I had been busy the past year doing my required tasks and forging cursed weapons in my free time to increase my understanding of Dao.

I had barely left my hut; I had become a recluse over the past year. It was all worth it in my mind though. My Daos were slowly but surely inching closer and closer to the Baron realm. Before, I did not want to delve into multiple Daos.

However, learning the power they could have with cursed weapons that entirely changed my outlook. A cursed weapon could enslave someone to fight with my full Dao understanding.

Eventually I would have an entire squadron of Curse Bound to fight with my Daos. I had found my devilry progress could not keep up with my Dao learning.

My Soul Eyes were awakening, and I was finding learning Daos easier every day. With them, I could peak into the mysteries of the world.

Soon, I will start using my Soul Eyes. My vision is beyond what it was before.

"Meow, the world shall be our litter box," said the cat.

Jurrath and Sybil had accompanied me after I settled into the hut. They only stayed within the Codex when danger was around. We lived like one big happy family. I was their chef.

"Meow, that"s right," said the cat.

I enjoyed the time I spent with the Aspects. Though their personalities were quirky, they were pleasant company and always had expert advice for me.

I was upset at the Codex, though; it hadn"t issued me a quest since the Tutan World. I was pretty sure it got indigestion from all the souls it consumed from the Tutan World.

Life had grown uneventful. Every few weeks I would do a task, and that was my only responsibility. With the money flowing from the Tutan World, I had grown wealthy for a Knight. I had to support an entire organization though so I couldn"t squander my wealth.

My war division would be costly for me to maintain. But I had to build one if I wanted to conqueror more pocket worlds. My mother would not a.s.sist me in conquering any more.

Having people that depended on me and my own financial backing, I had grown more mature. My followers now addressed me was as a young lord instead of a young n.o.ble. I felt it was more fitting for my status. I was no longer a useless young n.o.ble; I was a powerful young lord.

~~~

Trouble wouldn"t avoid our young devil hero forever. His young master nemesis came to rear his ugly head.

Jaffil had pulled all the stops for this bringing out some well known n.o.ble devils to see the action. He had brought X"var Rez"gal, the youngest prince of the Rez"gal Empire, who hoped to stroll the Wesser forest.

Kalgin Estroth, a dukedom descendant with a bone to pick with James. James had taken his women! Breeze Tezan, the biggest socialite in the Rez"gal Empire, was the nexus of young devil gossip.

Breeze had her own syndicated paper throughout the Rez"gal Empire! It had ruined the lives of many young devils that got on her bad side.

If these three saw James make a fool of himself, he wouldn"t have any face left in the Rez"gal Empire! Jaffil was sure of that. They were three devil heirs that specifically asked to be guided by James in the Hazel Canopy camp. They trapped James!

~~~

When James got the a.s.signment, he was not even upset.

Over the past year of my confinement in the Wesser forest, I have grown more mature. I could deal with Kalgin and Jaffil easily. I was already counting the fel shards they would have to pay in compensation for coming to offend me again!

~~~

X"var "Libido" Rez"gal, that"s what they called him behind his back. X"var was well known for his lascivious ways. Neither man, woman, nor beast was safe from his pursuit!

X"var was the thirteenth prince of the Rez"gal empire. Princes in the Rez"gal Empire were decided just like the patriarch in the Hudson clan.

If the Rez"gal Empire saw promise in a generation"s descendant, they would hand them the t.i.tle of prince. They would represent the Rez"gal Empire when out and about in the world. X"var was the latest prince to be crowned, he had very little backing around the Rez"gal Empire.

Right now he was heading to the Hudson Estate to connect with Jaffil and Kalgin. They were both heirs to clans in the Rez"gal Empire. Every n.o.ble clan he allied with would strengthen his position as a prince. Breeze was there to write an article on him and his ascension as the youngest prince.

X"var was carried around in a sedan chair with four muscular orcs holding it up. Beside him, one maid ceaselessly fed him grapes while another fanned him. They treated him like true royalty.

*crunch crunch*

"Jaffil, my boy, what business did you bring me all the way out here for? I was enjoying myself at the capital. Mhmm so many tasty things there," said Prince X"var.

"Your excellency, I have a rival James Hudson. He humiliated me and killed my follower! I must exact my revenge!" said Jaffil.

"He"s trash, pure tras.h.!.+ I brought you out here to see if Breeze could put him in the spotlight."

"You want a defamation article Jaffil? That will cost you!" said Breeze.

"It will entertain your excellency, I hired bandits to attack, strip, and hang him. Everyone in the whole Rez"gal Empire will know how useless he is!" said Jaffil.

"Who would be foolish enough to humiliate a n.o.ble devil?" said Prince X"var.

"That"s the thing, I hired this new organization! They thought the price was just right for this mission. They have multiple Knights and a Baron. They said to just deal with a Knight would be no problem!" said Jaffil.

"Haha, what makes you have so much faith in this new organization?" said Prince X"var.

"They are backed by the Hudson clan, so even if they have a problem it will be an internal clan issue. We have nothing to lose!" said Jaffil.

*crunch crunch*

"Interesting, I hope this is a splendid show. This prince enjoys watching a good humiliation," said Prince X"var.

X"var sat and munched as the maid stuffed his face.