Chapter 115: The Reborn Mist Town

In the forest.

In order to catch the tail of the banquet, Long Xing Wan Li Li, who was resurrected, ran all the way, but suddenly stopped when he was about to reach Mist Town.

Hmm? Footprints?

Those were not the footprints of ordinary humans, from the shape and volume, they looked more like subspecies similar to humans.

Long Xing Wan Li Li quickly squatted down, searched for a while on the ground, and soon had a new discovery.

I saw that on a piece of land not far away, a large row of footprints was densely printed!

From the huge quantity, these footprints were definitely not left by any wild animals, at least it must be a corps of two or three hundred people!

Not only that—

From the traces of the footprints stepping on each other, this group of guys with unknown identities should have arrived here first, and then turned back.

Long Xing Wan Li Li's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Someone has been here?"

Out of curiosity, he didn't return to the banquet scene, but followed the trajectory of the footprints and tracked them all the way.

All around was a vast gray fog, visibility was very low, and nothing could be seen.

Long Xing Wan Li Li followed the footprints for a long time, but didn't find anything.

Just when he started to drum in his heart, whether he was played by the dog planner, a cave that bulged from the flat ground suddenly appeared in front of him.

That cave was like a grave bag slanted on the ground, and one would miss it if not careful.

In fact, if it weren't for discovering it from the front, Long Xing Wan Li Li estimated that he would also ignore it as a small soil slope.

That string of densely packed footprints was hidden at the entrance of this cave!

Long Xing Wan Li Li suddenly realized something, and then a burst of ecstasy in his heart.

"This is—"

The entrance to the fifth floor!

And it seems to be a hidden entrance!

Not in a hurry to run in, Long Xing Wan Li Li carefully followed the footprints from when he came and returned the same way.

Obviously! This is not an area that one person can brush alone!

He has to bring his guys and bring more people over!

On the other side, Tyrael, who was sitting at the banquet table, moved his brows and cast his gaze in the direction outside the town.

"The aura of ogres... there are quite a few, there must be five or six hundred."

He naturally couldn't see that far, but the deadwood staff leaning beside his chair could see it.

Not only that.

Behind that group of ogres, he also saw a little lizard chasing the footprints of those ogres, running all the way from outside the town wall to an entrance closest to the fifth floor.

Undoubtedly, that was the Demon King's subordinate.

It seems everything is under the control of this lord in front of him...

Looking at Tyrael, who suddenly raised his head and looked respectful, Luo Yan looked at the official website and said casually.

"Those guys on the fifth floor?"

There is no news on the official website.

I think either his players didn't see it at all, or the ones who discovered the movement were that group of old Gou coins with IDs called Long Xing xx.

"Hmm." Tyrael nodded, "Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't run here... My guess is, they should have heard the movement here, so they thought of coming here to pick up a bargain."

As for why they ran, it's also very simple, eight out of ten they found that this bone is not easy to gnaw.

Tyrael doesn't like those guys.

Those ogres have too big an appetite, and are extremely cunning and untrustworthy.

Before the "Summit Meeting" was held, he tried to unite the main forces of the first five floors of the labyrinth to deal with the problem of the absence of order, and those guys acted as spoilers.

Not only that, they also attacked the messengers he sent to the deeper layers of the labyrinth.

Due to the existence of these ogres, the Summit Meeting failed to reach a substantive agreement, only barely reaching a consensus on non-aggression.

However, Tyrael could roughly guess why the ogres acted as spoilers.

Those guys were actually serving the warlords in the deep labyrinth, and the latter didn't want to see a monolithic upper labyrinth.

Keeping chaos in the first five floors and acting as a buffer zone for the deep labyrinth is the best for those demons.

Looking at the expressionless Tyrael, Luo Yan could roughly guess that the relationship between the Gray Wind Tribe and the ogres was not good, so he said.

"Can you tell me about their situation, including the fifth floor of the labyrinth, and the current ruler there."

"Of course, Lord Demon King."

Tyrael nodded slightly and made a simple report in a narrative tone.

The fifth floor is an area known as the "Blood Arena."

The environment there is the opposite of the Mist Forest, it is a wasteland with sparse vegetation, besides the monsters common in the Northern Wasteland and the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains, it is mainly inhabited by ogres and some goblins attached to them.

Goblins are everywhere like ratmen, Luo Yan was not surprised that goblins appeared on the fifth floor of the labyrinth.

The only thing that made him strange was, why did ogres become the dominant force of order there? Seeming to see the Demon King's confusion, Tyrael continued.

"Lei Ji·Delagong introduced those guys from the Dimensional Desert, saying they had rich experience in fighting humans... but in fact, they have no advantages other than being able to eat."

Luo Yan: "Then they must be living very frugally now."

"Not necessarily," shaking the wine glass in her hand, Cici said casually, "It is said that they have an unusual relationship with the warlords in the lower labyrinth, those guys are Lei Ji·Delagong's old subordinates... You can understand it as, they are a watchdog raised by the warlords in the deep labyrinth."

"Indeed." Tyrael nodded and continued slowly.

"Starting from the fifth floor downward, it is the core area of the entire labyrinth, mainly ruled by Lei Ji·Delagong's old subordinates... We don't know the specific situation there."

Lei Ji·Delagong's old subordinates...

Luo Yan fell into thought.

Presumably, those guys secretly drew the teleportation array into the human settlement.

In this way, there might be their insiders in Lei Ming City on the surface.

Let Jack investigate this later.

Silently noting this matter, Luo Yan raised the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile.

"Let's put the deep labyrinth matters aside for now, they will get the punishment they deserve, and the punishment has already begun. As for now, don't let those boring rats affect our banquet."

"I think so too, Lord Demon King," Cici giggled a few times, with a hint of intoxication on her slightly drunk face, "Cici thinks that those stupid guys can't compare to your little finger... you don't have to take them to heart at all. Since they like infighting, let them kill each other."

Tyrael nodded and immediately expressed his agreement with the Lord of the Nightmare Realm.

"I also agree with the cold treatment method, the Gray Wind Tribe needs to recuperate, we really can't afford a second all-out war... and, there is no need to waste power on our own people."

Luo Yan laughed and said.

"Makes sense, instead of wasting time on those traitors, it's better to spend time outside, expanding outward."

Tyrael was stunned.

"Ex, expanding outward is?"

Didn't you say you wouldn't expand outward? "Conquering our opponents spiritually," Luo Yan said with a smile, "Let the humans on the surface be unable to leave us, rely on us... and even eventually become us."

Paused, he continued.

"Speaking of this, I might need your help."

Everyone was happy, the cups and plates were in a mess, and there were little demons and skeleton soldiers who were drunk and lying together.

The banquet had entered its end.

Due to the doctrine of not drinking, Charles and the members of the Knights didn't drink much, so they remained sober until the end of the banquet.

Looking at a group of drunkards, Charles cleared his throat and said.

"Are you going back with us, or staying here?"

Lying in front of him were human adventurers, as well as mercenary guards of Mist Town and civilians who escaped the disaster.

Adventurers go without saying, they must go back to hand in the mission first. And those mercenary guards and civilians, many of them have homes here, if they go to the surface, they can only rely on relatives, or they have to find another job in the city.

Winter is coming soon, it's not easy to find a job.

And, considering the "tacit understanding" between the Demon King's army and the surface humans in the future, he also hopes that some of these people will choose to stay as a lubricant between monsters and surface humans.

At least they have fought side by side with monsters.

Hearing Charles's voice, many people lying on the ground were so scared that their wine woke up, and they crawled up from the ground.

"Stay here?"

"Mist Town?"

"Are you kidding, stay here and be with monsters?"

Facing the discussion, Charles pondered for a moment, just wanted to open his mouth, but suddenly closed it again, and cast his gaze toward Alex on the side.

Some things shouldn't be said by him.

Seeing the former look at himself, Alex immediately understood, so he stepped forward and said.

"The Demon King welcomes you to stay, as... uh, as proof of the friendship between the residents of Lei Ming County and the Great Graveyard."

Hearing Alex's words, everyone exchanged the surprise in each other's eyes, looking at each other.

"Friend, friendship?"

"Are you talking about the battle just now?"

"To be honest, I'm afraid we spent more time fighting than shaking hands..."

Everyone's face was full of suspicion.

Even if they believed that this Demon King was different from the previous Demon King, no one dared to bet their lives.

"Precisely because of this, the time of shaking hands is precious and worth commemorating."

Alex coughed, interrupted the discussion, and grabbed the initiative of the topic back.

"In short... that Demon King feels that it's a pity to destroy this town, so he plans to list this place as a 'Safe Zone'."

"Those who have business here can continue to do business, and those who don't have business... can also continue to do what they did before. For example, you are a shopkeeper, then now you can continue to operate your shop. If you are a chef, and your boss unfortunately died, then now you can buy your boss's shop and continue to operate..."

"It doesn't matter if you don't have money, the Demon King can lend you a sum of start-up capital to buy back those shops from his hands, and the interest can be offset against taxes, and there is no tax or interest for the first three months. The Town Hall will have people responsible for handling this business, those who are interested can go there to learn more."

Luo Yan told him all these things.

And not just orally, the relevant flyers were posted at the entrance of the Town Hall and the four city gates of Mist Town, used to replace Miranda's wanted order.

Honestly, after listening to these conditions, Alex was so surprised that his chin almost fell to the ground.

Loans without collateral, what's the difference between this and giving it away for free?! And what surprised him even more was, this is an idea that demons can come up with?!

It seems his understanding of hell is indeed too little.

Or is it that when humans on the surface knew nothing about the underground world, hell had already developed into a state that none of them had ever imagined...

After listening to what Alex said, everyone at the scene was discussing, and the surprise on their faces was no calmer than when he first heard these news.

Especially those waiters who were temporarily hired to help, all showed surprised expressions.

"Demon King... provides loans? Really?"

"Demons understand these things?"

"Do they know what money is?"

"Perhaps precisely because they don't know, they came up with such a stupid idea of giving away money... They should really learn from the lenders in the underground street, that thing is not something anyone can do. Either it must be a gang, or it must be a Knights, without the ability to collect debts, you'll lose your pants."

"Maybe they don't care at all? Anyway, I haven't heard of demons needing money."

This kind of argument was recognized by many people, after all, no one had found money on the monsters in the labyrinth.

Even if little demons occasionally put some money in the treasure chest, it was to lure adventurers into the hook.

This kind of behavior of sprinkling money can only be done by nouveau riche who have never seen money.

However, they didn't hate such a Demon King, after all, who would hate someone who gives benefits? Many people with active minds were eager to move.

"Dimilis, aren't you planning to open a shop? Now you can go to the street to pick one, there are empty windows everywhere haha."

"Here?!" The short waiter swallowed his saliva and said nervously, "Are you crazy or am I crazy... I'd rather go back to the village in my hometown to open a shop."

Although there must be no customers, at least there is no worry about life.

Seeing the concerns of some residents about safety, Alex, based on the principle of helping to the end, looked at the group of mercenary guards and adventurers again.

"And you guys are the same... If you want to find a job, you can continue to be guards here. Since the Demon King said he wouldn't invade here, I believe he will keep his promise, so the work here will be much easier than before, no need to be on guard against the Demon King's army at all times, just maintain the security within the town... and the salary is as usual."

He didn't know what the salary of these people was before, but it should be found in the account book in the branch of the Adventurers' Guild.

Considering that the Demon King could even think of the operation of "borrowing money from the left pocket to the residents, and buying back the shop installed in the right pocket", he shouldn't be stingy with this little salary expenditure.

Standing on the street, the mercenary guards looked at each other, and then a bald middle-aged man stepped forward and raised his arm.

"I have a question... then who is hiring us? Adventurers' Guild? Or... Demon King?"

When he said the last, many adventurers and mercenaries at the scene calmed down, and the originally moved expressions all turned into tension again.

Defecting to the Demon King will go to hell.

They might not be very devout, but at least they are all believers of Saint Xisi in name.

Most people felt it was not worth it to lose their next life for a salary that

However, just at this moment, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of a good idea.

"You can just consider it as working for me."

Looking at the crowd, whose faces were filled with surprise, he continued in a firm tone.

"From now on—"

"The 'Sword of Bravery' Mercenary Group is established."

Alex's thoughts were not complicated.

He had originally intended to establish a mercenary group to accomplish great things, and now Mist Town happened to have a need for maintaining public order.

Plus, these mercenaries had just been through thick and thin with him, and they had already established a good relationship of trust with each other; it would be better to just take this opportunity to raise this banner.

As for the question of whether he would go to hell after death... he wasn't as worried about it as those mercenaries were.

First of all, he didn't believe that maintaining the peace of a piece of land was a betrayal of Saint Xisi; in fact, it was precisely to protect the interests of Saint Xisi's people.

Secondly, if the demons from hell were as open-minded as the Demon King before him, while the angels beside Lord Saint Xisi couldn't tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes... then it was really hard to say which side was actually hell.

After the banquet ended, Alex first discussed it with his two adventurer teammates, and then found Luo Yan to express his thoughts.

To avoid any misunderstanding by Luo Yan, he also laid out the concerns of those mercenaries, including issues of faith and stance.

"I asked those mercenaries, and they are unwilling to work for you, fearing that they will be reincarnated into hell after death, but they indicated that if they were taking orders from me, they could pretend not to know who I am serving... In short, there are fifty-five people willing to stay, counting myself and my two teammates. I hope you don't mind my acting on my own initiative."

"How could I mind? You've done me a huge favor," Luo Yan said with a smile, patting Alex on the shoulder. "The Great Tomb welcomes you!"

Being patted on the shoulder by the Demon King, Alex's expression was somewhat subtle; he gave a light cough and said.

"Ahem... I have no intention of joining the Great Tomb. Please forgive me; I am, after all, a servant of Saint Xisi."

When he said this, he paused for a moment and continued.

"I just feel that making the war between us into what you call a 'glorious war' is a meaningful thing... Even if Lord Saint Xisi understands my actions, he will surely forgive my choice today, or even approve of me."

"I am very happy; this shows that we have the same ideals... Alright, no need for extra explanations, I understand what you mean," watching Alex, who wanted to explain further, Luo Yan laughed and interrupted him, continuing, "Then... how about signing an employment contract for half a year? For the next six months, I will pay you 3,300 Gold Coins as salary every month."

A mercenary group of fifty-five people, equivalent to sixty Gold Coins per person, or about six thousand-plus Copper Coins.

In Lei Ming City, where the per capita income was only about three thousand-plus Copper Coins, this figure was already considered a high salary, and even some adventurers would be tempted.

Especially since they didn't need to fight; they only needed to maintain the order of Mist Town and catch some petty thieves... if any thief dared to steal things on the Demon King's turf.

As for how much Alex paid those mercenaries, Luo Yan didn't care; that was their own business.

He didn't even need them to expand their establishment.

After all, having mercenaries serve as local guards was just a stopgap measure, purely to balance the proportion of demons in the security system.

If the guards were all demons, I'm afraid no adventurer would dare to come here to rest, and if no adventurers came here, then it would be even more impossible for there to be humans among the guards, and the local commerce would become even more desolate... thus forming a vicious cycle.

Therefore, the existence of mercenaries was necessary, but it was also destined to be phased out.

Once the residents of Mist Town gradually broke through their psychological barrier of "working for the Demon King," once they finally realized that everything they did was for themselves, and began to take the initiative to shoulder more social responsibilities... he naturally wouldn't need these mercenaries to put on a show.

Out of trust in Alex, Luo Yan opened the small treasury of the Mist Town Adventurer Society and directly advanced him one month's pay, letting him use the money to win people over.

If this fellow intended to continue paying those mercenaries the salary of 40 Gold Coins per month previously offered by the Adventurer Society, then this money would be enough for him to do many things besides paying salaries.

After sending Alex away, Luo Yan summoned Zelike, the patriarch of the Gecko Clan, and had him arrange for several acolytes to enter the Town Hall as temporary clerks, both to register the real estate information of Mist Town and to receive the humans interested in staying in Mist Town.

This matter certainly couldn't be left solely to the Lizardmen; their intelligence stats weren't high to begin with, so how could they compare to cunning humans? So, after finishing the instructions for the Gecko Clan, Luo Yan then had You You issue a server-wide announcement, recruiting some life-skill players to help the Gecko Clan.

Especially to introduce "business loans" to those with capability.

Although making translation crystals for these players cost Luo Yan quite a bit of faith power, in the long run, this investment was definitely worth it.

Looking at the queue forming at the entrance of the Town Hall, he was full of confidence in the future of Mist Town.

There would eventually be a day when this small town located in the labyrinth would become the most shining pearl on the north bank of the Vortex Sea! Even if he couldn't do it.

Those life-skill players would definitely do it for him.

"Lord Demon King, why have you suddenly become so generous? Did something happen?" Floating beside Luo Yan, You You asked with a curious face.

Luo Yan chuckled.

"What are you saying? Haven't I always been very generous?"

You You: "Eh?"

That surprised voice made one feel somewhat annoyed; Luo Yan dissatisfiedly glanced at the air beside him.

"Don't treat my Nether Coins as if they aren't money. Believe it or not, everyone on this continent will need that stuff in the future."

"I believe! How would You You dare to doubt you," the voice in the fog was full of grievance, and You You muttered in a low voice, "Then do you also use Nether Coins for the wages you pay those guards?"

Luo Yan was amused upon hearing this, but he didn't answer the question directly.

"You You, have you ever fished?"

You You: "No... why?"

Luo Yan said with a smile.

"Experienced anglers often 'bait the nest' before casting their lines."

Although he had never fished, this didn't hinder him from spouting nonsense.

You You asked in confusion.

"'Bait the nest'?"

"That's right! Simply put, it's throwing some worthless bait into the pond first, waiting for the school of fish to be attracted, and then casting the line for a fatal strike... This method is much easier than waiting bitterly for the fish to take the hook."

While saying this, the smiling Demon King made a casting—or rather, a baiting—motion with great momentum.

He wasn't fishing for fish, but for the humans on the surface.

And the small town before him at this moment was his fish pond! Wandering around, Luo Yan strolled from the Town Hall back to the messy banquet scene.

The Dark Elves and the Lesser Demons had already returned to their lair.

And Charles and the knights of the Campbell Order had also left, taking with them the adventurers and residents who didn't intend to stay.

At this moment, only the owner of "Forest Rest" and a group of employees were left cleaning up the aftermath.

Seeing the Demon King return, the burly innkeeper hurriedly put down the work in his hands and bowed in fear and trepidation.

"Greetings, Lord Demon King..."

Not just the innkeeper, the male and female servants wearing aprons also stopped their work one after another to bow to the Demon King.

"No need for formalities, rise."

Luo Yan nodded approvingly, signaling everyone to rise, then walked up to the innkeeper and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.

Feeling the palm on his shoulder, the innkeeper only felt his heart jump, almost popping out of his throat.

Fortunately, the Demon King didn't reach out to pull out his heart, but continued in an approving tone.

"I am very satisfied with today's banquet, and the food at the banquet was also very delicious... I hope you can continue to operate here."

Hearing this promise from the Demon King, the heavy stone hanging in the innkeeper's heart finally fell.

His eyes were filled with excitement, and he even wished he could kowtow to the Demon King before him on the spot.

"Tha, thank you, Lord Demon King!"

"Hahaha, you're welcome!" Luo Yan said with a smile. "I have only one requirement for you, or rather, for all of you, and that is to treat guests equally... whether they are humans, demons, or mixed-blood Demon-kin. If they cause trouble, contact the guards to handle it; other than that, I don't want to hear any rumors of you refusing guests."

"Please rest assured! Forest Rest has never refused a single guest." The innkeeper raised his right hand to swear in a serious manner. "I can swear to Saint Xisi... no, the Demon God... uh..."

"Just swear to your own heart, or to me is fine too."

Interrupting the innkeeper, whose brain was in a mess, Luo Yan didn't make things difficult for him and said in a gentle tone.

"I hope you will be the same in the future... go back to your work."

Starting with this book, I want to try splitting into volumes. Starting tomorrow, the next volume; I need to carefully conceive it.

(End of chapter)