The summit meeting, which they started awkwardly, lasted for about an hour.
But it seemed they got familiar while talking during the summit, or they came to know better their own position while conversing seriously. Both of them regained their usual composure in the middle of the talks. They even exchanged jokes, though briefly.
Since they already discussed the framework of the alliance through their correspondence, they didn't need to talk long about the alliance itself. It was not an alliance that required the exchange of a treaty, but an alliance that literally established their friendship, so there were no details.
The queen went back to her aides, escorted by Yong-ho. Watching her briefly, he concluded the summit by getting aboard Tiamet, the giant red dragon.
But that wasn't the end of the talks.
The queen, who got aboard a small flying vehicle, sat comfortably in the captain's chair.
Leaning against the chair comfortably, she said, "He's very strong."
Her expression was serious. Kirtimuka, who was going to ask her a barrage of questions about the Mammon master, shut her mouth out of embarrassment, while Gardimundi agreed, calmly nodding.
She lost her mind because her heart was beating so hard while meeting him, but she could find out several things about him.
The queen participated in so many battles and earned the title of 'warmonger.' She saw countless strong men and experienced countless fights.
Accordingly, she realized from her experience that the Mammon master experienced deadly fighting that risked his life. It wasn't once or twice that he participated in such fights. He experienced literally numerous battles.
Actually, she tested him several times during the talks. She made a gesture that could make him trapped gently but fatally. Every time she did so, he responded.
His response was not deliberate, but simultaneous.
It was mana that they valued most in the demon world. However, the one with strong mana was not necessarily a strong man. There were more important things in a fight.
She could discover from her senses and experience that the Mammon master was strong.
He was much stronger than she expected.
"Gardimundi, the Mammon master, Yong-ho Cheon, is the flame his real power?"
Kirtimuka's eyes sparkled at her question or the way she called Yong-ho. Unlike Kirtimuka, however, Gardimundi focused on the very reason the queen raised the question.
She replied in a calm tone in a break with her usual cheerfulness.
"I'm not sure. It is true that he handles flames freely, but I can't say he is the Demon King of Flames. As you know, there are many ways to deal with the flames even without using your power."
"As for the rumors that the Mammon master beat a bone dragon, you said you didn't think the rumors were false, right?"
"Right, Your Majesty," said Gardimundi.
The queen sorted out her thoughts once again, with her lips closed. Watching her quietly, Gardimundi added, "There is one more rumor I've come across recently."
Gardimundi was a born scout. When she stayed at the tavern in the Free City, she didn't just spend time gambling.
In addition to her existing information, she could gather additional intelligence about Yong-ho while gambling, drinking, and buying things at the tavern.
"I did not report to you because I was not sure, but I hear that the Mammon master seems to have artifacts that increase the abilities of his subordinate spirits."
"Increasing his spirits' abilities?"
"Yes, it's rumored that his artifacts increase their ability to change drastically, so much so that even their appearances are changed."
In fact, she heard that some of the dungeon spirits of the House of Mammon benefited from his artifacts.
But Gardimundi took a step back and thought about it. Was it really because of the effects of their artifacts? Was it probably the power of the Mammon master?
Gardimundi didn't even have to explain because the queen felt the same way.
"Maybe I think we will get much more benefits from this alliance that we think."
It was a sad fact, but the best deterrent against war was the powerful force that made the enemy dare not to attack.
If the House of Mammon really possessed more power than expected, and if the queen could form a true alliance with the Mammon master, and the King of Violence could help her, she could build a really strong deterrence.
Definitely, peace would continue for decades to come even under the cold war situation.
The queen and Gardimundi were serious at the moment so was Kirtimuka.
She asked carefully while checking the queen's expression.
"Your Majesty, how did you feel about the master of the Mammon family?"
As a Yacha, Kirtimuka was clumsy at concealing her feelings.
Since she knew why the Yacha woman asked such a question, the queen quickly got up and turned around. She succeeded in concealing her blushing face, but she couldn't hide her earlobes that turned red.
"I'm tired. Let me have some rest today."
Kirtimuka was satisfied with her response. She politely bowed to her with a mischievous smile.
"Sure. Have a good sleep."
As Kirtimuka and Gardimundi left the captain's room, she threw herself on the extra bed.
Since she was really going to hit the sack, she turned off the light.
When she met Yong-ho, she felt really strange.
She felt her heart was pounding hard, but it was different from when she experienced it at the auction house.
This time she felt more intense feelings and a stronger impulse.
Was this really love like Kirtimuka said? Or was there something she was missing?
She kept thinking about it in bed. Anyway, she had to keep in close contact with him for a while. She could check her feelings in the process.
'Let me go to sleep now.'
Pulling herself together, she closed her eyes. But she opened her eyes within a few seconds.
She raised her hands and placed them on both cheeks. Her face felt hot.
'What should I do? I can't sleep.'
When she closed her eyes, Yong-ho's face came to her mind. Her heart began to pound again, and she kept tossing and turning in bed.
***
[She is strong.]
[Her mana is not the problem. It is a matter of pure strength.]
[The Queen of Fury is stronger than the King of Gluttony.]
Yong-ho heard Aamon's whispering from the flames of the red lotus in the air.
He nodded. Actually, he felt it throughout the talks. He seemed to know why she had the nickname 'warmonger' despite her fresh and pleasant images.
"What the King of Fury has must be the Godly Energy of Gluttony. It's a pity that it's in her hands."
Ironically, he had the Godly Energy of Fury. In other words, the two had each other's Sin that they needed. It would be nice if they could exchange the two because they formed an alliance, but it was impossible right now.
He briefly recalled the Godly Energy of Gluttony wrapped around her waist and understood why there was something sly in her attributes. He bit his lips slightly and quickly shook it off his mind.
Tigrius said, "The queen seems to have good feelings toward you more than I expect. We need to be cautious, but if you make good use of the alliance, I think you can think of taking control of the territory of the King of Gluttony. As you know, there are many things you can take even if you don't occupy the territory."
It wasn't just the heart of the dungeon and the essence of the king. The numerous dungeon spirits that Yong-ho could make his own subordinates and the wealth that the King of Gluttony had accumulated over the years were also something he had to take into account when he decided to march into the king's territory. The king and his Ten Warriors were killed.
Ophelia said, "I think it would be okay if we deploy troops after reinforcing the Cadiz Fortress first. The west was devastated, and all the eastern masters have pledged their loyalty to you. So, if you are not concerned about the King of Violence and the Queen of Fury, you can concentrate all your power on the king's territory."
In fact, the king's territory was a treasure without an owner. Yong-ho could march his troops without any hesitation when other kings could not move for fear of the King of Gluttony's sudden disappearance.
When they were engaged in serious conversation, Catalina, with her ears drooping, turned her gaze and looked at Kaiwan. When she signaled to Kaiwan as if she was asking for the latter's advice, Kaiwan responded she would try to find the solution at night.
Yong-ho, who did not know what was going on between Catalina and Kaiwan, focused only on what Ophelia was talking about. He sighed, tapping the map of the unclaimed land in the south, which was spread on the table.
"Am I the problem then? Although I have Tiamet and Salami, it takes too long for me to travel between the Labyrinth of Greed and Cadiz Fortress."
Yong-ho and Tigrius had to stay in Cadiz Fortress in order to attack the territory of the King of Gluttony. But Yong-ho had a lot to do in the Labyrinth of Greed. He had to conquer the arena. He also had to be recognized by Richard, the gatekeeper on the 8th floor. He also had to finish the synthetic evolution of Skull and the reinforcement of his subordinate spirits that he had put off for now.
While no one could quickly come up with the right solution, the flames of the red lotus arose. Aamon whispered, [My master, if that is the case, there is a solution.]
"Is there just a good solution on the 9th floor of the Labyrinth of Greed?"
Yong-ho asked as if on cue, and his subordinate spirit's eyes twinkled.
The flames of the red lotus waned a bit as if to express embarrassment.
[Well... that's right.]
Ophelia, who got so excited perhaps because of her experience on the 8th floor, approached the flames of the red lotus and asked, "What is the solution?"
Since they were as thrilled as she, other spirits cast a glance at Aamon.
Even Tigrius showed interest.
Aamon laughed warmly then whispered to not only Yong-ho but the other members of the Mammon family.
[The integrated control center for the door of space.]
[It manages the space leap to the dungeon under his control. And...]
Aamon blurred at the end. As if to make them fret about his answer, Aamon paused for a moment and continued, [Protecting the 9th floor is Scorpion, the grand magician Magnadon who destroys the earth.]
Ophelia's expression changed. Tigrius held his breath while Kaiwan and Catalina were amazed at the same time.
Grand magician Magnadon.
His nickname was the Earth Destroyer. The one who changed the map.
He was the most erratic and the greatest magician of Mammon's 12 Spirits.
The flames of the red lotus arose fiercely, radiating both yearning and joy at the same time.