--- Demon Capital ---
Deep in the demon territories, hidden far behind the four provinces sits the small island just north of the central continent. The Demon Lords castle and the city that surrounds it stood tall on the island proud and imposing. Inside the dark imposing castle that reached far into the cloudy wintery sky, five individuals found themselves seated inside a meeting room.
A long rectangular table sat in the middle of the room, with two people sitting on either side, and one devil, the Demon Lord herself, sitting at the very end. Sutulina Lilia Stephanovna, was a Devil with a height of one-hundred and eighty-eight centimeters with red skin and large leathery wings adorning her back. Her long slightly wavy black hair reached just above her waist, and her two large, curled ram-like horns protruded from the sides of her head, parting the hair slightly. Her long thin tail that had an arrow like tip rested crossed legs as her orange eyes surrounded by black sclera scanned the room, looking at the other four occupants.
"Luka, care to share why you had me gather the other three Generals here?" Lilia said directing her gaze at the bluish grey Oni.
"Yes, my Lord." Replied Yushkov Luka Ivanovinch, the Demon General that controlled the first province.
The one-hundred and ninety-three tall Oni took out some papers and passed it to the other occupants in the room. Like most of his kind he didn't wear a lot of clothing, his bluish grey muscular chest displayed plainly for all to see. He styled his dark blue, going onto black, hair into a long singular braid decorated with silver and gold strands twisted into it, the twisted hair swaying as he moved. Dark blue eyes, that looked even more prominent thanks to the blacken sclera all demons possessed narrowed as he sat back down, a serious look on the Oni's face. He looked annoyed, almost like he was going to bite someone's head off, using the two large tusks poked out of his mouth like two ivory towers.
As the one in charge of the province nearest to the lost country and the desert kingdom of Purinia, Luka had the most peaceful contact with the Mankind. While they didn't particularly pay much attention to those that lived in the lost country, they had frequent trade with the Purinia Kingdom. The only human run country they had any friendly relations with. He had recently received a letter from them and that human run country their church controlled that was displeasing to read.
"As you can see, we've been given letters from both the Holy Theocracy and the Purinia Kingdom. We could care less of what those stuck up self-righteou-"
"Luka...." Reprimanded the Demon Lord with a firm tone.
"Right, sorry." He apologized. "My point is that we can't really ignore Purinia since we do have a friendly relationship with them."
"It says here that they are going to occupy the Lost Country... they're using the death of some random guards stationed in some border fort as an excuse." Said Chugunova Kira Yurievna, the Demon General that controlled the third province.
The Succubus's two red eyes lazily looked at the two letters from the different countries. She had purple skin with folded bat like wings connected to her hip. A tail with a heart shaped tip sluggishly swayed back and forth behind her. The side of her hair was shaved with the rest of her long wavy black hair hanging down, partially blocking her face.
Contrary to the rumors the monster species of Succubus's and Incubuses didn't dress provocatively. She wore a black turtleneck sweater with matching leather gloves on her hand. A long skirt that reached down to her ankles covered her legs, stockings peeking out slightly. Since her species tend to absorb Mana from anyone, they touch they have to dress very conservatively to avoid harming those around them.
"Are we sure this isn't some ploy from those Church people? Perhaps they're forcing Purinia into this?" Kira suggested with a lazy tone.
"Even if that's true we can't I don't want to risk losing trade with them. Our trade with them helps those of us on the front lines greatly." Obara Taro said.
The Changeling male had bluish grey skin, short dark brown hair and shark-like teeth. His long thin tail remained unmoving behind his 178cm tall figure. His dark pink irises peering at everyone pressing in an inky pool he called eyes. As the General that controlled the fourth province and shared a border with the Human Empire of Altaira, He would be the most effected by a soured relations with the desert kingdom.
Many resources they receive by trading with Purinia managed to make their way over to them, despite being on the other side of the continent. Raw ores, food with long shelf life, rare medicinal plants that can only be found in their kingdom, and vast quantities of Mana stones. The last of which tend to be much more valuable than their counterpart Mana crystals.
While useful overall for the entire Demon territories, these resources are particularly helpful for the front line.
"Don't you also need some very important items from them Luka?" Inquired the Demon General of the second province.
The 183cm Devil Zonov Trava Borisovich had purplish grey skin and large leather wings on their back. They wore their dark brown hair in a top knot, leaving their slightly curled horns on their head fully visible. Light purple eyes looked at their neighbor, trying to convey the importance of such items from their trade partner.
Trava controlled the second province that was located in the direct center of the Demon Territories. Almost all trade on their side of the continent would eventually find their way through her major cities, making them major trade hubs. While it wouldn't ruin anything, losing a major source of income from Luka's side because they couldn't interact with Purinia anymore would be a major economic blow.
For the most part Luka's and Trava's own territories could produce the same resources, so without Purinia almost all trade would stop between them. That's not to say it would disappear, there just wouldn't be much incitive. The land in the Demon territories were far from being fertile, with one of the biggest exceptions being the largest lake on the continent being split between the two provinces. Meaning there wasn't much incitive for much trade on Luka's side either.
"You're right Trava, while the Miasma from the corrupted lands is mostly contained, they still effect things to an extent," Luka sighed. "I also wanted to hear all of your opinions since this could have a major effect on all of our people.
"I say we let them kill the spider if that's what they truly want." Trava answered quickly.
"I don't really care, but this feels fishy somehow." Kira spoke sounding listless, despite voicing her concerns.
"I don't care how you do it, just make sure we continue getting the resources we need from them." Taro said feeling restless. "The conflict at our borders have been increasing as of late. While that doesn't mean war just yet, it's still good to be prepared."
Everyone then turned towards the Demon Lord. Lilia looked at each of them, as if studying them before she opened her mouth to speak.
"We'll send more soldiers to the southeast border. Make sure to inform both Purinia and the Holy Theocracy about our plans." She said with a tone that brook no argument. "We want to avoid conflict, so we must be clear that the movements of our troops are nothing more than a precaution. If they can't except that, then that's on them."
"Yes, my Lord." Luka said with a small bow of his head. "Shall I wright them or you?"
"I'll write them. I'll hand you them before you head back to the first Province."
After she finished speaking Demon Lord Lilia dismissed her generals before heading back to her office. She quickly made her way towards her personal office to write the letters to the two Human run countries. She did not want to waste any time.
-- -- --
After arriving at her office, she sat down at her desk and began writing. She couldn't help but sigh at her misfortune. She was just under two hundred years old and managed to have almost no major conflicts with the Humans after the Hero killed her predecessor. She didn't wish to fight him, especially after witnessing the fight between him and the previous Demon Lord. Which is why when Jason approached her for peace negotiations she welcomed him with open arms at the time.
While she was strong, she wasn't nearly as strong as Demon Lord Kiyabu Sora. So, with the urgency of a woman knowing seeing her death approaching Lilia finished writing in a matter of minutes and had handed them off to Luka soon after.
"I hope this blows over without any real trouble." She muttered to herself as she stared out a window. "Yet I sense that the future won't be so kind to me."