After a few days of travel, the carriage finally slowed to a stop at the borders of the D’Aurélion State.

Gray stepped out first, offering his hand to Aurora. She took it gracefully, stepping down beside him with a curious tilt of her head.

"Are you sure this plan is going to work?" she asked, brushing a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. Her red eyes scanned the distant silhouette of the D’Aurélion Manor on the horizon, half-hidden behind mist and hills.

"Yes," Gray nodded lightly.

He paused, slowly looking at his hold "home", then began explaining.

"The D’Aurélion State is built like a fortress, but I know every inch of it since I was quite mischievous as a kid. The terrain, the hidden paths, the old tunnels my father thinks no one remembers... everything is planted on this mind of mine. And well... since there are five high-tier demons, we’re not just going to charge in, but make them come to us, piece by piece."

He gestured toward the rolling hills and dense forests surrounding the manor.

"Demons are extremely attracted to the scent of innocent women. That’s their weakness, not just lust, but the purity of an untouched soul. It drives them mad, and we’ll use that."

"Go on." Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"First, we spread rumors in the nearby towns. We’ll hire a group of young, innocent-looking village girls, carefully chosen, protected by hidden formations I’ll set up. They’ll be ’traveling performers’ heading toward the manor for a private show. The scent will be enhanced with a special perfume that I’ll prepare using ingredients from your collection. It will be irresistible to lower and mid-tier demons."

He pointed toward a narrow valley to the east.

"That valley is a natural choke point. I know the exact locations of three old rune stones buried there from my father’s grandfather’s time. I’ll reactivate them to create a containment field. Once the demons enter to chase the bait, the field activates. They’ll be trapped, unable to flee or call for reinforcements quickly."

"Clever. And then?" Aurora’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

When she first thought that Gray had a plan, she thought it was just an outline, but it seemed that Gray had truly thought about everything they needed to do.

If Gray had an affection system, he would be able to see her points increasing.

"While the lesser demons are distracted, we strike at the manor’s outer defenses. You mentioned three High-tier demons act as his personal guards. Two serve the Sin of Gluttony, so they’re probably greedy, and extremely impulsive. We’ll use that, by planting false information that a powerful artifact is hidden in the eastern wing. They’ll fight each other to claim it, creating chaos inside the manor."

"After all, a Demon is still a Demon, so even if they’re loyal, they still won’t be able to resist the temptation of a powerful artifact."

He turned slightly, pointing toward the western forest.

"The third High-tier demon is a Shadow Weaver. Based on the patrol route you gave me, it circles the western wall every night at the same time. I’ll set up an illusion array there, mimicking an intruder. When it investigates, I’ll kill him in one strike... don’t ask how, just know that one minute is all I need to erase it completely."

Aurora listened intently, her hand resting on his arm.

"And your father himself?" she asked.

Gray’s eyes darkened.

"He’ll be in his private chambers, protected by the strongest barriers. But if he’s paranoid about like you said, if the manor falls into chaos, he’ll try to flee through the underground escape tunnel, the one only the Duke knows about. I know where it leads, so we’ll be waiting there."

He paused, then added the final layer.

"The real trap is the timing. We strike during the full moon in three days. That’s when the Crimson Night Order’s ritual cycle peaks, and their demons will be stronger, but also more distracted by the lunar energy. They’ll be slower to react, so we can use that window."

Gray turned to face Aurora fully.

"We don’t fight them all at once. We divide, isolate, and destroy. Bait the lesser ones, sow chaos among the High-tier, and corner my father when he tries to run. There’s no need for a grand battle with unnecessary risks."

Aurora stared at him for a long moment, then let out a soft, impressed laugh.

"You really are terrifying when you plan," she murmured, stepping closer and pressing a light kiss to his jaw.

"Cold, meticulous... and completely ruthless. I love it."

She pulled back slightly, her red eyes shining with excitement.

"I’ll prepare the girls and the perfume. I’ll also set up the illusion array in the western forest. You focus on the valley trap and the escape tunnel. We move together, but you lead. This is your revenge."

Gray gave a small nod.

"Good. We start preparing tonight. No mistakes."

Aurora smiled, linking her arm with his as they began walking toward a hidden safe house she had arranged nearby.

"Together, then~"

The next few days passed in a blur.

Gray and Aurora had taken residence in a discreet safe house Aurora apparently owned, a secluded manor hidden deep in the forested hills bordering the D’Aurélion State.

From the outside, it looked like an abandoned noble’s summer retreat.

Inside, it was stocked with supplies, maps, and magical tools Aurora had prepared long ago for situations exactly like this.

On the first day, they barely left the main study.

Gray spent hours poring over the Demon-Hunting Book, cross-referencing every name Aurora had given him.

He marked locations, noted patrol patterns, and memorized their abilities.

His black eyes were sharp and focused, the cold emptiness from Lyra’s departure was now entirely channeled into some kind of ruthless efficiency.

Aurora sat across from him, with her legs lazily crossed, providing details from her own intelligence network.

She spoke softly but clearly, occasionally leaning over the table to point at specific locations on the old maps Gray had spread out.

"This Shadow Weaver, Nyxara," she said, tapping a spot on the western wall.

"She patrols here every night at the third hour. She’s fast, but she hates bright light. We can use that."

"We’ll set up light traps here and here. Force her into the open." Gray nodded, marking the spot with a small rune.

By evening, Gray had already begun crafting the first layer of the plan.

He left the manor under the cover of night and spent hours in the eastern valley, reactivating the ancient rune stones buried beneath the earth.

He started by channeling mana into the weathered stones until they hummed and glowed slighly, revealing that their were activated.

Aurora watched from a distance... she just loved the serious look in Gray’s face.

She didn’t interfere at all, and simply ensured no one approached the area, using her own subtle magic to create misdirection wards.

On the second day, they focused on the bait.

Aurora had arranged for a small group of carefully selected village girls... orphans and volunteers who had been promised safety and compensation.

They were innocent, pure-hearted, and unaware of the true danger.

Gray prepared a special perfume using rare herbs and a drop of his own blood, enhancing the "scent of purity" that demons craved.

He tested it on a piece of cloth, watching as a captured low-tier demon went into a frenzy when exposed to it.

"Perfect," he muttered, sealing the vials.

Aurora handled the human side.

She met with the girls personally, using her charm and authority to convince them this was a simple performance job.

She also placed protective charms on each of them, subtle enough not to alert the demons, strong enough to keep them alive if things went wrong.

By nightfall, the bait was ready. The girls would "perform" near the valley in three days, drawing the lesser demons into Gray’s trap.

On the third day, Gray focused on the escape tunnel.

He knew the manor’s layout like the back of his hand.

The secret tunnel his father had built years ago led to a hidden cave system three miles north.

Gray spent the entire day setting up layered formations. Illusion arrays, binding circles, and a final destructive rune powered by one of his high-grade crystals.

Aurora joined him for part of it, helping reinforce the runes with her own mana.

At one point, she stood behind him, arms wrapped around his waist, chin resting on his shoulder as he worked.

"You’re terrifying when you plan," she whispered, kissing his neck softly. "So cold... so precise. It makes me want you even more."

Gray didn’t respond, but his hand briefly covered hers.

By the end of the third day, the tunnel was a death trap. Any demon or guard following the Duke would be funneled into a killing zone.

On the fourth and final day, they refined the plan together.

They sat at the large oak table in the study, with maps and notes spread out between them. Gray explained the final sequence:

- The girls would perform near the valley at dusk.

- The scent would lure the lesser demons into the containment field.

- While chaos erupted, Gray would strike the western wall, drawing out the Shadow Weaver.

- Aurora would create a diversion at the main gate, pulling away some of the inner guards.

- Once the Duke tried to flee through the tunnel, Gray would be waiting.

Aurora listened carefully, occasionally adding small suggestions, like ways to weaken specific demons or create false trails.

She never tried to take control, and simply supported him, her red eyes shining with pride and excitement every time Gray revealed another layer of the plan.

When they finished, the sun was setting.

Gray leaned back in his chair, staring at the completed map.

Aurora stood up and walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She kissed the top of his head gently.

"Tomorrow night," she whispered.

"We end this."

Gray nodded once, his hand resting on her arm.

"Tomorrow night."

The plan was now set.

Everything was in place, including some hidden trap in case there was a variable that Gray didn’t know about.