The ground shook, and the fox spirits around were shocked to see Hector fall to one knee and lower his head.
"This loyal servant has awaited your return for a millennium, My Lord.," Hector said passionately, but his eyes were wide open, waiting for Damon's response.
"You have become a demon fox. On par with a Magistar. You have truly done well for yourself. This Dark Lord is proud to have such a talent as his right-hand man." Damon said with a friendly smile as he patted Hector's shoulders, leaving everyone stunned.
Hector was stunned as well, his relationship with the Dark Lord had not always been smooth. In fact, he would have been executed if not for his sister back then.
'Did the Dark Lord hear of my plans from Luna and is proud of my accomplishments?' Hector was inwardly ecstatic.
From a nobody in the Dark Lord's circle to a right-hand man?
Why wouldn't he feel proud?
Of course, this was what Damon wanted him to feel. If Hector sensed any form of hostility from him, he could easily kill Damon and claim he was a fraud masquerading as the Dark Lord.
'Pay attention, little one, I will make you understand that most wars can be won without lifting a finger.' Damon said to the voice proudly.
Hector quickly stood up, enraged at the fox spirits still standing in their presence.
"Can't you see the Dark Lord and I have important matters to discuss? Leave us!" He declared proudly.
He knew rumors would spread amongst the fox spirits once they left. If they heard the Dark Lord approved of him and even called him a right-hand man, his popularity amongst his people would increase tremendously.
Not too long after, the fox spirits were gone and Damon stood by the window, looking down on the quiet city.
"I'm guessing you are the one who killed my subordinate?" Hector said, cautiously walking up to Damon.
There was still a sliver of doubt in his mind about Damon's true intentions.
"To stop the Hail family from getting the evidence they needed to descend on this place with the imperial army." Damon nodded casually.
"But you smell like them." Hector said.
"The Human body I inhabit lacks potential. I will need to build it into the perfect vessel, so consider this an alternative source of power to protect myself. By the way, as a member of the Hail family, I can get information on government activities and plot my revenge." Damon explained.
"That was until I stumbled upon your plan. It was what I truly needed at a time like this." Damon turned his attention to Hector.
"If you can defeat the Hail family, you can rally my dark army in my name. I am the God of Death, I thrive in chaotic situations… I will make my comeback from your plan, Hector. Do you know what that means?" Damon asked Hector seriously.
The demonic fox king was taken aback. Never has Damon been open to him before. Back then, he only spoke three words at most in response to whatever he said.
Yet, the Dark Lord was laying out his plans to him, a mere fox.
Hector couldn't help but feel extremely emotional. After living for so long, things were finally going his way. His story is about to be written in History as the Dark Lord's trusted right-hand man.
All he had to do was defeat the Hail family and take the Kingdom of Valtheris. Calling the Dark forces in Damon's name will boost his game amongst all the different dark races that once existed in Damon's Palace of the Dead.
He would finally stand above everyone!
"Duke Hail saw through your plan and had me bait your men. Now I have been taken, he has a reason to wage war. You have a day at most to be ready." Damon informed Hector.
Rubbing his chin, Hector staggered back while pondering deeply.
"I will make preparations to invite the Lords tomorrow morning. I am sure I can find a way to persuade them." Hector said.
"If you can take charge of their armies. It would take at least six days for them to get here. Can you handle that?" Damon asked with a raised eyebrow.
Damon casually walked up to Hector's throne and sat on it. He leaned back and watched Hector ponder deeply, slightly distressed by the sudden change of plans.
His original intention was just to capture Lara, torture her, and embarrass the Hail family. Once he gained compensation for the death of his subordinates, he would release her.
After that, the festival of radiant Heir was meant to take place. During the third day of the festival, the nobles would be invited, sedated, and possessed by powerful fox spirits under his command.
They will return to their inns and continue with the festival, while secretly writing back home and summoning their army. Their army was meant to arrive on the last day of the festival and the slaughter would take place that day while everyone had their guards lowered.
He was confident in his plan, so the sudden changes left him a bit shaken. Hector was never a fast thinker, but he didn't want to look bad in front of the Dark Lord, especially since Damon had shown so much faith.
"The forces I have here are more than capable of protecting us for a month. Also, once the noble heads are possessed, we can make it seem urgent. Reduce the travel time of their forces to five days." Hector explained almost half-heartedly.
Damon could sense his uncertainty, and it was for a good reason. Werewolves were not to be fucked with, and that was a lesson he learned too late in his past life.
The former Patriarch of the Hail family may have died to him in their battle, but the man delivered a disastrous blow that changed the tide of battle.
The memories of a werewolf are never gone and once inherited, the new wolf becomes just as good as the old. In fact, they get stronger with each generation, and that was what he found so terrifying.
Duke Hail was as strong as the Archon.
He is as strong as the strongest magus and the martial saint of the Griffith Empire!
The question was could Hector compare?