[{"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-745":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},1411156,1864,"Chapter 745: The Sword of Damocles","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-745",745,"\u003Cp>Chapter 745 – The Sword of Damocles\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of silence that could fund a war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira’s eyes sharpened first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please. Calm. Down?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pride anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind that turns cities into ash just to prove a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux could literally see the imaginary fire gathering behind her irises. If she shifted one percent closer to her demonic form, the chandeliers would melt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen her burn mountains before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preferred the dining hall intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi leaned back in her chair slowly. \"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira crossed her arms. \"Absolutely not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lullaby nodded. \"I’m still worried.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava didn’t speak. Which was worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux sighed dramatically and grabbed another slice of toast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unbelievable. I survived a realm level assassination attempt and this is the customer feedback I get?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira stared at him like a beggar staring at gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It should be worse!\" she snapped. \"This is the best I can do while holding myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her aura flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The candles on the table trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux blinked once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escalation risk high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snapped his fingers. \"Lyra. Give Lady Sira some tea.\" A second later he added, \"Actually, give all of us tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyra, ever efficient, appeared from the side door with a tray like this was a normal morning and not emotional combustion hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam curled gently from porcelain cups. Light jasmine scent. Slight honey undertone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira didn’t touch hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi said softly, \"Lux, I don’t think tea—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one hand without looking at her. \"I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at all of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But seriously. I need you to calm down. Rage won’t benefit us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a slow sip of coffee instead of tea because of course he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bitterness grounded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could still feel that spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That one second where the world thinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hid it well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girls didn’t relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other like this was a board meeting instead of an emotional intervention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So. The ancient Abyss Lord’s death is just the King’s scapegoat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira’s jaw tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He said there’s another mastermind,\" he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava’s voice finally cut in, low and calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So he’s preparing a second scapegoat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux bit into his toast like it was responsible for cosmic instability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which means he is positioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi’s eyes sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For narrative control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped a small crumb from his lip with his thumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t do anything reckless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That part came out quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we react emotionally, he can turn the facts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room stilled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The celestial main council wants bilateral agreements to be secure. They need trade lanes. They need liquidity. They still need me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the factions.\" Lux’s smile thinned slightly. \"Some factions never liked me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira scoffed. \"They don’t like anyone competent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned forward now, elbows resting lightly on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those angels would happily mount my head on a spear for moral branding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lullaby gasped softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Metaphorically. Probably.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then added casually, \"Possibly not metaphorically.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lux.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Both the King and some celestial factions likely coordinated pressure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira’s nails dug slightly into the wood of the table. \"To kill you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux tilted his head. \"To test viability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s the same thing,\" Naomi muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tapped his chest lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They want me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My contracts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux Vaelthorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hell’s CFO.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cross realm stabilizer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His soul was tied to trade corridors, infernal liquidity buffers, pride tariffs, wrath volatility dampeners, lust influence markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t just a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was infrastructure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I die recklessly,\" he continued, \"the shockwave destabilizes both realms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So they can’t fully commit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sipped coffee again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They want leverage. Not chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira leaned forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am the asset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are not an asset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well. Technically—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kicked his shin under the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop saying that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux rubbed his leg dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m explaining macro political structure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira exhaled sharply. \"It’s like a sword hanging above your head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux smiled faintly. \"Ah, yes. The Sword of Damocles.\" He took another bite of toast and chewed. \"But it’s balanced for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira looked ready to explode again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Balanced.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They want me alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room went quiet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the part that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They want me alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t say the last part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That some of them also wanted him dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi watched him closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re not scared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt something flicker inside his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava leaned forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn’t the question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux looked at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he almost didn’t walk back into this room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He inhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t have the luxury of panic. If I panic, markets spiral, contracts snap, dominoes fall, and both realms implode.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He softened his tone slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I am not careless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira’s aura dimmed just a fraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mira’s dragon presence cooled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lullaby finally sipped her tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back again, reclaiming posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please. No city burning. And...\" This time, he sipped his tea. \"Don’t tie me up to the bed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira glared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t going to burn the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were thinking about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re unbelievable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I prefer indispensable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension didn’t disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rava finally took her tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should have told us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. I just did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sira blinked. Her stare literally said ’seriously?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I miscalculated stakeholder communication.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naomi almost laughed despite herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are insufferable,\" Mira huffed, shaking her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his cup slightly and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t toast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of them left the table either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Lux sat there, smiling, pretending the weight on his shoulders didn’t feel heavier than the crown of Greed itself.\u003C\u002Fp>",1031,"2026-06-05T23:57:27.963Z",1,"novelbin.me","cbcf933237f26014a72a9e798ec4f07ea4d3d44e085a0db07f7247f987e5b98d","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-746","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-744",878,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-cover.jpg"]