Chapter 423: He Doesn't Want Her, But She Demands It (6K Request for Subscription)

I want it!

I want it!!

I absolutely want it!!!

Hearing the passionate cries of Miss Devil, Herbert was completely stunned.

Is this… even right?

Can you seriously plan something like this out loud?

Don’t you have any shame?

Or perhaps…

“Uh, you want me to help you improve your strength?”

“Exactly!”

Crete nodded decisively: “I want you to help me too!”

“No, I think… that method might not suit you.”

After hesitating and weighing his options, Herbert still didn’t immediately accept Crete’s enthusiastic invitation.

Not yet. Wait a bit.

What if it’s a trap?

But clearly, Crete didn’t understand Herbert’s hint—she simply thought he was stingy and didn’t want to take her along.

Stingy man!

She pouted and snorted: “Herbert, why are you so stingy? Can’t you even spare this?”

Herbert: ?

I’m stingy? Am I stingy? When have I ever been stingy?!

And what exactly am I supposed to be sparing?

“If you can help Valentina improve her strength, you can definitely help me too!”

The Devil Girl gazed at the boy with longing and made her request—I want you to aid my cultivation!

“I want it too!”

And after making her request, Crete also showed her sincerity—she wouldn’t take such help for free; she was willing to pay.

“Of course, I won’t ask for your help without offering something in return. We can sign a contract.”

“You set the terms of the contract. I promise I won’t tamper with it in any way.”

Crete looked at him with sincere earnestness: “How about it? Have I shown enough sincerity with these conditions?”

To be fair, for a creature as cunning as a devil, voluntarily proposing such a fair contract was indeed a sign of great sincerity.

Perhaps someone wonders: isn’t a “fair contract” supposed to be the norm?

It isn’t.

For devils, fairness is not the default—unfairness is.

Any loophole must be exploited; every chance to cheat must be seized.

Only the strong and the wise are worthy of making a contract with a devil.

And by “strong” and “wise,” the devil means two kinds of people.

Either they are powerful enough to defeat the devil and force them to sign a “fair” contract.

Or they are clever enough to outmaneuver the devil, making them willingly and humbly sign an “unfair” contract.

To gain strength, Crete broke protocol and treated him as she would a strong one.

After hearing the Devil Girl’s brilliant idea, Herbert fell silent for a long time.

“…”

This time, he truly remained silent for a long while, fidgeting constantly, clearly torn.

Herbert kept touching his chin, frowning, then staring deeply at Crete.

He pressed his lips tightly, his expression grave. After a long while, he relaxed, sighed helplessly, and shook his head.

“Ah!”

After the sigh, Herbert rubbed his temples, grimacing as he muttered:

“Valentina really is something else—why does she blab everything? Can you really tell people about this? Isn’t this just inviting trouble? Really… ah!”

Herbert kept sighing, but Crete’s expression grew increasingly delighted.

“Good! Good! Good!”

Herbert’s reluctant reaction made Crete secretly pleased.

“Heh, I guessed right!”

She knew—her move had succeeded!

If Herbert had immediately agreed to her request, she’d have suspected Valentina’s claim was a lie.

But Herbert’s current hesitation confirmed one thing—he truly had a method.

This mysterious boy really had a way to help her improve her strength.

And judging by his current struggle, the cost of this method was high—he wasn’t eager to share it with others.

After agonizing for a long while, Herbert finally seemed to make up his mind, raising his head to say:

“Crete, I never intended for anyone else to know about this, but since you’ve accidentally found out, I won’t hide it anymore.”

“Mm-hmm!” Crete nodded eagerly.

Here it comes!

Finally, the real topic!

Under the Devil Girl’s watchful gaze, Herbert said gravely: “Yes, just as you suspected—I do possess a method to enhance your strength.”

“With my help, Valentina has already broken through the peak of Legend and officially ascended to Epic Dragon.”

“Mm-hmm-hmm!!!”

Even though she’d roughly guessed the outcome, hearing it directly from Herbert still stunned Crete.

Epic!

Valentina had truly reached the Epic realm!

The last time she saw her, Valentina was still stuck at the edge of Legend—just a few days later, she’d already advanced.

Recalling the terrifying combat power Valentina had displayed even at Legend’s peak, Crete now felt even greater wariness toward her current strength.

Just how strong is Valentina now?

At the same time, Crete grew even more curious—and more desperate—for whatever help Herbert could offer.

What kind of help was it?

A potion to drink?

An injection into the body?

Or some special spiritual energy array?

Whatever it was, it was exactly what she needed now.

She had to grow stronger—stronger than that damned demon—to wash away her humiliation!

Crete had already made up her mind—if one day she became stronger than Flora, she’d repay every torment she’d suffered, tenfold.

For example, hang Flora up and whip her!

Whack her hard!

“…Heh, hehehe, hahahahaha!”

Merely imagining the scene, Crete couldn’t suppress her grin and burst into laughter.

“Heh.”

Watching her excited eyes, Herbert smiled inwardly, then continued gravely: “But you know, if this ability became known to others, what consequences would follow?”

“The power to enhance others’ strength has always been coveted with the worst malice, in any era.”

Crete nodded deeply, understanding his concerns.

“Mm.”

That was true.

As Herbert said, if this ability became public, his future would be plagued by endless harassment.

She understood his fears, and swiftly made a promise: “Don’t worry—I won’t tell anyone. I’ll put that in the contract.”

To gain Herbert’s help, the Devil Girl had truly offered her utmost sincerity.

Not only had she treated him as a “strong” one with fairness, she’d even voluntarily offered terms fitting a “wise” one’s unfair contract.

For a devil to willingly sign an unequal treaty—how desperate she was for this power. She longed to retaliate.

The Devil Girl had been oppressed by the Demon Girl for centuries; now, for the first time, she saw a chance to turn the tide—she would never let go.

Facing Crete’s generous terms, Herbert remained grave. After a moment’s thought, he said apologetically: “Crete, you’ve truly surprised me—you’ve shown remarkable sincerity.”

“I’m willing to accept your conditions. But before we sign the contract, I must warn you of one thing.”

He gazed deeply at Crete and said gravely: “To be honest, the help I can give you isn’t without cost—you must pay a price.”

“Note: this price isn’t paid to me—it’s something you will lose yourself. Do you understand?”

Facing Herbert’s serious warning, Crete smiled faintly: “Don’t worry—I understand perfectly.”

How could Crete not understand this principle?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch; no pies fall from the sky.

Alchemy demands equivalent exchange; even fate’s gifts come with a price already marked.

She was no naive child fresh out of training; she understood the world’s rules all too well.

To be blunt, as a devil, she understood far, far better than Herbert!

Crete waved her hand grandly and declared: “Enough talk—I understand. Let’s sign the contract right away!”

It’s urgent.

But Herbert still hesitated. After a long pause, he whispered:

“So… you’ve truly decided? After all I’ve said, you still want me to help you?”

“Yes!”

To grow stronger, the Devil Girl resolved to pay any price!

She would turn the tables!

She would crush that damn demon beneath her!

Even if it meant making a deal with a devil—and paying a terrible cost… Wait, something felt off.

I’m the devil myself!!?

Strange… why did I unconsciously put myself in the weaker position?

Frustrated and annoyed at her own stupidity, the Devil Girl bit her lip and vented her anger on Herbert: “Enough! Stop dawdling—are you even a man?”

“I’ve said it all this far—why are you still hesitating? What’s there to hesitate over?”

“I’m putting this on record: if anything goes wrong later, I’ll bear it alone. You don’t have to take responsibility.”

So slow, so indecisive—he didn’t resemble the arrogant boy she once knew.

It seems no one is perfect.

Even someone as arrogant and talented as Herbert reveals his weaknesses in certain matters.

After being pressured by the Devil Girl, Herbert reluctantly raised his hands, sighed, and conceded: “Fine, fine—if you’re this sincere, this insistent… sigh! Alright, I’ll give you one chance.”

He let out a deep sigh, barely suppressing the smile tugging at his lips.

There was no other way.

Truly, no other way.

I can’t hold it in any longer…

Puff.

Hahaha!

Everyone saw it!

I didn’t ask for it—she insisted on giving it!

I’m innocent, pure as snow!

Did Herbert not want to sign the contract? Didn’t he want to give Crete special guidance?

Meat served to your mouth—why refuse?

What reason could there be to say no?

From the start, Herbert had no intention of refusing—he planned to comply with Crete’s request.

But he also knew the whole situation stemmed from a tiny misunderstanding: Crete didn’t understand what kind of help he was offering.

Such a small misunderstanding was easy to clear up.

Did he want to clear it up?

Of course not.

So Herbert’s goal was to use this misunderstanding, to exploit it, to achieve his own ends.

Let the Devil Girl shoot herself in the foot.

I’ve resisted strongly—repeatedly warned you—but you still won’t let go, insistently demanding I help you…

If that’s the case, then if anything goes wrong later, you can’t blame me, right?

Right?

Right!

Even after the outcome was settled, Herbert didn’t relax—he kept performing at full capacity.

He watched as Crete eagerly pulled out two parchment scrolls, hesitated, and asked: “Crete, must we sign this?”

“I trust you. Between us, do we really need such a contract?”

Herbert played the role of a gullible fool, declaring: We’re friends! Brothers!

I believe in you—I know you won’t betray me!

So, why bother with contracts or agreements?

Logically, this naive, foolish act was exactly what villains loved.

Without a contract, their agreement had no guarantee—and no protection against loss.

Yet the Devil Girl firmly refused.

“No. This must be signed.”

She had no intention of taking advantage—but not because of conscience. There was another reason.

Rules.

This world operated by its own system.

The Devil Girl knew the most expensive thing in the world was a free gift.

Free things were always the costliest.

Favor was the hardest debt to repay.

And for a devil bound to the Order faction, obeying rules was simply part of their nature.

Asking them to act chaotically was like forcing an OCD patient to mess up their perfectly organized things.

“This contract must be signed—not just for you, but for me too,” Crete declared firmly, not yielding an inch.

“But I think—”

“No ‘buts’! I don’t care what you think—I care what I think!”

“...Fine.”

In the end, the argument ended with Herbert’s “concession.”

After prolonged negotiation, the beneficiary Herbert finally accepted the unequal contract proposed by the Devil Girl.

Signed!

There was nothing left to do but sign.

As soon as the contract began to be formalized, Herbert changed demeanor, revealing an astonishing talent in this area.

He didn’t need Crete to explain anything—he instantly understood the meaning of every step in signing.

“First, these two parchment scrolls are the contract’s physical form. Why two—”

“No need to explain. I know: contracts come in duplicate, one for each party.”

Herbert didn’t just understand—he could extrapolate.

“Actually, the ideal contract would require a trustworthy witness—triplicate, with one copy held by the witness.”

“But you probably don’t want Flora as witness, and since we trust each other, we can simplify it to duplicate copies.”

Crete blinked, surprised Herbert could say all that. She nodded: “Uh, yes, right. Each of us keeps one copy.”

Moreover, as the signing continued, Crete’s astonishment grew.

Herbert not only grasped all the rules effortlessly—he even proposed optimizations.

And most importantly—Herbert was incredibly good at dragging things out.

“I find this requirement unreasonable. I need to make adjustments.”

“I think… oh, the contract’s clauses could be slightly modified.”

“How about this: I give a little, you give a little?”

…

This boy excelled at setting his opening bid just above his true bottom line—making himself suffer, yet leaving the other side unable to refuse.

Before him, Crete felt like a raw recruit.

After a long negotiation, both reached a mutually satisfactory agreement.

Excluding minor details, the entire contract, in Herbert’s view, resembled a crude labor agreement.

Herbert would provide “special guidance” to Crete, helping her strengthen herself to eventually crush Flora.

In return, Crete had to fulfill eighteen obligations: obey Herbert’s reasonable demands, protect his safety, assist him in building Elda… and so on.

Interestingly, both Herbert and Crete were satisfied.

One to eighteen—the advantage was hers!

For Crete, compared to her grand goal, these small costs meant nothing.

“Phew…”

When the contract was fully signed, Crete blinked dazedly, feeling as if she’d just negotiated with a powerful devil.

Something felt… off?

Though her mind was confused, sensing she’d fallen into some trap, her joy still lowered her guard.

She carefully tucked the contract away, a satisfied smile on her lips.

With this contract, her strength could now rise further!

Revenge against Flora has been put on the agenda; the true day of counterattack is not far off.

Just as the Devil Girl was lost in fantasy, Herbert on the other side carefully put away the contract and smiled: “Our contract is signed, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then I must now fulfill my obligation under the contract, correct?”

“Exactly.”

“Alright, then no time to waste—let’s begin the first assistance now.”

Herbert made his decision, smiling and gesturing to Crete: “Then come here, stand in front of me.”

“Okay.”

Crete was also slightly excited, wondering how Herbert would help her.

What was he going to do?

A potion? Or… hmm?

As Crete was eagerly pondering, Herbert in front of her moved—he unfastened the buttons on his robe.

His hooded cloak drifted slowly behind him, drawing Crete’s gaze with it.

What does this mean?

Hmm?

When she cautiously pulled her gaze back, she caught Herbert’s next move—he unfastened the top button of his shirt collar.

Huh??

If this was all, Crete might have been puzzled but still accepted it.

After unfastening one button, Herbert grabbed the collar and pulled it off effortlessly, revealing his solid physique beneath.

Huh???

The Devil Girl was stunned by the scene; she instinctively stepped back, but her stubbornness kept her from showing fear—she forcibly halted her retreat.

Herbert is taking off his clothes—he must just be hot?

But Herbert’s actions were far from over; before Crete could ask, he made his next move.

He reached his hand naturally toward his waist belt—wait!!

Hmm!!?

Until now, Crete had endured it, thinking Herbert might do something else… but this time, she truly couldn’t hold back.

“Stop!!!”

The Devil Girl grabbed the boy’s wrist, shocked: “What are you doing!!!?”

Herbert did not force himself to continue after being stopped. He raised an eyebrow, smiling strangely: “Huh? I’m helping you. Isn’t that what you strongly demanded?”

Crete was dumbfounded.

When did I ever demand this?

“I demanded? When did I ever ask for this kind of help? What are you talking about!!?”

As she cried out, the Devil Girl suddenly realized something—her eyes widened in shock.

Wait, wait!!?

No… no way?

No way!!!

“Yes, this is exactly what you wanted.”

Herbert gazed tenderly at the frozen Devil Girl and whispered: “All, as you wished.”

Like Ye Gong who feared dragons?

But the key is… you haven’t even seen the real dragon yet.

“Enough talk.”

Herbert smiled gently and whispered: “Don’t panic. Take a deep breath. Breathe through your nose. Dizziness and nausea are normal.”

Whoosh—

Before Herbert could act, Crete, finally realizing, yanked her hand free and retreated at astonishing speed, dashing into the Bronze Fortress.

As she fled, she cried out in panic: “No no no, don’t come near!”

Herbert watched the broken Devil Girl flee without rushing to chase.

Only after she slammed the door shut did he smile brightly and murmur: “You think hiding there will keep you safe?”

“Didn’t you forget what I am?”

“Besides, the contract is sealed—do you really think you can back out?”

“Run? Where do you think you can run to?”

Sister, now you want to run?

Can you escape?

He walked slowly to the Bronze Door and said with a grin:

“Open sesame!”

As he spoke, the Bronze Fortress door slowly opened.

Creak… creak… creak…

“No!!!”

(End of Chapter)