Chapter 15: The Arrogant Skullhead.

When Bain heard Vera say that, he did not erupt in anger as usual.

Instead, he raised his bony arm and lightly tapped his fingertip on the tabletop, producing a hollow yet steady tap.

“Lady Vera.”

His voice was low, yet carried a strange gentleness.

“Although we just had an unpleasant exchange, we must still prioritize the interests of the Demon Race.

You should not oppose me because of this.”

The moment Vera heard those words, flames of fury instantly ignited in her crimson eyes.

She sprang up from her seat, pointing straight at Bain’s brow, her voice sharp enough to tear through the air.

“Skullhead!

Don’t spout nonsense!

What are you barking about here?

Believe it or not, I’ll tear your head off right now and kick it like a ball!”

Before her words even finished, power had already gathered beneath her feet.

She stamped down, cracks spreading across the floor, clearly ready to strike.

Yet Bain did not move an inch.

He did not even show the slightest intention of dodging.

He slowly raised both hands, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.

“Lady Vera, please don’t be angry.”

His voice remained gentle—so gentle it was nauseating.

“We all serve under the Demon King.

We should all place the future of the Demon Race first.”

Vera trembled from head to toe, enraged by his hypocritical calm.

She stomped the ground hard, the floor shaking, and roared.

“Fine!

You damn skullhead, always ‘Demon Race this,’ ‘Demon Race that’!

Today, I’ll take your head off and offer it up in the name of the Demon Race!”

Hearing this, Bain did not retreat.

Instead, he stepped forward half a pace.

He lowered his head slightly and spoke in a tone filled with exaggerated compassion.

“If Lady Vera believes that my head can calm your anger and prevent an internal conflict from occurring…

Then I am willing to offer my head.”

Vera was choked into silence by his words.

Her crimson eyes widened, her lips trembling, yet not a single sound came out.

“Y–you…”

Her voice shook, filled with shame and fury at being utterly provoked.

“You pile of bones… you actually dare speak to me like that?!”

Just as she was about to curse again, a strong hand gently landed on her shoulder.

With an irresistible force, it pulled her back into her seat.

Irena had appeared at her side at some point.

“That’s enough, Vera.”

Her voice was gentle, soothing the furious Vera.

“Don’t bother arguing with him.”

Vera bit her lower lip, letting out a muffled hmph, and turned her face away.

She refused to look at Bain—or anyone else.

“Forget it.”

Her voice was hoarse, tinged with grievance and unwillingness.

“I’ll let you off this time.

Don’t let me see you again… next time, I’ll make you regret it!”

Hearing this, Bain’s smile deepened further, his voice still infuriatingly mild.

“Thank you for your assistance, Lady Irena.”

He slowly straightened up, his tone carrying a faint hint of probing.

“If possible, after the meeting, may I invite you for a cup of tea?”

His manner was so natural, as though the confrontation earlier had never happened.

It was as if he were inviting a long-lost friend.

Irena did not respond.

She only gently patted Vera’s shoulder, signaling her to calm down.

Seeing no reply, Bain did not grow annoyed.

He simply sat back down slowly.

“Demon King, please be sure to place the future of the Demon Race first.”

Bain paused, his fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop.

“Otherwise, who knows whether those demons harboring resentment might rise in rebellion?”

Before his words finished, the lich Eben slowly raised his withered, decaying hands.

His voice was hoarse.

“Bain.”

His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.

“I will not allow a rebellion to happen.”

Hearing this, Bain froze for a few seconds.

Then the corner of his mouth rose once more, as though explaining a harmless misunderstanding.

“Eben, you may have misunderstood.”

His voice was gentle, tinged with helplessness.

“I was referring to those who harbor dissatisfaction.

Not you.

And not me.”

The moment Vera heard this, she suddenly leapt up from her seat.

She looked as though she wanted to kill Bain on the spot, her voice blazing with fury.

“I think you’re the one harboring dissatisfaction!”

Hearing this, Bain did not retreat.

Instead, he slowly turned his head, a faint trace of mockery on his face.

His voice was low, yet deliberately gentle.

“Lady Vera.”

He spoke slowly, his tone frivolous, like teasing an enraged kitten.

“I originally thought your body was merely in a childlike state.

I didn’t expect that it’s not just your body that’s childlike.”

Vera froze stiff from head to toe.

She hated nothing more than being called a child.

“Y–you—”

Her voice trembled, struck straight at a painful nerve, filled with shame and rage.

“I think you’re just a pile of bones waiting to be fed to dogs!

How dare you say that?!”

Before her words finished, just as Bain was about to speak—

An invisible pressure descended suddenly.

“Boom—!”

The force was like the sky collapsing and the earth caving in.

It crushed Bain firmly into his seat, his bones letting out anguished creaking sounds, as if they would be ground into dust the next second.

The Demon King’s voice slowly drifted down from the main seat.

Gentle—yet piercingly cold.

“Bain!”

Her tone was soft, but icy.

“Are you dissatisfied with my decisions?”

Under the crushing pressure, Bain’s skeleton emitted faint crackling sounds.

He hurriedly begged, his voice shaking beyond control.

“No! Absolutely not!

My King, I was merely offering a suggestion!

I have no dissatisfaction with the Demon King at all!

After all, what you rule is a complete Demon Race!”

Before he could finish—

The pressure intensified again.

“Boom—!”

Bain’s skeletal frame sank violently.

Even the chair beneath him groaned under the strain.

The blue flames in his eye sockets nearly extinguished, leaving only a faint glimmer.

The Demon King’s voice sounded once more, carrying a trace of amused delight.

“Are you threatening me?”

She chuckled softly, freezing the very air of the chamber.

“Hahahahahahaha—how interesting.

I’m starting to feel like adopting Vera’s suggestion from earlier.”

She paused, smiling as she spoke.

“Your pile of bones really should be fed to dogs.”

Hearing this, terror rattled Bain down to his very bones.

He hurriedly apologized, his voice shaking uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, Demon King!

I misspoke just now!

I shouldn’t have said so much!”

The Demon King’s smile deepened further.

That smile seemed to hide countless blades, each precisely piercing the most fragile part of Bain’s soul.

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Her voice was gentle, yet carried irresistible authority.

“It’s good to offer advice to me.

However, I do not wish for certain people to speak without thinking.”

Crushed by her words, Bain found even breathing difficult.

He nodded repeatedly.

“The Demon King is right!

I… I will be cautious with my words in the future!”

Only then did he realize how close he had come to losing composure before the Demon King.

Fortunately, the Skeleton Clan had no flesh—otherwise, there might already have been an embarrassing physiological accident.

The Demon King turned her gaze toward him, her smile unchanged.

“Bain.”

Her voice was soft, yet carried unquestionable dominance.

“You seem quite dissatisfied with my arrangements, don’t you?”