Chapter 477 The Demon King's Scheme
The heavy oak door closed gently, shutting out the noise of the downstairs lounge, and the spacious room instantly became quiet, with only the bustling lights outside the window remaining.
This is the most luxurious suite at the "Embrace of Dawn" hotel.
Ever since His Highness Colin stayed here, he has infused this place with "imperial style." The wealthy merchants and nobles along the entire eastern coast of the Whirlpool Sea regard the decor here as a model of nobility and luxury... Coming here is like coming to a holy city.
The moment he stepped into this "little holy city," Sak Gale's temperament underwent a dramatic change.
One second he was acting all wild and unrestrained, but the next he was a giant lizard, even more docile than Taff.
"My lord... what brings you here?"
He stood respectfully behind Luo Yan, head bowed, awaiting his master's question.
Looking at the trembling Sak, Luo Yan's face broke into a warm, sun-like smile, and he spoke gently.
"Don't be so nervous. Lift your head up a little and let me see respect in your eyes, not submission."
Sak's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he raised his head, but the scales on his body were still taut, as if afraid of offending this noble demon king.
Others may not know this person's identity, but he knows it all too well.
Before him, not only the chieftain of the Wind Howl tribe, but even the queen of the United Kingdom of Gutaf, were no different from insects.
Seeing Sak's alarmed expression, Luo Yan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wishing Taff had half his sense of awe.
If I hadn't brought her with me, that little one would have definitely suffered a great loss.
At least Alacdor had always coveted the taste of dragon meat.
"Tell me, how have you been feeling lately?" Luo Yan walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed a little, leaving only a crack, just enough to see outside.
Sack followed closely and carefully reported.
"As you instructed, I have been operating in Thunder City as the cousin of Urga Windcrack, the chieftain of the Windhowl Tribe, and have had extensive exchanges with various sectors of Thunder City society. I have met with the important figures you mentioned on the list before, including His Highness Duke Edward of the Duchy of Campbell and Mr. Jan Andes of the Andes Group, and have established initial contact with them."
His report was concise and to the point, like a soldier reporting a mission, not daring to utter a single unnecessary word or offer any superfluous personal opinions.
Sack thought that the Demon King would then instruct him on the next steps of the plan, such as how to use these connections to completely draw the Duchy of Campbell into the game.
However, his respected Demon King posed a question that he had not expected.
“Sak,” Luo Yan asked casually, looking out at the bustling street scene, “you’ve been here for a while now, what are your impressions of Thunder City?”
Feel?
Sak was stunned, momentarily unable to follow the Demon King's train of thought.
Is this someone checking their own work?
still……
A test for oneself?
He remained silent for a long time before replying in a deep voice, "My lord, there are many things I can sense. For example, the humans here are completely different from us lizardmen, both in terms of lifestyle and way of thinking. However... I know that's not what you're asking about."
Luo Yan smiled, offered no explanation, and waited for Sak to continue.
Seeing that the Demon King was not satisfied, Sak became even more anxious and hurriedly organized his thoughts, trying to dig for the answer from a deeper perspective.
"Take the Imperials of the Deadwood Harbor on the northern shore of the continent of Gana, for example... They are ambitious, devout yet cunning, and always like to talk about the future. But the people here... uh..."
The burly lizardman messenger scratched his head for a while, and finally, with a worried look on his face, he managed to utter a disheartened reply.
“Alright, sir, to be honest… although they are clearly different from us, they seem no different from the people of Drywood Harbor.”
This is undoubtedly a pointless statement.
After saying this, Sak lowered his head, awaiting the Demon King's reprimand. However, the expected reprimand did not come.
The room was quiet for a moment, then a soft laugh rang out.
Luo Yan turned around and looked at him, his face showing no displeasure, but rather an approving smile.
“You have observed very carefully; they are indeed no different.”
And this is precisely the root of all contradictions—
Whether it was the Devalo family who guarded the ranches for Saint Sith, or the Campbell family who suppressed the labyrinth for Saint Sith, or their respective counterparts, the Laine and Campbell people, they were born burdened with sacred duties, yet they received no blessings from the Holy Light.
However, the Imperials were different.
Especially the citizens of the holy city.
At least in the eyes of the Campbellians, they were born bathed in holy light and could enjoy the wealth of the entire empire without having to face the disturbances of chaos and hell.
The root of the problems facing the Duchy of Campbell today, both within and outside the court, lies in this.
The Campbellans were essentially no different from the Imperials living in the heart of the Empire; they too yearned for the Holy Light and were equally zealous, yet their status was worlds apart.
Edward's ambition was less his personal ambition and more the shared aspiration of everyone in the Duchy of Campbell.
They yearned to become stronger, strong enough to break free from these ancient shackles and become upright individuals, just like the Imperials, capable of controlling their own destinies, rather than becoming puppets destined to die young for a so-called "sacred duty."
Therefore, simply defeating King Ryan was not enough to quell the "evil fire" of desire for change burning in their hearts.
Soon, once they have defeated the secular monarchs, they will realize that the Book of the Holy Word, which the Papacy holds so tightly, and the right to its final interpretation, are what truly bind their souls.
Moreover, that thing also bound the empire's other vassal states, as well as all the colonies in the distant New World.
And I can help them avoid some detours.
The New Testament is what they've been looking for.
Generally speaking, this thing requires countless lives to be sacrificed to be born. Without my help, at least one or two "prophets" would have to die.
Sack's face was full of confusion, feeling that he had said something pointless and was completely unworthy of such high praise from the Demon King.
Luo Yan did not explain further to him, because there was no need for it. As an envoy, he only needed to do what he was told.
"I need you to do two things."
Upon hearing this, Sak immediately straightened up, his expression solemn.
"Please give your instructions!"
Luo Yan cleared his throat and said.
"The first thing is to respond to the Campbells' expectations. After spending this time together, you should know what they want. I need you to help them open a shipping route from Thunder City to the northern coast of the continent of Gana, and share the good things of the Kingdom of Gutaf with them... just like we taught you those things step by step back then."
It would be too difficult to directly supply North Peak City with the creatures of Thunder City, since it is not an easy task to get the devout Campbells to accept the labyrinth creatures.
At this point, it becomes necessary to shift from export to domestic sales.
After a pause, Luo Yan continued.
"The second thing is that there is a vast swamp in the southwest of Thunder County, where a group of lizardmen live. Strictly speaking, they also have the same bloodline as you, but the Dragon God did not take all the lizardmen away, and they are the ones who stayed behind."
Without Gutaf, the Lizardmen are a disorganized mess. They were brutally defeated by the time travelers' muskets during the Isaac Dynasty and now huddle in the swamps at the southwest corner of the Wanren Mountains.
The Dragon God created them, brought them here, took them away, and then brought them back.
But this time, he won't take them away.
“Go find Edward and ask him for a promise. Tell him that you want to establish a ‘special zone’ in that swamp to help those abandoned by the Dragon God to live normal lives and to bring back the children who have embraced civilization to the land where the Dragon God descended…that is the homeland of all the lizardmen.”
Although some players have infiltrated Thunder City, they are, after all, only a small number of "pseudo-players".
Once this special zone is completed, players other than the undead will be able to walk openly in Thunder County.
In the name of the Dragon God!
Tauf says whoever is a lizardman, and that person is a lizardman. Whether she said it or not, it's just a matter of her own words.
Actually, the undead isn't a bad option, but we'll have to wait.
When Karen succeeds in her business with her "New Testament," even the devil can walk openly in the sunlight.
Hasn't Wheatfield Village already succeeded more than halfway?
The beginning is always the hardest.
Once you get started, everything will be easier!
Upon hearing the Demon King's plan, Sak's face showed obvious confusion for the first time. After hesitating for a moment, he asked.
"His Highness Edward... will he agree?"
Although he was not a chieftain, he still understood the principle that "one should not allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed."
Moreover, during his time in Thunder City, he could clearly sense that the people there did not like his scales and tail.
All they liked about him was his gold and the "Prince Colin" who possessed everything.
However, the Demon King's words dispelled his concerns.
"Of course he would. If someone is willing to pay to solve his problems, why wouldn't he be happy to do it?"
Luo Yan smiled and continued speaking gently.
"And most importantly, he needs power more than anyone else right now. In the conflict between heretics, surrendering can mean losing half the battle, but the conflict between heretics is always a matter of life and death. Especially since the Campbellians have gradually realized... that the Papacy no longer trusts them."
"What's that saying again? When someone suspects that there's a devil behind you, you'd better actually have a devil behind you."
"This is their current situation."
...
Just as Luo Yan was instructing the envoy of the Kingdom of Gutaf on the next steps, Sarah, far away in Twilight City, reported new developments to the "Butterfly of Myriad Forms" that he had left there.
Just as he had predicted, after witnessing the Holy Light of the Court of Justice, Eileen finally gave up the idea of compromising with the Court of Justice.
However, there is not much she needs to do right now; at this stage, his struggle with the Papacy is still in a corner where the Holy Light does not shine.
His main focus will be on her brother Edward.
The Principality of Campbell is an important piece in the game.
This bridgehead, which once suppressed the forces of hell, will become the arsenal for the Demon King to export the flames of change to the Old World...
He needs to make this fire burn even brighter.
The following morning, as instructed by the Demon King, Sak Gale, in his capacity as an envoy of the United Kingdom of Gutaf, once again visited His Majesty the Grand Duke, who was staying at the Andes Manor.
It is said that things are not peaceful within the Duchy recently. Just as Edward was reaching out to the minor nobles in the Twilight Province, His Majesty Devallo was also exchanging glances with his vassals.
The count of the duchy was never satisfied with his close association with the common people, and since he had not inherited the "glory of his predecessor," many people had been making unwarranted accusations against the legitimacy of his position as duke.
Initially, they wanted to support Eileen.
Unfortunately, the naive girl seemed genuinely naive, lacking any worldly ambitions, which left those who offered her advice in a rather embarrassing situation.
As for Edward, that ambitious man, although he was wary of his sister, he didn't actually do anything to her.
At most, he just wanted to find her a good family, make her give up the Campbell surname, and then the Praise of Light would naturally return to his hands.
Unable to sow discord between the brother and sister, the traditional nobles turned their attention to Edward's younger brother, Jerok Campbell, the leader of the Trident Knights.
Like Erin, Jerok was also dissatisfied with his older brother's actions, and his views were closer to those of his father, Aaron Campbell.
Like many traditional nobles who didn't get much of a share of the spoils, he believed that the Duchy of Campbell should uphold its ancient and glorious traditions, rather than letting a group of commoners with souls as worthless as weeds sit at the table.
How can a king levy taxes without consulting his citizens?
They should be proud to have contributed their efforts!
As for the peasants, they should work in the fields and honestly deliver their harvest to the castle, where the lord's servants would decide what they would eat the next day.
Instead of the current situation where we have to pay money to buy the food we grow ourselves, it's utterly absurd!
This is why it was the citizen cavalry, rather than the renowned Trident Knights, who accompanied Eileen on this expedition to the Twilight Province.
Although no one said it aloud, many nobles were actually hoping that Eileen would die soon, preferably so that Edward could suffer another humiliation.
Once Irene dies, the Utawarerumono will have to choose a new master, and whether it will choose Gerald or Edward will be a matter of debate.
However, no one expected that the militia of Thunder City would be so powerful that they routed the rebels of Twilight Province, causing the king to sit up straight from his throne in fear.
And Eileen did not die.
Not only did she not die, but she also grew at an incredible speed due to her battle with the Chosen of Chaos, and it is said that she has vaguely reached the same level as the former King Aaron Campbell!
In short, the Duchy of Campbell was not much calmer than the Kingdom of Ryan during this period.
To avoid the treacherous undercurrents, Archduke Edward simply moved the court from Campbell Castle, where traditional forces were deeply entrenched, to Thundershire, where he was supported.
While waiting in the reception room, Sak chatted briefly with the manor's servants, asking nothing sensitive but simply inquiring about the Grand Duke's preferences.
Although the Demon King revealed some inside information about the Duchy of Campbell to him, he was, after all, an outsider, so it was best not to show too much interest in the affairs of the duchy.
He only needs to do his job.
Just as Sack was using his "generous and open-minded" persona to get along well with the servants in the Andes, Edward finally finished his official business.
Arriving late, he entered the reception room and warmly shook hands with Sack, who had risen to greet him, as a friendly opening.
"Welcome, Mr. Sack Gale. It's a pleasure to meet you. What brings you here today?"
After shaking hands, Sack bowed slightly, his previous casual manner towards ordinary people subdued, and spoke in a reserved voice.
"Your Highness, regarding the collaborations you discussed with me before, my...His Majesty has already sent me a message. He said you are a wise monarch and it is his honor to cooperate with you."
Edward's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled and gestured for Edward to proceed.
"Please come to my study; we can discuss this in detail!"
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sak nodded gladly and followed Edward to the place where the Grand Duke usually worked.
Since they had already discussed the matter more than once, both sides knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, so the talks were pleasant from beginning to end.
Edward praised Chief Urga Windcrack for his foresight and noble character, even though he had never met the lizardman nobleman.
Sack, on behalf of his "cousin" Chief Urga Windcrack, expressed his deep appreciation for the friendship between the Duchy of Campbell and the Kingdom of Gutaf, as well as the Kingdom's firm stance of standing with the Duchy of Colin.
After finalizing a series of win-win terms, including technical assistance, mineral extraction, and trade and shipping, Sack finally put forward his last and most unique proposal of the trip.
He took out a simple map from his pocket and spread it out on the table.
It was a map depicting the southwestern region of Thunder County, with a large area marked "dangerous" circled in purple ink.
That is the southwestern swamp.
Looking at the map that appeared to be issued by the Adventurers' Guild, Edward's expression was a little unnatural. He wondered to himself, "Is this guy here to seek justice for the lizardmen of the Southwest Swamp?"
This is actually a human thought process; Sak Gale didn't really have this idea.
If the Demon King hadn't pointed at those lizardmen and said they were his kind, he would never have acknowledged those guys rolling around in the mud as his own kind.
The problem is, they can't fly either!
It looks a bit like a Sand Ridge, Ankylosaurus, or Tidebringer, but it's definitely not a Wind Howl!
“Your Highness Edward,” Sack said earnestly, pointing to the swamp, “after arriving in Thundershire, I was surprised to find that our own people live here. A wise gentleman told me that they… well, they are a lizardman tribe that got separated from us during our migration a thousand years ago.”
“Mr. Sack,” Edward coughed, “I don’t know who you heard this from, but I want to say that their story… has many complicated reasons that cannot be explained in a few words, and I hope it will not affect our friendship.”
“I know, Your Majesty, I have no intention of letting this matter affect our friendship, but their current situation is truly heartbreaking for me as a child of the Dragon God.”
Seeing Edward's apparent shame, Sack, though surprised, seized the opportunity and forced himself to continue speaking, despite his discomfort.
"They have forgotten the glory of their ancestors, lost the spark of civilization, and are struggling to survive in the mire like wild beasts. As a member of the United Kingdom of Gutaf, I cannot stand idly by and watch my...comrades-in-arms degenerate like this. We must do something!"
"Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to allow us to establish a temporary settlement on that land, to rescue those poor children of the Dragon God, to guide and educate them, and to help them regain their civilization."
Edward's expression shifted slightly.
Is this the profound heritage of an ancient country with thousands of years of history?
They couldn't help but want to lend a helping hand simply because they saw the children who had been abandoned and were living in hardship, regardless of the quality of the children's scales.
In contrast, those priests from the Holy City should be ashamed; instead of addressing the problems of Chaos, they raised their knives against the people of the Lion, who shared the same blood.
Having just reached an agreement with this market spanning seven million square kilometers—or rather, this ancient kingdom—he viewed this lizardman nation through a sacred lens.
Despite his respect, he was not blinded by the enormous profits. He asked calmly, though seemingly interested.
"Your righteousness is admirable, but... what then? Even if you help them escape the swamp, they'll find it difficult to live decently in Thunder City. I mean, will you take them back?"
“Of course,” Sack nodded without hesitation, “the people of the Dragon God should live on the land where the Dragon God descended, and they will return to the land of their ancestors.”
At that moment, he changed the subject, revealing a perfectly timed look of disdain on his face... or rather, this was his truest self.
The previous scenes were acting, but this is a natural performance.
"However, although we will bring them back, we cannot bring them back directly."
"Oh?" Edward raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
“Because they are too filthy,” Sack sighed, shaking his head with a look of utter disappointment. “They don’t know how to bathe, they don’t know how to use utensils, and even their accents have become like yours. Forgive my bluntness, but their existence is a blasphemy against the dragon god Gutaf! We must first correct them and turn them into respectable lizardmen before we can let them board the ship home.”
A respectable... uh, a lizardman?
Edward tried hard to imagine the scene in his mind, but no matter how he thought about it, he found it ridiculous. He could only look at the seemingly respectable guy in front of him with a strange expression.
If wearing lots of gold jewelry is considered respectable, then the cost of that respectability must be incredibly high...
Edward pondered for a long time, tapping his index finger lightly on the armrest of the chair, before finally asking a question.
"So, what about the cost of establishing this... 'special zone'? Making so many lizardmen respectable will cost a lot of money."
“The entire cost will be borne by the United Kingdom of Gutaf!” Sak said immediately, giving that matter-of-fact yet heart-pounding answer.
The Kingdom of Gutaf will pay for this!
Upon hearing these words, Edward's last trace of doubt vanished, and a friendly and generous smile appeared on his face.
“Then there’s no problem, Mr. Sack. Your compassion for your fellow countrymen is truly touching! On behalf of the Duchy of Campbell, I agree to your request! Since you are willing to help us resolve this historical issue, then you can manage that swamp! Build that… lizardman settlement!”
Although the land "south of Jiliu Pass to the westernmost side of Wanren Mountain Range" was nominally owned by the Campbell family, none of the Grand Dukes of Campbell ever truly ruled that area.
There was nothing there but mud and insects; it was impossible to cultivate or graze livestock. Even the nobles who were busy acquiring land had no interest in that place.
Using a piece of abandoned land to do someone a favor could not only strengthen the friendship with the "United Kingdom of Gutaf," but might even turn waste into treasure.
Since those bugs are just soaking in the mud anyway, and they're going to cause some public order problems every now and then, it's better to send someone to manage them!
Seeing Archduke Edward's smiling face, Sack breathed a sigh of relief and quickly made a thank-you expression on his face.
Just as the Demon King had predicted, Grand Duke Edward agreed to his terms without hesitation.
At this moment, he only had one thing on his mind.
The continent of Gana already has a rich enough diversity of ethnic groups; hopefully, the Demon King won't actually take these beggars to the Dragon God's homeland...
(End of this chapter)
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