If a merchant wanted to close a business deal, the merchant would need to know what the customer needed the most. It was apparent that Stefania understood this logic. She didn’t arrange for Rhode’s group to settle down anywhere too close to demons, stenches, corpses, and bustling venues where fights often broke out. Instead, she brought them to a relatively quiet tower. Of course, it wasn’t some high-end club and they still witnessed several corpses punctured by razor-sharp stakes and blood flowing all over the land at the bottom of the city walls. But this was much better than being harassed and stared at by demons endlessly. Even though demons followed rules in the fortress to a certain extent, those who broke the rules weren’t in the minority. If not, there wouldn’t exist so many torture instruments for the demons, wasn’t it?
“If you insist on heading to Casselly yourself, I won’t demand any further.”
Stefania sat by the table and gazed at Rhode with a helpless, forced smile.
“But I have to warn you that traveling there by yourselves will be much more dangerous than you think. No-no-no, it isn’t only about the River Styx itself, but also the boats traveling on it. Perhaps you may also face demon or devil fleets. If you face the former, it will still be manageable. Your Majesty Rhode, with you around, you can display a certain degree of aggression and the demon fleets with a clear destination will not find trouble with you. As for the devils, we can never be too sure about them. They don’t care who you are, where you are heading to, or remember the goal of fighting. Maybe as soon as they meet you, their chaotic and uncontrollable nature will turn you into their target. Of course, all of you are powerful enough to destroy the devil fleets. But if the Styxians were to treat you as threats or think that they would gain more than they lose, perhaps they may also decisively leave you to your own survival. I have to remind you that on the River Styx, not even the Creator Gods can threaten the Styxians. They are the only ones who know which teleportation door leads to where. So if they decide to ditch you, they won’t give you the time to consider your options.”
“But if we choose to travel with demons, the troubles will not lessen.”
After listening to Stefania, Rhode shook his head. As of now, their agreement was stuck at which method they should deploy to reach Casselly before entering the Rift Plain. Stefania suggested that she could contact the demon lord who was currently gathering forces to head into the Rift Plain. After offering a ‘fair’ price, both sides should be able to reach an agreement. As for the credibility of the Styxians, she apparently wasn’t too hopeful.
Even though Rhode agreed with some parts of her view, he wasn’t too interested in her former suggestion. No matter what, it was really risky to travel with the demon army even though they had a clear destination in mind. Who could guarantee that they wouldn’t head to the Gray Ruins midway?
“It seems like we can only hire the Styx Brigade then.”
Stefania knitted her brows after Rhode refused to give in. After a few moments of pondering, she left out a helpless sigh.
“This may require some time, but the Styx Brigade is definitely trustworthy. Besides, the Yugoloths… at least they are more trustworthy than Styxians. It seems like this isn’t your first time traveling in another plane, Your Majesty Rhode. As long as you’re careful, there shouldn’t be any problem. But in terms of price…”
“Money isn’t an issue.”
Rhode replied and tossed a bag of coins and gems on the table. Borrowing the scarlet sunlight through the window, one could clearly see the radiance reflected off the platinum coins and gems. Just this bag alone was enough for one to purchase a city on the main plane. Upon seeing the bag, Stefania revealed a forced smile. Merchants would rather deal with careful buyers than rich buyers. After all, careful buyers were only mindful of the price, but rich buyers had more to worry about. Rich buyers didn’t care how much they needed to spend. Instead, they expected their goods to be up to their likings. In the multiverse, there was nothing more subjective than the ‘intention’.
“Alright, I got it.”
In the end, Stefania accepted the bag and stood to her feet.
“It is tough to look for the Styx Brigade in this world, but it isn’t impossible. Please wait and have some rest for now.”
“… Rhode, can she be trusted?”
Until the plane merchant vanished before them, Canary knitted her brows and asked. No wonder Canary behaved this carefully because in hell, ‘trust’ was more precious than platinum. There were many times when the so-called ‘trust’ was nothing more than a premise used to build ‘betrayal’.
“At the very least, she is more trustworthy than Asmodeus. Besides, I personally think that she’s competent as a plane merchant.”
Not only that, but Stefania’s appearance was also above average and could be said to be remarkably beautiful. Moreover, she was a half-demon. If it weren’t for her talent and wisdom, perhaps she would have already become one’s pampered pet and wouldn’t be roaming about freely.
But the rest didn’t seem mindful of her. Lesa sat by the side, clenching her fists and closing her eyes as though she was praying. On the other hand, Gracier and Madaras had already returned to their card form and were seemingly disinterested in the outside world. Cassidy sat with Celia in the distance, sizing up Rhode attentively and speaking to Celia about something. It was apparent that they knew each other a long time ago.
Only Mini Bubble Gum and Celestina admired the scenery boringly. In an instant, everyone found a rare, unprecedented peace and harmony in hell.
But since this was rare, it meant that the harsh reality would soon take over. And in fact, that was what happened.
“———!”
All of a sudden, a loud noise broke the silence in the room. Rhode knitted his brows slightly, while Canary turned toward the window. At this moment, even Lesa who had shut her eyes and was praying opened her eyes and revealed an uncomfortable look on her face. On the other hand, Cassidy and Celia were seemingly unaffected by it. They gazed toward the source of the noise, before turning around and continuing with their conversation. It was apparent that they weren’t interested in what was happening inside the demons’ fortress.
But it was a pity that not everyone reacted the same as them.
“Oh-oh-oh, what happened?”
Mini Bubble Gum and Celestina quickly moved to the other windowsill and looked around curiously. The situation as though there was a car accident by the apartment building’s entrance and the two young ladies opened the window to check it out. Sigh, this was the deep-rooted bad habit of humans to be habitual onlookers of everything…
“What’s wrong, Bubble?”
“Nothing much. Just some demons having a row.”
“How embarrassing.”
Compared to the excited Mini Bubble Gum, Celestina was apparently less delighted. She gazed at the gathering demons with a grim expression. But shortly after, she revealed a surprised expression. At the same time, Mini Bubble Gum also seemed to notice something.
“Hmm? That’s…”
“Oh? Heh, heh. Interesting. I shall go and check it out!”
At the next moment, Mini Bubble Gum transformed into a ray of light and disappeared from the window. Looking at this scene, neither Rhode nor Canary tried to stop her. Instead, they simply let her be because they knew that no matter what happened out there, as long as Mini Bubble Gum intervened, everything would vanish without trace within five minutes. They were extremely confident in Mini Bubble Gum’s personality, as well as her strength of absolute destruction.
Boom!
As expected, in a thunderous boom and within just two minutes, a pure, white light column burst into the air and the irritable noise from earlier vanished completely. Celestina curled her lips in dissatisfaction and looked away from the window. If one were to go to the window now, one would see that the dense gathering place from before had been wiped out to expose a clean and tidy plaza. There was nothing left on the plaza, be it corpses or building wreckages.
Shortly after, Mini Bubble Gum’s running footsteps were heard from the corridor and she burst through the door quickly.
“Hey, Leader, check this out!”
Perhaps after hearing the commotion from Mini Bubble Gum, everyone lifted their heads and turned toward her. Upon sensing the gazes directed onto her, Mini Bubble Gum displayed a prideful smile. Then, she extended her arms and pulled over a ragged elf from her back.
“She’s…”
Gazing at the young elf lady, Rhode narrowed his eyes. Mini Bubble Gum spoke with a chuckle. “I saw her being bullied by the demons, so I saved her on the way back.”
Mini Bubble Gum said, puffing her chest out at the same time like a student reporting to the teacher that she had helped an old woman cross the road and was waiting for a compliment. Rhode sized up the young elf lady and after a few moments, he smiled.
“I didn’t expect for us to meet here, Miss Cheryl.”
