''Thank you, Adventurers, we were able to avoid disaster, truly thank you.'' The Duke said after taking back the plate, Sam (Alex) was keeping safe for Clemens.
''No need for thanks. Us adventurers prefer rewards over a thank you.'' Sam said to the Duke.
Someone was not pleased with Sam's blunt words, and when she was about to step forward to speak, the Duke stopped her with his arm.
''Hahaha! Indeed, adventurers are such a being. My bad, here is your reward, take it this bag it contains 500 Gold Coins.''
The Duke tossed at Sam the bag; catching it, he smiled and said.
''As expected of the Duke, so generous. We shall take our leave, and don't worry; we are sensible people.''
Accompanied by Mio and Elsa, Sam left. Just as he passed the Duke, the latter smiled.
''You are an interesting young man.''
Sam (Alex) smiled but said nothing and left.
Millia glared at the Duke after Sam's group left; as for the Baron, Clemens left earlier to take care of his daughter Chloe. The Duke knew the girl's identity; he didn't say anything about it, though.
''What? If you have something to say, say it?"
Because the Duke couldn't take anymore, he said while walking toward a certain part of the hall, placing the small plate on the wall, there was a click sound and a door appeared, behind this door was a staircase, taking this staircase, the duo descended to the hidden floor.
''Why do you give them so much money? We could have used it to cover the damage you caused arriving here.''
After scanning through the hidden room, Millia asked.
The room was shinning blue; although humans are not sensible to mana like Elves or demons, Millia could feel the ambient mana inside the room. The room was filled with Mana, drawn on the ground was a complicated magic circle, and floating above this magic circle was a bluestone not bigger than a volleyball; this bluestone kept spinning, and when one looks closely, one could see small blue coming out of it and getting drawn into the magic circle on the ground. This blue spinning stone is the core of the magic circle in Eles; destroying it means one of the Hex Cities would stop functioning.
After checking the bluestone and detected no problem with it, the Duke heaved a sigh of relief before he spun to face Millia.
''For a smart people like you, you're quite dull not to see what I have done by giving those adventurers so much money. I gave them 500 gold coins, simply because I want to buy their silence. Imagine what would happen if news spread out that demon infiltrated the city? Panic would spread, the demon's princess aside, have you seen any demon walking around human's cities? At least not openly.'' The Duke explained the reason behind his generous reward.
''I see. I understand the reason behind your action. Still, I think 500 gold coins is too much. Don't forget that there's still another reward awaiting them at the guild.''
Millia still complained even after knowing why the Duke did what he did.
''Give me a break. I have already explained why, so stop complaining and finish your task. I'm tired; fighting against Rank 10 Firedrake was not easy.'' It was the turn of the Duke to complain.
Seeing that she would gain nothing if she kept complaining, Millia stopped and started reinforcing the magic circle with rune magic; she moved her arms in the air. At fast speed, she drew numerous runes in the air; some had triangle symbols, some shield symbols; in fifteen minutes, she drew fifty different runes that float in the air.
''Strengthen!"
At her command, these runes fell and got absorbed into the magic circle; the latter shined brighter.
''Phew! It's done.'' Millia announced while wiping away the sweat on her forehead.
''Good, let's leave.'' The Duke said, the two left after sealing the hidden room back to how it was.
•••••
Back to Alex's side.
After leaving Clemen's mansion, they went to the guild; after indirectly threatening Stella, they received higher rewards, and now they are back to the Inn.
''The Duke gave us 500 gold coins to buy our silence,'' Sakuya said as she sat cross-legged on the ground, her katana against her chest.
''Yeah, if I was in his place, it's what I would have done. Letting people know that there's a demon freely roaming around, this demon even infiltrated a noble house. Unrest would quickly spread around; people will start cursing the Duke, saying that he was incompetent; people may even revolt if a satisfactory answer was not given.'' Lilith sitting on Alex's bed, explained.
''What you said is not wrong. For now, let us prevent the demon from succeeding in their endeavor. I will contact Artemia and tell her what happened here. I'm sure in the other five cities, demons might have infiltrated them with one goal, destroyed the core to make it impossible for the ultimate shield to work.'' Alex said, the girls nodded, especially Lilith; she was not in a hurry to snatch the thing Lucifer was trying to get, making the demons fail; this task was another way of screwing Lucifer's plans, and this is her raison d'être.
''I see, it's a good plan. We will let you discuss this with Artemia. Sakuya and I will take our leave. Say, Hi! To Artemia to me.''
After saying this, Lilith dragged Sakuya out of the room; the moment Artemia's name was mentioned, there was a mysterious glint flashing through Sakuya's eyes, she wished to stay, and Lilith knew nothing good would come out if she were to let this sadist girl stay, she was sure that she would try butting in their conversation.
If it weren't because Sakuya knows that she couldn't beat Lilith, she would fight back. As Lilith guessed, she planned to tease Artemia; she was jealous of her, circumstance or not; it should have been her the next; however, it happened, this left a sour aftertaste inside Sakuya's mouth.
As if she could see through Sakuya's feelings, Lilith said.
''Don't worry, she won't steal him away. Be nice; she is not an enemy but rather an ally you should never let go of. Soon, you will understand.''
Chuckle!
''For an ice lady, you are pretty sensible. Don't worry. I'm fine. Not feeling anything would have been weird. Let's go.''
Sakuya said after chuckling; the two left for their room afterward.