The city of Mangolandia had already celebrated its 135th anniversary since the fall of Circolandia. Since that day, there were no more demon invasions.
The houses in the city were primarily made of boards and had at most one floor. Only the leader's residence, the barracks, and the Zura clan had brick-built residences protected by a wall.
To obtain boards and materials for brickmaking, soldiers were sent to Circoland. Although demons were rare in that region, they still posed a threat. Therefore, a team of 10 soldiers, with at least five of them possessing special abilities, was dispatched.
The villagers in the city, with their carts, were responsible for cutting and collecting wood, while the soldiers remained on constant alert for any demon activity.
Wood was not a scarce resource, as there were several large trees available for cutting, some of which required the assistance of soldiers due to their size. However, the materials needed for brickmaking were harder to come by.
Clay and sand were scarce materials in the destroyed city. If needed, soldiers would have to venture beyond the city limits.
Since demons often attacked, causing damage to the wall, it was crucial for the soldiers to be ready at all times to make necessary repairs. Brick production played a key role in this process.
Sometimes they had to go beyond Circoland; however, 10 soldiers were not enough to ensure the safety of the villagers, requiring at least 15 of them.
The city's military commander and his assistant, Zefis, were now planning an attack on the leader's residence.
"What do you think, Zefis? Will the plan work?"
"Commander, I'm sorry, but this plan will fail."
"What?! Why do you think my plan will fail? Hein? Zefis? Are you doubting my intelligence, Zefis? Tell me, Zefis? Hein?" Zona asked, his expression revealing his lack of ideas and his anger toward Zefis.
Zona was a middle-aged man, completely bald. His face was heavily marked with burns and wrinkles from combat experience.
When he interacted with his soldiers, he maintained a calm and confident expression, instilling confidence in them. However, when he was in the presence of Zefis, the calm disappeared, and his face filled with suppressed rage.
"Sending the 10 soldiers loyal to the leader for the harvest is the same as saying we're going to attack their base. It would be preferable to send seven of our soldiers and three of them to avoid suspicion."
"Hm! And?"
"And?"
Veins started popping on Zona's head as he fixed his eyes in Zefis's direction. Without warning, he delivered a powerful punch to Zefis's face.
"Dodged, but… Nothing and no one can defy the order of my undodgable punches."
"Argh!" Zefis was struck in the face, and blood began to flow from his nose.
"It's pointless."
Zona's extraordinary ability transcended the defenses and evasions of his opponents. When he decided to punch something or someone, his blow was unstoppable, regardless of attempts to dodge or block.
"Hey, Zefis. Do you know the similarity between my ability and my plan?"
"No, Commander."
"Listen carefully, Zefis. Just as you can't resist my technique, no one will have the capacity to oppose my plan. It's as if inevitability is on our side, and any attempt at resistance is doomed to fail, just like any opposition to my technique."
"Yes, Commander, I'm sorry."
"I hope you understand. Moving on. I'll proceed with my plan. Seven of ours will be sent, and three of them."
'But that's my plan.'
"Comman…"
"Hein? Zefis!"
"Yes, Commander. Your plan is the best."
"Okay. Good boy," Zona said while caressing Zefis's face, wiping the blood that ran down with his index finger. " What a beautiful face you have."
"Thank you, Commander."
"It's a shame if someone were to destroy it."
"Yes, Commander."
"Go away."
"Yes, Commander."
Zefis quickly left the office, leaving Zona alone, furious with the situation. With a look filled with anger, Zona grabbed one of the chairs in the office and raised it. In a fit of rage, he struck the floor with a powerful blow.
"Haven't you left? Leave now!"
Under Zona's command, the chair shattered into pieces, making a loud noise that echoed through the office. The wooden debris scattered on the floor.
One of the reasons why Zona couldn't stand Zefis wasn't just the anger; there was something deeper involved. Zona harbored an intense hatred for Zefis for a peculiar reason: Zefis was remarkably attractive. This aspect of the situation only amplified Zona's discomfort and hostility towards his subordinate.
"Castiel. Castiel! I'll kill you!!" Zona said, scratching the burns on his face, revealing the pain and irritation he felt.
In Castiel's office, someone was relaxing, enjoying a moment of peace.
"Achoo!!!"
"What was that, Lord Castiel?"
'Catch a cold and die!'
"Nothing much, just some lovely lady speaking well of me."
'Humph! I doubt it.'
"Though it's considered a crime to be handsome, they made me too handsome. Oh, what a beauty."
'This inflated ego disgusts me.'
"Isn't that right, Nana?"
"Could you stop staring at my breasts?"
"No. I like to admire nonexistent things."
'Your scumbag, waltzing foot, rotten bouquet, poisonous breath. How dare you talk about my breasts? You old man with a limp stick.'
Nana thought with a forced tone while her teeth gritted in frustration. She tried to hide her irritation from Castiel, but her face betrayed her true feelings. Her furrowed brows and piercing gaze revealed the deep hatred she felt, despite her efforts to disguise it.
"Lord Castiel, get ready for breastfeeding."
"It's hard to irritate you."
'Die! Die! Die! Die!'
"Let's go then, Nana."
"Yes, Lord Castiel."
"Oh! Oh! Oh! What a beauty!" Castiel said with a wicked expression, provocatively taunting Nana, swinging his hips in her direction.
His gesture conveyed disrespect and insensitivity, making it clear that he didn't care about her feelings. Nana, in turn, felt outraged, and her anger grew in response to Castiel's behavior.
'One day I'll kill you!'