Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 709 – Protocol Requires Confirmation

The chief didn’t flinch.

”Our surveillance wards detected infernal power fluctuations within the limbo breach. The origin trace leads to Greed authority signatures.”

Lux stared.

Then laughed once. Short. Sharp. Absolutely disbelieving.

”...Okay. So you guys are trying to slander me now. Great. Fantastic strategy. Very subtle.”

The chief raised one hand.

”We also recovered physical evidence at the breach site.”

He gestured behind him. Another guard stepped forward carrying a floating scroll sealed in glowing containment light.

The scroll unfurled midair.

Greed sigils burned across its surface. Royal-tier infernal script.

Lux stared at it.

Then slowly turned back toward the chief.

”...Who,” Lux said carefully, ”is the absolute idiot that leaves THAT kind of obvious evidence at a kidnapping scene?!”

His voice rose despite himself.

”Use your goddamn brain!”

Vizreel shot him a sharp look.

”Lux. Language.”

Lux sucked in a breath through clenched teeth. His shoulders rose. Fell. He visibly swallowed three separate curses that wanted to escape his mouth and start diplomatic wars.

He exhaled slowly.

Right.

Lobbying mode.

His posture shifted. His tone cooled. His expression smoothed into professional infernal executive calm.

”I apologize,” Lux said, voice measured now. ”Allow me to clarify. That scroll is either planted evidence... or an intentional misdirection using stolen Greed authority script.”

The chief remained unmoved.

”The infernal signature matches your bloodline.”

Lux nodded once.

”Yes. Which is exactly why framing me would require using it.”

The guards tightened formation slightly, spears lowering a fraction more.

Vizreel stepped half a pace forward, wings flaring slightly in warning.

”I was present during the ambush,” Vizreel said firmly. ”Lux fought beside me. He nearly died.”

Murmurs rippled through the guard ranks at the name.

The chief’s eyes narrowed.

Lux shifted slightly against the restraint bands, testing their strength. The ropes glowed brighter in response, tightening just enough to remind him this was not a good time to attempt heroic breakout theatrics.

”You think I orchestrated a multi-realm ambush,” Lux said slowly, ”kidnapped a Guardian of Balance, attacked an Execution Sovereign, and then... what... got beaten half to death for dramatic effect?”

The chief did not answer.

Lux sighed heavily.

”This is why interrealm cooperation meetings give me migraines.”

Before the chief could respond...

Warm sunlight flooded the corridor.

Not blinding. Not overwhelming. Just... authoritative comfort.

Every guard stiffened instantly.

The formation parted as a new presence stepped forward.

Celestaria.

Her aura didn’t flare. It simply... existed. And the entire hallway adjusted around it like gravity had politely reorganized itself.

”You cannot arrest the innocent,” she said calmly, voice carrying quiet finality, ”or arrest someone for a crime that remains unverified.”

The chief bowed immediately, wings folding in formal respect.

”High Custodian,” he said. ”We are acting under protocol following infernal signature evidence.”

Celestaria stepped closer, her gaze drifting from the scroll... to Lux... to Vizreel... and back again. Her expression remained composed, but Lux caught the subtle flicker of concern beneath it.

”Protocol requires confirmation,” she said.

”The infernal trace is undeniable,” the chief insisted.

Celestaria tilted her head slightly.

”And yet the Archon stands beside him contradicting your accusation.”

Vizreel nodded once.

”I confirm,” he said. ”Lux Vaelthorn fought to contain the ambush.”

Celestaria turned her gaze back to the chief.

”Release him.”

The chief hesitated.

”High Custodian, with respect—”

”Release him,” she repeated, softer... but infinitely more dangerous.

The restraint bands around Lux flickered.

Paused.

Then dissolved into drifting holy script particles.

Lux dropped to one knee briefly as circulation returned to his wings, flexing them carefully with a wince before standing again. He brushed phantom dust from his suit automatically, composure snapping back into place like a reflex.

”Thank you,” Lux said politely.

Celestaria studied him for a moment longer than necessary.

”Explain,” she said quietly.

Lux exhaled.

He felt the words rise in his throat automatically, sharp and blunt and catastrophically honest.

’That was a cross-realm assassination attempt involving Arch-Luminary Vaeloryn... and infernal royal authority support.’

The sentence hovered at the edge of his tongue.

He swallowed it.

Because saying those two names out loud, together, in a hallway filled with armed celestial guards and at least six surveillance sigils recording everything... was the diplomatic equivalent of lighting an interrealm war with a scented candle.

Both names carried statues. Temples. Thrones. Entire factions built around their authority.

And Lux was not suicidal.

He straightened his cuffs instead, buying half a second to reorganize the battlefield inside his own mind.

Vizreel stepped forward before Lux could choose his phrasing.

”We will speak,” the Archon said firmly. ”But not in this place.”

The chief’s wings shifted sharply.

”Archon... you push our luck,” the chief said. His voice held restraint, but the tension underneath it vibrated like a drawn blade. ”Why are you defending this demon?”

Lux opened his mouth, ready to throw out three layers of sarcasm and at least one insult involving celestial bureaucratic incompetence, but Celestaria spoke first.

”How about this?” she said smoothly.

The hallway quieted instantly again.

”We will continue this discussion inside an interrogation chamber,” Celestaria continued. Her tone remained warm, diplomatic... and very clearly not optional. ”Prince Lux remains our diplomatic guest. Please restrain yourselves accordingly.”

Lux almost smiled at the phrasing.

’Guest.’

That single word slammed a political shield around him thicker than any barrier spell he could summon right now.

The chief hesitated. The guards exchanged brief glances. Several spears lifted slightly, tension loosening but not vanishing.

Vizreel remained perfectly still beside Lux, aura steady, wings folded in controlled patience.

Finally, the chief inclined his head.

”...Very well. Interrogation chamber.”

Lux tilted his head slightly toward Vizreel and murmured just low enough to avoid the guards’ hearing.

”You know most guests don’t get escorted by weaponized choir formations.”

Vizreel didn’t look at him.

”You are not most guests.”

”Fair.”

The formation shifted.

Guards repositioned around them, still cautious but no longer in immediate arrest posture. The chief gestured down the corridor, and glowing path sigils lit along the marble floor, guiding them toward the deeper judicial sector of the celestial complex.

They began walking.