Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 494 – Mammon’s bloodline

Lux shook his head. ”Too slow. I’ll check it myself.”

Zavros stepped forward immediately, brows furrowed. ”Then I’m coming with you.”

Lux exhaled and instantly took a step back.

Zavros froze mid-stride. ”...Really?”

”Yeah,” Lux said, tone dry. ”Back off.”

Zavros blinked. ”Kid. That’s enough. Why are you acting like I’m about to sell you to Wrath? I’m your father.”

Lux pointed a finger, warning in his eyes. ”And that’s exactly why I’m acting like this.”

”Oh come on—”

”No. I know how this goes,” Lux said, taking another subtle step away, putting himself just outside his father’s aura range. ”You say we’re just going to talk. Just going to peek. Next thing I know, I’m legally bound to the Infernal Finance Department again, some cursed relic tied to my signature, and I’m auditing Lust’s offshore vaults for the next three centuries.”

Zavros rubbed his face like a man trying not to strangle his own bloodline. ”Lux. I told you—I’m working on proving myself as a good dad.”

Lux folded his arms. ”And I told you I’m still on vacation.”

”That was six days ago.”

”And I haven’t even finished my house warming party,” Lux shot back. ”I haven’t even touched one of my harem yet.” Then he added, ”Two.”

[Technically accurate if you mean Lady Lullaby and Lady Ariel.]

Zavros sighed, dragging his palm down his face and glancing sideways at Seraphyne, who was lounging now—relaxed again, back in her impossibly seductive form, legs elegantly crossed, dress fluttering like it existed purely to suggest sin without showing anything specific.

Zavros finally slumped down in his chair with a dramatic sigh, rubbing his forehead. ”Fine. You want truth? You want why I’m suddenly so invested?”

Lux arched a brow. ”Yes. Tell me why. Cause I have a lot of questions in my mind.”

Zavros bit his lower lip. Just slightly. Just enough to signal discomfort.

Then he huffed. ”Because I met with the king.”

That got Lux’s attention.

”King Kaelmor?” he asked.

”Also Lucaris and Varakan,” Zavros added.

Lux frowned. ”And?”

”They told me everything,” Zavros said, voice a little quieter now. ”What happened in my absence. How you bled—negotiated—held your ground. How you rebuilt the economy from near-collapse. How you literally revived the Infernal economy by binding your soul into contracts to save the hell from financial disaster.”

Lux blinked slowly. ”Huh.”

”They said you stood where no one dared stand,” Zavros said, voice tight. ”That you brought enemies to the table.”

Lux shrugged. ”It was just math.”

Zavros looked at him like he wanted to throw a chair. ”It was genius, Lux.”

”I told you before... I couldn’t handle it alone,” Lux said. ”I begged. Years ago. You never listened.”

”I know,” Zavros murmured. ”I know I did. I thought you could handle it.”

”Because I had to.”

Seraphyne finally spoke again, voice soft this time. ”Lux... we’re sorry.”

Lux didn’t move. ”Let’s hold that thought.”

He looked between them, then glanced toward the distant edge of the throne chamber.

”I didn’t come here for apologies,” Lux said, tone clipped. ”This isn’t the time for guilt. I need answers.”

He turned to Zavros. ”That circlet... it’s watching me.”

Zavros nodded slowly. ”It would. The dark ruby was forged from the First Greed’s blood. It reacts to its descendants. You, me, Mammon’s line.”

Lux tilted his head. ”So it can sense me?”

Zavros corrected gently. ”Us. All of us. But especially you. You’re young. Powerful. Active. Unbound to any specific court.”

Lux thought about that. ”And my system can’t track it... because it’s too ancient.”

Zavros nodded. ”Even I can’t track it. That’s why I gave it to your mother. It can’t be filed. It refuses to be categorized. It’s precious. But it will always go back to Greed.”

Seraphyne gave a slow, satisfied hum, tracing a finger along the ruby still resting against her chest. ”That’s why it’s one of a kind.”

She stood, shimmered, and stepped toward Zavros. Then she climbed, gracefully, fluidly, into his lap and curled against him like she belonged there, her long fingers stroking the side of his jaw.

”Sorry I got mad at you,” she murmured.

Zavros chuckled. ”Don’t worry, darling.”

”My queen is only you,” he added, right before she leaned in and kissed him deeply.

Lux stared for a second.

The kind of stare that could break economies.

And yeah.

There it was.

Tongue. Hands. Full demon aura merging. Clothes shifting. Seraphyne was already grinding gently against Zavros’ thigh, and the air smelled faintly of pheromones, and formal regret.

Lux deadpanned. ”Here we go again.”

Zavros’ shirt was already open. Seraphyne’s dress fluttered to the floor with suspicious ease. The kiss deepened. Her leg wrapped around his waist.

”I’m leaving,” Lux said, turning on his heel. ”I need to check the tower. I’m taking guards. And don’t call me unless the world ends.”

Zavros, now half-undressed and looking far too pleased with himself, called out breathlessly, ”Wait—I’ll come with you!”

Lux stopped in his track and stared back.

”Dad,” he said slowly, ”you’re busy.”

Zavros glanced at Seraphyne, who was already working on his belt buckle, then back to Lux. ”No, no. I’m good.”

”Your pants are literally undone.”

Zavros straightened with pride. ”Give me thirty seconds.”

”No.”

Zavros fixed his shirt as Seraphyne purred. ”That place—The Tower of Greed—can’t be entered by just anyone. It’s layered with bloodline locks. Only royal greed can bypass the seal.”

”I’m also a royal greed.”

”No, you aren’t a lord yet.”

Lux pinched the bridge of his nose. ”You’re saying I need you.”

”Yes.”

Lux stared at the ceiling.

Then turned back around. ”You have five minutes to get dressed.”

”Deal.”

Lux walked down the hall, muttering, ”Ugh... my head’s hurt.”

He needed to see the tower.

Because if Zoltarin was truly stirring... if that ancient greed was rising again...

Then he wasn’t just up against a cursed ruby or a long-lost uncle.

He was up against something who wants this realm.

And this time?

The price wouldn’t be measured in coin.

It would be blood.