Ashen Dragon

The Devil gently caressed the surface of the clay pot with his fingers, as if stroking a lover. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, noticing a bizarre emblem in the corner.

"Wait, this is... Piere's emblem?"

Instantly, Yulier's expression changed dramatically, showing terror as he carefully recalled the previous events.

Something's wrong. How could he have been so irrational? He easily killed his most loyal and reliable subordinate and touched a mysterious artifact without any precaution?

It's a spell! He was bewitched by a spell, becoming as greedy and shortsighted as a gambler!

He wanted to put down the clay pot but found his body bound by an invisible, formidable strength, leaving him unable to move.

Yulier could no longer remain calm. He suddenly turned his head, his face filled with extreme anger and ferocity: "Damn little Devil, you deceived me!

No, it's not just you..."

The Devil felt darkness descending before him, as a huge shadow enveloped him.

Yulier stiffly turned his head and saw a towering Giant with muscular knots, covered entirely with Dragon Scales, looking down at him, showing a mouthful of white teeth.

A fist larger than a casserole came crashing through the air, shattering the many evil protective magics on the Devil's body.

"Boom!"

...

"You lowly maggots, Piere's lackeys... Quickly let me go! I am the Controller of Modin Casino! When my subordinates come for you, you'll wish for death!"

"He's all tied up yet still so arrogant, beat him!"

"Boom!"

"Aren't you afraid of Lord Zarriel's patrol coming? Once they arrive, you're doomed!"

"Heh heh, we have a Hell Demonic Barrier granted by Piere himself, you can scream all you want, no one will save you!"

"Boom! Boom!"

"Dear guests from afar, we can become friends and collaborators. Do you not desire endless wealth and powerful strength? Let me go, and we can have a good discussion..."

"Damn it, a captive still wants to stand on equal footing with us, babbling away, truly ignorant of how good life is! Continue beating him! Let me have the pleasure of torturing him!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"Master, master, it was my mistake, I shouldn't have greedily coveted your treasures! Please spare me, I... I, and even all of Modin Casino, are willing to cooperate fully."

"So, you were tough moments ago, and now you surrender so quickly, there's something fishy going on, beat him hard! Let him taste ecstasy!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

"By the way, what about this thing..."

"Wait, you... What do you want to do? I'll cooperate, won't that suffice? Master, please, don't give me—ah!"

The sound of flesh being seared echoed along with the Devil's screams.

The Swashbuckler grinned menacingly, branding Piere's mark on the Devil's chest with a red-hot iron, a flame sparkling from that brand.

"Damn, how disgusting..."

The Europe King watching nearby saw the Swashbuckler passionately torturing, felt a chill run down his spine, and silently vowed to keep his distance from this person in the future.

Even the Wolf of the Dark Night, a direct disciple and loyal subordinate of the Swashbuckler, took a few steps back, widening the distance from him.

"These guys are definitely the most perverse and ruthless Devils in disguise! Absolutely should not provoke them!"

While caged, Dick, though pleased to see Yulier being beaten, shivered uncontrollably at his miserable state, filled with dread.

Yet, the Devil's craving for violence and bloodshed made him sneak a peek, feeling enlightened.

"Ma-Master..."

"I was wrong, I'm willing to submit to you and assist Lord Baal in returning..."

At this moment, Yulier was covered in wounds, extraordinarily disheveled, showing no trace of the aura of Modin Casino's master.

Under the Swashbuckler's sinister hobby, something was even placed inside his body, making his expression look euphoric...

The Swashbuckler wielded a bloodstained thick stick, face showing satisfaction: "Heh heh, my interrogation skills have improved quite a bit! Practice indeed makes perfect.

Uh, why are you all looking at me with that expression?"

Seeing his companions' ghost-like expressions, the Swashbuckler was not ashamed but proudly puffed out his chest: "As the former chief of the Empire's 'Nocturne' unit, is it strange for me to have such skills?"

The Swashbuckler waved the big stick, pointing at the Devil tied on the ground.

Seeing his actions, Yulier trembled all over, kneeling and begging for mercy: "Master, Master, I yield..."

"Look, this Devil has been tamed by me, completely obedient, not a flaw to be found," the Swashbuckler bragged.

"..."

The Natural War Maniac was silent for a moment, then stepped forward to pat the Swashbuckler on the shoulder, earnestly persuading: "Swashbuckler, ah, don't take the opportunity to satisfy your own desires.

I know you have a psychological shadow once, but you can't vent it on this! Playing games, we must maintain a good mindset..."

"Who the hell has a psychological shadow?"

The Swashbuckler's face turned red from the Natural War Maniac's "comfort," then he suddenly turned around, glaring at the shivering Devil, raised his big stick, and sternly questioned: "What method do you have—to help us smuggle into the Inner Circle?"

"Yes, yes, Master." Yulier, as if clutching a lifeline, hurriedly said, "There is a secret passage in my casino, specifically used for smuggling goods for an Important Figure in the Inner Circle, which leads directly to the Fourth Tier."

"What's the name of that Important Figure?"

"Valerius Edwards, he is General Alex's confidant, the Legion Commander of the 13th Legion, a extremely powerful Deep Prison Demon Refiner!"

"Quick, look! The task seems to have this name! It's a b-level side quest, assassinate Valerius!"

"Damn, the reward is 32,000 gold coins, 300,000 faction contribution?"

Instantly, the eyes of the four players lit up, their faces full of excitement and eagerness.

Yulier initially thought the famous name "Valerius" would intimidate these folks, but seeing their predator-like reaction, his vision went black.

"Where is that secret passage?"

The Swashbuckler squatted down, gazing chillingly at the Devil, saying word by word: "Where is the secret passage you mentioned? What's the internal situation? We need you as a guide—to lead us there personally."

Yulier tentatively asked: "Master, as long as I lead you into the Inner Circle, can I leave?"

The Swashbuckler showed a kind smile: "Of course you can, we nocturne people, what matters most to us is being honest and doing business with integrity."

"...Okay."

"Of course, you have to sign this contract first. After all, without the security of the contract, no one can trust a Devil." The Swashbuckler smiled and said.

Only then did Yulier breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly said: "Okay, Master, I will immediately draft a contract for you, ensuring not a single detail is missing, letting you..."

"No need."

The Swashbuckler took out an old parchment contract and handed it over: "This is a contract personally crafted by Lord Baal, should be binding enough.

Here, quickly sign here, once you sign the contract, we'll be in the same boat, only then can I trust you.

We immediately set off for the Bronze Fortress's Inner Circle."

"..."

Looking at that densely written, tiny-lettered contract full of unknown traps, Yulier, who always liked to trick mortals into falling, fell into deep silence.

This self-satisfied fellow before him, though from the Material Plane, was even more suited to be a Devil than he was.

Simultaneously, players appeared throughout the Bronze Fortress, where Devils often found adventurers from the Material Plane without souls breaking in, causing chaos.