"The Wolves Clan?" Krone echoed, voice laced with some worry as she stood behind her youngest son. Her pale golden eyes carefully observed his now broad and masculine back as he slowly packed his stationery in a black leather case. "Isn't it a bit too early for you to go beyond our clan's border?" she probed, wanting to stop her boy but not knowing how to voice her desires.

Aku merely hummed as he grabbed his quill and carefully placed it in a silver box— the quill had a beautiful black feather adorning it with its peak made out of pure gold, it was a bit heavy, and probably not the most comfortable quill to use out there, but it was a gift from Krone, so the male always carried it with him wherever he went.

"Do not worry, Mother," he coaxed as he turned to face the woman. A bright grin adorned his face, his golden eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I won't be alone. Father left me one of his escorts," he said. "He'll serve as both my guard and attendant throughout the trip, what's more, it isn't his first time going to the Wolves territory so he'll also make a great guide," Aku enumerated, trying to soothe his mother's nerves.

Krone hummed, unconvinced. She didn't like how Aku grew closer to his father over the past century, but she couldn't tell him off either. After all, no matter what one said, Giesbach was Aku's father and King. From where she stood, she took in her youngest child's figure.

Aku's face didn't have any baby fat left. His eyes had gradually sharpened, losing their round edge to become more elongated. There was no childishness left, only a sense of oppression and passive seduction when one looked at him from afar. He was the epitome of a First Blood, tall, powerful, oppressive, and, most of all, loyal to the crown. If not for the fact that she was his mother, Krone knew deep down that Aku probably wouldn't spare so much as a glance in her direction.

Nevertheless, she managed to let a light smile adorn her lips as her eyes crinkled in adoration. "If you say so," she murmured, knowing that whatever she said her child wouldn't change his mind. She was his mother. She knew him best. Krone didn't want to get into an argument with her baby boy right before his first trip out of the territory.

Aku paused. The grin on his face slightly dropped as he observed his mother's despondent face. Just like Krone knew him best, Aku probably knew her best too. He was what most would call a "mama's boy," he practically grew up attached to her, most of his childhood was spent by her side.

He took a step toward her, gently lifting one of his hands to stroke her cheek. "Don't worry Mother," he whispered, wrapping his other arm around her waist to pull her into a hug. He lowered his head slightly to plant a light kiss on her hair before carefully inhaling her fragrance. When he felt her wrap her thin arms around his waist, he couldn't help the genuine smile from growing on his lips.

"Be careful out there," she muttered, voice muffled against his black dress shirt. She heard him hum as she spoke, and continued. "Why do you have to grow up so fast," she sighed in mild defeat, her voice pouty and unwilling. "I wish you stayed my baby boy forever."

Aku chuckled, sending vibrations along his torso and he nuzzled his nose into her white hair. "Me too, Mother," he answered, peppering her hair with kisses.

"Is there anywhere you would like to go to before our audience with His Majesty Wolfgang?" the tall attendant asked. He was slightly taller than Aku, perhaps a centimeter or two taller, and sported the usual Banmaden uniform given to every staff member. Black dress pants and dress shirt with an even darker blazer. He had a silver-colored ribbon around his neck and silk napkin snuggled in his breast pocket. The only ornament was a breastpin with a beautiful rose embedded with a crimson ruby in the middle.

Aku hummed, his golden eyes flickered past the raven-haired attendant to look at the surrounding buildings with minute curiosity. Despite his formation to become a diplomat, Aku had never done more than dealing with the foreign envoys that came to the clan. Although he quickly became the head of the Foreign Ministry, he wasn't yet allowed to go out of the kingdom.

In a way, this trip to the Wolves territory was a sort of baptism for him as a diplomat. His first step as an adult. He didn't know if it was his father trying to look over him, but the Wolves territory was by far one of the friendliest toward the First Blood clan. Either because of fear and respect or genuine friendliness, it didn't matter. In a way, the Wolves were the ones with less chance to create tensions if diplomatic incidents.

The raven-haired attendant observed the young First Blood for some time, following a step behind the white-haired youth— if someone a century-old could still be called one, he didn't utter a word.

"Say, Zwei, was it?" Aku asked, throwing his head back to meet the raven head's obsidian eyes. Much like Kagamine, his mother's personal attendant, Zwei was a Shadow Demon whose main feature laid in his ability to travel from shadow to shadow.

"Yes, Lord Aku?"

"How long until our audience with His Majesty Wolfgang?" he asked as he slid his gaze to look back at the crowded streets. He could feel the probing glances of the Wolves, as well as the penetrating eyes of the Wolves security squad.

"We still have a few hours ahead of us, my Lord," the man paused before resuming. "Shall we head to our lodgings to regroup with the rest of the delegation?" he proposed, already calculating the distance and path to their lodgings as he spoke.

Aku gave a vague nod, humming in approval as his steps came to a halt. His eyes swept over a smith shop, pausing before he looked at his current attendant. "Lead the way," he told him.

With a bow, the Shadow Demon took a step closer to the Founder. "Excuse me," he announced as he laid his hand on the First Blood's shoulder. It didn't take more for them to vanish into the shadow as they began to travel throughout the Wolves capital. Although Zwei was part of the King's escort, he couldn't directly travel back their lodgings.

It wasn't that he lacked the skills or ability. It was due to the restriction that applied to foreign Demons within the Wolves clan territory.

Less than a minute later, the two males emerged from the large shadow of a building— precisely, their hotel. The raven-haired Shadow Demon took a step back, putting back the proper distance between himself and Aku before bowing. "We have arrived, My Lord. If you will follow me," he introduced before turning and leading the way into the imposing building.

Aku mutely followed behind, eyes half-lidded and a careless smile dangling at his lips. He appeared carefree and unguarded as he entered the majestic manor. He felt the number of eyes on his back drastically decrease as soon as he set foot inside. Probably the effect of the door closing and separating him from the security squad. After all, it wouldn't do well for them to follow him into the hotel.

As soon as he entered the building, Aku went to the conference room. There he found the rest of the delegation, two other Founders, both of them had more seniority than him. Instead of subordinates, it was more accurate to say that they served as mentors to steer him in the right direction. The remaining members were mostly servants and attendants, as well as bodyguards.

The group immediately bowed upon noticing the young Founder's appearance. Aku was, after all, both the third prince and the leader of this delegation. Aku dismissed their show of discipline and respect with a simple wave of his hand as he came to sit at the top of the long table. He nodded, indicating for them to take a seat before glancing at Zwei for him to lay the material on the table.

"So," he mused, intertwining his fingers and resting his chin atop of it as he leaned closer. His golden eyes swept the two other Founders, he raised an eyebrow. "Let us go over our presentation once more, shall we?" he rhetorically asked.

There was no need for an answer, Aku's words were the law.

At once, the light dimmed, and the project illuminated the room in the form of a mirage-like image— the ability one of the two Founders had polished over the centuries. The delegation coming to the Wolves territory had for goal the opening of a new trade route between both clans.

The holographic image showed diagrams and models. Aku leaned into his seat, he picked his documents up, skimming over them before he ushered the Founders to begin.

Aku listened, eyes narrowed in mild interest, showing next to no emotion as he mused over every word, phrase, and wording of his subordinates. From time to time, his eyes would flash, showing his dissatisfaction. Other times, his lips would twitch to show his satisfaction. By the end of the presentation, an hour had passed. Aku had interrupted the men a few times to rectify their words and wording.

There was a pregnant silence, the youngest Founder kept his eyes closed as he reviewed the presentation before he fluttered them open. As if on cue, the light came back, relieving the room of its oppressing dimness. "We should change a few things before our audience with His Majesty Wolfgang," Aku opened, leaving no place for arguments.

At once, the whole room began to review their presentation, add and dismiss facts and wording.

The sound of page flipping echoed within the large conference room. A tall man with a head of spiky ink-black hair sat atop an imposing throne. His sharp silver eyes were slightly narrowed as he carefully went over the paper in front of him. His lips stretched into a thin, unreadable line, he rested his cheek on his hand, seemingly disinterested by the proposition in front of him.

The man was Wolfgang, the current Demon Lord of the Wolves Clan, one of the five Great Demon Lords of the Demon World. The man exuded an icy aura, yet, when one met his gaze, the feeling changed from ice cold to hot-blooded. Before being the ruler of his Clan, Wolfgang was a warrior. The number of wars he led was uncountable.

While Karlheinz, the Vampires' King was known for intellect and scientific achievements, Wolfgang inspired fear in the heart of Lesser Demons with his strength and ruthlessness. The Wolves Clan favored the strong more than they favored the lineage. It didn't matter who your parents were, if you had the strength, you could climb to the top.

Maybe this was the reason why they were on best terms with the First Blood Clan that was inherently strong.

Nevertheless, although Wolfgang was known for his strength more than his wisdom, he was King and knew how to handle politics. He turned the last page of the paper stack before pushing the imposing pile of paper away for his subordinates to skim over. Intertwining his fingers, he placed his elbows on the marble table and leaned his chin to rest atop his interlocked fingers.

His piercing gaze met Aku's golden eyes for a short starring contest before his lips quicked up into a feral smile, revealing his dentition and frightening canines. He loudly laughed, sending vibrations along his torso and shaking the foundation of the building before loudly exhaling.

"Good, good," he congratulated, silver eyes glinting with unhidden satisfaction. He clapped his hands, and on cue a plethora of servants entered the room, carrying foods and beverage. "Let's drink to celebrate!" he laughed.

Aku spared his subordinates a glance, he nodded and they took the material back before joining the festivities. Alcohol flooded, the smell soon permeating the whole room as the intoxicating drink invaded the Demons' system. Don't lure yourself, it wasn't that their tolerance was low, only the alcohol in the Demon world was much more potent and harmful.

Aku observed his subordinates with lidded eyes, carefully keeping an eye on Wolfgang who did the same. Maybe it was the difference in physique or drinking habits, but despite being the one who drank the most, Wolfgang remained as sober and despotic as before.

Hours passed, and as time flew, the number of Wolves to fall prey to alcohol grew. Aku could see the two older Founders were in a tight spot and indicated for them to retire. Only he and Zwei remained of the Founders' delegation.

Wolfgang whose gaze was now veiled with a thin mist of intoxication stood up, he strode to Aku, towering over his figure. The man was both taller and more muscular than the young First Blood. Faced with Wolfgang, Aku looked like a harmless pretty boy whose only redeeming quality was his face. He lacked the aura of a warrior.

"Hehe, Aku, was it?" Wolfgang rhetorically asked, not bothering himself with formalities. "Let's go, I'll take you to sightsee!" he boisterously invited. He didn't wait for the First Blood to answer, taking his approval for granted he already led the way outside.

Aku merely waved at Zwei to take his leave before he stood and followed the King outside. It wouldn't do for him to go out with more escort than the Demon Lord. Mutely following, he soon reached one of the capital's busiest night district.

The red-light district.

"Come, come, I'll make you visit!"

It didn't take more to convince Aku. The pleasure of the flesh wasn't something he could taste back in Banmaden. After all, he didn't want his dear mother to hear or stumble upon him.

Women and Men of the red light district lacked in power, their magic was almost nonexistent, and if not for their look, the slums would be their home. After all, the Wolves favored the strong. Aku didn't have to look out for a possible attack, within the entirety of the district, only Wolfgang could threaten him.

Thanks for reading, until next time^^