As Liebe returned to the hotel, he saw the clock. It was 7 AM.
Liebe said, "Huhhh, still some time till breakfast. Guess time to get some work done before waking up my sleepy butt. I really must be slacking off now. But still, it was hilarious. I swear, I can't believe she fell for it. Dark Magic: Dark Castling!" As he teleported back to HQ.
Gelda said, "Morning, Lord. You sure are early, showing up at 5 AM."
Liebe said, "Well, I have some paperwork to take care of. But is the captain here yet?"
Gelda said, "Well, no. The captain is still at home."
Liebe said, "OK. Tell her to visit me at my office when she comes in."
Gelda just sighed and said, "Usually it's the captain who is supposed to be saying that. You really are slacking off nowadays."
Liebe said, "Yup. And as Acting Captain, I enjoy it, Vice Captain Mommy."
Gelda said, "Fine, fine. I will get breakfast ready."
Liebe said, "Thanks. Now then, time to get back to my office to take a nice long nap."
Gelda said, "What was that?"
Liebe said, "I meant bury my corpse in paperwork."
Gelda said, "By the way, for breakfast, it's a salad with waffles."
Liebe said, "Seriously? Can you make me some chicken tenders? Pretty please?"
Gelda said, "No. You need to have a balanced diet."
Liebe, in tears, said, "Fine then. I thought you would listen to me. I came back home expecting my favourite mother to get me the breakfast I wanted after all that has happened, but I guess you abandoned me as well. It's alright."
Gelda, also in tears, said, "It's not like that. I will get you chicken tenders."
As Liebe was in his office working, Elizabeth entered and said, "Getting Mom to make chicken tenders for breakfast? How did you do it?"
Liebe said, "Emotional blackmail. Trust me, you gotta cry a little and say stuff like, 'My mom abandoned me. You are my favourite mom.'"
Elizabeth said, "Genius. So I have to say, 'I don't have multiple moms like Liebe, so who will I turn to if my mom abandons me?'"
Liebe said, "Yup. Get the emotions a bit up."
Elizabeth said, "Got it, brother."
As Gelda entered and said, "Huh? So that's what the two of you are scheming."
Liebe said, "It isn't like that."
As Elizabeth followed Liebe's advice, she started the act in tears. Liebe thought, *Don't do it now, dumbass.*
As Elizabeth said, "Fine, Mom. I don't have an extra mom like Liebe. And if you abandon me too, then who will—"
Gelda punched her in the face and said, "If you want an extra mom, find a deadbeat like Lilith, dumbass. I swear, you two are supposed to be active knights, and you are emotionally blackmailing me like children."
Liebe said, "Yup."
Gelda said, "By the way, Captain Lilith is here now. I told her to come in."
Liebe said, "OK."
Gelda said, "By the way, where is the corpse?"
Liebe said, "Still sleeping at home."
Gelda said, "I swear, I never see that boy awake for more than 5 minutes. Just like his father." Gelda said, "Now answer me. What are you doing in the Empire nowadays?"
Liebe said, "Personal business. Gotta be rich."
Gelda said, "Yeah, yeah, your illegal monster parts side business. But for the past few months, you seem overly busy in that area."
Liebe said, "Guess so."
Gelda said, "Now about marriage—"
Liebe said, "Oh no, marriage? How can you even suggest that? I'm too scared, Mommy. I'm scared that an indecent, immoral woman will lay her hands on my body and take my chastity from me."
As on the ground, Elizabeth laughs. Gelda sighs and said, "Says the great—this is a grand hero? What has this world come to? Not to mention, just 4 months ago you were sleeping around trying to make a so-called harem army, and now it's 'take my chastity'?"
Liebe said, "Whatever can you possibly be talking about?"
Gelda said, "But you seem different now. What are your plans? You haven't forsaken your plans to become the strongest, now have you?"
Liebe said, "No, no I haven't. This adventure is just far too much fun. But now I actually have a reason to protect something."
Gelda said, "And that might be—"
Liebe thought, *Alysa's smile.* Liebe said, "I can't say it, but it's precious to me, and I have to protect it."
Gelda, knowing the look in Liebe's eyes, not wanting to push further, said, "Fine. And what about the mountain in HQ?"
Liebe said, "What mountain?"
Gelda said, "What month is it now?"
Liebe said, "January."
Gelda said, "When was your birthday?"
Liebe said, "November 17th."
Gelda said, "Good, good. And what did Hazen and Aldina do about it?"
Liebe said, "Umm, sent a few gifts. Hazen did it kinda as a gratitude. But Aldina—they were literally collecting tribute. Like Warner doesn't know—"
Gelda said, "Exactly. Hazen sent gifts to their savior. And not to mention Aldina sending gifts to their so-called God of Darkness."
Liebe said, "Listen, I'm not the God of Darkness. And honestly, it's way too boring."
Gelda said, "Tell that to them. Open the goddamn gifts and start writing thank you notes."
Liebe said, "Me? Really?"
Gelda said, "Yes, you. Now get to it. And I don't want to see the stupid face of your devotee."
Liebe said, "You mean Warner?"
Gelda said, "Yes, that idiot. I swear, he is spoiling you rotten."
Liebe said, "Why? He is my dude. Just a bit annoying on the worship stuff, but my dude."
Gelda said, "His nation sends you 100,000 gold a month to fly your flag. Whenever you are in Aldina, he keeps you like royalty with endless food and harem. Not to mention, anything you ask for is yours. The idiot literally built 15 castles for you in just their capital. Not to mention the king and Warner changed the constitution of Aldina itself for you, which went from 'The will of the God of Darkness is the will of Aldina' to literally fricken 'The will of Liebe Faust is the will of Aldina.' What is wrong with them?"
Liebe said, "Yeah, I know the castles and constitution were a bit much. But let's look on the bright side: 90% of the women from my harem army are from Aldina or Hazen. Yeahhh!"
Gelda said, "Do you think this is funny? Goddamn go out there, start opening those literal mountains, and start writing thank you notes."
Liebe said, "Fineeeee. Elizabeth, let's open some boring gifts."
Elizabeth said, "Sure."
As they started opening:
Liebe sarcastically said, "Yeahhh, jewelry. Great. Yeahhh, sword. Great. Yeahhh, medal. Great. Yeahhh, horse. Great. Yeahhh, tribute. Great. Wow, food. Great. I'm bored."
Gelda said, "Clean every one of them by today."
Liebe said, "Fineee."
Gelda said, "I swear, when I see that dumbass again, I will punch him in the face."
Liebe said, "But why? I need him to complete my harem army."
Gelda, angrily walking away. Liebe said, "Where are you going?"
Gelda said, "Aldina, to give that dumbass idiot a piece of my mind."
Liebe said, "Sure."
As Gelda made a spatial magic portal, she went through. On the other side was Warner on the ground with his lights out and his right cheek swollen.
Gelda said, "Uhh, that felt so much better."
As Liebe's communicator rang, Liebe picked up and said, "Go for Liebe."
Warner said, "Lord Liebe, it's Warner, your devotee. Your foster mother came by a few moments ago."
Liebe said, "Yeah, yeah, about that—"
Warner said, "I'm blessed to be punched in the face by the woman who raised the God of Darkness with her own two hands. I couldn't be prouder. Our city is blessed by the honour. Truly, we can't thank her enough. We are currently making a sculpture of my face for the history records. If it's alright, can your birth mother punch me on the other side?"
Liebe said, "Umm, not sure."
Warner said, "Understood. Thank you for blessing me today. Truly is my lucky day."
Liebe said, "Umm, OK."
Warner said, "By the way, how is May doing?"
Liebe said, "Good, good."
Warner said, "I just got back from getting her ready for class, but if you say she is doing good, I'm proud."
Liebe said, "Sure. See ya."
Warner said, "Of course. It has been an honour until next time. Sorry I wasted your time. Forgive my impertinence."
Liebe said, "It's OK. We're buds, OK? You helped me in the fight at the capital."
Warner said, "Yes, and I still regret I was not of more use."
Liebe said, "It's OK." As he cut the call.
Liebe said, "Umm, Gelda, I don't think the punch worked the way it was supposed to."
Gelda, now fuming and her veins popping out, screamed, "God damn son of a bitch! I swear to God—"
As Liebe laughed, Liebe said, "Damn, is that guy something."
Elizabeth said, "Umm, brother, I don't think you should provoke Mom anymore. Next she may murder someone."
Gelda said, "Last time we saw him, Lilith almost murdered him. Next time he visits, he better hope Lilith had done it the last time, because I will do it next time."
Liebe said, "OK, OK, calm down, Gelda. No need to murder people."
Gelda went in and started drinking whiskey from her personal collection. After what just happened and her own punch backfiring, she needed it.