Trevor held up a hand to notify the goblins to stop their dancing and the slimes to cease the music.
The reason the antiheroes had time for such an event was because they had worked day and night in order to progress the construction so quickly. Garett's abilities had come in handy regarding that, and when he was working with a blueprint he could build just about anything almost instantly, though it did take him some thought to come up with the actual how-to when creating any sort of contraption, component, or structure. Even so, his master craftsmen skill greatly improved his ingenuity, so he was coming up with solutions and trying new things left and right.
The village was roughly at its completed stage of development. While there is no such thing as a 'finished' state when it comes to civil expansion, the village was right now at the point where the antiheroes did not have to worry further about bringing the technology and such up to date.
"What was that commotion? I think we had better take a look.", Trevor suggested.
"Eh... do we have to? Can't we just leave it to the punishment force to deal with any issues?", Samantha complained, eager to continue relaxing.
"I agree. We should just sit here and be lazy. There won't be any issues even if we do. Don't forget that I'm always right.", Ashley said in a monotone voice.
"I see... even so, allowing a commotion to go on within our village... that isn't very dictator like if I do say so myself... perhaps we haven't established our dominance over everyone enough... I can sense... is that a lizardman? It seems someone who is not from this village has been allowed in. It would be in our best interest to have them come and introduce themselves, and why they have come here.", Trevor responded while closing his eyes to feel the area around the building with his perceptive skills.
"Fine by me. Let him in.", Garett exhaled.
"But, your excellency! Are you sure we should give the time of day to someone who would dare interrupt your activities while you all are resting?! We should throw this person into the prison!", one of the goblins shouted, and the others nodding in agreement.
"No. It is better to listen to them in order to gain information. There is nothing more important than information- and it is our one and only weakness. We will punish him if I see fit, but you all must learn that only a fool acts without knowledge. Let him in."
"As you wish, your excellency! Your intuition truly exceeds the minds of your servants!"
The goblin ran out to discuss the situation with Arlo before returning quickly.
Ashley slumped further into her seat, with dull eyes, glaring at the front door, which was made of metal and had a zigzagged pattern on it, as it opened.
The lizardmen walked in with Arlo and Oraguth along with the other goblin behind him, and the two members of the punishment force were holding their weapons on guard as they pushed the lizard forward.
"Their excellencies have been kind enough to grant you an audience, despite your disruptive behavior. Be thankful.", Arlo stated.
The lizardmen was shoved forward until he reached a place in front of the antiheroes. The group of performers were now standing to the side to allow the reception to proceed without delay.
"Welcome to hell, the lair of the future demon lords. State your name and business. If you don't have a business card, then please leave us with a way to contact you. Ah wait, I suppose in this world we have no such thing... well, that's fine. Also... you did not schedule a meeting with us beforehand. This is quite a presumptive action... however because we are the ones who invited you here, we will forgive this grave transgression.", Samantha stated with a cheerful yet dreadful smile.
She was taking quite the influence from Trevor as she rattled off these words like a trained secretary.
The lizardman was shoved onto his knees by Oraguth.
"Her excellency is speaking to you. Listen carefully, scum."
Ashley seemed to chuckle from her slouch position.
"Hehehe"
Rar then looked up in fear.
He knew at that moment that coming here was the wrong decision.
He should never have listened to his curiosity. He should never have left the safety of his village to explore.
However...
Were the villagers even safe where they were? Was there any such thing as a wall or a distance that could protect one from the overwhelming beings in front of him?
There was no such thing.
Rar was taken aback at everything he had seen thus far, but he was most surprised at how royal and dominating these four looked in their seats. They had the composition of complete rulers, beings of absolute power, and even though some of them were relaxed and not even on guard, he felt a chill just seeing them as if he was being watched at all angles. This was even worse than when he was being followed by thousands of eyes that spanned the giant wall.
He was not even bothered by being shoved down by the henchmen, for they were merely a fraction as dominating as the ones in front of him.
"I am Rar, from the lizardmen village. I deeply apologize for interrupting the activities of your excellencies, however I have simply come here in order to satisfy my own curiosity. I did not in any way intend to waste your precious time speaking with a commoner as myself.", he said in a trembling and cowardly voice.
"So I take it you are... exploring then? Perhaps surveying?", Trevor inquired.
"Y-you could say that."
"I see... take your time, and explore as you wish. Ensure to inform the people of the lizardmen village of the things you have seen here. Ah yes... make sure to let the leader know that we are but a shout away, and that we do not intend to take enemies lightly, however we also will give our all to ensure that our allies do not regret the alliance. If I may ask you to take a message back, I would ask you to request that the leader comply with us and stay out of our line of sight... if he wishes the prosperity that he currently has.", Trevor requested. "And should we ever decide to visit your village, he would do well to prepare for that scenario as to ensure that no incidents occur."
"I will do so.", Rar responded, barely able to slip the words out.
'How terrifying! I should get out of here as soon as possible! I cannot believe that such a tiny village became such an insane place after just a few weeks! Not that I have been here before... but from what I had heard, the slime village was not even close to the level of development that the lizardmen village has. This is incomprehensible...', Rar anguished.
Rar could have sworn he saw the blue demon smirk as he thought this.
"You are permitted to leave. Do watch your step on the way out... the stones on the walkways might catch the scent of your fear and take a bite out of your soul.", Ashley said grimly while chuckling.
Rar was then shoved out of the room by the lizardmen, and he ensured that he avoided the paths on the way out of the village.
What should he do?
No. There was not even a choice here. He would go back and spread the word about what he had seen to everyone.
These antiheroes were far more powerful than the citizens ever believed they could possibly be. Even to those people who had warned him about the terrors which the Determined showed were nowhere near as horrified as they should be. It was time to spread the message.
If the antiheroes were to ever step foot into the lizardmen village, there would be nothing left to do aside from bowing down and groveling, hoping that they would be kind enough to accept their servitude.
----
"Well... that kinda ruined the mood.", Garett stated. "Why would an outsider even come here? It should take a lot of courage to be able to step inside those gates... has our plan to drive enemies off failed?"
"No, I don't think so. He was pretty dang scared, like a little baby. He could barely even speak properly.", Ashley replied. "It was at least funny to see his face filled with despair after seeing us. Heh heh heh..."
"At any rate, stage one of coming into power as the demon lords is completed. We have established ourselves as the dictators of a prosperous... and demonic village. How delightful...", Trevor exclaimed with a grin.
"So now we move on to stage 2?", Samantha asked.
"I now have the ability to fast travel, and as such there is no worry in leaving the village, as we can immediately return without issue... not only that, but at reaching level 20 we unlocked the ability to contact those who we know... almost like a cell phone service. We should have no problems leaving for the human realm to try and gain information.", Trevor explained.
"Perfect. Should we begin the preparations to head out right now then?", Garett suggested.
"Let us call all the members of the punishment force to let them know, and then we will prepare to leave... our first location will be the area where we fought those soldiers long ago...", Trevor replied.
"Ah. The ones with small dicks?", Ashley asked.
"Don't be so vulgar", Garett said with a demonic laugh.
Trevor laughed in a way that was not so elegant.
"Yes. The ones with small dicks.", Samantha sighed.