Chapter 625: The Plan

After Aien and Brolly left the dining room, Shin and Malachi entered through the opposite doorway, their expressions unusually grim. Both men glanced toward the door through which the two princes had departed, as though they expected one of them to return and announce that the agreement had suddenly changed. When no one appeared, they exchanged a brief look before approaching the dining table and taking their seats.

Damian continued eating, seemingly unconcerned by their arrival. He cut a piece of meat from his plate and chewed slowly, allowing the silence to stretch until Shin finally leaned forward and asked, "How sure are you that they will honor the agreement?"

Damian swallowed his food before lifting his head to meet Shin’s gaze. Instead of answering immediately, he raised his right hand and held up two fingers. "There are two reasons I believe they will honor it. The first is simple. All princes are true to their sins."

He lowered one finger and continued, "Lazarus’s greedy desire for Hazel, Rachael, and Ruby ultimately led to his death. He wanted to possess everything that caught his attention, regardless of the consequences. Likewise, my lust for women has shaped many of my decisions. That is why I have seven concubines."

He adjusted his sitting position, settling more comfortably into his chair as an attendant approached to refill his goblet. Once the wine had been poured, he lifted it, examining the dark red liquid before taking a measured sip.

"Our sins are not merely titles. They influence our desires, our habits, and the decisions we make. Even when we try to act against them, they remain part of who we are."

Shin nodded thoughtfully, although he still seemed uncertain about how that explained the reliability of their agreement. Damian noticed his expression and continued without waiting for another question.

"The same principle applies to Sloth and Gluttony. I once heard that Sloth fought against Pride alongside Greed and Wrath, not because he had any particular interest in their conflict, but because Greed paid him enough to manage his realm for several centuries. The arrangement relieved him of his responsibilities for a considerable period, allowing him to spend his time however he pleased. He was willing to fight a war simply to avoid the burden of governing his own territory."

Malachi let out a quiet chuckle, seemingly unsurprised by the revelation. Damian, however, remained serious as he placed his goblet back on the table.

"All princes are expected to lead large-scale invasions of mortal realms. It is one of the responsibilities that comes with our positions, and refusing to participate without a legitimate reason can have consequences. Sloth, however, has little interest in conquest for its own sake. If we provide him with sufficient financial assistance, he can mobilize soldiers on a large scale while fulfilling his obligations without having to shoulder the entire financial burden himself. He will have more time to sleep, less work to do, and no need to concern himself with the expenses that would otherwise fall on his shoulders. From his perspective, it is an excellent arrangement."

Elsa nodded as she listened, then added, "While the other princes will naturally become involved in the struggle for the throne, hoping to claim it for themselves, Sloth has no intention of doing so. He isn’t interested in ruling the Underworld or expanding his influence beyond what he already possesses. Relieving him of the financial burden of the invasion also relieves him of a considerable amount of responsibility. As long as he can continue living the way he wants, there is little reason for him to refuse."

Damian gave her an approving glance before reaching for his goblet again. Shin and Malachi exchanged looks, slowly beginning to understand the reasoning behind the arrangement.

Damian took another sip of wine before turning his attention to Malachi. "As for Gluttony, the answer is even simpler. As long as we can provide him with plenty of food and wine, he has no reason to refuse. He is not particularly interested in political maneuvering, and I doubt he would willingly involve himself in a conflict that offered him nothing he could enjoy. Give him enough to eat and drink, and he will be perfectly content to let the rest of us handle the unpleasant business."

Having finished speaking, Damian raised his goblet and drained its contents in one go. He placed it back on the table, motioning for the attendant to refill it while Shin and Malachi slowly nodded. The proposal was beginning to make sense, particularly when viewed through the peculiar personalities of the two princes.

Yet as Damian watched the attendant refill his goblet, his expression gradually changed. His eyes widened slightly before his pupils contracted, and he leaned back in his chair as a thought that had eluded him for far too long finally came together.

He turned toward Elsa. "Am I the only one who has noticed that Sloth and Gluttony have a lot in common? Is that what explains their friendship?"

Elsa paused with her fork halfway to her mouth, then nodded. "Now that you mention it, they really do. One likes to lie down all the time and sleep, while the other likes to lie down all the time, eat, drink, and sleep, then repeat the entire process. They are practically a match made in heaven."

Shin burst into laughter, and Malachi soon joined him. Even Damian allowed himself a small smile as he considered the comparison. It was difficult to argue with Elsa’s assessment. Despite representing different sins, the two princes seemed to share the same fundamental desire to avoid unnecessary effort and spend their time indulging in whatever pleased them. Their friendship was not particularly mysterious after all.

However, while the others laughed, Damian’s smile gradually faded. He tapped his fingers against the side of his goblet, his thoughts drifting away from the amusing similarities between the two princes and toward the political implications of their relationship.

Elsa was the first to notice the change. She lowered her fork and studied him for a moment before asking, "What are you thinking about?"

Damian did not answer immediately. He glanced toward the door through which Aien and Brolly had departed, then returned his attention to the people seated around the table. "This gathering of princes has made me realize something important. There are currently four distinct factions in the Underworld, and understanding how they are aligned is essential if I want to take the throne."

Shin straightened in his seat, while Malachi stopped eating altogether. Both men recognized the change in Damian’s tone. He was no longer discussing the negotiations they had just concluded.

"The first faction consists of Sloth and Gluttony, along with their respective supporters. They are not particularly interested in the throne, but that does not mean they are harmless. Their combined resources and influence make them valuable allies, and their neutrality could become a serious obstacle if I give them a reason to oppose me."

Damian raised one finger, counting off the factions as he spoke. "The second consists of Envy and Wrath. I strongly suspect that their alliance was formed primarily out of a shared hatred for me. They may have their own ambitions, but their resentment gives them a common purpose. As long as I remain their target, they have little reason to turn against each other."

He raised a second finger. "The third is Pride’s faction. Unlike the others, Pride does not need to rely on a broad alliance to maintain his position. His personal strength is enough to make most princes think twice before challenging him. That leaves my own faction, which is allied with the true nobles of Hell."

Elsa nodded slowly, following his reasoning. Shin and Malachi remained silent, their attention fixed on Damian as he laid out the political divisions.

"Naturally, the most logical target would be Pride’s faction," Damian continued. "He is the most isolated of the four, and removing him would leave the remaining princes with fewer options. Unfortunately, Pride is not someone I can defeat, even if I reach the God realm. Challenging him directly would be little more than suicide, and I have no intention of throwing away my life for the sake of a convenient opportunity."

He leaned forward slightly, his expression growing colder. "That leaves Envy and Wrath. If I can eliminate them and claim their inheritances, I will gain the strength and resources necessary to challenge the remaining princes. However, I cannot allow Sloth and Gluttony to discover what I am planning. They may be lazy, but they are still princes. If they realize that I intend to gather all seven deadly sins under my control, they will understand that I am becoming a threat to their own positions."

Damian paused, considering the problem from another angle. "The key is to ensure that I am not seen as the aggressor. If Envy and Wrath provoke a conflict and I am forced to respond, Sloth and Gluttony will have little reason to interfere. They will assume that the conflict is simply another dispute between princes, not the beginning of a campaign to claim their inheritances. They are unlikely to move against me unless they feel their own existence is threatened."

Elsa shook her head before he could continue. "I don’t think that will work."

Damian turned toward her, his brows lifting slightly. "Why not?"

"Because you’re assuming that Sloth and Gluttony will judge the situation based on who started the conflict. They might not care about the details, but they will certainly care about the consequences. Regardless of who is at fault, once Envy or Wrath dies, the remaining princes will begin to reconsider their positions. If you claim a third realm for yourself, that will send a very clear message about your intentions. You might insist that you were acting in self-defense, but the others will see that you are growing stronger by taking the inheritances of your rivals."

She rested her fork on the edge of her plate and met Damian’s gaze directly. "You cannot expect them to ignore a pattern simply because you have a convenient explanation for each death. Once they believe that you intend to gather all seven sins, Sloth and Gluttony will have a reason to oppose you. Even if they would rather spend their time sleeping and eating, neither of them will willingly wait for you to come for their realms."

Damian nodded slowly. Her argument was sound, and he could see the flaw in his original plan. He had been so focused on finding a way to eliminate Envy and Wrath without provoking the other princes that he had overlooked the obvious consequences of claiming their realms. Intentions mattered far less than the threat his growing power would represent.

"Then what do you suggest?" he asked. "There has to be a way to avoid drawing their attention while still acquiring the inheritances I need."

"There is," Elsa replied. "But you will have to be more careful about how you proceed."

She leaned back slightly, gathering her thoughts before explaining. "Murder Envy or Wrath in secret, but do not claim the realm’s pendant. Let the death appear to be the work of an outside force, and by not claiming that realm people will believe the prince’s sin will be reborn in someone else. While everyone is busy searching for the new incarnation that doesn’t exsit and trying to discover who was responsible for the murder, you can move against the remaining member of the faction and claim his inheritance as well."

Shin’s expression sharpened as he followed her reasoning. Malachi, who had been silent until then, slowly leaned forward, recognizing the opportunity her proposal presented.

Elsa continued, "Once you have acquired both inheritances, you can turn your attention toward Sloth and Gluttony. By then, you will have become considerably stronger, and you can eliminate them before they have time to organize a proper response. Only after claiming their inheritances should you turn your attention to Pride. He is the most dangerous opponent, so you should face him last, when you have accumulated enough power to stand a chance against him."

Damian remained silent for several moments, examining the plan from every angle. It was ruthless, but it accounted for the political consequences he had been struggling to resolve. Rather than openly conquering each realm and inviting the remaining princes to unite against him, he could operate from the shadows, allowing their suspicions to fall elsewhere while he steadily accumulated power.

The most important part was the timing. Each death would create confusion, and every apparent rebirth would redirect attention toward the question of who had inherited the fallen prince’s sin. If Damian moved quickly enough, he could exploit that uncertainty before the remaining princes understood what was happening.

A bright smile gradually spread across his face. He turned toward Elsa with genuine admiration, no longer bothering to conceal how impressed he was by her reasoning.

"You are truly amazing," Damian said. "You have helped me considerably, especially with the negotiations."

Elsa shook her head, apparently unimpressed by his praise. "I’m only carrying out my duty."

"Even so, I have to acknowledge your contribution."

"Then acknowledge it properly." Elsa returned to her meal with an air of finality before adding, "If you want to thank me, spend the rest of the day with me. I’ll accept nothing less."

Damian chuckled, his earlier seriousness giving way to familiar amusement. He reached for his goblet as the attendant finished refilling it, then raised it slightly toward Elsa in acknowledgment.

"My pleasure."