The ninetieth floor of Babel, the duke's office, was enveloped in darkness.0

Duke Gavid Lindman, also known as the Blade of Incarceration, had formally declared an indefinite leave of absence. In the three hundred years of the empire’s history, he had moments when he temporarily stepped away from his duties, but never before had such an absence been officially announced.0

Moreover, it was an indefinite leave of absence. The announcement did not specify a return date or delve into the reasons behind this decision, citing only "personal circumstances" for his departure. The sudden news sent shockwaves through the empire's media. It even caught the attention of the international press — an understandable reaction given that Gavid Lindman had effectively been the de facto ruler, handling the emperor’s duties for much of the empire's three-hundred-year history.0

The emperor, the Demon King of Incarceration, seldom left the throne room except for special occasions. He engaged little in the day-to-day governance that other kingdoms and empires might expect of their rulers. This task had traditionally fallen to Gavid Lindman, with the Demon King of Incarceration only reviewing the reports and decisions the duke had made.0

However, this arrangement didn't make the Demon King of Incarceration a mere figurehead. Nothing in the empire could proceed without his explicit consent, and his wishes were commands that underwent no debate or discussion.0

Duke Lindman's role was that of a bridge between the secluded Demon King of Incarceration and the empire's...0