The Damned Demon

Lenny's disbelief was palpable as he struggled to grasp Derek's assertion, his words laced with incredulity, "You have to be kidding me. Which demon in their right mind would target us? In general, all demons obviously target us, but not like this. Even the previous demon king knew his limits. There's no point since they all obviously will fail if they try to push deeper."

Derek's response was a mirror of unwavering conviction, his intense gaze locking onto Lenny's unsettled form, "And yet this one hasn't failed for the past few years, did they?" he challenged, the question hanging in the air like a sword poised to strike.

Resignation tinged with frustration colored Lenny's sigh while Derek added with a wave of his hand, "Leave it. I am going to appoint someone else to take care of this mess you allowed to grow," Derek declared, his fingers moving decisively on his tablet.

Lenny, his brows knitting together in a mix of frustration and defiance, attempted to interject, "Who? You don't have to do that. Just tell me what to do, and I will-"

*Knock!*

The conversation was abruptly punctuated by a knock. Derek looked towards the door as it swung open on its own to reveal a young man, his presence a mix of valiance and innocence, armored in gold and draped in a white cape that seemed to capture the essence of his radiant spirit. "President. Arthur Evangelion reporting!" His salute was both a greeting and a declaration of loyalty, while his entire being brimmed with a bright spirit.

He had hazel eyes and short and neatly combed dark brown hair.

Lenny, taken aback, managed only a disbelieving mumble, "Who the fuck did you say you are?"

Arthur's response was a radiant smile, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the room moments earlier, "Arthur Evangelion, sir. I really appreciate the good work you have been doing as Supreme Commander after seeing how you are changing our world for the better." But Lenny's mind was elsewhere, barely registering Arthur's words as he turned to Derek with an incredulous look, "Is this a joke? I have never heard of the Evangelion Family having someone like him. Where did they pull him out from?"

Derek focused his gaze as he revealed, "After Aira unfortunately left us, the Evangelion Family and I agreed that we needed someone to fill her shoes. So, who else but the hidden scion of the Evangelion Family...Aira's little brother whom she didn't even know existed. Even I didn't know until her father told me."

Lenny's laughter echoed, a sound filled with disbelief and scorn, "So he is the love child of that proud and upstanding big guy? Hahaha, I wonder what his missus had to say about that," His words, sharp as daggers, aimed to wound.

Arthur's demeanor shifted, the brightness in his smile dimming, his face lowered, a shadow of discomfort passing over his youthful features.

Derek's response was swift, his brow furrowed in disapproval as he addressed Lenny, "You may leave now, Lenny. I have some business to discuss with Arthur here."

But Lenny, undeterred, scoffed at the suggestion, "Don't tell me you are serious. He is a junior. Is he really up for the task?"

Lenny felt his pride bruised upon seeing that Derek was willing to pick some junior who suddenly walked in over him and who loyally stood by him for all these years.

The intensity in Derek's eyes sharpened as he defended Arthur's credentials, "Even if his presence wasn't made public, he was secretly trained by the best experts of his family, including his father. Then, I sent him on various missions with a hidden identity to let him gain experience. He never failed a single quest and is already a peak S Ranker."

"Peak?" Lenny's disbelief morphed into a visible tension, his fists clenched, as he glanced at Arthur, who offered a polite, albeit awkward, smile in return.

Yet, Lenny's pride bristled, unwilling to concede, "Still...that doesn't mean he is better qualified than me. I obviously have more-"

Derek cut him off, his calm voice carrying a finality that brooked no argument, "You won't be saying that if you sparred with him."

Arthur, ever the embodiment of eagerness and respect, chimed in, "I would feel honored if you want to spar with me, sir."

Lenny's anger flared at the perceived slight, "You little...Are you looking down on me?" He stood, his glare intensifying, directed at Arthur, who raised his hands in a gesture of peace, "I am sorry but I didn't mean to-"

"Lenny. Leave," Derek commanded, his tone heavier, leaving no room for further discussion.

Feeling the weight of Derek's gaze, Lenny knew the battle was lost for now. With a sharp scoff, he threw one last look at Arthur, a mix of disdain and annoyance, before he turned on his heel and exited the room, leaving behind a charged atmosphere.

The moment Lenny's presence was swept from the room, Arthur's concern came to the forefront, his voice carrying a tinge of worry, "Did I upset him, sir?"

Derek, weary from the exchange yet ever the pillar of calm, exhaled a low, tired sigh. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he offered assurance, "Don't take it to heart. He is just that kind of man. Why don't you take a seat?"

Gratitude flickered in Arthur's eyes as he accepted the invitation, "Thank you, sir," he said, settling into the offered seat. His next question, laden with anticipation, cut through the residual tension, "Since you called me here...Is it finally time?"

The simple hum from Derek, followed by a nod, was like a beacon of affirmation, "Your father and I decided that now is the perfect time to show your face to the world."

Arthur's response was pure, unadulterated joy, his smile broad and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, "T-Thank you so much, Sir! This means a lot to me...truly. I can't begin to thank you and my father enough."

Derek's response was a mixture of pride and humility, "You don't have to thank us, Arthur. You earned this with your own abilities. The world should see the efforts you've made to protect them, to recognize the sacrifices you've made in silence. You have struggled on your own ever since the moment you were born. You deserve better now."

Arthur nodded with a moved smile, "I am not fond of fame, Sir, as long as I get to save people and protect our world. It's just that doing it with a hidden identity limits the scope of what I can do or where I can be. I can't be seen in a place with any other Hunter since they might suspect me to be some bad guy and take me in. It's not effective to be a vigilante. That's why I was always looking forward to the day I could finally do my duty freely and use my full potential."

Derek's acknowledgement came with a brief smile, "And now you can. You'll not only save lives but also honor your family. Just as you've always wished."

Arthur's voice, soft and laden with sorrow, broke the silence, "I wish...my sister was here. Even if she never knew me, I always admired and respected her from afar. She motivated me to strive for greatness. I also once admired her fiance...Gol...Cedric, before the truth was unveiled," he confessed, his eyes shimmering with the onset of tears, "She didn't deserve such betrayal...Perhaps the heartbreak was too much for her to bear."

Derek responded with a sigh that seemed to carry the burden of the entire room, "We all were heartbroken by the truth, Arthur. But you are right...your sister suffered from it the most since she was closest to him. She loved him even against her family's wishes and went through a lot to be with him. Yet in the end...she couldn't bear the truth."

Arthur, haunted by the thought, ventured hesitantly, "Could she have taken her own..." The words trailed off, too painful to voice fully.

"She can't be dead, Arthur. Your sister is stronger than you believe," Derek interjected firmly, dispelling the dark notion with a shake of his head.

"Then where is she? My father and Mrs. Evangelion are still shattered by her absence. Even if my father never says it, I can see the pain and regret in his eyes, which makes it harder for me to watch. How come nobody can find her?" Arthur pressed, the sorrow deepening in his gaze.

Derek's response was a mix of resignation and hope, "Who knows...she might return on her own terms. If she chooses to stay hidden, then she will remain so. She was among the best of us. Perhaps she needs time to forgive herself for her misplaced love."

Arthur, shaking his head in disagreement, insisted, "She shouldn't blame herself. My father doesn't; he just wants her back."

Derek offered a sliver of wisdom, "I know. But what you can do now is do what you do best and uphold her legacy while building your own. Who knows...one day you might be sitting in my chair," he said, his smile warm in the cool air.

Arthur's surprise was evident, before he shook his hands with an awkward smile, "Sir, you flatter me too much. I'm not so deserving."

Derek's smile was brief but appeared genuine, conveyed his belief, "You underestimate yourself. You're more worthy than 99% of the people I've encountered. Soon you will become what the name 'Golden Prince' was meant to be," As he said this, Derek's eyes glowed with a brief, dark light.

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