NOVPUBOn the outskirts of Flute Town.
Prince Wolfram the Giant stood alone in the open meadow, where the winter grass had now become dry and withered.
On Wolfram’s face was not the customary anger and restlessness seen in Giants but an unmatched calm.
His rational and indifferent voice arose, "I paid a price you can’t imagine to escape from George. Now we have no way out... I hope the intelligence you brought is true."
He had exhausted all the Demon Scholars zealously following him as materials to set a trap to confine the Giant Guardian, George, while managing to teleport himself directly across Avalon from a diagonal position.
One could even say that the core elite of Noble Red perished accordingly.
And all this, due to intelligence sent by Kazim, to which Prince Wolfram immediately and unhesitatingly teleported at great cost.
"You are not the only one who has paid a price, my respected His Royal Highness the Prince."
The voice that emerged amidst the rolling thunder, though blurry, could not conceal the malice and greed within, "Those humans are merely slaves, toys, ritual materials that can walk, and reserves. Can they count as any significant cost?
"The moment we acquire the Book of Law, we can easily recruit stronger and more humans—I need your help, my respected His Royal Highness the Prince."
Speaking thus, a Dark Cloud emerged in front of Prince Wolfram. A Demon, as grotesque as a ghoul, clad in pitch-black scale armor, with black bat-like wings on its back and hefty crocodile-like feet, stepped out from the void amidst a shower of crackling lightning.
His right hand dragged a long halberd, sparking with electric light, igniting clusters of fire on the parched white grass, leaving a scorched trail. The silver chain, spiked and sharp, was coiled around his scale-armored left arm.
Completely different from Kazim’s irritable yet cautious nature.
With the power of a Demon Incarnation, corrupted into a Penalty Demon, he did not conceal his confidence and greed—or perhaps, he was already trying his best to hide it.
He was supposed to find the "Book of Law" and hand it to Prince Wolfram, but now, the one who had the book had become "we." Perhaps once it was truly in hand, the personal pronoun might change to "I." That was the impression he gave now, as if he could do such a thing.
But Prince Wolfram didn’t care in the slightest about the changes in his subordinate—the only pure-blood clansman in The Association.
Or rather, he had known the true nature of the other long ago. He was willing to work with him and share power only because of Kazim’s bloodline.
Unlike Kazim’s cowering, disgusting posture of hidden desires, Prince Wolfram found it easier and more natural to deal with the Penalty Demon, "What, you finally believe in the existence of the Book of Law now?"
"It is indeed a power of immense magnitude."
The Penalty Demon openly admitted his failure, "I was a step too late, Jacob’s grandson got ahold of it... As a result, he, at the Third Energy Level, was able to contend with me directly, even holding the upper hand at times and forcing me to become a Penalty Demon to survive. This was despite my company of Demon Scholars, and even after my transformation, he still posed a threat to me."
"I could tell, his style of combat is not refined. It’s more like ’testing’ than fighting... like a young man suddenly endowed with power, wanting to find someone to test the extent of this newfound strength."
He was all too familiar with this.
Such people were abundant in Noble Red.
"But if his skill was only at that level, you wouldn’t be seeking my help. You’d want to monopolize the Book of Law. Because you, too, have only just become a Penalty Demon and are not yet familiar with your new strength. If the gap was small, you would certainly lie low, waiting for your wounds to heal and getting accustomed to your strength before striking again."
"So you must have encountered something else—speak, I’ve already come." Enjoy exclusive content from freewebnovel
"—I encountered The Wild Hunt. I can’t help but cause a storm whenever I fight, and passing through areas where The Wild Hunt often occurs easily attracts the attention of the Wild Hunt King."
The Penalty Demon answered, "I was lucky to escape unharmed."
"...Oh?"
Prince Wolfram became slightly interested, "Which Energy Level was the Wild Hunt King?"
"At least the Fifth Power Level, possibly the Sixth Power Level."
The Penalty Demon bluntly shared the intelligence, "I retreated immediately upon engagement—to maintain my condition."
"But even if it’s the Sixth Power Level, we don’t have to be afraid. Even if we can’t defeat The Wild Hunt, holding them off is not a problem, and the other person can take the Book of Law."
"The Wild Hunt does not pursue the living. Once we get the item, we just leave for a safe place and then split the loot... What do you think?"
"Then who’s going to lure the Wild Hunt King?"
Prince Wolfram asked in return.
The Penalty Demon chuckled, "Well, that’s naturally a matter of skill. But if you’re not at ease, I can go in first."
Malice was rife in his glowing golden vertical pupils.
He was not unaware of the identity of The Wild Hunt King nor oblivious of his power level—Elf Helquinn, whose name was also well-known among the Giants. Without him, those food sources might still be ruled by Giants. His demise marked the beginning of the war against Giant rule.
