I looked at Belial. He was sipping his drink, his eyes staring blankly at the busy Shanghai street outside the window. The snowy drizzle clung to the glass like dust.

"Belial," I said.

He turned. Set his glass down gently. The sound of its base hitting the wooden table was clear amidst the restaurant's hum.

"Yes, My Lord?"

"The Holy Grail," I said. "When do you think… we should use it?"

I saw his reflection in the window. He didn't move. He seemed to be thinking of the right answer.

"Hmm… if you ask me," he replied. His voice was calm. "I think we can only use it after we truly know whether or not there are other Avalon Players on Earth, My Lord."

"The Holy Grail itself is our Trump Card."

I nodded. That was a logical answer. The answer I had also thought of.

I wondered if the power to 'ask for anything' still worked in a world without Developers. To this day, I hadn't confirmed if the effects of World Class Items still fully functioned. Emma had brought one when she arrived on Earth. Should I ask her?

By the way, the World Class Item Natasha brought on the reconnaissance mission… has it been returned to the Treasury? I have to ask Emma later.

I changed the subject.

"Emma said you're short on experimental subjects for magic. Is that true?"

"That is correct, My Lord," he answered.

"I'm curious. What are you experimenting for?"

"You know yourself, My Lord, don't you? Some magic effects have changed since we came to this world," he said.

I nodded.

"So?"

"Therefore, I want to confirm the effects of several crucial magic spells, especially those related to Biology."

"So… you need living subjects?" I asked, confirming.

"Correct." He paused. "Animals alone are not enough, My Lord. And I cannot possibly use the residents of Avanheim as experimental material."

I fell silent. I knew where this conversation was going. I could feel it in the air that suddenly felt colder. I looked out the window again. Watching people walk by.

I thought for a moment, my fingers tapping the slightly sticky surface of the wooden table with a slow rhythm. Tap… tap… tap…

Magic experiments were indeed important.

This wasn't just about verifying old spells. It was about the future. With the right subjects, Belial could map the limits of magic in this new world. Understand how magic interacts with non-magical biology. This could elevate Avanheim's magical knowledge to a higher level, perhaps even… creating new spells outside the rigid game system. New weapons. New defenses. Absolute advantage.

I thought about the price of all that.

I wondered if I could do it. Make others pay that price.

"Is there any other option?" I asked.

Belial was silent for a moment. As if considering my question seriously.

"Gorillas. Chimpanzees. Perhaps…"

"But… their numbers are limited. And hard to get. Whereas humans…"

He didn't continue. He didn't need to. I understood.

Eight billion. Easy to get. Disposable.

I picked up my bottle of orange juice. There was still a little left. I drank it. Its sourness made my tongue numb. I swallowed. It tasted bitter.

Belial was a demon. I knew that. Expecting him to have compassion for humans was like expecting a wolf to be a vegetarian. Foolish.

But this was my decision. Not his.

I looked at him. My gaze now felt heavy. Cold.

"Alright," I said. "I give you permission."

I took out my phone. Opened the map. I swiped it with my thumb, passing oceans and continents, until I stopped at one large landmass. I placed the phone on the table, screen facing up.

"But," I said, my voice flat. "There are rules."

"Do not attract attention. Do not touch children under sixteen. And…"

My index finger tapped the phone screen, right over the continent of Africa.

"…You may only take from here."

I saw Belial's eyes narrow slightly as he looked at the map. He didn't ask why. He just observed in silence for a few seconds. Then, he nodded.

"I understand, My Lord," he said, and he placed his hand on his chest. A strange expression crossed his face. Not fanaticism. More like… newfound understanding.

"Although I do not understand why you give such a specific prohibition. To me, all humans are the same, just a lowly species. But Lord Arthur must have a strategic reason that I do not currently know. I will try to understand it, My Lord."

I nodded. I was glad he thought that way.

I pulled my phone back. I looked at the map of Africa still glowing on the screen.

I just felt… if they were the victims… at least I could suppress my guilt a little.

I knew this was wrong. I knew they were innocent.

But I also knew… this was for Avanheim.

I turned off the phone screen.

The door behind me creaked open. I didn't turn. I just heard light footsteps on the sticky wooden floor.

"The gentleman is summoned by Mr. Wang Lei upstairs."

The waitress's voice sounded soft amidst the restaurant's hum. I nodded, putting down my empty soup bowl. I stood up. Belial also stood, his movement almost silent.

We walked back to the stairs. The warm smell of food was replaced again by the damp smell and cold cigarette smoke.

When we reached the top, the room was empty. The mahjong tables looked abandoned mid-game. Tiles lay scattered. A beer bottle was overturned, its contents forming a small dark puddle on the floor. Only Wang Lei remained, sitting alone on his worn sofa, watching us.

"Where did they go?" I asked.

"Oh, them." Wang Lei puffed on his cigar. The tip glowed like an insect's eye in the dim room.

"I told them to get out. I didn't want them to hear our conversation."

I said nothing. I just pulled out the same wooden stool and sat down. Belial stood beside me, silent as a shadow.

"Alright, straight to business." Wang Lei's face no longer held a mocking smile. The lines on his face looked deeper under the dim chandelier light. He rested his fat elbows on the table, his cigar clamped between his fingers.

"I spoke with my 'superior' earlier," he said, emphasizing the word with a slight pause. "They said they could reduce the price…," he stopped, exhaling smoke that smelled sweet and heavy.

"…but with a condition."

He looked straight at me. "You have to buy a lot of goods from us."

I waited. Silence hung between us. Only the tick… tick… tick… of the ceiling fan.

"What's the minimum?" I asked. My own voice sounded strange in my ears.

Wang Lei held up three fat fingers. The flesh pressed against his knuckles.

"Minimum three thousand units."

I thought. Three thousand. I saw a map in my mind. A dark world map with points of light. Jakarta. Manila. Bangkok. Cities hungry for technology, hungry for status. Three thousand units wouldn't be enough. But it was a start.

"I accept," I said.

A faint smile carved itself on Wang Lei's lips. He grabbed a slightly crumpled piece of memo paper and a cheap plastic pen from his pocket. He pushed them across the table toward me. The tip of the pen was slightly cracked.

"Good. In that case, please write down which Apple phone models you want to buy," he said.

"Ah, yes. But not the old models like from five years ago. Because they are no longer produced."

I took the pen. It felt light and empty in my hand. I started writing on the thin memo paper. I could feel the rough texture of the table underneath.

iPhone 15 Pro Max. 1000 units.

iPhone 14 Pro. 1000 units.

iPhone 13. 1000 units.

iPad Pro (M2). 500 units.

MacBook Air (M2). 500 units.

AirPods Pro 2. 1000 units.

I wrote quickly. I didn't think. Just wrote. I imagined how much profit I would get. I imagined money.

I pushed the paper back.

Wang Lei took it, his small eyes squinting as he read my writing. The light from the chandelier reflected off his slightly balding head.

"This is acceptable," he muttered, more to himself. He raised his head. "Three thousand for phones and two thousand for the others, right?"

I nodded.

"In that case," he said, "please transfer half the funds to this Swiss bank account." He took out his phone, whose screen was slightly scratched, and showed a QR code and a series of numbers.

"You can transfer the remaining half after seeing the goods."

I took out my own phone. Opened the banking app. My account balance… numbers that felt unreal. I scanned the QR code. Typed in the amount. 2,250,000 US dollars. My fingers felt a little stiff. I pressed the 'send' button.

"Sent," I said. I showed him the confirmation screen.

Wang Lei's phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at it. His face beamed.

"Yes, it's in," he said. "In that case, where do you want these goods placed?"

"How about right here?" I suggested. "I'll pick them up later with a pickup truck."

"Very well, then." He stood up, his belly protruding. He extended his fat, sweaty hand across the table. "A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Leon."

I stood up. Shook his hand. It felt damp and strong.

Belial and I walked out of the room, back down the creaking wooden stairs. The smell of food greeted us again.

"I thought there would be trouble," Belial whispered behind me. His voice was very low.

"That's a natural thought," I said without turning. "But, they wouldn't dare do that."

"Is it because there's a Communist Party official behind them?"

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, right before the restaurant door. I glanced at him briefly.

"Yes."

I pushed the door open and stepped back into the crowd.

"Belial," I said as we walked past the full tables.

"I leave the rest to you."

I patted his shoulder, which felt hard beneath his suit.

"You can use your demon subordinates or other Avanheim residents for this task. And for the Avalon Logistics Company… I've already given you the rough plan. Selling phones is the first step. In the future, we can expand to other goods like medical drugs, food, even weapons."

He didn't answer. I knew he understood.

"I'm going back to Avanheim," I said, more to myself.

"Asuka said she's started planting outside the castle. She said she wants me to see it."

I smiled faintly.

"Leave it to me, My Lord. I will not disappoint you."

I took a pen from my suit pocket. I saw a blank order slip on the cashier's counter. I took it. Wrote a series of numbers on the back. I folded it and gave it to Belial.

"This is my personal account number," I said.

"You can use it." I looked into his eyes.

"Remember, use it wisely."

"I will certainly use it wisely, My Lord."

I nodded.

The two of us walked out of the restaurant. The cold air hit my face immediately. The snow was falling heavier, large white flakes sticking to my hair and the shoulders of my suit. The sky had turned a dark gray, blending with the surrounding buildings. The streets looked wet and glistening under the streetlights that were starting to turn on.

I walked away, leaving Belial behind, just waving my hand slightly without looking back.

I walked alone in the crowd. People hurried past me, their faces hidden behind scarves and umbrellas.

I just walked.

After a few steps, I stopped. I looked back. The street was filled with fast-moving people. Colorful umbrellas. But Belial was gone. He had simply vanished, swallowed by the crowd or the shadows.

I just stood there, in the middle of the busy sidewalk. Snow stuck to my eyelashes, feeling cold. The hum of the city.

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