"How about acting as if nothing happened? Just as if those kids had never rebelled."
Yila said this, continuing calmly under everyone's gaze: "I don't understand the thoughts of the monsters, but only this way can we have sufficient justification. Of course, the thoughts of the Demon King are what matter the most."
Vera nodded in agreement with Yila's words... But she herself did not express any opinion. Obviously, humans all understood how to deal with such situations.
*What was she thinking? Was she hiding her abilities?*
"Let's do as Mr. Yila suggested..."
With Satan Ye's approval, the young vampire girl nodded and responded, "I understand. Then, as the Demon King said, I will respond to them as if nothing had happened."
"..."
After waiting for a while, with no one else reporting anything, the Ghost Eyes Girl adjusted her glasses and reported, "A piece of unfortunate news: the gold coins within the Demon King Territory can barely support us until the merchants arrive."
This was indeed very bad news.
"So..."
Lime couldn't help but ask.
"Which means..."
Hilena furrowed her brows.
"Could it be..."
Vera anticipated something bad.
The taciturn Ghost Eyes Girl, who seemed responsible for the finances of Demon King City, adjusted her glasses and said calmly, "Therefore, the expenses for both food and castle usage, as well as the costs for spell experiments, will need to be reduced again."
"Everyone's salaries, including mine, will also need to be reduced, and military expenditures likewise."
The Ghost Lady said this. She looked at the slightly disturbed Insect Man, Black Knight, Headless Knight, and Mechanical Body and said, "Fortunately, due to the empire's withdrawal of troops, the number of our army can indeed be correspondingly reduced."
"..."
"Fortunately, by the end of this quarter, our expenses will be much more manageable. After the war, trade routes with the Dwarves, Beastmen, and Elves can also resume, and we won't have to endure the high prices of the War Traders."
The Ghost Eyes Girl spoke, looking at the five little fairies, "Fortunately, we have our own cultivation of blue cypress mushrooms and other plants, and we are also raising other animals. However, the variety of food has been depleted."
Hearing this, Lime seemed very dejected... Although his head was a featureless green gel, everyone could feel his dejection.
"Um... recently, recently..."
The little fairy made a cute sound, seemingly with something to say.
"Our harvest..."
Another little fairy continued.
"Is very average."
The little fairies took turns speaking, quickly forming a complete sentence with different voices and tonal characteristics. It seemed they were reporting bad news. The condition of Demon King City was worse than Yila had imagined.
*If the empire fought for a few more years, the demon race might be wiped out.*
*Should I do something about it?*
Thinking this, Yila felt that the matter had nothing to do with him, so he didn't need to pay special attention. His only duty was to cultivate Satan Ye into a qualified king... No, his education had some issues.
So, the only thing he needed to do was to cultivate Satan Ye into a king who could fight.
Apart from that, the survival of the monsters and the living standards of Demon King City had nothing to do with him. He had no need to interfere. He had no reason to improve production and no need to do so.
"..."
It seemed no one else had anything to report. With Satan Ye's nod, the leaders returned to their own territories and residences within the Demon King Territory, but outside the castle.
But Lime, Hilena, the Ghost Lady, and Vera, who had no strict "team"...or rather, whose teams were left to the battle generals, lived in Demon King City.
Yila stood quietly, watching Satan Ye sigh as she leaned on the Demon King Throne.
"Youyou~ No! Can't you make my research funding a bit more generous~ Boohoo~"
Vera pretended to cry and complained to the Ghost Eyes Girl, but she decisively shook her head and refused, saying, "Unless you provide me with the corresponding funds, then I can make an exception and buy the materials for you."
"Where would I get the money..."
"Then don't bother me."
"..."
"Ah, my research... will have to be halted!"
Hearing Vera's lament, Yila reminded her, "Vera, you're too undignified in front of the Demon King... Though, Demon King City might not care about that."
"Indeed, it doesn't."
Vera glanced at the distressed Satan Ye and then turned to Yila, asking, "Yila, do you have any money? How much do you think I'm worth for a night?"
This sounded a bit crude... but that was exactly Vera's personality. When you took her seriously, she would turn her head and act nonchalantly.
"You keep it for yourself... However, I do have something that needs your help."
Saying this, Yila unbuttoned his coat and started taking it off, "I hope you can use a spell to mend my clothes. Uh... What's with that attitude?"
Asked by Yila, Vera had already hidden behind Hilena. She cautiously peeked out and said, "Oh, mending clothes, I thought you were serious~"
This was even cruder. Even if it were serious, they couldn't just undress here.
"Please, you know, this is a very precious coat to me."
Saying this, Yila placed the clothes in Vera's hands, "I can help you look at your experiments later, those sloppy ones relying purely on luck."
Originally thinking she was being used for nothing, Vera's spirits lifted upon hearing this. She remembered Yila's previous visits where he talked non-stop about "control variables" and "blank controls." She eagerly asked, "Really?"
"Heh."
Yila sneered. He looked towards Satan Ye and said, "Satan Ye, during the meeting, you did many things wrong. Please listen carefully to what I have to say next."
"Eh? Oh... ah, yes!!"
Seeing Satan Ye snap to attention in a panic, Yila nodded and prepared to methodically point out the problems, saying, "When you can't make up your mind, don't show an unsure expression. Handling state affairs isn't that urgent..."
But before Yila could finish his first point, Vera interrupted him, sighing, "Oh, Yila, stop lecturing. Isn't the Demon King adorable like this?"
If we were talking about cuteness, she indeed was quite cute. If Yila continued teaching, she would soon lose that cuteness. But was it really okay to say this directly?
"Miss Vera, there's no need to say that... If Mr. Yila is willing to teach me, no matter how hard it is, I'm willing to learn."
Seeing Satan Ye speaking earnestly and seriously, Yila and Vera looked at each other and then simultaneously burst into laughter... It seemed the little Demon King had no idea what was going on up until now, but maybe it was fine~
The key problem wasn't "hard" or "not hard" at all...