Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius gently flicked the demoness' forehead, "I've sent Dragan and a newer Invictus member named Taree towards the Labyrinth to contact the Gatekeepers."

Lulu rubbed her forehead, grinning happily, "Right... I suppose I should probably say hello to Raelion... Is that all?"

She was referring to General Raelion, the commander of the Gatekeepers' military forces. Lulu must have held a high position to be able to speak of him so casually.

Tycon took in a deep breath and sighed. He took off his glove and summoned a few more items from his spatial ring... his crossbow quiver, the Shatterspike longsword, mundane pieces of maintenance and repair equipment, a bedroll, and basic adventuring gear.

He peeled off his ring... He did not want to part with it. It was arguably the most useful item he had.

She took the enchanted ring and examined it, "Oooh, it's soulbound. I can't break this, Boss."

Tycon winced in emotional pain as he reached out and unbound the ring from his soul. The mana drain weakened him immensely and his knees buckled from the expenditure.

Leaning forward against his halberd, Tycon kept his voice hushed, "There's over 5 million silver worth of opioids in that ring, 150 ponze of it. I want them sold via our channels... get to our Guild Headquarters in Nice and discuss it with Sorina Capulet."

"Do we have smugglers?" Lulu grinned.

"We control a Dark Guild, in Merylsward. Rogues. The gentleman-leader's name is Monsieur Reynard... In the ring, there are some books on business for him and Sorina, as well."

"And what's my cut?"

"15%"

"25~♥," Lulu grabbed onto Tycon's waist and pulled herself close.

Tycon sighed as he palmed Lulu's face and pushed her away, "Fine. But I'm sure Dragan would be upset if you didn't share any with him."

"Got it, Boss," Lulu giggled. It was a refreshing sound, pleasant to the ears.

Tycon shook his head. The safest way of transporting the contraband was utilizing a spatial item with high security functions. His spatial ring he had looted from the Ivory Judge Hidden Sect was perfect for it. And Lulu was more than strong enough to deliver the goods safely.

"And what do you plan on doing, Miss Lulu?" Tycon changed the subject. He no longer wished to think about the loss of his ring.

The blonde demoness shrugged, "I think me and the kiddo's are gonna profane the tower before we report to General Raelion. You know. Sex stuff."

"Very good." Tycon turned and called out, "Mister Lone, you will be coming with us, yes?"

Lone walked forward, victorious in his battle against the coat rack, "Holy Country right? Yeah, I wanna go."

Tycon offered the hilt of the Shatterspike.

"Um, Boss... What's this?"

"Are you daft? It's the Shatterspike. It's a--"

"--a kickass magic sword that cuts through anything!"

Tycon frowned.

"Oh, I interrupted you. Sorry, Boss," Lone rubbed the back of his head.

"Besides that, take it. The sword and hammer combination will suit you."

Lone gingerly took the sword from Tycon and held it in his hand, "R-right... And I can have Moon transform into Tres Leches while I wield Moon-Moon with Shatterspike."

"R... right..." Tycon pursed his lips. He wanted to tell him that Tres Leches did not translate to 'Three Moons,' but he risked Lone renaming his Skill to something even more absurd.

Tycon placed his adventurer's pack on his back, the familiar weight comforting.

He held his halberd in his right and took Sasha's hand in his left, "(The Beautiful Child travels with me, beyond the horizon. Is she willing?)"

The chocolate elf widened her lips in a soft smile. A single clump of white hair on her head stood up majestically, "(Sasarame is willing.)"

Tycon nodded to Lulu, who was charging up her magical spell. She glowed with power and a bluish-white magic circle of power lit up on the ground, rotating underneath Tycon, Sasha, and Lone.

"See you later, Boss!" Lulu waved.

Tycon smirked, "Yeah... See you."

...

[Meanwhile, in the Free Nation of Brel.]

A woman wearing half-plate strode the halls of the palace, her hair black with a rebellious green streak down the front. She opened the double-doors and barged into the throne room.

Two male guards with halberds hurried to stop her. They did not dare to immediately brandish their weapons.

"Princess, please! The Queen is not to be disturbed!"

"Princess Cass, please don't-- we will be killed if we don't do our duties."

The young woman glared in annoyance, "Seven hells, why would I give a shite about a pair of humans?"

Errrrgh. She had picked up her brother's nasty habit of cursing. It was an annoying trait that she really needed to get rid of.

The guards glanced at each other, then back at Cass, "P... please forgive us, Princess."

Simultaneously, both guards raised their weapons.

Idiots.

Cass stretched out her hand and outstretched a single finger.

She felt her hair come alive as she channeled her mana. 12 black-scaled snakes and a single golden-eyed, green shared their senses with her. They hissed at a few other guards that had arrived on scene.

Seeing Cass flare up in power, the approaching guards wisely chose to stop in their tracks. Like a wave, they began to kneel and prostrate themselves with their foreheads to the floor. It was the best way to avoid being targeted by her wrath.

Cass had undimmed her petrifying gaze and stared into the eyes of her attackers. Both halberdiers transformed instantaneously into majestic statues of beautiful white marble, poised to strike.

She pressed her fingernail to the first human's forehead... a thousand cracks appeared on its form and it crumbled into dust.

Cass walked past, towards her mother's chambers, with no additional challenges. .

She raised her hand and made an offensive gesture to the guards at her back, "Wind Cutter."

A condensed wind-spell launched behind her, cleaving the remaining guard's stone head from its shoulders.

...

Cass flung the doors of the royal chambers open, being met with the strong stench of iron, and her naked mother tearing the flesh for a human male's neck.

"Auuuuuughhhh," Cass groaned, "Are you *serious* mother?"

"What?" Rylania twisted her lips, spitting out a chip of bone, "I was bored. I eat when I'm bored, you know this, daughter."

Cass placed her hands on her hips, "I've received word about my brother. Can you have him come home, already? This quest is absurd!!"

Queen Rylania's majesty was slightly diminished with the blood running down her chest, but her beauty still bordered on the divine. Beautiful blonde-orange snakes on her head flicked their tongues as they observed the armored princess.

Cass quietly hoped that she would grow more alike to her mother's form, but that wasn't at all the point of the visit!

Rylania shrugged, "He wanted to take the quest, himself. You know how your brother is... foolishly optimistic. But that's what you love about him, don't you, Daughter?"

Cass felt her cheeks grow hot, "Wh-what are you talking about, Mother! We're related!! I don't like him like-that, LIKE-THAT!!"

"Fufufu," the Queen chuckled, wiping her mouth and chest on the sheets, "Worry not, my love. Your brother's next quest is to please the Archbishop of the Holy Country. I'm certain Tycondrius will come crying back into your lap, by then."

"I really don't like him like that, mother!!" Cass insisted.

"Whatever you say, Beautiful Child."