NOVPUBThe dark night shrouded everything, and the snowstorm continued to howl rapidly, with the silver moonlight pouring through the gaps in the heavy clouds and sprinkling on the snowy ground.
In this blizzard of golden lightning, the Demon Race was reminded of only one thing—
Their powerful ancestors.
That boundless strength.
As a member of the Demon Race, even though daylight had passed, one could still choose to die in the glow of the setting sun.
Count Gregory’s laughter cut off abruptly.
His expression shifted rapidly from joy to pallor, his lips trembling, panic cloaking his vision like a mass of dark clouds!
He stared unblinkingly at the Radiant Demon.
"Rocky McCarthy... what on earth are you?!"
Why would a person from the Palante Empire, an obscure royal craftsman, turn out to be a member of the Great Demon Clan from the Demon World?
Gregory could think of a thousand different outcomes for today, but he had never considered that this feeble human was actually toying with him.
Before the Earl could continue his affront, Colonel Luka had already charged ahead, raising his weapon and smashing it down onto Gregory’s head.
"How dare you, a mere Count of the Blood Clan, offend such a great personage!" Colonel Luka roared, his attitude shifting instantaneously.
If a Blood Clan Count attacked a Great Demon Clan member first and was then countered and captured, according to the "North-South Pact," it was entirely the Blood Clan’s fault!
A Seventh-order Blood Clan Count, treating a member of the Great Demon Clan of the Demon World as a mere human worthy of capture, was simply courting death!
Aside from the marks given by other Great Demons, one must possess at least one Spirit Mark and at least one Force Mark to be considered a Great Demon and to evoke a sense of fealty from the other ordinary demons.
The Spirit Mark signifies an extraordinarily rational mindset, enabling one to overcome the strong as the weak, while the Force Mark indicates at least an Eighth-order, possessing a unique combat specialty.
However, Luka was certain that the presence of martial energy or the Magic Fluctuation from this Radiant Great Demon was nearly undetectable and even made him feel that this Great Demon posed no danger at all!
It was exactly this that chilled him even more.
He was now somewhat unclear whether the other was an Eighth-order or a Ninth-order.
Finally, Colonel Luka decapitated Count Gregory and kicked his head away with one foot, the Blood Clan Count’s voice all but disappearing.
"May I ask, how should I address you?"
Colonel Luka sheathed his sword, knelt on one knee before Lanci, and asked.
Every Great Demon in the current Demon World is an unreachable entity.
Even the general of their Second Army Group does not possess six honorific marks.
The demon in front of him, with six unfamiliar marks, might not be one active in this era.
"..."
Lanci pondered for a moment, as if asked a question he hadn’t heard in a long time.
According to the honorifics used in the Demon Race, one can normally use a title as a form of respect, for instance, Truth Pullane could be addressed as Lord of Truth.
But he held no such title.
"Just… call me Lord Unknown,"
Lanci replied softly and slowly.
Pranay had told him that if he encountered other demons, he could answer this way.
"...?"
Colonel Luka shivered, raising his head cautiously, peering at the demon under the brim of his military cap.
He had never seen a living Nameless Great Demon Tribe before.
If among the three seals included the Ancestor Soul Trial, or if one received approval from the current Demon King, one would further earn a title; otherwise, even if one became a Great Demon, they would still be a "Nameless Great Demon," unacknowledged by the Demon Race.
For the Demon Race, a "nameless Great Demon" was itself a taboo existence. A Great Demon not even acknowledged by the Demon Race often posed a threat greater than the officially recognized Great Demons.
Not to mention one with as many as six marks from the ancient Demon Race.
The ruler of the present Demon Race, the fallen Calila, had only seven seals.
"Don’t worry, I am not an enemy of the Demon World. I have come to the Demon World on important business,"
Seeing the reaction of the Demon Officer, Lanci couldn’t help but smile wryly.
He had become a Nameless Great Demon mainly due to the era he was in; it was simply impossible to pass the Ancestral Land Trial or obtain approval from the previous Demon Kings.
"So that’s how it is..."
Colonel Luka immediately understood the purpose of this mysterious Great Demon.
Previously, this Great Demon had concealed his identity, pretending to be human, and lived outside the Demon World for many years, and had even held a high position in the Palante Empire.
Now with chaos in the Northern Continent and the old Demon King dead, he wanted to take the Descendant Princess under his control.
Although, as an old-fashioned Great Demon, he might be quite a few generations older than the princess, the Demon Race has never cared about age differences, with marriage contracts spanning hundreds or even thousands of years not being uncommon.
"Sir, is there anything you need us to do? I will do my utmost to make up for my past actions,"
Colonel Luka knew he had no right to inquire and had even offended the Great Demon before.
But he believed that this Great Demon, having not returned to the Demon World for many years, must certainly be in need of a guide. And if his goal in returning to the Demon World was the princess, then he naturally wouldn’t go on a killing spree and violate the rules of the Demon World.
"I wouldn’t want to trouble you with this; it’s your job, and I understand that,"
Lanci replied amiably, waving his hand. He didn’t hold a grudge against them, nor did he need them to make amends,
"But have you ever thought that as an officer and non-commissioned officer on this border, you may often encounter such troubles in the future? After all, from my perspective, the human kingdoms don’t seem very peaceful right now, and the Blood Clan is already stirring. The ’North-South Pact’ will put you in a difficult position."
He looked at the corpse of the Earl in the distance.
Lanci had already noticed that Officer Luka had not been very decisive about the Earl’s demands. His actions were hesitant, and his heart was filled with reluctance.
With Lanci’s understanding of the Demon Race, even someone as tolerant as Pranay would be infuriated if the "North-South Contract" were thrown in his face.
"..."
Luka was silent, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened slightly.
"Do you feel that the Demon Race is being too subdued?"
Lanci continued to ask.
He wasn’t grilling the other, simply perplexed from his standpoint, having not returned to the Demon World in many years.
"..."
Colonel Luka couldn’t respond to the Great Demon’s words.
To be honest, he also wished to be as insightful as this lord, not having to be subservient to the Blood Clan, but that wasn’t something he could change, being just an officer of neither high nor low rank.
"Think about it carefully, what kind of Demon you want to become,"
Lanci pat Luka’s shoulder with one hand and said no more.
He felt that Colonel Luka understood the ways of the world quite well; spending his time on the border might be a bit of a waste. Later on the road, he would talk with him and his subordinates to see if he could provide them some guidance.
Afterwards,
Lanci looked in the direction he had come from.
There should be no danger on the snowfield now, he just needed to borrow a skeletal warhorse from the Demon Officer, and Siegler should be able to reach Little Night City in about ten hours.
