Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation-Chapter 694: Celestial Diplomatic Forum [Part 2]

Chapter 694 – Celestial Diplomatic Forum [Part 2]

He allowed a small sigh. Humanizing. Strategic vulnerability. Always effective.

"I underestimated how dependent interrealm networks have become on my personal involvement. That oversight is noted and will be addressed through future redundancy planning."

Another council smiled faintly. "You sound like you are apologizing while presenting quarterly growth projections."

"I am," Lux said honestly.

Vizreel leaned slightly forward. Armor creaking with contained authority.

"The last information we got. You also engaged in confrontation with Abyssal Lord Zehar."

Lux’s smile sharpened slightly.

’How did he know about that?!’

"Self defense."

"You converted him into a bound servant."

"Workforce expansion. Nothing more."

Celestaria closed her eyes briefly. Possibly praying. Possibly calculating.

Selena tapped her fingers lightly on the table, moonlight reflecting from her nails.

"You move boldly, Prince Lux."

"I move efficiently."

A goddess rested her chin on her knuckles. "And you are certain your... vacation... has concluded?"

Lux allowed a small grin. "For now."

Vizreel studied him for a long moment.

"You understand this meeting exists not only for diplomatic courtesy, but evaluation."

Lux nodded slowly. "I assumed as much."

Celestaria spoke again, tone softer but layered with meaning.

"Your influence is expanding rapidly, Lux. Infernal and celestial economies show measurable alignment under your policies. Several celestial departments are reviewing your reform proposals seriously."

A council member added, "And that makes you... important."

Another finished quietly, "And potentially dangerous."

Lux held their gaze evenly.

"Importance and danger are often the same metric," he said calmly.

Silence settled over the chamber. The meeting was... difficult. Not just for Lux, but for Celestaria, Selena and Solara as well. Because, despite their history with him, despite the familiarity and unspoken understanding between them, they could not show it.

They were not here as Celestaria, Solara, and Selena who had laughed with him during informal gatherings. They were here as pillars of the Celestial Order. Symbols of neutrality. Representatives of divine law.

If they showed even the slightest hint of favoritism toward Lux... the other councils would notice. And once the whispers started, it would not stop at rumors. It would become political ammunition. A fracture in celestial unity. Something far more dangerous than personal bias.

And Lux knew it.

That was why he kept his posture perfect. His tone measured. His smile professional instead of warm. Because if he leaned even a fraction closer to them as allies instead of diplomats... it would not just endanger him.

It would endanger them too.

Then Celestaria’s lips curved slightly.

"You speak like someone who intends to remain at the center of both."

Lux did not deny it.

[System Notice: Negotiation flow stable.]

[Diplomatic Influence Score rising.]

Lux mentally smirked but kept his face neutral.

Vizreel finally leaned back. Armor wings folding slightly, the universal body language of partial acceptance.

"Your explanation is logged," he said. "But your absence caused measurable stress across monitoring networks."

Lux nodded respectfully. "Then I will provide scheduled public appearances to stabilize market confidence and interrealm political sentiment. I already did for the infernal realm. But I will do it again for the celestial. Today."

A council laughed softly. "You treat public perception like stock value."

"It behaves like stock value," Lux replied.

Solara leaned forward slightly. "And personally, Prince Lux... are you well?"

That question caught him off guard.

Not politically. Personally.

For half a second, the room felt quieter.

He answered honestly. Carefully.

"Yes," he said. "I am... recalibrated."

Celestaria watched him with eyes that saw far too much.

"That is good," she said softly. "Because the next matter we must discuss may require you to be."

Lux straightened slightly.

Lobbying instincts sharpened.

Greed instincts whispered.

And somewhere deep in his chest, that new plan flickered quietly like a forbidden investment opportunity.

He folded his hands calmly.

"Then let us proceed."

The crystal table shimmered, reacting to the shift in tone. The air grew heavier. The floating archives around the chamber dimmed slightly, as if the room itself recognized the conversation was crossing from courtesy into risk assessment.

Celestaria exchanged a brief glance with another council member seated across from her. A tall figure cloaked in layered translucent veils of scripture, their face obscured behind rotating halos of jurisdiction sigils. They inclined their head, granting permission to continue.

Solara leaned forward first, fingers interlocking atop the table, sunlight contained but visibly restless around her wrists.

"There are factions within the Celestial Dominion that... do not approve of your continued influence," she said carefully.

Lux did not react outwardly. He simply nodded once, as if they had informed him rain existed.

"I assumed as much," he replied.

Selena’s gaze softened slightly. "This is not casual dissent, Lux."

Vizreel spoke next, his voice echoing with metallic authority.

"Certain extremist purification sects view your interrealm economic integration as corruption. They believe infernal presence in celestial markets creates spiritual dilution."

Lux smirked faintly. "Translation. I’m bad for their brand."

The veiled council member spoke, voice layered like multiple choirs speaking in legal harmony.

"They want you removed."

The word lingered.

Removed.

Not opposed.

Not challenged.

Erased.

Lux exhaled slowly, fingers tapping once against the crystal surface. Calm. Controlled. Lobby mode remained active.

"I have experienced several assassination attempts," he said evenly.

Selena’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly.

"Describe them," Vizreel demanded.

Lux leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other.

"Standard ambushes. Sanctified kill squads. One incident escalated into... limbo containment."

That drew attention.

Solara’s brows knitted together. "Limbo containment?"

Lux glanced at Selena briefly before returning his gaze to the table.

"Yes," he said. "I was trapped inside a temporal void pocket. With Selena."

Several council members shifted subtly. Even Vizreel’s wing plates tightened.

Selena spoke quietly. "It was not authorized."

Lux nodded. "We had to dismantle the limbo shell manually."

The veiled council member turned slightly toward Vizreel.

"This confirms internal compromise."

Vizreel’s jaw tightened beneath his helm. "Investigation remains ongoing."

Solara leaned closer toward Lux, sunlight flickering along her collarbone in contained frustration.

"These attacks will continue," she said bluntly. "As long as you remain active in the mortal realm."

Lux tilted his head. "That is unfortunate for them."

Selena sighed softly. "Lux..."

He raised a hand gently. Not dismissive. Reassuring.

"I understand the risk," he said.