Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

Truly deserving of the title, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King Army.

Based on attribute alone, the [Count Blood] far exceeds anyone Yang Yu has ever met, not to mention the three special bonuses on his person.

With his companions bowing slightly, Yang Yu paid his respects to [Count Blood],

”I truly hadn’t expected that someone like you would be the one to meet us.

Honorable Lord of the Four Heavenly Kings, allow me to be direct.

What business do you have with us, a few obscure adventurers?”

”You are guests who have traveled great distances to my castle.

As your host, allow me to properly entertain you first.

We might have a lengthy discussion. Please, take your time to talk as you sit down.”

Count Blood clapped his hands elegantly, and the enchanting demon maids sprung into action, setting up a dining table in the hall and placing an array of delicious delicacies and fine wines on it.

A few of the enchanting demon maids approached Yang Yu and invited them to sit.

In order to extract information from Count Blood, Yang Yu didn’t hesitate and chose to follow the maid’s guidance, signaling his companions with a look to not touch the food and drink on the table.

Once they were all seated, an indescribable pressure descended upon them, and Count Blood took his seat at the head of the table.

The atmosphere of tension gradually spread.

Aside from Yang Yu and He Meng, everyone sat stiffly, not daring to relax for a moment.

Rosalind, in a maid outfit of her own, at some point, poured wine for Count Blood.

The aroma of the wine was rich and enticing, yet Count Blood dismissed it, holding the stem of the glass, his gaze intently scrutinizing Yang Yu.

The delightful aroma of the feast was alluring, yet Yang Yu felt no appetite, raising his head to meet Count Blood’s gaze:

”Having a meal at this hour, calling it supper, is rather late.

Count Blood, perhaps it’s time you told us the reason for inviting us here?

Why am I worthy of your invitation?”

Count Blood’s lips curled slightly, ”You need not be so modest; I am fully aware of your achievements.

Now, with all that I know of your accomplishments, I must add another to the list.

It is because of these astounding achievements that I decided to invite you to my castle as guests, to discuss our future together.”

”Our future?” Yang Yu tilted his head, feigning confusion.

With elbows on the table, Count Blood interlocked his fingers, laughing:

”Indeed, our future.

Do you not find this world we inhabit to be exceedingly dull?

Even as powerful beings, we are bound by various rules, restricted at every turn.

I wish to alter this state of affairs.

This world should be one where the strong reign supreme.

Yet, certain strong individuals gather some weaker ones and revel in the rules they’ve created, attempting to use the feeble power of those weaker to overthrow and alter this world.

Such folly and injustice.”

”Without the weak, how would the strong exist?

I believe no one is born strong; they grow strong step by step.

Even we, from what you call the weaker ones, have grown strong step by step.”

The Blood Demon King dismissed Yang Yu’s claim: ”That’s not right.

You are also inherently strong; to have grown to such an extent in so short a time unquestionably stems from some innate talent.

It’s just you, perceiving yourselves as having once been weak.

Imagine, if anyone else were to follow the same adventuring path as you, could they achieve what you have?

I dare assert, absolutely not.

If others walked the same path as you, who knows how many times they would have died.”

After a moment of silence, Yang Yu said, ”That, I do not deny.”

Count Blood habitually picked up his goblet, crossed his legs, and gently swirled the liquid in the glass, continuing to speak to Yang Yu:

”Rest assured, what I intend is not to erase every weak being from this world.

The strong require the weak to highlight their strength; the weak need the strong to inspire their determination.

Alas, even I cannot accurately identify those who are inherently strong among the weak.

But so long as the strong hold supremacy, those who are inherently strong will find ways to separate themselves from the weak and distance from them, reaching our level.

If someone becomes stronger than us, I would gladly yield our position, honor him as King, and serve him.”

Yang Yu offered no comments on Count Blood’s words, simply saying expressionlessly:

”I have a question, you reside in the Demon World. Isn’t there someone stronger than you there? According to you, shouldn’t you honor him as King and serve him, executing his tasks seriously...you know who I’m talking about.”

Upon hearing Yang Yu’s words, Count Blood’s expression instantly changed from his earlier impassioned rhetoric, and the atmosphere at the scene suddenly grew tense for some reason.

”If it were the Demon King of my ideals, I would carry out any command of his.

However...

Every generation of Demon King grows increasingly strange.

I am of the vampire lineage, having personally witnessed or heard of many demon king eras.

Some Demon Kings indeed had and acted upon the strong-for-the-strong principle, but once they underwent a certain ritual of power, they appeared to change completely.

...as if dominated by something, losing their own will and abandoning their original ideals.

The current Demon King has also undergone such a ritual of power, rendering him completely untrustworthy.

Thus, a new reign must commence.”

Hearing Count Blood speak thus, matters that Yang Yu previously couldn’t ascertain became increasingly clear.

Though [Count Blood] was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King Army, he harbored a rebellious streak.

Despite years of warfare between Luo Ze Empire and Wansheng Republic, they have maintained a delicate balance.

After uncovering the scheming enchanting demons, Yang Yu found that mysterious occurrences after mysterious occurrences were linked to these enchantresses.

It was indeed the enchanting demons sustaining the balance of war between the two nations.

Count Blood’s orders might have been to plunge this world into chaos for the subsequent Demon King Army invasion.

However, Count Blood managed things his own way, raising the average combat capabilities of both nations’ soldiers, and constructed walls and cannons on Sailuomen Plain, exerting resources and labor.

Now, Wansheng Republic and Luo Ze Empire, having set aside past grievances, are jointly building cannons to soon face the Demon King Army.

Predictably sensing this, Count Blood decisively relinquished his long-standing involvement in the war between the two nations.

So long as someone could bring trouble to the Demon King, it mattered not who; Count Blood was indifferent.