Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 696 – No Bad Words

The same staff angel from earlier stood waiting, posture flawless, wings folded in respectful greeting.

”Prince Lux,” the angel said. ”Please follow me. We have prepared a waiting chamber for your comfort before the conference.”

Lux nodded. ”Lead on.”

They walked through corridors that curved through floating atriums and suspended gardens. Streams of glowing water flowed upward instead of down. Choirs hummed in distant balconies, rehearsing harmonic protocols. The scent of jasmine and holy parchment drifted through the air, clean and sterile in a way that made Lux vaguely miss the sinful perfume of his mansion.

”So,” Lux said casually, adjusting his cuff, ”how catastrophic was the rumor that I died?”

The staff angel paused briefly, clearly deciding how honest protocol allowed them to be.

”Two archiving divisions prepared legacy evaluation documents. One prophetic wing declared a transitional era of economic chaos.”

Lux blinked. ”I was gone for seven days.”

”Yes, Prince.”

”...Never again.”

They reached another door, this one formed from polished pearl and layered halo glass. The angel gestured and it opened smoothly.

”This will be your private waiting room,” they said.

Lux stepped inside.

And immediately stopped.

The room was... aggressively pure.

Soft glowing walls. Floating lotus petals drifting through the air. A long dining table formed from carved moonstone sat at the center, already prepared with plated dishes.

Several small angels hovered nearby, their wings fluttering gently as they arranged serving trays with delicate, ceremonial precision.

The moment Lux entered, they bowed simultaneously.

”Welcome, honored guest.”

Lux blinked slowly.

The smell hit him first.

Fresh herbs. Steamed vegetables. Light fruit glaze. Absolutely zero spice. Zero fat. Zero sin.

He approached the table cautiously, like it might explode into righteousness if he touched it.

There were crystalline bowls filled with luminous quinoa. Bowls of steamed cloudroot garnished with edible starlight petals. Fruit carved into perfect geometric spirals. A pitcher of sparkling springwater that glowed faintly with purification magic.

Lux stared at the spread.

”...This is lunch?” he asked carefully.

”Yes, Prince,” one small angel chirped happily.

Lux stared at the glowing herbal tea pitcher like it had personally betrayed him.

He sat slowly in one of the floating chairs. The small angels fluttered closer, offering plates.

He picked up a fork. Stared at the salad like it had insulted his bloodline.

”Do you have anything... flavorful?” he asked politely.

The angels gasped in unison like he had asked for arson.

”This meal is prepared according to Upper Realm dietary sanctification guidelines,” one angel explained nervously.

Lux sighed, stabbing a piece of glowing lettuce. He tasted it.

It tasted like spring rain and emotional accountability.

”...It’s not bad,” he admitted reluctantly.

The angels brightened visibly.

He leaned back in the chair, chewing thoughtfully while staring at the glowing ceiling that displayed shifting constellations of celestial financial charts.

Two hours until the conference.

He reached for the tea. Took a sip.

It tasted like mint and judgment.

Lux closed his eyes briefly.

”...I miss coffee,” he muttered.

One of the angels tilted their head. ”Would you like more purified hydration?”

Lux opened one eye slowly.

”...Yes,” he said with executive-level resignation.

The small angels nodded enthusiastically and refilled his glass with glowing, suspiciously perfect water. He stared at it for a second, sighed, then went back to eating.

He didn’t say a word.

Not because the food was bad. Honestly... it wasn’t. The vegetables were fresh to the point they practically hummed with life essence. The fruit tasted sweet in a clean, natural way that didn’t rely on sugar or sin or questionable infernal syrups. The herbal sauce coating the roasted cloudroot had layers of subtle flavor that unfolded slowly across his tongue.

It just... lacked kick.

No heat. No bite. No sinful satisfaction. It was like eating something that wanted him to become emotionally stable and spiritually productive.

He chewed slowly, posture straight, napkin resting perfectly across his lap. Every movement measured. Elegant. Controlled.

Formal.

Everything here demanded formal.

He didn’t dislike it. He understood the necessity. Celestial diplomacy ran on presentation, perception, and ceremonial balance. But it meant he had to constantly monitor himself. No relaxed posture. No crude jokes. No reaching for wine out of habit. No flirting with the serving angels just to see if they blushed.

It felt like walking a tightrope in a tailored suit.

Lux finished a spoonful of luminous quinoa and reached for the herbal tea again when the door shimmered open behind him.

He felt the presence before he heard the armor.

Heavy. Controlled. Authority wrapped in layered judgment.

Archon Vizreel stepped inside.

Lux immediately stood.

”Archon.”

Vizreel lifted one gauntleted hand slightly. ”Please. Keep your seat.”

Lux obeyed, easing back into the floating chair, though his posture remained respectful.

Vizreel turned his head toward the hovering attendants. ”Leave us.”

The small angels bowed in synchronized harmony and quietly drifted out, the door sealing behind them with a soft ripple of light.

The moment they were alone, Vizreel walked closer. The towering angel stopped beside Lux and then...

-Thump!

A heavy armored hand landed on Lux’s shoulder.

Hard.

”Lux,” Vizreel said, voice lowering, dropping the official tone. ”I thought you were dead.”

Lux hissed sharply. ”Ugh... I’m still alive. Also, can you please not crush my shoulder? You could give me a fracture.”

Vizreel blinked.

Then burst out laughing. Loud. Echoing. Completely inappropriate for celestial architecture.

”Still dramatic,” Vizreel said.

”Still injured,” Lux shot back, rubbing his shoulder.

Vizreel moved around the table and sat across from him, armor settling with metallic weight that made the moonstone chair groan slightly under divine authority.

”I see you spent your vacation thoroughly,” Vizreel said, folding his arms.

Lux narrowed his eyes. ”That sounds like a loaded sentence.”

Vizreel tilted his head. ”Reports say you have been... frequently engaging with mortal women in extended intimacy.”

Lux physically cringed. ”Why are you using those formal words? Just say it. I was f—”

Vizreel lunged forward and slapped a hand over Lux’s mouth.

”Hey. No bad words. You are in the Upper Realm.”

Lux muffled something extremely rude into his palm.

Vizreel released him.

Lux wiped his mouth dramatically. ”Fine.”