"W-What are you doing here?" Then she immediately looked around at the other demons guarding the place. Rey figured she was making sure that they hadn't heard that Rey had just declared himself a human. When she was satisfied, they hadn't heard, she turned back to him. "Rey, you really should not be here."

  "Hey, I didn't want to be here, but a demon over there told me a hottie was working here, so I just had to come and see."

  Gloria hadn't changed much from the time he had seen her last. She still mostly looked like a human, save for the slitted eyes. Those were new. The more time one spent as a demon, the more their body changed, especially if they indulged in their demon urges. Plus, they also took on the properties of the demon that had killed them. Seeing as how Phil didn't have any demon properties when he killed her, she was mostly human, and she was fine as hell. She wore a shirt with a few open buttons that showed off ample cleavage, especially from where Rey was standing. It was no wonder this crowd was here.

  "You know, Gloria, I would've come here twice daily, making up bullshit just to see you in that shirt," he said, letting his intrusive thoughts win.

  She didn't mind the comment. "I know. Ever since Ginirth put me here, the crowd coming to report on soul beings has nearly tripled, and most of it is just bullshit, but the boss doesn't mind because it keeps his people busy."

  Rey shrugged. "Figures."

  "You haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?" She asked again.

  "Oh, you know, just roaming about here and there, and found myself in town. Got a minute to talk?"

  She looked at the lithe demon behind her, who was looking at the crowd as if they were the degenerates that they were. Even this demoness wasn't bad on the eyes. "Hey, Qirve, can I step out for a few minutes. I promise, I'll be back soon."

  "What the fuck do you think this is, a charity?" Qirve snapped. "We pay you to work, so fucking work."

  "But I've been at it for the entire day. Even I need a break."

  "Pick up that pen while you still have fingers. Just cause you warm the boss's bed from time to time, that doesn't mean you can lord over us, whore."

  Rey sighed. "You just can't resist a toxic boss, can you?"

  "This one isn't so bad as the last one," she replied. "He's mostly civil by demon standards."

  "So, he only beats you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Got it. You leave this to me."

  Gloria's eyes widened. "Oh no, Rey, you cannot even touch even a single one of these demons. They're not—"

  "Relax, babe. What do you take me for? Some bloodthirsty, demon-killing psychopath?"

  "Actually, yes," She replied. "Just give me a few minutes. Wait for me on the left side of the mention. Sniffers don't venture towards that side."

  "Got it, but don't be long or I'll come back with information about some other poor guy with a soul."

  Rey gave her cleavage a two-finger salute. Up until this point, he had been trying to be civil, but he failed, and his eyes dipped. After all, he wouldn't be seeing them from this angle again, unless she was too late.

  He pushed through the crowd and headed off in the direction that he had come from. It was the direction she had asked him to wait for her. He couldn't help chuckling at the fact that he had run into Gloria here, of all places. He had figured she would be living it up in Neriath, but then again, that city had gone to shit, as per Kassi, after Rey wiped out the Black Hand. Just thinking about that demon made him disappointed.

  Why didn't I learn that fucker's name before I gave him the shank-shank treatment?

  Cause you're a fucking idiot. Demon Rey reminded him, perhaps for the thousandth time.

  He figured he had walked far enough away from the crowd that even if a Sniffer did happen to walk by them, they shouldn't be able to pick up on Rey's scent. Thanks to the press of all their filthy bodies.

  Just when he had stopped to lean against the railing, his friend, Tony the Tiger, returned. One moment, there was no one, and the next, he was looming over him, as he placed his meaty paw-hand on Rey's shoulder. The glowing bubble that made them invisible to the rest of the world was back on.

  "Oh, hey, Aearbon, did you have a good view of the mansion?" Rey asked to change the topic from the accusation that was in the tiger's eyes.

  "I did."

  "Don't make me ask, you're smarter than that."

  "The mansion is secure and solid. Guards are patrolling the grounds at all times. Even with my camouflage skill, it would be hard to sneak in. It would be best to draw him out."

  "I see that shouldn't be too much of a problem," Rey contemplated. "Of course, if he comes, so do all the guards. It's not like we're not equipped to do this, but I want to do this one quietly. The more attention we draw here so close to the palace, the worse it'll be for us as those Terrors will come and overwhelm us." Rey rubbed his chin. "Hmm, leave this problem with me. You head on back to the others and let them know that I'll be along shortly."

  Aearbon frowned. "That is not wise."

  "Wisdom takes a hard left when it sees me coming," Rey said. "Just go. I'm waiting on a lady."

  He paused and clearly didn't know how to broach the subject. "Kassandra will not be happy to hear that."

  "Good. She's made me very unhappy in the past few days. It's time I return the favor."

  "You don't win over an aggrieved loved one by hurting them or with jealousy."

  "Then how do you win them over, O wise one?" Rey asked.

  "You win them over with love."

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  That stumped Rey. It was so simple, yet Rey was surprised that it was Aearbon, of all people, who had said it. But clearly, he didn't know Rey. Sure, he would try love later, but right now, it was time for some good old jealousy.

  "Just go and tell them that I'll be along shortly, and before you say anything, I'll be fine. If a few buildings are immediately crushed to the ground, that is the signal that I need backup."

  Aearbon nodded and retracted his hand. As soon as the contact between his hand and Rey's shoulder broke, the tiger disappeared. Rey noted his shadow receding into the street corner, where the traffic was pretty much nil.

  As he waited, Aearbon's words kept coming back to him. But how did he win her back with love when she refused to even look at him, much less talk to him, unless he revealed the secret that would get this merry quest of theirs to come to a hard stop? Their dear patron would arrive with his cock ablaze to ram in Rey's asshole and wouldn't stop until Rey ejaculated all the information of the future. Then Rey would promptly take his place with the rest of his family in the Gill family coat.

  He would eventually try to talk to Kassi, but for now, it seemed they were unofficially on a break. If that was the case, she couldn't blame him for a nice, long chat with Gloria. Technically, it wasn't cheating. Speaking of Gloria, she arrived, not long after, and he had to admit, she was doing well for herself. Her clothes were very rich for someone who was just an admin.

  "My Lady of the glorified pen," Rey bowed.

  She snorted and shook her head. "Stop. Now, I don't have long. I had to threaten Qirve with telling on her to Ginirth if she didn't let me take this break."

  "Hey, that was what I was going to do," Rey said.

  "Knowing you, you would've beheaded her, tossed her body to the demons for a quick meal."

  "That was my second idea. Wow, our thoughts match so much."

  She chuckled lightly. "So, what are you doing here, Rey?"

  "Walk with me." Rey offered her his arm.

  She shrugged, sliding her arm in his. "Just make it quick."

  "I live to please the lady of the adoring crowd. This way." He led her towards the alley where the rest of his friends were hiding. It wasn't a long walk if he walked straight towards the alley and didn't take a long time walking around the demons. Most of the demons had dispersed since Gloria was no longer there.

  "You've become a bit of a celebrity," Rey commented.

  She sighed. "Don't even get me started. I may not be a human, and the ogling and cat-calling don't faze me as much, but the grand promises never stop. Every demon makes me some promise to run away with them and how they would treat me like the princess that I am, and these are paupers. And the less that is said about the affluent ones, the better."

  "It almost seems like the reason Ginirth has you out there is to show the other demons that you are his and they can't have you."

  "That is most certainly why he put me out there," she replied. "These demons, especially the ones in this neighborhood, are all trying show each other whose the richest one of them all."

  "Oh, so just like humans," Rey said.

  "Yes, exactly like humans."

  The alley was just a few steps away, but even from here, he could hear Kassi's voice berating someone who could be none other than Aearbon. Rey almost paused to peek in, as the size difference between the two of them would've made this hilarious.

  Gloria frowned. "Is that…"

  They turned into the alley to see Aearbon standing with his eyes on the ground while Kassi, who was half his size, scolding him like he was a disobedient child who had eaten too many candies.

  "You know what he's like?" Kassi cried. "For all we know, he would've started a brawl that would end up with this entire neighborhood crawling with guards."

  "Kass," Ajay tried to get a word in, but the Greek goddess was on a roll.

  "I seriously thought you were smarter than that. Leaving him alone out there with all these Sniffers walking about."

  "Kass!" Filomena tried louder this time.

  "What?"

  "Look behind you."

  Kassi finally turned. The first thing her eyes landed on was him, and the second was Gloria's arm through his. He was about to let go when Gloria withdrew it herself. The look on Kassi's face almost made him feel like he was in so much trouble. But that only lasted a moment before she turned away with that indifferent look.

  Why doesn't someone tell her to treat me with love?

  "Gloria?" Filomena said.

  "Yep, the one and only." Rey flourished a hand.

  The others came forward, and they all embraced each other, and asked benign questions like how she was here. The answer was simple, really.

  "It got too dangerous in Narzroth after Rey killed the Black Hand," she replied. "I left not long after you guys did. Wandered around until I found myself here."

  "And guess who she is working for?" Rey cried. "That's right, Ginirth. Isn't that so exciting?"

  Gloria turned to him, frowning. "Why would that be exciting?"

  "Oh, my dear, Gloria," he said, gently cupping her face in his hand. Kassi immediately coughed, and he instinctively withdrew his hands, to the giggling of Ajay and Filomena. But he powered on. "How many times will I have to save you from overbearing employers?"

  Her eyes widened. "Oh no."

  "Oh yes."

  Then she was even more shocked. "Wait, it is you guys who've been going around destroying the city."

  "Wow, that was quick," Filomena commented.

  "Quick? More like slow," Gloria replied. "Every Sniffer has been talking about you guys. They've been running scared to the boss, who has been getting increasingly frustrated, and he's been taking it out…"

  She trailed off, but Rey understood her meaning.

  "He's been talking it out on you," he finished for her.

  "No, not all the time," Gloria said. "Rey, you do not want to mess with him. He's not like the other demons."

  "He's at the D-Tier," Rey said. "We know all about him. Come on out, Noise Pollution."

  Noidet sighed loudly as he stepped forward. "Hello, Gloria."

  Gloria drew a sharp breath. "You're working with this toad?"

  Rey shared a glance with Ajay and Filomena and shrugged. "Unfortunately, we didn't have our pick of the lot. I guess you know each other?"

  "Oh, we do." She stepped forward and slapped Noidet across the face. "That was for stealing my panties."

  Rey's eyes widened. "So, you're a panty sniffer too." He laughed at his own joke and turned to Gloria. "Well, we always wanted someone on the inside."

  "Oh no, I don't want any part in whatever you're planning." She turned to leave.

  He quickly jumped in her path, cutting her off. "Wait, wait. Do you want to be an employee to bosses who use you for sex and take their frustrations out on you?" He gripped her shoulders, and this time Kassi didn't cough. "Gloria, babe, you're wasting your talents on working for these lowly demons."

  "So, instead, you want me to work for you?" she countered.

  "Oh, no, not at all. I want you to be an entrepreneur. Be your own boss. Be free and strong enough to go wherever you want and whenever you want."

  Gloria scoffed. "That's easier said than done."

  "Then join with us, and I'll make sure you're strong enough that you don't have to sleep with anyone unless you want to."

  She pondered this for a long moment. Rey needed her, for he needed someone on the inside. Someone who could get them inside without making much noise. Unfortunately, they weren't strong enough to start a fight with this Ginirth, head-on, and this close to the palace. But an assassination was as good as dying in battle.

  "He's right," Kassi said. "We could truly do that for you. Will it be dangerous? It will be, but it won't be the life you're living now. Think about it, Gloria. Truly think about it. You'll never need to work for anyone. You could be truly free."

  "First, get rid of Ginirth, then we'll talk," Gloria said.

  "Think of him as already dusted, but we will need your help to gain entry into the mansion," Rey said.

  She nodded. "Okay."

  "Good. Now, don't you go wagging your tongue to your bedmate or…well, you know how unhinged we've been lately. I would hate to have to flatten you to paste and feed it to your boss."

  Gloria gulped at Rey's perfectly normal smiling face.