Chapter 235
“J-Just to add, L-Lord Gureon is also quite precious to the city lord. T-They say she’s the secret lover of the city lord,” he blurted out in tension.
“Take me to her.”
The voice spoke without a hint of emotion. The tone was cold, devoid of even a hint of hesitation. It was not a suggestion but a command.
A command that, if refused, would cost him his life.
“Y-Yes.” The demon regained his composure, his eyes shining with a malicious glint.
‘What an arrogant fool! Once we’re in Lord Gureon’s turf, they’ll skin him alive for killing one of her subordinates in her own area. Since he wants to die so badly, then follow me!’
The demon let out a tense smirk, feeling that this arrogant demon behind him was overestimating himself, making things much easier.
The demon felt the pressure on him disappear. Without turning around, he began to walk forward, leading the arrogant fool to his death.
____________
“Sir Vasoth, these are all the human slaves that were present in the city. We have gathered them in the city square as per your instructions. Some of these slaves belonged to officials, but after hearing that it was you who wanted them, they didn’t resist and handed them over.”
The merchant demon addressed Vasoth, who stood with a calm expression, his hands behind his back as he surveyed the abundance of human slaves before him.
They were all collared, wearing dull and fearful expressions, unaware of the fate that awaited them.
“Hmm…” Vasoth’s lips curled into a sinister smile, his brows arching into crescent moons, a calculated glint appearing in his eyes.
Beside him, the merchant looked at Vasoth with a respectful expression.
“Vasoth! What are you doing with so much filth?”
A loud voice came from behind him, and he turned with the same expression to see Drul’s sullen face.
Drul looked irritated as he strode toward Vasoth with large steps, scrutinizing the slaves with his piercing sand-colored eyes.
“Drul…” Vasoth smiled. “I thought of something fun… a little game to bring out the rat who infiltrated the city.”
Drul paused, glancing at Vasoth’s expression before speaking. “You sure are one sick bastard.”
Then he burst into laughter, his laughter echoing amid the silent masses.
Vasoth’s gaze flickered, a hidden layer of emotion flickering in his otherwise calm expression, as he looked at the laughing demon.
Drul stopped laughing abruptly, looking at the shivering slaves in disgust.
“I do hope what you’re planning works. I’m not one to think much, but if you manage to lure out the ‘rat’ you speak of, you can leave him to me,” Drul said with a menacing grin.
Vasoth pondered for a moment and said, “Sure. Sooner or later, he’ll definitely be here. At that time, you can deal with him—as long as you don’t kill him.”
“Why shouldn’t I kill him?” Drul frowned.
“Because there’s something I need to know from him…” Vasoth said in a deep voice.
“Whatever. I’ll kill him after that.” Drul waved his hand and laughed as he walked off.
But he suddenly stopped and turned back. “Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“Did you inform the captain about this little stunt you’re pulling here? I remember her saying something about improving our image…?”
“No, she doesn’t need to know about such trivial matters. We’ll present her with the results later. I’m sure she won’t say anything then. And honestly, I’m only improving our image here.”
“Huh? Improving…? How so?” Drul raised a brow.
“Fear. The best way to keep them disciplined is through fear. They’ll think twice before going against the rules set by their superiors. They’ll know what happens when you try to rebel against the Inquisitors. A public display isn’t so bad for this, right?” Vasoth smirked, looking at Drul with sly eyes.
“HAHAHAHA! What a cunning bastard. I don’t really care. Whatever happens, you’re the one responsible for the aftermath. I hope you get what you’re planning for, or else the captain won’t be merciful.”
Drul said with a feral grin and a dangerous expression before jumping off and disappearing.
Vasoth’s expression remained stoic and eerily calm. It was hard to tell if he was angry or not by looking at his face.
“Now then…” He turned around. “Merchant, hang them up and proceed with what I told you before.”
__________
“BASTARD! Reveal your face!”
A demoness spoke with a tone of anguish and an expression of hatred; her current state was pitiful.
She was kneeling on the ground, clutching her sliced-off right arm with her left hand, her nails nearly digging into her own skin.
Her posture was tense, and there was a bloody scene surrounding her. Dozens of demons with bulky bodies and dangerously sharp claws lay scattered around, all cleanly sliced as if by a very sharp sword.
Despite their ferocious and intimidating appearances, they were now a tangled mess of blood and flesh. The stench of blood was thick in the enclosed space.
The once-proud warriors of the city, reduced to mere remnants in the face of a single enemy.
Before the kneeling woman stood a boy shrouded in a dark cloak, hiding his features completely.
“I have strong ties with the city lord,” the woman gritted her teeth and said. “If you kill me here, the city lord won’t tolerate it. He is a Mid-level demon; think carefully about your actions—there’s still time.”
The woman’s blue face flushed red with anger and shame, forced to beg for her life by invoking the city lord’s name. All her pride was crumbling, the image she had built, the power she held over the demons of the city.
Everything was on the verge of ending. She had to beg for her life.
Oliver’s eyes gleamed darkly as he listened to the demoness.
As he watched the demoness grovel, Oliver couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
‘A Mid-level demon, huh.’
Memories resurfaced in his mind as he recalled the power scaling for the demons. Unlike exorcists, who followed ranks, the demons had a different system.
There were seven stages in a demon’s entire life cycle. It was a sort of evolutionary process, where they evolved from a lower stage to a higher one after meeting certain conditions.
‘What were those stages?’