The Second Prince lay on the bed, listening to Kefra's words, his expression calm and unmoved.
"Miss Kefra, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Are you suggesting that I, an imperial prince, would collude with demons?"
Kefra put one hand on her hip and looked at the Second Prince with a hint of teasing.
"Whether Your Highness would collude with demons, I can't say for sure. But you really should take a bath."
"The stench of demons on you is so strong it makes me feel sick."
The Second Prince seemed to be reminded of something. He lowered his head, raised his arm, and brought it to his nose to sniff.
After being injured, he had been recuperating the whole time. For several days, he really hadn't had much of a chance to bathe.
Even though his injuries had already healed.
Even when questioned so sharply by Kefra, the Second Prince's expression remained calm as he casually said, "You demon hunters, do you have some special way of identifying demons?"
"I'm actually rather interested in your organization."
Kefra wasn't surprised that the Second Prince could guess her identity.
After all, being able to smell the scent of demons was a unique ability of demon hunters.
As long as one became a demon hunter, they would be extremely sensitive to the smell of demons.
This was also how they tracked them.
Kefra didn't respond, only quietly looking at him.
Under her gaze, the Second Prince continued speaking.
His voice seemed to grow even flatter, with a trace of proud confidence in his tone.
"I know this much, you can't confirm whether I'm truly colluding with demons."
Kefra's tone carried a bit more disdain.
"So what if I can't? As long as you're recovering on my turf."
"I'll have a way to confirm it."
Just as the Second Prince had thought, Kefra could only rely on smell to sense that there really was a strong demonic aura on him.
But she couldn't confirm it.
Because of his identity.
He was an imperial prince.
Owiser Sol.
Unless there was clear evidence proving that the Second Prince truly had dealings with demons.
Otherwise, slandering a prince was a serious crime.
It would cause extremely severe negative effects on the Empire's reputation.
A prince of a nation colluding with demons, no matter what the truth was, the Empire's diplomacy would suffer pressure from other countries.
And public trust in the royal family would take a huge blow.
So Kefra had no choice.
She could only try to confirm this during the period when the Second Prince was seriously injured and staying in the northern lands.
But the Second Prince was naturally prepared as well, and slowly said, "First of all, you should know that I led my army to the North to investigate the demon incident."
His meaning was very clear.
The public fully knew that he had led troops to the North.
And since he had already been recuperating for some time, even with severe injuries, he should have mostly recovered by now.
The Delin family no longer had any reason to keep him here.
As an imperial prince, he was bound to return to the capital.
Kefra understood this too.
At this moment, the Second Prince's voice slowly sounded again.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must also be searching for the demon that appeared on the far northern ice plains."
"Perhaps we can cooperate."
Hearing the Second Prince's proposal, Kefra frowned, looking somewhat puzzled.
"Let me give you a clue."
"Viktor."
The Second Prince's words reached Kefra's ears. She couldn't help narrowing her eyes and asking back, "What do you mean by that?"
"Don't tell me you've never wondered why demons appeared in the far north right after Viktor arrived there."
Kefra crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe.
"Go on."
The Second Prince smiled slightly.
"I knew you'd be interested."
He picked up the water cup beside him, took a sip, and moistened his throat.
Fortunately, the Delin family generally had a strong sense of justice. Even under the pretense of recovery that was actually detention, they still didn't forget to prepare food and water for him.
"Obviously, Viktor is strong, so strong it's unreasonable."
Kefra understood this point very well.
She knew how strong her father was, yet even when Viktor was engaged at close range by a knight, he was still able to defeat his opponent.
Although she didn't know the specific details, her father had been immersed in the fourth tier for decades.
What about Viktor?
Just two months ago, he had still only been a third-tier mage.
"Likewise, demons form contracts with humans, granting what the other party desires through transactions."
"For example, power."
As he said this, the Second Prince gradually clenched his fist.
Kefra understood what he meant, but still gently shook her head.
"I can't accept your view. Demonic bargains have limits."
"They can't just turn Viktor into a councilor out of thin air."
The Second Prince smiled, set down the cup, and revealed a shocking piece of information.
"That just means you don't know enough yet, Miss Kefra."
"Do you know about the Primordial Demons?"
Kefra froze, only able to listen as the Second Prince's slightly mocking voice continued, "So-called demons are all born from human emotions. They determine the content of their deals based on those emotions."
"When a gambler loses everything yet still owes millions."
"When a wife is violated before one's eyes, and all one can do is rage helplessly."
"When a person shows arrogance and contempt toward mediocrity."
"That's precisely why demons can perfectly understand what a person truly needs through those emotions."
Every word the Second Prince spoke seemed to manifest before Kefra's eyes.
A gambler who had lost his family and home, standing in the darkness, unable to find a path forward, filled with grief and regret.
A wretched man watching as bandits break into his home, his wife violated, his children killed, yet only able to feel powerless rage.
Standing beneath a magnificent tower, looking down on the ordinary people passing by, giving rise to arrogant self-importance.
These scenes seemed to turn into countless threads, drilling into Kefra's mind.
The more she listened, the more uncomfortable she felt. She could only look at the Second Prince with a cold gaze, trying to steer the conversation away from a topic she didn't want to discuss.
"What does any of this have to do with what you're saying?"
The Second Prince smiled faintly and got to the point.
"And the seven most pure demons born from these emotions are what I mentioned, the Primordial Demons."
"They continuously devour human emotions, feeding their own growth."
"As long as emotions continue, they will only grow stronger."
Listening to his explanation, Kefra felt utterly confused.
Then the Second Prince continued, "Have you ever thought about why Viktor became so strong?"
"You're saying Viktor has dealings with a Primordial Demon?"
Kefra suddenly asked, but the Second Prince merely shrugged.
"That's your own conclusion, Miss Kefra."
"Of course, I am indeed guiding you to think that way."
Kefra narrowed her eyes, danger creeping into her tone.
"So what?"
"You targeting Viktor like this, what benefit does it bring you?"
"No benefit."
At this point, the Second Prince put away his smile, his expression returning to calm.
"The Clavenna family is currently at the height of its power. Anyone would want to befriend them."
"Everyone wants to know Viktor."
If one side could gain Viktor's support, or rather, the support of the Clavenna family, then the throne would be within reach.
But the Emperor would not allow Viktor to support either of the two princes, so he made Viktor Aurelian's teacher.
The Second Prince lowered his brow, a crafty glint flashing in his eyes as he continued, "Although our reasons differ, we share the same goal."
"You and I both want to find that demon."
"So why not give it a try?"
His voice seemed to carry a trace of temptation, echoing softly in Kefra's ears.
"Or is it because the target is Viktor..."
"That you can't bring yourself to act?"
Kefra snorted coldly, casting an indifferent glance at the Second Prince.
"You don't need to provoke me. I hate filthy creatures like demons more than anyone."
"But..."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two silver-white daggers tore through the air and slammed into the bedside.
Lying on the bed, the Second Prince felt the sharp wind rush toward him, yet he didn't move at all.
In one corner of Kefra's eye, red flames flared up.
That crimson eye looked as if it wanted to swallow the Second Prince whole.
"You are just as filthy."
With that, Kefra turned to leave, but her distant voice lingered in the room.
"In a few days, your injuries will be completely 'healed.'"
"I'll bring you back to the capital in perfect condition."
Accompanied by crisp footsteps, Kefra gradually walked away.
At last, her figure disappeared completely, and even the sound of her steps faded.
The Second Prince's entire body suddenly relaxed.
In an instant, cold sweat burst out.
He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, his body trembling uncontrollably.
That was the fear after surviving a close brush with death.
That aura just now was unmistakable.
A fourth-tier demon hunter.
At some point, Kefra had advanced.
The Second Prince knew that in his current state, he was absolutely no match for her.
Still, he hadn't expected to fall into the hands of a demon hunter.
Even Kefra's identity had been revealed to him by the greed hidden within his own body.
Fortunately, Kefra's interest in Viktor outweighed her suspicions toward him.
After a long while, the Second Prince finally recovered.
He took a deep breath, his wildly pounding heart gradually calming down, his eyes regaining their clarity.
"Next, I'll just wait and see."