Chapter 589: Not Just Vampires—Now Succubi Have Come Too

The melodious whistle pushed through the sea fog beyond Lei Ming City's harbor, seagulls circling the steamship's chimney, their feathers forcibly dusted with coal soot like formal attire.

Lei Ming City's harbor was always this busy; even the seagulls' cries sounded weary, as if their throats had smoked raw.

Wooden cranes rose and fell without rest, plucking wooden crates from the piled cargo. Porters with towels draped over their shoulders shuttled back and forth, hauling them into warehouses.

There were washerwomen, coal scavengers, newspaper boys peddling through the streets, and brokers scanning the crowd for opportunities…

If Queen Street was a vivid oil painting, this place's tone leaned closer to the charcoal outlines of a monochrome sketch.

Yet, within this hazy sketch, a strikingly vivid splash of color had intruded.

A lady in a white long dress stood on the steamship's deck, her soft pink hair rippling with the sea breeze.

The wind-tossed hem of her skirt traced elegant curves, like slender willow branches heavy with ripe fruit.

She simply stood there, and the bustling crowd around her unconsciously carved out a silent space, as if making room for a perfect painting.

Gentlemen stole glances but felt ashamed before such dazzling beauty; ladies' gazes, meanwhile, bordered on naked envy—

How dare this creature earn Saint Xisi's favor?

But that was untrue.

The deity who favored the Padrich family had nothing to do with Saint Xisi.

Mignis took a deep breath, adjusted his crisply ironed collar, and forced a confident smile onto his face, stiffened by the sea wind.

As a cotton merchant from Wu Lan Harbor, he believed he had seen much of the world and possessed considerable wealth. He had come to Lei Ming City with grand ambitions to make his fortune on this emerging land.

Though bold, he felt a young, accomplished gentleman like himself might be worthy of introducing himself to this solitary traveler.

She had no servants beside her.

From his experience, such a lady likely bore a famous surname, merely fallen on hard times.

Qiahao ， Taquedejiushizhege 。

"Good day… lovely lady. The sea winds are strong—pray, have they disturbed your peace?" He gathered all his courage, stepping beside the graceful woman, wearing a practiced, proper smile.

Seeing the lonely lady offer no reply, Mignis did not falter; he bowed slightly and offered a gilded business card.

"I am Mignis, owner of a cotton trading house in Wu Lan Harbor—business is decent. I've come to this bustling Lei Ming City for the first time, unfamiliar with its ways. Might I have the honor of knowing you?"

The pink-haired lady still gave no answer, but upon hearing his voice, she unconsciously shifted her gaze.

'Are you speaking to me?'

Her polite expression seemed to say as much.

Yet that single glance into her clear, autumnal eyes made Mignis's heart skip half a beat—he nearly forgot his own name.

She did not take the card he offered, a symbol of wealth and status.

Seeing him frozen in place, she politely smiled, then turned her gaze once more toward Lei Ming City, awakening in the morning glow—as if something there held greater value than all worldly things.

Clearly, this practiced gesture was not her first refusal.

Mignis's hand, holding the card, hung suspended in midair, a wave of defeat rising in his chest.

But he was no stranger to the rough seas of commerce; he would not be crushed by a single setback like a green boy. Quickly, he followed her gaze toward the distance, seeking a new topic.

"You, too, are visiting Lei Ming City for the first time, I presume? What a city of wonders… Though this is my first voyage here, I've looked forward to this journey for ages."

He chose his words carefully, probing.

"Forgive my boldness… are you traveling alone? Are you here to join family, or… visit a friend?"

This time, the lady finally responded.

The sea breeze lifted strands of hair from her temple and curled the alluring curve of her lips, carrying her longing into the noisy wind.

"To be precise, I've come to find my… beloved."

The word was like a bucket of ice water, instantly dousing the small flame that had just ignited in Mignis's heart. Yet he refused to surrender—the so-called "beloved" might be a vague excuse, or merely an ambiguous suitor.

"Beloved?" He feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow with a hint of sour suspicion, "So you're already betrothed?"

"Not yet."

Her answer reignited Mignis's hope—but her next words plunged him into the abyss.

"But soon I will be."

She spoke with such certainty, as if the man—or rather, the prey—was already her obedient subject, already within her grasp.

That confidence and calm stirred a fierce jealousy within Mignis.

What kind of man could make such a peerless beauty so utterly devoted, even to cross oceans alone and come to this foreign city?

"Might I know the name of this lucky man?"

Mignis asked almost instinctively, brimming with resentment. He wanted to see—could any young noble in Lei Ming City rival him?

He didn't realize that the man who should have stood as steady as Wan Ren Mountain had suddenly aged ten years backward, becoming a competitive boy.

Desire and ambition make one young.

And the Padrich family's succubi wielded this mind-numbing power—corruption came as easily to them as breathing; countless legendary figures who once ruled the Underworld had become their captives… only the madmen of the Corin family gave them pause.

The pink-haired lady finally turned her gaze away from the horizon.

She turned to face him—her first true look at the young merchant—her eyes now brimming with deeper amusement, laced with unreadable mischief.

"Mr. Corin."

That ungrateful scoundrel had apparently been having too much fun and forgotten the Underworld.

As his nominal superior, she'd add a harmless little twist to his script.

Corin?

Mignis froze, his mind blank for a moment—then swiftly scoured Lei Ming City's list of "notables" for that surname.

In this city, there might be many gentlemen named Corin—but only one could be referenced in such a tone.

The "Prince Corin," said to wield influence over the Empire, even revered as an honored guest by Duke Edward.

A wave of helplessness pierced Mignis's chest; he stumbled backward several steps, like all others who had come here and been cruelly rebuffed.

So she was Prince Corin's lover…

If his rival were another merchant—or even a fallen noble—he would never have given up so easily. Failure was no barrier; he could wait his turn.

But if his rival was that legendary prince? He didn't even entertain the thought of competing—they were not even from the same world.

He might truly be heartbroken.

The steamship's docking whistle sounded again, jolting Mignis from his daze.

The ship had docked; the lady on deck had vanished. No one knew when she had left.

Passengers with luggage now lined up at the gangway, heads high, eyes gleaming, ready to storm into this thriving market.

Though Prince Corin's romantic rumors had nothing to do with them, they believed that through their own efforts, they could carve out their own heaven here.

Rumor had it that Duke Campbell governed his duchy alongside the common folk—every commoner along the northeastern shores of the Vortex Sea had erupted in excitement.

Unlike the newly born concepts of "nation" and "sovereignty," "republic" was no stranger to commoners of the Aus Continent; many city-states and autonomous towns were already republican. But a whole kingdom ruled as a republic? Never before seen.

This was unprecedented.

Watching the figure vanish into the crowd, Mignis felt not only disappointment, but a strange pang of sympathy.

Not for himself.

But for Princess Elin.

He recalled the gossip: the princess of the Campbell family was said to have a close relationship with Prince Corin, and their union was supported by Duke Edward.

But with such a formidable opponent—breathtakingly beautiful and cunning—

The princess was in serious trouble.

…

Of course, the Padrich lady did not queue with passengers to disembark—especially not one who was already a Gold-Rank powerhouse.

Standing on the harbor's stone pavement, Mia narrowed her peach-blossom eyes, scanning for signs pointing to the Labyrinth.

Alas, present-day Lei Ming City had sunk deeper than even the Demon Capital—few adventurers still ventured toward the Labyrinth.

Who would risk their neck for temporary work when steady pay was available?

Especially since Duke Edward's focus had long shifted away from the "leaderless" Labyrinth; adventurers, these self-funded freelancers, were no match for the Demon King.

Even the bravest adventurer couldn't defeat a single finger of Mixi.

They only sneaked into the Labyrinth's fourth level—Mist Town—to smuggle mysterious potions, or gathered herbs in the Mist Forest that night elves scorned.

These demonic ingredients were usually bought by the Mist Town Adventurer's Guild—and that guild, like the church in Silver Pine Town, had long been infiltrated by the Demon King's forces.

All this was documented in the reports submitted by the Demon King to the Demon King Administration Office.

Now, Mia saw it with her own eyes—and it was exactly as described.

The Lei Ming City harbor reeked of mixed coal dust and sweat; the air was damp and thick, like the steam engine's exhaust.

A lesser succubus might relish such a scent saturated with desire—but could a Padrich succubus be one of those vulgar, flashy harlots?

Mia found it merely noisy.

The thought of "poor little Luo Yan" having to serve as Demon King in such a wretched place instantly drained half the resentment she'd been hoarding in her chest, replacing it with a sharp, aching pity.

How pitiful!

A sharp-eyed carriage driver had already noticed the elegantly dressed lady.

Seeing no one came to meet her, he hurried his carriage over, tipping his hat in an unpolite bow.

"Respected lady, where might you be headed?"

Mia glanced left and right, seeing no "Goli carts" common in the Demon Capital, and, following local custom, spoke softly.

"I'm looking for Mr. Corin. Do you know where I might find him?"

In present-day Lei Ming City, Prince Corin's name was universally known—no need to state his full title.

The driver's smile deepened instantly; he flung open the carriage door, and his mind's gossip gate swung wide open.

"Of course, no one in this city doesn't know where that prince is!"

Mia got into the carriage.

The carriage wheels rolled over cobblestones, crossed a tributary of the Running River, and soon stopped before the gate of a manor surrounded by green shade.

Mia casually tossed the driver a gold coin—a sum enough to buy his entire carriage.

Before the driver could recover from his blissful shock, the elegant, composed lady had vanished like lightning from the carriage.

He didn't even see how she moved.

The servants standing guard at the manor gate also didn't see it—they weren't powerful transcenders, only meant to deter gentlemen, not rogues.

A pink lightning surged fiercely through the iron gate, making Nanfu, who was reading beneath the hedge, shiver involuntarily.

What's going on?!

Mia didn't knock.

She deliberately avoided using the Demon Management Bureau's teleportation array, enduring the sea's tossing and the carriage's jolting, all for this precise, devastating impact!

This is a true "surprise inspection"—the boss lady intends to dig to the bottom, whether it's the Demon King's fault or Miss Vivian's academic credentials!

What's wrong with this guy?!

He's glued to his brother's side and won't even read a book?!

Does the Kingdom of Colin want a illiterate as prince?! Besides, she's not just the future princess—she's the future Minister of Military Affairs two centuries from now!

The Padric family cannot accept such a mediocrity!!

The terrified servants tried to block her, but were paralyzed by the high-rank demon aura radiating from Miss Padric.

Of course—

They weren't entirely frightened by the high-rank demon aura; some were terrified by the familiar pink hair.

These demon folk all came from the Demon Capital—others might not recognize the Padric family's eldest daughter, but they knew her well.

They'd even heard about the dance she'd danced with the Demon King.

Thanks to the Padric family's maneuvering, that birthday banquet became a scandalous sensation in the Demon Capital—and symbolized the alliance between the Demon King of Lei Ming County and the Padric family.

The sound of high heels echoed down the corridor. She found no one in the bedroom or study, nor in the entrance hall or basement. Finding them absent, Mia turned and stormed toward the back garden.

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the lawn. Luo Yan sighed while holding a cup of black tea, while Vivian mindlessly stuffed cookies into her mouth.

"Brother, why are you sighing?"

"I was thinking…" Luo Yan glanced at the white clouds overhead, watching them drift slowly in the wind, "what's coming, comes."

Maybe he'd truly awakened the divine power of "words become law"—otherwise, why did whatever he feared always arrive?

The only thing he couldn't understand: why search the bedroom and study? Why even check the basement? If he truly wanted to hide, he could've vanished into the labyrinth—why hide in a basement at all?

Vivian tilted her head, still unaware of the seriousness—until the familiar perfume drifted into her nose, making her delicate eyebrows furrow.

"Tch… how did a bug fly in?" she muttered, tossing another cookie into her mouth, crunching loudly, venting her irritation at the interruption of her leisure.

She'd finally completed her brother's task—now it was reward time. Couldn't she just enjoy a quiet moment of solitude with him?

She'd even sent Nanfu away.

"Hahaha!"

Youyou was rolling on the grass, laughing until she gasped for air. In a way, the Demon King's legendary ability to stay composed had been forged by this nuisance.

At that exact moment, a pair of pale hands parted the hedge, and a furious head popped out from behind it.

Her pink hair was tangled with leaves; her silk skirt was torn by branches.

All trace of elegance was gone—only a demonic sneer remained, along with murderous intent aimed at tearing apart some vampire.

"Mia?"

Seeing the unexpected guest suddenly appear beside the hedge, Luo Yan froze mid-sip, his expression perfectly calibrated surprise.

"..."

Mia, lips pressed tight, opened her mouth to speak.

But the instant her gaze met his deep violet eyes, the last lingering resentment in her chest melted into spring water, dissolving within his heart-shaped pupils.

"Why are you here?" Luo Yan set down his teacup; his carefully measured surprise softened into concern. "Are you… alright?"

"I—I'm fine..."

Actually, she wasn't fine at all.

Blushing furiously, Mia instinctively released the hedge she'd been prying open, then remembered her current disheveled state and tried to fix her tangled hair.

But Miss Padric had clearly forgotten her situation.

Her fingertip had barely curled around a strand of hair at her temple for less than a second when the hedge snapped shut, pinching her in the middle.

Thwack—

Luo Yan hadn't expected his old classmate from Demon Academy to get trapped by two hedges—until Mia screamed as her skirt caught, then he remembered to cast a spell and free her.

"Kuku—Hahaha!"

Vivian, completely losing composure, burst into laughter, forgetting all elegance, nearly rolling under the table.

Mia's anger, slightly cooled, flared again at this brazen laughter.

She ripped off the tattered hem of her skirt, flipped over, and sprang to her feet.

Miss Padric no longer concealed her power—her heart-shaped tail tip emerged, swaying beneath her lifted skirt.

Seeing those bare white thighs and the full curves barely contained, Vivian—who'd been roaring with laughter a second ago—fell silent.

Her face tightened, her gaze more serious than ever, her calves in long stockings tensely crossed.

Who knew this succubus was so cunning!

She'd been tricked!

Fortunately, Padric demons could never fathom the thoughts of Colin demons—otherwise, Mia's anger would've spiked even higher.

Unable to bear the flustered feeling of meeting Luo Yan's gaze, Mia channeled her pent-up "fiery rage" onto that smug little brat.

"Colin!!"

Her voice rose eight full octaves, eyes locked on Vivian as if ready to nail her to a cross.

"Tch, I didn't run. Why scream so loud?"

Vivian nonchalantly tossed another cookie into her mouth, eyes darting around, searching for any spot where her brother might rescue her.

Too bad Colin Manor had no such traps—her brother took his own safety far too lightly.

Seeing Vivian show zero remorse, her eyes still wandering, Mia ground her teeth, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"I recall approving your use of the Demon Management Bureau's teleportation array—you claimed you only wanted to glimpse your brother's domain from afar, not disturb him directly and cause him worry, so you avoided using the Demon Territory's array… but what does 'skipping class' mean? I never heard you planned to stay here. My kindness was wasted—I actually felt sorry for you for a moment!"

Vivian, mid-bite, froze.

Her eyes darted, a half-cookie still in her mouth. Guiltily, she turned her head away, whistling a clumsy tune, scattering cookie crumbs across the lawn.

She was indeed in the wrong.

Even with her thick skin, facing such direct exposure of her lie, Vivian felt her face burn.

Until that word reached her ears.

Skipping class?

Ridiculous!

As if grasping a lifeline, Vivian leapt up like a cat with its tail stepped on, applying the Demon King's teaching: "Concentrate superior force on the weakest point."

"Skipping class? Mind your wording, Miss Padric—only those who skip without leave are truants! I had permission!"

She planted her hands on her hips, as if it were Nanfu who'd knelt begging days ago.

Mia was stunned, mouth agape.

"Does your father… no, your grandfather know about this?"

Vivian beamed even brighter, standing tall with hands on hips.

"He said I did well—not disgracing the family!"

Mia: "???"

Luo Yan: "..."

Unbelievable.

This is beyond unbelievable!

Councilor Luo Yan quietly sipped his black tea, watching the leaves swirl in the cup, and couldn't help worrying about Hell's future.

Clearly, the demons of the Demon Capital are beyond saving.

Do these demons have nothing better to do than invent excuses for their decadence?

Credit systems and winter homework won't save them—only a complete transformation can revive the second-generation demons.

But then Luo Yan paused—wasn't he, the councilor who ignored the goblins of the Demon Capital and spent all his time in the human world, in no position to judge his fellow demons back home?

At least they didn't buy houses in Shengcheng.

Emmm...

Fine.

Since the most decadent one was himself, the problem wasn't serious.

Thanks to Councilor Luo Yan's profound self-reflection, the second-generation demons of the Demon Capital could finally breathe easier—no longer forced to endure the rain that had soaked the "Temple Orphans."

Seeing she couldn't out-argue this shameless brat on academic grounds, Mia took a deep breath and decided to pressure the girl's "owner."

She adopted a stern tone, fixing her sharp gaze on Luo Yan, who quietly sipped tea.

"Student Luo Yan!"

"I'm here."

Mia paused, not understanding the reply, but she didn't let him divert her—she pressed forward with sharp urgency.

"Do you think this is right?"

Luo Yan subtly shifted his gaze away.

"I… oppose it in principle. I plan to write to Prince Colin about this matter. But you know—I'm just a lowly councilor; what power do I have over the Minister of War? Besides, Vivian's studies are a matter for the Colin family alone."

Luo Yan's business in Blackwind Castle still relied on Caesar Colin's support—he had no real reason to drive Vivian away.

Besides, driving her away would do no good.

Everyone knows that blowing up a latrine won't make the filth disappear—it only spreads it everywhere. Luo Yan never did such foolish things; blocking is worse than Shudao.

It's better to keep Vivian locked in this estate than to send her back only for her to sneak back in—better to keep her under his own eyes.

This place is no different from a graveyard.

The church Vivian had been screaming to blow up had long since been replaced by his own ghouls; the former priests and nuns had happily moved into a new, grand, beautiful church.

As for nearby vineyards, wineries, and other church properties, he had already bought them all in Prince Colin's name.

In exchange for not driving Vivian away, she had made a gentleman's agreement with him: she would hide Nangfu whenever Aileen arrived, avoiding any encounter with her "retainer."

Only dwarves without necks could smell the bloodline's scent—but Aileen, now a vampire herself, could detect it too.

Especially her own "master."

Seeing Luo Yan's distress, Mia lowered her head and whispered.

"I'm not talking about Vivian's education—I mean, living under the same roof as a vampire? Don't you think that's dangerous? You know how the Colins are—what if… she can't control herself?"

She wasn't a hysterical woman; she understood Luo Yan's predicament.

As a helpless human in a capital teeming with wolves and jackals, survival meant navigating between powerful factions.

Yet despite that, a sour tang of jealousy drifted from her—almost spilling beyond the garden.

Watching Mia mutter quietly, Luo Yan pondered.

To call the Colin family foolish to their face—wouldn't that spark conflict between the Padrich and Colin families?

Yet though he thought so, Lady Colin didn't feel insulted—she only thought it was a hilarious joke.

Vivian puffed out her chest, wearing that foolish pride on her face, and declared triumphantly:

"Kukuku… You don't need to worry! My brother is very strong—I haven't eaten anyone yet!"

The air in the garden froze for three seconds.

Mia's expression shifted from confusion to shock, then to disbelief, finally erupting into a shrill scream.

"You actually did?!"

(End of Chapter)