Chapter 585
The Demon King, having eaten and drunk his fill, was ready to get down to business.
Chapter 585 The Demon King, having eaten and drunk his fill, was ready to get down to business.
The nights at Colin Manor are exceptionally long.
Only when the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon and the morning bells rang did everyone finally settle their restless emotions from the previous night onto their smoothed-out bedding.
Good morning, Miss Vivian... How are you?
The manor corridor.
Eileen looked at Vivian, who seemed to have a stiff neck, and asked her with concern.
Upon hearing Eileen's voice, Vivian's shoulders stiffened, and she quickly removed her hand from her neck, then forced out an elegant and appropriate smile.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Miss Eileen... Um, I'm sorry about yesterday, I misspoke."
"No, no, I was just... I accidentally said something strange. I hope you don't misunderstand." Eileen waved her hand, blushing.
Vivian gave a nonchalant smile.
"No, no, it's me. The food thing was just a joke. Kuku... How could I possibly think of my brother as food? It's impossible."
Desserts, of course, have to be pastries!
Eileen quickly said.
"Me too, that 'sucking'... actually meant that I was poisoned at the time, and in a moment of panic, His Highness Colin sucked it out for me. It didn't mean anything else."
Vivian: "???"
The magic has clearly lost its power.
However, asking a knight who adhered to his principles to lie was still too much to ask of Eileen. She was not good at lying at all, so the excuse she made up was strange even to herself, and a blush was about to creep up her ears again.
Theresa glanced at Eileen with a puzzled look, then looked at Vivian, who was staring blankly, and fell into deep thought.
She dined with Sarah, Shenette, and other guards at dinner, not in the main dining room of the manor, and therefore was unaware of what was happening there.
However, judging from Miss Vivian's condition, it seems she didn't sleep all night.
Could it be...
Theresa stroked her chin thoughtfully, her expression gradually becoming serious.
Regardless of what other blasphemous things Theresa found on her bookshelf, there was one thing she was absolutely right about.
Vivian did not sleep all night.
Firstly, she didn't need to sleep on time anyway, and secondly, she didn't dare to let her guard down for a moment last night, staying on alert for any movement within the mansion.
In fact, her caution was completely unnecessary.
After all, the Demon King was much more cautious than her. His study and bedroom had their own soundproof barrier. Once the door was closed, it was another world. How could a little vampire be allowed to eavesdrop on the bed?
Of course, Luo Yan didn't do anything bad last night.
Firstly, Mia couldn't handle it, and secondly, he needed to restrain his desires and couldn't indulge in pleasure all day long.
But then again—
The succubus didn't seem as terrifying as he had initially imagined.
Back in the Demon King Academy, Mia always tried to scare him, saying that succubi could turn living people into skeletons, and that he should be careful of Professor Lilith if he knew what was good for him... But now it seems that it was just a bluff from some lowly succubus.
As long as he stacks up enough buffs, Padridge's idiot will eventually run out of strength and beg for mercy with his mouth and eyes crooked.
What? No buff stacking?
Why not?
If you have magic, use it fiercely! A magician must have magic!
……
The light of dawn gradually pierced through the eaves, mingling with the sunlight reflected off the snow-covered landscape, and shone into the clean and bright dining room.
A delicious breakfast has been prepared on the long dining table.
There was golden-brown, crispy toast, bacon, and sausage, as well as half-cooked sunny-side-up eggs and steaming hot black tea... The air was filled with comforting food aromas.
Luo Yan sat in the main seat, cutting open the bacon in front of him with a refreshed expression. After meditating all night, he had once again transformed into the gentle, composed prince.
Although recalling the out-of-control scene last night still made him feel a lingering fear, Sarah's handling of the situation was fortunately perfect.
The pot of dragon egg soup, the root of all evil, was quickly removed and destroyed; all the anomalies were attributed to the little devil's prank.
A temporary worker in the kitchen mistook "nightmare mushrooms" for matsutake mushrooms and added them to the dragon egg soup.
As for those outrageous things people said under the influence of the drug?
Naturally, it was also taken as hallucinations and ramblings.
As long as the person involved isn't embarrassed, the one who's embarrassed is the pot of soup.
In short, the secret was kept, and the family remained intact.
Luo Yan silently credited Sarah for her achievement, swallowed the bacon he was chewing, and took a leisurely sip of his red tea.
He wasn't the only one who regained his spirits; Mia, sitting not far away, was also clearly in a great mood, humming a tune she had heard from a stage play.
At this moment, she had regained the composure and elegance befitting Miss Padridge, her signature long pink hair meticulously braided at the back of her head, revealing her slender, fair neck.
She used a knife to spread butter evenly on the bread slices, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Yesterday was her lucky day.
She not only successfully broke through the bottleneck she had always dreamed of overcoming, but more importantly, she also won over "my dear, my dear" body and soul.
This victor's mentality filled her with tolerance at that moment.
Even the noble princess sitting opposite her was no longer a formidable enemy she had to eliminate; instead, she seemed rather endearing.
Erin Campbell?
The holder of the Utawarerumono?
Heh heh heh, nothing more than a pawn in the Demon King's hands!
Rounding up, she's also Miss Padridge's pawn.
It feels so good to have human heroes at my fingertips!
Compared to Miss Padridge's smugness, Vivian, sitting at the end of the table, did not seem so happy.
During the day, she was instantly killed by Eileen's snowball attack, and at dinner, she was brutally killed by the vixen Padridge. The punishment she expected never came... At this moment, this proud vampire lady's face clearly said, "I'm furious right now."
She stabbed the sausage in the plate with her fork, her aggressive actions frightening Nanfu, who was sitting not far away.
On the other side of the table, Eileen was silently observing Mia.
Unlike Miss Mitia's smugness, and unlike Vivian's "nails digging into her flesh," Eileen felt more guilty.
Although her memory of last night was hazy, she vaguely remembered that Miss Ya Ya seemed to have suffered a lot of grievances during that chaotic conversation.
First, he was harassed by Vivian, and then he was called a "thief" by Richard and Alfred.
Although it was just innocent childish talk, being ostracized as an outsider in that situation was extremely rude for a guest who had come from afar.
not to mention……
Eileen glanced at Prince Colin, who was dining elegantly, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
The kiss at Glenstonburg remained a sweet yet heavy secret weighing on her heart, especially when she looked at Miss Yaya, who was completely unaware and feigning optimism. This feeling of guilt, that "only I ran away," grew even stronger.
As a knight who upholds fairness and justice, she felt she had to do something to make up for what she owed Miss Yaya.
Thinking of this, Eileen took a deep breath, her gaze searching across the dining table before finally settling on the jar of blueberry jam from the Campbell's Fortress forest.
“Miss Mia,” she said gently, handing over the jar of blueberry jam. “This is jam from my hometown; it tastes very good. Would you like to try some?”
Upon hearing this address, Mia, who was spreading butter on a slice of bread, trembled and nearly cut the plate with her knife.
Mia?!
Has my identity been exposed?
Mia cautiously raised her head, only to meet a pair of clear, apologetic emerald green eyes. She was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening.
Not an exposure—
That was a "setting" that Luo Yan added to her last night to save the day—Mia is an abbreviation of Ya Ya Mitia.
It seems that this naive princess truly believed this explanation, and now she is trying to extend goodwill to her using this affectionate term of address.
call--
You're scaring yourself.
Mia breathed a sigh of relief, took the jam, and gave a shy and grateful smile.
"...Thank you, Your Highness Eileen, you're too kind."
"Please don't stand on ceremony, I've always been very grateful for your help with the cultural development of the principality... Ah, isn't it a bit inappropriate to discuss business at the dinner table?"
"No, no, I'm very grateful to you for giving me such a delicious dessert," Mia said shyly.
"So Miss Mia likes blueberry jam? That's quite a surprise. I'll definitely have the servants send over some more later."
"Haha, I told you there's no need to be so polite. I don't actually have a big appetite. The delicious food on this table is enough for me..."
Mia had only meant to say that it was enough for her to eat her fill, but for some reason, Vivian's plate suddenly made a screeching sound, interrupting her train of thought.
Seeing Miss Mia regain her spirits, Eileen smiled gently and then spoke in a sincere tone.
"Please don't take yesterday's misunderstanding to heart. Children sometimes speak without thinking. In Thunder City, you are His Highness Colin's honored guest, which means you are our friend."
Upon hearing their aunt's voice, Richard and Alfred, who were fiddling with the food on their plates, obediently lowered their heads and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ya Ya."
"We were talking a lot yesterday for some reason... It's all because of the little devil's mushrooms."
"Haha, not at all. Children's frankness can be quite endearing sometimes... I also had some shortcomings yesterday. I just remembered that Alfred isn't old enough to go to school yet. I'm sorry, I was actually thinking about a certain brother-obsessed dropout brat in the Holy City."
Mia blinked, looking completely at ease, and then glanced triumphantly in Luo Yan's direction after she finished speaking.
how is it?
Isn't my weaving smooth and rounded?
After giving Luo Yan a meaningful look, Mia continued chatting with Eileen with a smile on her face.
The two chatted about jam, then about the forests of Campbell's Fort, and then about picnics in the spring and hunting in the fall.
Luo Yan made no comment on Mia's "smoothness".
However, to his surprise, Mia and Eileen were surprisingly compatible, even more so than Mia and Vivian, who were from the same hometown as him.
How to describe it?
They exuded a sense of mutual appreciation and affinity, as if one person was saying "Well done!" while the other humbly replied, "You're just as good."
This was truly beyond the Demon King's expectations.
perhaps--
Mia, the head of the intelligence branch stationed on the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea, might actually be quite capable.
After all, she was someone I had trained... my former boss.
Youyou: "Demon King, your lips are about to—"
'Shut up for a moment, I'm thinking about something.'
"Waaah... will you never call me Youyou again?"
To avoid disturbing the peaceful breakfast, Luo Yan dismissed Youyou, who had inadvertently started complaining, and then asked the fox-eared maid waiting beside him to refill his cup of black tea.
Although he was increasingly unable to guess what Eileen and Mia were thinking, as long as the Holy Light Nobles and demons didn't fight each other too much, it would be the greatest blessing for ordinary people and goblins in the surface and underground worlds.
As for the Demon King, caught between the two forces—
Let him make the sacrifice.
This is also for the peace of this planet.
Just as Luo Yan was enjoying this rare moment of peace, the restaurant door was gently pushed open, and Sarah, dressed in a maid outfit, walked in from outside.
Her steps remained light and silent, but her expression was more serious than usual.
She walked up to Luo Yan, bent down slightly, and handed him a newspaper that still smelled of fresh ink.
"Good morning, Your Highness. This is the Thunder City Daily, which has just been delivered. I think you will be interested in its headline."
Luo Yan put down his knife and fork, took the newspaper, unfolded it, and quickly glanced at the bold headline.
The situation in Roland City has reached a fever pitch!
The fewer the words, the bigger the matter.
Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, the smile in his eyes faded, and a thoughtful expression gradually replaced it.
Below the headline was a shocking photograph of a magic trick. The streets of Roland were ablaze, and countless civilians, waving flags, were once again charging the prison on the banks of the rushing river, while the king's royal guards were caught between the civilians and the tomb keepers.
Seemingly noticing the change in Colin's expression, Eileen temporarily stopped talking to Miss Yaya and instead cast an inquiring look at him.
"What happened?"
"The uprising in Roland City is getting out of control. It seems something big is about to happen in our neighbor's house." Luo Yan turned a page of the newspaper in his hand and looked at the report below.
"According to a report from a local journalist in Roland, three nights ago, the Gravediggers, loyal to Theoden de Valou, carried out a bloody purge of the National Assembly's stronghold. However, this did not deter the insurgents; instead, it sparked even greater resistance."
"Tens of thousands of stonemasons, bakers, and unemployed dockworkers took to the streets of Roland, chanting the slogan 'No charter, no bread,' and even managed to repel the Royal Guard who came to their aid. The citizens of Roland are currently attacking the prison on the banks of the River Run, which they believe is the stronghold of the gravediggers, where the abducted stonemasons and the missing orphans are imprisoned."
The dining table was quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the firewood in the fireplace and the slow, deliberate sounds of chewing.
Luo Yan relayed the contents of the newspaper to Eileen, as if he had only learned about it that morning.
However, in fact, he had already listened to Sarah's report late at night three days ago, and even knew things that were not written in the newspaper.
The truth is cruel: no matter how angry the citizens of Roland City are, they are powerless to fight against the tomb guardians who possess supernatural powers.
Especially in the early stages of the uprising, the core members of the National Assembly were almost wiped out, and fear once enveloped the entire Encyclopedists, bringing them to the brink of dissolution.
The real turning point of the battle was Talos, and the intelligence network planted in the area by Saint Karen's Salvation Army.
With the list provided by the "Holy Mark" organization, the Shadow Demon successfully transformed into the most terrifying nightmare in the night of Roland City.
In just half a month, hundreds of mid-level core members of the tomb guardians died under his dagger, including two of Cassius's direct subordinates—powerful individuals who had advanced to the Platinum level by relying on "holy water".
This clandestine skirt-cutting operation forcibly reversed the royal family's one-sided massacre of civilians, made the gravediggers feel the threat of death, and gave the revolutionaries a chance to catch their breath and fight back.
While "justice" presided over by demons is hardly honorable, its effects are exceptionally remarkable. Considering that those on the list are hardly good people either, this can be seen as the demons cleaning house for Saint Sith.
After listening to Luo Yan's story, Eileen put down her fork, and deep worry appeared in her emerald green eyes.
Has the situation on the ground deteriorated to this point?
Although she had no fondness for the nobles of the Kingdom of Ryan, she always believed that the common people were innocent.
Especially after witnessing the devastation of the Wanren Mountains, she was very worried that if the unrest got out of control, it would trigger a crisis even more terrible than famine.
As a knight who adheres to the holy code of the Holy Light, she always has compassion for the weak.
However, her nephew, Prince Richard, had his attention elsewhere.
The eight-year-old heir put down his knife and fork, and his eyes, which had inherited the wisdom of the Grand Duke, were shining with a thirst for knowledge.
"Mr. Colin."
Looking at Richard who suddenly spoke, Luo Yan said in a gentle tone.
"what happened?"
What is a charter?
Luo Yan pondered for a moment and put down the newspaper in his hand.
"In short, it is a covenant that everyone in a country abides by. It stipulates the power of the king, the rights of the common people, and the boundaries of their respective powers. In other words, it is the embodiment of the collective will of all people."
Richard nodded as if he understood, but then frowned and asked a more pointed question.
"This sounds like a legal discussion, but I don't understand why the Ryan people say there's no bread without it? Do they think the wheat will just grow out of the ground on its own?"
Although Edward was unlike his father, Richard inherited many of his father's traits, such as pragmatism.
In his education, law is a set of rules, while bread is a product. The two may overlap in the production process, but they are actually two completely unrelated fields.
Luo Yan looked at Richard approvingly, lowering the newspaper in his hand as he praised him.
“You’re very smart, Richard. You’ve seen the blind spots that others have overlooked.”
Hearing this compliment, Richard smiled shyly. In the young heir's world, Mr. Colin was the person his father respected most, and to gain Mr. Colin's approval was almost equivalent to gaining his father's approval.
Edward rarely praised him so directly.
Looking at this humble and eager-to-learn child, Luo Yan continued.
"...The truth is as you're confused about: the existence of a charter and parliament doesn't actually affect bread production. The only things that can affect bread are the farmers who grow the wheat and the bakers. There's no causal relationship between the two." "Then why..."
“Because not everyone can understand what a charter is, but all the people of Ryan have seen bread and long to be full,” Luo Yan interrupted his question and said gently, “therefore, in this uprising, bread became a medium similar to the sound of a bell.”
“Media?” Richard pondered the word carefully, as if trying to grasp its weight.
"Yes."
Luo Yan nodded slightly, adding more weight to his confusion. This was something the Demon King rarely did—to break down the obvious into minutiae.
"The 'bell' can transform the unspeakable pain of the Campbellians into something tangible, just as 'bread' has the power to resonate with the Lanes. If the Encyclopedists merely wave their charters, they will not be able to shake Theodore's throne even until the day they bleed dry."
"But now, what they are waving in their hands is bread. When all the people who have nowhere to go realize that what they have been dreaming of is in the hands of the Encyclopedists, whether that is true or not, the whole of Roland will be burning with their roars."
There were many sparks that ignited the French Revolution, and many inspiring slogans were born. However, few people mention that the most crucial and fatal straw was actually the hailstorm of July 13, 1788.
It completely destroyed farmland throughout the French region that year, and caused Paris, which had been suffering from drought for several years, to experience the most expensive bread in history the following year, which also completely eliminated the option of gentle improvement.
That revolution offers many lessons for Roland today; there are many similarities and differences between the two.
Richard remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly and said...
"What terrifying power..."
"Yes, that's the power of the masses. And those things that resonate with the masses, I call 'anchors'."
Luo Yan turned to the third page of the newspaper, which reported on the famine spreading in the Ryan region, especially in the Twilight Province.
“The people of Ryan these days are most concerned about bread, so the stonemasons of the Stonemasons Guild cleverly use bread as an ‘anchor.’ If it were Thunder City, this ‘anchor’ might be silver pounds, or stocks… or something similar.”
Richard nodded thoughtfully, a look of sudden realization appearing on his little face.
“I understand. So as long as we meet people’s needs and give them what they want, they won’t vehemently oppose me… Is that what you mean?”
Luo Yan nodded happily.
"Yes, but discovering people's needs is not an easy task, because very few people know what they really want, and that is often the opposite of what they claim."
“It’s obvious that Roland City needs bread, isn’t it? Even I know they need bread, so why doesn’t Theodore Devallo give it to them?” Richard pressed on, his confusion deepening. “The bread on this table might be expensive, but the black bread on a commoner’s table should be quite cheap, right?”
He was familiar with the prices in Thunder City because the cheapest bread there was named after his father, costing only 5 copper pounds a pound, even less than the hourly wage of an ordinary worker.
Luo Yan smiled and said.
“A loaf of bread is indeed cheap, but the bread for millions of people combined is not cheap. Your father subsidizes a lot of bread.”
He paused, then looked at the thoughtful little prince and continued.
"Moreover, people won't always be satisfied with just bread. There are probably more people talking about Miss Eloise in Thunder City these days. If one day your people need more time to enjoy the Iris Theatre after get off work, to take walks in the park with their wives and children, to go shopping in the department store, to take the train to Campbellburg for a picnic... Richard, are you confident you can meet their needs? This is something even your father couldn't do."
Richard opened his mouth, fell into a long period of contemplation, and finally honestly shook his head.
"I...I don't know."
After a long silence, he continued.
“My father is too strong, I can’t compare to him, but… I’m willing to do my best.”
Looking at that innocent yet stubborn little face, Luo Yan smiled gently.
"Remember to tell this to your father, preferably at his birthday party. I bet it will be the best gift he'll ever receive."
Edward's greatest worry now is neither the Kingdom of Lane nor the Utawarerumono, but his own childhood.
He played the role of a grandson for over thirty years, but once Aaron Campbell died, he led the exasperated citizens of Thunder City down a different path, turning their swords against his father's comrades.
His greatest fear was that his children, like himself, would hide their rebellious ambitions beneath a mask of obedience, and, with the specter of feudalism, overthrow the republic he had painstakingly built.
This sentence might cure his heartache.
Even if Richard can't do it, it doesn't matter, at least the Little Prince is trying in that direction.
“Thank you, I will remember, Uncle Colin…” The little prince nodded seriously, then tentatively asked, “So, you mean that the thoughts of the masses are unpredictable and can never be truly satisfied, and Theodore simply chose another solution?”
"Your intelligence has exceeded my expectations. Perhaps your future achievements will not be inferior to your father's."
Luo Yan nodded again with satisfaction, his smile carrying a hint of anticipation for the future, and continued speaking in a gentle tone.
“There is more than one way to gain people’s followers. Love and desire are one way, and so are hate and fear. They lead to the same goal, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. You can despise your opponents in spirit, but never underestimate them.”
Feudalism and republic, papal and royal power, power and money... those grand themes that are stirring up storms between the two kingdoms are actually just houses and furniture in those houses.
But beyond the illusory fog and the blood-soaked charter, the raw reality of humanity is the foundation upon which all of this is built.
This is real stuff that won't be written in the encyclopedia, but he was happy to teach this young "Little Campbell".
Ordinary people certainly wouldn't need this knowledge, but Richard clearly would, because sooner or later he would be the one building the house.
The atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat somber.
Seeing Richard frowning like a little adult, Eileen sighed softly and put the teacup back on the tray.
"Alright, Your Highness. Let's talk about something lighter during breakfast. These lessons on philosophy and the art of governance are too early for Richard."
There was a hint of reproach in her emerald green eyes, but her gentleness remained unchanged.
Luo Yan smiled apologetically, readily stopping the previous topic, and said in a gentle tone.
“You’re right, this isn’t really a good accompaniment to the meal. Let’s change the subject to Glenstonburg’s blueberry sauce—”
"It's Campbellburg blueberry jam..."
The mere mention of Granstonburg caused Eileen's cheeks to flush involuntarily, and she instinctively lost her composure, forgetting what she had just said a moment before.
"Let's discuss the current situation... Since Roland City is in complete chaos, as our neighbors, what do you think we should do? Send troops directly?"
Luo Yan was slightly taken aback.
Actually, if Eileen hadn't blushed a little, he wouldn't have thought of that. Seeing Mia's puzzled look, he immediately coughed lightly and said...
"...Direct military intervention is clearly a poor strategy. Although the Ryan royal family is currently facing a predicament, this is not enough to justify our military action. Once our army crosses the border, it will not only disrupt the current balance in Roland City, but also give those who are eyeing us covetous an excuse."
Eileen: "So... we can only watch?"
Luo Yan gently shook his head.
"Of course not. There are many things we can do, such as managing the Twilight Province well. It is the Duchy's bulwark and a buffer zone for this storm. The chaos in Roland City will inevitably lead to a large influx of refugees to the border. If we cannot give them hope, they will become a breeding ground for chaos."
Upon hearing the word "refugee," Vivian, who was torturing a sausage with her fork, suddenly paused, as if she had finally found an opportunity to interject.
"Kukuku... Is it finally Miss Vivian's turn to appear?"
The arrogant laughter suddenly echoed in the restaurant, attracting the attention of everyone, including Luo Yan, Eileen, and Mia.
Vivian tossed her long, beautiful purple hair behind her with a flick of her wrist, her crimson eyes gleaming with triumph.
"Whether it's sheltering those lost sheep, preventing the spread of plague, or identifying the Chaos Apostles mixed in with the crowd... leave all these tedious tasks to Lady Vivian. My St. Colin Hospitallers will take care of them all!"
When Vivian spoke of the prestigious title of "Holy Knights of St. Colin Hospitaller," her tone was filled with pride.
Since the fierce battle in the Ten Thousand Mountains, this special force, originally established to fight against the "Padridge faction," has rapidly developed into a massive relief force.
Besides the vampires and elite blood servants from the Principality of Colin, this team also included a large number of Vivian's own fervent fans.
Most of these people were survivors who were rescued from rat holes.
Whether out of gratitude for being saved or attracted by Vivian's charm, they all joined this knightly order whose emblem was a pair of intertwined blood-red longswords.
Today, the Knights Hospitaller have developed into a regular army with a complete medical system and armed guards.
Although Vivian didn't initially manage this army very seriously, her elite vampire troops were simply too ambitious.
Now that things have come to this, she's too embarrassed to say that she was just joking back then.
Now is the time to take its influence to the next level!
The atmosphere at the dinner table subtly shifted.
Richard and Alfred, the two little guys, looked at the domineering boss lady in the manor with admiration.
They didn't expect that Vivian wasn't only good at snowball fights and beating people up, but also at doing serious things.
Eileen's eyes lit up, and she was overjoyed.
"Really? That's great!"
The resettlement of refugees has always been her biggest concern.
Without professional organization to manage them, displaced people can easily cause epidemics and public disorder.
If Vivian is willing to take on this trouble, her stress will be greatly reduced.
With that thought in mind, Eileen looked sincerely at Vivian and continued speaking.
“Miss Vivian, you have truly helped us a great deal. If you have any needs for supplies or personnel, please don’t hesitate to let me know, and my brother and I will do our utmost to assist you!”
"Is that so? Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Upon hearing this, Vivian's face lit up with joy, and she revealed her true intentions by showing the two small tiger teeth hanging from the corners of her mouth.
She didn't look at Eileen, but instead abruptly turned to look at her brother, revealing the fox's tail hidden behind her cunning.
"I want my elder brother to come with me!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Eileen froze.
Mia, who was about to drink her tea, was also stunned, clearly not expecting Vivian to make such a request at this moment.
"What kind of request is this?!"
"It is a reasonable request."
Vivian glanced sideways at Mia, who was trying to interfere, then snorted and looked away, adopting a weak and vulnerable demeanor.
Those slightly closed eyelashes trembled, and the little devil, who could pull five trains along, pitifully glanced once more at the Demon King sitting at the end of the long table.
"After all... the front lines are such a dangerous place, can you really bear to let Vivian go alone, brother? Can you really bear it?"
This is Vivian's clever little touch.
Instead of letting Mia constantly worry about her brother, it would be better to kidnap him and send him to the far-off border. This way, they could stay away from the foolish hero and also get rid of that fox who's always thinking about stealing food.
Then--
Kukuku, it's her turn!
Vivian became more and more excited as she thought about it, and her cheeks unconsciously flushed red.
My Lord, vampires have very low body temperatures, you know. You wouldn't want Vivian to freeze to death from hypothermia, would you? It would be difficult to explain to Prince Caesar Colin, wouldn't it? You say you don't care, but deep down you long for family, you must be very sad, wouldn't you?
So hurry up and suck my blood!!!
Huff—
Before she knew it, saliva dripped down her dangling canine tooth, and Vivian suddenly shuddered and quickly scurried back inside.
Luo Yan: "..."
Vivian's ulterior motives were still easy to guess, but he didn't want to pay attention to her for the time being because he was secretly reading the note Sarah handed him.
It contained the latest intelligence from the Stigmata Organization.
At the entire table, only the straightforward Miss Eileen didn't get goosebumps from Vivian's remarks.
She pondered for a long time, stroking her chin, and then nodded seriously.
“Hmm…that is indeed a problem. But Miss Vivian, please rest assured, even if His Highness Colin is not by your side, I will protect you in his stead. I will serve as your personal bodyguard—”
"No! Absolutely not! Don't even think about it!"
Vivian suddenly jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, looking terrified, and immediately rejected Eileen's earnest suggestion.
Eileen paused for a moment, then lowered her head sadly.
So, it really is because of that snowball from yesterday?
How can I apologize in order to get Ms. Colin's forgiveness...?
After casually burning the note he had just read, Luo Yan put his hand, which had been hidden under the table, back next to the teacup, interrupting Vivian's tirade.
“Alright. I do need to go to Twilight Province. In that case, I'll keep an eye on Vivian’s side during this operation.”
"Your Highness Colin?"
"???"
Eileen froze, while Mia was surprised. Almost simultaneously, they both looked at Luo Yan, their eyes filled with varying degrees of concern.
However, Luo Yan simply returned their gaze with reassuring eyes, telling them not to worry about him; he had his own considerations.
Just as he had predicted, the madmen of Xuebang finally couldn't hold back any longer and made their move.
According to the note Sarah handed over, the magicians of the Soul School are planning some kind of nefarious ritual beneath Roland City, which may very well involve the power of Chaos.
Although Thanos was skilled in assassination and possessed a divine artifact bestowed upon him, he still seemed somewhat powerless when faced with such a large-scale magical ritual.
The demon generals in the labyrinth suffered somewhat from their lack of education.
Roland City is now like a giant whirlpool, and it seems that only the Demon King himself can support it.
He had to go there in person.
As for Vivian's little scheme?
That's not important at all.
She was used to create an alibi and facilitate operations; to actually get things done, Sarah was the one to rely on.
Moreover, considering Vivian's keen sense of smell and her hostility towards Mia, he felt it necessary to take her out to calm down.
To prevent them from really starting a fight, which would threaten not only the stability of Thunder City, but also the situation in Shanghai.
"what?"
Unexpectedly, the Demon King agreed so readily. Vivian, who was originally prepared to throw a tantrum, was stunned for a moment, unsure of what to do with her little hands that were about to perform.
Happiness came so suddenly that she was caught off guard.
So... he agreed?
Isn't the pace a bit too fast?
Luo Yan didn't have time to play around with her and went straight to the point.
"Inform Sherry about mobilizing the Knights. We'll depart within three days. This time we'll be traveling by airship. Anyone who can't handle high-altitude flight should report in advance. If you're unsure whether you can manage, try it out at the Clock Tower."
“Yes…” Vivian nodded vigorously, her face still showing an expression of not having come to her senses, but she had already memorized the matter.
Luo Yan then turned his gaze to Eileen and continued to give instructions.
"The preparations for the Mage's Guild are basically complete. The headquarters is located in the Clock Tower, and Professor James Wally will be in charge while I'm away. Eileen, if there's anything going on, just contact him directly. Whether it's royal events or negotiations with the Adventurers' Guild, I've instructed him to fully cooperate with you."
“Okay.” Eileen nodded, her expression showing seriousness. “I will take care of things back home as soon as possible. We will meet in Twilight Province.”
The battlefield that once trapped her—this time she will return to that land with a completely new look, to save the people there from their suffering!
Without the interference of the court this time, she believes everything will be different.
"I'm waiting for you."
Luo Yan wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and looked at Sarah, who had been waiting beside him.
"Have you eaten?"
Sarah answered in a gentle voice.
"I've already eaten, Your Highness."
Luo Yan nodded.
"Come to my study with me, I have something to tell you."
Sarah nodded slightly and placed her right hand on her chest in a gesture of respect.
"As ordered."
(End of this chapter)