Lucifer stood near the digital wall console inside the guest house. The white mist outside pulsed faintly as mana stabilizers hummed through the room.
"Professor Jaspher," Lucifer said, "please send me the translated volumes from Professor Orcanora—the legendary scholar from the Abyssal race. I need his annotated editions on these five works urgently:
The 13 Purifications
Mana Complication: Structural Theories
Ice Blade Razor — Circle 97 Spell Mechanics
Fire Heart Therapy Link
Ruby Fire Mana Techniques
And… kindly come here yourself. We'll need your insight firsthand."
Doctor Turo blinked, slightly offended.
"Sir Lucifer, I'm already preparing treatment spells. Why do you need all that?"
Lucifer looked calmly toward her.
"Because tonight—at the 20th hour—the real culprit may strike. I intend to bait him. Tomorrow morning, I'll reveal the full plan. For now, we prepare silently."
A gentle tension fell in the room.
Lucifer activated his communicator.
"Message Duke Vernos, King Marshel Moto Fire III, and only General Frozy. We'll hold a private meeting tomorrow morning."
He paused, eyes narrowed.
"I'll arrive at 8 o'clock, sharp. Be ready."
Then he turned to Jaspher once more.
"Send those books now, Professor. The truth is waiting—we just have to set the trap."
At the 23rd hour of the 8th day, Lucifer returned to Aunt Ilvara's home. The aroma of dinner filled the rotating tech-wood kitchen. She had prepared her signature dishes: Cucumber Choco Gravy and Pan Pizza Chilli—an eccentric but comforting fusion.
Lucifer ate quietly while Mato and Creako polished their plates and headed to sleep with satisfied yawns.
In the solitude of night, Lucifer sat by the window and carefully marked notes into parchment from the translated volumes of Professor Orcanora. His eyes moved quickly, absorbing spell theories, mana techniques, and purification histories.
Aunt Ilvara entered, folding her arms.
"Lucifer, don't push yourself too hard. You have magic practice scheduled for the 26th hour—remember?"
Lucifer smiled gently.
"Thank you, Aunt… you always remember my schedule."
At the 26th hour, he stepped into the enchanted courtyard and practiced quiet incantations. By hour 27, sleep claimed him beneath the soft hum of mana crystals.
The next morning, at the 5th hour, Lucifer woke with purpose. He began his daily meditation in the garden hall—deep breaths guiding his mana flow until the 7th hour.
He returned inside and kissed Aunt Ilvara on the forehead.
"I'll walk to Oto Capital now. I parked my bike there yesterday."
"Good luck, child," she said.
After an hour's walk beneath glowing sky runes, Lucifer entered the Royal Meeting Pavilion, located in the garden sector of Oto Capital.
Inside waited the core team:
Professor Orcanora — Master of Abyssal Spell Theory
Professor Jaspher — Fungal Biologist
Doctor Turo Vaksisa — Cryo-Healer and Fire Spell Researcher
Mitsuo Kit — Restored Beasterwoman and Guardian of the Stream
King Marshel Moto Fire III
General Frozy Caron
Duke Vernos
Lucifer stepped into the center calmly.
"Let's begin."