[LEX'S BUILDING]

Liana is walking down the place holding a bunch of papers. Some days have passed since Lex's announcement, and the demand for more of his mods is getting bigger and bigger.

She walks into Lex's office without knocking. "Sir, people are asking for more prosthetics and more mods for Vox's stuff, besides-"

Liana stops mid-sentence as she realizes what was going on. Lex was having a reunion with a very specific person. The own Asmodeus, Deadly Sin of Lust and ruler of the Lust Ring.

Liana drops the papers in shock. "L-Lex… is that Asmodeus?"

Lex looks to the sin and back to Liana. "Yeah." His calm is frightening to Liana.

Liana stays there in shock.

Asmodeus raises an eyebrow. "Oh, so she is the secretary you told me?."

Lex nods. "Yup."

The sin chuckles. "Wow, you weren't lying. She indeed IS cute."

Asmodeus chuckled as he leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk curling his lips. "I can see why you keep her around."

Liana's face flushed, but she quickly snapped out of her shock, straightening her posture. "S-Sir, I... I didn't know we had a meeting scheduled with him." Her voice wavered slightly, but she regained her composure as best she could under Asmodeus's gaze. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have barged in like this."

Lex gave her a nonchalant shrug. "No big deal, Lia. You're here now, might as well stay. The paperwork can wait."

Asmodeus chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, she's adorable when she's flustered. I can see why you don't mind having her interrupt."

Liana, now fully realizing the weight of the situation, swallowed hard, trying not to look directly at Asmodeus. She shifted nervously on her feet, glancing back at Lex, who was still as calm and detached as ever.

"Why are you here, Asmodeus?" Liana asked, her voice more professional now as she tried to steer the conversation away from herself.

Asmodeus crossed his legs, lounging comfortably in his chair. "Well, sweetheart, Lex and I were just discussing a little... business arrangement. You see, Lex's little comeback performance called a lot of attention, not only in the Pride Ring. And let's just say, I'm quite interested in his business. The idea of modifying and improving anything the customer asks is very appealing."

Lex leaned back in his chair, a casual air of confidence about him. "I'm listening. What's on your mind, Asmodeus?"

Asmodeus flashed a sly grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm glad you asked, Lex. I have a proposition for you. You see, my dear Lust Ring is always in need of… enhancements. Not just for my loyal followers but for myself as well. I'd like to offer your modifications as a premium service to my clientele."

Liana's heart raced. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. The Deadly Sin of Lust wanted to collaborate with Lex? This was beyond anything she had anticipated.

Lex raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity piqued. "You want to incorporate my mods into your territory? Well, fine by me. How much of the profit do you want?"

Asmodeus leaned forward, his smirk widening. "Ah, now we're getting to the good part. I propose a 60-40 split. You get 60% for the modifications, and I'll take care of the marketing and distribution within the Lust Ring. Think of it as an exclusive VIP service for my… more discerning customers."

Lex shrugs. "Good. But I have only one condition."

Asmodeus leaned forward slightly, intrigued. His eyes narrowed with playful curiosity. "Oh? What's your condition, darling?"

Lex, calm as ever, leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "No soul contracts. I never made a soul contract and I don't want anyone to do that in my name. If you try to get a soul with any of my modifications I will stop everything."

Asmodeus blinked, taken aback for just a second by Lex's condition. His usual confident smirk faltered slightly before he composed himself, chuckling softly as if amused. "No soul contracts, huh? That's quite the unusual request, Lex. You're turning down free power in exchange for… what exactly?"

Lex's gaze never wavered, his tone cold and steady. "Nothing. Asmodeus, I've come from a place where people used to work to death almost literally, and I've seen a lot of sinners who made a soul contract. I refuse to make someone a slave… that's my only condition, is that acceptable?"

Asmodeus leaned back in his chair, his smirk curling back into place, but there was a new glint of respect in his eyes. "Well, well, Lex... I didn't expect the Mod Demon to have a code." He chuckled, crossing his legs as he considered the proposal. "No soul contracts, then. Fine. We'll do it your way."

Liana blinked, still trying to process what was happening. She knew Lex was stubborn and kept to his own strange moral code, but seeing him go toe-to-toe with a Sin like Asmodeus over something like soul contracts was beyond what she ever expected. She watched the exchange in quiet awe, still standing near the door with the papers she had dropped scattered around her feet.

Lex didn't seem to care about the tension in the room. He gave a lazy nod, satisfied with Asmodeus's agreement. "Good. Then we've got a deal." He stretched in his chair, as if the whole conversation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Asmodeus clapped his hands together once, a broad grin plastered across his face. "Marvelous! I'll have my people reach out to yours for the details, and we'll get this VIP service rolling."

Asmodeus stood up from the chair, towering over both Liana and Lex with his sinuous form and flamboyant aura. "I look forward to this partnership, darling. I have a feeling you and I are going to create something... unforgettable."

Lex offered a nonchalant wave of his hand. "Whatever. Just make sure your clients don't start any trouble."

Asmodeus chuckled, brushing imaginary dust off his pristine outfit. "Trouble? In the Lust Ring? Perish the thought." His smile lingered on Liana for a moment longer. "And darling, if you ever decide you want a change of scenery, do let me know. I could always use someone with your... talents."

Liana tensed, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly looked away, focusing on the papers at her feet as Asmodeus' words hung in the air. "Thank you, but I'm quite content where I am."

"Pity." Asmodeus sighed theatrically. "Well, the offer stands. Lex, darling, until next time." He gave an exaggerated bow, his eyes sparkling with mischief, before turning on his heel and sauntering out of the office, his presence leaving a faint shimmer in the air.

Liana stood frozen for a few seconds, still processing everything that had just happened. Asmodeus, one of the Deadly Sins, had been sitting casually in Lex's office, proposing a business deal as if it were no big deal. And Lex… as calm as ever, had handled it like it was just another day.

She finally snapped out of it, bending down to gather the scattered papers at her feet. "Sir… that was Asmodeus. Asmodeus." She emphasized his name as if saying it out loud would make the moment more real. "Do you have any idea what you just agreed to?"

Lex didn't look up, idly scratching a crow that had perched on his desk. "Of course I do, Lia. He's a business partner now. Simple as that."

Liana, holding the stack of papers close to her chest, stared at him in disbelief. "Simple? Asmodeus doesn't do simple. You just struck a deal with the ruler of the Lust Ring, and you think it's going to be simple?"

Lex leaned back in his chair. "Lia, I'm not in the business of complicating things. He wants mods, I give him mods. No soul contracts. That's it." He offers his hand to the crow to hop onto it.

She frowned, a mix of worry and frustration bubbling inside her. "That's it? Sir, do you realize what kind of clients he'll send our way? This could draw more attention than we're ready for! Not to mention… What if this angers Vox? You just humiliated him, and now you're making deals with another powerful demon?"

Lex glanced at Liana, his eyes briefly flickering with something that resembled amusement. He stroked the crow on his hand, letting it hop onto his shoulder. "Vox already wants my head, Lia. Let him stew. As for attention? That's the whole point."

Liana pressed her lips into a thin line, exhaling sharply through her nose. "You're playing with fire, sir. This could blow up in our faces. We're not talking about just any clients, these are Lust Ring elites. They're going to expect... more than simple modifications."

Lex shrugged. "If they expect more, then I'll just have to give it to them. It's not like I'm unprepared for a challenge, Lia." He leaned back in his chair, letting the crow on his shoulder hop to his head and settle there.

Liana glanced at Lex. She knew he wasn't dumb to make a mistake like this, so he must have a plan. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Alright, sir, I trust your judgment. Just... be careful. The Lust Ring isn't known for playing fair."

Lex gave her a rare, small smile, his usual indifference momentarily softening. "Don't worry, Lia. I've got this. And about the merchandise, take the items from stock and make the prices a little higher."

Liana nodded and grabbed the papers on the ground to leave. Before she leaves, Lex calls out for her. "Hey, Lia."

Liana paused in the doorway, clutching the papers close to her chest. "Yes, sir?"

Lex's expression softened slightly, a rare glint of proudness in his eyes. "You're doing a good job. Enduring me isn't for the weak."

Liana's eyes widened, and a small, appreciative smile touched her lips. "Thank you, sir," she replied softly, feeling a warmth she hadn't expected from his rare praise. With that, she left the office, her mind buzzing with the myriad of tasks and preparations that lay ahead.

As the door closed behind her, Lex leaned back in his chair, allowing the crow on his head to get comfortable. He glanced at the papers Liana had left on his desk, idly thumbing through them. Business was booming, and the demand for his modifications was skyrocketing, especially after his bold announcement.

[TO BE CONTINUED]