040 TAKING OVER THE FAMILY
Lillwo's body went limp, his life force drained entirely. His skin shriveled as if every drop of blood had been sucked out of him. He fell to the ground, dead.
It was Leo's demon magic that sucked Lillwo dry.
The family rushed to Lillwo's side, but it was too late. His body had been reduced to little more than bones and empty skin. In a short while even those remnants of Lillwo disappeared, turned into dust.
"What kind of monster can drain someone's blood like that?" one horrified family member asked, staring at Leo.
But Leo had no intention of answering. Holding the Mirror of Gullee, using it like a fan, he turned to Yun-Yun, took her hand, and walked away without a word.
"Are you just going to leave us without an explanation after killing our general?" someone called after Leo.
Lillann sighed.
"Lillwo killed himself. I warned him. The Mirror of Gullee drained all his blood because he used it recklessly, alone. He sealed his own fate."
"And what about the Mirror of Gullee? Will we let Lilleo keep it?" another family member asked nervously.
Lillann smiled grimly.
"If anyone in the family is brave enough to take it from him, you have my full support. But count me out. Lilleo is not the same weak boy we once knew. He's become something far more dangerous."
"But all he did this entire time was cast a tier 1 spell, Spark of flame", Kassim protested.
"Our entire House combined is not worth the heir's effort to cast more than a tier 1 spell. That is something to ponder", Lillann replied as the House fell silent at the thought.
-----
"You're a demon magic practitioner, your demon form appeared when you strangled the man," Yun-Yun accused Leo, her gaze sharp and unflinching.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that? It's not the first time you mentioned it. What is a demon practitioner?"
"I saw your demon aura. It devoured that man's blood completely. Even though my own magic is sealed, I still have the instincts of an advance mage," Yun-Yun replied coolly.
Leo chuckled softly. "Yes, you are strong. Are you planning to arrest me? I've heard that your Benevolent Sects hunt down practitioners of demonic magic."
"That was in the past," she said, her tone indifferent. "Whether your magic is demonic or not, I don't care anymore."
"Good, because here's a little secret for you." He leaned closer with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm the Demon of Lust. Rawwwrrr," he added, playfully growling at her.
"I'm only worried about the demon, his magic is growing", Yun-Yun replied.
"I promise not to use that magic again if I don't have to", Leo replied.
Before Yun-Yun could respond, Lillreen rushed up to Leo, concern etched on her face.
"Master! Are you okay? I was so worried about you!" Lillreen cried, rushing to Leo.
"Don't worry," Leo reassured her, "thanks to your help, I've handled those thorns in the family."
"I'm sorry I worked for the old master all this time, feeding him news about you," Lillreen said, apologetic.
Lillreen had been a double spy, trapped by both fear and duty. She had agreed to spy on Leo for the powerful, ruthless Lieutenant General Lillwo.
But from the start, she never intended to betray Leo. She'd secretly confessed everything to Leo, acting as his double agent and feeding him crucial information about Lillwo's plans.
Thanks to her, Leo had evaded many deadly traps.
"No need to apologize," Leo said gently as she came over and hugged him. "I'd be dead many times over without your warnings."
To Leo, Lillreen wasn't just a maid—she was his only friend in the family.
When he decided to take revenge on Lillwo and Lillrune for killing Lilleo, he relied on Lillreen to spike Lillrune's drink with potent wine from Bagnio la Pleasure, meant for their most unruly patrons.
Kasshyek's men then abducted the drugged Lillrune and delivered him to Leo, who had mercilessly beaten him, crippling him as punishment for years of torment.
Kasshyek stepped forward, looking curious. "There's something I don't understand," he said. "You didn't need Lillreen as a witness. She did her part by helping you get Lillrune. Her testimony wouldn't have changed anything."
"He doesn't need any justification at all," Yun-Yun chimed in. "He could crush them all with his raw strength alone."
"True," Leo agreed. "But the only way to release Lillreen from her slave contract is to prove mistreatment. With her testimony, I showed Lillwo's attempted assault and mistreatment on her. The family must free her now. It's the only useful fucking Gomora law there is."
"You could just free her yourself, as the heir, with your allowance," Kasshyek pointed out.
Leo smirked. "But that wouldn't have humiliated the old cock quite as much. Plus, they'd try to charge me a big sum for breaking Lillreen's contract early. I'm not paying this family a single coin."
"Always finding ways not to pay the bill. Our 'big spender,'" Kasshyek muttered with a wry smile.
Lillreen shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm not leaving you, Master. I don't want freedom if it means I'm leaving you."
Leo's expression softened. "Lillreen, you won't be happy with me. I'm... impossible to satisfy. You deserve more than what I can give. You're my friend, not my slave. Go back to your family. I'll give you enough money to start a new life or marry someone someday."
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Before she could respond, Kasshyek interrupted.
"What do you need me to do now, leader?"
After witnessing the shock of Lilleo's treatment against Lillrune, Kasshyek and his men have a new kind of respect for their heir- a respect born out of fear. The only kind of respect that was reliable.
"Stay here and protect the family," Leo instructed. "I'll take the ruling seal from Lillann and pass it to you. While I'm gone, you'll be in charge."
"Where are you going?" Lillreen asked, her voice trembling.
"I'm heading to the battlefront," Leo said calmly. "My father is there, fighting the cities in the Eastern Kun Empire. He'll need my help."
Kasshyek frowned. "Will Lillann just hand over the family's control to you? Just like that?"