Chapter 158 - 158-The Daemon Beasts Leaders And The Serpent

Within the throne room of the Fortress Bastion, the Daemon Beast Leaders of the Occidental Region stood and gazed upon the Great Ruler of Azathoth, Persia. From the pressure escaping from her body, even though Persia looked like a young girl. She was a horrifying monster hiding under a delicate appearance. 

The Daemon Beast Leaders couldn't help but freeze. They didn't know what to do upon meeting with the Great Ruler. Their expectations got overthrown, and they understood that the monster in front of them could simply flick her finger, and all of them would cease to exist. Such were the thoughts of the Daemon Beast Leaders while standing in front of Persia. 

Persia, who sat on the throne of Azathoth, smiled towards the Daemon Beast Leaders. They resembled nervous puppies, but of course, only Persia and the Great Rulers could think like that. Anyway, Persia then spoke towards the Daemon Beast Leaders after her introduction. 

"Now, your numbers are lower than what I had expected. But I guess this is enough." 

The numbers of the Daemon Beast Leaders didn't even reach half. It seems that over half of the Daemon Beast Races in the Occidental Region were still savages. Persia overestimated their intelligence. Thinking about the Daemon Beast Leaders, Persia saw the Inquisitors who were lowering their heads in shame. She sighed upon seeing the expression on their faces. 

"My Inquisitors, why are you lowering your heads in shame? Did you do something wrong?" 

Persia's words echoed as Luna moved forward and kneeled in front of her. Luna lowered her head with an expression of shame and replied with a calm voice. "We have failed the First Massive Operation given to us by Master. We deserve punishment for being failures." 

"I see... It is your First Massive Operation given by me. But, the Operation is a Diplomatic Mission. Your job isn't to bring them here. Your job is to give them an offer to stay in my Nation. If they don't accept the offer, we would leave them as it is. That is the nature of the Operation."

Persia said with a serious voice. Every word she said kept releasing stronger pressure than the last word. Persia then asked a simple question after explaining the nature of their operation. 

"Now, did you do something wrong?"

A question which echoed within the mind and hearts of the Inquisitors, they finally realized what they had misunderstood. Persia sighed as the Inquisitors were too subservient. They can't even think about it and give their judgment. With this realization, Persia understood that she needed to change the training and education of the Inquisitors. 

"It seems that all of you have realized your mistakes. I'll forgive this action, for now, so I want all of you to carefully think about it. What I want isn't drones. I already have thousands of them. What I want are warriors, knights, heroes, and champions that stand right beside me."

All the Inquisitors then shouted at the same time.

"Understood, we will meet our Master's expectations." 

Persia nodded as she smirked towards the Inquisitors. Though, after smirking. It changed into a frown. She had numerous thoughts passing through her mind, and a single thought echoed within it. 

'Have I been lenient?' 

'You have not been lenient, Sister. In my opinion, I think that the Inquisitors are nervous about this First Massive Operation of yours. That may be the reason why they had thought that they failed for not reaching the criteria.' Ego's monotone voice sounded within Persia's mind. Thinking about, Ego's opinion. Persia nodded in understanding.

'I guess they would have to get used to the Operations and not get stiff. If they focus on following my orders, they would lose their flexibility and not be different than mindless drones. I don't want that to happen to my subordinates, so I hope you reeducate them, Ego.' 

'Your wish is my command. I will reeducate them and make them Sister's heroes and champions.' 

Ego answered as the connection between Persia and Ego faded. After the connection faded, it was time for Persia to focus on the Daemon Beast Leaders in front of her. She lowered the pressure released from her body. As she lowered it, the Daemon Beast Leaders finally started breathing though their breathes were heavy. 

"You don't have to introduce yourselves, But I'll have to give you some questions. Do you know why you are here?" 

Persia asked a simple question. After releasing her words, silence was what followed it. The Daemon Beast Leaders still felt fear clenching their hearts. The silence enveloping the throne room made Persia sigh in disappointment. But before she could speak, a Daemon Beast answered her question. 

"We were asked by the Inquisitors to meet their Master and become her loyal subjects. Due to the upcoming Great War, the nation might need numbers but from what I have seen. The quantity problem has already been solved."

"With both quantity and quality under the Master's hands, there is no doubt that she doesn't need the Demon Beasts of the Occidental Region to fight for her. Which only leads to one possibility, the Master wants to fully take control of the Occidental Region with the excuse of the Great War. After all, the Daemon Beasts and the Nation of Azathoth has one common enemy." 

Regina's words echoed as the Former Chief looked at her in shock. Even he couldn't answer as his heart was wildly beating from fear. He couldn't believe that his daughter simply explained everything. The Daemon Beast Leaders found themselves in shock as they looked at the Grim Tiger Regina. 

Persia didn't say anything and gazed upon Regina with her golden amber eyes. A random Daemon Beast managed to come up with such a theory. She was curious about how a Daemon Beast explained it in great detail. Was she a spy sent by the plains, or was she something else? 

"This is unexpected... What's your name, little one?"

Persia asked with a calm voice. Regina followed the advice of Luna and said what she was thinking. The possibility of someone intruding from thoughts was high as Regina already had known that Ego had intruded her thoughts before. But still, Regina couldn't help but feel nervous as she felt like a lamb that was about to get eaten by a Giant Monster. She gulped and answered with a shaken voice.

"R-Regina." 

"Regina, a Grim Tiger, the Daughter of the Chief. Your intelligence is rather high. Your knowledge about political and military matters is advance despite being a Daemon Beast. Did someone teach you such knowledge, Or is it something else? Answer my question, honestly." 

"E-eh, eh."

Regina was stuttering like a child who got told by her parents to speak of her faults. Seeing the stuttering Regina, Persia sighed and shook her head. She looked at the Daemon Beast Leaders and spoke with a calm voice.

"I want all of you to join the Nation of Azathoth. I know that all of you would join. After all, you must have already guessed the fates of those that decline the offer." 

Despite saying it with a calm voice, it had a tinge of coldness. The Daemon Beast Leaders nodded in understanding. They have already decided to join Persia and the Nation of Azathoth. It was their chance to not stay as simple beasts. Declining such an offer would be foolish. Seeing the nods of the Daemon Beast Leaders, Persia smiled in satisfaction. 

"Well then, it's time to end the meeting. It is rather interesting to meet a lot of intriguing Daemon Beasts of the Occidental Region. I'll make sure that you won't regret joining my Nation and being my Subordinates." That was a good result of the meeting. The only thing Persia needed to do was to integrate the Daemon Beast Races into her Nation.

"I guess that it is time for you to leave, You will be sent back to your people, and the Evacuation will start a day after your return." After uttering such words, the Daemon Beast Leaders exited the throne room with the Inquisitors as their guide. The Grim Tiger Former Chief and Regina were about to leave the throne room before the words of the Great Ruler stopped them. 

"Grim Tigers will have to stay here. I want to talk with them and especially the intelligent Regina." The Grim Tiger Chief and Regina stopped after hearing the voice of Persia. They couldn't move, and the only thing they could see was the backs of the Daemon Beast Leaders slowly getting smaller. The Three Governor Inquisitors were still staying in the throne room as Regina turned her head towards Persia. 

"I learn my knowledge from a random passerby. He taught me a lot of things during my younger days. He found my intelligence intriguing, so he accepted me as his student. I was under him for a month before he left to do more things." Regina prepared her alibi, which made the Former Chief look at her. 

"So that was why you disappeared. Do you know that I even asked the Silver Wolves to look for you during that month?!" The Former Chief got pissed off after hearing the words of her daughter. Regina wryly smiled and replied. "Sorry, Father." 

"I'm not gonna lie. That Alibi of yours is rather detailed and thought of. By putting a real-life event with a lot of witnesses, you can speak of something that didn't happen and turn it into something akin to truth. But doing something like that is hard. After all, holes are bound to happen."

Persia was surprised at the cunning personality of Regina. Despite acting like a stereotypical princess, she had the intelligence of a snake. But such lies weren't enough to pierce Persia. After all, she was the World Serpent, A Giant Snake. 

Persia then stood up from her throne and walked towards Regina. Regina couldn't move as her body didn't follow her orders. Persia stood in front of Regina and whispered through Regina's fluffy ears.

"What do we have here, A Reincarnator."