel she and Eliza shared. Both of them shared the similar goals of using Sylberos and his connections. However, the way Lady Zee interacted with Sylberos was completely different from how Eliza dealt with him.

Unfortunately, Sylberos didn't find Eliza's behavior to be odd. He just assumed that the Witch of the Enderflames was interested in him but playing hard-to-get. That's how he made sense of Eliza's supposed mixed signals.

Of course, the Witch of the Enderflames didn't forget about the gratitude she owed to House Ouroboros after her position in Labh Salem was solidified. She fostered professional ties to aid Sylberos' family House Ouroboros in their ventures, considering it a fair exchange for the favors she received.

However, Eliza's business-driven arrangements meant little to Sylberos. In his eyes, the only appropriate way for the Witch of the Enderflames to express gratitude to House Ouroboros was through marriage. Marriage to him.

It was as if Eliza's green flames had set his heart ablaze. The situation had escalated to such a degree that Eliza regretted the fact that she could not assume her "old hag" form from Anfang anymore. However, she doubted even that form was enough for Sylberos to stop his unwanted advances towards her.

Initially attempting to ignore Sylberos, Eliza progressed to avoiding him altogether. When avoidance tactics failed, she began offering excuses through her subordinates, hoping to sidestep any direct confrontation. However, it appeared even that strategy had its limits.

"What's your plan, Master Eliza?" Layla inquired of the Witch of the Enderflames, handing her sister the baby dragon, who was eager to engage in playful antics with the beast. Layla understood that Eliza couldn't outright reject the proposal due to the intricate ties between House Samael and House Ouroboros in their business ventures.

"Hmm, an interesting dilemma," mused Eliza, contemplating how to resolve the Sylberos predicament without compromising House Ouroboros' standing or her own pride. In the next moment, a revelation struck her, prompting her to rise from her seat.

"Fufufu," Eliza chuckled and accessed the Agora subpanel, eyeing Eren's masked form as she addressed her subordinates. "How about this? I'll issue a challenge, informing that brute that he must defeat the True Inheritor of Elder Ichor to earn the right to marry me."

"Hehehehe," Layla started laughing after hearing her master's proposal. "Master, you are truly brilliant. Let those two vile men duke it out with each other. You are basically exporting all your troubles to Eren," she said as a smirk tugged at her lips.

"No," Eliza corrected her subordinate.

"You and I know that Eren and this masked man making rounds in Labh Salem are one and the same. But Sylberos doesn't. Nobody does. And it's better that way, for Eren as well as for us.

As long as Eren's identity is protected, he'll never have to deal with House Orobours. I'll basically send the brute onto a wild goose chase," she said as the plan she had hatched on the moment of spur started making more sense to her with each passing moment.

"That's smart," Leela said as she breathed a sigh of relief. "Eren is like our ally at this point. We… we shouldn't antagonize him," Leela said as she caressed the baby dragon's scales with.

Leela had a good Eren from the moment she met him in Purgatory. She also couldn't forget his bloodthirsty and domineering version in Anfang. She didn't want her master to make uncalled-for troubles for Eren because she had seen what he could do at the end of the Lazarus Project.

"That settles it then. Eren better hope the brute doesn't find him. Fufufu."

Eliza said as she took a deep breath. She then walked deliberately towards the Dragon Palace before disappearing into thin air. For the first time in months, she had decided to meet with Sylberos and give him a new target to chase instead of her.

***

Celestial Hall.

The Immortals had sent their consciousness into this place and were busy arguing on a very grim matter. This matter was of course related to Goddess Menaka's latest change in the Mesh as well as her supposed special treatment to God Aleph's inheritor.

"Goddess Menaka, have you gone mad? Did you forget about the prophecies related to the True Inheritor of the Elder Ichor?" asked one of the 72 Ars Goetia demons who was close to the Demon Prince of Wrath– Samael.

"Goddess Menaka, you are only hurting your divinity by doing something like this. where is your true neutrality now?" asked another elemental goddess from the divine faction. With her harsh tone, she was basically questioning the goddess' stance and her divinity.

"Kyahahaha," Beelzebub laughed as looked at the Immortals surrounding Goddess Menaka's divine throne. "My goddess, don't pay attention to these scared cats. I have complete trust in my Domain."

"Beelzebub!" screamed Prince of Wrath Samael, his voice coated in anger. "That puny demi-god is scaring nobody. But he has become too arrogant if he thinks he can get away by challenging all of us at the same time. All of you– listen to me. We need to—-"

"Silence," Goddess Menaka finally spoke, interrupting Prince of Wrath.

"Don't mistake inaction for neutrality. My true neutrality isn't harmed by anyone," she spoke plainly without attaching any form of emotions to her voice or her demeanor.

"I'd like to clarify that what is available for the true inheritor is also available for you and your followers.

If you wish to counter God Aleph's inheritor, you can do so by using the Mesh. he has decided to expose himself because of me and the Mesh. Now it's up to you how you could make use of the opportunity."

She said calmly while looking at everyone from her divine throne. Although her face was devoid of emotions, her eyes were subtly posing a challenge to all the Immortals.

"Very well," the slumbering goddess partially opened her eyes after a long time. She coldly looked at Goddess Menaka before speaking further in a voice coated in cruelty.

"We will use the same platform that Goddess Menaka has provided to that wretched being. And using the same tools, we will hunt him down." gm