Upbeat Hyena 12 (Patreon)

Upbeat Hyena
Chapter 12

-VB-

I found myself surprised that the PRT, headed by the genius if pigheaded not-Alexandria Rebecca Costa-Brown, resorted to using other means to fight me.

I mean, what else would this be if not an attack?

I watched demurely as the TV showcased a cartoon - superhero cartoon, of course, showing the Protectorate as the everyday heroes of America - where the villains of the day were none other than the most extreme - geographically furthest and most active - members of my followers: Viviane’s Gang. The non-cape and non-demon members of her gang followed Viviane more so for her willingness to take their issues and make it hers more than her status as a high ranking demon, but the cartoon makers and the PRT dismissed such distinctions.

Oh, the heroes never fully subjugated Viviane and her gang - and I used that word on purpose - because she and her gang was at large and active in real life, so the cartoon couldn’t completely lie and say that they were caught.

No, but the cartoon did make sure to villify my daughter and her followers by making her seem like a ruthless and bloodthirsty avenger willing to murder every single people involved in what she saw as wrong.

Considering that I personally knew her kill count was less than five dozen, most of whom were the more violent dealers, gangsters, and other criminals fighting to their deaths, I found this episode to be… not so amusing.

Angelina seemed extremely upset as well. Up to this point, she loved this show, “The Wards!” but this single episode kind of killed her enthusiasm for it.

Mentally, I bid her collection of former Ward and Protectorate hero merchandises goodbye. Most of them weren’t even good.

“They’re being sneaky,” she grumbled as she turned off the TV. “I don’t like it when they decide to be sneaky.”

I tapped my finger on the arms of the chair.

How was I supposed to respond to something like this? Going out and threatening people wasn’t what I did. What was even the point of that? I am the [Prince of Demons], a true deity with my own plane of existence. I didn’t want to be petty about this, because a petty god would order his demons to go and salt the land.

At the same time, I couldn’t allow this to continue; they were insulting my children.

I drummed my fingers.

What to do, what to do…

… Well, I could let them do as they wished. My demons, I mean. They will certainly make a mess and an outright war might be declared. That wasn’t a good idea, then. I wanted my people to prosper, after all.

What else could I do?

Find corruption? We could, but because we fell under the general umbrella term of “parahuman,” any investigation into politicians and leaders would be seen as “attempts to influence and Master” people. Could it work, actually finding corruption? Maybe.

Actually, why don't I leave that up to the people who enjoy that kind of thing?

If the PRT wanted to PR their way to make us kneel, then why don’t I fund the media outlets myself? It’s easier to look for corruption in political parties and local leadership than, let’s say, a demonic cult.

No, no, no. It’s too simple and finicky of a plan. It’ll be kind of a side project, but it can’t become the main plan.

What was a good way to get back at PRT for this insult?

Humiliating defeat for their heroes in Seattle and elsewhere? Done and done by countless villains before, so why would our takedown of heroes be any more special than theirs? It may just give the Protectorate the casus belli to take the fight directly to us. It would, in the end, result in an all-out war because there was no way the Protectorate and the American military alone could fight an ever-growing and undying horde of demons.

Never mind what I’ll do if I let loose.

“Tell me, Angelina,” I called out to her. “What would you do to counter their efforts?”

“... Kill them.”

“Be reasonable,” I told her with a sigh. “Just because they made our family the villains of a kid’s show-.”

“Then make them suffer!”

“You know, for a girl who told me that she wants to be a liked person for the regular people, you changed your mind very quickly.”

“They made my sister look bad!”

I supposed that that was also a good reason.

“But that won’t make sinners or new cultists, Angelina. All it’ll do is make ‘heroes’ who come after us.”

“Well, let them! We haven’t had a good fight, right?”

“But that’s not what we need.”

“You’re a god of demons! You don’t need anything!”

“I need more humans to make more demons. Sure, I could certainly do it without them, but it’s less of a hassle, and I get children like you and Viviane.”

“We don’t need the freaking government for that… They just keep poking holes. Being nice to them is a pain.”

“Most of them don’t even know what their government is doing in the background. They don’t even care because they claim that it’s not their business,” I soothed her. “That’s the limitation of mortals, Angelina. A mortal can only do so much before their fragile body and mind give up on them. There is a reason why when we do find those who can care for all, we call them saints.”

“I know. So what are you going to do about them, daddy?”

“... While I could recall Viviane from her crusade, I am not going to. Instead, I will contact the makers of the cartoon myself and ask some very serious questions.”