For the past several days, Jexy Bakian had been living his best life—again.  

The guildmaster hadn’t seen him in almost a week,  

until this morning when a piece of parchment slid onto her desk.  

It was his “mandatory travel notice.”  

Lyssara Veinflare unfolded it, read two lines,  

and nearly coughed up blood.  

> **Planned itinerary:**  

> Morning – Breakfast and light drinks at *Succubus Kiss*  

> Afternoon – Shopping, purchasing essentials (and non-essentials) to “stimulate the Demon Realm economy”  

> Evening – Explore new bars for potential night investments  

> **Estimated return:** Uncertain. Will come back when satisfied.  

Lyssara stared at the note in silence,  

her expression going from disbelief to pure fury.  

“Stimulate the economy…?!” she muttered,  

crumpling the parchment slightly.  

But what could she do?  

That lazy, hedonistic spendthrift had somehow become the **economic heart of the guild.**  

Without him, they wouldn’t have their new dorms, their funding, their supplies—  

nothing.  

And so, even as she fumed,  

she could only sigh and toss the paper aside.  

“Fine,” she murmured. “Just don’t get yourself killed at a bar.”  

By noon, most of **Chalice of Emberlight’s** members had already departed for missions.  

The once-bustling guild hall was quiet,  

save for a few lower-ranked members who stayed behind to manage paperwork.  

That was when the doors burst open.  

The air grew heavy, reeking faintly of blood and sulfur.  

A group of demons in dark armor strode in,  

their leader’s shadow stretching across the floor like a stain.  

He was enormous—greenish-gray skin, tusks curved upward,  

a predator’s grin etched on his face.  

An ogre-type demon.  

His name carried weight in the darker circles of the realm: **Kagura M’Zern**,  

Guildmaster of the A-Rank guild **Devourer’s Soul**.  

“Where’s your guildmaster?” Kagura’s voice boomed.  

The few remaining members froze.  

Moments later, Lyssara stepped out of her office,  

her high heels clicking against the marble floor.  

She stopped in front of him, unflinching.  

“What business do you have with Chalice of Emberlight?” she asked.  

Kagura smirked, eyeing her from head to toe.  

“Well, well… didn’t expect the leader of this little B-rank club to be so easy on the eyes.”  

He took a step forward, his followers spreading out behind him.  

“We’re not here to chat, sweetheart.  

We’re here to make things simple.”  

He raised a hand, snapping his fingers.  

A banner unfurled behind him—  

the sigil of *Devourer’s Soul*, a twisting black vortex devouring a crimson skull.  

“From today onward,” Kagura declared,  

“your guild belongs to **us**.  

You’ll fly our banner, pay tribute,  

and obey our orders.”  

The few Chalice members in the room went pale.  

Everyone knew what that meant—  

**forced subordination.**  

Once a guild became an affiliate,  

they lost their independence forever.  

Lyssara’s eyes narrowed.  

Even before today, her patience had already been worn thin—  

first by Jexy’s antics, now by this.  

Her voice was cold and sharp.  

“And if I refuse?”  

Kagura’s grin widened, tusks glinting in the light.  

“If you refuse…” he laughed,  

raising his massive hand.  

Behind him, weapons were drawn.  

Blades hissed from their sheaths,  

and the air filled with killing intent.  

The laughter faded.  

All that remained was the metallic whisper of danger—  

and the realization that **war** had just walked through their door.