“How are people reacting to the justiciars in your office?” Kate and Clementine had met again in the library office to discuss the meeting between the demons and the FBC four days ago among other things.

  “I expected some compints or at least a little unease. But no, people are fine with the guards. I think it makes everyone feel like you care and aren’t just some aloof overlords we need to bow to. It also helps the new hires who have never met a real demon before.”

  “Oh? How so?”

  “You know how much evil is projected onto you just by our nguage, that makes people wary. Now they actually get to meet demons and realize how sweet they are. When we came into the provisional office this morning, Anzu was waiting with fresh cookies for everyone, it’s almost crazy how much effort all of the justiciars are putting in to make us comfortable. And it’s rubbing off on us. We all agreed to bring treats and extra tea tomorrow. Might even make that a permanent thing.”

  “That is great to hear. After the FBC annoyance, it’s reassuring to know that we can coexist like that.”

  “Not just coexist. We can be colleagues and even friends. We just need to not let prejudice take away those opportunities. Our prejudice, human prejudice. I don’t know enough about demons to know what you think about humans. I hope it’s not as negative as we sometimes present ourselves.”

  “Most don’t see humans as that bad. I, personally, am torn. But it is good to see good people. That means so much to me.”

  “I’m happy to provide positive human interaction. Now, to get back to business, our intelligence network is back up and running, the central office in Slough has finished re-staffing and our field agents were sent back out yesterday. We will need maybe another week until we can properly feed the FBC with controlled misinformation.”

  Kate nodded approvingly. “Very good. We’ll be ready to supply you with whatever information you need.”

  “I wish your meeting with the FBC had gone better and this wasn’t needed, but I’m gd we can rely on each other.”

  “And I intend to keep it that way. You think we can rely on the other European agencies too?”

  “I have a private meeting with the Germans next week, I am optimistic. So far, they haven’t let us down and are worried about the FBC.”

  There was a knock on the office door before Kate could answer Clementine, instead she responded to the newcomer. “Come in.”

  Apollyon gestured for a young man with a briefcase to enter the office. “This is Kayden Sheppard from the FBC, he said he wants to talk to you.”

  “Of course.”

  Clementine got up. “Then I will leave you two alone.”

  Kate shook her head. “No, please stay. Another human perspective might be nice.”

  “As you wish.”

  “Alright, Kayden, please take a seat.”

  Apollyon quietly left and closed the door behind herself as Kayden got comfortable on the second chair before the desk, pcing this briefcase to the side.

  “Thank you. Before we talk about anything else, I want to apologize on behalf of my superior for his ck of knowledge regarding the Treaty of Celestis and our rights and duties.”

  Kate nodded slowly. “Apology accepted. But that isn’t all you came here for.”

  “You’re right. I came to talk about several parts of the Treaty and ask for crification and potential amendments.”

  Kate didn’t like that and neither did Clementine. The Treaty was already quite generous and offered more than enough protections for humanity to not be interfered with by outside actors. Any desire to change that didn’t bode well.

  “Go on.”

  “Let’s start with the addendum giving you full access to all cssified material. That poses a massive risk to national security as we cannot control the flow of information the moment you are involved. I suppose the death penalty for deception is also part of that. We would like that addendum removed.”

  “Removing access to cssified information would force us to assume malice in all human actions towards us. Humans have not proven trustworthy when allowed to keep secrets. It would also undermine the operation of this very library. We would need to filter incoming works for cssified information, that is simply not feasible.”

  “We would be happy to provide assistance to help you filter everything.”

  “You are suggesting we allow you to spy on us. That is unacceptable. We already do more than we need to by not handing out cssified information when asked for, even though we have the right to do that. You can’t just walk in here and ask for the nuclear weapons blueprints from vault level twelve, shelf twenty-four. We always deny such requests.”

  “That is a commendable effort, but not enough.”

  “Removing the addendum is not happening.”

  “I understand. Let’s move on then. Article six forbids the usage of magical artifacts, no matter what source, for any reason not sanctioned by the pandemonium or the high courts. It also forbids selling or otherwise passing those artifacts on to anyone not on a list of very specific groups and people. The tter goes against our free-market principles and would need to be removed, and the former is a problem of national security. It essentially makes us unable to defend against magical enemies and puts us under your control whenever we are in possession of such artifacts. It also forbids the creation of new magical objects, which is deeply problematic.”

  “Article six is entirely for your protection. Magical objects of all kinds are highly dangerous and nearly uncontrolble by human means.”

  “Nearly.”

  “The same nearly as politely asking a volcano to please stop erupting. As such, trading these items is very much not in your best interest and we are doing our best to protect you from any unforeseen consequences of the failures of ancient humans who created these artifacts.”

  “We decide what is in our best interest, but I see your perspective. I take it the article is also not up for negotiation?”

  “No, it is not.”

  “Article one then…”

  Kate burst into ughter. “Don’t tell me you want article one removed.”

  “Rewritten, but yes, we do have our problems with it.”

  “The entire Treaty hinges of the very specific wording of article one. Everything in the Treaty is worded precisely as it needs to be to prevent loopholes and abuse. Not even the most militaristic of the archangels would agree to rewording article one. It is the basis of your free and self-determined societies. Create a hole in that and we can and will take control of humanity to save it from itself. Article one and our willingness to abide by it is all that stands between you and svery.”

  “Ma’am, I’m sure the high courts would enforce article one if you were to go against it.”

  “They lost a war to twelve people. The full military might of the heavens against twelve demons. The high courts cannot enforce anything. We do. And the Treaty stands as long as we say it does. You really don’t want us to change article one. By pure words on a paper, the Treaty is already void. The previous FBC and RICA broke it and in accordance with article one section three and article nine section forty-seven, that renders the Treaty in abeyance until the wronged party, we demons, decide what to do. We decided against wiping out humanity as suggested by the Treaty and showed mercy instead. Do you really want us to reconsider?”

  Kayden Sheppard shook his head. “Not at all. I just hoped we could address a few of our grievances. I am sad that we couldn’t reach common ground.”

  “Maybe next time. There is room for talks in the future.”

  “Maybe. Until then, I need to contact my superiors and potentially return for further talks if they have other things we need to talk about. Have a nice day.” He got up, nodded at Kate and Clementine and then swiftly left.

  Clementine turned to Kate. “Those were some nasty demands. I hope I wasn’t the only one who heard a demand for legalization of magical weapons from that bit about article six.”

  “You weren’t.” Kate grimaced. “Voiding article one would also allow them to call for divine help. I think they still believe God will come aid them but is held back this Treaty. Article one would certainly prevent him from doing anything to help them legally.”

  “Good point. I almost forgot they still believe that.”

  “That’s what worries me. They seem to think they can force another war between the angels and us, and they believe their omnipotent God would wipe us out. I’m quite gd they are wrong.”

  “Me too. I should get going anyway, this is something I need to put to paper and update the others in the office about.”

  Kate nodded and got up. “Of course. Good luck in Germany next week.”

  “Thank you. I’m hopeful that they will be reasonable.”

  Kate escorted Clementine to the door, gesturing for the human exit first. “Then I am hopeful too.”

  Clementine stopped just outside the doorway. “He left his briefcase.”

  Kate gnced behind herself, only to instinctively shove Clementine into the corridor before being smmed against the active shielding spell by the sudden bst.

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