“So, as I just explained, the situation is quite simple. The council of Tol’Osa is formed of three members representing the three needs of the town. One of them manages what happens mostly inside the town, that’s Sophie. One of them manages our relations with other settlements and towns and all that is linked to the outside of the town, that’s Tianne. And the last one manages the security and the protection of the town, that was Edgar, and now, that’s you, Peter. Do you have any other questions ? “ Donero said, looking at the Primordial.

  It’s been around four hours since Peter started the special new council member crash course for newborn Donero just created for him. And Donero, which was way more quiet and discreet during the council and the trial, was now a chatterbox going from one point to the next with great fluidity. The demon was a competent teacher, even probably a good one, but it was hard for Peter to assimilate all of that new information.

  “So, just to be sure, my role is to maintain the calm and the security of a town whose population is a bunch of demons who are people who were sent here because they did a couple of bad things on Earth for a significant part of them. And prevent the other towns from becoming aggressive by flexing during our exchanges here. And prevent the fauna from eating us by raiding them first when it’s possible. And I have to do all of that with teams whose leader I just killed around two days ago.” Peter said, exhausted by the course and by the lifestyle of Hell.

  Without sun or any other major indication of the time flowing, all demons had to use their internal clock to dictate the planning of a day. For Peter who always used a watch or his phone, this was horrible. His sleep was not healthy back on Earth and finding a rhythm here on Hell was basically impossible. He will have to ask Sophie a couple of tips about this topic later.

  “Yes. I’m happy to see you understand your role well in our community. Sophie told me you were a smart one and I’m glad to confirm it.” Donero said in a very monotone way. How can he show so little emotion, Peter thought.

  “So, when am I supposed to meet theses teams ? ” Peter asked.

  “I think Sophie will introduce you to them later today.” Donero said. “She is good at managing the politics in the town. And, well, you’re a Primordial who just killed our head of security and one of our oldest member of the town. I think everyone with two brain cells, I can grant you it’s not everyone here, will just keep their mouth shut and obey you. I think we can conclude this session for today, Primordial Peter.”

  “Why are you adding a title to my name, Donero ? And specifically, a title associated with death and violence ? ” Peter asked, annoyed by it.

  “Because, that’s what you are and how people will see you like that. And all members of the council have a title. Tianne is our Lady, Sophie is our Trickster and Edgar was our Knight. As for you, your power has chosen your title, Primordial Peter.” Donero explained.

  “Ugh, fine. I’ll see you tomorrow for the next part of the course.” Peter said, leaving the demon and the council building.

  “I will wait for you with envy.” Donero said.

  Outside, he saw Sophie discussing with Lucas. Upon getting closer, Peter saw Lucas scowling at him before leaving the scale demon and the Primordial.

  “Is he still angry about what happened to Tianne ? ” Peter asked.

  “You can’t do anything about that. For him, he almost lost his Hell mom and it’s only been a couple of days.” Sophie said. “But enough talk about others. How are you after your lesson with Donero ?”

  “Mentally exhausted to a level I didn’t think possible.” Peter said. “And to think you have to introduce me to the security teams now. Just tell me it will be a simple thing with no major issue.”

  “Please Peter. You remember where you are, right ?” Sophie said with a malicious tone. “I spent the last two days calming the team and preventing it from either exploding or imploding.”

  “What can you tell me about them ? And please keep it short, I don’t want another four hour course.” Peter asked.

  “I’m not a clerk, Peter, don’t worry.“ Sophie said. ”From what Edgar explained to me, the whole security team is composed of five different teams of forty demons each. Each team is similar to another one with only a few differences between them. There are five captains in each team with one of them being the commandant. And that’s it. Or at least, that’s all I needed to know. We are going to the central barrack where all captains have assembled, waiting for you.”

  “Well, let’s go.” Peter said, with a bit of exhaustion in the voice.

  ******

  From what Peter remembered from Donero course, there were five barracks in the town, one at each door and one in the center near the plaza. The central one was also the home of Edgar and where most of the security decisions were taken when they did not have to involve the whole council.

  The central barrack was similar to other houses except it was larger and taller, probably a three floor building, with a courtyard. Inside, there were around fifty demons forming a circle with a couple fighting in the middle.

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  Upon Peter and Sophie entrance, the fight stopped and twenty five demons walked towards them in five lines of five. Seeing such discipline in Hell impressed Peter, he did not expect such a thing here.

  “Peter, these are your captains.” Sophie said, indicating the group. ”I’ll let them introduce themself to you as I have the rest of the town to manage. Dear captains, I count on you to behave as you told me when we spoke together. See you later.”

  When Sophie left the courtyard, some tension appeared in the air. Peter could see some captains manifesting weapons or powering up. So much for calming the security team, Sophie, Peter thought.

  Since, clearly, strength and power was the most important thing in Hell, Peter was going to play along. Raising a hand, Peter called five spears from the ground, making them levitate above him and aiming them at the group.

  “I’m pretty sure you don’t want to really do this.” Peter said with a loud voice. “So, how about we all power down and we discuss this like civilized demons.”

  “We are twenty five. You killed our leader and the one who gave some sense to what was happening to us here. Why would we listen to you and not kill you right here ? ” The first demon of the middle line said with a feminine voice. She was mostly human with lots of bandages around her body.

  “Three reasons, I am your new leader, those spears will nuke you if you try something, you are only twenty five.” Peter said with confidence. Okay, it was almost a bluff because he did not want to kill them but they did not have to know that.

  For half a minute, the tension stayed the same and no one dared to move. Peter looked at the whole group. Out of the five commandants, the bandage demon was clearly the most angry of them. The one on the full right, a demon with bark instead of skin and leaves for hair, was also on edge, almost ready to jump on Peter. The demon in the middle left, one with cogs getting out of his body, was quite calm, almost casually waiting and Peter was not sure he was even powering up. The last two, one demon with lots of scars on his body and the other one covered with veils and fabric, were ready for the action but they were not as aggressive as the bandage demon or the tree demon.

  “Cherry, you promised Sophie.” The cog demon said calmly, looking at the bandage demon.

  Of the five lines of captains, his own was the only one where each captain was on stand-by waiting, Peter noticed.

  “Cut the crap, Alphons,” The bandage demon said with anger. “We’re doing this.”

  The four captains behind her, approved, showing their weapons. The line of the tree demon was also showing their motivation.

  Peter snapped his fingers and a spear landed with high speed in front of Cherry. The spear broke upon impact sending an insignificant volley toward the line.

  “Next time, I aim higher. Everyone power down now ! ” Peter said with a serious tone, waving his hand to call two more spears.

  Peter saw Cherry looking at the tree demon and the fabric demon on one side then at the scar demon on the other side. Apparently, there was some kind of non-verbal communication between them.

  Cherry’s bandage started to shrink and disappear around her as her posture was shifting from a battle stance to a more formal one.

  A minute later, every demon had finished powering down. Peter slowly sent back his spears inside the ground.

  “So, now that everyone is calmer, can you please tell me who you are and what was that ? ” Peter asked, looking at Cherry.

  “This was me, Cherry, wanting to continue what Edgar wanted and what Sophie and Tianne should have done.” Cherry said with a lot of anger and some tears. ”You’re not supposed to still be alive and Edgar was supposed to still be with us.”

  “Cherry, all of us know it’s not true. Peter won fair and square, well, as fair and square a Primordial can win.” Alphons intervened. “And remember. You promised Sophie to at least give him a chance.”

  “That’s what I’m doing right now ! ” Cherry retorqued.

  “Sophie, I hope this was not what you called ‘calming the team’.” Peter mumbled to himself.

  “You almost jumped on him the second Sophie was not there ! Be serious, you’re the center commandant.” Alphons insisted.

  “Come on Alphons, we all know she got the position because she was sleeping with Edgar.” The fabric demon said.

  “You’re going down for this, whore !” Cherry said, powering up again, his bandages stretching out again.

  Peter stomped the ground, creating four walls to separate each line. Waving his hands, Peter moved each line to spread them from each other. Peter then raised two spears and aimed them at Cherry and the fabric demon.

  “”Cherry, you power down or I swear you take a spear.” Peter threatened, before turning to the fabric demon. “You, you apologize to her, now ! Or the same consequence.”

  Cherry powered down once again.

  “Sorry, Peter.” The fabric demon started with a very sarcastic sound. “But we saw your fight with our regretful Edgar and you’re no killer. You waited until the very last second to finish him. You ain’t gonna spear me.”

  Peter snapped his fingers and a spear went in the leg of the fabric demon who screamed out pain. He was really exhausted and those commandants were getting on his nerves.

  “Ouch, ouch ! ” The fabric demon yelled. “Are you mad ?”

  “I told you to apologize or take a spear. You chose and I hope you learned the lesson. Next time, you’ll listen and obey. Now apologize !” Peter said, trying to stay calm despite the situation. He snapped his fingers and the spear extracted itself and came back to him.

  “Ouch ! I’m sorry for what I said, Cherry.” The fabric demon said, almost crying.

  “Now ! Each of you will go back to their post at their barracks. I will see each commandant at their respective barracks later that day. I may have killed your previous leader because I was forced, it does not mean I can’t defend myself. Any objections ? ” Peter said with his most authoritative tone. He managed multiple teams of younger developers back on Earth, a bunch of demons should not be too hard to control.

  No one said anything and every captain and commandant from other barracks exited the courtyard. Apparently, his demonstration of power worked well.

  A minute later, only the forty demons from the center barrack were still with Peter who could finally power down and return his spears to the ground.

  “Soldiers, resume fight training while I discuss with our new leader.” Cherry said with some bitterness in the voice before looking back at Peter. “I did promise Sophie to give you a chance and you proved it wasn’t the worst idea I’ve had by managing to prevent an all out fight. But you still don’t have my trust. Can I invite you to follow me to my desk ?”

  “Lead the way.” Peter said.