[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati":3,"chapter-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-712":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1411123,1864,"Chapter 712 712: Corrupt Bureaucracy, Balanced Bureaucracy","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-712",712,"\u003Cp>Lux snorted softly and took a sip anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena folded her arms loosely. \"You do not have to carry this alone,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel lowered the cup slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I am the contractual anchor between realms,\" Lux said. \"If I wobble… everyone falls.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara stepped closer now, voice gentle but firm. \"Even anchors require maintenance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux glanced at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I get regular maintenance,\" he said dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel smacked his own forehead lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara actually laughed this time, warm sunlight flickering across the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestaria, who had remained silent throughout most of the exchange, finally spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mask vulnerability with competence,\" she said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It works,\" he replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" she agreed. \"But it also isolates you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux held her gaze for a long moment… then looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Isolation is efficient,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena whispered, almost to herself, \"And dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux did not respond to that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel slid the tray closer again without comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The star reached for another cookie and went to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux bit into the cookie thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…For the record,\" he muttered, crumbs catching slightly at the corner of his lip, \"if I do become a Demon God… I am renegotiating snack policies across realms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara laughed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel sighed… but he was smiling faintly now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for just a moment… despite betrayal, assassination attempts, and looming interrealm political catastrophe…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room felt strangely… steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara leaned her shoulder against the luminous wall, sunlight aura dimmed into something more conversational, more personal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does your harem know about this?\" she asked gently. \"I mean… Sira is the Pride Lord's daughter. Lullaby is Sloth Lord's daughter. You trust them, obviously. But their parents…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shook his head slowly from side to side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The movement was small. Firm. Final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestaria's gaze softened slightly. \"Oh,\" she said quietly. \"You did not tell them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can't,\" he admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel frowned slightly. \"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back into the chair restraints, staring at the ceiling sigils for a moment as if calculating interest rates on emotional consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because… they won't let me,\" he said finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena tilted her head. \"Won't let you… do what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue,\" Lux answered simply. \"They would try to change my mind. Pull me back. Shield me. Interfere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestaria folded her hands. \"Because they know it is dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel crossed his arms. \"Yet you chose to tell us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux huffed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't have a choice,\" he said. \"You saw what happened. That ambush was not subtle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you going to tell him?\" the Archon asked carefully. \"About the infernal power signature. Your king already knows you sensed it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux rolled his eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" he said. \"Despite the fact I could feel the power… I only confirmed it because of advanced detection layering.\" He tilted his head. \"Otherwise, I might have categorized it as high-tier infernal authority interference. Dangerous. Suspicious. But not definitive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara frowned. \"You are saying your king might assume you are still uncertain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct,\" Lux said. \"But I was surprised he intervened personally to extract Vaeloryn. Strategically, it means Vaeloryn is connected to something… or someone… worth sovereign intervention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel nodded grimly. \"Yes. I arrived at the same conclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux glanced sideways at him. \"See? Balance boy still functioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel gave him a flat stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am centuries older than you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux grinned lazily. \"Which makes you a vintage model. Collectible. Possibly fragile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel grabbed a cookie and shoved it directly into Lux's mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up, devil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux made an offended noise around the cookie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena coughed into her hand, very clearly hiding laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara outright turned away for a second, shoulders shaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux chewed slowly, maintaining intense eye contact with Vizreel like this was a declaration of culinary war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he swallowed, he said calmly, \"Physical assault during interrogation. I will file a complaint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel deadpanned, \"Please submit it through proper celestial grievance channels. Processing time is roughly four centuries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux scoffed. \"Corrupt bureaucracy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel shrugged. \"Balanced bureaucracy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux tilted his head. \"You know you are going to become a virgin old man, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara inhaled sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena clapped a hand over her mouth again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel froze mid-breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I am a Guardian of Balance,\" Vizreel said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And?\" Lux prompted innocently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not concern myself with physical indulgences.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux blinked. \"You mean sex.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel's eye twitched. \"Language, Lux.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"P*ssy.\" Lux scoffed. \"Virgin old man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel leaned forward slightly. \"I am an eternal divine adjudicator, you perverted CFO.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux grinned wider. \"Sounds like a job description written by someone who has never been kissed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena actually laughed this time, the sound soft but bright like glass chimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara leaned against the wall again, openly amused now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel pointed at Lux with the cookie tray. \"You are literally tied to a chair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Lux agreed. \"Yet still winning this conversation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel shoved another cookie toward his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux tilted his head aside so it bounced harmlessly off his shoulder and landed in his lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celestaria sighed, pressing her fingers lightly to her temple, though her expression betrayed quiet fondness for the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two behave like unsupervised siblings,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel immediately responded, \"He is the problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shot back instantly, \"He started it when he denied me lap dancers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena wheezed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solara muttered, \"I am beginning to understand why cross-realm diplomacy is so exhausting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel turned back toward Lux. \"You are aware that if this becomes public, it will damage both celestial and infernal negotiations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux nodded calmly. \"I am extremely aware. That is why I am being very responsible right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just suggested replacing interrogation procedures with exotic entertainment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was a morale improvement suggestion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux stared back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena whispered, \"He is not joking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel groaned quietly. \"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shifted slightly against the glowing restraints, testing them with absent curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know,\" he said casually, \"these bindings are very professionally designed. Comfortable tension distribution. Minimal circulation obstruction. Who manufactures them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vizreel blinked slowly. \"You are reviewing interrogation restraints.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1016,"2026-06-05T23:57:27.963Z",1,"novelbin.me","a6dd93b422dd48fb9de5a0eed412b63681427c93a120387fd9a3e08ba8d60a0b","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-713","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-711",878,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-cover.jpg"]