Chapter 127: The Reaction of the Dragoon Family

Too similar.

Not just that aggressive gaze, but even the mocking tone was exactly the same as when they were in school.

Luo Yan speculated that this must be some kind of "persona" for a succubus.

And once one is provoked by this "persona" into a desire for conquest, it is equivalent to walking right into a trap, voluntarily stepping into the succubus's snare.

As for why he understood this so well?

Naturally, it was because Professor Lilith had taught it exactly like this in class.

Therefore, he did not fall into the trap at all; his polite smile remained unchanged, and he said with great courtesy:

"Long time no see, dear Miss Mi Ya. I didn't expect my Bronze-tier strength to have left such a deep impression on you."

"Th-that, of course... hehe."

Hearing that "dear," even though Mi Ya knew it was just a polite pleasantry, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks heating up slightly.

To cover up her loss of composure, she crossed her arms over her chest, deliberately tilted her chin higher than usual, twirled a strand of hair around her index finger, and put on a relaxed, effortless smile.

"Don't you go getting any ideas and misunderstanding; this isn't special treatment for you. It's just that you are, after all, the first Demon King I'm responsible for, and I don't want any unlucky stains on my professional resume. After all, a Bronze-tier Demon King is just too weak, like small fry, not even as good as a slightly capable adventurer. Who knows when you might just die, die off."

When saying this, this fellow seemed to accidentally bite her tongue.

Although the way she expressed it was a bit twisted, Luo Yan could tell she was concerned about him, so he revealed a wry smile and followed her lead, saying:

"Yes, yes, you're right. An unreliable Demon King like me might just be gone any day. So, in order not to let my sacrifice become a stain on your professional resume, I hope Miss Mi Ya will take good care of our side in the future."

"Heh, hehe... It's good that you know how weak you are. The front line is no place to play around. You should understand now that I wasn't scaring you, right?"

Twisting the hair at her temple around her index finger again and again, until it was unknowingly wound into a curl, Mi Ya, lost in thought, gave a light cough and suddenly switched to a tone of pity, saying:

"How about this? If you've suffered enough, for the sake of our old school days, it's not impossible for me to help you transfer back from the front line—"

"That won't be necessary," Luo Yan smiled and politely declined the good intention, continuing, "Thanks to your care, the Necropolis is developing quite well. By the way... that Orc is very useful. If there are any similar talents, please be sure to keep an eye out for me."

"Heh... quite the tough guy, aren't you." With her expectations dashed, the corners of Mi Ya's mouth twitched involuntarily, and her smug smile became difficult to maintain.

She had originally hoped for the Dragoon family's youngest son to go over and take the fall, but now it seemed there wasn't even a need to meet him.

She quickly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, you don't have a place to stay yet, right? Heh heh heh, don't misunderstand, I don't mean I'm worried about you, I just think a Bronze Demon King squeezing into an inn with stinky Goblins is too pathetic. How about this, I happen to have a vacant house nearby that's quite large. If you really have nowhere to stay—"

Luo Yan smiled and said:

"I plan to stay at the temple on Ghost Street in the West District of the Demon Capital, and visit Priest Jiefuli while I'm at it. Please don't trouble yourself with my accommodation."

"!!!"

That smug smile completely collapsed. The expression on Mi Ya's face was as if the sky had fallen, and there were even tears welling up in her eyes.

What kind of move was this? "By the way."

Luo Yan suddenly thought of something, took a palm-sized, exquisitely packaged oak box from his bag, and handed it to Mi Ya.

"This is a gift for you... consider it a token of thanks. It's just a small gesture, I hope Miss Mi Ya won't decline."

"Oh heh heh heh... A gift? It wouldn't be some kind of prank, would it?" While saying this, Mi Ya reached out and snatched it away, though that thought was purely projecting her own nature onto others.

Staring at the oak box and examining it for a while, Mi Ya didn't stand on ceremony and opened the gift right in front of him.

Soon, the candlelight illuminated the treasure inside the box, and that crystal-clear radiance stunned her on the spot in an instant.

A diamond?! To be precise, it was a raw diamond of over a hundred carats, simply polished, and as big as a piece of candy! Mi Ya's face turned red instantly.

Perhaps because she couldn't hold it in, the tail she had originally hidden away "popped" out, swaying left and right behind her.

"Is this for me?! Isn't it too valuable?"

Sure enough, most women like shiny things, and demons are no exception. Luo Yan knew he had sent the right gift the moment he saw Mi Ya's reaction.

"It's not overly valuable, I just happened to come across it."

Scavenged from a guy named Bu Dongweng.

That big guy, though a bit slow, wasn't truly stupid; he clearly knew that large diamonds were worth more than small ones, so he hadn't traded it to the Skull-Crusher tribe.

In the end, it was Luo Yan's gain.

Watching Mi Ya's overjoyed appearance, he didn't mention that he still had plenty of similar items. If the young lady of the Padriqi family wore jewelry made from it and appeared at a banquet of High-tier demons, the diamonds of the Necropolis might become the darlings of the Demon Capital.

This was also a good thing for him.

At this moment, a knocking sound came from the door of the teleportation room, and then the Deputy Director of the Demon King Management Department, Gelien, pushed the door open and walked in from outside.

"Apologies, I hope I haven't disturbed the two of you, but please allow me to remind you that this is a public teleportation station of the Demon King Management Department... perhaps we could move somewhere else to catch up?"

If it weren't for the express shipments that needed to be sent to the Demon King's territory on the front line, he wouldn't have minded letting the young lady of the Padriqi family occupy it for a while longer.

However, Mi Ya, who was in a great mood, didn't bicker with him, happily grabbed Luo Yan's arm, and said with a cheeky grin:

"You're planning to go to the temple on Ghost Street in a while, right? Take my carriage!"

Not expecting this fellow to suddenly grab his arm, Luo Yan subconsciously dodged backward, only to find that her strength was unexpectedly great; without his buffs active, he couldn't break free without using some force.

At this moment, the fresh fragrance of peaches mixed with blackcurrants drifted into his nasal cavity through her hair, faintly carrying a hint of acacia honey.

"This... is it appropriate?"

Luo Yan cast a look of seeking help toward his old senior.

However, the latter had likely misunderstood something and didn't want to look at him at all, even rolling his eyes at the candlestick on the side.

This fellow who had gained an advantage and was still acting coy.

Who knows how many demons wanted to climb the big tree that was the Padriqi family! Seeing that his superior didn't care at all about her leaving early, Mi Ya grabbed Luo Yan's shoulder and dragged him out of the teleportation room with a giggle.

"Don't dawdle, let's go!!"

In the suburbs of the Demon Capital, on a small island in the middle of a lake surrounded by magma, sat a manor filled with ghostly shadows, and in the center of the manor sat a gloomy and terrifying ancient castle.

The obsidian walls covered in killer vines were bathed in the murky, ghostly light emitted by the magma, just like arms crawling out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of bones.

And the man-eating flowers hanging under the window sills, dripping with nectar, were even more like torture instruments hanging in an interrogation room, exuding a chilling aura.

Solemn.

Grand.

Evil.

And fashionable!

This was the Dragoon family's manor located in the Demon Capital, and also the most luxurious mansion in the vicinity. It is said that just the arrogant Terror Demon statue located in the center of the garden cost the first-generation family head over a hundred million Kaila!

It wasn't just money.

On the iron fence gate at the entrance of the manor was embedded a Terror Demon holding a battle axe—it is said that was the emblem personally bestowed upon the Dragoon family by His Majesty, the Demon God Bayeli.

Although this ancient family had weakened in recent years, its profound foundation was still incomparable to ordinary demon noble families...

At this very moment, in the room on the top floor of the tallest spire of the ancient castle, a lamp was lit.

The current head of the Dragoon family, Kamu Dragoon, was sitting in front of a spacious desk, lighting a kerosene lamp, and quietly flipping through a yellowed notebook.

That was the relic of his father, Regi Dragoon, handed to him by his grandfather—Zhaluoke Dragoon—who had long since resigned from the position of family head.

In this notebook, not only were recorded some of the public deeds his father had done during his tenure in the Demon King's territory, but it also recorded some secrets that were inconvenient for outsiders to know.

For example, research on theology, souls, and other forbidden knowledge.

And for example, research on the last king of the Isaac Dynasty of the Ryan Kingdom, and so on.

It was precisely after studying these materials that he was surprised to discover that he didn't understand his father at all.

According to the results of his father's research, both gods and souls were things that could be artificially created.

And as early as a thousand years ago, a human king named Lin Te Isaac had once done similar things, and because of this, he had angered the Saint Xisi Church and the Empire that worshipped Saint Xisi as the state religion!

If his father had truly penetrated the secret of becoming a god, these materials were very likely stored in the labyrinth beneath Lei Ming County.

A flash of greed crossed Kamu's face.

In Hell, there is no demon that does not crave power! There is no demon that does not crave to become stronger! This craving for power engraved in their bones is the reason they obey His Majesty the Demon God—because only the great His Majesty Bayeli can make them stronger! And now, a brand new and unknown path was laid out before him! By relying on this path, he could not only become a more powerful existence without relying on the blessings of His Majesty the Demon God, but even surpass the Demon God Bayeli himself!

And even become a new Demon God!

Speaking of which, before the Demon God Bayeli became a Demon God, he seemed to have been a Demon King in a certain Demon King's territory on the front line...

Thinking of this, Kamu suddenly began to feel a bit regretful.

The Dragoon family shouldn't have given up the Demon King's territory in Lei Ming County.

Even if the human Grand Duke there was suspected of having demigod-level strength, it didn't mean that going there meant one had to fight a demigod.

Didn't the Demon King who recently took office there live quite well? I heard it was still a Bronze-tier human.

Kamu had no doubt that if even a Bronze-tier human could sit firmly on the Demon King's throne, he, a Platinum-tier Terror Demon, would certainly not do worse than that guy.

But it was too late to say these things now.

One cannot just become a Demon King or resign whenever one wants.

If that guy himself didn't agree, even if a demigod came, it would be impossible to make him spit the Demon King's throne out of his mouth.

As for killing him? That would be equivalent to destroying the Demon King's territory, which was no different from treason.

Kamu fell into deep thought.

Just at this moment, a thin, giant bat landed on the window sill, extending its withered knuckles to knock on the tightly closed window.

Pat, pat.

Kamu looked up at the servant standing on the window sill, flicked his index finger lightly, and the inserted window bolt opened by itself, letting the giant bat standing on the window sill in.

The moment that thin bat landed, those black wings transformed into an elegant tailcoat that hung to the ground.

A handsome man with a thin face stood respectfully under the candlelight, nodded slightly toward the current head of the Dragoon family, and reported in a hoarse voice:

"The Demon King of Lei Ming County has returned."

His name was Ye Ge, a Platinum-tier ordinary demon, who it is said had been serving the Dragoon family for a very, very long time.

Kamu glanced at Ye Ge standing under the candlestick, closed the notebook in his hand, stuffed it into the desk drawer, and continued in a casual tone:

"Got it. Is there anything else?"

Ye Ge nodded and continued in a hoarse voice:

"Your younger brother, Xinuo Dragoon, has gone to find him again."

Hearing his brother's name, Kamu curled his lips and sneered:

"That idiot."

"He is, after all, your brother and a member of the Dragoon family," Ye Ge reminded softly, then continued in a hoarse voice, "Should I go and bring him back?"

Tapping his index finger lightly on the armrest of the chair, Kamu closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, then suddenly spoke: "That won't be necessary."

Ye Ge's eyes flickered slightly.

"You mean..."

Kamu smiled faintly and said with implication:

"I heard that the situation in Lei Ming County seems to have changed. Grand Duke Campbell is bedridden, and the entire Campbell Grand Duchy has fallen into a vortex of power struggles. Although the labyrinth there is a chicken rib, it is, after all, my father's hard work. If possible, I still don't want it to fall into someone else's hands."

His voice was very calm.

One couldn't even hear much hatred for Grand Duke Campbell, his father's killer.

A look of sudden realization appeared on Ye Ge's face.

"So that's it. You want your brother to test the current Demon King of the labyrinth beneath Lei Ming County for you, right?"

Kamu sneered coldly and said:

"I'm just letting that fellow be of some use... It's been so many years, and that idiot hasn't done a single proper thing other than causing us trouble. If he can become the Demon King, it can be considered a contribution to the Dragoon family."

Ye Ge bowed his head and said:

"This subordinate understands."

Kamu waved his hand.

"If you understand, then go down."

Ye Ge didn't leave, but continued:

"This subordinate has one more thing to report... The young lady of the Padriqi family seems to be very interested in that Demon King."

Kamu had heard of this matter.

The two seemed to be classmates, and this was not a secret to begin with.

Pulling open the desk drawer, he took out the yellowed notebook again and replied casually:

"Isn't that quite good? The Padriqi family happens to have the ability to maneuver that 'pretty boy' back from the front line."

Ye Ge said in a hoarse voice:

"But I heard... that Demon King doesn't want to come back."

The hand flipping the book pressed onto the title page of the notebook, Kamu Dragoon narrowed his eyes slightly, and dangerous light flickered in his pupils.

Doesn't want to come back?

Could it be that he discovered father's research...

After his expression remained uncertain for a long time, he spoke slowly:

"I know."

Ye Ge bowed and nodded, did not continue to stay in the study, transformed back into a huge bat, and drilled into the night outside the window.

At the same time, in the West District of the Demon Capital, the luxurious carriage passing through the center of the street attracted the gazes of countless demons.

The Padriqi family crest was not easy for ordinary demons to distinguish, but those tall and upright Pegasus were not common in Hell.

Even though this was the Demon Capital, where one could hit a few High-tier demons just by picking up a brick.

The demons speculated about the identity of the noble sitting in the carriage and cast envious gazes toward it.

However, at this very moment, Luo Yan, sitting in the carriage, was like sitting on pins and needles, feeling uncomfortable all over.

The reason for this was that Miss Mi Ya was too enthusiastic; it was one thing for her to sit on the same side as him, but she insisted on sitting right in the middle of the seat, squeezing him to the edge of the carriage door.

Facing Miss Mi Ya, who seemed to have endless things to say, Luo Yan wore a polite smile on his face, while in his heart he was worried about how to explain to Priest Jiefuli in a while that he had gotten off a succubus's carriage.

Most acolytes of the temple detested succubi.

Priest Jiefuli was no exception.

It is said that the reason for this is that from some unknown year, a strange fashion trend suddenly emerged in the succubus circles of Hell—

Driven by this fashion trend, some succubi began to seduce the clergy in the temple and took pride in it, even boasting about it.

According to some succubi, there is nothing that can prove a succubus's charm more than making an acolyte who has dedicated his soul to His Majesty the Demon God fall in love.

This was undoubtedly a perverse taste.

Just like a merchant full of copper stench having an interest in a Saint Xisi nun, just like a diner who insists on eating protected animals when there is normal food to eat.

Of course, in the final analysis, it was still the indulgence of the Demon God—Bayeli had never imposed punishment on either side because a certain High-tier demon seduced someone from the temple.

Some demons in the Demon Capital were too extravagant.

Priest Jiefuli had evaluated them like this more than once.

Watching Luo Yan, whose eyes were fixed outside the window in a daze, Mi Ya, who had talked until her mouth was dry, couldn't help but pout in dissatisfaction, staring straight at this distracted fellow, leaning her face over to continue to oppress his "living space" in the carriage.

Just at this moment, she suddenly discovered a cat hair on his collar, so she curiously reached out and picked it up.

And it was black?

"You keep a cat?"

Hearing Mi Ya talk to him, Luo Yan subconsciously replied:

"Suppose so, why?"

Mi Ya covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Nothing, just discovered a cat hair on you... Heh heh heh, didn't expect a Demon King to have this hobby."

Luo Yan looked at this fellow helplessly.

"Is that not allowed?"

Mi Ya smiled and said:

"How could that be? Speaking of which, I haven't seen what a cat from the surface looks like, I'll visit your Demon King's territory another day."

"Actually, it's not much different from the ones in Hell." Thinking of those players who were shouting about succubi all day, Luo Yan couldn't imagine how chaotic his Demon King's territory would become if this fellow went there.

Fortunately, the teleportation gate had two switches.

Without his permission, no one could fly to his territory at will...

During the time the two were chatting, the slowly walking carriage finally arrived near Ghost Street, and that solemn and respectful temple finally came into Luo Yan's view.

Night had just fallen.

The believers who had finished their prayers were leaving the temple.

Very coincidentally, Priest Jiefuli was standing at the entrance of the temple, talking to a middle-aged man in plain clothes who was in a hurry.

Luo Yan hadn't seen that person before, so he thought he should be a believer who had just finished praying.

However, whether it was his illusion or not, that middle-aged man was clearly stunned for a moment when looking at the carriage he was riding in, then hurriedly said goodbye to Priest Jiefuli, turned his head, and disappeared around the street corner on one side of the temple.

Was it because of the Padriqi family? Luo Yan could only guess so.

Speaking of which, another point that concerned him was that the guy's expression was very unnatural, a bit like he had used a disguise potion or something similar.

As for why he didn't show his true face when praying, that was unknown...

At this very moment, whether it was the middle-aged man who disappeared into the alley, Priest Jiefuli who watched his back go away, or Luo Yan sitting in the carriage, none of them noticed a pair of eyes hidden in the crowd watching all of them.

That gaze was full of complexity.

And even more gloomy...

Saying "thank you" to Miss Mi Ya, Luo Yan jumped off the stopped carriage with his suitcase, only to see Mi Ya also following behind him.

Meeting Luo Yan's surprised gaze, Mi Ya covered her lips and chuckled.

"What's wrong? Am I not welcome here?"

"How could that be? This is the temple of His Majesty the Demon God... any demon is welcome to admire the glory of that Lord."

Luo Yan was embarrassed and didn't know what to say, especially since Priest Jiefuli was looking at him in surprise, as well as Mi Ya standing beside him.

Seeming to be intentional, Mi Ya patted his shoulder lightly and giggled:

"Then let's go. Speaking of which, you haven't introduced your foster father to me yet... It's Priest Jiefuli, right? I heard that temple priests don't really like succubi."

Luo Yan: "Since you know, then—"

"I know, of course, but dear classmate Luo Yan will explain for me, right?" Mi Ya blinked, "I am different."

Luo Yan looked at her with slight surprise.

Different? Different where?

He hadn't seen a succubus with a purer lineage than hers.

However, looking at Mi Ya's full-of-energy appearance, Luo Yan knew that if he didn't satisfy her, he wouldn't have a peaceful seven days.

Just as he was about to walk toward Priest Jiefuli with a stiff upper lip, a huge Minotaur suddenly flashed in front of him.

To be precise, that was a Fear Demon, belonging to the same breed as Professor Enuosi.

His head was topped with a pair of bull horns, his angular face was powerful, and his knotted muscles made his clothes bulge.

Because that figure appeared too abruptly, Luo Yan couldn't help but be surprised: how did this guy hide in the crowd without being discovered?

However, it is said that High-tier demons above the Silver tier can consciously hide their demon characteristics; perhaps he had been hiding his identity until just now, and finally couldn't hide it anymore, so he was exposed.

The surprise on Mi Ya's face was more exaggerated than Luo Yan's, her two eyes wide open, just like discovering a fly drowned in cream on a delicious pastry.

"You—how did you find this place?!"

"Hahahaha," Xinuo Dragoon looked up to the sky and laughed, proudly saying, "You wouldn't think that only the Padriqi family can flip through other people's genealogy books, right?"

Mi Ya was dumbfounded, her mouth open, unable to speak.

Is this something that can be said publicly?!

Luo Yan also looked at her in astonishment.

"Your suitor?"

"No—"

Before Mi Ya could explain anything to Luo Yan, that index finger, as thick as a python, pointed at Luo Yan standing beside her.

"The person I'm looking for is you! Usurper of the Necropolis, fake king of the Lei Ming County labyrinth! Even if my cowardly brother gave up the inheritance of my father's Demon King territory, it doesn't mean that territory belongs to you! Even the Cabinet cannot deny that I also have the right of inheritance! And I never said I was giving it up!"

That Terror Demon didn't give Luo Yan a chance to speak at all; while throwing this sentence and his spit on the ground, he grabbed a glove from his pocket and threw it on the ground as well.

"If you have the confidence to defend His Majesty the Demon God's territory, then pick it up! If you don't have that courage and boldness, then roll as far away as you can! Hahaha!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 128 =====