After Yurokane's booming words faded, the crowd began to shift. Association council members took over, calling out surnames, and herding the Grade 1 demons into separate groups. Each mark had its own council head, responsible for explaining the rules, expectations, and privileges of that lineage.
Kev clapped Renny on the shoulder."Yo, wait for me outside," he said before disappearing into the Korav group.
Renny stepped out into the cooler lobby air, away from the press of bodies and the overpowering scent of Hell's cologne, a mix so strong it smothered the faint traces of jasmine and sandalwood.
He found a bench near the wall and pulled out the phone they'd issued him.
The interface was almost identical to Earth's, same icons, same layout. He opened one of the social apps.
There it was, posts, pictures, live streams. People chatting about their day, trading jokes, sharing food pics. They looked… normal. Happy, even. Families laughing in short clips, couples posing by fountains.
What unsettled him was the fact that none of them seemed to realize that every park, every dinner table, every smiling face was inside Hell.
"Renayo Ezraphor."
The voice came from his right.
Renny looked up to see Yurokane standing there, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was sharp but not hostile."President Yurokane," Renny greeted with a slight bow.
"You don't look like the others," Yurokane said. "Most of them in there? Scum to the core. You… you don't give off that vibe. Or are you just one of those who wear a perfect mask?"Renny shook his head. "You're right, sir. No mask. Truth is, I've moved around more in Hell than I ever did back on Earth."A faint smirk touched Yurokane's mouth. "Ah yes. I went through your background, it made you look like a worthless piece of shit."
Renny almost nodded, then stopped halfway, narrowing his eyes slightly at the jab.
Renny didn't answer, but the words landed. The president wasn't wrong. If he'd come here by his own choices, accepting this reality might have been easier. But arriving by some strange twist of fate, only to be marked as a one-man family, made it far harder. He should have been inside, collecting his family details like everyone else.
Yurokane exhaled, adjusting his stance. His voice dropped a notch. "As your president, I'm obligated to encourage you, so here's some advice. Whatever you were on Earth is nothing but a memory. You're a demon now with a new name, new identity, new power. That old version of you can't survive here unless you want to rot with the pawns outside. If survival is your goal, lose the goody-two-shoes act. Wear the suits you've been given, and wear them well. Hell is strange… even miracles happen here. But if you want the benefits, you have to play the part."
He let the silence stretch for a beat."Watch yourself, Mr. Renayo."
"Appreciate it, Mr. President," Renny said, his voice carrying a note of gratitude.
Yurokane gave a curt nod in response and turned toward the exit.
From the lobby window, Renny watched him cross the street and slide into the driver's seat of a black Benz parked out front. The engine purred to life, and Yurokane drove away.
Moments later, the groups inside began spilling out one by one.
Kev stepped out, loosening his tie like he'd just survived a funeral. "Man, that was a whole lotta talk for a whole lotta nothing," Kev muttered, spotting Renny on the bench. "You good?"
Renny slid the phone back into his pocket and stood. "Yeah. Just got a pep talk from the president."
Kev raised an eyebrow. "That so? What'd he say, keep your nose clean, eat your veggies?"
"Something like that," Renny said with a faint smirk. "Except here, the veggies are poisoned and the plates are on fire."
Kev snorted. "It'll be a'ight. I can fill you in on some things they said in there, stuff you might wanna know." He jerked his chin toward the street. "Let's bounce."
They pushed through the last set of doors and stepped into the open street. Rain came down in sharp, sudden sheets, drumming against the pavement like it had been waiting for them to step outside.
Renny blinked up at it, remembering the forecaster's warning from earlier: Rain expected tonight, carry an umbrella or stay indoors. He almost laughed. "Even the weather's on point here," he murmured.