Lord Zzenth says "He doesn't taste right."

Lord Bibiq says "You are right, I've never smelled a human like him."

Lord Sakra says "While I don't have your beast senses I do agree that even without the demon he would not be a normal human soul. For that matter what is a human soul doing in a beastman body?"

Lord Timment says "And why does he smell of death magic?"

Lady Xinun says "All good questions. I'm afraid I can't answer any of them just yet."

Lord Timment says "Lady Xinun, didn't you say you had him in your soulscape?"

Lady Xinun says "That is correct. He withstood my torture as well."

Lord Bibiq says "Truly impressive. I would like to fight him!"

Lord Zzenth says "I would like to eat him!"

'I don't like the turn this conversation is taking!'

Lord Sakra says "Now, now, if you kill him we won't get any answers. Besides he belongs to Lady Xinun."

Lord Timment says "What is your name?"

"Ash."

Lord Timment says "Ash, would you be interested in a deal?"

"That depends on the terms of the deal, I want my life and my freedom. What is it you want?"

Lady Xinun says "Ah, I didn't think of treating him as an equal, I just started torturing him."

Lord Timment says "He is far too unique to be treated like a mortal or lesser demon. Ash, I want some questions answered and I want to bring down the other two demon lords."

"As long as the questions do not endanger the people of the peninsula, fine. I am not powerful enough yet to go against a demon lord, but I would be willing to help in other ways."

Lord Timment says "Excellent, we can negotiate then. Lady Xinun, please bring him down."

Lady Xinun gives Lord Timment a look but decides to allow it and summons the guards to lift me down. After they get me down they place a chair in the center of the circle of thrones and put me in it. They leave the manacles on me and I am struggling not to show the pain I am in from my shoulders.

Lord Timment says "Now, Lady Xinun, since you own him I cannot negotiate with him without your approval."

Lady Xinun says "As much as I don't want to give him up, our alliance is far more important. Very well, he is yours."

Lord Timment says "Thank you. Now, Ash, for answering my questions I will guarantee your life. Your freedom will be based on your help with the other two demon lords. Fair enough?"

"Agreed. Ask your questions."

Lord Bibiq says "What are you?"

Lord Sakra says "Are you really a demon?"

Lord Zzenth says "Why do you smell of death magic?"

"To start with, do you all know what a summoned is?"

Lord Timment says "You mean the heroes who are summoned from another world? Do the humans on the peninsula have this power?"

"Yes, I was a special summon. My soul was placed into this beastman body because I died before being summoned."

Lord Timment says "How interesting, so you are a human inhabiting a beastman body through death magic. That explains everything but the demon part."

"One of my special powers is the ability to absorb mana beast cores. On one of my adventures I came across a demon core and absorbed it."

Lady Xinun says "That must have hurt!"

Lord Timment says "Surviving that is impressive, so you became part demon through absorbing a demon core. What type of demon did you become?"

"As far as I am aware I am a unique demon."

Lord Timment says "That makes sense."

Lady Xinun says "I have a question. How did you escape my soulscape?"

"I forced demonic power into the manacles until they exploded. Once I reformed my will was enough to close the soulscape."

Lady Xinun says "After all the care I took not to kill you I never expected you to kill yourself to escape!"

Lord Bibiq says "He has a warrior's soul!"

Lord Timment says "A truly surprising individual. I must say every single one of your answers has been surprising."

"Any other questions?"

Lord Zzenth says "If you became a demon by absorbing a core how then did you level up to rank five?"

"Some of it was through meditation to improve my core, the rest was through eating shadow demons."

Lord Timment says "Shadow demons?!?"

Lord Sakra says "There are shadow demons on the peninsula?"

"Yes, but we are handling them."

Lord Timment says "Alright, no questions about the peninsula."

Lady Xinun says "The fact that there are shadow demons there would affect our invasion plans."

Lord Bibiq says "Since we have already decided to postpone our invasion it is of small importance now."

Lord Zzenth says "I agree with Bibiq, let's focus on the demon lords."

Lord Timment says "Yes, we need to come up with a plan that will allow Ash to earn his freedom."

"Am I allowed to comment?"

Lady Xinun says "Since your life will be on the line you may speak as long as you remain respectful."

"Would you describe this Lord Shendaw as paranoid?"

Lord Sakra says "Yes, absolutely."

"How hard would it be for him to believe that Lord Dra has formed an agreement with you against him?"

Lord Timment says "Well, Lord Dra is the most powerful of us, so Lord Shendaw is his closest rival. They only allied because the five of us together can threaten them."

"Then I have two ideas, one would be pure combat, the other would be more subversive and take longer."

Lady Xinun says "Then let's hear both, then we will vote on whether to use one of them or come up with our own plan."

"The combat plan is to further aggravate Lord Shendaw so that he attacks Lady Xinun without waiting for Lord Dra to back him up. Then once you ambush and destroy most of his forces you can attack Lord Dra."

Lord Bibiq says "I like that plan!"

"The other plan is to send me to Lord Shendaw as Lord Timment suggested and I will try to convince him of a plot against him."

Lord Timment says "What makes you think you would have a chance to speak with him?"

"From the way you have described Lord Shendaw I don't think he would be satisfied if I died quickly."

Lord Timment says "True enough. Alright, let's vote."

Lady Xinun says "Those in favor of the combat plan?"

Lord Bibiq says "I am."

Lord Zzenth says "I as well."

Lady Xinun says "Those in favor of subterfuge?"

Lord Sakra says "Me."

Lord Timment says "Me as well. Just to see if Ash can pull it off."

Lady Xinun says "I also prefer the subterfuge plan. So three to two we go with subterfuge."

"More risk for me, but I think I can make it work."