The Incubus System Chapter 1097. You Needed The Info, I Needed The Ratings

The Incubus System Chapter 1097. You Needed The Info, I Needed The Ratings

“Private, public—same thing,” she said dismissively. “My news company needed a good story, and this one’s juicy. You needed the info, I needed the ratings. Win-win.”

I facepalmed so hard it stung. “Elenna,” I said through gritted teeth, “the Great Demon they’re worshipping? That’s literally me.”

“Oh, come on,” she replied, laughing. “They don’t know it’s you. Relax.”

I took a long inhale, trying to keep my frustration in check. She wasn’t entirely wrong, but that didn’t make it any less annoying. “Fine,” I said finally, exhaling sharply. “But can you give me all the information you have? Let’s just say I don’t exactly have time to sit around watching TV.”

Elenna let out a sharp laugh. “What? Too busy screwing women 24/7?”

I rolled my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall. “Yes, Elenna,” I said dryly, “I’m constantly fucking women, 7/24. That’s all I do. Never a moment of rest.”

Her laughter grew louder. “Well, at least you’re honest,” she said, still chuckling. “Alright, alright. I’ll send you the files. But you owe me.”

“Sure,” I said flatly. “Put it on my tab.”

The call ended. I shoved my phone back into my pocket, shaking my head. Puriel was watching me intently, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. “So?” she asked. “What did your… servant say?”

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. “Apparently, she already made a news story about the cult. Didn’t bother telling me directly. Thought I’d just catch it on TV like a regular viewer.”

Puriel tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “And you didn’t?”

“Nope,” I said bluntly. “Because, you know, I’ve been busy with… everything else.”

“Everything else,” she echoed, her tone laced with subtle judgment.

“Yes, everything else,” I repeated, meeting her gaze. “Freeing you from the crystal for example.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You’ve certainly built quite the life for yourself, Ethan.”

I snorted. “Life? Try chaos. Organized chaos, if I’m lucky.”

The phone buzzed in my pocket again, and this time, a notification popped up.

Elenna: Files Sent. Don’t Forget Our Deal.

I pulled it out, opening the files and scanning the highlights. The cult was larger than I’d thought, with branches in multiple cities. Their message? Simple: “The Great Demon is the savior of the weak, the destroyer of the corrupt and demons.”

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. “Destroyer of the corrupt, huh?” I muttered. “They’ve got the wrong demon for that.”

“What does it say?” Puriel asked, leaning closer to peek at the screen.

“It says I’m basically a superhero for the downtrodden,” I replied, scrolling through the report. “They’ve got my whole ‘demonic savior’ act down to a science. Problem is, I didn’t sign up for this.”

She frowned, her wings twitching slightly. “And you’re sure they don’t know it’s you?”

“Positive,” I said, though doubt lingered in my voice. “At least, I hope not.”

Puriel glanced at the screen again, her expression thoughtful. “So, what’s your next move?”

I sighed, closing the files and leaning back. “First? Meet Kevin. Then? Who knows. One disaster at a time.”

Puriel smiled faintly, her eyes warm. “Good luck,” she said softly.

“Thanks,” I said, pushing myself off the bed. “I think I’m gonna need it.” Puriel gave me a small, knowing smile, and with a quick wave, I opened a portal and stepped through.

Almost an hour later, I was sitting in the coffee shop, alone, with an americano in front of me and a croissant that I wasn’t even hungry enough to eat. My gaze wandered to the window beside me, where the street outside bustled with pedestrians. It was the quintessential “single guy sitting alone in a café” look—tragic and contemplative, like I was one indie song away from a Spotifi playlist titled “Rainy Day Feels.”

The soft chime of the door opening pulled my attention back inside. In walked Larry, sweeping the room with his usual enthusiasm. It didn’t take long for his eyes to lock onto me, and when they did, his face split into a wide grin. “Ethan!” he called out, his voice way too loud for a coffee shop.

I waved him down with an awkward smile, trying to shrink in my seat as everyone turned to look at us. ‘Great,’ I thought. ‘Just what I needed: unwanted attention.’

Larry grinned even wider and pointed toward the counter. “I’ll grab my tea real quick, buddy! Wait for me!” he said, loud enough to make the barista wince.

I gave him a thumbs-up, pressing my lips together to suppress a sigh. ‘Why does he have to be so loud?’ I wondered, though I already knew the answer. Larry had two volumes: off and full-blast. Subtlety wasn’t exactly in his wheelhouse.

A few minutes later, he returned with a steaming cup of tea in one hand and a ridiculous grin still plastered on his face. He plopped down in the chair across from me and set his cup on the table.

“Hey,” he said, his voice finally at a normal decibel level.

“Hey,” I replied, taking a sip of my americano.

He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. “So,” he began, his tone conversational. “What’s up with Kevin? You figure out what this whole thing is about?”

I shrugged, tearing a small piece off my croissant. “Not a clue,” I said. “The guy’s not exactly someone I’d expect to invite me out. I mean, when have we ever hung out with Kevin?”

Larry nodded, taking a sip of his tea. “Exactly. I was thinking the same thing. Dude’s as random as they come.”

“Right?” I said, gesturing with the piece of croissant in my hand. “And the way he called me earlier? He was acting like we’re best friends. It was weird.”

Larry raised an eyebrow. “Weird how?”

I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice as if Kevin could hear us from wherever he was. “Weird like… I don’t know, overly friendly. Like he was trying too hard.”