Demonic Dragon: Harem System-Chapter 816: An official message from the Capital.

Strax walked silently down the corridor, his steps firm but unhurried, like someone who had learned not to react impulsively to the chaos around him. Still, there was something different about that moment. It wasn’t visible tension, nor blatant urgency—it was a kind of heavy expectation, as if the next step could alter more than just the immediate course of things. He had faced monsters, monarchs, and even death itself, but this... this had a different kind of weight.

As soon as he pushed open the door, his eyes immediately met the two figures already waiting for him.

Cristine and Yennifer were seated side by side at a small table, a simple tray between them, with two cups of coffee still steaming. The scene was almost too commonplace for the kind of people they were—as if they were just starting another ordinary day. But a closer look revealed that there was nothing ordinary about it.

Their silence was not comfortable.

It was calculated.

Strax paused for a moment at the entrance, observing.

And then he walked over to them.

"What happened?" he asked directly, without beating around the bush, pulling up a chair and sitting down in front of the two of them.

Cristine was the first to react.

Without haste, she brought the cup to her lips, took a small sip, and then placed the coffee back on the table. Her fingers slid to the side, picking up an envelope that was resting beside the saucer.

"You received a package."

She pushed the letter towards him.

The paper was dark, a deep, almost black shade, but with a slight sheen that seemed to react to the ambient light. The stamp, however, was what really caught the eye. An unknown, complex symbol, formed by thin lines that intertwined almost organically, as if they were alive.

Strax frowned slightly.

"The person who asked me to deliver it to you..." Cristine continued, crossing her legs calmly. "...seems to be from the Royal Capital."

Strax’s gaze immediately turned to the symbol. There was power there.

It wasn’t something anyone could replicate.

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Is this from the Celestial Emperor?"

Yennefer, who had remained silent until then, rested her elbow on the table and clasped her hands, looking directly at him.

"Apparently."

A simple word.

But loaded.

Cristine gave a slight, wry smile.

"We drew too much attention."

Strax exhaled slightly through his nose, resting his arm on the table as he observed the envelope.

"Too much?" he repeated, almost jokingly.

Yennefer tilted her head slightly, her gaze cold and analytical.

"We enslaved the Beast Monarch," she began, counting on her fingers. "We made a deal with the Ice Monarch."

Cristine added lightly:

"And we killed the White Flame Monarch."

Yennifer nodded.

"That alone is a huge mess."

Silence fell for a moment.

But she wasn’t finished yet.

"Besides," she continued, her voice firm, "we already have four cities under our control."

Strax didn’t look away from the letter.

But he listened.

Every word.

"We are a risk," Yennifer concluded. "At least... I believe that’s what it is."

Cristine rested her chin on her hand, watching Strax curiously.

"We didn’t read the letter," she added. "Since it’s for you."

The room fell silent.

Without excessive tension.

Without haste.

But heavy.

Strax stood motionless for a few seconds, just observing the envelope on the table.

His fingers finally reached out, touching the paper.

Cold.

Colder than it should be.

He lifted it.

He turned slightly.

He observed the seal.

And for a moment—

He just thought.

It wasn’t fear.

But it wasn’t indifference either.

It was... calculation.

The Celestial Emperor.

The entity that ruled the Royal Capital.

The figure who, until then, hadn’t directly interfered in the conflicts between monarchs.

If that letter came from him...

Then that meant the situation had crossed a line.

Strax let out a small sigh.

"Well," he murmured. "It was only a matter of time."

Cristine smiled slightly.

"You expected this?"

He shrugged.

"After you start killing important people, someone bigger eventually shows up."

Yennefer watched him for a second.

"And you’re going to ignore it?"

Strax twirled the envelope slightly between his fingers.

"No."

Simple.

Direct.

He placed the letter back on the table.

And then—

He broke the seal.

The symbol dissolved the instant it was touched, dissipating like dust of light, without resistance, as if it had already fulfilled its purpose.

The envelope opened easily.

Inside—

A single sheet of paper.

Strax pulled the paper.

Unfolded it.

His eyes scanned the first lines.

And then—

They stopped.

The silence changed.

It wasn’t immediate.

But it was perceptible.

Cristine tilted her head slightly.

Yennefer narrowed her eyes.

"And then?" Cristine asked.

Strax didn’t answer immediately.

He reread it.

Once.

Twice.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

It wasn’t a smile.

But it wasn’t concern either.

It was... interest.

He lowered the letter slowly.

And then looked at the two of them.

"The Emperor wants to meet me."

Silence.

Cristine raised an eyebrow.

"Meet?"

Yennefer didn’t seem surprised.

But she didn’t relax either.

"This isn’t an invitation," she said.

Strax gave a small smile.

"No." He raised the letter slightly.

"It’s a summons." The air in the room felt heavier.

The silence that followed wasn’t just caution—it was understanding. The three figures in that room knew exactly what it meant. Summonses weren’t requests. They didn’t come with a choice. They didn’t come with alternatives.

Cristine was the first to break the silence, tilting her head slightly as she observed the paper in Strax’s hand.

"So?" she asked, her tone curious, but her eyes attentive. "What exactly does he want?"

Yennefer said nothing, but her gaze was fixed on Strax, as if trying to read more than just the surface of the situation. She wasn’t interested in the words—she wanted to understand the intention behind them.

Strax remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he slightly raised the letter.

"Want to hear it?" he asked casually, as if he were about to read an ordinary message.

Cristine gave a small smile.

"Of course. We’re already in the middle of the problem anyway."

Yennefer simply nodded.

Strax returned his eyes to the paper.

And began to read.

His voice came out calm. Steady.

But there was something different about it—a slight weight, almost imperceptible, as if even he were recognizing the importance of it. "’To the bearer of this message...’"

He paused briefly, adjusting the paper between his fingers.

"’Or, more precisely... to the man who recently began rewriting the balance of this world.’"

Cristine let out a soft "hm," interested.

Yennefer remained motionless.

Strax continued.

"’It’s not common for me to address those outside the Royal Capital directly. In fact, it’s not common for me to address anyone at all.’"

He raised an eyebrow slightly, a discreet smile appearing.

"Confident."

Cristine chuckled softly.

"Or bored."

Strax continued reading.

"’However... your actions have made it impossible to ignore you.’"

The smile faded.

"’The fall of the Beast Monarch. The alliance with the Ice Monarch. And, more recently... the defeat of the White Flame Monarch.’"

The atmosphere seemed to cool slightly.

"’Three events that, individually, would already be noteworthy. Together... they become inevitable.’"

Strax lowered the paper slightly, just for a second, thoughtful.

Then he continued.

"’It has been a long time since someone has emerged capable of altering the course of the Monarchs with such ease.’"

Cristine crossed her arms.

"Is he praising you... or measuring you?"

Strax didn’t answer.

He just continued reading.

"’And that’s exactly why... I wish to meet you.’"

Yennifer narrowed her eyes slightly.

"As expected," she murmured.

Strax continued.

"’Not as an enemy.’"

A pause.

"’Still.’"

Cristine let out a low laugh.

"Ah... now it’s interesting."

Strax ignored the comment and continued.

"’But as someone who, like me, understands that the world is not shaped by those who follow the rules... but by those who break them.’"

Silence returned.

Deeper.

Heavier.

Strax continued, his voice steady.

"’I’d like to talk about the future.’"

He paused briefly.

His eyes slid across the next lines.

"’About the place you intend to occupy in it.’"

Yennifer lightly rested her fingers on the table.

"And there it is," she said, almost in a whisper. "It wants to define you."

Strax continued.

"’And, more importantly... about how far you really intend to go.’"

The tone of the letter shifted.

It was no longer just an invitation.

It was a test.

"’The Royal Capital awaits your presence.’"

Strax’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"’You will be received.’"

A short pause.

And then—

"’But don’t confuse reception with protection.’"

Cristine let out a small whistle.

"Polite."

Strax reached the last line.

"’Come as a guest... or don’t come at all.’"

Silence stretched for a moment.

And then—

He finished.

"’But know that, from this point on... your choices will no longer go unnoticed.’"

Strax slowly lowered the letter.

The sound of the paper being folded echoed almost exaggeratedly in the silence of the room.

No one spoke immediately.

Cristine was the first to move, resting her elbows on the table, clearly entertained.

"Okay," she said. "I liked him."

Yennefer glanced quickly at her.

"This isn’t a game."

Cristine shrugged.

"For him, it is."

Then she turned her eyes to Strax.

"And for you too."

Strax didn’t answer.

His eyes were on the letter.

Thinking.

Calculating.

Yennefer broke the silence.

"This isn’t just a conversation."

He raised his gaze slightly.

"No," he agreed.

She leaned forward a little.

"If you go, you’re entering directly into the most controlled territory in this world."

"I know."

"And if he decides you’re a threat—"

Strax interrupted her, in a calm tone.

"I already am."

Silence returned.

But this time—

There was no doubt there.

Cristine smiled.

"That’s what I’m talking about."

Yennefer remained serious.

"He’s not a Monarch," she said. "You don’t know how he fights. You don’t know what his limits are. You don’t even know if he has any limits."

Strax was silent for a few seconds.

Then—

He carefully folded the letter.

He tucked it into his coat.

And stood up.

The movement was simple.

But decisive.

"Great," he said. Christine tilted her head.

"Great?"

He looked at the two of them.

And there was something new there.

Something deeper.

More dangerous.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone like this."

Yennefer frowned slightly.

"Like what?"

Strax gave a small smile.

But it wasn’t a light one.

It was... sharp.

"Someone who thinks they’re on top."

The silence was broken by a soft laugh from Christine.

"This is going to be fun."

Strax started walking towards the door.

"Prepare everything," he said again, without looking back.

But this time—

There was more intention.

More weight.

"We’re going to the Royal Capital."