Plugged In: Reincarnated As A Demon Lord (Now I'll Conquer The World)

Two days later...

Serenith stood with arms crossed and a deep frown creasing her brow, her wings twitching slightly as she glared at the closed flap of the royal tent. Moans, giggles, the occasional crash of furniture, and various surpling and gurgling sounds echoed from within.

A few paces away, Lucien's High Council sat around a stone slab repurposed as a table, poring over scrolls, maps, and personnel reports. Every few minutes, one of them would burst into laughter, especially when a particularly raunchy sound escaped the tent.

Suddenly, the tent flap exploded open.

Vile stomped out, naked, panting, her hair a tangled mess, sweat glistening off her crimson skin. She raised her hand high. "I need THREE jars of slime lube and a double-dose of horny root extract, stat!"

An attendant dashed forward with supplies already in hand. Vile snatched the items, flashed Serenith a delirious smile, and disappeared back inside.

Serenith blinked. "I was going to… ugh, never mind!"

At the table, the whole team snickered. Serenith scowled and stuck her tongue out at them.

Ignara sipped from a goblet and smirked. "Relax, feathers. He's in there with the twins and eight succubus overseers. He's got his hands full."

Serenith groaned and slumped to the ground beside a dwindling fire. "It's already been two hours. How long can a man possibly last?"

"He's no man." X'zelle purred. "That's a sex-god moonlighting as a Dark Lord."

Ignara burst out laughing and gave her a high-five.

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The next morning, Serenith snorted awake as something poked her repeatedly in the side. She blinked, then yelped, swatting at the stick held by a grinning Lucien who was crouched in front of her.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said sheepishly. "Sorry about... yesterday, the, uh… performance evaluations got a little out of hand."

Behind him, Vex and Vile led a stumbling line of exhausted succubi out of the tent. Some leaned on each other, others dragged their feet with glazed eyes and blissful, dopey grins.

Lucien turned to them and bowed dramatically. "Thank you for the evaluations, ladies. You've all passed with flying colors. I look forward to working with each of you… extensively."

Sila, the head overseer, staggered out last. Sweat-slicked and grinning like a madwoman.

Lucien wrapped an arm around her waist, grinning proudly. "Now you, Sila… you've got stamina. The only one who almost kept up. You're getting the royal treatment today."

Sila tried to salute, missed, then nearly collapsed.

Lucien caught her. "Vex! Vile! Get her to the spa tent. Full-body massage. Hot stones. Bubbles. Oils. I want her primed and radiant. Today I meet the dragon. Tomorrow, we mine like never before."

Groth groaned from the table. "Are you sure you know what you're doing, My Lord?"

Lucien winked. "Absolutely not. But when has that ever stopped me? Besides, you're coming with."

Groth let out a muffled squeak as her armor hissed, a puff of steam shooting from her collar.

X'Zelle stood up and snapped off a formal salute. "All miners are officially contracted, My Lord. Vex and Vile have been briefed on labor laws as per your orders and will train the overseers. Implementation begins immediately."

Alexel stepped forward next, robes immaculate, clipboard floating beside him in a rune field. "Construction has commenced in two additional towns. Roadworks are progressing rapidly with our new workforce, and we've already completed almost 20% of the canal construction project."

His pink-haired succubus assistant moaned, draping herself across his back. "Mmm… you sound so sexy when you talk logistics…"

Alexel cleared his throat, flushed. "...Also, I've commissioned a statue, sire."

Everyone snorted.

Ignara sighed, swirling her wine. "Unfortunately, not all good news, Lord Lucidius. The royal coffers are dangerously low. The labor contracts are expensive. Between wages, pensions, and entertainment budgets, we're bleeding coin. The brothel and tavern are pulling in cash, but it's not enough. We need more capital or we're going to stall."

Lucien nodded. "Then we'll fix that. We just need the right investor. And I know exactly who."

He walked casually around the table, then leaned close to Groth, whispering in her ear. "Besides, I've been looking forward to working alone with you, General Groth. Always wondered what you looked like under that armor."

Groth let out a sharp exhale and a burst of steam from her helmet vents.

Later that day the entire high council, along with the twins and dozens of staff, gathered at the yawning mouth of the mine.

Lucien stood tall in his shimmering royal coat, sword sheathed across his back, one hand resting on Bugatti's fiery mane.

Groth stood beside him, arms crossed, while Serenith floated in front of them, tapping her foot impatiently.

Lucien cocked an eyebrow. "You seem excited to watch me get roasted by a dragon."

Serenith grinned. "Because you might actually die. And then I finally get to go home and not have to hear you plow a carriage's worth of women every day."

Lucien chuckled and offered his hand toward the cavern. "In that case, let's not keep destiny waiting."

Groth sighed and checked her sword.

The Twins blew him kisses.

Serenith rolled her eyes.

And with a wicked grin, Lucien stepped into the dark.