"Hey! I've got to leave for a bit, you all handle things here!"

Throwing down these words, Kedson didn't pause for a second. Clutching the letter tightly in his hand, he rushed out the door at a sprint, dashing up the hill to the foot of the stony fortress.

On the stone wall stood two lifeless Imperial sentries. They merely cast a cold glance at him before continuing their statue-like watch.

Kedson didn't care in the least, standing below the fortress, he yelled up at the top of his lungs:

"Respected—Lord Cosia!! Good news!!!"

The wind tossed his cloak wildly, and sweat-drenched bangs clung to his forehead. He was too excited to catch his breath, waving the letter as he shouted.

"A letter personally written by General Hamoldon!! He said he's coming to Withered Wood Port—"

"The empire has finally noticed us!!!"

In the camp at the center of the stone wall, the aroma of food was thick.

A pot of thick stew made from jerky, potatoes, and sauerkraut bubbled, while Ticky had just torn off a piece of bread, only to hear Kedson screaming outside the gate.

He nearly choked on his own saliva, hastily setting down the bowl and wiping his mouth, he hurried towards the gate.

"The letter! Give it to me!"

The gate opened, and he calmly extended his hand.

Kedson, not noticing the unnatural panic on his face, excitedly offered the letter.

"Sir! General Hamoldon—"

"Alright, I get it!" Ticky quickly interrupted him, impatiently saying, "I'll handle this, you go back to your work, and don't bother me unless it's important."

Kedson was momentarily stunned, feeling that Lord Ticky didn't seem too enthusiastic?

He wanted to say something, but Ticky had already turned around, signaling to the soldiers by the gate to close it.

The gate sealed shut!

The smile vanished instantly.

Ticky furrowed his brows, pacing like an ant on a hot pan, while hurriedly opening the letter and making his way to the camp.

On the other side of the camp, Lumier sat by the bonfire, calmly flipping through a magic book filled with obscure spells, without even raising his head.

He clearly heard the commotion outside the stone wall, yet he still had the leisure to learn magic!

"Lumier," Ticky restrained himself as he approached, whispering, "we're in trouble!"

"Hmm?" Lumier responded casually, not lifting his gaze from the book, seemingly indifferent to the trouble he mentioned.

"General Hamoldon is coming!" Looking at this oblivious guy, Ticky shoved the letter in front of him, gritting his teeth, "Do you know who that is? The East Coast Commander! A tough guy who's fought Hell for over a decade! He wants to meet Roxey Colin!"

Lumier finally closed the book, looked up at him, and calmly said.

"So what?"

Ticky widened his eyes, speaking with excitement.

"So what? Did you hear what I said?! He's seen more demons than you and I combined. What if he finds out we're servants of Lord Demon King?!"

He had confidence in deceiving common sailors, after all, he's seen more nobles than these yokels have.

But facing someone as formidable as Hamoldon...

His own guilty conscience would probably be exposed in an instant.

"Even the sailors who've lived and eaten with us for months haven't noticed anything." Lumier slowly stood up, dusting off his robe, and said as he looked at him, "Why would you think an Imperial General can see through us over a single meal?"

"But, but the problem is he wants to meet Prince Colin! Where are we supposed to find that guy?" Ticky gritted his teeth quietly, speaking rapidly, "Let me be blunt, that guy is just something you made up, right?! You can fool those people outside, but don't fool yourself!"

He's been here for so long and hasn't seen even a shadow of that Colin. Although no one told him, he figured it out with his gut; it was just a facade to begin with!

Roxey Colin?

This place doesn't even have such a person!

Seeing Ticky almost burning with anxiety, Lumier was slightly stunned, giving him a strange look.

"Didn't I mention?"

"Prince Colin is our Lord Demon King."

The air grew silent for a long moment, leaving only the crackling of the bonfire.

Ticky remained still for quite a while until a spark flew to the tip of his nose, snapping him out of his stupor.

Roxey Colin is Lord Demon King...

"What?!"

...

In the distance, the Sun Step Mountain Range veiled in night, a cold wind swept between the cliffs, lifting dry gravel and the scent of wormwood.

A figure cloaked in black stood atop a jutting rock, a pair of amber slit-pupils taking in the bustling coastline below.

Ever since the Demon King left here, Sarah came almost every night to gaze for a while, only returning to the mountain's outpost late at night.

"Damn... These hairless monkeys! Arrogant insects! How dare they... just brazenly step onto my lord's land! What a... what a disgrace!"

A young female dragon, with not fully grown wings and teeth, crouched in Sarah's arms, furiously biting the edge of Sarah's cloak.

Sarah glanced at the restless young dragon, then shifted her gaze away, her indifferent expression seemingly uninterested in engaging.

Just then, a gentle and graceful voice suddenly floated over from the shadows under a nearby rock wall.

"Oh? Then... before some insect stepped onto this land, to whom did this land belong?"

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