"It should last another week before they notice, do not worry".
"So long, are not they rather irresponsible?" Kaito replied to the crystal ball in front of him, where he could see Luna's image at that moment.
Stabilizing all the villages they had taken took far more time than destroying their defenses and claiming them.
Because of that delay, they were still not attacking mid level zones.
For now, the plan was simply to do everything possible to stabilize them as much as possible before the elven kingdom realized the situation and started a war in the full sense of the word.
If everything went well, by next week they should be ready according to the system requirements, and only then would they be able to claim all the rewards.
Even so, Kaito was surprised that nearly two full weeks had passed without anyone noticing what was happening.
However, Luna seemed quite offended by his comment.
"What do you mean by irresponsible? That is not the case. Dark elves and humans have different lifespans and, therefore, different perceptions of time. From your point of view, not noticing the situation for two weeks may seem like a lot, but for us it is not.
By comparison, it would be as if you failed to notice something for about three hours, and that is assuming someone influential is covering the situation.
It is clearly far more efficient than many lazy or corrupt humans, who would ignore the matter entirely".
Kaito was surprised by Luna's sudden outburst, but quickly understood it.
'She truly values her kingdom'.
"All right, I apologize for that", Kaito said, trying to calm her. "If that is the case, then the timing works perfectly. Thank you for the warning.
By the way, if you happen to need anything today, contact Sonya. I will not be available.
See you later".
"Goodbye, Lord Lucifer. I hope you succeed in all your affairs", Luna said formally before ending the call.
After cutting the communication, Kaito remained silent for a moment, thinking about the current situation.
As he had said, at this point they had to deal with all the villages they had taken by force, which meant more negotiations, paperwork, and official matters, rather than simple brute force. It was not something that could be rushed.
If the system were satisfied with simply taking those villages and immediately granting the reward, Kaito would have already done so, unfortunately all he could do was wait.
But that also meant he had practically the entire week free.
Normally, Kaito spent his free time hanging out with Koneko, who tended to remain inside the mansion most of the time.
However, today he had other plans.
---
A sudden gust of wind blew in front of a concert hall.
When they looked in that direction, several people saw a tall and attractive man appear out of nowhere.
He wore a modern black suit, with a fitted jacket and clean, straight lines. His shirt was plain white, with the first button undone. He wore no tie. Polished black leather shoes completed the outfit, paired with a discreet belt.
His shoulders fit the jacket perfectly, giving him a refined and confident appearance.
He had black hair, so dark it seemed to absorb the light, and deep red eyes hidden behind a black mask.
The entire ensemble gave the impression of someone important, and the natural pressure emanating from his presence made those standing in front of the building instinctively step aside, opening a path for him.
Some people did not notice him at first, as they were focused on something else.
But as he approached, even those with their backs turned felt that pressure and moved aside.
Then it became clear what they had been looking at.
A beautiful woman.
She wore a midnight blue evening gown that elegantly outlined every curve. The fabric, smooth and lustrous, fell from the waist into a fitted skirt that extended into a subtle train near the floor. A side slit revealed her leg with each step, just enough to draw attention without losing sophistication.
Thin straps framed a deep neckline that accentuated her figure. Her back was exposed, showing her fair skin. Black silk gloves covered her arms above the elbows, adding a touch of mystery.
She wore a Venetian mask on her face, the same dark shade as her dress, framing her deep blue eyes.
Her blonde hair was gathered into an elegant side ponytail.
"May I have the pleasure, miss?"
Seeing him speak to her so naturally, the people who had gathered around her and had not dared to make the first move felt that they had lost their chance, while some still clung to the hope that she would reject him.
That hope vanished when the woman looked at the newcomer and took his hand without hesitation, then linked her arm with his.
"It will be my pleasure", she replied.
The two of them entered the concert hall together.
Once inside, they observed the place. It was filled with elegantly dressed people, all wearing masks.
There was one thing they all had in common.
They were all Lords, and all of them hid their identities behind masks.
The reason for this was simply that the presenters of the night had wanted it that way.
A prodigy pianist and a prodigy violinist, a pair seemingly born from a dream, who had given a single concert and etched themselves into everyone's memories, only to disappear for months afterward, many believed something had happened to them.
However, just two days ago they reappeared out of nowhere, as if they had never left, and organized a concert only two days after returning, with rather strange entry requirements.
All attendees had to be Lords, and all had to hide their identities.
Kaguya had obtained a pair of tickets, one for Kaito and one for whoever accompanied him.
"Excuse me, are you Lord Aime and Lord... Lucifer?" When reading the second name, the staff member's eyes widened in surprise.
"That is us. And I am not the real one, do not worry", Kaito replied with a smile, though that only made the employee even more nervous, practically confirming the opposite.
"Th this way, please. You have a VIP room".
Kaito and Ai followed the staff to a VIP room on the second floor, with extremely comfortable individual seats and a central table filled with food and drinks.
Once the staff left, Kaito turned to Ai.
"So, what is Kaguya planning by giving us these tickets?"
"It is a surprise. I cannot tell you", Ai replied with a smile.
"Then I will wait", Kaito said, brushing it off. "Are you sure I am not bothering you on your day off?"
"It is fine. Spending time with you is not a bother. Besides, I had nothing to do", Ai replied.
"Nothing? What do you usually do in your free time?"
"Nothing in particular. I just follow Kaguya sama and take care of her affairs".
"Is not that your job?" Kaito asked, confused.
Ai shook her head, and a warm smile appeared on her face.
"It is not the same. During work, I follow her as a servant. In my free time, I simply enjoy watching her actions. Even though she acts cold, she is actually like a small child, so she is very entertaining.
She always tries to do everything on her own and trust no one, but when she needs help, she calls me without hesitation.
Despite being considered a perfect noble, capable of doing things impossible for a normal person, she still needs help with simple things, like cooking or choosing clothes".
Ai let out a small laugh as she remembered it.
"It sounds like you care about her a lot".
"Despite everything that led me to my current situation, I watched Kaguya grow up and consider her a younger sister", Ai nodded.
"Oh, it is starting".
The conversation was interrupted as the concert began.
The pianist, a teenage boy with glasses and black hair, appeared on stage alongside his partner, a girl of the same age, blonde, with gray blue eyes. After briefly introducing themselves and bowing to the audience, both sat in front of their instruments.
For a second, the hall fell into complete silence.
Then.
BWAAAM.
The sound flooded the venue.
In just a few seconds, the melody captured everyone. The notes seemed to float around the pair on stage, enveloping the audience.
"Incredible", Kaito murmured.
The moment the music began, Kaito felt a skill activate over him. His power tried to reject it, but Kaito stopped it.
That music was not only beautiful, it also had real effects. Kaito felt his mind clear.
He listened carefully, enjoying it, yes, but above all with a completely different expression on his face.
Greed.
He enjoyed the music, but above all he thought about its utility.
If it could grant positive effects, it could also generate negative effects. If its range was anyone who heard it, then it was something terrifying.
Able to immerse the listeners in the music, this melody was calming and relaxing.
But what if it were different?
A melody of terror.
One of tension.
What kind of world would those who heard it be trapped in?
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+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)