Chapter 63: Punishment

After hearing Irina’s calm admonition, Vera not only failed to calm down, but grew even more stifled and irritated.

She bit her lower lip, her gaze locked tightly onto Bane as if she wanted to nail him to the chair.

If she could, she absolutely would not allow Bane to sit there so peacefully right now.

Seeing her expression, the blue flames in Bane’s eye sockets flickered slightly.

He then turned to Irina, his tone carrying deliberate praise.

“Irina, you truly are sensible and know how to empathize with the sacrifices of the soldiers.

Unlike certain young ladies who hide in the rear all day long and have no idea what the victories on the front lines are paid for with.”

Irina listened quietly, her expression unchanged.

She neither felt pleased by the flattery just now, nor angered by the earlier mockery of Vera.

She merely gently grasped Vera’s wrist, signaling her to calm down.

Seeing that Irina showed no reaction at all, Bane slowly smiled again.

His tone grew even gentler, as if full of sincere goodwill.

“Irina, if you don’t mind, I am willing to offer a batch of precious resources as a token of my respect for you.”

These were all resources he had secretly had Eben help plant with markings last time.

If used properly, they might quietly win her over.

Even if she did not use them personally, giving them to her subordinates could still allow him to place some spies by her side.

“You—!”

Vera’s anger flared as she shot to her feet and roared.

“Bane! You dare to openly bribe people! Do you really think I won’t twist your head off?!”

She made as if to pounce, but Irina firmly held her back.

Bane showed no fear at all.

Instead, he smiled and spread his hands.

“If Lady Vera also feels dissatisfied, I naturally wouldn’t be stingy either.

There are plenty of resources. Everyone can have a share.”

“Enough.”

Irina spoke coldly.

Her voice was not loud, yet it cut like ice sealing the throat.

She looked straight at Bane, her tone calm.

“Bane, I appreciate your goodwill.

But those things, I will not accept.”

Bane’s skeletal frame stiffened slightly.

Vera, standing beside him, froze for a moment, then immediately made a face at Bane, sticking out her tongue.

“Bleh bleh bleh—did you hear that?

Irina doesn’t want your stuff at all.

You should just keep it as funeral savings.

Take it into the grave with you.

Cheapskate.

Schemer.”

She laughed so hard she nearly doubled over, as if she had finally vented her anger.

Bane sat quietly, the blue flames in his eye sockets leaping violently as he forcibly suppressed his fury.

In his heart, he cursed silently.

“Damn little bat… just wait.

Once my plan starts, I’ll tear that screeching mouth of yours apart.”

His fingers dug tightly into the armrest, almost crushing it to powder.

He cast a cold glance toward the corner of the council hall.

There, Eben still wore his gray robe, his face wrapped in layers of cloth.

Silent as a stone statue, he showed no reaction at all to what had just happened.

Bane sneered inwardly.

“An old fox is still an old fox.

Playing deaf and mute really is second nature to you.”

Just as he was secretly calculating how to break this deadlock next, thinking that perhaps he should make his move.

“Boom—!!!”

The two heavy black iron doors of the council chamber were suddenly blasted open by a tremendous force from outside.

The Demon King, Morgana, entered slowly, clad in a black robe.

Her steps were steady, each one seeming to land between heartbeats.

An invisible pressure spread out like a tide.

Bane’s fingers, which had been gripping the armrest, instantly loosened.

All the movements he had secretly prepared were withdrawn at once.

The blue flames in his eye sockets flickered slightly as he forced himself to remain calm.

The Demon King’s gaze slowly swept across everyone present.

When her eyes landed on Vera, Vera shyly lowered her head, the tips of her ears faintly red.

A flutter passed through her heart.

“Sister Morgana… you saw everything just now, didn’t you?

Wasn’t I amazing?”

However, when the Demon King’s gaze fell on him, a chill exploded from the depths of Bane’s bones.

He involuntarily shrank back half an inch, his skeleton letting out a faint “crack.”

Damn it… she noticed?

Impossible!

All the actions were carried out by trusted aides.

There couldn’t have been any leaks…

Calm down, Bane, calm down!

He desperately suppressed the storm raging in his heart.

The Demon King walked up to the high platform and gracefully took her seat at the head position.

A smile curved her lips.

Her voice was soft and pleasant, yet utterly devoid of warmth, instead carrying a cat-toying-with-a-mouse kind of mockery.

“Everyone, I trust you are already aware of the situation on the front lines.

Originally, our battle lines were advancing steadily, and the situation was excellent.

Supplies in the rear were abundant, and morale among the troops was soaring…”

She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the crowd as her smile deepened.

“But what happened in the end?

We allowed a madwoman sealed by humans to slaughter us into total collapse, piling corpses like mountains—truly, utterly heartbreaking.”

Bane’s skeleton trembled almost imperceptibly.

Vera crossed her arms, the corners of her mouth lifting as she watched with a “finally reeling in the net” expression.

The Demon King interlaced her fingers and lightly tapped the tabletop, producing a steady “tap, tap” sound, like a death knell.

“Regarding this disastrous defeat,” her tone was gentle, yet every word cut like a blade.

“I feel deep regret.

Those fallen soldiers did not have to die.

Their families could have lived in peace…”

At last, her gaze locked onto Bane, her smile radiant.

“Bane, as the supreme commander of the front lines, tell me—what exactly did you do?

So many people, so many lives, slaughtered by a madwoman right under your nose?”

“Do you know,” her voice suddenly dropped low, “how many families were destroyed because of your decisions?”

Bane drew in a deep breath, even though he did not need to breathe.

He knew this moment had finally arrived.

Only by completely playing the role of a loyal subordinate who knew his guilt and repented could he deceive her.

Only then could his plan advance to a crucial step.

He slowly stood up, his skeletal frame bowed low, his voice filled with deep sorrow and remorse.

“Lady Morgana, please allow me to offer my deepest apologies to you, to all the fallen soldiers, and to their families…”

He raised his withered skeletal hand and pressed it against his chest, as if his heart were bleeding.

“All of this… is my fault.

It was my misjudgment.

My poor command.

It was I… who betrayed your trust and the trust of every warrior who fought for the demon race.”

He paused, his voice growing even lower, almost choked with emotion.

“Lady Morgana, if there must be punishment, then punish me alone.

The soldiers are innocent.

They merely followed orders and fought bravely in bloodshed.

It was I, the commander, who failed to protect them.

If my punishment can bring peace to the demon race, I… willingly accept it.”

He spread his arms wide, adopting the posture of one awaiting restraint.

That righteous, self-sacrificing appearance was flawless.

Vera let out a cold laugh, the corners of her mouth curling with disdain.

The Demon King, however, merely looked at him quietly, her brown eyes unfathomably deep.

After a moment, she let out a soft laugh.

That laughter was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue beside one’s ear.

“Punishment?”

She enunciated each word slowly, her tone brimming with amusement, like a cat playing with its prey.

“Of course there must be punishment.”

She leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle to the point of terror.

“After such a serious strategic mistake… how could I possibly not punish you?”