Chapter 935: The Spoils of War!

Admiral Reinhardt lowered his telescope, his expression growing increasingly unpleasant. The Demon Emperor was approaching his flagship. Worse still, their holy cannons had failed. Dozens of expensive weapons hadn’t even injured him. Yet Reinhardt couldn’t afford to retreat now.

"Prepare another barrage and concentrate our fire!"

"Admiral, our forward vessels are still there!"

"I gave you an order, Lieutenant!"

The young officer hesitated before turning away. Several nearby sailors exchanged concerned glances, but none dared challenge their commander. However, their hesitation had already cost them.

BOOOOOOM!

A tremendous shockwave swept across the fleet. Several cannons suddenly twisted beneath invisible pressure, their enormous barrels collapsing against the decks. Before the sailors understood what happened, Asmodeus appeared above their flagship.

’There you are...’

His golden eyes examined the Imperial officers. Reinhardt stood upon the elevated command platform, surrounded by several armoured knights and mages. Unlike the terrified sailors, these men immediately prepared their weapons.

"Protect the Admiral! Don’t let him land!"

Several magical attacks erupted towards the sky. However, Asmodeus didn’t bother avoiding them. His black armour absorbed the weaker spells, while the remaining projectiles shattered against his aura.

CRACK!

His feet struck the flagship’s upper deck, shattering the reinforced wooden planks beneath him. Several soldiers stumbled from the violent impact, while others desperately raised their shields.

Asmodeus glanced towards the nearest holy cannon. The golden inscriptions were still glowing faintly, although their connection seemed weakened after his interference. He reached towards its enormous barrel, grasping the reinforced metal with his bare hand.

CRUNCH!

The weapon collapsed beneath his fingers.

’These things are dangerous to ordinary soldiers...’

However, he wanted several specimens preserved intact. Alice and Velvet could examine them later.

"Admiral Reinhardt, I presume?"

The commander slowly drew his ceremonial sword. His expression remained stern despite his trembling fingers.

"You stand aboard an Imperial military vessel. Your presence here constitutes an act of war."

Asmodeus narrowed his eyes, staring at him.

"Your fleet attacked Grigor without warning. You then attempted to murder surrendered soldiers. Are those the Emperor’s direct orders?"

Reinhardt tightened his grip around his sword.

"Those men surrendered to an enemy sovereign. Their lives were already forfeit."

Several nearby sailors visibly reacted to his answer. Some lowered their gazes towards the deck, while others exchanged frightened looks.

Asmodeus noticed their expressions but ignored them.

"Then you’ll answer for their attempted deaths."

The Admiral suddenly raised his sword, releasing a tremendous amount of golden aura. Several knights immediately rushed forward beside him, surrounding Asmodeus from three different directions.

CLANG!

Their weapons struck his armoured body simultaneously. However, not one blade pierced his scales. Asmodeus grabbed Reinhardt’s sword and shattered it, before seizing the man’s throat.

"Enough. Order your fleet to surrender."

Reinhardt struggled desperately against his enormous strength. His face reddened as his breathing weakened. Yet his remaining officers refused to move.

Asmodeus glanced towards the communications officer nearby.

"Contact every vessel under his command. Tell them their Admiral has been captured. Any ship continuing hostilities will be disabled."

The officer hesitated, looking towards Reinhardt. Then his gaze shifted towards the sailors, who remained gathered near the damaged cannons, and after a slow moment of silence, he reached for the communication crystal.

"All vessels, this is the flagship. Admiral Reinhardt has been taken prisoner. Cease your attacks and await instructions."

Several responses immediately flooded through the crystal. Some officers demanded confirmation of their commander’s condition. Others refused to acknowledge the surrender order.

"Sir, the seventh vessel refuses compliance!"

Asmodeus glanced towards the distant Imperial warship. Its cannons were already gathering golden energy. The sailors aboard the flagship noticed too. Several hurried away from the exposed deck.

"Haa... These bastards really are persistent."

He released Reinhardt onto the damaged planks. The Admiral collapsed, coughing violently while clutching his throat.

"Keep him restrained until we reach Grigor."

Asmodeus approached the edge of the deck. His enormous wings spread behind his armoured body. Then he disappeared with a tremendous explosion.

The seventh warship fired its prepared barrage. However, the golden beams suddenly changed direction. Several enormous tendrils intercepted their destructive energy. Before another volley could follow, Asmodeus descended.

The central cannon collapsed beneath his fist. Several nearby weapons followed under his mana. Their enchanted barrels shattered across the wooden deck. The soldiers immediately abandoned their firing positions.

Asmodeus continued towards the remaining hostile vessels. Within minutes, their weapons suffered similar destruction. He deliberately avoided sinking their enormous hulls. There was no reason to waste resources.

’Let’s enjoy the booty when we get back...’

His eyes shifted between the alluring backs of his wives and the massive ships now docked in the makeshift ports of Grigor.

***

Half an hour later, everything was over, the vessels that tried to fight back either raised a white flag in surrender or died trying to resist. Now their commanders awaited confirmation of what came next after their capture.

’Of course I cannot trust their words alone...’

But Asmodeus had a trump card, before leaving each ship, he dropped several droplets of his blood into their remaining wine and water. Even if the bastards wanted to play tough, after drinking anything.

The fools would become his men, desperate to pledge their allegiance.

Well, this was war.

Asmodeus didn’t care about how these methods would seem to others if known. He returned to the leading Imperial flagship. The original captain approached with several officers. His expression remained troubled despite their survival.

"Your Majesty, what happens to our crews?"

"Those who surrender will become prisoners. Grigor will provide treatment for your wounded. Afterwards, we’ll determine what happens to everyone."

The captain slowly lowered his head again.

"...Understood. I’ll inform the other officers."

Asmodeus contacted Erika through their established connection. The Grigorian defenders had regained their positions. Their remaining enemies were surrendering or retreating. More importantly, the evacuation had succeeded.

"Erika, I’m bringing the captured ships in. Have the harbour authorities prepare for prisoners."

"Understood, darling. We’ll meet you there."

***

Grigor’s damaged eastern coastline.

Several Imperial warships approached beneath white flags. Their arrival attracted hundreds of exhausted soldiers. Most remained suspicious despite the surrender signals.

Meanwhile, Asmodeus descended towards the surviving defenders. Velvet immediately noticed him approaching from above. Her face brightened as she hurried forward.

"Darling! Did you capture their commander?"

"Mhm. He’s aboard the leading warship."

Erika approached shortly afterwards, accompanied by Asmodea. Valena followed them after returning from the shoreline. Despite their dirty armour, nobody appeared seriously injured.

Asmodeus examined his wives before relaxing slightly. Their presence reassured him more than expected as he approached Erika and gently kissed her.

"Good work protecting the people with that evacuation, Erika."

"Hehe~ I wasn’t fighting alone."

Vlevet immediately caught his opposite arm and slipped into his embrace, looking pleased with herself. "Hmmm, where is my reward? I don’t believe my darling will be unfair, right?"

Asmodeus smiled before kissing her forehead too.

"I know. You all performed wonderfully today."

Before the conversation continued, several mounted knights approached. Their leader dismounted and immediately bowed before Asmodeus.

"Your Majesty, the King requests your presence."

Asmodeus glanced towards the damaged coastal settlements, and sighed before turning back to the knight with a smile.

"Tell them I’ll come after checking our wounded."

The knight nodded before returning to his horse, normally, this would be unheard of, but this man was the Emperor of Demons and son-in-law to the king.

After the knights left, Asmodeus turned towards the gathered women again.

"Come along. We have matters to discuss."

***

By evening, they reached Grigor’s temporary headquarters. The King awaited them beside Grand Duke Alan. Both stood over maps of the damaged coastline. Several exhausted officers worked in adjoining rooms where the smell of smoke lingered throughout the weather-beaten buildings.

"Your Majesty, you’ve saved countless lives today." The King bowed slightly before approaching Asmodeus. "We’ve already begun treating the Imperial prisoners. Their ships are being brought under guard."

’Wow, Father-in-Law, lays it on thick when we’re in Grigor...’

Asmodeus couldn’t help but grin at how serious Avandar was being. "I’ll leave it to you, King Avandar, just ensure the cannons are untouched, as we’ll send over a skilled group to help refit and inspect their designs."

’That lazy dwarf and Brando will be of great help.’

Alan approached, his expression unusually stern today. He pointed towards the ruined coastal passages. Several defensive positions had been completely destroyed. The Imperial attack had exposed their vulnerability.

"We cannot restore these cliffs overnight, Asmodeus. Even with your assistance, rebuilding takes time. Another fleet could exploit those openings tomorrow."

"Then we’ll station additional defenders here temporarily. I’ll have Serena send some Valkyries over. But defending these passages isn’t exactly simple... with the damage from Levathan, your territory now has several new rivers, canals and entrances."

The King nodded, understanding his intended meaning.

However, Alan remained focused on the map and slowly traced the Human Empire’s coastline. Several fortified ports occupied its western shores.

"Oi, Ryuji... you’re not going to attack the Mainland, right?!"

"Mhm, as expected, my brother knows best, of course I am. That bastard has already revealed his plans and tried to put his hands on my women, of course, I won’t let him get off this easily."

Velvet and Valena stood at attention a few metres away, both of them keenly listening to his words, while both Asmodea and Erika were too interested in staring at their husband with deep, hungry eyes as they licked their lips.

"Father, if you would please end the meeting, we have something to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor..." Asmodea’s words caused both her uncle and father to swallow their words and stare at her in shock.

’Ah... this girl is getting a little too cheeky.’

Asmodeus could only grin as a faint peach blush bloomed on her cheeks when she turned away to avoid his gaze.

And with the cheekiest tone, he glanced at the king before stepping towards Asmodea and Erika, who both appeared to miss him ever so much.

"Well then, forgive me. Father-in-law... it seems your daughter needs me."