Lucifer?had been pondering?the situation carefully, even before it took place. He had not been sure to begin with that uttering the names of the concerned parties would be wise, but if he mentioned at least some of the players, the scope of this game should become clearer to Halbrek's sophisticated mind and those he chose to exclude might gain the confidence he was oblivious to their presence, the confidence he could later use to undermine their efforts.
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"Well, no doubt you are aware of Azazel who actually means well, but lost his way nonetheless. There is also Molokh who was never too concerned of serving anyone's interests but his own, and last but not least, there is also Abbadon who believes in her ability to be the new ruler, disregarding my public disapproval and official nomination of a worthier candidate... You might be tempted to consider all such?issues to be petty political intrigues, and disregard them because social interactions never mattered to you, child, but you would be very wrong to do so. These are pitfalls that could?entangle the most liberated of demons...
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But enough about that, like all children, you are bound to consider words of caution to be fruitless and the more I harp on them, the more your resistance would grow. I am well aware of that balance of saying just enough so?my next words can concern the possibilities of protection instead.?For start, I can offer you a valuable pouch I have acquired recently from an ancient follower of mine. It contains the blood touched in?Egypt by the ruler of the Earth Realm whom many humans mistakenly take to be my own sire. In actuality, he was more of an elder cousin, twice removed,?but the rumors of his powers were true, I have witnessed them in the distant past and learn to respect their efficacy.
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At any rate,?my follower took care to protect the magic potency of the blood from coagulating over the years, and it has the powers of invisibility from all those agencies I named that otherwise, both of you put together have scant chances to defeat. Hidden from the eyes of your competitors, you game could acquire the edge it currently needs," Lucifer thoughtfully regarded both of his interlocutors, wondering if he would have to sweeten the deal before all was said and done.
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In the past, the?cohorts of his special agents were?impressive in their variety, but they dwindled over the years and now the time has come when special tasks?had to be delegated once again. That was why he might have refused the summoning outright ?few decades ago but was willing to offer a few Enochian sigils now in addition to the?partial invisibility offered by the long preserved blood which of he never used himself, aware of the multiple loopholes a clever opponent could use against the potency indirectly.
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"As for the Tree, it goes without saying that?all attempts to contain it, or destroy it were flustered. Adam was its first guardian, and the angel Gadriel tried after him, both faired ill. You might think you would do better and a for a time, maybe your stronger powers could prevail, but the Tree grows from another Realm, its?roots not even controlled properly by the ruler of your own realm, Halbrek. She may think she can use it, because the Tree passes through the Earth Hell, but the Tree is older than her, than her and may just outlive us all.?I assume you now understand the general danger of it, and will be paying heed.?As far as particulars, suffice it to say that destroying it could tear the fabric that separates the Earth Realm and many others, creating the very danger of ending all of us seek to avoid.
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That is why I still prefer?containment as the more tenable solution. Not permanent by any means, but at least temporary handy, until the other dangers we face are taken care of.?So, do you begin to grasp the magnitude of what you have to face yet? I don't want to waste my time on offering bargains?if you insist on thinking all of this nothing but a game..." The Lord of Fire trailed off?gauging by the response of the unlikely couple how much else he should be able to offer?from the vast treasury of resources he?could access. ? ??
Kat