The price of my help wouldn't be cheap.

"I do not understand.

Why bother?"

"What are you trying to say, Nux Leander?"

Nux paused for a moment, then, he decided to ask without holding back, "You should know about the presence of the Progenitors, correct?"

"..." Faelara was silent, her expression, however, gave Nux the answer he needed.

"The Progenitors know about you, the Progenitors know about the Black Order that you lead, and any one of the Progenitors is strong enough to completely eradicate the Black Order from the face of this world with just a mere snap of their fingers.

Then why bother?

Why play all these games?

Why put yourself at risk like that?"

This time, there were no games, Nux had come out straight, the fact that Faelara Dawnshade was the Leader of the Black Order, the fact that both Nux and Faelara knew but decided not to talk about, was now put in front of the table.

Nux wanted answers.

He wanted to understand what his 'enemies' were thinking.

Faelara stared at him for a while, then, a small smile appeared on her face, "You don't think I am the strongest in the Black Order, do you?

Do you truly believe that someone like me is the true leader, a mere Nine-Tailed Fox?"

"Otherworlders back you up." Nux realized.

"That is correct." Faustina didn't hide.

"Why? Why betray your own world?"

"Yrniel is not my world, Nux.

My world was destroyed a long time ago."

"And you decide to betray the world that offered you a home?

As far as I know, no one other than the Higher-ups in the Ancestral Order knows that the Foxkin does not belong to Yrniel.

I highly doubt you or the power behind you is strong enough to manipulate the entirety of Yrniel's population into believing that you are a part of them, especially when that monster keeps an eye on everything happening in Yrniel.

Most probably, it is the Progenitors who let you and your race stay in Yrniel without having to face any problems.

Then why betray them?"

Nux couldn't understand.

"Sometimes, you are forced by the situation Nux. There are things you have to do even if you do not want to."

Faelara replied with a weak smile on her face."If something's or someone's troubling you, why not seek the Progenitors' help? If they let you stay here, then they would probably help you out as well, don't you think?"

"The world isn't black and white, the Progenitors aren't as kind as you think they are. You may think they protected us, but in truth, they only see us as whetstones.

We are merely chess pieces in their eyes, pieces that can be sacrificed anytime in order to strengthen their own forces.

And the same is true for our so-called 'backups'.

We Foxkins are trapped inside the sick power game of these big players, our limbs are tied and we are forced to move as we are forced to move as instructed.

And that is what I am doing because for me,

Nothing is more important than my people's safety."

lightsnοvεl Faelara spoke and Nux turned silent.

He didn't need any more explanations, he always found the Foxkins' presence strange, it was as if they were in a place they didn't belong, they weren't able to fit in as allies, nor could they fit in as enemies. Something just didn't sit right no matter how he thought about it.

It was the same even when he tried to look into it inside the illusion and now, he finally got the answer he had been looking for.

All the dots were now connected, he finally realized why the Foxkins seemed so... out of place.

The Foxkins had lost their original home, Faelara was currently the strongest Foxkin he knew, someone who even his wives could defeat, this just shows how truly weak the Foxkins were.

Sure, they may look grand when compared to other beastmen and beastmen cities, however, in truth, they are endangered. One single mistake on their part and they could be erased. That was how difficult of a place they were in and they had been in this position for who knows how long!lightsnovel

The burden Faelara carried on her shoulders... Nux could finally understand them.

Therefore...

"What if I help you out?"

"Huh...?"

Faelara's expression changed.

"What if I free you and your race from this strange position, what if destroy every chain that's bounding you, what if I make it so that you and your race are no longer anyone's chess piece but an independent, peaceful race?"

"And how would you do something like that?"

Faelara was curious.

"You don't have to know about that." Nux chuckled.

"I am not in a position to trust empty words, Nux Leander.""It doesn't matter.

I am not asking you to do anything here.

Continue what you have been doing till now.

Survive.

And one day,

I will once again stand in front of you.

And that will be the day when you will get everything you have been fighting for."

Faelara just smiled, not saying anything.

Nux could feel it.

The woman didn't believe him. It was a normal reaction, honestly, he would have been disappointed if she had believed him this easily.

He just chuckled,

"Don't underestimate me, Faelara Dawnshade.

I am a Semi Saint who dares to stand in front of Divines and I am not alone, along with my overpowered wives, I also have the support of my mother, a Progenitor. Not to mention that the daughter of the man who is called the strongest in the universe, will be mine eventually as well.

I have a lot more power than you think.

Honestly, I am the only one who can help you and your people out here.

It is just that...

The price of my help wouldn't be cheap."

A devilish, greedy smile appeared on Nux's face as he glanced at the beautiful woman in front of him.

A smile that forced Faelara to ask,

"W-What price?"

"You.

The moment I free you and your people and give you everything you want, You will belong to me."

"That doesn't sound like you are freeing me at all."

"Did you forget?

You first knew me as the Devil.

That is how the Devil works.

And don't bother,

You won't escape."

As those words echoed through Faelara's ears, she realized the man in front of her had disappeared.