With narrowed eyes, Samael studied the three groups of Shadows before them. The larger one consisted of the Shadows, who were standing around the plane and on the bridge, staircases, and galleries overlooking the plain. The other two, who were fighting with each other, were smaller. The one supporting that wannabe leader was bigger than the one supporting him, which was disappointing. He thought there would be an equal number of them, but he did have to consider that the helpers weren't included in it. All sixty of them were standing behind him.

With satisfaction, Samael noticed that his group seemed to fare better in a fight than Satan's group. There were fewer wounds, less missing fur, feathers, and branches, and less torn fabric.

Satan, who had been hiding by the columns when the fight was going on, now stood at the front of the group supporting him. His robe hadn't had any tears in it and his skin had no wounds. There wasn't even any dirt on his face.

"It seems the decision is clear. Satan has been chosen," Samael said loudly enough so that even those standing in the Pandemonium's galleries could hear him.

"My lord, are you certain?" Beelzebub asked him in a whisper.

The objections came from his group and the galleries. At first, they were just whispers, but then the words became louder and louder, though none of them were addressed to Samael. That was until a sorry-looking bear-like creature was pushed to the front of the group, and the group stepped back, creating a gap between them. With narrowed eyes, he glanced back at them before he faced Samael. He made a small bow and cleared his throat. "My lord, we don't recognise any other leader but you."

"He's not one of us!" a female voice yelled from Satan's group.

The bear glared at Satan's group.

"She doesn't have any imagination, does she?" Samael whispered to Beelzebub. "She keeps repeating the same line over and over. Is this the only reasoning they have?"

"Apparently." Beelzebub nodded.

"Unfortunately, you're in the minority," Samael told his group.

"But... But, it's only them who are for Satan." The bear pointed at the group. "They are not the majority."

"We won," Satan said, his chest puffed.

"Nevertheless, there are more of them than you," Samael said. He gave a glance over at the goat-head, who was looking quite smug with his cheat puffed and his chin lifted. He leaned towards Beelzebub. "I'm going to the Throne Hall. Gather the bear and the group and bring them to me."

When he received the group, around two hundred of them, he gave them three options, for the time he and the helpers were gone, to go the Reformatory, go with him and the helpers, or stay in the Inferno, where they, if they chose, can keep an eye on things and keep him informed about the situation. The majority wanted to go with him. Some of them decided to go to the Reformatory, and a few decided to stay in the Inferno.

Beelzebub approached Samael and informed him that Satan was insisting on entering the Throne Hall. He added, "He's already behaving as if it belongs to him."

"Is that so?" Samael shifted so that he was sitting sideways on the throne. He propped his chin with his hand. There was so much he had to do before they left, but first, he did have to deal with the goat-head. "Let him in."

"Are you certain, my lord? Are you positive you would like to do this?"

"You worry far too much," Samael told him. "Everything is going to be well. Trust me."

Beelzebub sighed. "If you say so, my lord."

"Trust me," Samael repeated. "Now, let him in."

Before he left, Beelzebub glanced at him, looking as though he didn't agree with Samael, but he didn't object further.

After a few moments, a half-goat rushed into the Hall, Beelzebub, and the woman with the goat's lower body behind him while Shadows lingered by the entrance.

He looked quite eager to start its reign, Samael thought.

Satan came to a halt before the throne, his chin lifted arrogantly. "We have come to claim what's rightfully ours."

"We?" Samael smiled. "I see only you and your female friend."

Satan glanced over his shoulder at the entrance before turning his gaze back to Samael. Suddenly, he didn't look arrogant anymore. "We...."

Samael stood and strolled down the platform. "We what?"

"We came to claim what's rightfully ours," Satan said, almost timidly. He took a step back, his neck shrinking into his body. He reminded Samael of a turtle.

Samael walked past him. He gestured to the Shadows by the entrance to come closer. When they did, he pointed at Satan. "This is the Shadow you want as a leader?"

The Shadows exchanged gazes.

"Yes," the woman said loudly. She rushed to the Shadows and elbowed a Shadow closest to her. She whispered something in his ear.

"Yes, we do want him as a leader." The Shadow beside her nodded.

Beelzebub, who walked around them and stopped by Samael, snorted. "Don't come crying to us when it turns out he's inept."

The woman started to argue with Beelzebub, defending Satan. The helpers and the rest of the Shadows joined in while Satan silently watched, looking awkward.

The shadows already lifted their hands, branches, paws, and wings, looking like they were ready to physically fight again.

"You've chosen him," Samael's voice cut through the chatter. "If you find he's not suitable, you'll have to deal with him. Don't count on me." He turned to Satan. "The Throne Hall is now yours, but the Helpers' quarters and my rooms are off-limits."

Satan opened his mouth to disagree with him, more likely, but Beelzebub stopped him as he whispered into his ear, "I wouldn't push your luck if I were you."

"Repository stays under –" Samael glanced at Beelzebub.

"Belial."

"Belial's authority. You have no say there." Samael gave a pleasant smile at the women and then at Satan's supporters. "Since he's a Shadow and not an outsider, there shouldn't be any objections, right?"

The woman made a face, and Samael could see that she wanted to argue, but the argument she had been using was useless against Belia.

Samael's smile widened. He waved at the helpers to join him as he walked out. "Come, let's go and leave them so they can enjoy their little moments of victory." Which, in Samael's humble opinion, wasn't going to last long.

The smile disappeared from his face. That should settle things regarding Satan. Now, he needed to seal his and the Helpers' rooms, including the space that served as the Helpers' workspace. And appoint Gaap, since he could create portals between the last three heavens, as a liaison between his supporters in Inferno and the Fifth Heaven. There could also be other things, but he could still return to the Inferno and deal with them later.

When Beelzebub appeared by his side, Samael said, "You should gather the supporters. No, wait—first, I need to seal their caves. Lead me to them. Let's get the boring things out of the way first."

A while later, all the rooms were sealed off, and Samael guided the Shadows towards the portal. He should probably have made a more detailed plan—or at least figured out their final destination in the Fifth Heaven—especially with more than two hundred Shadows following him. But he was more of a spontaneous creature than a planner. And if he did make plans, he planned for others to carry them out.

As Samael stepped through the portal into the Fifth Heaven, the sight of the land barren and scarred from past devastation greeted him. In the distance, he could see a small patch of greenery with plants and grasses. A twisted tree that looked dead had a few leaves at the tip of a branch.

He grimaced. He probably should have given more thought to leaving Inferno and made a few preparations before stepping into the Fifth Heaven.