Lord Shadow

Azief shakes his head

'I don really know how to categorize what you did. I am not here to judge too much. I believe that people could change. But could doesn't mean that they would. I have seen so many people trying to change but failed. Changing is hard. Especially for people like the Broker. It is like a leopard trying to change its spot.'

Doesn't that mean it is impossible? Sasha thought in her heart

Azief then said

'But from what you have told me, the Broker had changed. He has been helping you gather information and foil a lot of the Crime Alliance attack and schemes toward Pandemonium and threats to the world'

Sasha nodded

Azief chuckles. 

He heard a lot of incredible things. 

The things in the report is a watered down information.

  There is always a chance that some of the information of Pandemonium could be stolen. 

Since that is the case, it is still imperative for them to meet one on one with each other for him to get the full story

He also found out that Loki wanted the Book of Secrets. He heard the rumor of such thing but he never pays much attention to it. The reason is simply because he is preoccupied with something else

That is Loki way of entering the Crime Alliance and making g sure that he would be protected against the world power without relying on him or Pandemonium.

Of course what Azief didn't know is Loki deal with Sasha. And Sasha did not speak of it to Death Monarch. 

Azief found no fault in Sasha story so he simply said

'When I ask you to expand the Shadow Guard, I didn't think you would expand it to cover almost everything under the Heaven'

Sasha did not say anything to this as she only smiles. 

Azief then look to the side, looking at the scenery outside his window. 

The clouds are moving gently and slowly, the wind breeze seems to be very calm and the birds flying freely in the sky

Such scenery calms his heart and he said

'Out there, the whole world seems to want to know my next move. As for inside Pandemonium, there were tens of thousands of people that probably wanted something to happen when I summoned you to my office. The rest of the world might not know this story yet but I know it would only be a matter of time before the news that we have the Broker and it is we that sheltered him, would be a common knowledge among the intelligence community'

'I scrubbed all of the evidence. They could talk about it but they would have no evidence of it' Sasha said

'I heard there are people who could do that' Azief nodded but then he added

'But I also heard that there are people that could dig information that even scrubbers could not erase'

Azief sighed as he turns back to look at Sasha. Sasha is not such a tall girl. She is petite and give the impression of an elegant small bird. 

But this petite and somewhat adorable looking woman in her eyes, to the people of the world, she is a woman of great power and possessing influence that could change the world situation.

She derived her power from the authority he bestowed upon her. As long as he stays on top, she would always possess this power.

'Your position is a position of power. And that power comes from me. Even though you were created to help me, to become my eyes and ears, my sword and shield, the scope of your work had permeated to the politics of the Court'

Sasha did not say anything to this. 

She only listens. But there is some fear in her heart. She fears that Death Monarch is displeased that her influence had now even reached the court.

Azief seems to not notice the fear that Sasha felt as he continues

'Sometime my will and my interest clashed with those of the Court. But before I could even speak about it you would already solve it for me' 

There is silence for a while as Azief seem to observe Sasha. Sasha did not dare to match eyes with Death Monarch. 

But she felt his stare on her. 

There is a feeling of pressure building up around her. 

Sasha is a Disk Formation leveler. 

And Azief is a peak of Divine Comprehension leveler, only one step forward and eh could break through to Essence Creation.

If he wanted to, he could break every bones in Sasha body just by starting at her and uses the laws of the world to pressure her.

As such, being stared at by Death Monarch is never a pleasant experience. For a few seconds he did not say anything. And with each second passing, the dread in her heart grows stronger. 

He then said

'That is unnecessary. ' 

Sasha felt her heart drop. Even though he said it gently, Sasha knows that it is a warning.

Azief then said

'Learn to balance things, Sasha. It is not like there is anybody in the court that would try to challenge my will. You are an efficient worker. I will even say that you are too efficient. Give them a chance to do their job. I might not interfere that much in the day to day operation of this continent but I know that those people in the court are not incompetent' 

'I have no complaint when you go after some corrupt officials because exterminating them is also my will. But there are people that wanted to serve me and serve the people here'

He paused for a second before adding 

'This is why people are discontent with you. You meddle too much. The inner court must stay as the inner court. There is no need for you to meddle to much there' Even though it looks like an advice, Sasha would not mistake it as an advice. 

This is already Death Monarch being kind in reprimanding her.

She knew very well this is his warning to her. She herself did not know the limit of things she is allowed to do. It is now clear to her that the inner court is that line

Now that she knows, she would act accordingly.

And knowing Death Monarch, he would not give many warnings.

Sasha nodded. Azief once again stares at Sasha and he believes that Sasha would understand what he means.

This is the reason why he would not easily replace Sasha. This woman has always been someone with a good sense 

He already waves the stick. Now, he also has to give some carrot.

He added

'But as long I'm here, the Shadow Guards position is very stable. You understand what I mean right?'

Sasha nodded. Then Azief ask another question

'But what if I am not here?'

Sasha understood what her boss is tying to say to her 

She then said

'My lord would be victorious' 

'Is that flattery?' 

'Faith' she said.

Azief would say faith is useless in the past. It is not like he could win if people have faith in him. But he knows more now so instead of ridiculing her words he simply said

'That is a good answer' Sasha smiles a bit. And Azief chuckles and he also smiles. They look at each other and the tense feeling between them disappeared. 

The trust between Death Monarch and Sasha is not something that could easily be broken. As they look at each other, they both felt a sense of nostalgia.

Sasha laughs. And he, looking at Sasha laughing, he also laughs. 

Azief was about to say something else when he suddenly went still. His eyes narrowed and his body seems to be tense

Sasha who is still smiling also notices the sudden change in her lord.

'My lord?' Azief then got up from his chair and his body bursted with power, ripples of shockwaves billow from his entire being.

Sasha was forced five steps backward. Each step that she took leave a deep depression on the floor. 

The tiles cracked in a web like manner. 

'My lord, what happened?' Azief no longer has that trace of smile instead his forehead creased and he had a solemn expression on his face

He is hearing a message right now. Of course, he is the only one that could listen to this telepathic message.

And the content of the message is what makes him act like this. 

There is only two people in the world that could send such telepathic message to Death Monarch. 

It is either Hikigaya or Jean. And the voice that is echoing in his mind right now is Jean. He could not help but feel anxious when he heard what Jean had said

And in that split second he made his decision

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