In the back room of the barbershop, candle flames flickered against the walls.
Marie Laveau and Soren sat facing each other across the table.
Soren finished writing the terms on the parchment and slid the contract toward her. Marie took it with both hands and read every line with intense focus. She even pulled a small glass vial from her pocket, dabbed a few drops of sharp-smelling green potion onto her eyelids, and checked the document again and again.
Soren waited without rushing her.
One careless signature could sell your soul along with everything else. You couldn't be too careful.
The scene reminded him of how cautious he'd been back at Alex's place when facing Belial. These days, after his bloodline breakthrough, he felt far more at ease.
Since the breakthrough, he could see the magic flowing across the parchment with a single glance. Any hidden clauses buried between the lines stood out clearly.
Besides, with his current strength, even if he accidentally summoned a lord-class demon god like Belial, he could probably hold his own.
Once she was satisfied, Marie picked up the quill and signed her name with deliberate care.
The moment the pen left the parchment, the contract's text began writing itself in the empty air beside them.
The words spun and rearranged into an intricate summoning array.
The temperature in the room dropped sharply, turning bitterly cold.
Black mist poured from the array and coalesced in front of them.
The figure had a bald head with three curved horns sweeping backward. Its face had no features, only one massive eye. The upper body was human, but the lower half was that of a goat.
A crushing pressure from a high lord-class demon god filled the room.
Marie Laveau dropped to her knees without hesitation.
The signed contract rose from the table on its own and floated before her.
Soren's expression stayed calm. Purple demonic power surged from his body and blocked the pressure completely.
The one-eyed demon looked at Soren. A flicker of awe passed through its massive eye.
It lowered its head slightly. "My respects to you, my lord who carries the blood of Sparda."
It placed one hand over its chest. "I am Lucifergi Lovkar."
Soren kept his face neutral, though the name meant nothing to him.
Lovkar seemed to read his confusion and continued. "This contract was originally meant to be witnessed by Belial. But I sensed your aura, my lord, and came in his place. I apologize for the presumption."
Soren felt a jolt inside. Belial—one of the seven princes of Hell, ruler of the seventy-two pillars, second only to Lucifer himself.
If this demon could step in for Belial, then who the hell was Lovkar?
He'd expected one of the seventy-two pillars at most. He hadn't expected something that could nearly drag a prince across.
For a contract witness, it made sense. You needed someone strong enough to enforce the terms on both sides. Otherwise, what was the point?
Marie Laveau, still kneeling, heard every word. Her mind reeled.
Lovkar. In voodoo records, this was a top-tier demon god—greater than the princes in influence. Legend said its name had been known even before Lucifer's fall. After Lucifer took the throne, he put Lovkar in charge of all earthly wealth and contracts.
In Hell, it was basically the prime minister. One demon above all others.
What kind of contract could bring something like this here?
And why was it showing Soren such respect?
Soren nodded, feeling no pride. He knew exactly what the demon respected—the Sparda blood in his veins and the reputation Dante and Vergil had carved through Hell.
He might reach that level someday, but he still had to walk the path one step at a time.
For now, though, he had a tiger skin worth waving around.
He asked calmly, "Any news from Hell lately?"
Lovkar answered, "Thank you for your concern, my lord. Ever since those two lords left, Hell has been peaceful. The position left by Valak, whom you killed, has already been claimed by another demon."
Marie Laveau's body trembled where she knelt.
Valak had been one of the seventy-two pillars. Soren had actually killed a real demon god?
No wonder he spoke so casually about hunting the Supreme Witch. If someone like him went all out, who in New Orleans could possibly stand in his way?
Lovkar glanced at the witch on the floor and continued. "There does seem to be some movement on Heaven's side. Beyond that, I'm afraid I cannot say more."
The two lords were obviously Dante and Vergil. It sounded like Vergil had gotten bored again and dragged his brother down for another fight. The timing lined up with Mammon's descent.
As for Heaven—Gabriel's position had been empty ever since his power was stripped. They wouldn't stay silent forever.
Soren nodded. "Then we're done here. Witness the contract."
He'd only borrowed the name to fish for free information. The demon probably wouldn't say more anyway. Better to send it off before anything unexpected happened.
"As you wish."
Lovkar nodded.
The parchment in mid-air split into two streams of light that dropped into Soren's and Marie Laveau's hands.
The summoning array vanished. The demon disappeared with it.
Only then did Marie Laveau rise from the floor.
Her expression was complicated—fear of Soren's power mixed with unmistakable relief. An alliance with someone this dangerous was worth any price. With this kind of backing, she could finally think about expanding beyond New Orleans.
She pushed those thoughts down, walked to the wall, and pressed a hidden panel.
A secret door to the basement slid open.
"Follow me."