Chapter 256: Completely crazy!

Demon Capital, the residence of the Ankein family.

This estate, wrapped in shadow mist, was like a materialized mystery, not even a glimmer of light leaking out.

At this moment, in the estate's reception room, Amons Ankein was meeting with a colleague from the Cabinet—Aike Felm.

As the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Demon Capital, all administrative affairs of Hell were in the hands of this demigod-level nightmare demon.

In a place like the Demon Capital, the Council was a place for games, equivalent to the front line of Hell and humans.

And for things that had no suspense, they were usually not solved in a room in the Council building, often an elegant tea party or a casual conversation was enough for the demons who truly controlled the overall situation to reach a consensus on key issues.

For example, now, the atmosphere between the two demons was very relaxed, if one only looked at the surface, one couldn't tell at all that this was a conversation about the future power map of the Demon Capital.

"... As expected, as early as two months ago, I had a strong premonition that our Council would add a chair." Amons had a smile on his face, as if everything was within his expectations.

Aike picked up the teacup and took a sip, saying slowly.

"I was quite surprised, I didn't expect Festin to personally write a recommendation letter for him... recommending a baron to enter the Council, and this title was only obtained last year."

The full name of the Hell Council is "The place where Lord Demon God and his servants discuss the affairs of Hell together", another way of saying it is the House of Lords, those under 20 years old are not allowed to enter, and only those with noble titles can be recommended.

From these two angles, that Demon King of Lei Ming County was just barely meeting the standard.

Of course.

This was just the standard on the table, there were too many nobles who met the conditions, especially in a place like the Demon Capital, throwing a stone on the street might hit one.

Aike did not deny that a young man who could make the Dragon family stumble so badly could undoubtedly stand his ground in the power vortex of the Demon Capital.

This was actually the most critical point.

Seeing that Aike did not object, Amons immediately understood the idea of this colleague, a look of mutual understanding appearing on his face.

Honestly.

He thought so too.

"Baron is actually not a problem, the age is indeed a bit young, but judging from the means he handles things, I instead feel that youth will become his advantage."

"Indeed." Aike nodded, suddenly changing the subject and saying, "However, since the Dragon family has fallen, their position in the Council... don't you think it should be moved?"

Amons smiled and said.

"It's too early to talk about this now, let's discuss it later."

Aike looked at him meaningfully, but didn't say anything more.

Clearly, the Ankein family didn't want to get involved in this event that originally had nothing to do with them.

And if he only relied on his own power and the power of the Felm family, wanting to cut a piece of the spoils from the Melusine family and the Partridge family probably wouldn't be an easy thing.

Originally he wanted to pull this guy in, but now it seemed better to forget it.

Seeing that Amons was not interested in his proposal, Aike changed the subject.

"I didn't expect Goligo to give up Zakro."

Amons smiled lightly, hooked the teacup on the table with his index finger, and took a sip.

"Isn't that very normal? Long ago I felt that the old thing of the Dragon family had gone crazy. A waste who couldn't even handle internal family affairs, important chess pieces being alienated by others in a few words, and actually daring to covet the authority in Lord Demon God's hands... I think he probably lived too long and was already tired of it."

Aike continued.

"But he is Goligo's student after all."

Amons raised his eyebrows and made an indifferent expression.

"So what, the ass-wiping our respected 'Lich Minister' has done for him is not little, right?"

Aike was silent for a long time and nodded.

"That's true."

On the other side, the estate of the Melusine family, a similar time and place, the intelligence minister of Hell, Karamos, was sitting at a tea table covered with velvet tablecloth enjoying afternoon tea time.

The air was filled with a faint honey tea fragrance, and elegant piano music flowed slowly in the room.

Everything here was the same as two months ago, the only few differences were that the handsome and elegant old friend sitting across the table had been replaced by an immortal dry corpse, and there was a bit more of a musty smell in the air.

"I didn't expect you to be willing to come to see me personally, it seems you have finally made up your mind."

A pleasant smile was on Karamos's face, his gaze sweeping toward Goligo Soren sitting across—the Minister of Religion who was as cold as a grave.

Unlike Karamos, there were not many expressions on Goligo's face, and the ghostly green soul-fire burning in the skull could not see a trace of fluctuation.

Not only that, what was placed in front of him was not a teacup, but a uniquely shaped incense burner filled with unknown powder... or rather, an urn.

After sinking for a long time, the silent corpse finally spoke slowly, saying the first sentence after meeting.

"... Sebes's matter, leave it to you."

Seeing that he didn't mention Zakro, but instead mentioned an insignificant small character, Karamos raised his eyebrows lightly, a playful smile on his handsome face.

"Reason?"

"For the order and stability of Hell."

Goligo's expression didn't change at all, his tone was even more calm, as if discussing tomorrow's weather.

Looking at those charming eyes, this lich who had lived for a thousand years continued unhurriedly.

"If Sebes is judged by the Ministry of Truth in the name of betraying Hell, it would be equivalent to admitting the conspiracy behind Sardo Port. This will not only affect the morale of the front line, but also shake the faith of middle and lower-level demons, and even affect the stability of Hell..."

"That's not simple."

Not wanting to listen to his high-sounding reasons, Karamos chuckled and interrupted his words.

"You just say he was bought by the human empire and defected to the false gods on the surface, wouldn't that be enough."

Goligo said expressionlessly.

"This accusation requires more serious evidence, and it will affect his reincarnation after death, do you think he will accept it?"

Evidence...

Karamos didn't take it for granted in his heart.

He wouldn't naively think that this old guy who had lived for a thousand years really cared about whether a Golden-tier demon would be a goblin or a demon in the next life, nor would he feel that under that meticulous mask really carried a heart of innocence.

Evidence.

If that thing was useful, there wouldn't be the later "Black Wind Fort plague" and "Goblin riot".

"You just say it directly, you want to make a deal with him."

"This isn't a transaction; it's for His Majesty the Demon God. Compared to a traitor who betrayed the Demon God, being imprisoned for corruption is clearly a more suitable explanation, no matter who it's for."

Goligo stared straight into Karamos's eyes, continuing calmly.

"Of course, this will not change his crimes in the slightest, and the punishment for the Dragon family is the same, it's just that we talk about this matter behind closed doors, there's no need to let people outside see the joke. And in exchange, I can vote in favor of Mr. Festin's proposal... approve Luo Yan to enter the Council."

Karamos knew that this guy wasn't for the Demon God, nor for Hell, and certainly not for the Dragon family or a small character named Sebes, but for the feathers on his own body.

Although this matter couldn't implicate him, Zakro's body did have his "brand" on it.

Actually, there was no difference, what changed was the charge, and the result didn't change at all.

Looking at his slender nails, Karamos said casually and carelessly.

"If I refuse, are you going to vote against it."

"I will abstain," Goligo continued expressionlessly, "but if Sebes doesn't plead guilty, the investigation and evidence collection will be a long process, and this matter won't end just like that... do you think this is good for you?"

Karamos smiled.

"That's true."

Although the infighting among demons had never stopped, they didn't have any disagreement on the matter of faith in Lord Demon God... even if they all had thoughts of replacing him in their hearts.

This kind of psychology seems contradictory, but it actually isn't.

After all, before a new Demon God is born, the power and even supernatural power they hold are attached to the old Demon God, shaking the faith in Lord Demon God is equivalent to shaking the foundation of them, these servants of the Demon God, and it does them no good.

Before moving into a new house, no one would want to blow up their old house.

Not to mention that the Melusine family's mouth still contained a piece of meat bitten off from the Dragon family, and digesting the benefits already in hand also took time, causing extra trouble was not worth the loss.

He still understood the truth of stopping while ahead.

As for the Dragon family...

Adding one more charge or one less charge actually made no difference, anyway Zakro was finished.

Looking at Karamos who took a step back, Goligo nodded slightly, continuing with a slow speed.

"I will vote in favor of Festin's proposal."

Karamos smiled and said.

"Then should I say thank you?"

Goligo said expressionlessly.

"As you like."

The room was quiet for a while.

This originally relaxed topic was suddenly chatted to death by a cold joke that wasn't funny at all.

Karamos sighed secretly in his heart.

So he didn't like dealing with dead people, this moldy old antique didn't have a single seed of humor, and was even less adaptable to the current world than him.

Examining the teacup in his hand, he stroked the texture on the cup handle with his index finger, and suddenly opened his mouth casually.

"By the way, I'm still curious about one thing... where exactly did you hide Zakro? Our Intelligence Department couldn't hear a single sound, this guy just evaporated from the world, why don't you tell me secretly, satisfy my curiosity, I guarantee I won't tell anyone."

The air in the room solidified for a moment.

Goligo stared expressionlessly at Karamos, the ghostly green flames burning in the skull like surging angry waves, as if to swallow the latter's soul.

And facing that mountain-like pressure, there was no trace of fear on Karamos's face, the playful pupils still carrying undisguised aggression, examining the flickering soul-fire in front of him, as if to peel it, skin it, and pull its tendons.

This strange calm lasted for I don't know how long, until a hint of imperceptible cracks climbed onto the glass window not far away, and the momentum between the two suddenly loosened, as if nothing had happened.

"Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Goligo looked at Karamos quietly, his decaying face without a ripple.

Karamos stared at him for a long time, and suddenly smiled and said. "Of course not, you are a lich."

"..."

Karamos originally wanted to ease the atmosphere, but didn't expect the air to fall into silence again.

Goligo's soul-fire flickered slightly, and his voice carried a hint of hoarseness, like the sound of suppressed bone friction.

"Your cold joke... not at all... funny... heh."

Karamos: "..."

What exactly is funny about this?!

The strong wind shuttled between the ruins, carrying sand and dust, tearing at the broken stone pillars and collapsed domes.

This was the edge of the Demon Capital, the edge that the radiance of the amethyst dome could not shine upon, because the local lord lingered at the balls of the upper class and neglected the management of the territory, so that the demons here had lived in darkness and poverty for a long time, and even if they starved to death, they were not allowed to leave the lord's land without authorization.

Of course, under normal circumstances, they wouldn't starve to death, after all, there were far more monsters in the underground world than on the surface, and the temples of the Demon Capital would occasionally send food given in the name of the Demon God.

However, even if this territory had been bad to the point of being unable to be worse, no one still questioned the lord here.

!

As for the reason, it was also very simple.

There were as many such rotten lands in Hell as one wanted, as long as these demons didn't go crazy and rise up, or breed chaos corruption, no one would care about it.

Unless one day it suddenly developed like Black Wind Fort, at least it had to have a lamp post synchronized with the amethyst dome, and the high-ranking demons in the Council building would suddenly care about how the demons living here were doing.

Of course, the demons living here usually didn't care much about what the high-ranking demons in the Council building were plotting, and didn't care about what big things had happened in the Demon Capital recently.

It was precisely because of this that Zakro, who had lost almost everything, could avoid the search of the Ministry of Truth and the Intelligence Department and settle down safely under the nose of Lord Demon God.

On the edge of the abandoned city area, a certain temple that had been abandoned for I don't know how many years.

Blurred stone statues looked down silently at the embarrassed figure.

He hid in the corner of the temple, deep shadows swallowing him, his simple robe stained with dust, like a rag wrapped around a rat-man slave.

The once arrogant Elder Zakro Dragon could now only hide like a stray dog.

Zakro's face was gloomy, twisted, and poisonous light burned in his pupils.

"Damn... this bunch of cowards, ungrateful scum! Sooner or later... I will twist his head off, boil his bones into soup, and drink his blood dry!"

As the words fell, Zakro slammed his fist into the wall, almost failing to hold back his strength, smashing the dilapidated stone wall.

Gravel collapsed onto his arm, watching the crumbling stone wall finally stand firm, he, both surprised and angry, breathed a sigh of relief and sat leaning against a stone pillar on the side.

Lord Kamu surrendered.

This mad dog not only didn't shoulder all the trouble, but instead took that notebook and spilled all the secrets.

Originally he was still counting on the younger brother to report the older brother, letting Hino inherit the position of head of the house under his protection, and then after the limelight passed, find a way to fish Lord Kamu out of the prison of the Ministry of Truth... but now it's good, this bunch of guys who don't know the overall situation completely buried the future of the Dragon family!

Just because of the betrayal of the children, now even the respected Minister of Religion, his mentor Goligo Soren, had disappointedly abandoned him!

Zakro's face was filled with humiliation and unwillingness, and monstrous hatred burned his soul.

He hated so much!

It wasn't just hating Luo Yan, he hated Hino, who acted like a grandson on the surface and stabbed him in the back, even more!

And Lord Kamu, the coward who defected at the last minute, even his own flesh and blood Regi... if it wasn't for that guy holding back from him, not handing over all the research progress to him, but hiding it in the distant Lei Ming County, how could the Dragon family be in such a dilemma?

This bunch of selfish guys... each one thinking only of themselves! There was absolutely no family in their eyes!

"This matter is not over... just wait! Once I get through this, I will take back the humiliation you sent me from you, one by one!"

"And you... Luo Yan! A mere illegitimate child with no identity, a stray dog with no family, what right do you have to fight me! Just wait, the Partridge family can't protect you forever, you are just a tool for them to rob the Dragon family! Once I catch you, I will torture you slowly... hehehe..."

Scarlet light flickered in those poisonous pupils, and a sick laugh came from Zakro's throat, as if he had fallen into an unrealistic hallucination.

And just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the temple.

Zakro, laughing crazily, was like a frightened bird, turning his head violently, his sharp gaze shooting like lightning into the shadows under the ruins.

"Who!"

That voice carried huge pressure, releasing fear that felt like a physical existence.

Feeling the threat of death from the Amethyst-tier demon, the demon standing under the half-collapsed gate hurriedly raised his claws, folded his wings, and shouted with a sharp voice.

"Me! It, it's me... Habi, your most loyal servant!"

Confirming the face in the shadows, Zakro narrowed his eyes slightly and dispersed the hellfire gathering in his hands.

Habi.

More than a hundred years ago, this guy had served as a centurion under him, and later with his help was transferred to the rear, serving as an official in the Logistics Department to this day, which could be considered one of the subordinates who had received his shade.

As for why he wasn't liquidated, while Vice Minister Havik in the same Logistics Department was stripped of all his duties, it was mainly because the time was too long, and this guy's official position was too small, that bit of mosquito meat wasn't worth anyone's attention, so they forgot about this guy.

Of course.

The main reason was that he hadn't been caught, even his mentor, Minister Goligo, couldn't know all his secrets, and if he really spilled all the things, the people who would suffer wouldn't just be the ones now, at least it would have to be doubled.

Honestly, Zakro didn't expect that one day he would use this layer of relationship.

And the reason this guy was so loyal to him, even if he lost power, he still didn't leave, wasn't because he was how grateful, purely because he held his handle in his hands.

Restoring his calm expression, Zakro waved his fingers, conjured a chair out of thin air, sat down slowly, and said.

"Speak slowly, are there any results from the investigation I ordered you to do?"

"Yes..."

The demon standing at the temple entrance swallowed a mouthful of saliva, saying tremblingly.

"I asked a former comrade to inquire, General Sebes has now been transferred from the prison of the Ministry of Truth to the prison of the Intelligence Department... it is said that it is because of an unknown whereabouts of logistics supplies worth ten million Kaila."

Ten million Kaila.

What kind of thing is that?

Zakro sneered, disdain flickering in his eyes, but his heart sank.

It seems the Ministry of Truth and the Intelligence Department made a deal.

With the connections of a mere low-level official in the Logistics Department, it was normal not to be able to inquire about the details of that deal.

However, with his experience, he could easily infer from those clues that Sebes's pleading guilty was definitely not just the little bit announced to the outside, and this also meant that Goligo really didn't care about him anymore...

The dust had settled.

They had already started to deal with the aftermath!

Zakro clenched his fists, his sharp nails digging deep into the flesh of his palms.

Looking at the ferocious Elder Zakro, Habi hesitated for a long time, finally gritted his teeth, and said with a hard scalp.

"Zakro... General. I have a suggestion, I don't know if you are willing to refer to it, on the side of the Os Empire... there is a baron who secretly owes allegiance to us, who dreams of having a master with wings and horns, if, if you don't mind..."

Stealing from here to the territory of the Os Empire, and not being able to use the teleportation array that might expose his identity... this matter actually carried huge risks, and might even implicate him.

However, Zakro Dragon was his former general after all.

Although more than a hundred years had passed, this noble lord might have long forgotten such a small character, but he still couldn't bear to see his former superior fall into such a situation.

However, what Habi didn't expect was that after listening to his suggestion, Zakro's face turned gloomy.

"You want me to flee to human territory?"

A drop of cold sweat crossed his forehead, Habi hurriedly lowered his head, saying tremblingly.

"I, I don't dare... but you, you continue to stay in the Demon Capital, it's not a long-term plan after all. I just want to help you—"

"I haven't lost yet!" Zakro roared angrily, interrupting Habi's speech.

"Yes, yes!" Habi stood straight, sweat pouring down his back, not daring to say another word.

Zakro's chest rose and fell violently, and murderous light burned in his scarlet pupils.

Fleeing to human territory...

Then he might as well die!

At least dying on the land of Lord Demon God, he could still be a noble high-ranking demon when he woke up in the next life!

The respected Lord Demon God would not write off the loyalty of the past just because of his temporary disloyalty.

However, he was unwilling to choose this way after all, after all, washing away memories meant becoming a new self, and all the glory of the past would turn into dust.

In order to become a supreme existence, in order to become truly immortal, he didn't know how much hard work he had put in, how many purple moon cycles he had invested!

Just as he was about to succeed, he was intercepted by a kid who popped out of nowhere!

How could he be willing like this!

And just then, a crazy thought suddenly appeared in Zakro's mind.

He hadn't lost yet!

Although Hino had surrendered with the Dragon family, he, this elder, hadn't surrendered!

Even if he lost all the cards he could use, he still had the last card he could play in his hand—

That was his supernatural power!

Even if stripped of all honors and titles, he was still a demon with Amethyst-tier strength!

This kind of great power placed in any kingdom of the Os continent was a Demon King-level disaster, and naturally it was the same in Hell!

This kind of terrifying power could easily crush a mere Silver-tier necromancer!

As long as he killed Luo Yan, pried the secret of becoming a god from that kid's mouth, and then hibernated in the dark to study hard, once he became a god and killed his way back, let alone a mere Dragon family, the entire Demon Capital would have to surrender under his feet!

Yes—

He hadn't lost yet!

Having been a mastermind behind the scenes for too long, he almost forgot that he was a demon who killed without blinking!

Thinking of this, Zakro laughed out loud, and huge energy uncontrollably spread to the surroundings, even the space made a groan that it couldn't bear...

Habi took a step back in horror, looking at Zakro nervously, not knowing what he wanted to do.

Quickly restraining the overflowing supernatural power, Zakro looked at Habi who was retreating in horror, and said with a gentle tone.

"You just said... there is a baron in the human kingdom on the surface who is willing to owe allegiance to me."

Habi nodded hurriedly, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"Yes, yes..."

"Very good, Habi, you did me a huge favor, I will remember this favor."

Zakro nodded in praise, and then continued.

"You keep contacting that baron, let him wait a bit longer, I will be there soon."

Habi looked blankly at Elder Zakro who walked past him, and couldn't help but ask.

"What... do you intend to do?"

"Do what? Do nothing, just go take back what originally belonged to me."

Throwing down this sentence lightly, Zakro walked out of this abandoned temple with steady steps, then his wings shook, his figure disappeared into the silent night sky, heading toward Black Wind Fort...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 257 =====