Bashington DC, The Black House
Clack clack clack clack
Lilith lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, scrolling her new smartphone with the curiosity of someone discovering forbidden magic. Meanwhile, Solo and Bub sat stiffly across the room, watching Monny work his abacus at demonic speed. Tiny skulls clicked as the beads, bone frame rattled in place, and the carved nameplate gleamed at the top:
"Mammon Spreadsheet"
Even though digital finance systems had existed for decades, Monny's demonic brain processed numbers faster than any software—for finance only—and he stubbornly preferred his creepy, personalized abacus.
"MOAB… $170,000," Monny muttered. "I fucking hate war…"
CLACK!
With a final dramatic slide of the skulls, he slammed the abacus shut and glared over his glasses at Solo and Bub.
"We just blew our target GDP this year from 1.5% to fucking minus 0.5%," he snapped. "And both of you have the audacity to ask me to fund this drone program thing?"
"Oh come on, Monny," Solo groaned. "Of course we're burning money. We just launched our satellites, and there's war out there. This is exactly why we need these drones."
Dealing with demons is difficult, especially when the demons are a Demon Duke. But Solo had learned to bargain with flexible ones like Belphy and Stan—give them some playground freedom, and they behaved.
Monny, however, was different. Rigid. Disciplined. And the sole controller of Murica's finances. Nothing—nothing—was spent without his approval.
Before Murica was established, demons mostly took whatever they wanted through strength, so none of them, not even the Demon King, cared about money. The new nation was basically broke… except for Monny. He was the lone demon who adored wealth. His castle was a dragon's hoard of gold, relics, and loot collected from every demonic pillaging.
Long story short: Solo and the others owed Monny an ungodly amount of money. He was essentially Murica's unofficial central bank. Their political dynamic was basically "government" vs "very pissed-off investor."
"Don't worry, Solo, I'll handle this," Bub said confidently, patting Solo's shoulder.
"Monny," he continued, "I have known you for thousands of years. I know you don't like spending something without assurance for profitable returns. So I present you this!!"
Bub tossed several schematics onto the table.
They were unmistakably blueprints modeled after Apollo 11 spacecraft… except labeled Hades 13.
"Oh, Bub! Is it finally the time?" Solo said, eyes sparkling.
"Another rocket launch?" Monny asked, deadpan, pushing up his glasses.
"Fufufu… But this time, it's different. We're going to send demons to space and conquer the moon!"
Bub revealed another sketch. This one was clearly his personal drawing, looking more like a proud first grader's masterpiece: a smiling demon astronaut planting a pentagram flag on a happy-looking moon.
"We'll be the first nation to land there! And whatever resource it has-will be ours! HAHAHA!"
RIIIIPP
"Rejected," Monny said flatly as he tore Bub's drawing in half and tossed it into the trash.
"NOOO MR. HANDSTRONG!" Bub wailed.
"Whyyyy?!" Solo added dramatically.
"Bub," Monny sighed, "as genius as you may be, somehow you're just an idiot. You want me to spend another $70 million for space rockets? And let's say we find a gold mine over there. How much do you think it will cost to send it back to Talvaris?"
"But we can also use it as propaganda!" Bub argued, "To show how powerful our nation is to the world."
"Then just ask Belphy to fake the moon landing with a fucking movie or something! It's cheaper!"
CLAP CLAP
"Ok, ok, boys, we're getting off track here," Lilith said, clapping sharply to shut down the children's fight in the room. "As I agree with Monny that finding gold on the moon is just plain stupid and childish."
"Baby? Why…" Solo whined.
"But," she continued, smirking, "I also agree that the drone program is important. So how about finding gold a little closer to home?"
She spread several photographs across the table—satellite images of Ravendawn and the Dawn province territory with red circles marked on several locations.
"What's this?" Monny asked.
"Using the satellite technology, our scientists can identify some geological formations that may contain oil."
"We can?" Bub blinked.
"Oh shut up, Bub, you never check the departments that you don't care about," Lilith hissed.
"How many?" Monny asked.
"So far, nine. What do you think?"
Monny leaned back and smiled. "Hmm, I like it. This is what I call bringing freedom and democracy to other nations."
"So," Lilith said, leaning in with a smug grin, "do we have a deal?"
Solo and Bub stared at her in awe. Lilith had just out-bargained the Demon Duke of Finance—again.
Knock knock
A military aide entered Solo's office.
"Excuse me. Sir, we just got a report that the Vandorian fleet is still heading to our water."
"Huh? Don't they know we just kicked their ground forces' ass yesterday? Why do they keep sailing here?" Solo asked.
"Uh, most likely it's because their ground forces mana-comm was destroyed, sir, so they probably can't report their situation until they find another mana-comm."
"Ah, I forgot that their communication device is ridiculously big and impractical. Well alright then, tell Stan and Admiral Rusalka that they can—"
"Ah, wait, Solo, I had an idea," Monny interrupted. "This way I might be more lenient to put some allowance for the drone programs, fufufu."
160 Kilometers Northwest of the Murican coast
An aircraft carrier cruised majestically across the waves, escorted by eight destroyers and two frigates. On the bridge of the HMS Behemoth aircraft carrier, officers worked with cheerful energy, especially the beautiful siren that wore more badges than anyone else.
"Laa~ laa~ laaa~," Admiral Rusalka hummed.
"It's a very nice day, isn't it, Admiral?" Captain Cetus asked,
"It does, Captain Cetus. Our first major sea battle..."
"And here I thought they'd retreat after losing their ground forces." Cetus laughed. "Guess luck's on our side!"
"Finally… no more killing krakens."
With only 200 miles of usable ocean inside the divine barrier, Murica's navy had spent decades doing glorified coast guard work. So far, their enemies had been:
1. Giant octopi
2. Even bigger octopi
3. Less bigger octopi but in large numbers
But Solo insisted a navy would be crucial for future world conflicts.
"Ma'am, call from the Ministry of Defense," a comm officer said.
"Ah, good. Orders are coming." Rusalka picked up the phone. "Good afternoon, Mr. Minister. Congratulations on yesterday's victory… Yes, they're in range… Mm-hm… mm-hm?"..... What do you mean?"
Captain Cetus watched her smile drain from her face.
"STAN, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!" She roared.
250 Kilometers Northwest of Murica's Coast
Vandorian Demon Subjugation Fleet
The Vandorian fleet pushed forward—a majestic force resembling Earth's 18th-century men-of-war but enhanced with magic cannons that can shoot two times farther than their Earth counterparts and battle mages for support.
On the flagship, Admiral Lorenzo spoke with his officers.
"Still no news from Duke Pierre's army?"
"No, sir."
"It's only the second day, sir," another officer said. "They're probably still fighting."
"…you're right. Broken communication is normal in war. But sailing blind in demon waters still makes me uneasy."
"Don't worry, sir. With a fleet like this, we can even defeat the sea's most dangerous monster, a kraken."
Lorenzo nodded. His fleet was massive: twelve 124-gun ships, thirty 64-gun ships, and forty frigates for hauling captured demon slaves.
And historically, demons had never possessed a navy. Whatever happened to Pierre's army, it couldn't be naval warfare.
Murica First Fleet
Under the moonlight, the First Fleet was a hive of activity. MH-60 Seahawks took off from the HMS Behemoth, carrying Navy SEALs. Others boarded RHIBs below.
Captain Cetus watched with a tight expression. No one was smiling now.
"Sir, Seal Teams 1 to 8 have disembarked. Their ETA is 0100 hours."
"Alright."
"…permission to speak freely, sir?"
"What is it, lieutenant?"
"Some of the men say they hear… crying. From the admiral's quarters."
"…can you blame her, lieutenant?"
"…no sir."
Vandoria Fleet—Dawn
TING TING TING TING TING TING TING TING
It's morning time, the emergency bells rang vigorously. Admiral Lorenzo rushed onto deck in his nightclothes. Sailors and mages ran in panic.
"Is it the enemies?" he demanded.
"No sir… We don't see any enemies."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Our ships, sir... they are gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"Many of our frigates are gone," said the terrified captain. "They just vanished…"
Lorenzo looked out. The fleet had shrunk. Only the men-of-war remained. Avian lookout circled overhead, searching desperately.
---
Hours later, the shaken admiral ordered tight formation while waiting for orders from the capital. The king and his advisors' response was simple:
Continue the operation. Only the frigates are missing. You still hold naval superiority.
TING TING TING TING TING TING
The lookouts are ringing the bell again, all eyes looking up the mast to the lookout post.
"BOWSIDE! ENEMY SHIP!" the lookout yelled.
Lorenzo lifted his enchanted telescope. With decades of experience at sea, he quickly knows the distance and the size of the incoming ship.
"No way… stripes and pentagram flag… Demons have a navy now? And those ships… they are enormous."
"They're made of iron, sir. No sails… just like the Dwarven ships—only I don't see smoke…"
"Sound the battle stations."
"AYE, SIR! BATTLE STATIONS! ALL SHIPS BATTLE STATIONS!"
---
"INCOMING! IT'S THE HELL DRAGONFLIES! FOUR OF THEM"
"Ready the ballista!" The captain ordered
Chaos erupted as mages and sailors prepared the magic ballista that attached to their bow. The gunner keeps his aim towards the helicopters, and the artillery mages are on standby to imbue an explosion spell.
Two AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters approached but stopped just outside ballista range.
The Venoms had massive speakers attached on their sides.
Then-
SCREEEEEECH
"AAAAH, THE DEMONS ARE USING SOUND ATTACK!"
"BALLISTAS!" The captain screams. "SHOOT THEM OUT!"
"I CAN'T, SIR! THEY ARE OUT OF RANGE!"
The screeching stopped.
TAP TAP
"AAAAH, TESTING 1-2, TESTING 1-2"
A cheerful female voice followed from the speakers.
"Ah, sorry about that. Ehm, this is the United Demon Kingdom of Murica NAVY!" Said Rusalka from the speakers. "You are trespassing on Murica territory!"
Confusion spread across the Vandorian deck.
"VANDORIAN FLEET! Cease any movements and surrender! I repeat, cease any movements and surrender! Or we will be using force! You have one hour to comply. Raise any white flags to signal your surrender!"
The admiral and the captain can only look at each other with confusion.
"Oh, who am i kidding? Of course you won't surrender just like that." Rusalka sighed. "Listen, assholes, your invading army was already wiped out by us yesterday. And based on that battle, we already know your war capabilities."
"Are they telling the truth? Is that why we can't contact them?" said one of the officers
"Oh, and believe me, we are way out of your league. Do you guys missing some ships? Now look at your port side."
The fleet looked.
On the horizon, their missing frigates appeared—being towed by four Murican destroyers like a line of ducklings behind four very angry metal mothers.
"Cute, isn't it?" Rusalka laughed. "They're so easy for us to hijack—err, commandeer."
"But you probably still don't get it, so here's a little presentation. We're going to destroy one of your biggest ships. Mm… Eeny, meeny, miny, moe! That one in the rear!"
"Sir, they are talking about the Conqueror."
"Now do you see our leftmost ship? It's called a destroyer. Watch closely."
WHOOOSH
A missile is being launched skyward from the leftmost destroyer.
"The thing flying to you is called a Tomahawk missile—it hits anything within 2,500 kilometers.
"INCOMING ATTACK! DEFENSIVE POSITION!" the Vandorians screamed.
Cannons aimed, mages cast barriers, and wind spells roared so the ship evaded faster.
BOOOOMM
The Conqueror evaporated in a fireball. Its magic shield doesn't work, the shockwaves rip nearby ships sails, no Conqueror crew survived the explosion.
"SIR! THE CONQUEROR'S GONE!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you try to do something?" Rusalka mocked. "Oh no no no. Our missile is very fast, very accurate, and very destructive. And anyway, we brought hundreds."
"… How can they do that? They're miles away from us…" The admiral trembled.
"And now, one more demonstration. See our rightmost helicopter, uh… it's the flying thingy that you guys called hell dragonflies. It's gonna go whoosh and another ship goes boom."
The Viper then launches 2 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at the foremost 124-gun ship.
The ship mages try to block it with a magic shield, but it gets destroyed by the first missile, making way for the second missile.
BOOOM BOOOOM
A 124-gun ship split open and sank.
"THE GLORY IS SINKING!" the lookout screams.
"Yep, we have so many ways to sink your ships." Rusalka added,
Survivors screamed, clinging to debris-
Until black shapes surfaces beneath them.
"T-There's something down there!" One survivor cried.
"Oh! Did you know that all the waters in the Demon Territory are heavily infested with dangerous creatures?" Rusalka said excitedly. "Especially Demon Sharks."
A pack of demon sharks starts showing themselves and aggressively attacks the survivors. They are 2 times bigger than normal sharks, and they are jet black with six eyes and three dorsal fins.
"GYAAAA! HELP ME! AAARGH!"
"Aww, poor sailors leaving all their kids behind only to be sharks' snacks. Sorry kids, Daddy won't be home tonight. Sniff sniff."
The Vandorians try to throw ropes, but the demon sharks are too fast, devouring all the survivors within minutes until no more screaming can be heard.
"Welp, that's the end of the presentation. Okay, assholes—surrender now and save your men. We promise not to kill you. You have one hour."
The helicopters turned away, leaving the Vandorians stood frozen.
Anger and disbelief enveloped the Vandoria Admiral.
"T-this… This humiliation."