Silence stretches.
They're still kneeling.
Watching him like the next thing he says decides everything.
Malik exhales.
Slow.
Then he raises a hand slightly.
Malik
ooookay First things first… stand up..
A pause.
They hesitate.
Glancing at each other.
Then slowly—
they rise.
Malik watches them.
Calm.
Measured.
His eyes settle on the older man.
The king.
The way he stands.
The way others shift around him.
Malik nods once.
Malik
"…you're the one in charge, abi?"
The king inclines his head.
Yes. I am King Richard the 4th of this kingdom.
Malik adjusts his posture slightly.
Subtle.
Respectful.
Malik
"Alright, sir." I here you
He pauses.
Looks around once more.
Malik
"…properly."
Silence returns.
But it's different now.
Less confusion.
More focus.
Good.
Silence holds.
But Malik isn't listening anymore.
Not really.
He's watching.
The room.
The people.
The little things nobody else is paying
attention to.
The king stands straight.
Too straight.
Like a man holding something together by force.
Not authority.
Pressure.
Malik's eyes shift.
Left.
One of the guards.
Sweating.
Not from heat.
From nerves.
Another—
avoiding eye contact.
Quick.
Too quick.
Malik's lips twitch slightly.
Almost a smile.
Almost..
Malik (low, almost to himself)
"…interesting."
No one responds..
But he knows they heard.
Of course they did.
People like this?
Always listening.
Always scared.
His gaze drifts back to the king.
Studies him properly this time.
The way others give him space.
Not respect.
Distance.
Like—
they don't want to stand too close.
Malik exhales softly.
Yeah.
Something here is not clean.
Silence stretches.
Malik doesn't rush it.
He lets it sit.
Then—
Malik
"So… this Demon King problem."
A slight tilt of his head.
"…how long has that been going on?"
King Richard
"For generations."
Malik nods.
Slow.
Malik
"Generations…"
A pause.
"…so this is not the first time you people are doing this summoning thing."
A flicker.
Small.
But there.
King Richard
"No. It is not."
Malik nods again.
Expected.
Malik
"And the ones before me?"
Silence.
Malik's lips twitch slightly.
Malik
"What happened to them?"
King Richard
"They fulfilled their duty."
Malik exhales softly.
Malik
"…sorry sir but That was not my question, ."
A few heads lift.
Tension.
Malik
"I asked what happened after."
Silence tightens.
King Richard
"…They were given a choice."
Malik's eyes narrow slightly.
Malik
"What kind of choice?"
King Richard
"To return to their world… or remain here."
Malik watches him.
Long.
Quiet.
Malik
"And what's did
they chose "
No immediate answer.
Malik hums softly.
Malik
"Hmm."
A small shake of his head.
Malik
"Convenient."
A shift in the room.
They don't like that.
Malik raises a finger slightly.
Malik
"Last question… for now."
A pause.
His gaze sharpens.
Malik
"This Demon King…
"…watin you guys do am self... u na own him money ?
Silence.
Not confusion.
Not this time.
Discomfort.
Malik tilts his head slightly.
Malik
"Because at this point…"
"…it's starting to look personal."
A faint smirk.
Malik
"Did you people kill his child or something?"
No one laughs.
Good.
The king's expression tightens
.
Just a fraction.
King Richard
"The Demon King is not… a being that can be reasoned with."
Malik doesn't interrupt.
This time—
he lets him talk.
King Richard (continuing)
"It does not negotiate."
"It does not listen."
"It exists for one purpose."
A pause.
"Destruction."
Silence settles again.
Malik studies him.
Long.
Careful.
Then—
a slow nod.
Malik
"…right."
A small breath.
Malik
"So basically…"
"…this thing just keeps coming back…"
"…and instead of looking for a permanent solution you just kidnap someone from another world to seal it for it to escape again?..... dammm this is like batman and joker but much bigger.
A pause.
Malik's lips curl slightly.
Malik
"Nice system.
Silence.
Heavy.
Silence.
Heavy.
No one moves.
Malik exhales slowly.
Not tired.
Just… thinking.
Malik
"So what's the success rate?"
A few glances.
Quick.
Uneasy.
King Richard doesn't answer immediately.
Malik watches him.
Patient.
King Richard
"…high enough."
Malik's lips twitch.
Not a smile.
Malik
"That's not a number."
Another pause
.
Longer this time
King Richard
"…most fulfill their duty."
Malik nods slowly.
Once.
Malik
"And the ones who don't?"
No answer.
That's answer enough.
A faint hum escapes him.
Malik
"Right."
He shifts his weight slightly.
Relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Malik
"So let me get this straight…"
A small gesture with his hand.
Casual.
Malik
"This thing can't be reasoned with."
A finger.
"One."
Another.
"It keeps coming back."
Two.
Another.
"And your solution…"
Three.
A beat.
Malik's gaze sharpens.
"…is to keep throwing people at it."
Silence tightens again.
No one denies it.
Malik nods slowly.
Malik
"Efficient."
A pause.
Then—
Malik
"Lazy."
That lands.
Hard.
A stir in the room.
Some shift uncomfortably.
Others frown.
King Richard's eyes narrow slightly.
Malik doesn't look away.
Malik
"So here's my problem."
A step forward.
Small.
But it changes everything.
Malik
"You're asking me to clean up a mess…"
A tilt of his head.
"…you've been maintaining."
Silence.
Sharp now.
Malik
"And you haven't told me the most important part yet."
King Richard watches him carefully.
Malik meets his gaze.
Unblinking.
Malik
"What happens…"
A pause.
"…if I say no?"