Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 697 – You Smuggled Caffeine into Heaven

Vizreel snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the air above the table shimmered. Constellation lights swirled together, forming floating trays that descended gracefully. Unlike the earlier meal, these contained darker tea blends, roasted celestial nuts dusted with star salt, and something that suspiciously smelled like... coffee.

Lux stared at it.

”...You smuggled caffeine into heaven?”

Vizreel shrugged. ”Diplomatic privilege.”

Lux grabbed the cup immediately. Took a long sip. His shoulders visibly relaxed.

”Archon,” he said reverently, ”I forgive you every time your slap almost killed me.”

Vizreel smirked faintly. ”Good.”

Lux inhaled his drink like a man reunited with a lost lover.

Vizreel studied him carefully.

”You look better,” the Archon said finally.

Lux paused. Lowered the cup slightly.

”I am better,” he admitted.

Vizreel leaned back slightly, wings shifting, armor plates clicking softly.

”You disappeared during escalating tension. You know how that looked.”

Lux nodded. ”I do now.”

”You also survived an Abyssal Lord, multiple assassination attempts, and apparently a mortal harem rotation schedule.”

Lux shrugged casually. ”I multitask well.”

Vizreel chuckled quietly.

”Tell me something honestly,” the Archon said.

Lux raised a brow. ”Dangerous request.”

”You are escalating,” Vizreel said. ”Not just politically. Personally. Your aura has changed.”

Lux went still for half a second.

Vizreel continued, voice lower.

”You are planning something.”

Lux leaned back slowly, swirling the coffee.

”I am always planning something.”

Vizreel shook his head. ”No. This is different. This feels... long term.”

Lux smiled faintly but didn’t answer.

Vizreel watched him carefully, then exhaled.

”You don’t have to tell me. But understand something.”

Lux met his gaze.

”You are walking a line between survival and dominance. That line is very thin.”

Lux took another sip of coffee. Let the warmth settle in his chest.

”I know,” he said quietly.

Vizreel nodded once.

”And for what it’s worth...” the Archon added, voice almost casual, ”I am glad you were not dead.”

Lux smirked. ”Careful. That almost sounded emotional.”

Vizreel rolled his eyes. ”Do not push it.”

Lux grinned wider.

They sat there for a moment longer. Two dangerous beings sharing contraband caffeine inside the most sanctified lunchroom in existence.

Lux set the cup down slowly.

”So,” he said lightly, ”how much trouble am I in now?”

Vizreel leaned forward slightly.

”Enough that we scheduled a public conference to confirm you are alive.”

Lux sighed dramatically. ”More public appearances.”

Vizreel smirked.

”You will survive.”

Lux lifted his cup again.

”I usually do.”

He took another long sip, savoring the forbidden caffeine like it was liquid rebellion, then set the cup down with a soft clink. He leaned back slightly, stretching his shoulders before glancing toward Vizreel again, expression shifting from relaxed sarcasm back into quiet calculation.

”And about the attacks?” Lux asked casually, reaching for a handful of roasted celestial nuts. ”Any information I should know? I mean... everything you said in the meeting was formal. You can tell me your guess here.”

Vizreel froze for half a second.

Then he slowly shook his head.

”I cannot give you my guess.”

Lux blinked. ”Why?”

Vizreel frowned, folding his arms. ”Because you have too many enemies here.”

Lux snorted lightly. ”You say that like it narrows anything down.”

”I am serious,” Vizreel replied, voice lowering slightly. ”Your influence has created... uncomfortable alliances. And apparently, I was shocked to discover you also have enemies inside the Infernal Realm itself.”

Lux popped a celestial nut into his mouth, crunching thoughtfully. ”I run Hell’s economy and financial arteries. The one who controls money collects enemies like a tax.”

Vizreel paused.

Then nodded once.

”Fair.”

Lux shrugged. ”You try restructuring seven layers of corruption and suddenly everyone wants you dead. Shocking.”

Vizreel leaned forward slightly. ”You are not simply restructuring corruption. You are removing it.”

”Same difference,” Lux said.

”No,” Vizreel corrected. ”Removing corruption threatens those who depend on it.”

Lux raised his brow. ”Archon, that might be the most politically accurate thing you have ever said.”

Vizreel ignored the jab.

Lux grabbed another bite of vegan cloudroot and chewed slowly, gaze drifting toward the glowing doorway. He tilted his head slightly, listening to distant corridor echoes.

Vizreel followed his gaze and spoke before Lux could ask.

”Celestaria, Solara, and Selena will not be joining you before the conference.”

Lux looked back immediately. ”Why?”

Vizreel leaned back, armor plates shifting with a quiet metallic sigh.

”I know you are close to them,” he said. ”And favoritism... is forbidden in this realm.”

Lux smirked slowly. ”So I am stuck with you until the conference?”

Vizreel scoffed. ”Hey. Better than most beings in this realm.”

Lux tilted his head, pretending to consider it.

”...That is unfortunately true.”

Vizreel chuckled once, low and brief.

Lux reached for his coffee again, swirling it gently as constellations reflected across the dark surface.

”So,” Lux said lightly, ”how bad is the internal celestial drama right now?”

Vizreel stared at him flatly. ”You are not allowed to ask that.”

”I am not asking officially.”

”You are not allowed to ask unofficially either.”

Lux grinned. ”Worth trying.”

Vizreel rubbed the bridge of his nose, wings twitching slightly in restrained exasperation.

”You are the only infernal diplomat who treats divine political tension like gossip over lunch.”

”It is gossip,” Lux said cheerfully. ”Just with more wings and fewer clothes.”

Vizreel glared.

Lux raised both hands. ”I am behaving. See? Vegan. Polite. Not seducing anyone.”

Vizreel looked at him for a long moment.

”...Your restraint is unsettling.”

Lux beamed. ”Thank you.”

Vizreel leaned forward again, lowering his voice.

”You should still increase your security.”

”I have,” Lux replied calmly.

”Not enough.”

Lux shrugged. ”If they want to try, they will try.”

Vizreel studied him carefully. ”You sound almost bored by assassination attempts.”

Lux leaned back, balancing his chair slightly off the floor.

”I am not bored,” he said. ”I am... selective about which threats deserve my attention.”

Vizreel crossed his arms again. ”That is dangerous confidence.”

”That is calculated confidence,” Lux corrected.

They sat quietly for a moment, the room glowing softly around them while celestial wind chimes rang somewhere beyond the walls.