Inner hall.
Lamp light flickered.
"Sacrificing a few villages isn't an issue, but if we do that, we won't be able to keep this thing under wraps. The Demon-Subduing Division might send a Profound Rank Demon Hunter over.
If we really run into a powerful Profound Rank Demon Hunter, even if Blood Soul advances to Resentment Level, it'll still be tough to deal with.
And once it gets to that point, my time as County Magistrate of Lin'an City is over, no doubt about it."
Zhao Fang sighed, sounding somewhat unwilling.
Zhuang Mingyuan, on hearing this, responded indifferently.
"You think that if we don't sacrifice the villages, just the death of a Probationary Demon Hunter won't tip off the Demon-Subduing Division?"
"This—"
"In reality, from the moment that Probationary Demon Hunter died, your days as County Magistrate of Lin'an City were numbered anyway. But that's fine—a measly county magistrate's seat traded for a Strange Monster advancing to Resentment Level, you're definitely not losing out.
You've amassed plenty of wealth over the years. It's enough for you and your family to get out clean.
Maybe you won't be as useful to the Eternal Alliance without the magistrate's position, but the Eternal Alliance never treats its contributors poorly."
Zhuang Mingyuan offered some comfort.
Then.
His tone suddenly shifted, and a meaningful smile crept across his face.
"Besides, you don't need to worry about the Demon-Subduing Division sending experts now. I wasn't so sure before, but looking at things now, the Demon-Subduing Division really can't spare the manpower."
Zhuang Mingyuan rose from his seat, pacing to the entrance of the inner hall. He gazed at the pitch-black, moonless night outside.
"Recently, the Demon Evil side has dispatched many powerful beings to attack regions all over Great Qin, going to outright war with the Demon-Subduing Division. That battle cost the Demon Evil side dearly, but the Demon-Subduing Division also suffered heavy losses.
Before, when there were Ghostly Level Fiends, if Probationary Demon Hunters were dispatched, they'd usually bring companions.
Now only one person comes. Clearly, the Demon-Subduing Division's usable forces are running thin."
"Plus, after that last battle, neither side really came out the winner. Demons and Evil of every stripe are still bogging down many of the Demon-Subduing Division's experts. For a tiny place like Lin'an City, the division probably won't throw much strength at it.
After all, there are plenty of places much more important than Lin'an City.
Now, we just have to wait for Zhang Long to return and report—see if Blood Soul managed to advance."
At last—
Zhuang Mingyuan turned, looking at Zhao Fang, a strange expression suddenly flashing across his face.
"Or, perhaps, Lord Zhao, you could go all the way—sacrifice everyone in Lin'an City. With a blood ritual of a hundred thousand souls, Blood Soul might just reach Fiend Level.
You've been in the Eternal Alliance for years, yet haven't contributed anything significant.
If you give them a Fiend Level Strange Monster, that would absolutely alarm the upper echelons. By then, whatever it is you want—you'll have it all.
Even I could get plenty of benefits out of it!"
Zhao Fang was startled by Zhuang Mingyuan's words.
Sacrifice Lin'an City!
He had never even dared to imagine such a thing, not once had that thought ever occurred to him.
Sacrificing Guyue Village—maybe he could accept.
But sacrificing the entire Lin'an City?
That was utterly beyond Zhao Fang's expectations.
He knew.
Even though Lin'an City was just a small border city in Great Qin, it still had a populace of a hundred thousand. He'd served as an official for years. To claim he had no feelings for this city? Impossible.
If he were to sacrifice Lin'an City outright—to treat a hundred thousand lives as nothing—
Zhao Fang asked himself honestly.
He struggled to accept it.
"Think it over, Lord Zhao. Of course, if you're going to sacrifice all of Lin'an City, you'll have to move quickly. Even sacrificing a few villages—word is bound to reach the Demon-Subduing Division.
Any place where a powerful Demon Evil appears, the division won't just stand by.
Even if, for now, the division's people are all tied up elsewhere, sooner or later someone will break free.
After all, letting a powerful Demon Evil grow unchecked is a huge threat to the Demon-Subduing Division. The only question is at what point that threat becomes impossible to ignore."
"On that one point, even I'm not sure."
"You're preparing to make your exit anyway, Lord Zhao. Why not use the chance to rack up greater merit for the Alliance? I promise you—even if you never contribute again, a feat like breeding a Fiend Level Strange Monster is enough to guarantee your family's safety forever."
Zhuang Mingyuan kept persuading.
And even if a Fiend Level Strange Monster was born, Zhao Fang would reap the lion's share of merit—
But as his collaborator, Zhuang Mingyuan would still get plenty of benefits too.
So.
He very much hoped Zhao Fang would sacrifice all of Lin'an City.
Having long since sold his soul to the Demon Evil, Zhuang Mingyuan had completely separated himself from ordinary people. The lives of commoners meant less than nothing to him.
Zhao Fang looked down in thought, his expression shifting rapidly as his conscience waged war inside him.
He considered Zhuang Mingyuan's words.
Though he belonged to the Human Clan, and served as County Magistrate of Lin'an City, some sliver of conscience still told Zhao Fang he could not sacrifice the city.
But.
He had already sacrificed Guyue Village, and then more villages soon after. So why not all of Lin'an City?
It's just—
Too many would die. He found it hard to accept, deep down.
Yet—
Zhao Fang understood well what kind of reward one would get for raising a Fiend Level Strange Monster in the Eternal Alliance.
Soon.
His face, twisted with inner struggle, finally smoothed into calm.
He raised his head.
The former gentleness of Zhao Fang's face was now gone, replaced only by a coldness that sent chills through the heart.
"Brother Zhuang is right. Since I've joined the Eternal Alliance, I should offer them something in return. For the people of Lin'an City to birth a Fiend Level Strange Monster—it is their greatest honor."
"Hahaha—"
Seeing that Zhao Fang had come around, Zhuang Mingyuan burst into loud laughter.
Right at this moment—
BOOM!
The Yamen's front gate, struck by a mighty force, was suddenly blasted into countless pieces.
The huge commotion immediately alarmed the other Government Officials in the Yamen.
And in the inner hall, Zhao Fang and Zhuang Mingyuan's expressions both changed instantly.
"Who dares cause trouble in the Yamen!"
"Quick, go report to the Lord!"
"You—you're Lord Shen!"
The sudden upheaval left those Government Officials stunned. Some rushed off to notify Zhao Fang, but when a few calmed down, they immediately recognized who the intruder was.
As the officials recognized Shen Changqing—
Shen Changqing, too, recognized them at once. These were the same officials who had been on guard outside Guyue Village during the day.
When they drew their weapons and watched him warily—
Shen Changqing tossed what he held forward. It rolled a few times on the ground, coming to rest at the foot of one of the officials.
"Zhang—Constable Zhang!"