NOVPUBAt dawn, the royal palace of the Demon World was already bathed in brilliant light, with shadows interweaving.
Countless court servants and guards were busy, making final preparations for the imminent visit of the Blood Clan Messenger, Count Sergio.
The palace gates were wide open, and the endless front plaza was filled with steps, with floating lanterns appearing to welcome the distinguished guests of the southern Blood Clan.
The construction history of the front plaza of Demon King Castle Necaris dates back thousands of years when Naka Island and Lisi Island had not yet separated, surrounded by the breath of Purgatory, and it gradually became the chosen site of the prosperous New Royal Capital after the lava was extinguished by seawater, causing changes in the earth’s crust.
With the application of Demon Race spells and the relentless efforts of craftsmen, the naturally undulating terrain not only supported the entire front plaza and the palace at its peak but also allowed it to exhibit the Demon Race’s unique architectural art and structural style.
After countless years of changes and multiple expansions, today’s front plaza of Demon King Castle Necaris has become the center of the Demon World’s politics, culture, and power.
Many journalists of the Demon World and dignitaries waited here, and shadows surged on the streets surrounding the area, curious to witness if the Blood Clan detective would stir up a whirlwind of blood and gore at Demon King Castle Necaris today.
"Your Highness, I know you have old grudges with the Blood Clan, but please be mindful of your status,"
standing in the center of the front plaza, the Fallen Lord Calila said to Hyperion aside in a gentle voice.
"...Understood."
Hyperion, wearing the silver crown symbolizing royal authority, her pale blue glittering skirt as bright as the brightest star in the night sky, replied confidently with her cold and stunning face.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hyperion could see the Fallen Lord closing her eyes, assuming a detached and superior posture, yet for Hyperion, the Fallen Lord’s face still bore a resemblance to Tata, making it difficult for Hyperion to disdain her.
It was too cunning to be able to show someone the appearance of the woman they liked most.
From her time with the Fallen Lord, Hyperion had come to understand that this Ninth-order Great Demon, who seemed polite, was actually a smiling tiger who did not tolerate others questioning her.
The Fallen Lord was indeed protecting her, but it was entirely different from the care she received from Tata and the Bingxue Witch.
For the Fallen Lord, she was nothing more than a pricelessly delicate doll.
However, the grudge the Fallen Lord was referring to must surely be that incident sixteen years ago, where in the Huo Ning Empire, at the border’s Lichtenstein Castle, she was nearly killed by the Blood Clan against the backdrop of the Shadow World.
As the eclipse-like twilight descended, the grand scene in front of the Demon World royal palace reached its zenith.
In the sky, the alternating sun and moon created a bizarre and spectacular sight, accompanied by an eclipsed sun, the sky took on a deep purple hue.
As all eyes of the Demon Race were fixed on Princess Hyperion standing on the palace steps, a black Magic Energy Vehicle approached from the distant road, its exterior decorated with crimson patterns, even customized for the Blood Clan guests.
It stopped in the plaza, causing a murmur of subdued conversation.
Today was the princess’s first public appearance, and she would fully demonstrate her ability to handle affairs in the Demon World.
Whether she was merely a mere shield for the Fallen Lord or a young Highness with deep cunning and inheriting the Demon King’s bloodline, depended on how she would confront the Blood Clan detective, Count Sergio, today.
The dark Magical Instrument door slowly opened, and a male dressed in the noble attire of the southern Huo Ning Empire stepped out, descending the steps.
His appearance immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
The tall, black-haired, red-eyed man was obviously the Blood Clan Messenger, Count Sergio.
Behind the Count, the Demon Race military guard followed in a neat and orderly manner.
He glanced at the sky and walked briskly, not wanting to waste any time.
"Princess Hyperion, on behalf of the Blood Clan, I thank you for your gracious hospitality,"
Count Sergio stepped onto the stairs and approached the princess, giving her a simple bow.
"Welcome, Lord Sergio,"
Hyperion maintained an elegant smile on her face, but her eyes were full of scrutiny for the visitor.
Hyperion was annoyed by the sight of Blood Clan members.
Her father, Duke Migaya, had disappeared because of the Blood Clan, and the last time in Nanwantina, Tata was hurt due to the Blood Clan’s mischief in the background.
She could really say she hated the Blood Clan to death.
Yet at this moment, she still had to act as a dignified princess of the Demon Clan, accommodating the Blood Clan envoy, and smiling at him.
"May I ask if there’s anything I can help you with?"
Hyperion asked out of courtesy.
The Bingxue Witch teacher taught her to remain composed and unflustered at all times as a secret agent; right now, she needed to play a calm and proper princess, composed like the Bingxue Witch teacher, not influenced by her inner emotions.
Of course, she was indeed a princess, no need for pretense.
"Your Highness need only provide convenience when I seek help, and assist my investigation. For everything else, please refrain from interfering,"
Count Sergio smiled faintly, his voice low and magnetic.
Of course, everyone was aware of their respective positions; the more the princess ’helped,’ the more likely she was to hinder.
"I will not take up too much time; soon, I will crack the case,"
Count Sergio raised his index finger confidently, gesturing around at all the surrounding Demon Race spectators, adding,
His gesture seemed to signal to the murderer, no matter who you are hiding in Necaris city, you will soon be apprehended.
This presence made the atmosphere in front of the entire royal palace a bit more tense, even those beneath the Magical Device screens broadcasting the scene couldn’t help but look up towards the focus of this Blood Clan detective.
"Then I wish you every success."
Hyperion nodded, then clasped her hands in front of her, maintaining a posture of waiting.
As the detective of the Blood Clan with a hundred percent case-solving rate, Hyperion believed that it wouldn’t take long for the other party to successfully find the murderer in Necaris.
Once Detective Count Sergio completed his reasoning and found all the evidence, the trial phase would rapidly approach.
These were all inevitable.
But Hyperion had prepared multiple contingency measures overnight yesterday.
At every step, she had ways to hinder Count Sergio, and when the time came, the Fallen Queen’s subordinates would naturally go all out to destroy the evidence. What she needed to do was to hold Count Sergio in public, predict his actions and what he wanted, and to play a game of wits with him—she couldn’t let him solve the case in minutes.
Moreover, in the worst case, Lanci had taught her how to deal with the prosecution’s offensive when she was about to lose.
Slamming the table hard was the right approach.
The judge would rule that the defense was too emotional and needed to adjourn to take her out and adjust her state.
Then, since it was the Demon World’s home field, the room for manipulation would increase.
In the art-infused square in front of the royal palace, the reception ceremony solemnly continued, with ancient Demon World statues and magnificent flower beds on both sides. Each plant was a species unique to the Demon World, emitting a mesmerizing fragrance under the dim light of the eclipse.
On the stone steps, the military guards stood in formation, clad in silver and black armor, holding magical instruments, with armor etched with majestic and solemn demon patterns.
At the top of the stairs, Princess Hyperion and a group of Demon Race nobles finally completed their pleasantries with the Blood Clan Messenger Count Sergio.
"May I begin the investigation now, Your Highness?"
Count Sergio asked.
If he were to rashly use Blood Clan Authority in Royal City Necaris without the Demon World’s permission, he might trigger the suppression of the city’s defensive barrier.
"Of course."
Hyperion glanced at the Fallen Queen and replied to the Blood Clan Messenger Count Sergio.
"Then I ask that after I find the murderer, Your Highness fully cooperates with my investigation. Otherwise, if I am unable to return to the Huo Ning Empire and report to the Ancestors in a justified manner, that would be quite troublesome."
Count Sergio gazed at Hyperion.
"Naturally."
Hyperion acknowledged.
"Hmm."
Count Sergio was satisfied.
If he caught a Demon Race murderer of high position and solid evidence, in the new negotiations, his Blood Clan could force the Demon Race to make further concessions.
His mission this time was not only to catch the murderer and try to diminish the Demon Race’s negotiation power at the table, but also to show the demons the attitude of the royal family being subservient to the Blood Clan.
This little princess was undoubtedly a novice in mental strategy.
Far too naive.
Count Sergio had seen through it very easily.
She might be innately intelligent, but lacked life experience, never having been tempered by life-and-death situations.
Lately, regardless of how excessive his demands might be, he would force the princess to agree, leading to a strategic trial.
How long it took to catch the murderer was irrelevant; if the princess wanted to stall, he would let her. Everything was under his control—the key was that throughout the process, he would erode the princess’s dignity, making her understand the Demon World’s position relative to the Blood Clan today. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Count Sergio murmured the Blood Clan incantation softly, activating his authority "Blood Coordinates."
In the moist morning mist of the square in front of the royal palace, the detective of the Blood Clan, Count Sergio’s gaze stealthily moved through the shadows, his blood-red eyes twinkling with faint light under the dim sky.
This Demon King’s Castle, the gathering place of the Demon World’s power elites, a nest filled with demon magic power, every whisper of magic clearly visible.
Soon, very soon, he would find where the murderer was hiding.
Whoever had the red light over their head was the murderer.
With the answer in hand, what followed would merely be a routine process of pointing out the culprit.
As the spell came to an end, a strand of red magic power leaked from his gaze and floated like mist, his eyes shrouded in a layer of crimson.
"¿¿¿"
Count Sergio seemed to be struck with a buzzing in his head, frozen in place.
In an instant, he saw that almost all of the Demon Race elites within the Demon King’s Castle began to emit a strange red glow!
And for some reason, those demons with red light over their heads, when they looked at him, seemed to subconsciously swallow their saliva.
That glow, like the color of coagulated blood, was both vivid and chilling, and Count Sergio felt an unprecedented fear welling up inside him.
Just how much of Count Gregory’s blood had to be spilled to exhibit such a color!
