yasinovel Chapter 127 Predator is also prey
Chapter 127 Predator is also prey
Chapter 127 Predator is also prey
"What are we talking about?" Risa asked Kane defiantly.
Kane smiled slightly and said, "You care a lot about this Ms. Theresa you're possessing, otherwise you wouldn't have suggested possessing a different body."
Kane's smile remained unchanged.
Although demons are inherently chaotic and evil beings, this dream demon rarely caused death when it devoured human souls and limbs in Twin Harbor, indicating that it was not an extremely vicious creature.
Moreover, even demons are not entirely without merit.
For example, many Balrogs never resort to underhanded tactics when fighting enemies; some demons are absolutely loyal to their masters.
Upon hearing this, Risa retorted fiercely, "Don't be silly, why would I care about this mortal? What does her life or death have to do with me?"
Seeing his stubbornness, Kane stated his conditions: "I will find you a body later, but you must leave this body first."
Furthermore, as long as you swear an oath by the River Styx and sign a magical contract, I promise to protect you and help you escape the pursuit of the demon cult.
He knew in his heart that the Styx Oath was irrelevant to him, since the material plane he was in was far from the Styx.
However, this demon's true form resides in the abyss, which is pierced by the River Styx. If it breaks its oath, its true form is easily swallowed up and sinks by the power of the River Styx.
Seeing the hesitation on the other party's face, Kane added another bargaining chip, saying calmly, "I suppose you don't want to become material for the Demon Cult to refine potions, do you?"
Risa finally showed fear, staring intently at Kane and said, "Even if I die, in the end I will only return to the abyss and lose a memory. I refuse to swear in the name of the River Styx."
Kane nodded, softening his tone: "Listen to me first. My requirements are simple, just three: do not do anything that harms the material plane, do not be my enemy, and follow my arrangements that do not harm your interests."
Risa's gaze turned serious as she fell into deep thought.
Kane wasn't in a hurry; he knew this female demon didn't have many options.
Aside from being able to unleash her second-tier strength in dreams, she has absolutely no ability to protect herself in reality.
The offer he made was the best solution for her.
Moreover, he himself was being hunted down by the demon cult, so having one more ally wouldn't make a difference, nor would losing one make a difference either.
After a moment, Risa looked up at Kane with a hesitant expression: "I don't believe you have the ability to protect me. The strength you can exert right now is only at the second level."
Kane nodded again, but his expression remained unchanged: "If you refuse, I will have no choice but to purify you. You should know how effective protective magic against demons is against a formless demon like you."
Risa's eyes instantly turned fierce, but after staring at Kane for a moment, the sharpness in her eyes gradually faded, and she finally revealed a humiliated expression: "Then I want two gold coins every month."
Seeing that she relented, Kane finally smiled with satisfaction: "No problem."
Having convinced the demon possessing Theresa, Kane told her to rest in bed and forbade her to harm his men, while he went to another room to settle in.
The next morning, Kane and Theresa walked into the hall together. The others in the group saw this but were already used to it—they must have known about the drow's temperament for a long time.
The group first cleaned up the corpses at the scene and cut off the relevant evidence to be used as evidence to eradicate the Bloodline Purification Society.
Afterwards, the mercenaries worked together to disassemble the Susas ballista at the entrance, load it onto a wooden cart, and slowly pushed the cart to the riverbank.
But looking at the empty river, everyone's faces darkened.
As agreed, a merchant fleet was supposed to come to the Sparse Grasslands to pick them up, but now that the appointed time has long passed, there is not a single ship in sight on the river.
"Either the Chamber of Commerce breached the contract, but that's unlikely."
The skinny mercenary glanced at Kane and said in a deep voice, "Either they've had an accident."
Kane glanced at the crowd and asked, "How long does it take to get back to Twin Harbor from here?"
The skinny mercenary replied, "Without this ballista, we can get there in two days on horseback. But with it, it will take at least a week."
Kane nodded, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the troubled expressions on the faces of many mercenaries, who were clearly already having other plans in mind.
He wasn't surprised; the rewards for this mission were limited, and they hadn't found much wealth in the Bloodline Purification Society's stronghold.
Even if this Susas ballista is simply handed over to the council, it can be exchanged for a large sum of money. If it is abandoned, the loss would be too great.
It seems that this team is already divided.
Kane looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Those who are willing to come with me can ride back by land; those who are unwilling can stay here."
As for the commission, I will deposit it with the Dark Brotherhood after settlement; you can collect it yourselves.
After saying that, Kane mounted his horse and set off first, while Risa, riding another horse, followed behind. She glanced at the mercenaries who remained behind and sneered, "No one's following you. You're such a failure as a leader."
Kane turned to look at her, a faint smile on his face: "I'm afraid what you're saying isn't quite appropriate."
Risa said with a mocking smile, "My oath to the Styx didn't say I couldn't say these things."
Kane sighed helplessly, "Fine."
Just as Risa was looking smug, Kane said calmly, "Then I'll deduct one gold coin from your salary this month."
"What?!" Risa exclaimed in surprise, and quickly turned to look at Kane.
The sound of horses' hooves came from behind.
Kane ignored her, his gaze falling on the thin mercenary riding up behind them. He asked, "Why didn't you stay with them?"
The skinny mercenary glanced at the group behind him and shook his head: "Boss, they've all been blinded by immediate gains."
He paused, then said, "The ship that was supposed to pick us up didn't come. Something must have happened. I have a feeling this isn't as simple as it seems."
"So what do you think could be the reason?" Kane asked.
The skinny mercenary looked at Kane, hesitated for a moment, and finally shook his head: "I don't know."
Kane nodded and raised his chin: "Come with me."
This skinny mercenary was clever; he wasn't blinded by momentary greed.
The reason why the guild's support fleet could suddenly run into trouble is definitely not simple.
Perhaps it was the demons sent by the Demon Cult to hunt down Risa who made the move, or perhaps the true power of the Bloodline Purification Society has surfaced.
Or perhaps, it was other forces he was unaware of that intervened.
In any case, he had no opinion of those mercenaries who betrayed him for personal gain.
"However, perhaps I can exploit their preconceived notions and set a trap to turn the tables on the mastermind behind the fleet's disappearance."
After a moment's thought, Kane had already formulated a series of plans.
Time passed slowly, and half a day went by in the blink of an eye.
Kane, Risa, and the skinny mercenary rode their horses from the Savannah to a stop halfway through their journey, where they set up camp to rest.
After resting until midnight, Kane woke the other two and said in a deep voice, "Now, let's head back."
"Go back?" Risa asked, looking puzzled.
The skinny mercenary's eyes lit up, instantly understanding Kane's intention, and he said, "Boss, you mean—"
Kane nodded slightly and said a proverb: "A robber ambushes a merchant, unaware that a werewolf has already been lurking in the forest."
Predators are often also prey for other hunters.
If nothing unexpected happens, those who stayed behind have now encountered their real enemies.
""
Upon hearing this, the skinny mercenary's expression instantly turned extremely serious.
Meanwhile, the group of mercenaries who had parted ways with Kane were pushing a wooden cart and leading prisoners.
They arrived at a deserted village and prepared to set up camp there.